Pang Yu, Zhan Zhao, and Bai Yutang

After they passed through the door, a rugged path came into view.

Pang Yu looked back and saw a dilapidated thatched hut behind him.

It was the very house where he had lived after he met Yan Liang. After so many years, it had been neglected and was now in a dilapidated state.

He almost thought his previous experience was a daydream, but the presence of Zhan Zhao and Bai Yutang beside him told him that it was not a dream.

The jade safety buckle clutched tightly in his hand also told Pang Yu that it was not a dream.

He did indeed meet Yan Liang in another world.

Pang Yu gripped the safety buckle tightly, his nose stinging with tears—even though he knew he shouldn't be sad or cry, the thought of never seeing Yan Liang again made his nose sting uncontrollably.

Bai Yutang gently flicked his forehead and said, "Don't cry. Yan Liang is still alive. You should be happy."

Zhan Zhao smiled gently and said, "Now that we've said goodbye properly, let's put it aside."

Bai Yutang couldn't help but glance at him.

This statement makes sense no matter who you say it to.

It's time to let it go.

Pang Yu stubbornly insisted, "I didn't cry."

Zhan Zhao replied, "You didn't cry."

My eyes were just a little wet.

The three walked along the path and arrived at the town. Bai Yutang recognized it as the town where he had first met Yan Liang. He even remembered where Yan Liang had been sitting lazily telling fortunes.

They ate at the restaurant that Yan Liang often faced when he was having his fortune told. To Pang Yu's surprise, the restaurant owner still remembered him and Yan Liang.

"Are you Brother Yu?" the shopkeeper asked in surprise.

"It's me." Pang Yu was a little surprised. "The shopkeeper still remembers me?"

Of course, the shopkeeper remembered Pang Yu. Back then, he thought "Yu Yao" was a down-on-his-luck rich young master. Although he was down on his luck, he didn't complain about his fate at all. The other party was with Yan Liang, so he left a deep impression on him. But now it seems that the other party is in a good situation. There are even two young men who look like they are from the martial arts world by his side. They are either friends or guards.

"Of course I remember you," the shopkeeper said with a smile. "Are you revisiting this place? I wonder where Mr. Yan is?"

Pang Yu nodded, acknowledging the idea of ​​revisiting an old haunt, and said, "Yan Liang is traveling all over the country these days, and I don't see him often."

The shopkeeper vaguely remembered that Yan Liang had once said he would travel around, and thought that although the man was a cripple, he had indeed kept his word.

He couldn't help but feel happy for Yan Liang, and sent the three of them a jar of wine as a token of his appreciation.

"This shopkeeper is a nice person."

Bai Yutang slapped open the wine seal and poured the wine, watching the liquid gushing down, and said casually.

Zhan Zhao recalled the restaurant owner's words, his smile deepened, and he nodded slightly in agreement.

Pang Yu turned his head to look down at the building across the street. Yan Liang used to set up his fortune-telling stall there, sitting there with an unrefined posture and a lazy look.

Yan Liang is a really strange person. He says he is Yan Liang, and Pang Yu looks at him and thinks he is Yan Liang.

Their faces are clearly different.

It is unknown whether Yan Liangzhi knew they would appear here upon their return.

Pang Yu propped his chin up and thought.

What would happen if we knew?

"well."

Pang Yu sighed.

Bai Yutang's right hand was itching to act.

Pang Yu was still looking downstairs when he frowned and thought for a moment. He put down his hand that was supporting his face, sat up straight, turned his head to look at the food on the table, and finally understood.

It doesn't matter if we never see each other again, as long as we're alive.

Bai Yutang and Zhan Zhao exchanged a glance, then turned their faces away as if nothing had happened.

I thought Pang Yu was too young and naive to understand things easily, but I didn't expect him to understand so easily.

That's not bad either.

The three returned to Bianjing City. Grand Tutor Pang was shocked to find that his son had gone up the mountain alone and disappeared, only to return to the capital with Bai Yutang and Zhan Zhao. He insisted on getting an explanation from the two of them. Fortunately, the three of them exchanged explanations on the way back to the capital and dealt with the situation perfectly.

Pang Yu put on his best acting skills, believing he had done his best. But how could Grand Tutor Pang not know his own son? He simply saw through him but didn't point out his unnatural behavior, pretending that he had been dealt with.

The extra safety buckle and Pang Yu's change were obvious to everyone. Grand Tutor Pang wasn't blind, so he could see it.

A son is no longer under his father's control once he grows up. The fact that his son is so insistent is probably not a bad thing.

Since it's not a bad thing, let it be.

Zhan Zhao did report the matter to Bao Zheng. Firstly, although the two of them had stayed there for a year, they had been missing for more than two months here, so they naturally explained the reason. Secondly, Zhan Zhao trusted Bao Zheng and did not want to hide the truth.

Bai Yutang trusted Zhan Zhao and Bao Qingtian, and therefore tacitly approved of Zhan Zhao's actions.

This matter was unbelievable, but judging from the expressions of Zhan Zhao and Bai Yutang, it didn't seem like a lie. Even though it was hard to believe, Bao Zheng still believed it.

"Brother Yan... it's good that you're still alive." Bao Gong also had regrets about what happened back then. Hearing this, he felt a little comforted, but only a little.

Even in the Song Dynasty, there were still treacherous officials. If these villains and wicked ministers were not eliminated, figures like Yan Liang would still emerge. The people called Bao Zheng "Bao Qingtian" (Judge Bao), so he naturally could not disappoint them and restore justice to the people.

Wang Lianhua

His bundle was full of gifts prepared by Yan Liang. Wang Lianhua weighed it and found that it was quite heavy.

Wang Lianhua looked back while carrying her bundle and recognized it as the house where Li Xunle and Yan Liang had lived together back then.

Li Xunhuan entered the courtyard through the archway to the side, looked up and saw Wang Lianhua, who had been missing for half a year, and looked surprised and puzzled.

"Uncle Wang?"

Wang Lianhua had gotten used to the way her two nephews addressed her, influenced by Yan Liang. She nodded to Li Xunhuan and walked into the living room with him.

Two years after Li Xunhuan passed the imperial examination and became a third-ranked scholar, Li Xunle resigned from his official post and returned to his hometown of Baoding, Hebei. Although it was a good story that the two brothers served in the same court, Li Xunle was already a little tired. After getting used to the affairs of the court with his younger brother, he left.

Wang Lianhua suspected that he had learned this from Yan Liang, but she had no evidence.

The uncle and nephew sat down in the hall. Wang Lianhua took out the gift that Yan Liang had given to Li Xunhuan's son from his bundle and said, "It's for you."

"Give it to me...?"

Li Xunhuan was slightly surprised. Wang Lianhua took out a jade pendant, and he couldn't understand why she would suddenly give him a gift.

"No, it's for your son."

Wang Lianhua said.

“…I thank you on his behalf, Uncle.” Li Xunhuan was increasingly puzzled, but he reached out and took the money.

Wang Lianhua noticed his confusion but didn't bother to answer. She tied up her bundle, picked him up, and walked out without turning her head, saying, "I'm going to find Yu Huatian. I'll stay here with you tonight."

Li Xunhuan watched him leave in silence, then lowered his head and touched the jade pendant in his hand, his doubts deepening once again.

After leaving the Li residence, Wang Lianhua suddenly felt like he was just running around like a gofer, and he felt inexplicably annoyed. But thinking of Yan Liang's words, he resigned himself to going to the West Depot.

The Thousand-Faced Young Master and the Supervisor of the Western Depot met outside the gate of the Western Depot. Their eyes met, and before Yu Huatian could ask Wang Lianhua what he had come for, a wooden carving flew towards him. Yu Huatian caught it, frowned, and looked at the red-clad man opposite him. He heard the man say, "Here you go."

After speaking, Wang Lianhua left without looking back.

Yu Huatian frowned as he looked at the wooden carving in his hand and realized that it was a small figure in his likeness.

Yu Huatian: “…???”

Although the wooden figurine is incredibly lifelike, what is Wang Lianhua's intention in doing this?

Wang Lianhua didn't care about their surprise or doubt. He just wanted to deliver the gifts to Yan Liang as soon as possible, and then set off for Fusang to live with his friends in their old age.

On their way to Baoding, Hebei, they passed through Bai Miao's village. Wang Lianhua went in and gave him the gift, leaving a bewildered Bai Miao holding the potted plant in confusion.

On his way to deliver gifts, Wang Lianhua, who was diligently delivering gifts for others, met Yan Shenming and A Fei. The two were becoming increasingly famous in the martial arts world. Wang Lianhua gave them their respective gifts, thinking to himself that Yan Liang really hadn't forgotten anyone, which was quite a talent.

Yan Shenming loudly called out "Master Wang" to express his gratitude, and Afei, having already been influenced, also called out "Uncle Wang" to express his thanks.

Old Wang was used to it. He spent a few more days with the two of them, chatting about ordinary things and answering their questions, such as how to cheat people without leaving a trace. Before parting, he waved goodbye to them amidst repeated calls of "Old Wang XX".

In Baoding, Hebei Province, Li Xunle comfortably began his retirement life, eating goji berries and black sesame paste every day.

Old Li, the top scholar, passed away peacefully and happily four years ago. Now, the vast Li Garden is only managed by Li Xunle and his wife, and it is extremely quiet.

Li Xunle was overjoyed to see Wang Lianhua, whom he hadn't seen in a long time. He personally served her tea and water, and when she sat down, Wang Lianhua gave him Yan Liang's gift.

"Here you go."

Wang Lianhua said.

"Thank you, Senior Wang."

Li Xunle accepted it without hesitation and with a cheerful smile.

After delivering the gifts, Wang Lianhua did something he had never done before—running errands for others, a first for him.

After thinking it over, he decided not to tell them about Yan Liang.

After all, in their eyes, Yan Liang died of illness. If they were then told that Yan Liang's death was not a true death...

This was especially true for Yan Shenming.

After staying at Li Garden for a few days, Wang Lianhua set off for the port, intending to take a ship to Japan. On the ship, he even thought with great interest that the ship might capsize again, and then he would encounter some strange things.

But on the way to Fusang, there were neither storms nor waves, and Wang Lianhua arrived in Fusang safely.

Shen Lang and Zhu Qiqi met him at the port. As soon as the three met, Zhu Qiqi said, "You really came without warning this time."

Wang Lianhua said, "Because we didn't encounter a shipwreck this time."

Shen Lang asked, "Where did you go for those six months?"

Wang Lianhua said, "I went to see a friend."

He didn't mention his friend's name, clearly indicating he didn't want to continue the conversation. Shen Lang and Zhu Qiqi then dropped the matter and invited Wang Lianhua to their residence in Fusang.

Wang Lianhua didn't necessarily need Yan Liang as a friend; it was just that they rarely saw each other, and he didn't feel sad about it.

Besides, he'd already experienced it once, so he was used to it.

Fang Yingkan

Marquis Fang Ying saw that the young master had suddenly appeared at the foot of Mingyue Mountain after being missing for three months.

No one saw how he got there; they only saw Young Master Fang carrying a bundle as he walked from the foot of Mingyue Mountain toward the capital.

Su Mengzhen went to find him.

Young Master Fang smiled innocently and said, "I took a stroll around the martial world and brought back some small gifts for you, Master Su."

Su Mengzhen: "..."

The speaker and what they say, when combined, are quite remarkable.

Fang Yingkan gave the gift to Su Mengzhen—it was a medicinal herb.

Su Mengzhen held the box, utterly bewildered.

Young Master Fang would actually give gifts? And medicinal herbs at that?

After resting for a day, Fang Yingkan visited each of them in turn, smiling as he said that he had taken a trip around the martial arts world and brought them some gifts. He then drifted away under the strange gazes of the recipients.

Bai Choufei and Wang Xiaoshi each received a gift, and the gift was quite to their liking, so they pulled Su Mengzhen and Gu Xichao, who had also received gifts, to discuss the matter.

"Has he finally lost his mind?"

Bai Choufei spoke without any mercy.

"...Be careful what you say."

Gu Xichao wanted to agree with him, but reason stopped him.

Wang Xiaoshi said, "No matter what, I really like the gift that Young Master Fang gave me."

The other three looked at this naive person with expressions that were hard to describe.

Su Mengzhen paused for a moment, then affirmed Wang Xiaoshi's statement, saying, "That's true. At least we can be certain that Young Master Fang seems to have no other intentions."

It would be abnormal if it developed "other intentions" after many years.

Fang Yingkan not only sent them gifts, but also went to see Di Feijing.

Di Fei calmly expressed his gratitude, unperturbed by praise or criticism, as if nothing had happened.

Fang Yingkan went to Danzhou to see Pang Jin again, stayed in Danzhou for a few days, and gave Pang Jin Yan Liang's gift when he left.

Pang Jin was already suspicious of Fang Yingkan's intentions, but when she received the gift, she suddenly understood something.

Yan Liang sometimes doesn't hide it. The person he spent the most time with in the capital that year was Pang Jin. Later, the two also traveled together. When Yan Liang asked about or talked about his grandfather's generation, he would always show a sense of nostalgia.

Now middle-aged, he is no longer the impetuous youth he once was. Recalling his old friend's actions after many years, he discovered many illogical aspects.

I see.

Pang Jin thought.

He was saddened by the untimely death of his old friend, but now he is comforted by the gift from another world.

No one knew why Young Master Fang was sending gifts to so many people, and Fang Yingkan wouldn't say, so even if they asked, they couldn't get the reason out of him.

Fang Yingkan also did not intend to speak.

Yan Liang only revealed a little to him at the time, and never mentioned anything else. Others assumed that Zhao Huan was Yan Liang and that the Crown Prince was always the Crown Prince. But only Fang Yingkan knew that Zhao Huan and Yan Liang were different people. If he hadn't met him outside the Marquis of Shentong's residence, Fang Yingkan would never have had any doubts, and Yan Liang would never have admitted this to him.

So it's fine if only he knows.

Author's Note: The Eastern Cult Leader didn't have a gift-delivering mission, so he didn't appear. _(:з」∠)_

This is now completely over.

Thank you so much, my little angels, for reading this far! Sending you love!

Goodbye, Jianghu.

Let the red thread of fate guide our path forward.