What angered Tang Tianzong was that Yan Liang had never told him about this before. This man had even met with Gong Jiu, but had never thought of writing to him. If Gong Jiu hadn't written to him out of boredom, he wouldn't even have known that Yan Liang had returned.
Despite his anger, Tang Tianzong learned from Fang Yingkan and Dongfang Bubai that Yan Liang was indeed under some constraints, and that it was not intentional that he did not tell him. Lu Xiaofeng and Hua Manlou were also unaware of this.
Yan Liang left and came quietly. Although Tang Tianzong was angry that he didn't say anything, he couldn't help but calm down when he saw Yan Liang.
Fang Yingkan and Dongfang Bubai's back-and-forth banter shattered the young Tang Clan disciple's worldview, only to rebuild it again. Before meeting Yan Liang, he had already accepted the reality.
Over the years, Tang Tianzong has studied medicine and poisons. He can't be said to be an expert, but he has made some progress. Seeing that Yan Liang and Wang Lianhua were busy making medicines, he calmed down and moved into Yan Liang's building. He worked with them to develop medicines and learned a lot from them.
On the first night Tang Tianzong met Yan Liang, Wang Lianhua and Yan Liang each complained to Fang Yingkan and Dongfang Bubai, repeating the other's words from their previous conversation, determined to fulfill that completely unimportant agreement.
The two defendants handled the situation calmly, while Lu Xiaofeng and Hua Manlou watched the show from the sidelines, and Tang Tianzong was completely bewildered.
He even wondered how Wang Lianhua, who was clearly a man, could do such a thing with Yan Liang... such a jealous and competitive thing?
Seeing his bewildered and confused expression, Lu Xiaofeng felt a pang of sympathy for him, as if he were seeing himself when he first learned that Wang Lianhua was actually Hua Guniang. So he pulled Tang Tianzong aside and quietly told him what these idle people had done, feeling both aggrieved and sighing.
Tang Tianzong heard the pain in Yan Liang's voice. Although he had mixed feelings about Yan Liang's actions, he did not forget Lu Xiaofeng's failure to report the truth. He said irritably, "Don't think that I won't hold you accountable just because you're explaining these things to me."
Lu Xiaofeng, who did indeed have this idea, stiffened and felt a bitter taste in his mouth—Tang Tianzong used to be quite easy to fool, but the older he got, the harder he was to fool.
Fortunately, Tang Tianzong then devoted himself to studying medicine and learning from Yan Liang and Wang Lianhua, and did not have time to fight with Yan Liang, so Lu Xiaofeng was able to catch his breath.
Just like before, Yan Liang was quick-witted and prone to making nonsense. When he had nothing to do, he said to Tang Tianzong, "Now that you have learned a lot from me, why don't you call me Master?"
Wang Lianhua also became interested: "Yan Liang is my disciple, so you should be my grand-disciple and call me grandmaster."
"Dream on!" Tang Tianzong replied decisively. "You two have such a messy and ridiculous seniority system, I don't want to get involved."
There are all sorts of relationships, such as master and apprentice, uncle and nephew, lovers, husband and wife...
After spending these days together, he had vaguely figured out the way Wang Lianhua and Yan Liang got along: they would tease and banter with each other, and occasionally even drag those who were watching the drama into it.
Even Tang Tianzong himself had been involved several times. He really thought the two of them were incredibly idle, but he had to admit that it was indeed very interesting.
Hua Manlou watched from the side, a smile unconsciously appearing on his face. Since losing his sight, he had experienced both anticipation and disappointment. Now, he no longer longed to see the light again. However, his friends were very serious, and even without considering his own feelings, Hua Manlou hoped they would succeed—after all, they had put in the effort, and failure would be too cruel.
During a short break while developing the drug, the group talked about the name of Yanliang's small building.
"The small building in Huamanlou is called Baihualou (Hundred Flowers Building), why don't you come up with a corresponding name?"
Lu Xiaofeng made the suggestion with great interest.
Hua Manlou leaned slightly forward, clearly very interested in the topic.
"Bai Cao Lou...?"
Yan Liang stroked his chin.
Everyone: "..."
Wang Lianhua glanced at him sideways: "Don't tell me you didn't think before you wrote whatever came to mind when you became the third-ranked scholar in the imperial examination."
Flowers and grass are indeed opposites, but they are too similar, and it's obvious that Yan Liang didn't give it serious consideration.
Yan Liang, whose talent had been questioned, glanced at him silently, then clapped his hands and said, "Wanmu Tower, how about it?"
Hua Manlou silently recited it twice, then smiled and said, "A hundred flowers bloom, ten thousand trees flourish, not bad."
And so the name of Yan Liang's little building was decided. Lu Xiaofeng even ran to a carpenter to have a plaque made and hung it in front of the building, showing more enthusiasm than Yan Liang, the owner.
＊
Yan Liang himself said that he learned his medical skills from Wang Lianhua. When Fang Yingkan learned of this, he thought of Su Mengzhen, who had received Yan Liang's prescription and whose health was gradually improving.
Before he came here, he had drunk with several people in the capital. Wang Xiaoshi learned how to grill fish from Yan Liang, but the taste was still quite different.
At that time, Su Mengzhen was in good health and had a rosy complexion, and Fang Yingkan could hardly remember how sickly she looked back then.
He spoke privately with Yan Liang and confirmed a statement that the emperor had once made.
"The friend Your Highness spoke of back then, 'a friend who is hard to see again,' must have been Wang Lianhua."
Yan Liang readily admitted, "That's true. At that time, I really thought I would never see him again."
Fang Yingkan lowered his head and laughed for a while, then changed the subject: "How much longer until I go back?"
Yan Liang did the math and said, "It will probably take another two or three months... Are you in a hurry to go back?"
"That's not urgent."
Fang Yingkan had no ties on the other side, and his men were very loyal. Su Mengzhen and Di Feijing would also take care of him out of consideration for the fact that they had drunk together before.
"Then why don't you stay here for the New Year and leave after the New Year?"
Yan Liang replied quite naturally.
Fang Ying glanced at him, lowered his eyes and pondered for a moment, then smiled and said, "This time there won't be any of the delicious dishes from the royal banquet back then."
That was considered an agreement.
Yan Liang readily agreed, saying, "It doesn't matter, as long as you can eat it, there's no need to force yourself."
Dongfang Bubai, standing on the rooftop, looked up at the sky and thought to himself, "It's only the height of autumn, and the New Year is still a long way off. These two are already talking about the New Year."
There was no more conversation under the eaves. The warm autumn sun shone on the roof. Dongfang Bubai closed his eyes for a nap. There were no more worries here, and he didn't need to scheme against those fools in the martial arts world. He was extremely relaxed.
He considered Yan Liang's suggestion in his mind—spending the New Year with old friends here seemed like a good choice.
——————
Hua Manlou clenched his hands and could clearly hear his own heartbeat.
He has been applying and taking medicine recently, and Wang Lianhua has been performing acupuncture on him. Hua Manlou has also become more sensitive to light. Although he doesn't crave it, he still can't help but feel excited after noticing the changes.
Yan Liang bent down slightly and removed the bandage covering Hua Manlou's eyes. Hua Manlou's eyes were still closed, and his eyelashes trembled slightly.
"Open your eyes."
Yan Liang was gentle and kind.
Hua Manlou opened his eyes as instructed.
Before him stood a young man in gray, tilting his head to look at him. The man looked nervous, but the moment their eyes met, his eyes lit up and he gave a genuine smile.
"...Yan Liang."
Hua Manlou called out his friend's name.
—After many years, he regained his sight.
Hua Manlou recognized his friends' faces one by one, his eyebrows and eyes filled with smiles. He was extremely happy, his eyes bright and lively. After looking at his friends enough, he bent down to look at the flowers, looked down at the people coming and going on the street outside the window, and gazed at the autumn landscape in the distance.
The scene, which could only be imagined through sound in the past, suddenly appeared before his eyes. Hua Manlou was overjoyed, while Yan Liang behind him smiled and gave everyone a high five. The others did not show any expression, but Tang Tianzong showed a proud look and spun around in place with Yan Liang's arm around his.
Everyone was happy for Hua Manlou.
When the news of the seven children of the Hua family regaining their sight reached the Hua family, the old master of the Hua family was so happy that he burst into tears. Hua Manlou rested for a few days in the Hundred Flowers Pavilion and then prepared to go back to see his family in person. In his memory, his father and brothers looked like he did when he was seven years old. Even if he could touch their outlines afterward, it would never be the same as seeing them with his own eyes.
After Hua Manlou left, Tang Tianzong finally remembered the decision he had made. He caught Yan Liang and fought him. At the young man's request, Yan Liang did not hold back. In the end, the two of them lay on the ground panting.
When Tang Tianzong mentioned seeking revenge on Lu Xiaofeng, he was actually making him a bowl of soup.
The finished product absorbed the essence of his elder brother Tang Tianyi's craftsmanship.
Lu Xiaofeng drank it with a bitter face, then quickly put it down after drinking half of it, sticking out his tongue and saying, "Why don't you learn the good things and instead learn the bad ones? What's the use of learning this?"
The others stared at the strangely colored soup remaining in the bowl, their expressions varying.
Tang Tianzong said arrogantly, "Gong Jiu doesn't like the soup my elder brother makes, so I'll use this soup to disgust him."
Lu Xiaofeng: ...But you didn't use this soup on Gong Jiu; instead, you used it to disgust him.
Despite his inner grumbling, he took a deep breath, picked up the bowl, and gulped it down.
Yan Liang silently retreated into the distance.
Tang Tianzong looked at him and suddenly realized something: "—You seem to have never drunk it before?"
Yan Liang stared at Tang Tianzong from three or four steps away. He had clearly been at the table a moment ago, but in the blink of an eye, he had retreated four steps away.
"yes."
He admitted it.
Tang Tianzong's lips curled slightly, but before the smile could be fully formed, Yan Liang, sensing the danger, turned and ran away without looking back.
— Tang Tianyi's skills weren't necessarily that good back then, but Tang Tianzong's skills combined the best of them, and with his own "icing on the cake," it seemed to taste even worse than what Tang Tianyi made... Although he hadn't tasted it, he could deduce it from the color and Lu Xiaofeng's reaction.
Let Lu Xiaofeng suffer alone!
Yan Liang was equally ruthless when it came to betraying his teammates.
Lu Xiaofeng wore a bitter expression, a strange taste lingering on his tongue. He felt both uncomfortable and heartbroken—uncomfortable because the soup was so awful, and heartbroken because of the heartlessness of Yan Liang and the others.
Surprisingly, not a single person cared about him!
They either stood by with their arms crossed, watching the show, or they didn't even turn their heads, or they dashed off at lightning speed—
Choosing friends poorly!
Lu Xiaofeng felt a pang of heartache for a while, but he couldn't stand the strange taste that exploded in his mouth, so he quickly poured himself a cup of tea and drank it down.
Wang Lianhua and Fang Yingkan played chess, while Dongfang Bubai lay on a rocking chair to the side.
A scene of tranquility and peace.
——————
Staying in Wanmu Tower all the time wouldn't do, so Yan Liang decisively locked the door and went out to have some fun with his friends. It has to be said that Lu Xiaofeng is indeed a walking troublemaker; he's been dragged into inexplicable cases more than once on the road. Yan Liang even joked that the guy should just change his name to Lu Troublesome.
Of course, this title lacked any real flair, and Lu Xiaofeng with four eyebrows firmly refused.
They headed towards Shu, and after discussing it at the foot of Mount Shu, Tang Tianzong wrote a letter asking his two elder brothers to come down the mountain.
Tang Tianyi and Tang Tianrong had not seen their younger brother for a long time. They thought he would return to the sect after coming down from the mountain, but he had not returned for a long time. The letter they received even specifically asked them to go down the mountain to see someone. Tang Tianyi excitedly put the newly developed seasoning into her pocket, thinking about making soup for her long-lost younger brother.
Although Tang Tianrong was wondering who her younger brother wanted to meet, her eyelids twitched when she saw Tang Tianyi's impatient look, and she couldn't help but worry about Tang Tianzong.
I hope Tianzong can hold on strong.
Tang Tianrong thought with deep sorrow.
At the foot of the mountain, Tang Tianzong, Lu Xiaofeng, and Yan Liang sat facing each other in a restaurant. The other three were not interested in the scene of old friends recognizing each other and went to stroll around the town to pass the time.
For some reason, the system did not wake up for a long time, and it indirectly or directly said the contents that were not allowed to be disclosed in the contract. To Yan Liang's surprise, the system did not say anything, neither stopping him nor punishing him, which made Yan Liang a little puzzled.
Such an opportunity is rare, and Yan Liang, who is always carefree and indifferent, decided to stop thinking about it after a brief moment of doubt.
Drink today's wine and be merry today; tomorrow's troubles will come tomorrow.
At least we can't let down his kind and lovely system.
It shows their good intentions.
The brothers Tang Tianyi and Tang Tianrong entered the restaurant. They were frequent visitors. The manager, following Tang Tianzong's instructions, sent someone to lead them to the innermost private room on the third floor.
The corridor was empty. Tang Tianrong asked the waiter who had led the way and learned that there were two people with his younger brother. The one with four eyebrows was naturally Lu Xiaofeng, but the other young man in gray... he couldn't figure out who he was.
"I suppose he's a new friend of Third Brother's," Tang Tianyi said. "Since he's with Lu Xiaofeng, he must be an interesting person."
Tang Tianrong seemed to be deep in thought.
In the past, Tang Tianzong had never introduced his friends to his two older brothers so solemnly. They usually only met by chance. The three of them each had their own friends and did not have many mutual friends.
Lu Xiaofeng is one of them.
...And Yan Liang from back then was also one of them.
The waiter led them to the door and then withdrew. Tang Tianyi walked in with a smile on her face, and Tang Tianrong followed closely behind.
The two men and the other people sitting in the same room made eye contact.
Their younger brother Tang Tianzong, Lu Xiaofeng with four eyebrows, and...
who?
The young man was dressed in a gray robe, with a smile on his lips and bright, clear eyes.
Tang Tianzong glanced at Yan Liang, who remained silent, then stood up and pulled his two elder brothers to sit down at the table, creating a somewhat somber atmosphere.
As one of the only two people they knew well, Lu Xiaofeng received a questioning look from Tang Tianrong. He stroked his mustache, his gaze deep, and nodded slightly.
Tang Tianrong: "...?"
No, what do you mean by nodding?
Tang Tianyi and Yan Liang exchanged silent glances, as if an undercurrent was flowing between them.
Tang Tianzong sat down, cleared his throat, and said seriously, "This is a friend of mine."
Tang Tianyi and Tang Tianrong nodded; even without their younger brother saying anything, it was clear they were friends.
"My eldest and second eldest brothers might think they've seen this person before."
Tang Tianzong organized his thoughts, but ultimately didn't say everything, instead giving them time to react.
Indeed, at first glance, they felt that the person looked somewhat familiar, but they had no idea why they felt familiar with this stranger.
Yan Liang sat upright for a while, but then felt the atmosphere was a bit awkward, so he couldn't sit still any longer. He slumped his shoulders, propped his chin up with his hand, and lazily looked at the two people opposite him.
The three Tang brothers were close in age, but Tang Tianzong's growth was quite noticeable; his originally soft features had become more defined, and his eyes and brows were stern. However, his two older brothers' faces had not changed much and remained the same as Yan Liang remembered.
These three brothers really do look alike.
Yan Liang's thoughts started racing again.
Lu Xiaofeng glanced at the expression on his face and was speechless: ...At such a crucial moment, this person can still be distracted.
Tang Tianzong was oblivious to what was happening here, carefully choosing his words, hoping not to frighten his two elder brothers.
“It’s me,” Yan Liang suddenly spoke, smiling broadly. “It’s me.”
……who?
Tang Tianyi pondered for a moment, then tentatively asked, "Sikong Zhaixing?"
Yan Liang: "...No."
Tang Tianrong stared intently at Yan Liang and uttered a name.
"Yan Liang."
The Tang Clan is a major sect in the martial arts world, possessing extensive knowledge of both established and emerging figures. Yan Liang has been here for over half a year, making quite a name for himself. Tang Tianrong, who had just returned from a mission, overheard his name and kept it in mind.
...But he never expected it to actually be Yan Liang.
Tang Tianyi suddenly realized and said, "I've heard so much about you."
Tang Tianzong: "..."
Tang Tianrong: "..."
Lu Xiaofeng: "..."
It seems he still doesn't understand Yan Liang's identity.
Yan Liang chuckled and said, "That's not quite right. It should be 'It's been a long time since we last met.'"
Tang Tianyi's doubts were clearly visible: "...What do you mean?"
Tang Tianzong dutifully played the role of a good younger brother, explaining Yan Liang's identity to his older brother; Lu Xiaofeng personally testified, occasionally adding a few words; Tang Tianrong listened from the side, constantly looking at Yan Liang; Yan Liang nodded with a smile, occasionally winking when his eyes met Tang Tianrong's.
Incredible.
Unbelievable.
Mysterious and enigmatic.
Tang Tianrong appeared calm on the surface, but his trembling hands when he picked up the teacup betrayed him, fully revealing his inner turmoil.
Tang Tianyi was even more shocked, staring at Yan Liang for a long while before blankly saying, "...Could you be some kind of demon—"
"No," Yan Liang said helplessly, "You're still the same as always, Brother Tianyi. What kind of monsters are there in this world?"
—No, no, no, even if you're not a monster, it's still abnormal for you to act like this.
Lu Xiaofeng was stunned by Yan Liang's confident denial.
The room fell silent for a moment. The two people who had just learned the truth took a long time to recover. During this time, Yan Liang had the waiter bring out wine and dishes. The three of them ate on one side, while the other two recovered on the other.
Seeing that they were enjoying their meal, Tang Tianyi touched the small porcelain bottle in his arms, his eyes lit up, and he picked up his chopsticks and said, "Brother Yanliang, it has indeed been a long time since we last met. You didn't have the chance to try my cooking back then, so why don't you take this opportunity to try it?"
Tang Tianrong sensed something was wrong when she saw her elder brother reach into his arms. After he spoke, she quietly lowered her head, pretending that she was not there.
Given his older brother's personality, with so many people gathered in the room, he probably wouldn't have a chance to escape.
Even so, Tang Tianrong still tried to make a last-ditch effort.
Tang Tianzong paused, lowering his head to avoid looking into his elder brother's eyes; Lu Xiaofeng felt a bitter taste in his mouth again, and also lowered his head.
Yan Liang held the chopsticks, his right hand suspended in mid-air.
Brother Tianzong's culinary disaster... Just looking at the reactions of the three people around me, I don't really want to eat it.
He really wanted to back down.
"Brother Tianyi, do you believe me now?" Yan Liang put down his chopsticks and casually changed the subject. "Aren't you afraid of me?"
“My third brother trusts you so much that he even brought you to see us, which clearly shows that he acknowledges your identity. Besides, I can’t think of any evidence that you are not Yan Liang; it’s just that you’ve changed your appearance. Whether you are a mountain spirit or some other random character, all I know is that you are Yan Liang.”
Tang Tianyi's sincerity and earnestness touched Yan Liang, who was listening.
...If the other party hadn't been pouring strange powder from the small porcelain bottle onto the meat dish while speaking, Yan Liang would probably have been moved to tears.
The touching words and the stomach-churning scene created a wonderful contrast.
The people present smelled the seasoning powder and definitely felt stomach pain.
"Come!"
Tang Tianyi enthusiastically pushed the plate of food towards him.
Yan Liang remained silent for a moment, then picked up his chopsticks, grabbed some food, and put it in his mouth.
Completed in one go.
"……Um?"
Yan Liang frowned slightly.
The three men, who had their heads down, secretly cast sympathetic glances at him.
Yan Liang asked in confusion, "...Not bad?"
Tang Tianyi exclaimed joyfully, "Just as I expected!"
What nonsense is this person spouting?!
Tang Tianrong, who had been the first to test the poison, looked at Yan Liang in disbelief, but Yan Liang remained calm, as if he truly believed that the dish with the strange seasoning powder was extremely delicious.
"Third brother, Lu Xiaofeng, come here."
Tang Tianyi looked eager, then turned to Tang Tianrong and said, "Second brother, you should eat too."
Tang Tianrong declined without hesitation: "No need. I've already tried it. Let them have this opportunity."
Tang Tianyi didn't press the matter, eagerly awaiting his third brother's and Lu Xiaofeng's evaluations.
Just as Lu Xiaofeng and Tang Tianzong were picking up food with their chopsticks, Yan Liang stood up and said, "Wang Lianhua and the others should be here soon. I'll go ask the manager to bring a few more dishes."
Tang Tianrong wondered who "they" were, watching Yan Liang push open the door and leave. At the same time, Lu Xiaofeng and Tang Tianzong had already stuffed the spiked dish into their mouths—
Chew, chew, chew.
chew……
The two remained expressionless, but their hands holding chopsticks trembled slightly, and their pupils dilated.
Tang Tianrong sensed something was wrong, jumped up from her chair, turned around, opened the door, and looked down into the corridor—the corridor was empty; Yan Liang had vanished without a trace.
...Just as Yan Liang would do!
"……water."
Lu Xiaofeng spoke with difficulty, and Tang Tianrong went back to pour tea for each of them. Tang Tianyi noticed their subtle expressions and lowered her eyes slightly: "It seems not so good... Only Yan Liang thinks it's good."
No, that guy was faking it.
The other three coldly refuted this in their hearts.
"Actually, it's not bad, brother, you don't need to worry about it."
Tang Tianrong comforted him.
Upon hearing this, Tang Tianzong glanced at his second brother and thought to himself that it was because his second brother always comforted his eldest brother that he was the first to try it.
Yan Liang, who was not only disloyal but also tricked his friend, ordered a few dishes and left the restaurant. After wandering around the streets, he encountered three people who were going out.
Why are you alone?
Dongfang Bubai was quite surprised.
Yan Liang coughed lightly and said, "I came out for some fresh air."
"You look like you've done something wrong."
Wang Lianhua hit the nail on the head.
Yan Liang raised his fist to cover the smile on his lips and said, "No, I'm just happy to see my friends."
Wang Lianhua remained silent, his eyes clearly showing his disbelief.
Fang Yingkan and Dongfang Bubai did not believe it either.
If Yan Liang were truly happy, he wouldn't be walking down the street empty-handed; he would be drinking and chatting with his friends.
Fang Yingkan said slowly, "You've done something bad."
Yan Liang grinned, revealing his teeth, and walked back with light steps, clearly admitting it.
The four returned to the restaurant, introduced themselves to each other, and then sat down to eat.
Yan Liang's earlier scheme backfired, trapping him in his own hands. Tang Tianyi mistakenly assumed Yan Liang shared similar tastes with him, and after being politely refused when recommending the new flavor to Wang Lianhua and others, he wasn't annoyed. Instead, he enthusiastically encouraged Yan Liang to try it. Yan Liang was quite determined, stubbornly taking a few bites before saying that the others' tastes weren't similar and that they should try it another day.
Tang Tianyi thought it made sense, so she put away the small porcelain bottle and began to eat the dishes on the table seriously.
Those who had tried it breathed a slight sigh of relief.
It looks like it's exceptionally bad.
Wang Lianhua seemed to be deep in thought, thinking that this could be considered a kind of poison from the Tang Clan.
After everyone finished eating, the three Tang brothers returned to their sect on the mountain, while Yan Liang and the others booked rooms at the inn and went to sleep, enjoying a peaceful night.
They stayed in Sichuan for a short time. The three Tang brothers led them to visit local scenic spots. With the Tang Clan's name on them, they encountered far fewer troubles and returned home satisfied.
As winter approached, Yan Liang, anticipating his return to Wanmu Tower to prepare for the New Year, bid farewell to Tang Tianzong and his two elder brothers and headed back.
After regaining his sight, Hua Manlou returned to Huajia Village to live for the rest of his life. When the group passed through the town where Huajia lived, they paid a visit. Yan Liang and Wang Lianhua were thanked by Hua Manlou's family. After staying for a few days, they left with their carriage full of gifts.
Knowing Yan Liang's plan, Hua Manlou took the initiative to buy some New Year's goods for them in the city.
Yan Liang is currently in good health and has a long future ahead of him, so there's no need to rush to resolve his regrets.
On their return journey, they encountered Ye Gucheng and Ximen Hefeng again. Not long ago, Sun Xiuqing had given up completely and left Wanmei Manor to return to the Emei Sect. They had heard about this while traveling in Sichuan.
The master and apprentice were originally in the northern border region. Upon hearing the news, Ye Gucheng took Sun Xiuqing to the Emei Sect.
Yan Liang pinched the little guy's face and comforted him, saying that there are many unsatisfactory things in this world, and one can only leave the rest to fate after doing one's best.
The two had a meal in the town where they met, then went their separate ways, each going their own way.
When the five returned to Wanmu Tower, it was almost the end of the year. After cleaning Wanmu Tower and Baihua Tower, they began preparations, such as putting up Spring Festival couplets and buying New Year's goods. On New Year's Eve, a group of people who were not related by blood gathered around the table for a reunion dinner and then stayed up all night. In the days following New Year's Eve, lion dances began to be performed in the streets, and the sound of firecrackers set off by children was continuous, with fireworks exploding in the sky.
Yan Liang distributed the things he had carefully prepared to Wang Lianhua and Fang Yingkan one by one. These were gifts for people he could not see. He had been preparing them for a long time, just waiting for his friends to take them back with them when they left.
Dongfang Bubai raised an eyebrow: "You won't give it to me?"
In Dongfang Bubai's world, Yan Liang didn't have any particularly close friends. Even though Lin Pingzhi was a good young man and he often saw him later, Yan Liang didn't want to disturb their lives.
After all, it was "Chi Xiuyuan" who died back then, not Yan Liang.
Yan Liang said, "Although I didn't ask you to bring anything, I did have a gift for you."
Wang Lianhua and Fang Ying looked at him.
Yan Liang stuffed the gifts into the three people's arms and said earnestly, "I'm not very good at picking gifts, but I hope you like them."
Fang Yingkan lowered his eyes and glanced at the calligraphy brush in his hand. He smiled slightly and said, "I like anything that His Highness gives me."
Yan Liang looked back silently, unsure whether the other person was speaking from the heart or just saying what was appropriate for the atmosphere.
Seeing that everyone else had received gifts while he had nothing, Lu Xiaofeng couldn't help but ask, "Where's mine?"
Yan Liang glanced at him, smiled indulgently, and tossed him something. Lu Xiaofeng caught it and found it was a money pouch.
Lu Xiaofeng: "..."
He had a slight sense of unease.
"New Year's money." Yan Liang grinned, revealing his teeth. "Call me Dad."
Lu Xiaofeng stuffed the money pouch into his robes and said righteously, "You wish!"
Yan Liang fell silent: ...Lu Xiaofeng seems to be getting more and more shameless?
————
The Spring Festival was over, and Yan Liang began to see off his friends one by one, first Wang Lianhua, then Dongfang Bubai, and finally Fang Yingkan.
Take good care of yourself.
Yan Liang felt a little sad, but he wasn't the type to cry at parting. He smiled and saw the three off, without doing anything sentimental like hugging or shaking hands. Yan Liang simply stood there and waved goodbye.
Xiao Feng didn't want anyone to see her leave, so she just stayed outside drinking tea. When Yan Liang walked into the hall, she raised her teacup and poured him some tea.
Yan Liang sat down at the table, propped his chin up with one hand, picked up the teacup with the other, and drank the tea in one gulp.
Life has three kinds of suffering: not getting what you want, being with those you hate, and being separated from those you love.
Yan Liang only wanted to live as he pleased; separation was the norm for him.
I met countless people and parted ways with countless people.
Become friends with only a handful of people.
It's already wonderful to be able to reunite; why ask for more?
Yan Liang is insightful, easygoing, and doesn't hold grudges.
In this world, he still has a long time to spend with his friends, to see the sights he didn't have time to see back then, or perhaps he could try to make a name for himself in this martial arts world, make some new friends, and see what kind of name people in the martial arts world would give him.
Mountains are high and waters are far, but the future is long.
Author's Note: I'm here—
It's officially over! Yan Liang's story will continue. While writing this world, I gradually developed a concept related to Yan Liang, and perhaps I'll start a story with him as the protagonist later.
Thank you to all the lovely readers who have left comments, favorited, followed, and read my story! Love you all! Words cannot express my gratitude, but I'm still very happy. Thank you to all the lovely readers who have supported me, and thank you to my editor for finding me! Thank you everyone!
So happy XD
This article does indeed have many illogical and immature parts, but I've learned a lot from writing it, and I feel like I've vaguely grasped the basics. I hope to improve next time _(:з」∠)_
(I feel like I'm setting a flag for myself, hahaha)
I considered writing an ending where Yan Liang dies in this world, but after thinking about it, I felt it was unnecessary.
At least Yan Liang is alive at this moment, and he will have a long time to spend with his friends afterward.
This is the first time I've put my heart and soul into creating a character of my own. Yan Liang is very meaningful to me; he is my first son.
I'd also like to be friends with someone like him. [Facepalm]
I don't know what everyone thinks of Yan Liang, but as a mother, I think he's quite likable. In short, he's the kind of friend you won't find tiring to be with—the kind of friend you can have fun with every day.
The next chapter has been confirmed! I hope any interested readers will check it out. If you're still interested after reading the synopsis, please add it to your favorites to increase my pre-orders!
—This is it~
[Passing the game depends entirely on your liver [Comprehensive Horror]]
[This is a lighthearted and slightly silly story about Qi Si, a male protagonist with no romantic pairing, who is incredibly stable but constantly making silly mistakes. I've always wanted to try writing one.]
However, I won't be writing before mid-June because my course ended today, which means final exams. My next final exam is on June 3rd, so I need to study really hard! Good luck everyone!
So, the "Sending a Letter to the Long Wind" arc and the sequel related to Li Ganqing that I mentioned before will be written after all the exams are over _(:з」∠)_ Please wait a little longer, my little angels who share my tastes!
(This is a bit long, please forgive me, my little angels. It's barely enough to be considered a closing statement, haha.)
Thank you again everyone, mua~
The green hills remain unchanged, the clear waters flow on, farewell to the world.
(If Green Gigi can send emojis, I'll send everyone an emoji pack to express my happiness and gratitude _(:з」∠)_)
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