Chen Xiyuan stood on Li Sanjiang’s dam, slowly looking around.

The rising wind blew through her hair, revealing her figure.

What truly makes a place unforgettable isn’t its scenery, but the people who live there.

She earnestly tried to remember each of their faces, wishing to imprint their appearances and voices in her mind forever.

She frowned, a little confused:

Where did this inexplicable, profound sense of farewell come from?

It was only because Grandpa Li’s lottery redemption had issues, delaying their trip, and she had to rush back because her grandfather suddenly fell ill.

Once she returned to the Chen family and her grandfather recovered, she could still invite the little brother and others to Hainan as guests.

If her grandfather didn’t recover, then the reason to invite the little brother to Hainan would be even more compelling.

Chen Xiyuan vigorously shook her head, even tapping her forehead with the dizi in her hand.

What in the world was she thinking?

Ever since she noticed the dizi was out of tune today, her mind had felt like it was filled with paste.

She couldn’t pinpoint what was wrong, but no matter what she saw or thought, there was a dreamlike fogginess and disorientation.

The little brother always said she was clumsy, and she knew she was, but this current feeling of clumsiness seemed different from before.

Stepping off the dam, she was now going to bid a formal farewell to her kindred spirit under the peach grove.

Li Zhuiyuan walked out of the dojo.

Before coming out, the young man carefully cleaned and checked, making sure no bloodstains were left on his face.

He stood where Chen Xiyuan had been, watching Miss Chen as she walked from the small path onto the village road in the distance.

A-Li sat on a rattan chair on the second-floor terrace, looking down at the young man below.

You are watching the scenery from the dam, and the person watching the scenery is watching you from upstairs.

Another person leaned against the kitchen doorway, cracking sunflower seeds and watching the panorama.

Aunt Liu thought the new sunflower seeds were good, more flavorful.

Perhaps it was because the person who used to crack seeds with her had now jumped into the hot wok, flavoring the dish with their own body.

Li Zhuiyuan turned his head, and as his gaze swept over Aunt Liu, she coincidentally turned her head to spit out a sunflower seed shell.

People who love cracking sunflower seeds, like those who love admiring flowers, do so quietly, without disturbing others.

Moreover, Aunt Liu felt increasingly “intimidated” by the young man.

The longer he walked the jiang, the higher his status became. She had long been mentally preparing herself, gradually regarding the young man as the future head of the family.

“A-You.”

“Coming, Little Yuan-ge.”

“Miss Chen went to Old Hu’s house to say goodbye to that person. Go with her, see her off.”

“Okay, don’t worry, Little Yuan-ge, I’ll safely escort her to Xingdong Airport.”

“She’s clumsy. Remember to remind her that flights might be grounded due to the typhoon, so she shouldn’t waste time going to the airport. She should just take a car back to Hainan.”

“Indeed.”

“Once you see her off in the car, come back and tell me.”

“Understood, Little Yuan-ge.”

After Lin Shuyou left, Li Zhuiyuan went inside and up the stairs.

The great turtle’s power and terror were beyond doubt.

Especially this time, its target was clear, aimed directly at him.

Therefore, to find a glimmer of hope in this wave, he had to precisely grasp all available conditions and information around him.

The Old Master Chen, coincidentally, fell ill today.

Logically, the Old Master’s letter sent to Granny Liu today should have made her happy by now.

Perhaps she would even hum a tune while pruning his most prized willow tree.

The Old Master’s health problem was certainly not a normal occurrence.

Combined with the illusory hints he witnessed through the car window when he rode back to Shinan Town with Li Lan earlier.

Clearly, it was the Chen family’s Dragon King Spirit exerting its power, urging its cherished inheritor to quickly leave this trouble-ridden place.

Li Zhuiyuan felt no dissatisfaction with this, nor could he harbor hatred or resentment.

You can’t expect other families’ spirits to help you unconditionally just because your own family has no spirit.

Li Zhuiyuan still believed in the style of the Dragon King Spirit, and in the Dragon King’s integrity.

Their ability to “guide” their cherished inheritor home through “ancestral blessings” at this moment confirmed one thing:

The great turtle’s landing this time was very clear in its intent: no natural disasters, no harm to the innocent, only one death.

Indeed, the great turtle was an evil entity, and a truly formidable one at that.

Among entities of the same level, Li Zhuiyuan had personally witnessed the true form of the Great Emperor, which was a massive dead-corpse.

These so-called evil entities, over long ages, had already reached a natural understanding with the Heavenly Dao.

One could even say that, while the Heavenly Dao was temporarily unable to deal with them, they themselves were a branch of the Heavenly Dao.

Moreover, the great turtle’s actions were more like coming from the East Sea to engage in a one-on-one duel, with the impact infinitely compressed to the level of personal grievances and private combat.

This precisely confirmed Li Zhuiyuan’s earlier prediction.

If the great turtle were to land without scruples, bringing natural disasters and calamities, merely to confront him and perish together…

Then there would be no need for deductions; his death would be certain.

Now, based on the reaction of the Chen family ancestors, the Dragon King, Li Zhuiyuan confirmed a self-imposed restraint on the great turtle.

For the young man, this was the starting point for all possible maneuvering.

Li Zhuiyuan sat down on the rattan chair next to A-Li.

The girl looked at the boy.

On her delicate face, there was a faint hint of melancholy and grievance.

Of course, it wasn’t because the young man had just been downstairs, staring at Chen Xiyuan’s departing back.

It was because, from the girl’s perspective, there was no concept of “personal space.”

Ever since she met the boy, he had never hidden anything from her. Even when he secretly read the “Liu Shi Wang Qi Jue” in front of his grandmother, he never avoided her.

But this time, she had a premonition.

“A-Li, I want to eat brown sugar poached eggs.”

A smile bloomed on the girl’s face, instantly dispelling all previous anxieties.

In this world, there are no difficult girls, only those who are oblivious to their misaligned perspectives.

Brown sugar poached eggs were A-Li’s “specialty.”

The girl stood up and walked downstairs.

Li Zhuiyuan found a strand of hair the girl had left on the adjacent rattan chair. He picked it up and slowly wrapped it around his fingertip.

Although he knew that the scene of him standing on the deck in his dream was not real.

But he would strive to make that scene a reality in the future.

When she was an adult, she would definitely stand by his side.

Li Zhuiyuan looked up at the dark, swirling clouds in the distant sky, as if splattered with ink.

The young man’s expression softened, and his body gradually relaxed, leaning back completely in the rattan chair.

“Little Yuan-hou, the wind is strong outside. Your great-grandpa just had a nap and almost caught a cold.”

“I’ll just sit for a while, Great-grandpa.”

Li Sanjiang touched the young man’s head and said with a smile, “Are you unhappy that you couldn’t go to Hainan?”

“No, Great-grandpa, have you forgotten? I often travel all over the country.”

“True, our Little Yuan-hou, though young, has seen the world. Stronger than your great-grandpa!”

“Still not as well-traveled as you, Great-grandpa.”

“Hahaha! Actually, your great-grandpa only traveled so many places during those war years. After things settled down, your great-grandpa also settled down.”

“It’s just a pity I couldn’t properly visit those places with you, Great-grandpa.”

Even though he knew his great-grandpa would live a long life, he was still an old man.

Li Zhuiyuan’s original intention was to take him to beautiful scenic spots across the country, to see more and experience more.

Great-grandpa had indeed been to many places, but when he visited them back then, they were all smoke-filled and scarred by war.

“What’s there to regret? It’s typhoon season these few days. After the typhoon passes, your great-grandpa will go to the neighboring county to look for some more goods… Oh no, to ‘feel around’ again.”

Since he always picked a winner, in Li Sanjiang’s eyes, the nature of lottery scratch-offs had long changed.

“No hurry, Great-grandpa. Our workplace will have benefits then, and we can still bring family to Hainan.”

“Ai, it’s really good to go to college. A good workplace means you can enjoy all sorts of benefits.”

“Hmm, yes.”

The benefits Li Zhuiyuan mentioned were not from his workplace, but from sponsors. Xue Liangliang, having too much money, often sponsored his own projects, giving benefits to the project team, essentially enriching the public at his private expense.

Li Sanjiang squatted down nearby, not sitting in A-Li’s rattan chair.

He pulled out a cigarette pack.

Li Zhuiyuan sat up, also squatted down, and reached into his great-grandpa’s pocket for a matchbox to light his cigarette.

“Hey, Little Yuan-hou, the fire you lit is really steady.”

Exhaling a smoke ring, Li Sanjiang joked again:

“Back then, your great-grandpa here was just lucky, escaping every time he was conscripted. If I hadn’t escaped, I reckon your great-grandpa would have been to Hainan Island decades ago.
Haha, if I hadn’t been so cowardly back then, only thinking uselessly of going home, and had gone to your Grandpa Bei’s side when I was outside the Pass, your great-grandpa here would have eventually made it to Hainan Island.
By the way, Little Yuan-hou, do you think this typhoon will make landfall here?”

“Most likely.”

“Your great-grandpa here hasn’t experienced many typhoons in his life. I hear they’re quite fierce when they come, aren’t they?”

“Yes, very strong winds and heavy rain.”

Li Sanjiang leaned his head out and shouted downstairs:

“Runsheng-hou!”

“Grandpa Li?”

“Take some time to check on Shanpao in Xiting. Fix up his broken house. Don’t let the typhoon blow it down and bury him alive. His coffin is still here with me, already made, no need to waste it.”

“Okay, Grandpa Li, I’ll go after I eat.”

In the distance, on the village road across the farmland, Chen Xiyuan, who had finished her farewells with Qing’an at Old Hu’s house, ran back again.

She waved her dizi, signaling this way, bidding her final farewell, with Lin Shuyou following behind her.

Li Sanjiang also raised his hand and waved, sighing:

“That young girl is good, just a bit poor.”

“Great-grandpa, her family isn’t poor.”

“Not poor and eats so much?”

“Because Aunt Liu’s cooking is delicious.”

“Our Little Yuan-hou has indeed grown up and knows how to save face for others. Your great-grandpa wouldn’t look down on her just because her family is poor.
That young girl is endearing. It’s not easy for her to visit. I secretly put some money in her outer bag just now.”

Li Zhuiyuan smiled, “Great-grandpa, you’re carrying a stone up a mountain.”

“Haha, how could that be? In my life, besides the mules at home, I’ve never seen anyone with such a big appetite who doesn’t get fat.
However, I’ve seen far too many people who don’t get enough to eat at home, and when they find a place where they can eat freely, they loosen their belts and feast, sigh.
The days are better now.
Little Yuan-hou, your future days will definitely be even better.”

“Hmm, definitely.”

Since the yellow pickup truck at home was broken and hadn’t been repaired, Chen Xiyuan had to walk to the village road to wait for a ride.

She didn’t have much luggage, just a hiking backpack containing a set of clothes and a full can of Jianlibao. Fearing the drink might slosh too much and fizz when opened, she stuffed the bag with money for cushioning.

After all, before lighting the lantern and traveling the jiang, the least valuable thing her family prepared for her was money.

She was very lucky. Logically, it was rare to see taxis here, but as she walked over, a local taxi happened to stop across the road, and the driver got out to relieve himself by a roadside tree.

Chen Xiyuan: “A-You, I’m going back. See you next time.”

Lin Shuyou: “Okay, see you next time.”

After relieving himself, the taxi driver picked two leaves to wipe himself. As he opened the car door and sat in, he was startled to see a young woman suddenly appear in the back seat:

“When…when did you get in?”

“Master, to Hainan. My grandpa is sick, I need to rush back to see him. Please drive fast.”

“What are you talking about? Are you out of your mind…?”

The driver looked at the thick stack of money the girl handed him, and his words immediately caught in his throat:

“The gods will bless us with a safe journey!”

The driver took the money, counted it, and after confirming they were all real bills, immediately buckled his seatbelt and floored the accelerator.

As he drove, he said:

“Little girl, don’t show off your wealth. It’s very dangerous to travel long distances alone with so much money.”

Chen Xiyuan: “Hmm, indeed.”

She wasn’t in danger, but those who harbored ill intentions toward her certainly were.

“Luckily you met me. My daughter was just born two days ago.”

“Congratulations.”

The driver opened the car drawer, took out the candy inside, and handed it to the back.

Chen Xiyuan took it, peeled off the wrapper, and put it in her mouth.

“Hehe, aren’t you a bit too trusting, little girl?”

“Master, please drive faster. My grandpa is in a hurry.”

“Alright, don’t worry, I’ll definitely get you there safely!”

After seeing Chen Xiyuan off, Lin Shuyou returned to report to Little Yuan-ge.

Coincidentally, Brother Bin was also there discussing matters with Little Yuan-ge.

When A-Li brought up a large bowl of brown sugar poached eggs, Tan Wenbin and Lin Shuyou tacitly left and went downstairs.

Li Zhuiyuan took the chopsticks, first drank the syrup, then ate the eggs one by one.

After finishing, the young man was already full, and it was that kind of sickening fullness, feeling like he didn’t need dinner.

“Dinner time!”

Aunt Liu’s voice was carried by the wind, reaching every corner of the house.

Due to the weather, dinner wasn’t eaten on the dam; the small table was moved indoors.

Liu Yumei and Yao Shan ate in the east room.

After spending some time together, Grandma Yao became much more composed. Sitting at the dining table, she peeled shrimp for Liu Yumei while smiling and sharing funny anecdotes about her grandchildren.

After Aunt Liu had served the food to all the tables, she also entered the east room, sat down, and picked up her chopsticks to eat.

Grandma Yao asked, “Oh, isn’t A-Li eating with us?”

Aunt Liu bit the tip of her chopstick and said, “Let’s eat our food. Don’t mind that show-off.”

Li Zhuiyuan and A-Li ate in the main living room.

After the young man sat down, he skillfully divided the dishes into small plates for A-Li.

A-Li took a white thread and divided the three century eggs in their bowl.

Each piece had to be equally portioned, with no other ingredients added. When eating, one simply dipped the chopsticks in a bit of black vinegar.

Just then, Uncle Qin came in holding a bottle of soy sauce:

“Little Yuan, do you want some soy sauce?”

Li Zhuiyuan looked at Uncle Qin, shaking his head: “Uncle, no need.”

Li Sanjiang, who was pouring himself a drink nearby, said with some surprise:

“Li-hou, are you eating so heavily lately that you need soy sauce for century eggs?”

Uncle Qin: “Mm.”

Li Sanjiang: “Is the farm work too heavy? Shan-hou is busy with the fish pond now and doesn’t have much time to help you in the fields. How about this, call another person to work with you in the fields, and I’ll pay their wages.”

Uncle Qin: “No need, I can finish it. I worked alone before Xiong Shan came.”

Li Sanjiang: “How much land did we contract before, and how much do we have now? We can’t let you overwork yourself.”

Uncle Qin: “I can handle it, it’s fine.”

Li Sanjiang: “I’ll see. See if I can find anyone else. If not, maybe get a tractor.”

Uncle Qin: “Fuel is expensive, and it won’t be used for long.”

Li Sanjiang: “You can drive the tractor to deliver goods on weekdays, and when there’s no delivery during the off-season, you can help transport materials when someone in the village builds a house. If nothing else, helping out at the brick factory to pull bricks is the same. As long as the tractor isn’t idle after being bought, you won’t lose money.”

Uncle Qin no longer declined; he realized he had overthought things.

Uncle Sanjiang bought the tractor not to reduce his workload, but to add another source of income, so he could save money more effectively to buy a house for his great-grandson in the big city.

Instead of returning to the east room for dinner, Uncle Qin held a large bowl, with rice at the bottom and dishes on top, and squatted on the living room threshold.

He poured soy sauce into the bowl, mixed it with the rice, and placed the soy sauce bottle on the threshold beside him.

Runsheng called for Uncle Qin to sit and eat with them, but Uncle Qin refused.

His reason was that he wanted to see if any measures needed to be taken in the fields due to the typhoon, to reduce losses.

“Clink!”

The soy sauce bottle fell from the threshold to the ground.

The cap was on, so nothing spilled out.

Uncle Qin picked up the soy sauce bottle and put it back on the threshold, his neck red.

A moment later,

“Clink!”

The soy sauce bottle fell again.

Uncle Qin picked it up once more.

This time, however, he was too embarrassed to put the soy sauce bottle back on the threshold, so he left it on the floor.

Then, he lowered his head and quickly shoveled down his rice, finishing the bowl in no time. He then stood up, carrying his bowl and chopsticks and the soy sauce bottle, walking toward the kitchen without looking back, a flush spreading from his neck to his cheek and ear.

In the east room, Aunt Liu picked up a shrimp and put it in her mouth, chewing while tilting her head, both annoyed and amused.

Liu Yumei put down her bowl and chopsticks, picked up the soup in front of her, took a sip, and said:

“I actually think A-Li is much smarter than before, and his mind is more active.”

Aunt Liu sighed, “I used to always say you were biased, and you wouldn’t admit it. Aunt Yao, listen, isn’t this bias?”

Yao Shan gently patted Aunt Liu’s hand: “Miss still cares about you the most, I can tell.”

Liu Yumei: “Everyone named Qin seems to have their valves repaired on their foreheads. Sometimes, you really can’t demand too much from them. Ai, just to achieve this much is already good enough.”

Aunt Liu: “I’m just worried about my soy sauce. You don’t know how many soy sauce bottles he’s wasted this month. I’m really afraid that when I report to Uncle Sanjiang next month, he’ll suspect I’m just stealing soy sauce in the kitchen to drink like soda.”

Liu Yumei looked at Yao Shan and said, “Shan’er, you’ve been here for some days now, haven’t you?”

Yao Shan put down her chopsticks and replied, “Yes, it’s been some days.”

Liu Yumei: “Call your son tonight. Tomorrow morning, let A-Ting take you to the train station. You should go back first.”

Yao Shan responded, “Yes, Miss.”

Liu Yumei: “If you miss it later, just let me know beforehand, and you can come back anytime. Next time, bring your two grandsons, I’d like to see them.”

Yao Shan: “Okay, I’ll listen to Miss.”

Leaving was reluctant, but to have stayed here for so long, spending so many days and nights with Miss, was something Yao Shan hadn’t even dared to imagine before arriving.

Before, every day she lived as if it were her last, cherishing it. Therefore, when Miss suggested she return, although there was a slight hint of disappointment, there was no regret.

Li Zhuiyuan was already full; he only ate a bit of the century egg, primarily accompanying A-Li.

After dinner,

Li Zhuiyuan and A-Li each carried a basket, holding hands, and walked to Old Hu’s house.

Runsheng rode his tricycle to Xiting, loaded with offerings for rituals.

Tan Wenbin picked up his大哥大 (big brother’s phone) and called Zhou Yunyun, saying the wind here was really strong.

Lin Shuyou watched TV, occasionally getting up to adjust the antenna to reduce static on the screen.

Liu Yumei closed the door of the east room and sat down in front of the altar, which was filled with spirit tablets.

The old woman held a cup of yellow wine in her left hand and gently stroked the sword sheath with her right.

“Since the Chen family girl has left, it means that fellow… hahahaha, yes, he’s coming for our family!”

Outside Old Hu’s house, Zhao Yi and others were ready to depart.

Li Zhuiyuan and A-Li met them as they arrived.

“Brother Yuan!”

Chen Jing was always excited to see Li Zhuiyuan.

Li Zhuiyuan nodded to Chen Jing, then looked at Zhao Yi and asked:

“Why haven’t you left yet?”

Zhao Yi: “Waiting for Old Tian.”

Li Zhuiyuan: “My great-grandpa should have already convinced him to go home for a visit.”

Without Li Sanjiang’s permission, Zhao Yi wouldn’t dare let Old Tian leave Nantong.

Zhao Yi nodded: “Mm, Old Tian went to say goodbye to my god-grandmother. He should be finishing his Qiong Yao drama soon.”

“Young Master, Young Master!”

Old Tian had finished his scene and returned.

The old man’s eyes were a bit red. He might have long been unable to keep up with the team in terms of strength, but having lived so many years, he had a good eye, far better than Chen Jing, who was completely in the dark.

He knew that the young master’s urgent departure, and specifically taking him along, most likely meant something was about to happen here.

Although, Old Tian truly didn’t know what kind of event dared to unfold here.

Zhao Yi tapped his pipe downwards and said to Li Zhuiyuan:

“Li, if you call me ‘Ancestor’ now, I might not be able to bear to leave.”

Li Zhuiyuan, holding A-Li’s hand, walked towards the medicine garden. Without turning back, he simply waved his hand:

“Get lost.”

Zhao Yi took a deep breath and said to those around him:

“Did you hear that? What are you standing around for? Let’s get lost!”

Zhao Yi and his group left along the village road, heading back to Jiujiang.

Li Zhuiyuan: “A-Li, dig up all the herbs that can boost energy, then I’ll trouble you to make them into medicine for me, without considering side effects.”

This crude processing was easy for A-Li, posing no technical difficulties or complications, just requiring a little effort.

A-Li didn’t resist, nor did she argue in her own way that such medicine would be bad for her health. She simply nodded, then squatted down and began collecting the corresponding herbs in the medicine garden.

Li Zhuiyuan helped alongside. When Xiong Shan and his wife returned from working at the fish pond, Li Zhuiyuan stood up and waved to them.

“Little Yuan Shao… ge.”

Xiong Shan led Lihua over.

Li Zhuiyuan: “You haven’t left Nantong since you arrived, have you?”

Xiong Shan: “Yes, that’s right, Little Yuan-ge.”

Lihua: “Little Yuan-ge, both my husband and I are almost orphans. This place is our home now, and it will be our son’s home in the future!”

Li Zhuiyuan: “Is there nothing you’re nostalgic for outside?”

Lihua: “Little Yuan-ge, our home is here…”

Xiong Shan held his wife’s hand and said, “There is nostalgia, Little Yuan-ge, there is nostalgia.”

Li Zhuiyuan: “Don’t you want to go see?”

Xiong Shan: “Yes, for example, a few good brothers from before. After my wife and I avenged them, we built cenotaphs for them in the Tianmen Mountain area. We haven’t been to see them in a long time.”

Li Zhuiyuan: “Then go see them.”

Xiong Shan: “Okay, Little Yuan-ge, it’s time to go see them and burn some paper offerings.”

Li Zhuiyuan: “Come back after you’ve seen them.”

Xiong Shan: “Mm, okay. So, Little Yuan-ge, when do you think is a good time for us to leave?”

Li Zhuiyuan: “If you want to go, go quickly.”

Xiong Shan: “Then tomorrow morning?”

Li Zhuiyuan: “Good.”

Xiong Shan: “I understand, Little Yuan-ge.”

Li Zhuiyuan’s gaze fell on Benben, who was lying in the crib, patting his own bottom to lull himself to sleep.

Xiong Shan: “Right, bring Benben. My old pals would probably want to see him, see how much he’s grown, hehe.”

Li Zhuiyuan nodded, then turned and walked back to the medicine garden.

Xiong Shan and Lihua then walked into the house.

Lihua: “What does Little Yuan-ge mean by this? Is the Dragon King’s family…”

Xiong Shan covered his wife’s mouth, then quickly put up several Chenzhou Talismans, sealing off the sound here.

Xiong Shan: “Do you think this is nighttime in the bedroom, where you can just yell and shout?”

Lihua: “I’m scared. Is the Dragon King’s family abandoning us, driving us away?”

Xiong Shan calmly said, “No.”

Lihua: “How are you so sure?”

Xiong Shan: “Because if the Dragon King’s family wanted to drive us away, it would just be a word. Young Master wouldn’t need to beat around the bush with us.”

Lihua’s face showed understanding: “Then we…”

Xiong Shan: “Listen to the Young Master. We are now people of the Dragon King’s sect. Whatever he tells us to do, we do, don’t ask why. Now go pack your things. Tomorrow morning, we’ll go to Tianmen Mountain.
Ai, I really miss those old buddies. It’s a pity they died on the river and couldn’t enjoy the good fortune with us.”

Lihua: “Look on the bright side. We’ve already avenged the brothers. I’ll go pack now.”

Xiong Shan pursed his lips and walked upstairs. As he passed Old Tian’s room, he paused, tried to push the door open, and found that everything inside had been packed and taken away. The room was thoroughly cleaned.

“Whew…”

Xiong Shan let out a long breath, his expression grim, and he murmured:

“Is something going to happen at home?”

Night was deep, and the medicinal herbs needed in the garden were almost fully collected.

Li Zhuiyuan put his tools back into the small basket, stood up, and pointed to the peach grove, telling A-Li:

“A-Li, you finish up the rest. I’m going in for a bit.”

The girl nodded.

Li Zhuiyuan walked into the peach grove.

This was his second time entering the peach grove today.

Outside, it was pitch black, but inside the peach grove, fireflies danced everywhere. Though not brightly lit, it was clear enough.

No one was by the pond, only a few empty wine jars.

The wooden house doors and windows were tightly shut, as if Qing’an had already retired for the night.

Li Zhuiyuan first squatted by the pond, washed his hands, and then scooped up a handful of water to splash on his face.

After doing this, the young man reached his hands into the pond, past his hands, past his elbows, until it was almost up to his shoulders, when a soft cough came from inside the wooden house:

“Come here to commit suicide?”

Li Zhuiyuan pulled his arms out. His earlier actions had already soaked the sleeves of his clothes.

The wooden house door opened.

Li Zhuiyuan stood up, stepped onto the stairs, and entered the house.

The interior of the house was simple, merely tables, chairs, a couch, and an ancient zither.

There was no one in the room, but on the four walls, floor, and beams, hung masks of varying sizes. It was impossible to count how many there were.

Because these masks were constantly wriggling, exchanging, and even opening their mouths to devour. After devouring one, the mask would grow larger, and the more it devoured, the larger it became, until it suddenly split open, dividing into countless small masks, repeating the cycle.

One of the masks showed Qing’an’s face.

He opened his eyes, his gaze indifferent.

“Scared, so you came to me to seek an early end?”

Li Zhuiyuan countered, “Do you think I would do that?”

“Certainly not before, but this time, it’s understandable.”

“Not necessarily.”

“Not necessarily? What big talk. If not, why are you coming to me tonight?”

“Some things I thought I had asked during the day, but actually hadn’t, so I wanted to ask again.”

“Oh, regretted it?”

“Something like that.”

“But in this world, there’s no regret medicine to take.”

“Hmm, I know.”

“The wind this time is very strong. Your original hope should be to try your best to make me happy, to beg me in various ways, so that I would face this storm first and be scattered by the wind.
That way, you would have a tiny bit of hope of surviving this wind.
Now, I can tell you clearly, begging me again is useless.
I will retreat underground, no matter how strong the wind outside, I will not come out.
Hahahahaha!
This afternoon, I already had her buy and store some wine.
I’ll wait for this wind to pass, then come back up and savor it with your body, which by then, I don’t know if it will still be intact.”

Li Zhuiyuan nodded.

Qing’an: “Alright, before I retreat underground, I want to know what you plan to ask me tonight.”

Li Zhuiyuan: “What I want to ask is, can you fully retreat underground? And can you ensure that you absolutely won’t be discovered after retreating underground?”

Qing’an: “Hm?”

Inside the house, all the masks that were in motion stopped completely.

The next moment,

All the masks collectively opened their eyes to their widest, staring fixedly at the young man standing in the center of the room.

An immense pressure swept towards Li Zhuiyuan.

Li Zhuiyuan chose not to confront it head-on, but slightly bent his waist.

The oppressive force dissipated as quickly as it arrived.

“Are you thinking that instead of your spirit and flesh being torn apart in this strong wind, it’s better to anger me first, so I’ll kill you instead?”

“No, I’m genuinely asking.”

“I grant you one more question.”

“If you completely retreat underground, can you be confident in evading the ‘ears and eyes’ of the wind?”

“Not forever, but for a while.”

“Good, I hope you can hide well, leaving no trace.”

Inside the wooden house, all the masks gnashed their teeth, and the entire wooden house creaked and groaned.

As if the next moment, it would collapse, “chewing” the young man into mincemeat.

“Kid, you know, even he back then wasn’t as arrogant as you.”

“Thank you.”

Li Zhuiyuan turned, preparing to leave the wooden house, then stopped again, as if unsure, and asked:

“Will there be any oversights or flaws? I mean when hiding for this ‘while’.”

“You just need someone to cut down this peach grove. They are the biggest flaw left here.”

“Okay.”

“Hurry up.”

“No need for such trouble. Besides, it would be a shame to cut them down, such a beautiful grove, such pure resentment.”

Every petal blooming in this peach grove was a leakage of Qing’an’s resentment.

And the reason this peach grove had always deterred evil spirits in the Nantong region in the past was not because Qing’an was benevolent, but because what it exuded was the aura of the most powerful evil entity in this area.

Li Zhuiyuan walked to the pond, squatted down again, and placed his right hand into the water, gently stirring.

The Flood Dragon Spirit flew downward, beginning to churn. Gradually, the deeply hidden “eyes of resentment” belonging to this peach grove were stirred up, erupting upwards.

The window of the wooden house was propped open. Qing’an sat by the table, slightly tilting his head, watching this scene.

He had warned the young man before that this was suicidal.

But doing it repeatedly proved that he had misjudged.

Terrifying resentment, met by Li Zhuiyuan without rejection, was completely absorbed.

Logically, even for a moment, it would be a terrifying dose capable of crushing a normal person’s will, driving them into a beast-like frenzy.

But the young man, from beginning to end, maintained his usual composure.

Deep within Li Zhuiyuan’s consciousness.

Peach blossoms filled the sky, falling into the fish pond below, where already famished fish frenziedly rose to devour them.

In reality, the petals in the peach grove withered one by one;

In the depths of consciousness, the fish in the pond grew fatter and fatter.

Finally, the peach grove completely withered.

The pond in front of Li Zhuiyuan also dried up, leaving only a shallow, glistening puddle, barely enough to reflect the moon.

The young man stood up and wiped his hands on his clothes.

Inside the wooden house window, Qing’an’s gaze became fervent at this moment.

“You… can kill me!”

Then, the voice turned to anger:

“You, can kill me!”

Finally, a roar burst forth:

“You can kill me!!!”

He saw in the young man the hope for his own early liberation.

Clearly, the young man had mastered this technique for a long time, and used it very skillfully just now.

Yet, the young man had kept it hidden from him, never revealing it in his presence.

To prevent himself from becoming a disaster, to await death, he had endured this endless self-imposed torture for so many years.

Today, he saw the chance for liberation!

Li Zhuiyuan: “You’ve misunderstood.”

“I… misunderstood?”

Li Zhuiyuan: “You are a vast ocean, and I am merely a fish pond. Just now was my limit. The current me simply cannot truly liberate you.
If I were to do that, here…”

Li Zhuiyuan pointed to his forehead,

“My head would burst. You cannot separate any face from your being. You appear to have countless faces, but in reality, all these faces grow on one.
Currently, I can only absorb the resentment that has spilled from you these past two years. To touch your true body, I would surely die.
I didn’t tell you before, not because I wanted to keep a trump card to threaten and exploit you.
But because I,
also couldn’t bear to part with this peach grove.”

The entity within the wooden house gradually calmed its emotions.

Firstly, because the young man’s explanation matched his recent observation of him;

Secondly, the young man’s last words greatly pleased him, akin to that Chen family girl playing music with him all night long here.

“The one who played the final tune… was always you.”

“Thank you for the compliment.”

“But if you’re gone, won’t I have to endure decades more of suffering?”

“Qing’an, you should have a little more faith in me, just as you did in him back then.”

“Do you really think you have a chance to survive this great wind?”

“Be quiet, we can’t talk anymore.”

“I’m not your family or sect, why should you worry about me suffering karmic backlash?”

“But I knew you before I lit the lamp.”

“So what? In my eyes, you’re just a little shrimp good at amusing me, who I could boil anytime.”

“But every time I return to Nantong, turning into the village road and seeing this peach grove where you reside, it feels like seeing my home’s entrance.”

The wooden house fell silent.

Li Zhuiyuan bowed solemnly to the wooden house.

Then, the young man turned and walked out of the now barren peach grove.

The evening wind blew, and with no petals to obstruct it, it swept into the grove, making it seem even more desolate.

Qing’an placed a hand on the qin, lightly plucking it.

Su Luo walked out from the wall, carrying a pot of tea, and said with a smile:

“That one regards you as an elder of the family.”

Qing’an flicked his fingertip, glanced at Su Luo, and said:

“No wonder you died underground for so long and were still tricked out by him to be used as a tool.”

Su Luo looked puzzled: “Is there a connection between the two?”

Qing’an, annoyed, turned his head and cast a glance in the direction the young man had just left:

“When returning home, seeing this peach grove where I reside is like seeing the entrance to his home.
Is this treating me as an elder of the family?
This is clearly, truly treating me as his family’s…
Gatekeeper.”

A-Li had already collected the necessary medicinal herbs.

After Li Zhuiyuan came out, he put on the herb basket.

“Let’s go home.”

Even though the typhoon’s center was still quite far away, its peripheral effects were becoming increasingly apparent.

The wind grew stronger.

The girl held the boy’s hand even tighter.

When the two returned home, Li Zhuiyuan escorted the girl to the east room.

Pushing open the door to the east room, he saw Liu Yumei holding a wine cup, resting on the altar table.

She wasn’t drunk, just intentionally exaggerating her slight tipsiness.

Grandma Yao draped a thin blanket over Miss, and seeing Miss A-Li return, she rose from her makeshift bed on the floor and walked over to greet her.

A-Li stood inside the doorway, not closing the door, just staring at the medicine basket on the young man’s back.

Li Zhuiyuan: “Rest early. You can easily process these herbs tomorrow morning.”

A-Li shifted her gaze to the young man’s face.

He still wouldn’t tell her.

She already had a premonition of what she would encounter tomorrow.

Li Zhuiyuan reached out and took the girl’s hand, opening her palm, letting his index finger’s nail gently press into her palm.

He didn’t dare to use too much force. When he moved his finger away, a shallow indentation appeared in the girl’s palm.

A smile appeared on the young man’s face.

The girl clenched her hand, took a step back, and closed the door.

As the young man returned to the house to go upstairs, he saw Runsheng sitting on a stool.

The other two coffins had very even snoring.

It was obvious that the snoring in one coffin wanted to change its rhythm because the same rhythm felt too fake, clearly indicating the person wasn’t asleep.

The other snore, fearing it wasn’t convincing enough, constantly changed to match the adjacent snoring.

“Brother Runsheng, is Grandpa Shan’s house secured?”

“Yes, it’s secured.”

“Then get some rest early.”

“Little Yuan, I burned paper offerings tonight.”

“Mm.”

“Got no response.”

Yin Meng couldn’t possibly not respond. This could only mean that the connection between Fengdu and here was cut off.

Only one person could do that.

Li Zhuiyuan: “Brother Runsheng, this is a good thing.”

“Good thing?”

“Emotional debts are the hardest to repay. The more your partner’s family looks down on you and ignores you, the more you’ll be able to use that excuse and reason to live in peace later.”

“I…”

What Runsheng wanted to say wasn’t about this.

The two feigning sleep in the coffins behind weren’t interested in analyzing their father-in-law’s psychology either.

The three of them were most worried now: after Little Yuan-ge sent off both outside teams, would it be their turn next?

Especially Tan Wenbin, he knew Zhao Yi had wanted to leave for a long time, and hesitated for so long because he was worried about A-You.

But after Zhao Yi entered the dojo, he quickly decided to leave with his own people.

This likely meant Zhao Yi received a promise from Little Yuan-ge regarding A-You’s arrangements.

If Little Yuan-ge also sent A-You away, would he also send himself and Runsheng away?

Before, everyone had faced life and death together many times, and they thought this problem wouldn’t arise.

But this time, the opponent they faced was too terrifying and too powerful.

It was entirely possible that Little Yuan-ge might choose to sacrifice himself to allow others to live.

Li Zhuiyuan patted Runsheng’s shoulder:

“Brother Runsheng, it’s really good. Later, when you go to Fengdu to bring Mengmeng back, you don’t need to save face for him. If push comes to shove, just grab your shovel and directly ‘snatch the bride’.”

After speaking, Li Zhuiyuan carried the herb basket upstairs.

Runsheng walked back to the coffin and silently lay down.

Tan Wenbin and Lin Shuyou sprang up from inside their coffins.

Lin Shuyou: “Didn’t hear anything…”

Tan Wenbin: “We’ll see Little Yuan-ge’s arrangements tomorrow.”

Lin Shuyou: “I don’t care, I’m not leaving Little Yuan-ge alone. If we die, we die together. If you’re afraid of death, don’t be a general!”

Tan Wenbin: “What if Little Yuan-ge gives a direct order?”

Lin Shuyou: “I…”

Tan Wenbin glanced at Runsheng’s coffin, then leaned back:

“Sleep, sleep. We’ll know tomorrow.”

Li Zhuiyuan came to the terrace and happened to meet his great-grandpa, who had gotten up to relieve himself during the night and was heading back to his room.

“Little Yuan-hou, the wind is getting stronger. When you have a chance tonight or tomorrow morning, be careful. Things tend to fly around.”

“Mm, Great-grandpa.”

“Go to bed early.”

“Great-grandpa, Grandpa Shan asked Runsheng to tell you that since it’s a typhoon these two days and no one is holding any rituals or needing paper offerings delivered, Grandpa Shan wants to invite you over for a drink.”

“Hey, the sun must have risen from the west! Shanpao inviting me for a drink?”

Ever since they met, Shanpao had always come to sponge off him. Later, with Runsheng, it became Shanpao bringing Runsheng along to sponge off him.

“Great-grandpa, Brother Runsheng says Grandpa Shan really doesn’t gamble anymore, and has even started saving money.”

Actually, Grandpa Shan was still gambling.

After all, the gambling addiction persisted, and raising Runsheng, he naturally had a need to gamble and lose.

However, Grandpa Shan no longer sat at adult card tables.

He would collect cigarette packs from card players in the various gambling dens he used to frequent. He would then take these packs and play “hitting cigarette packs” with the village children, losing a huge amount each time.

Although he still gambled and still lost, the money… remained.

Li Sanjiang sighed upon hearing this: “You know, if he had realized sooner, could Mengmeng have left?”

Clearly, in the two elders’ minds, Mengmeng’s departure was attributable to the negative family conditions brought by Grandpa Shan.

“So, Great-grandpa, are you going?”

“Yes, Shanpao has changed, so I should give him face, right? I just wonder about the wind tomorrow…”

“It should still be possible to travel. Brother Runsheng will be there; it’ll be fine.”

“True, haha, then I’ll go tomorrow. Old Tian has left too, and I have nothing to do. I’ll go have a good drink with Shanpao.”

Li Zhuiyuan knew his great-grandpa would agree.

According to past patterns, even if he didn’t mention it, his great-grandpa’s good fortune would lead him to avoid this place in advance.

Although, in Li Zhuiyuan’s plan, his great-grandpa was not among those who absolutely had to leave.

But there was a slight instability.

Because his great-grandpa’s own level of cultivation had always been in a stage of violent fluctuations at a low level.

If you said he could do it, what he did was wrong; if you said he couldn’t, he occasionally actually achieved some results.

Li Zhuiyuan returned to his room, put things down, went to shower, and after showering, returned to his room and lay on the bed.

No overthinking, no hesitation, no tension.

The young man closed his eyes and fell asleep.

A good night’s sleep, his energy restored.

Upon waking, before even opening his eyes, Li Zhuiyuan first caught a whiff of a sweet fragrance.

He turned his head and opened his eyes.

Outside, the sky was overcast, and fierce winds continuously pounded the doors and windows, making a “clanging” sound.

A-Li had a silver hairpin in her bun, wearing a white blouse on top and a horse-face skirt below.

She was wearing her favorite outfit.

For a while, Li Zhuiyuan had accidentally revealed this preference, leading to Granny Liu’s design table being filled with various horse-face skirt designs, almost making Granny Liu sick of them.

Of course, the most obvious was the bowl of steaming brown sugar poached eggs placed on the corner of the drawing table by the bed.

A-Li was making medicine; she had already rough-processed the herbs collected last night. Now, she needed to simply filter the extracted medicinal juice and then pour it into the empty Jianlibao cans.

As soon as one was filled, A-Li sealed it. By now, two small rows were already lined up on the floor.

Li Zhuiyuan got out of bed, not disturbing A-Li’s work, and first carried the plastic basin to wash up.

The morning wind was strong, not just blowing your hair and clothes, but more like trying to peel the skin off you.

When scooping water from the water缸 (water vat) to brush your teeth, you had to pay attention to the wind direction, bending over and sticking your head out, trying to prevent the mouthwash and foam from being blown back onto you by the wind.

The wooden box radio on the wall was broadcasting:

“Listeners, according to the meteorological station, this year’s Fifth Typhoon, following its current path, is highly likely to officially make landfall in Qidong, Jiangsu, around midnight tonight…”

Li Zhuiyuan finished brushing his teeth and began washing his face.

After washing his face, the young man rinsed and folded his towel, hanging it on the edge of the plastic basin.

He glanced at the radio on the wall.

“Midnight tonight? It seems the meteorological station isn’t accurate.”

On the village road in the distance, Xiong Shan pulled a cart, with his wife and son sitting in the back.

Lihua wore a large raincoat, not only covering herself but also shielding Benben in her arms.

However, her attention wasn’t on her son. She turned her head and shouted to her husband, who was pulling the cart:

“Are we just leaving like this? Shouldn’t we say goodbye to the Old Madam?”

Xiong Shan didn’t need to turn around; the wind carried his scolding to the back of his head, “smashing” it onto his wife’s face:

“Stupid woman, Young Master told us to leave for a few days. Are you trying to ask the Old Madam now if what Young Master said actually counts?”

“That’s not what I meant!”

“No one really cares what you mean. These two Dragon King Gates now belong to the Old Madam, and in the future, they will definitely belong to the Young Master. You just need to know whose words to truly listen to for our sake, for our son’s sake!”

“It’s a pity, after trying so hard for so long, my belly is still empty. Why don’t you try finding a younger one?”

“I only have you in this life. Try what? If it’s not from your belly, even if it’s born, do you think our son will recognize him later!”

Actually, what Xiong Shan wanted to say was, “Do you think our son would let him live?”

Some things, Little Yuan-ge had hinted at. Even Old Tian had used his young master to warn him. Xiong Shan himself had worked hard for so long, how could he really not notice any signs?

It was just that before, he deliberately didn’t want to admit it. But ever since that night when he “suddenly couldn’t” and was comforted by his wife holding his head, he finally understood that powerlessness.

And he was willing to accept and acknowledge the most accurate guess:

How could his son allow half-siblings to exist? He wouldn’t even agree to full siblings!

Although, this wasn’t his son’s original intention; after all, he was still at an age where he liked his feeding bottle.

But the reality was likely just that.

As his parents chatted loudly in the wind, Benben, sitting in his mother’s arms, looked at the familiar figure standing on the cement bridge in the distance.

After Xiao Yingying turned and left, Benben took another strong suck from the feeding bottle in his arms.

Then, his two small chubby arms deliberately pushed forward, making the precious feeding bottle roll down and get stuck tightly between two rocks on the roadside.

After doing all this, Benben yawned and wiggled his chubby back forward.

It was too hot in his mother’s arms; he wasn’t used to it, and he didn’t like it.

After searching for a long time, he finally found a decent position, bit his thumb, closed his eyes, and began to sleep.

Xiao Yingying walked back to Old Hu’s house.

The child she had been caring for was taken away by his parents, and she felt very lost.

This caused her to unconsciously adopt a dead-corpse gait as she moved.

One couldn’t see the specific movement of her legs, but her body glided uniformly across the ground.

She didn’t return to Old Hu’s house but walked into the now bare peach grove.

Inside the peach grove, the wooden house door was open.

Xiao Yingying pushed the door open and entered.

On the bed, Qing’an lay with his back to her.

Xiao Yingying also sat down, her hair growing longer, and sticky drops of water dripping from her body.

A black qipao, vibrant high heels, overly dramatic makeup.

She had not seen such a “real” version of herself in a long time.

Her hands reached forward, imagining the times they had rested on the boy’s shoulders. A hint of reminiscence flickered in her cloudy eyes.

“I gave him a chance. This is the result he sought himself. Let him go, let him be.”

Qing’an’s voice echoed in the wooden house.

Then, the wooden house slowly sank until it was swallowed by the earth, disappearing completely.

“Breakfast is ready!”

Today’s breakfast was quite simple.

Because early in the morning, Aunt Liu had sent Grandma Yao to the train station. Trains were relatively less affected by the typhoon, and since the heavy rain hadn’t arrived yet, there wasn’t much to worry about.

As Grandma Yao was about to board the train, she handed Aunt Liu a package, saying she had made it at home in Luoyang and intended to give it upon arrival. However, once there, she realized some things were not as she had expected.

But now that she was leaving, there was no reason to take the brought-back gift back home. Grandma Yao asked Aunt Liu not to mind and to accept the package, suggesting that if it wasn’t to her liking, she could simply discard it by the roadside, making sure not to let her abruptness spoil her mood.

On the way back, Aunt Liu opened the package Grandma Yao had given her. Inside were a set of dark red wedding clothes, one for a man and one for a woman.

They weren’t formal wedding attire, but rather slightly less formal outfits, similar to what a couple might wear on the second day of their marriage to greet elders.

One was for herself, and one was for Qin Li.

Grandma Yao said she was too embarrassed to give them when she arrived because she had misunderstood their relationship.

The two, whom she thought were husband and wife, were actually only playing the role of a married couple in this household, without the actual marital relationship.

But after so many days, she had figured out some things, and finally, gathering her courage, she gave them this matching gift.

Aunt Liu repackaged the clothes.

She wasn’t overly surprised or angry; it was like dropping a stone into a still lake – seemingly disturbed, but in fact, it only felt calmer.

The Mistress had never placed any restrictions on their lifelong affairs.

The Mistress truly raised them as her own children.

Of course, the Mistress didn’t force them together, only wishing for things to take their natural course.

It was just that, it was too natural.

She and A-Li, one born in the Liu family ancestral home, the other in the Qin family ancestral home.

Even though the Mistress married the Master, changing the relationship between Dragon King Qin and Dragon King Liu, for them, as house-born children, it should not have had much impact.

But the sudden changes in the fate of the jianghu and their families detached them from their respective life paths, eventually leading them to live, eat, and study together since childhood.

When she made mistakes, A-Li took the blame and punishment for her; when A-Li was injured practicing, she helped him heal.

They both carried too much, especially A-Li on his shoulders.

Furthermore, the two were simply too familiar, getting along more like siblings than even siblings themselves.

It couldn’t be said that they were holding each other back, nor did they seem to have any romantic interest. As they grew older, they became too lazy to mention or think about it again.

Perhaps, the hardest thing in this world is that final step before everything falls into place.

The package was placed by Aunt Liu in the west room.

Along with that, she repeatedly called out “Quiet” seven times.

Uncle Qin sat on the threshold of the west room and said to her:

“The clothes can be taken out first.”

Aunt Liu glared at him and asked, “Don’t you have hands yourself?”

Uncle Qin touched his head, a little embarrassed:

“I looked through, but I didn’t find them.”

Aunt Liu: “What if I just casually found them?”

Uncle Qin: “Then I have no eyes.”

Aunt Liu opened the wardrobe and quickly found the clothes at the bottom.

One set was red, and one set was green.

She held up the two sets of clothes, showing them to Uncle Qin.

Uncle Qin: “It’s truly strange. Over the years, whenever I wanted to find these clothes of mine, they always seemed to be deliberately hiding from me.”

Aunt Liu: “Next time, use a soy sauce bottle to weigh them down. When you want to find them, don’t use your eyes; just sniff for the strongest soy sauce smell.”

Uncle Qin lowered his head.

Aunt Liu hung the two sets of clothes on the wall.

It wasn’t time to change into them yet, but it would be soon.

Aunt Liu went to the kitchen, prepared breakfast, and called everyone to eat. Then, she personally carried a portion to the Old Madam’s east room.

The Old Madam was dressed in new, vibrant clothes today, looking quite young.

This meant she was ready; today, she would also revert to her younger self.

Liu Yumei: “How do I look?”

Aunt Liu: “Which ignorant girl dares to sit at my Mistress’s table? Such a lack of etiquette.”

Liu Yumei: “Don’t be so glib then. When I was young, I really disliked slick-tongued girls. Be careful, I might hit you with a sword to teach you a lesson.”

Aunt Liu shrugged: “I’m not afraid. At my age now, I’m at least a nanny. Miss should give me a little respect, shouldn’t she?”

Liu Yumei shook her head: “When I was young at home, I was most merciless when disciplining the sharp-tongued and harsh nannies.”

Aunt Liu: “Oh dear, then I’m finished. So you’re coming for me, then? There’s no escaping this lecture?”

Liu Yumei picked up her chopsticks and asked, “Has Shan’er been sent off?”

Aunt Liu: “Mm, she’s been sent off, but she’s not the only one leaving.”

Liu Yumei: “Those who should leave should leave. There’s nothing wrong with that.”

Aunt Liu: “I’ll go check over there. Please take your time.”

Liu Yumei nodded.

After Aunt Liu left, Liu Yumei picked up a spoon, took a sip of soup, and her gaze fell on the altar table in front of her.

She had talked to the spirit tablets on this altar all night long.

The first half of the night, she was rambling face-to-face with a wine cup.

The latter half of the night, she was chasing after them in her dreams, chattering endlessly.

It was always that one sentence:

This time, none of you have any reason to say I’m being willful!

It’s hard to change one’s nature, and Liu Yumei’s inherent character had actually never changed. However, she was burdened by too many responsibilities, so many that she had to suppress her temper again and again.

Although she knew there was no “underworld” anymore.

But she needed to get past it in her own heart.

When she eventually went “down below,” she had to be able to stand before the ancestors of both families, chest out, and tell them of the difficulties she endured over the years, bearing humiliation.

Little Yuan was the last potential and hope of both families. For this child, Little Yuan, she had sacrificed everything, risking her life. It was only right!

“Ai, it was so carefree and enjoyable when I was young. When you get old, even wanting a quick and painless death requires a twist of fate.”

Fortunately, she could finally lay down this burden with a clear conscience.

Not only was she free from worry, sorrow, and pain, but she exuded a festive joy from within.

This day,

She had waited decades for it!

While A-Li was doing the final packaging, Li Zhuiyuan stood in front of the drawing table and quickly completed a painting.

There wasn’t much artistic intention, all in gongbi style, purely reproduced. Rather than painting, it was more like “manual photocopying.”

A-Li finished her work, totaling ten cans of Jianlibao.

The girl stood up, walked to the drawing table, glanced at the young man’s new work, and then naturally picked up a brush.

Li Zhuiyuan gently pressed down the girl’s arm and said:

“I deliberately didn’t draw a beard. Master likes to be clean-shaven.”

A-Li nodded and put down the brush.

Aunt Liu’s voice calling for breakfast came from downstairs.

“Let’s go.”

Li Zhuiyuan took the girl’s hand. As they reached the doorway, the young man sensed the girl’s footsteps falter.

She looked back once more at the room’s furnishings.

The girl already had a premonition that once they left this room, they wouldn’t be able to return for a while.

When the girl looked away, she found the young man looking back at her.

Li Zhuiyuan leaned slightly forward, pressing his mouth to the girl’s earlobe, and whispered:

“A-Li, do you remember what I told you before?”

The young man had spoken countless words to the girl, but at this moment, the girl still instantly recalled which particular sentence the young man was referring to.

A-Li’s eyes showed determination, and she nodded very seriously.

“Let’s eat breakfast.”

The girl no longer hesitated and actively followed the young man downstairs.

For breakfast, Li Zhuiyuan still barely touched his food, only helping A-Li distribute hers.

There was no way around it; after eating that thick brown sugar and almost dumpling-sized portion of eggs, he truly couldn’t eat anything else for a while.

After the meal, A-Li stood up and went to the east room on her own.

Li Zhuiyuan: “Brother Runsheng, Brother Bin, A-You, come with me to my room.”

Runsheng followed upstairs immediately.

Tan Wenbin and A-You exchanged glances.

The three of them rarely came to Little Yuan’s room unless there was something to be announced.

Chen Xiyuan had also visited out of curiosity a while ago, but after a short stay, she felt like she was going crazy, because many things in that room were simply incomprehensible.

Li Zhuiyuan pointed to his desk.

On the desk were three white candles, each resting on a design blueprint.

Li Zhuiyuan: “Each of you take a set. After you go back, arrange this candle according to the blueprint.”

The three stepped forward and each took a set.

With their rich experience in helping arrange formations, even Runsheng, who completely understood nothing about formations, could see at a glance how simple this design blueprint was.

It was so simple that even when Grandpa Li performed funerals for others, merely providing emotional support, his arrangements were far more complex and sincere than what they held in their hands.

Lin Shuyou wanted to speak, but then Little Yuan-ge directly called out names. The team’s strict discipline, maintained all along, made A-You swallow the words on the tip of his tongue.

“Lin Shuyou, Tan Wenbin’s house in Shigang is empty. You go to his house and arrange the setup on the blueprint.
Tan Wenbin, you go to Zhou Yunyun’s house and arrange the setup on the blueprint.
Runsheng, Great-grandpa is going to Grandpa Shan’s house for a drink today. You’ll drive Great-grandpa there later, and arrange the setup on the blueprint at Grandpa Shan’s house.
Remember, at exactly eight o’clock tonight, light the candles on time. When the candles go out, immediately rush back here!”

This time, among the three, even Runsheng did not respond without hesitation.

Because this arrangement was simply too insincere.

Leaving aside whether this design drawing might secretly contain hidden depths that they were too blind to see, but Grandpa Shan’s house, Tan Wenbin’s old house, and Zhou Yunyun’s house… how could these three houses possibly be the required three node locations?

Little Yuan-ge, this was truly not even bothering to put on an act; it was completely the manner of dispatching them away.

Li Zhuiyuan raised his voice:

“Do you understand?!”

“Understood!”

“Understood!”

“Understood!”

The three, in the end, accepted the command.

“Now, depart in batches. Runsheng, you drive Great-grandpa to your house first. Tan Wenbin and Lin Shuyou will depart afterwards.
Also,
Before you go, each of you take another can of Jianlibao.”

“Let’s go, Runsheng-hou.” Li Sanjiang, wearing a raincoat, got onto Runsheng’s tricycle. “Ai, I really miss that Shanpao, haha. How can I drink his? I’ve brought several bottles of my own.”

Runsheng driving Li Sanjiang away did not surprise Liu Yumei, Uncle Qin, or Aunt Liu in the east and west rooms.

Today, arranging for Li Sanjiang to leave first was normal; his presence would constrain everyone.

Even Tan Wenbin and Lin Shuyou riding their bikes away shortly after did not raise any suspicions.

They could be sent out by Little Yuan to do things or gather information. Of course, even if Little Yuan genuinely sent them away, it was within the realm of understanding.

In this level of confrontation, those lacking sufficient power simply didn’t qualify to be at the table. Piling up numbers here was utterly meaningless.

Except for Uncle Qin, the eyes of the other two women were not easily fooled.

In fact, they had already discerned from the looks on Runsheng and the other two’s faces as they left that Little Yuan had indeed sent them away.

But what truly moved Liu Yumei, and made her realize that things were seemingly developing beyond her expectations, was the direction of the peach grove. With the wooden house completely sinking into the mud, the aura belonging to that individual was thoroughly withdrawn.

Liu Yumei had originally thought that that person would join in today’s storm.

Even if it wasn’t tacit understanding, given the interaction between Little Yuan and that person, Little Yuan could have pleaded for help today.

A fearsome, yet self-contained and suppressed entity, he feared death least of all.

Even now, Liu Yumei could still comfort and reassure herself:

If he hid, then let him hide. This is our family’s affair; it’s only right for our own elders to bear it.

Even if that person doesn’t act, the last bit of firewood from both Dragon King households will be enough to burn through this round!

However, just then, Liu Yumei saw Little Yuan emerge from the main living room, walking directly to her east room.

Uncle Qin and Aunt Liu from the west room saw this and also came over.

Uncle Qin: “Little Yuan, the wind is strong today, and it’s about to rain. You and A-Li should go back to your room to draw and play chess.”

Aunt Liu smiled and said, “Yes, what do you want for lunch? Tell your aunt. This morning was rushed, so I just made some quick things. For lunch, your aunt will make you something delicious. Don’t worry, the kitchen has ingredients prepared in advance.”

Li Zhuiyuan smiled at Uncle Qin and Aunt Liu, then came before Liu Yumei.

“Grandma, I remember in the past two years around this time, you would take A-Li out to make offerings.”

Uncle Qin had a bad premonition.

Aunt Liu’s hand gripped the doorframe tightly beside her.

Liu Yumei, sitting on the side chair by the altar table, her gaze sinking, asked:

“Little Yuan, what do you mean by saying this now?”

“Just wanted to remind Grandma, in case Grandma forgot the date.”

“The deceased are gone. A little early or late doesn’t matter.”

“Since they’re already gone, let’s not keep them waiting in vain. Grandma, you should still take A-Li. The wind outside is strong. Let Uncle Qin and Aunt Liu accompany you. I’ll feel more at ease at home.”

“Precisely because the wind is too strong, Grandma needs to stay home even more, to prevent…”

Li Zhuiyuan raised his hand, interrupting Liu Yumei.

Liu Yumei slowly shook her head and said, “Little Yuan, people need to live with a breath, with a goal. If they can’t even see a speck of light, then how is that life any different from that of a walking corpse?”

Li Zhuiyuan: “Grandma, you should still go.”

Liu Yumei: “Little Yuan, are you telling your Grandma how to do things?”

Li Zhuiyuan didn’t directly answer the question. Instead, he walked to the altar, took three incense sticks, bowed solemnly, and inserted them into the censer.

As the young man performed these actions, Uncle Qin and Aunt Liu silently stood outside the east room threshold, offering accompanying respects.

Liu Yumei also rose from her chair, facing the young man.

Li Zhuiyuan: “Grandma, I am not like them. I have entered the sect but have not yet separated from the family. You told me back then that the burden of both Dragon King households was thenceforth placed upon my shoulders.
I would like to ask Grandma, in front of all the ancestors, especially Grandpa Qin, to tell me again in person.
In these two families, legally speaking, whose word carries the most weight?”

As he spoke, Li Zhuiyuan took down A-Li’s grandfather’s spirit tablet and presented it to Liu Yumei.

Liu Yumei’s status in both families was undoubtedly above the young man’s.

But in terms of inherited lineage and dharma, even she couldn’t compare to Little Yuan, who cultivated both families’ core techniques.

This should not have been a problem, as Liu Yumei was not power-hungry, and such a transfer of authority should have naturally occurred with time.

Even Liu Yumei hadn’t expected that one day, the young man would directly put this question on the scales.

She glanced at the many spirit tablets on the altar, and finally, her gaze fell on the tablet in the young man’s hand.

Liu Yumei reached out, took the old dog’s spirit tablet into her hand, and replied:

“You, Li Zhuiyuan, call the shots.”

Li Zhuiyuan nodded, then bowed apologetically to Liu Yumei.

He knew he shouldn’t do this; this was an elder willing to risk her life for him. But he had no choice but to do so, otherwise, they wouldn’t leave.

Liu Yumei glanced at her granddaughter out of the corner of her eye, thinking of asking her to speak up and “reason with him.”

But then she realized A-Li had already stepped out of the threshold and was outside, turning to look at her, still standing inside the house.

Heh.

Liu Yumei couldn’t understand:

No, at this point, her granddaughter’s loyalty was actually leaning outwards?

“Alright, let’s go!”

Liu Yumei spread her palm, and the sword box flew into Aunt Liu’s arms.

Then, Liu Yumei stepped over the threshold, holding her old dog’s spirit tablet in her left hand and her granddaughter’s hand in her right.

Liu Yumei still wanted to turn back, to look at the young man, wishing to say something more.

A-Li tugged on her right hand.

Liu Yumei lowered her head, looking at her granddaughter.

A-Li tilted her head.

Liu Yumei ultimately said nothing more and left angrily.

Uncle Qin and Aunt Liu, seeing this, could only follow.

The wind outside was strong, and it gradually began to rain.

But neither the wind nor the rain could touch Liu Yumei in the slightest; they dispersed before reaching her and A-Li.

They traveled out of the village entrance, not only leaving the area of Siyuan Village but also exiting the Shinan Town region. Her and A-Li’s skirts were not even slightly damp, nor was their hair disheveled in the least.

Aunt Liu simply followed, holding the sword box, silent.

Uncle Qin’s chest was filled with a large, unresolved knot of worry. He wanted to say something, but didn’t know how, because Little Yuan had given the order almost in the name of “family head” this time.

“Let’s go. Let’s leave here first, find a distant, dry, sheltered place, and rest for a while,” Liu Yumei looked up at the geomancy and weather. “At midnight tonight, this strong wind will truly arrive.”

Aunt Liu’s eyes lit up, and she immediately echoed, “The meteorological station says so too.”

Liu Yumei: “I’m much more accurate than the meteorological station.”

Uncle Qin also seemed to have a premonition, looking at the Mistress with hopeful eyes.

The solemnity and anger on Liu Yumei’s face completely vanished at this moment. In fact, a leisurely smile even appeared on her face. She lowered her head and weighed the spirit tablet she had taken from the house:

“Heh, I regretted for decades because I obeyed back then; now, you want me to regret again? Dream on!
To actually use the old dog’s spirit tablet to pressure me?
Little Yuan,
This time, Grandma, I’ll show you what it means when I say the world is big, but my temper is the biggest!”

At this moment, the main house, east room, and west room were empty, except for Li Zhuiyuan.

The young man walked onto the dam, letting the wind lash against him.

“Woof!”

Xiao Hei emerged from its den. It also felt unfamiliar with the eerily quiet atmosphere of the house.

This unease even prompted it to venture out this far, from the living room to the dam to look around, without Chen Jing chasing it.

Li Zhuiyuan squatted down.

Xiao Hei walked towards Li Zhuiyuan, rubbing its head against the young man’s hand.

Li Zhuiyuan stroked Xiao Hei’s head with one hand and said:

“Next, I should…
prepare my own funeral.”