An hour passed quietly amidst laughter and the aroma of delicious food, and Shangguan Wenyan's lips twitched uncontrollably.
Fang Hang, standing to the side, also looked embarrassed. They watched as the Ma family ate their meal with gusto and left with bags full of things, which was quite an eye-opener.
Shangguan Wenyan sat there, still looking as carefree as ever.
With her mouth full of roast duck, Ma Linghua mumbled, "Gu Daoist, you really haven't changed at all. Hearing you say that Lihua's illness can be cured, I can finally put my mind at ease."
After saying that, he took another big bite of the roast duck, looking as satisfied as if all the troubles in the world had disappeared.
Ma Hehua's gaze fell on Shangguan Wenyan, and she teased, "Shangguan, you seem to be getting younger and younger. You don't look like someone in their eighties at all."
Upon hearing this, Shangguan Wenyan's face immediately darkened, and he hurriedly retorted, "Don't talk nonsense, I'm twenty years old."
Ma Lihua blinked her big eyes, her face full of curiosity: "Brother Wenyan, didn't you say you were 18 when I met you?"
Shangguan Wenyan replied in a serious tone: "My inner world is forever 18 years old, just like yours."
Ma Linghua, who was eating duck, suddenly paused, as if she was surprised by the answer. She then carefully examined Shangguan Wenyan and thought to herself: This Gu Daoist is really a bit strange. When she was young, she saw him look like this, but now he looks like an 18-year-old young man, full of youthful vigor.
Li Zhongguo watched this scene from the side, his eyes filled with barely concealed amusement.
His gaze shifted between Shangguan Wenyan and his daughter. The boy's eyes were practically overflowing with love for Lihua; it was practically written all over his face. His daughter and the rest of the family must have noticed it too.
Look at this scene, everyone gathered together for a meal, having a lively time. It seems that this grandson-in-law is not going to escape, and he seems to have already seen a bright future beckoning to them.
The Ma family continued their "sweep," not even sparing the napkins, filling the entire house with a peculiar yet warm atmosphere.
Like a thief, Lieutenant Chen tiptoed toward the cashier, intending to secretly pay the bill for the meal.
When he saw the prominent 8,000 on the bill, his eyes widened instantly, and he was completely dumbfounded. He couldn't help but exclaim in his mind, "This is too expensive! What did we even eat?"
But soon, his thoughts were occupied by something else.
He recalled how he had used some tricks to get the woman into the room, and a smug smile crept onto his lips.
At this moment, he had no interest in examining the details of the meal; he just wanted to pay the bill as soon as possible and enjoy his "delicious meal."
The atmosphere around the dining table was somewhat somber.
The three members of the Ma family frowned, hoping to avoid going to the Ailao Mountains in Yunnan.
Ma Linghua looked at him and said, "Let's not go to Ailao Mountain this time, okay?"
That place was a nightmare for them.
It's incredibly boring, not to mention there are countless insects everywhere; just thinking about it makes my skin crawl.
Shangguan Wenyan gave Ma Linghua a deep look, his gaze as profound as the endless night.
He slowly said, "We have no choice but to go. Only the Ailao Mountains have the medicinal herbs that can save Lihua. If we don't go, Lihua won't survive this year."
His voice wasn't loud, but it struck everyone's heart like a heavy hammer.
Ma Linghua fell silent, her expression shifting constantly. After a long while, she finally said with difficulty, "Let me think about it. I'll give you an answer tomorrow."
Shangguan Wenyan frowned slightly, his tone becoming more urgent: "The sooner the better. You need to know that Lihua has the body of a cultivator, and her body is full of pure yang energy. Once she truly sees a ghost, that will be her death day."
His words were like a sharp knife, piercing straight into Ma Linghua's chest, turning her face deathly pale.
Ma Linghua gritted her teeth, a resolute glint in her eyes: "Alright, I understand. I'll take her tonight!"
Her words were full of vicissitudes and helplessness, like those of an old woman forced by fate.
Shangguan Wenyan's lips curled slightly upward, and he asked with a half-smile, "Aren't you going along?"
Ma Linghua shook her head, her eyes somewhat vacant: "I'm not going. She's grown up now. How long will it take to heal her?" Her voice was eerily calm, as if she had exhausted all her strength.
Shangguan Wenyan paused for a moment, then said softly, "The shortest is five years, and the longest is ten years."
These words felt like a boulder, causing Ma Linghua's heart to sink suddenly.
She knew that the old man was getting on in years and probably wouldn't live to see Pear Blossom get married.
This cruel reality made her feel that the air around her had become thin and cold, and the whole world seemed to have lost its color.
As night fell and the streets of Kyoto were lit up, Ma Lihua got into a car with Shangguan Wenyan, their destination being the distant Yunnan.
The scenery outside the car window flashed by like a slideshow, but Ma Lihua's eyes were somewhat unfocused, as if her soul had been taken away.
She asked softly, "Brother Wenyan, can I come home for the New Year?"
Shangguan Wenyan gently patted her head and answered softly, "Of course."
However, deep within those seemingly gentle eyes lies a raging storm of love and possessiveness, like a vortex in the darkness, dangerous yet alluring.
Time passed quickly, and a month later, Li Fagui was completely cured.
However, the Ma family seemed to be shrouded in gloom, falling into a state of depression.
Especially Ma Linghua, who sat alone in the living room, smoking one pill after another.
As the pills in her hand burned, a chilling atmosphere gradually filled the living room, as if even the air itself was permeated with sorrow.
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