92

After Nian Hua had cried enough, she gradually recovered her composure. While Fu Cui Cui was busy starting the fire and preparing the meal, she whispered and talked with Ye Yin.

Convincing Nian Hua was much easier than Ye Yin had imagined. At first she didn’t understand why the older woman had agreed so readily to leave with her. Only when they sat down to eat did the reason become faintly clear. Both Ye Yin and Nian Hua ate sparingly, but Fu Cui Cui, with her small frame and big appetite, finished five bowls of rice in no time, belching loudly, and finally left satisfied after washing the dishes.

“I don’t understand why you’ve come to me,” Nian Hua sighed. “I’m a cripple now with nothing to offer you.”

“Don’t ask me for help, just don’t cause trouble in the future.”

Ye Yin naturally wouldn’t say it that way, instead smiling, “Senior, don’t be too pessimistic. Things in the world are unpredictable.”

“Even if my cultivation recovers, I may not defeat that old beast. At best we might tie.” Nian Hua asked, “As you said, his power is now stable. Why risk offending him to shelter me?”

“The enemy’s enemy is a friend,” Ye Yin replied with bitter resentment. “There’s no question of offending or not; I am irreconcilable with this scum.”

Nian Hua misread the meaning, thinking someone from her grandmother’s generation had been deceived in love by Fu Yun Zi, so she didn’t continue the topic. “Since that’s the case, thank you for taking me and this child in.”

“Not worth mentioning, respecting the elderly and the young.” Ye Yin said, almost laughing herself.

After long consideration, Ye Yin decided to bring this pair of grandfather and grandson back to her home to raise them.

Fortunately, the house in Changqing Street had enough rooms, so adding one old and one young wouldn’t feel cramped. When strangers suddenly appeared in the household, Ye Hua initially felt a bit uncomfortable, but being naturally friendly, she soon accepted this pair of grandfather and grandson and became good friends with the outspoken and straightforward Fu Cui Cui.

Up until now, Ye Hua had rarely had peers of her age. Her precocious nature made her seem overly mature, radiating the aura of a family housewife. In contrast, Fu Cui Cui, coming from the countryside, had her vibrant spirit not dulled even by the hardships of the apocalypse. She often did things that left Ye Hua dumbfounded, such as suddenly standing on her hands to walk, pouring water on the floor to slip and play, smashing a vase and wailing as if her life depended on it while being spanked by Nian Hua, sneaking up to the top of a tree to learn through a thousand-mile vision, and more. These antics made Ye Hua laugh heartily every day.

Ye Hua’s gentleness and all-around abilities made Fu Cui Cui especially admire and like her. In Fu Cui Cui’s eyes, Ye Hua was like a goddess—beautiful, capable of doing household chores, and a respected healer with an extraordinary ability. She was nearly perfect!

In less than half a month, these two young ones spent every day together, chattering privately like close friends and soulmates.

Pi examined Nian Hua’s pulse, pondering for a long time before saying, “Your seal is very strange. I’ve lived for so many years without ever encountering one like it, and the power is incredibly strong, so much so that it’s…”

Ye Yin was eager for the rest of the sentence, but Pi abruptly changed direction: “However, your body is quite healthy, and you should be able to live another twenty or thirty years.”

“Is that so?” Nian Hua replied indifferently. “I see.”

After bathing and grooming, Nian Hua, dressed in a thick cotton robe wrapped in a knitted shawl, sat quietly in the rocking chair, embroidering delicate patterns with a needle and thread. Her elegant demeanor unexpectedly touched Ye Yin, resembling a well-preserved ancient painting.

“Grandma, I heard from Cui Cui that you like to eat chili peppers, so I’ve prepared this spicy and sour millet pepper soup for you to drink.” Ye Hua held the bowl as she walked over to Nian Hua, smiling brightly. “I also like spicy food!”

In truth, Nian Hua did not enjoy spicy peppers; she had been thinking about them only because of the cold in the Fourth Base. Nevertheless, she silently accepted the bowl and took a few spoonfuls with the spoon.

“Grandma, you are truly a master of high cultivation?” Fu Cui Cui’s mouth hung open wide.

“No, not at all.”

“Will you fly? Can you spit fire?”

“No.”

…

Nian Hua’s face remained cold and indifferent, yet her words carried a hidden warmth. The two children surrounded her, chattering and discussing which one would get to complete the embroidery.

Ye Yin was lost in thought, when suddenly the doorbell rang.

Pi went to open the door. After seeing the visitor, he immediately confronted them: “On New Year’s Eve, seeing a bald head is truly inauspicious.”

“Yo, the beast also knows about New Year, really treating himself as a human!”

“Master Yuan.” Ye Yin pushed Pi aside, smiling as she welcomed him in. “What brings you here at this time? Happy New Year.”

Master Yuan sat down on the sofa without any courtesy, pulling out a large bag of items. “Not happy in the least! I’ve traveled far and wide to bring you your New Year’s money. These are what my master asked me to deliver…”

Before he could finish, the man suddenly stood straight up as if struck by lightning, walking directly to Nian Hua and asking in a trembling voice, “Rong… Rong Rong sister?”

Nian Hua slowly lifted her head, gazing at him for a long time before softly asking, “Is it A Mu?”

“It’s me. You are truly Rong Rong sister!” This tall, sturdy rogue monk actually knelt beside Nian Hua’s feet, crying like a child: “Where have you been all these years? Do you know how hard I’ve searched for you?”

Ye Yin and the others stared in astonishment. These two actually know each other? And their relationship seemed quite special.

“Sorry.” Nian Hua smiled bitterly. “You’ve grown up so big now.”

Master Yuan wailed and cried, turning the room into chaos. Everyone persuaded him for a long time before he finally calmed down. Standing up, his voice hoarse, he said, “I have important business to attend to today. Since Rong Rong sister is here, I’m at ease. I’ll come find you later to talk.”

“Go on.” Nian Hua patted Master Yuan’s bald, shiny head. “I’ll be right here.”

“Wait for me!” Master Yuan gritted his teeth and left in a hurry.

After watching Master Yuan depart, Nian Hua turned to see the expectant faces of the group and, without waiting for questions, spoke up: “He is a disciple of my master’s friend. We used to cultivate together when we were young. I’m ten years older than him. In my worldly name, there’s a Rong character, so he has always called me Rong Rong sister. Even at over fifty, he hasn’t changed this habit. Alas.”

“May I ask Master Yuan his worldly name?” Ye Yin asked with a mischievous smile.

“He is called Zhong Mu. Zhong is the middle character of gold, and Mu is the water-wood character.”

“Huh?” Ye Yin was puzzled. “Doesn’t he have the surname Yuan?”

“Yuan? No.” Nian Hua thought for a moment. “Did you two mix us up? His Dharma name is Yuan Tong.”

Ye Yin shot to her feet, nearly toppling the coffee table. This startled everyone.

Yuan Tong?!

“Yuan Tong… Yuan Tong is none other than Fu Yun Zi’s…”

“Yes, junior brother, but our relationship has been poor since childhood.” Nian Hua looked surprised. “I thought since you’re so familiar with him, you would know.”

Know what? This old bald donkey concealed it perfectly! If Nian Hua hadn’t been here, she might never have guessed that the boss she had been obsessed with was right under her nose all along!

Yuan Tong hurriedly finished the task entrusted by his master and immediately came knocking again, wanting to inquire about how his Rong Rong sister had fared these years. Not only did he enter the door, but in the living room, besides Ye Yin, no one else was present.

“Where is she?”

“Don’t rush.” Ye Yin’s face was so grim it could drip water. “Before you catch up with Nian Hua senior for old times’ sake, shouldn’t you explain why you deliberately concealed your identity, Master Yuan Tong?”

Yuan Tong was stunned for a moment, then patted his head and sat down silently opposite Ye Yin.

“It wasn’t that I intended to hide it. My master said the time wasn’t right.” Yuan Tong said, full of remorse. “Actually, I’ve been hinting at you all along, such as using the surname Yuan and deliberately emphasizing my monk status…”

That hint would only be understood by the clever!

“Okay, second question: Who is your master? Why do you keep helping me?” Ye Yin took a deep breath.

“You often see them.” Yuan Tong said, “My master’s reputation back then was quite grand. But at that time, your grandfather’s grandfather hadn’t even been born. Probably you don’t know. He now has another secular name.”

Ye Yin held her breath.

“Xi Yu.”

What?

It was him?

At that instant, all the things she knew about Xi Yu since their meeting connected seamlessly, forming a murky tangle. There was realization, doubt, and a host of complex emotions swirling violently in Ye Yin’s heart, becoming an unrecognizable jumble.

“Other matters, ask him yourself. Where is Rong Rong sister?”

“On the second floor.” Ye Yin eagerly donned her coat and rushed out the door.

Xi Yu was not at Clear Cloud Temple, and no one knew his whereabouts. Ye Yin wandered aimlessly on the streets for a while until, as if inspiration struck, she suddenly rushed to Yan Gu Mountain.

Xi Yu seemed to have anticipated everything and was waiting for her.

Two cups of clear tea sat on the stone table under the plum blossom tree. He sat upright there like an undefiled deity, one not to be approached or desecrated. Ye Yin hesitated for a long time before carefully sitting down.

“You’ve come.” His voice carried no emotion, so faint it seemed petals could sweep it away at any moment.

“Yes.” Ye Yin was always as gentle as a little lamb before Xi Yu: “I want to ask…”

“I know. You came from somewhere else.”

Ye Yin’s pupils suddenly dilated.

“Don’t worry. This matter will have no third person know it besides you and me.” Xi Yu said. “As long as you understand that I will always stand on your side, that is sufficient.”

“Do you know… what I’m doing?”

Xi Yu did not answer directly: “Everyone walks their own path; fate is written in the stars.”

“Then can you tell me what you are doing?” Ye Yin felt unusually chatty today, but she had to ask.

“Helping those who need help—that’s all.” Xi Yu lifted the teacup.

Ye Yin knew it was time to leave and stood up.

Her heart was filled with reluctance, but those emotions could only be deeply suppressed, unable to be expressed.

“Sorry to intrude.”

As she turned to leave, she looked back and hesitantly asked her final question to Xi Yu: “Can I trust you forever, right?”

Xi Yu remained silent. Just as Ye Yin lowered her head in disappointment, his voice drifted to her ear with the wind.

“Anyone can betray you, but I will not.”