Chapter 279: This is... Young Master? ...

Unexpectedly, it was Zhijuzi who spoke first. He was surprised and happy, and once he started talking, he couldn't stop.

"A hundred years have passed in the blink of an eye. I never thought that my aunt and I would see each other again one day." A clear and crisp young man's voice came from under the tall trees.

Tai Hao looked at the owner of the voice calmly.

It is not uncommon for plants and trees to survive, not to mention that this is Ju Mang's cave. With his divine breath and the incense of the Wutong Ancestral Temple, it is naturally easier for the flowers, trees, beasts and birds in the mountains to flourish.

But, I wonder if this Hovenia dulcis tree has transformed into a human form. Why is it still meeting her as a tree? Is it impossible, or... something else...

As his eyes moved, Taihao's gaze focused on Wen Yu, and he saw that she also had a thoughtful expression.

But it was obvious that Wen Yu and Tai Hao did not think exactly the same. She was still immersed in the alternation between the past and the present. The rapid sense of unreality prompted her to step forward quickly, and she raised her sleeve to touch the branches of the Hovenia dulcis.

Strong and luxuriant, the trunk of the Hovenia dulcis tree is much thicker than it was back then, and there is no trace of the insect bites on it.

Further up, clusters of fruits lie under the huge leaves, tightly packed together, like pieces of jade.

Wen Yu couldn't help but curl up the corners of her lips and smile slightly.

Fortunately, he was born in the mountains in late spring, so he could grow so lush and tall. If he was born somewhere near the human world, with the freezing weather now, the branches would probably be jagged and the leaves would have fallen.

"You...are alive?" Wen Yu asked slowly.

The Hovenia dulcis tree had been shaking its branches and leaves for Wenyu to see. Hearing Auntie's question, it quickly replied, "That's right. Thanks to Auntie for saving me that day."

Otherwise, he didn't know whether the trees would be secretly cut down for firewood, or die in the mountains. He didn't like either of them.

Wen Yu shook her head, clearly disagreeing with him. "What do you mean by saving or not saving? I was just doing what was convenient at the time."

He didn't need to take it to heart, let alone thank her.

After all, she ate his fruit that day, which was her repayment.

"For Aunt, it was probably a simple act." Zhijuzi didn't refute Wenyu's words, but bravely offered his own opinion. "But for me, if Aunt hadn't saved me, I might have been eaten by insects."

Wen Yu gently patted the trunk of the Hovenia dulcis tree and said helplessly, "Those few insect bites won't cause you much trouble."

All creatures in Houchun Mountain are spiritual and have their own destinies. The fact that this hawthorn tree can give birth to life is its own creation and has little to do with her.

"Anyway, it was my aunt who saved me." Zhijuzi started to act like a scoundrel, insisting on giving all the credit to Wenyu. "If you want to say anything else..."

He shook the branches and leaves, as if recalling the past.

"That is the owner of this house. No matter the passage of time or the change of dynasties, he always sends people to look after this place. He also provides me with a safe place to live, so that I can practice spiritual cultivation."

There is no sun or moon in the mountains. If the owner of the house does not take care of it, perhaps this house will disappear with the changes in the earth veins and the direction of the mountains.

Wen Yu was about to persuade him, but changed her tone as he finished speaking, "Are you saying that this house has always been taken care of?"

"Yes." He tried hard to recall his memories of the past hundred years one by one, and said affirmatively, "I didn't remember it clearly at first, but now this house is managed by a young man named Song Zhuo."

When Song Zhuo's name came out, Wen Yu was shocked.

Why?

Why has the Song family tried their best to keep Xianchun Cottage intact throughout the generations?

On the day Song Linsheng died, the elders of the Song family and Brother Shuangcheng were clearly in Shangdu. Why didn't the Song Mansion in Jiangyang move out with them?

After all these years, could it be, could it be that it was all for...

Wen Yu suddenly withdrew her hand, then clenched it into a fist and hid it in her sleeve. She didn't want anyone to see her trembling fingertips, whether it was Zhijuzi or Emperor Taihao.

Certain truths were about to be revealed, like a blurry bronze mirror. She stood in front of the mirror, trying her best to see more clearly, but she could only see her own distorted face.

Her cowardice, her retreat, her... meanness were all in her eyes, and the moment their eyes met, she had no way to avoid it.

The three hundred years of waiting at the Rebirth Inn was more like hiding than waiting, which would be more appropriate.

The people who look after Xianchun Xiaozhu are Song Linsheng, Xiyan, Azhu, Abai, Azhu, Ayuan, and everyone else in the Song residence...

They kept this place as it was in the past, for...

"Aunt? Aunt?" Hovenia dulcis bent down a tender green branch and swept the rough branches in front of it, asking self-reproachfully, "Aunt, did I scratch you?"

"No, otherwise." Wen Yu paused and turned his gaze back to the jujube in front of him, "This has nothing to do with you."

She recalled the poem she had read with Song Linsheng before: "Look at the flowers on the tree today, they are not the same as the flowers on the branches last year." This line of poetry was very applicable to her current situation.

Of course, Hovenia dulcis is still Hovenia dulcis.

But is the Hovenia dulcis really still the same Hovenia dulcis as it was back then?

Hearing her answer, Zhijuzi felt relieved. His voice, which had weakened, became stronger again. "Aunt, I have a name now. It's Ah Li."

"A Li?" Wen Yu called out in confusion.

Ah Li shook the leaves affirmatively, and the fruit beside it vibrated. "Mmm! Sweet nectar."

"Your Hovenia dulcis can sober up, but you call it Ah Li." Wen Yu smiled indifferently, as if she had discovered something interesting, and glanced at the Hovenia dulcis in front of her with gentle eyes.

Ah Li didn't seem to care at all, and instead seemed a little pleased with herself. "Well... she said this is called balance and restraint in the human world."

"She?" With Wen Yu's keen sense, he naturally would not miss such an obvious word.

But at this point, Ah Li started to play coy. He stretched out a branch over Wen Yu, as if looking sideways, "This is..."

Ah Li suddenly thought of something and asked excitedly, "Is this, is this the young master?"

"Young Master?" Wen Yu frowned.

The branches rustled as Ah Li continued, "That's the young man who came here with my aunt that day. He's the owner of this house."

At first, Wen Yu didn't understand what Ah Li was talking about when she suddenly changed the subject, but after talking to this point, there was nothing she didn't understand.

He was talking about Song Linsheng.

Following the direction Ah Li pointed, Wen Yu remembered the Emperor who was a few steps behind her. She looked back and saw Tai Hao standing there with his hands behind his back, not moving forward.

He is a true god-like figure with graceful green clothes and snow-white appearance.

Ah Li grew up in Song Linsheng's Xianchun Cottage, so he should be able to sense Song Linsheng's aura. But now, even he mistook the Emperor for Song Linsheng...

Wen Yu sighed inwardly, but remained calm as he introduced, "This is the Emperor of the Eastern Heaven Court, not the Young Master."

She was right, he was not... Young Master.

Taihao was like an observer standing aside, silently watching Wenyu and Ali recognize each other and interact with each other, until Wenyu talked about his identity but did not mention his name.

Wen Yujun was not wrong, he... indeed had no name.

"How could that be?" Ah Li looked at her aunt curiously, trying to find an answer.

This Emperor clearly...

But when he saw Wen Yu's expression, he wanted to bite off his tongue - since he had no tongue, he might as well bite off one of his own branches.

"Ali greets the Emperor." Ali quickly changed her words and greeted him promptly.

Although he didn't know why, he believed that his aunt must have her own reasons.

"Hmm." Tai Hao responded calmly, but he rarely asked, "I have a chance to meet you today. How about I help you transform?"

As soon as these words were spoken, Wen Yu's eyebrows moved slightly, and she turned to look at Tai Hao.

The Emperor is a man of few words, not the kind of person who would talk too much for no reason.

However, no matter what his purpose was, this was a good thing for A Li.

"Ali, are you willing?" Wen Yu did not forget to ask Ali what she thought. After all, everything in this world requires mutual consent.

Ah Li seemed startled by these words and hesitated. He knew that if he could receive guidance from the Emperor, it would be of great benefit to his cultivation.

Ah Li felt regretful and replied helplessly, "Aunt, Emperor, it's not that Ah Li doesn't want to, it's just..."

"Just what?" Wen Yu saw that he was speechless and said to him, "Just tell me the truth."

"Well... I have learned how to transform." Ah Li lowered her voice but did not take the next step.

Tai Hao wasn't surprised by Ah Li's answer. He simply asked, "Since you already know how to transform, why don't you show up and talk to your aunt?"

Tai Hao is the emperor of the Eastern Heaven Court after all. Although he is gentler towards Wen Yu, when facing others, there is a natural pressure between his brows that makes people breathless.

There were clearly no sharp words or heated arguments, and he didn't even raise his eyelids, but it made Ah Li feel inexplicably frightened.

"I, I..." Ah Li seemed to be afraid and couldn't even speak clearly.

After all, he was just a little demon who had only been alive for a short time, so it was inevitable that he would feel weak in front of such a majestic emperor.

Seeing this, Wen Yu understood Tai Hao's intentions and immediately interrupted the undercurrent between him and Ah Li. "Ah Li, let me ask you a question."

"Yes, yes, aunt." Ah Li responded hastily, finally breathing a sigh of relief.

Tai Hao remained silent and stepped aside.

Since Wen Yujun has taken over, he naturally doesn't need to say much.

Ah Li already has the ability to transform, but tonight she still meets in her original form and is unwilling to use her spiritual power, probably because she is afraid of causing a noise.

"You said that the Song family has always sent people to take care of this house." Wen Yu started from the beginning, unraveling the mystery and finding the answer.

"Aunt, the Song family sends people up the mountain to sweep and tidy up every ten days. Although no one lives in this yard, it has always been kept very clean and tidy." Ah Li recalled and answered affirmatively.

Wen Yu nodded in satisfaction and then asked, "When was the last time someone came?"

"Recently..." Ah Li seemed to be stumped by the question, and her mind went blank. "If that's what Auntie said, then that person has indeed not been here for some time."

After saying that, Ah Li suddenly realized, "The most recent time was over a month ago."

More than a month ago, Wen Yu was silently calculating in his heart, which coincided with the turmoil in Jiangyang Prefecture.

The city was not at peace, so it was reasonable for the Song family to put the cleaning of the villa on hold for a while. After all, not everyone had the energy to pass down the legacy and guard an empty courtyard for a hundred years.

"Apart from the people who come every ten days, is there anyone living in this courtyard of the Song family for a long time?" Wen Yu asked patiently, one question at a time. She had to rule out all possibilities.

Ah Li also understood her aunt's intention, "No."

He is not from Song's house.

Wen Yu exhaled a breath of foul air. Things seemed to become much simpler, but also more complicated.

"Ah Li, there's a grandmother named Zhu living in this courtyard now. Do you know her?"