He reached out his big hand and ruffled the fluffy little head.

It was meant to appease them.

Then, he took one last look at Ruan Tang, who was completely in meditation, and only after confirming that her spiritual energy was stable did he reluctantly withdraw his gaze.

He bent down and lightly touched the little girl's warm cheek with his fingertips, as if afraid of breaking a priceless treasure.

The next second, his figure flashed and he disappeared from the space.

...

Outside the courtyard gate.

Yu Hao was pounding on the door, his hands turning red from the effort.

"That's strange. Brother Yu and his wife must be home. Why aren't they opening the door?" He scratched his head in confusion.

Duan Zhou tucked his hands into his sleeves, stamping his feet to keep warm, and muttered in Rongcheng dialect, "You idiot! I already told you people were taking a nap, and you had to wake them up! What will you do when you piss them off!"

Tao Yuming stood to the side, looking at the tightly closed courtyard gate, a knowing glint in his light gray eyes.

Given Yan Yu's personality, it's not that he didn't hear it, it's that he simply didn't want to open it.

He was just about to advise Yu Hao to give up.

With a creak, the wooden door opened from the inside.

A chill, even more biting than the north wind outside, instantly swept over me.

The people at the door felt as if the air had frozen, and their breath caught in their throats.

Yan Yu's tall figure stood behind the door, wearing only a thin shirt. When his dark eyes swept over, they were devoid of any warmth, capable of freezing one's soul.

"What's up?"

The two words were cold and hard, as if they had been fished out of an ice cellar.

Yu Hao felt a chill run down his spine when he saw that look in his eyes. The coldness emanating from his very bones made him instinctively want to shrink back.

But his enthusiasm soon prevailed again.

He chuckled and, acting as if nothing had happened, approached her excitedly, saying, "Brother! We're meeting at Aunt Fengxia's house at three o'clock this afternoon! Uncle Jianshe is going to give us a test, and if we pass, we can go hunting in the mountains! Don't be late!"

He spoke with great enthusiasm, as if he could already see Yan Yu knocking down the wild boar with a single punch, and them returning home laden with meat in triumph.

After listening, Yan Yu remained expressionless, only glancing at him indifferently.

"What are you testing?"

“Winter hunting!” Yu Hao replied matter-of-factly. “What a great thing! We get to eat meat and get some exercise!”

Yan Yu's gaze passed over him and landed on Tao Yuming's face behind him. It lingered for less than half a second before moving away.

He finally spoke again, his tone colder than the wind outside.

"When did I say I was going?"

"ah?"

Yu Hao's smile froze instantly.

He felt as if a bucket of ice water had been poured over the top of his head, chilling him to the bone.

"Why...why?" he stammered, his mind completely blank. "Hunting...it's so much fun..."

Yan Yu was too lazy to waste any more words with him.

He turned his gaze to Zhao Weiguo, who seemed the most composed, and directly ordered him to leave.

"Let's go back. We're not going to the winter hunt. Tangtang and I aren't participating."

After saying that, he slammed the courtyard gate shut with a loud bang.

The wind that blew up to Yu Hao's forehead ruffled the stray hairs and chilled his heart.

Outside the door, the four people looked at each other, none of them speaking, only the howling north wind whistling past their ears.

Yu Hao stood there dumbfounded, his face full of disbelief and hurt.

Why?

Why isn't Brother Yu going?

Did he say something wrong that angered Brother Yu? (This chapter has been read. Please click to continue reading the next chapter!)