Xingyue and Dongming followed Liu Dazhu and his wife and came to the quiet and simple farmhouse at the foot of the mountain.
Liu Dazhu held his young son firmly in one hand, and gently pushed open the slightly shabby wooden door with the other hand.
There was a slight creaking sound as the door opened. Liu Dazhu walked inside, shouting at the top of his lungs towards the yard, "Dad, we're back!"
Liu Dazhu's voice was as loud as a bell, as if to wake up the entire valley.
Before he finished speaking, a blind old man slowly stumbled out of a simple wooden house. Although he couldn't see, he still found the direction accurately by relying on the familiar smell and voice of his family.
The old man called out softly with a trembling voice: "Dazhu, Guihua, and my precious grandson Ergouzi, you are finally back!"
The old man's words were filled with joy, as well as endless love and care.
Seeing her father-in-law coming out of the kitchen, Mu Guihua hurried forward, stretched out her hands and carefully supported the old man, fearing that he would fall and get injured.
Mu Guihua supported the old man as he walked towards the main hall, while scolding him with concern: "Dad, didn't I tell you to wait for me to come back before cooking? Look at you, your eyesight is not good to begin with, and yet you insist on running into the kitchen to busy yourself. What if you accidentally bump into something?"
After saying this, Mu Guihua looked at her father-in-law with a reproachful look, but she couldn't hide the heartache in her eyes.
Mu Guihua smiled and nodded to Xingyue and Dongming, welcoming them. Then, she walked into the kitchen, donned an apron, and expertly began tending to the household chores. The kitchen was filled with the resonant clatter of pots and pans, mingled with the curling smoke of cooking, evoking a sense of homely warmth and peace.
"Ah~" the old man sighed helplessly, his tone full of guilt. "It's all because of me, an old man, who is useless. Not only can I not contribute to the family, but I have to rely on you to take the trouble to take care of an old thing like me... It really works hard for you!"
As he spoke, he groped his way to sit on a chair, a look of loneliness on his face.
Liu Dazhu looked at his father's dejected expression, his eyes slightly reddened, and he softly said soothingly, "Dad, please don't say that again. You've worked so hard to raise me, and now it's my turn to serve you in your old age. This is only natural!"
After that, Liu Dazhu gently patted his father's shoulder and said firmly, "Dad, just rest assured and recuperate. The children will take care of everything at home."
At the same time, Er Gouzi, who had been held tightly in his father's arms due to the shock, ran towards the elderly man like a happy little deer after landing on the ground, shouting "Grandpa, Grandpa..."
Then, Ergouzi stood behind the old man, stretched out his tender little hands, and began to massage his grandfather's shoulders vigorously.
"Good boy, you are so well-behaved and sensible~" A relieved smile slowly blossomed on the old man's weather-beaten face, and crystal tears flickered faintly in the corners of his eyes.
At that moment, Xingyue and Dongming also entered the main hall. They witnessed how Liu Dazhu's family, despite their difficult life, were filled with endless happiness and warmth. This peaceful and harmonious atmosphere made even these two high-ranking gods feel envious.
Before long, Mu Guihua skillfully prepared the steaming, fragrant meals and placed them neatly on the table. Er Gouzi, seeing this, hurried to the basin in the yard to wash his hands, then quickly stepped forward to help his mother set the table.
At this moment, Liu Dazhu, who had been chatting and laughing with Dong Ming and Xing Yue, quickly stood up and joined in. While helping to arrange the dishes, he shouted with a smile on his face, "Two benefactors, thank you for your presence. Please take a seat!"
The old man, who had already heard from his son about Dong Ming and Xing Yue's heroic rescue, was extremely excited. Tears flashed in his eyes. He repeatedly expressed his sincere gratitude to them and invited them to take a seat.
After everyone was seated, Liu Dazhui and Mu Guihua happily and enthusiastically picked up their serving chopsticks and kept putting food into Dong Ming and Xing Yue's bowls, muttering words of gratitude for saving their sons' lives.
Although there was only thin rice porridge on the table, accompanied by some wild vegetables and a few dried river fish, these were already the finest delicacies that Liu Dazhu's family had done their best to use to entertain their guests.
However, Xingyue and Dongming did not show any disgust at all. They behaved generously and their movements while eating were light and graceful, as if they were tasting the most precious food in the world.
This made the ordinary meal suddenly exude an aura of transcendence, elegance and luxury. The Liu family members who witnessed this scene were all filled with sincere admiration and praise for the two people's demeanor.
After dinner, Xingyue, Dongming, and the Liu family sat together under the leafy tree in the courtyard, enjoying the cool breeze. They fanned themselves with cattail leaves to ward off mosquitoes while chatting and laughing.
At this moment, the kind-faced, weathered old man showed a puzzled expression and asked softly, "My two benefactors, I am truly curious. I wonder where you are from and where you are planning to go?"
Dong Ming heard the old man's question and answered without hesitation, "Old man, to be honest, we are from Liuyun City in the east, and our destination is Jiashi City in the distant Western Regions."
Liu Dazhu, standing by, nodded thoughtfully, but then sighed softly and said with deep emotion, "Alas... In today's world, the demons are rampant and tyrannical, committing evil everywhere, causing chaos and making the people suffer terribly! Your two benefactors have traveled far to avoid disaster, and you can be considered to have found a way out."
Xingyue's face darkened slightly upon hearing this. She said solemnly, "Don't worry, everyone. In my opinion, this chaotic situation won't last much longer. The Human Emperor has already begun uniting forces from all walks of life to jointly resist the demon invasion. I believe it won't be long before these evildoers are completely eradicated, restoring peace to the world."
Mu Guihua, sitting nearby, recalled her relatives from her mother's family who had tragically died at the hands of the demon tribe. She couldn't help but feel grief-stricken, her eyes welling up with tears streaming down her cheeks. She choked out a sob and said, "I hope it's just as this girl said! I just hope this nightmare will end soon, so that the deceased can rest in peace and the living can find peace."
Sensing the tense atmosphere, the old man quickly changed the subject, saying, "My two benefactors, I've heard that Jiashi City is extremely far away. You might as well stay in my humble abode for a couple of days before setting off again."
Xingyue and Dongming, who were preparing to meet the "King of Ximing", agreed to the request.
Time soon arrived on August 15th, the day when the so-called King Ximing came to marry.
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