Hearing Hei Xiao's seemingly disdainful but actually quite pleased tone, a warm smile appeared on Shang Xiye's lips.

His life was unfortunate; his father doubted him, his mother abandoned him, his blood brothers fought each other, and he had no family warmth in his childhood.

He was fortunate in this life.

He has close brothers and confidants like Black Owl, lovers like Little Phoenix Yao, and family members like Ji Chenhai and Ji Fengming.

As long as he wholeheartedly protects them and they overcome difficulties, they can be happy for the rest of their lives.

Holding the fortification layout map sent back by the Cangzhou Wei Dynasty, Shang Xiye felt full of energy and carefully modified and drew the map on another piece of paper.

Black Owl circled the roof of Ji Fengyao's bedroom but couldn't find her, so he went straight to the secret room in the side courtyard.

As soon as I entered, I was choked hard by the mixed smells of various medicinal materials.

"Little Yao'er, aren't you afraid of getting poisoned like this?" Black Owl waved his hand in front of his mouth and nose, making a pointless gesture as he complained.

"What do you know? I'm concocting a spiritual medicine..." Ji Fengyao said halfway, then glanced at Hei Xiao: "Oh, sorry, I forgot you wouldn't understand. Anyway, these powders are only good for the body, no bad. Taking a few extra puffs is a bonus for you, otherwise it's a waste."

"You've prepared so much medicine, is there any for me?" Black Owl walked over to her and sat down, watching her prepare the medicine.

"My father and brother are going to fight in the Northwest. Why are you in such a hurry to ask me for medicine?" Ji Fengyao said as she shoveled the medicine into the powder, her movements slow as she infused it with spiritual energy.

"Your brother tricked me into becoming a thug in the Northwest," Black Owl pouted, feeling very aggrieved.

Ji Fengyao's gaze fell on his youthful face again, and seeing his deliberately feigned aggrieved expression, she was both annoyed and amused: "Stop it, with my brother's IQ, you're lucky you didn't sell him out. How could he possibly trick you?"

Black Owl: "..."

Why did I suddenly feel a little depressed after Xiao Yao'er said that, when I wasn't upset at first?

Although his intelligence is not as high as that of the prodigy Xiao Jiu, he is not stupid either.

The amazing thing is, how did he end up being tricked again and again by that idiot Ji Fengming?

“I really am going to the Northwest with your father and your brother. You and Xiao Jiu stay in Kyoto, be careful in everything.” Hei Xiao scratched his head, feeling utterly confused, his tone somewhat sullen.

Hearing his earnestness, Ji Fengyao knew it was probably true. She stopped what she was doing and said seriously, "Master Hei, once we're in the Northwest, I won't be able to look after you all the time. You must remember to nourish and repair your dantian every day and don't conserve your spiritual energy."

"Heh..." Hei Xiao smiled and couldn't help but reach out and pinch her chubby cheeks: "Just now when I said goodbye to Xiao Jiu, he spoke like my father; now that I'm saying goodbye to you, you speak like my mother; you two really are!"

"If you keep talking nonsense, believe me, I'll stab you to death with a needle," Ji Fengyao warned through gritted teeth.

Black Owl laughed even harder, his manner cheeky and cheeky: "I don't believe it, Little Yao'er wouldn't bear to stab me... Hey, you heartless little thing, are you really going to do it?"

"I've wanted to stab you for a long time, don't run away!" Ji Fengyao held a silver needle in her hand and chased after Hei Xiao relentlessly.

"Your medicine, your medicine has spilled!"

"If the medicine overdoses, we can send someone else away, but if you go to the Northwest, who am I supposed to treat?"

“Zha Xiaojiu, he’s more resilient than me.”

"I'm tired of stabbing him every day, now I want to stab you!"

The two chased each other in the dark room, making such a ruckus that medicinal powder and herbs were spilled all over the floor, but neither of them managed to escape.