Chapter 34

"What happened?" Tang Jiu frowned and soothed, "Don't worry, tell me slowly."

Suisui sat in her brother's arms, looking up at Brother Zhou, who always had a smile on his face and would patiently play with the little cub. Her eyes were clear and puzzled, with some ignorant worry.

Xiao Zhou was still wearing the dark green shorts that he had washed very cleanly. His hair was neatly tied up and knotted slightly behind his head. One could tell at a glance that he was a capable young man.

But at this moment, his eyes were filled with panic and disbelief. His lips moved a few times, and his dry throat only emitted a hoarse and broken voice: "Master, Quyuan Manor... is gone."

The last syllable of his voice floated lightly, blending into the elegant fragrance in the room, like a drop of water falling into the ocean, leaving no trace.

However, such a light sound felt as heavy as a thousand pounds, making one's heart sink suddenly.

Tang Jiu was stunned.

"Zhou Bai, what are you talking about?" He stood up in disbelief and snapped the jade fan in his hand shut.

The crisp sound was like the last straw that broke the camel's back, completely breaking Xiao Zhou's false calm on the surface.

"Master...Master...Quyuan Manor is gone, gone, everything is gone..."

Every syllable Zhou Bai uttered contained extreme pain. It was as if a piece of cold, hard ice was forced into his chest, and the biting cold spread, soaking his body.

He staggered forward a few steps and fell in front of Tang Jiu.

He tried to stand up, but fear and regret had already overwhelmed him. In the end, he could only curl up in agony at Tang Jiu's feet, his voice desperate: "Father, Mother, Big Brother, Xiaobao, Uncle Zhang... They are all dead... None of them survived..."

"Why am I still alive?! I should be with them..."

"That way, at least the family can be reunited."

Zhou Bai is from Dongzhuang, Quyuanzhuang. Both his parents are mortals without spiritual roots.

In Wuzhou, this almost sealed his fate. Like his parents, he would spend his entire life confined to a small village, sowing in spring and harvesting in autumn, year after year.

However, four years ago, by chance, he met Tang Jiu, who was angry with his parents and ran to Quyuan Manor, vowing to make a name for himself.

Tang Jiu is his benefactor.

With the help of Tang Jiu, Zhou Bai tested his spiritual roots, embarked on the path of Taoism, and became an apprentice at Tang's Pharmacy.

Zhou Bai's aptitude wasn't great, but he never gave up. He wanted to cultivate hard and earn more spirit stones.

He wanted to buy some elixirs for his father and mother so that they could stay with him longer and longer.

His elder brother and sister-in-law had always treated him very well. His sister-in-law had just given birth to a young nephew last year. The nephew was young and adorable, and Zhou Bai hoped that the nephew could also embark on the path of Taoism and avoid the suffering of the mortal world.

He had just broken through to the second level of Qi training a few days ago and had just accumulated enough spirit stones.

He had long had his eye on the disease-curing pill in the pharmacy and planned to buy it when he returned this time and give it to his mother who had been ill for many years.

He hadn't waited until his mother took the healing pill, nor had he seen her smile of pride for him.

"Why?" He burst into tears. "It's been fine for so many years, why today... why now?!"

"I'm going back tonight..."

In the elegant and sophisticated room, Zhou Bai's painful sobs were unusually clear.

Suisui felt his brother's hand, which was supporting him from behind, suddenly clench into a fist. He restrained his strength and was about to move it away carefully.

The next moment, the little fat boy turned slightly sideways and held his brother's hand in his arms.

A soft and warm touch came from his hand. Jiang Mingyan lowered his eyes and saw the round-faced little cub looking at him worriedly.

"Sui Sui..." He murmured softly, and his hanging heart seemed to be held by a pair of small hands, gaining temporary peace.

He closed his eyes and tried to calm down.

When Jiang Mingyan opened his eyes again, he suppressed all his panic and asked, "Who told you that?"

"Zhou Bai! Who told you that?!"

Jiang Mingyan's shout was like a heavy hammer, waking Zhou Bai from the endless pain.

"It's Xiaoyun." He answered blankly, "She took the flying horse that the young master left at the pharmacy and galloped at night. She just arrived at the Tang Mansion."

"The Madam wanted her to rest, but she refused and followed the steward to the auction house."

"I want to go back, back to Quyuan Manor." Sui Sui heard her brother's cold voice.

So, Suisui slowly let go of his brother's arm, and stretched out his little hands to hug his brother's neck.

"Brother, I will be with you every year." The little cub said softly.

Jiang Mingyan silently hugged the soft ball, veins bulging on the back of his hand, but the strength was gentle.

"Brother knows." He responded in a hoarse voice.

"...Okay." Tang Jiu bent down and helped Zhou Bai up: "The Pegasus carriage is still downstairs, let's go now."

Before Jiang Mingyan and his companions walked out of the private room, a maid in a green dress brought in black hedge grass in a jade box.

Jiang Mingyan looked at the pure black spiritual plant placed in the jade box, something he had longed for so much, and his heart was filled with indifference and peace.

He put away the jade box, hugged Sui Sui, and walked out of the auction house with Tang Jiu.

The sunlight outside is so dazzling that it makes people's eyes sore and they dare not look directly at it.

·

On the Pegasus carriage, Suisui met Xiaoyun.

Her face was covered with traces of tears and dust, and her brows and eyes were tired but determined.

"Young Master, Young Master Jiang, Little Young Master." When she saw Tang Jiu, her eyes turned red. She seemed to have a lot to say, but she suppressed it forcibly. She even gave a soothing smile to Sui Sui who was looking at her.

But she avoided Jiang Mingyan's sight.

At that moment, Jiang Mingyan knew the result.

"Xiao Yun." Tang Jiu pressed her shoulders and asked her to sit down. He also helped Zhou Bai, who was stunned beside him, to sit down. Then he asked, "What happened?"

A trace of pain flashed in Xiaoyun's eyes. She tried to keep her voice steady, "Last night, a fourth-grade Wind Bone Wolf broke into Quyuan Manor. The manor's enshrined spirit beast was no match for it and was mauled to death by the Wind Bone Wolf."

"I don't know what that Wind Bone Wolf was looking for. It was scouting around the village, killing anyone it saw..." Xiaoyun couldn't help but choke up a little. "So many people were torn to pieces and eaten alive by the Wind Bone Wolf..."

"Some of the cultivators who rested in Zhongzhuang escaped, while others died at the hands of the Fenggu Wolf."

"What happened in the end? Did Fenggulang leave on his own?" Tang Jiu asked, suppressing his emotions.

"It was an old man." Xiaoyun wiped her tears. "He rushed over and killed the Wind Bone Wolf."

Tang Jiu fell silent.

"I was in Nanzhuang at the time. Nanzhuang suffered the least casualties because it's farther away." Xiaoyun lamented deeply, "As soon as the Wind Bone Wolf broke in, my parents locked me up in the house."

"By the time I pried open the window and rushed out, the Wind Bone Wolf had already reached Nanzhuang. If it weren't for that old man, I would have ended up like my father and mother..." She paused and said with difficulty, "I would have become food for the Wind Bone Wolf."

"You've done very well," Jiang Mingyan said. "You suppressed your grief, went to Zhongzhuang to find the surviving Pegasus, and rushed all the way to Shanhe City to report the news... You did very well."

"Really? I, I..." Xiaoyun burst into tears: "I should practice hard and not be lazy. If I could be stronger..."

"Xiao Yun." Tang Jiu interrupted her self-blame in a deep voice: "This is not your fault."

"Even if I were to face a fourth-grade Wind Bone Wolf, I would only become its dead soul." He looked at Xiaoyun and comforted her, "You did a good job. You came all the way here to bring us news. Xiaoyun, you don't have to blame yourself. It's the monster's fault, it's the Wind Bone Wolf's fault, not you."

Xiaoyun sobbed and cried uncontrollably.

Jiang Mingyan hugged Suisui tightly.

He felt the sweet and soft scent of the child in his arms and closed his eyes.

He was a coward. He didn't dare to go to Tixizhuang or ask about Uncle Chen's situation.

It seemed that as long as he didn't ask or touch him, Uncle Chen would stay at home.

Uncle Chen would buy him and Sui Sui some delicious rice and vegetables, and would stand beside him in the yard, watching with a smile as Sui Sui and Da Hei quarreled...

He will be fine, live a long life, and be free from illness and worries.

·

The Pegasus galloped, but the road from Shanhe City to Quyuan Manor was too long, and it seemed as if it would never reach the end.

In fact, it is also possible to just fly in the sky forever.

Sui Sui was held in the arms of her brother, her round black eyes wide open.

The child thought quietly that Sui Sui could actually stay in the Pegasus carriage forever.

As long as Uncle Chen and Dahei are still in the yard, it doesn’t matter if I don’t see them every year.

I hope they don’t become like my father and mother, and never see any news again.

Just now, the brother wanted to cover Sui Sui's ears, but Sui Sui refused.

The child's round black eyes were clear and pure, and he just looked at Jiang Mingyan quietly.

So Jiang Mingyan looked away in embarrassment.

Suisui heard everything Sister Xiaoyun said.

Sui Sui didn't know what a Fenggu Wolf was, nor did he know what a guardian beast was.

But Suisui knew, the little boy naively but clearly realized that he was going to lose Uncle Chen and Dahei.

It’s like losing my parents, losing Uncle Chen and Dahei.

·

The Pegasus carriage landed.

Because of the long journey, the four Pegasus were exhausted. They staggered for a moment, splashing up dust.

But no one paid attention to these details at this time.

Tang Jiu jumped off the Pegasus carriage first, followed closely by Jiang Mingyan holding Sui Sui, and Xiaoyun supported Zhou Bai as they walked down in silence.

They stopped in front of a ruin.

A few days ago, Quyuan Village was prosperous and bustling. But now, it was as quiet as death.

The overlapping buildings collapsed, bloodstains were dark, and broken limbs were scattered all over the ground.

A white spirit beast covered in blood was lying on a clean wooden board, carefully covered with a white cloth.

On the other side, a giant blue-gray wolf had a scar running through its head, its fur was dirty and looked like a discarded piece of rag.

"The white wolf is our guardian spirit beast." Zhou Bai's voice sounded from behind him. He seemed to have recovered. Looking at the white spirit beast, his tone was very calm: "It was injured at the beginning and was rescued by the old owner of the manor. After its injuries healed, it didn't leave, but stayed."

"Because of it, we have Quyuan Manor behind us." Zhou Bai slowly approached and looked down at the white wolf: "It has protected us for many years. It is tired and it is time for a good rest."

Xiaoyun turned her eyes away, holding back tears: "I heard from my father that the white wolf howled for a long time when the old master passed away. Now, it can be reunited with the old master."

Suisui looked at the white wolf for a long time, then turned his head and buried his face in his brother's neck.

Jiang Mingyan felt a dampness spreading down his neck. He reached out and gently stroked Sui Sui's soft hair. "White Wolf went to find the old owner. This is the best arrangement for him."

"Yeah." Sui Sui said sullenly, "I know. Bai Lang must be very happy to see the old owner."

"Sorry." Footsteps were heard, and a familiar female voice said, "We're a step late."

Jiang Mingyan turned around while holding Sui Sui and looked at the girl in white: "This is not your fault."

Changsun Lianwen pursed her lips, looking at the silent child in Jiang Mingyan's arms, her face pale as she explained, "After we separated from you that day, we wandered around Wuzhou. Yesterday, we entered the Dusk Mountains, preparing to return to Zhongzhou. But before we got deep into them, while we were resting at night, Third Grandpa noticed something was amiss and rushed to Quyuan Manor. Unexpectedly, he was still one step behind."

"You don't have to blame yourself. Thanks to your help, there are still people alive in Nanzhuang." Jiang Mingyan said, "If it weren't for you, the Fenggu Wolf would have killed even more people."

"Where are your companions?" Jiang Mingyan looked behind her and asked.

"The living have been rescued, and they are caring for the wounded." Changsun Lianwen glanced at Xiaoyun. "Third Grandfather knew that someone had taken out the Pegasus last night and rushed to Shanhe City to report the news."

"When I noticed a Pegasus carriage landing just now, I knew it was someone from Shanhe City." Changsun Lianwen sighed, "I didn't expect it to be you. I'm glad you're all right."

"Sui Sui and I are fine." Jiang Mingyan thanked Chang Sun Lianwen for her concern, and then said, "The Tang family has already known about the situation at Quyuan Manor, and the people they sent to help are right behind us."

After Bu Senwan had sorted out the group, they became even more anxious. Tang Jiu kept urging the Pegasus, and finally arrived first.

"Sui Sui and I have elders in Xizhuang, and I want to take Sui Sui over to take a look." Jiang Mingyan said softly, "The person in charge here now is Tang Jiu. If you have any questions, you can discuss it with him."

Tang Jiu nodded when he heard this: "Ms. Changsun."

After watching Tang Jiu talk to Changsun Lianwen, Jiang Mingyan turned around and walked towards Xizhuang with Suisui in his arms.

After walking on it several times, the road that was extremely familiar to me now seems a little strange.

The sun was setting in the west, tinting the sky with a brilliant golden crimson. The blood-stained emerald green leaves swayed gently in the summer breeze, making a crackling sound.

Jiang Mingyan stopped.

Not far away, the familiar courtyard gate was tightly closed, stained dark red with someone's blood. There were also drag marks in front of the door, which were extremely glaring.

The courtyard wall collapsed, broken bricks and tiles were scattered, and the lush tall tree next to it was broken in half, with several sharp claw marks on the broken edge.

"Brother." Sui Sui called softly and fell silent.

Jiang Mingyan hugged Suisui tightly. He felt the warm and heavy weight in his arms, as if he had drawn some strength from it.

The force supported him, allowing him to lift his feet with difficulty and walk towards the ruined courtyard.

“Squeak—”

The gate opened.

Uncle Chen was lying on his back in the yard, with four deep claw marks on his face, his chest was empty, and there was a pool of blood under him.

He was wearing a robe that was very familiar to him.

It's black, the fabric is smooth and the stitching is fine.

That was given to Uncle Chen by Suisui and his brother.

When Uncle Chen put on the clothes that day, he couldn't hide the smile on his face.

Struggling every year.

Jiang Mingyan bent down and gently put the child down.

Seeing that the child was not standing steadily, he stumbled and pounced on him.

Sui Sui fell to the ground and held Uncle Chen's cold and stiff hand: "Uncle..."

"Uncle, wake up..."

Last time, Suisui and Dahei damaged your seedlings. Didn’t you say you would take Suisui to replant them?

You haven't eaten the Yunhai cake that Suisui brought back from Shanhe City yet.

Yunhai cake is sweet and Suisui likes to eat it very much.

Why don’t you try it too?

However, no matter how the years called, Uncle Chen still lay there quietly.

The hand that Suisui held in her arms was cold and stiff, no longer the warmth that Suisui felt when she acted coquettishly in Uncle Chen's arms that day.