Chapter 998 Mother's Home

However, Mu Wuzhi couldn't help but interrupt: "Grandpa, you don't know, this time thanks to A Li, otherwise I'm afraid..."

Before she could finish her words, the wine glass in Mu Chenzhou's hand suddenly shattered with a "snap".

Everyone was shocked to see his gloomy face and cold voice: "Wuzhi, you are not allowed to participate in such dangerous things in the future!"

Mu Wuzhi shrank her neck and whispered, "I understand, uncle."

Seeing this, Mu Chao quickly tried to smooth things over, "Don't worry, uncle. I will take good care of sister Wuzhi in the future."

Luo Li also smiled and said, "Second cousin just said it in a dangerous way, it's actually not that bad."

Mu Chenzhou glanced at her, his expression eased slightly, but he still said nothing.

Mu Wuzhi stuck out her tongue and whispered to Luo Li, "Actually, uncle wanted big brother to go to the ninth level trial, but I did something and it was me who went instead. It's normal for uncle to be angry."

Hearing this, Luo Li smiled and said, "I see."

Maybe this is kinship. Although we have not met each other many times, we are not strangers to each other at all.

After the banquet, Luo Li stood alone in the yard admiring the moon.

Footsteps sounded behind him, and Mu Chenzhou's voice came: "Your mother was also so stubborn back then. She insisted on running away, and I couldn't stop her no matter what I did."

Luo Li turned around and saw him standing with his hands behind his back, his eyes looking far away.

"Uncle..."

Mu Chenzhou sighed, "Let's not talk about the past. Now that you're back, Qingfeng Valley is your home."

Luo Li's heart moved and she nodded solemnly.

The night breeze blows, bringing bursts of floral fragrance.

She looked up at the starry sky, the corners of her lips slightly raised.

——After going through so many ups and downs, I finally returned to my mother’s home.

The moonlight was like water, and Luo Li sat quietly in the bamboo house in Qingfeng Valley to regulate her breathing.

The next day——

During the day, Grandpa took Luo Li on a tour of Qingfeng Valley, and soon it was night again.

The moonlight is like water, sprinkling on the bluestone path in Qingfeng Valley.

Luo Li's fingertips gently stroked the vines that covered the stone wall. The leaves glowed slightly the moment she touched them, as if responding to her presence.

"This is the Lingxi vine. Only the Mu family's bloodline can awaken its light."

Mu Qingxuan appeared behind her at some point, holding a green lantern in his hand. "Your mother loved playing here when she was little."

Luo Li withdrew her hand, and the fluorescent light gradually dimmed. "Second uncle, what was mother like... in the valley?"

A trace of reminiscence flashed in Mu Qingxuan's eyes, "Xiaoqing..."

He paused and pointed to a building half-hidden by clouds in the distance. "That's the library. There are notes she left on the top floor. I'll take you there to see them tomorrow."

"Thank you, Third Uncle." Luo Li was about to ask again when she suddenly heard hurried footsteps.

Mu Chao came running over, sweat on his forehead, "Cousin A Li, Grandpa asked you to come over. He said he has something to tell you."

Mu Qingxuan frowned slightly, "It's so late, father hasn't rested yet?

"Grandpa said it's about the ancestral worship ceremony in a few days." Mu Chao scratched his head and explained.

Luo Li nodded, "I'll go right away."

Along the winding corridor, Luo Li followed Mu Chao towards the valley master's residence.

The night wind brought bursts of medicinal fragrance, which was the unique scent of spiritual plants in Qingfeng Valley.

"We're here," Mu Chao stopped in front of a carved wooden door and knocked gently, "Grandpa, my cousin A'li is here."

Mu Zhengnian's gentle voice came from inside the door: "Come in."

Luo Li pushed the door open and walked in.

The room was brightly lit with candles. Mu Zhengnian was sitting at his desk, flipping through an ancient book. When he saw her come in, he immediately smiled kindly.

"Xiao Li, come and sit next to grandpa."

Luo Li bowed and sat down, noticing that there was a family tree spread out on the table.

Mu Zhengnian's skinny fingers paused on a certain page where her mother Mu Wanqing's name was recorded. But strangely, there was a circle of faint burn marks around the name, as if it had been burned and then carefully repaired.

"In a few days, we will hold a memorial ceremony for our ancestors. As Wanqing's daughter, you will need to perform the ceremony of recognizing your ancestors and returning to your roots."

Mu Zhengnian spoke slowly in a low voice, "The ceremony will be a bit complicated. You just need to follow the elders' instructions."

He also explained some precautions for the ceremony and let Luo Li go back to rest.

When she walked out of the room, Luo Li found that Mu Chao was no longer outside.

As the night deepened, the fog in the valley grew thicker, casting a hazy shadow over the path.

She walked towards her residence relying on her memory, but bumped into someone at the corner.

"Ah!" Mu Wuzhi cried out softly, almost knocking over the food box in her hand. "Cousin A'li? You're still out so late?"

Luo Li supported her and said, "Grandpa talked to me about the festival a few days ago. What's happening, second cousin?"

Mu Wuzhi shook the food box and said, "Send some snacks to big brother. He rushed back this morning, but as soon as he got back, he was punished by uncle to face the wall at the Cliff of Repentance."

She lowered her voice, "It's because I took his place in the Ninth Level Trial. Uncle is really angry this time."

She thought for a moment and said, "Cousin A'li, come with me. You haven't met Big Brother yet, have you?"

Luo Li heard this and said, "Okay."

The two walked along a hidden path to the north side of the valley.

In the mist, Luo Li vaguely saw that the stone walls on both sides were engraved with complicated runes, some of which were emitting faint light.

"These are..."

"It's part of the valley protection formation," Mu Wuzhi explained. "There are formations all around Qingfeng Valley. Only those of the Mu family can enter and exit freely."

Suddenly, a clear sword sound came from the front.

The two looked up and saw a slender figure standing on the platform at the edge of the Siguo Cliff, with the long sword in his hand drawing a cold arc in the moonlight.

"It's Big Brother practicing swordsmanship," Mu Wuzhi said with a smile, "It seems facing the wall hasn't hindered his training."

As he got closer, Luo Li saw that he was a young man in his early twenties, with sharp eyebrows and bright eyes, and every move he made was fierce.

Sensing someone coming, he sheathed his sword and turned around with his clothes fluttering, like a banished immortal.

"Wuzhi, this must be my cousin A'li, right?" The young man's voice was clear, and a smile flashed across his eyes when he fell on Luo Li.

"Brother, this is A'li." Mu Wuzhi pulled Luo Li forward, "A'li, this is our eldest cousin, Mu Siyan!"

The three of them sat at the stone table on the edge of the cliff. Mu Wuzhi opened the food box, which contained some exquisite snacks and a pot of sake.

Mu Siyan poured wine for the two of them and raised his glass first, "Cousin A Li, it is a great honor to meet you today. This glass of wine is in your honor."

Luo Li responded with a smile and raised her glass. She took a sip, and the sharp taste of the sake spread on her tongue, but with a hint of sweetness.

"Cousin, I heard that you are very powerful. The sword moves you just displayed are indeed well-deserved." Luo Li praised sincerely.

A smile flashed in Mu Siyan's eyes. "Cousin, you're too kind. It's just some daily training. But cousin, you returned safely from the Ninth Level Trial this time. You must have experienced many hardships. I'm sure your strength has improved a lot."