As the sole grand city within a hundred li radius, the residences in Maple Forest City commanded a steep price.

Ling He’s contribution amounted to a mere pittance, and Jiang Wang himself possessed scant savings. Yet, a stroke of fortune presented itself: a certain individual lacked no abundance of coin.

Clutching Jiang An’an close, Jiang Wang strode directly towards Zhao Rucheng.

“Lend me some silver,” Jiang Wang stated without preamble.

Zhao Rucheng, whose gaze was fixed upon Jiang An’an, responded nonchalantly upon hearing this, “How much do you require?”

“Sufficient silver to procure a modest courtyard near the Daoist Academy. My sister and I shall reside there.”

“Why bother acquiring a courtyard? Why not simply dwell here? Many chambers lie empty,” Zhao Rucheng offered, winking his left eye at Jiang An’an, then his right, punctuating these gestures with an occasional handsome smile. It must be conceded, his countenance was indeed comely.

Jiang Wang cast a fleeting glance at Jiang An’an before replying, “We require our own dwelling.”

The matter of his own abode was inconsequential, but for little An’an, it was a different affair. The child had only just been brought here, and no matter how stoutly she feigned strength, her inner self was undeniably fragile and sensitive.

“Ah,” Zhao Rucheng stroked his chin, contemplating for a moment. “It seems my family possesses several properties near the Daoist Academy. Let me inquire.”

He turned his head and called out, “Uncle Deng!”

Ere long, a middle-aged man of gentle mien entered, bowing respectfully. “Young Master.”

“Do we possess a suitable residence near the Daoist Academy? Prepare one and transfer the deeds to my Third Brother.”

The steward, known as Uncle Deng, replied, “There is no need to specially vacate one. Three currently stand empty. Which one does the Young Master desire?”

Zhao Rucheng turned his gaze back to Jiang Wang. “Third Brother, what is your preference?”

Jiang Wang offered a soft smile to the steward. “Thank you, Uncle Deng. The residence need not be overly spacious, merely sufficient for An’an and myself. The paramount consideration is proximity to the Daoist Academy, that I may return home to be with her at any hour.”

The steward likewise smiled. “There is a small courtyard within Feima Lane, situated behind the Daoist Academy. However, I am uncertain if its layout aligns with your preference.”

“Go! Let us inspect it!” Zhao Rucheng declared forthwith. “Simply provide me with the key.”

Though Jiang An’an was taciturn and paid little heed to others, her countenance, as if carved from jade and snow, naturally endeared her to all.

Along the way, Zhao Rucheng incessantly teased her.

“An’an, who do you deem more handsome, Brother Rucheng or Brother Wang? Alas, an unanswerable query, for there is no comparison?”

“An’an, An’an, did you spy the candied haws yonder? Come to my embrace, let us purchase the entire bunch! Agreed?”

“An’an, do you know you are quite weighty? Behold your plumpness! Your brother’s hand is nigh unto breaking! Why not permit your Brother Rucheng to carry you?”

Little An’an had remained silent until this last remark, whereupon she tilted her head and regarded Jiang Wang.

“Are you weary?” she asked softly.

Jiang Wang smiled gently. “Not in the least. I can hold you without release until the morrow’s year.”

The modest courtyard in Feima Lane proved quite agreeable, boasting a main hall, a south room, and east and west side chambers. Though unoccupied, its facilities were complete. One needed only procure a few daily necessities to take immediate residence.

The chambers’ decor was likewise elegant and comfortable.

Jiang Wang, holding little An’an’s hand, traversed each room, ensuring she displayed no resistance.

“Excellent, this shall be our dwelling,” Jiang Wang smiled brightly at Zhao Rucheng, who still babbled around little An’an. “Provide me with the key, and you may depart.”

“Very well!” Zhao Rucheng turned with remarkable understanding and left. As he crossed the threshold, he abruptly turned back, waving to An’an. “Your Brother Rucheng departs, do not miss me overly~”

Little An’an scampered forth, and amidst Zhao Rucheng’s radiant smile, she slammed the courtyard gate shut.

As night descended, Maple Forest City, which had bustled throughout the day, settled into tranquility.

The diminutive earthworm within the Tongtian Palace completed its final ascent, expelling a rounded Dao Yuan into the Star Dou Formation.

Jiang Wang opened his eyes, concluding his pulse-charging cultivation for the day. The accumulation of Dao Yuan, day and night, drop by drop, all efforts would not be in vain. They would ultimately coalesce into the formation of the foundation, initiating the extraordinary.

It was precisely due to countless days and nights of arduous cultivation that the brilliance of traversing the Qingming would be possible in the future.

The chamber was utterly silent. Jiang An’an lay upon her small bed, her tiny hands placed neatly atop the quilt, motionless.

As An’an was exceptionally young, Jiang Wang had specifically commissioned a small bed for her to sleep within the same chamber. Two beds, one large, one small, occupied opposing sides of the room, facing each other.

Quietly listening to little An’an’s breathing, Jiang Wang spoke softly, “An’an, are you still awake?”

The little girl’s somewhat flustered voice immediately resonated in the room: “Asleep… sleeping.”

Jiang Wang’s heart ached for Jiang An’an’s tension. Such a young child had already learned to read people’s expressions. It was solely because Jiang Wang had instructed her before the pulse-charging cultivation to retire early. Now that she could not fall asleep, she was gripped by panic.

A little girl, not yet five years old, had suddenly arrived in a strange place, suddenly separated from her mother. It was already a testament to her strength that she did not weep aloud. What depth of panic must she be experiencing in her heart?

But of course, these matters should not be raised again.

“Well, Brother cannot sleep.” Jiang Wang’s voice softened further. “Would you like to observe the stars?”

After a brief pause, a “hmm” sound, as faint as a mosquito’s whisper, emanated from the room.

“Then arise.” Jiang Wang rose, lit the oil lamp, and then approached the bed to assist An’an with her outer garments.

The hands, so dexterous with the sword, proved exceptionally clumsy when tending to the child.

“It is not worn so, Brother, you have put it on incorrectly…”

Jiang Wang sheepishly withdrew his hand. “Then An’an, you don it yourself.”

The two busied themselves for a while before stepping out of the door.

At that hour, the moon hung high, and the stars shone brightly. The empty courtyard was bathed in clean moonlight, rendering this night, which should have been somewhat lonely, gentle.

“Are we observing the stars in the courtyard?” Jiang An’an inquired, tilting her little head.

“Certainly not.” Jiang Wang abruptly embraced her, lifted her, and leaped onto the rooftop.

Jiang An’an shrieked, her face flushed when they landed on the roof.

Jiang Wang looked down at her, saying with some guilt, “Did I frighten you, An’an?”

Jiang An’an blinked her large eyes, a hint of excitement present. “Brother, can you fly?”

Though she seemed eager to try, Jiang Wang had no desire to bound about on the rooftop like a great ape, inviting ridicule. “Not yet, but when Brother’s Dao techniques reach completion in the future, I most assuredly will. Then, wheresoever An’an desires to go, we shall fly there, agreed?”

“Agreed.”

Jiang Wang removed his outer garment and spread it upon the rooftop, then lay down on his side, placed one hand behind his head, and beckoned. “Come, lie down and gaze upon the stars with Brother.”

Little An’an obediently lay down on Jiang Wang’s outer garment, her small hands likewise neatly supporting her head. She opened her large, dark eyes, looking directly at the starry sky.

The vast night sky was dotted with stars, which twinkled. Countless lights were born in the endless darkness, and the starry river was boundless, encompassing countless dreams and memories.

“That is the Ziwei Star, that one is called Yuheng… the Southern Dipper lies yonder, there…”

“They are twinkling, as though winking.”

“Only our adorable An’an’s winking resembles stars. Unlike your Wild Tiger Brother, the large bearded man you saw today, his winking resembles only a cowbell.”

Jiang An’an giggled.

“Do you know, An’an, these stars are all in distant realms, measured in hundreds of millions of li…”

“How far is hundreds of millions of li? Is it farther than Fengxi Town to here?”

“It is far, far farther than this, countless times farther. If a path existed that could lead to the stars, an ordinary person would only have just embarked upon it in their entire lifetime.”

“Ah?” An’an was slightly startled. “So far away?”

“Yes, so far away. They reside in the endless darkness, traversing such a vast distance. Sending their light to your eyes. And offering you a beauty that may have long since been extinguished for tens of thousands of years.”

“They are so kind.”

“Father is like that star. He may have departed a very long time ago, but he is still far, far away, striving to emit light, and accompanying us with this light, so no matter when, do not be afraid, agreed? Brother will always be with you, and the stars as well.”

“Brother.” Jiang An’an’s voice was very small. “Mother does not want me anymore, does she?”

Jiang Wang was silent for a moment.

Should he reveal the truth to little An’an, that she was a burden and had affected her mother’s life?

Should he condemn Aunt Song’s selfishness and cause little An’an to despise her biological mother from then on?

How should he respond?

He had little time to ponder, for silence was also a form of harm.

In the end, he merely turned sideways and carefully and gently clasped An’an’s small hand.

“An’an is so adorable, how could anyone not desire you? It is because Brother truly, truly wishes to live with you that I had to request Auntie to send you over. Auntie wept so sadly when she departed, she could not bear to part with you either.”

“Truly?”

The starlight and moonlight rested upon Jiang An’an’s little face, caressing the still-faint tear tracks. She was as beautiful as a star and moon elf.

Though her face still held lingering traces of panic, her large eyes suddenly ignited with light.