In the dead of night, when all was silent, Xiao Rangchen finally reached his destination.
He did not immediately ascend to the mountaintop. Instead, he found a towering tree halfway up the mountain and sat cross-legged atop its branches.
The residence at the summit was hidden in the darkness, emitting a ring of soft, hazy light that quietly enfolded the area in peace.
He simply gazed at that small glow, gradually suppressing the urgency churning in his heart.
The last time he had left this place, his whereabouts had been exposed halfway through his journey. He had taken advantage of the opportunity to lure the tails following him to a secluded location and eliminate them all at once.
But the Cangya clan was no pushover. Even though Cangya Lan had not come personally, the people he sent were all experts at the Dongxu stage.
The room he had to shake off his pursuers was growing smaller and smaller.
When he broke through and attracted the lightning tribulation, Yu Youchun had suggested a method to temporarily keep the tribulation from sensing him, but he had refused.
He did not want matters to drag on until they spiraled out of control. If he could shake off his pursuers and buy himself enough time to undergo the tribulation, the initiative would be in his hands afterward.
He had chosen to take a dangerous gamble, and at first, everything had indeed proceeded smoothly. But when he reached the final three bolts of tribulation lightning, the Cangya clan’s people still arrived.
They had been willing to risk their lives by entering the range of the tribulation lightning just to stop him.
When the final bolt of Dark Gold Lightning came crashing down, the aura of death had drawn closer to him than ever before in his life.
In that instant, his mind flashed with the faces of his parents, then his younger sister. Finally, it settled on the image of Lou Yue looking up at him and smiling beneath the fireworks.
Xiao Rangchen exhaled heavily, pressing down the emotions that were about to surge up once more.
Dawn broke. The first rays of sunlight spread over the mountains, coating the entire peak in a layer of golden radiance.
He removed his cloak and face covering, releasing his aura without the slightest attempt at concealment.
Then he stepped forward and onto the formation.
Lou Chengfeng arrived almost instantaneously.
The moment he got a clear look at Xiao Rangchen, he froze. But then he sensed that Xiao Rangchen’s aura was identical to that of the thief from that night. His eyes widened, and he flung the binding rings from his sleeve.
There were three binding rings. They had been magical artifacts Lou Chengfeng used in his youth. After allowing his quarry to escape last time, he had put the artifacts back on his person.
Xiao Rangchen did not resist. He allowed the three rings to slip over him one after another, sealing away his spiritual power.
“So, you really haven’t given up, you damned thief? You actually dared to come back! Did you think I was a vegetarian?!”
“Once these binding rings lock onto you, it doesn’t matter how high your cultivation is—you’ll still have to act like a grandson! Hmph, hmph.”
Lou Chengfeng hauled him up and leaped straight back to “Good Things Brewing,” intending to spend an entire day interrogating him properly.
He threw Xiao Rangchen onto the open ground in front of his room.
“You look like such an upright fellow. Couldn’t you find anything better to do than sneak around stealing chickens and dogs?”
Lou Chengfeng grabbed a wooden club and pointed it at Xiao Rangchen. “Speak! What exactly did you come here for?”
Xiao Rangchen calmly rose to his feet. He was just about to explain that he had come to see Lou Yue when a voice sounded from beside him.
“Brother?”
Both Xiao Rangchen and Lou Chengfeng froze.
Xiao Aiai hurried over, overjoyed. “It really is you!”
Xiao Rangchen gazed at the girl, who had grown much taller, and a faint warmth flickered in his eyes. He called softly, “Aiai.”
The moment Xiao Aiai heard his voice, her eyes instantly reddened. Choking back a sob, she said, “Where have you been all this time? I’ve been worried about you. But after you left, there wasn’t a single word from you, and I…”
Lou Chengfeng hurriedly pulled Xiao Aiai back. “Wait, Aiai. Who did you say he was?”
Xiao Aiai broke into a tearful smile, wiped away the tears at the corners of her eyes, and took hold of his arm. “Godfather, he’s my brother, Xiao Rangchen.”
Lou Chengfeng looked at Xiao Rangchen again and stared blankly for a long while. “So, you actually came here looking for Aiai?”
Xiao Rangchen was silent for a moment before opening his mouth. “I am—”
“Why didn’t you say so earlier? After all that, you’re one of our own!”
Lou Chengfeng tossed aside the wooden club and withdrew the binding rings. He stepped forward and gave Xiao Rangchen a hearty slap on the shoulder. “Good lad. You’ve got a sturdy build!”
“Last time, I thought you were some vile pervert who had come to spy on my son while he was bathing. I even swore that if I caught you again, I’d tear you limb from limb. Who would’ve thought you were actually here to find your own sister?” Lou Chengfeng threw his head back and laughed. “My mistake, my mistake. What a misunderstanding! Hahaha!”
At that, Xiao Rangchen unexpectedly found himself hesitating over whether he really counted as a vile thief.
Lou Chengfeng pulled him over and made him sit beside the table. “Come, come, have a seat. Treat this place like your own home. Don’t be shy.”
Then he turned around and instructed Xiao Aiai, “Aiai, go tell Little Qiu to make some preparations. We’re going to give your brother a proper welcome today!”
Xiao Aiai answered with a smile and went off.
Lou Chengfeng poured Xiao Rangchen a cup of tea. As he handed it over, his gaze swept over him, and he clicked his tongue in amazement.
“The last time I saw you, you were at the peak of the Dongxu stage. It hasn’t even been that long, and you’re already at the middle stage of Deity Transformation. That’s an incredible pace. Or did you conceal your true cultivation last time?”
Xiao Rangchen raised his hand to accept the cup and answered honestly, “I underwent the lightning tribulation two days ago. I fell unconscious after surviving it, and when I woke up, I was already at the middle stage.”
Lou Chengfeng stroked his chin thoughtfully. After a moment, he nodded. “That isn’t unheard of. There have been precedents in the history of the cultivation world where someone entered the middle stage directly after undergoing the Deity Transformation Tribulation. It’s said that the final bolt of lightning in that person’s tribulation wasn’t ordinary violet lightning, but Dark Gold Lightning.”
Xiao Rangchen nodded. “I did indeed draw down Dark Gold Lightning.”
“Then that explains it. Since you managed to survive Dark Gold Lightning, it’s only natural for Heaven to give you a little extra reward. Hahaha!”
“I was seriously injured and on the verge of death. After I passed out and woke up, my injuries had healed as well.”
Lou Chengfeng laughed unconcernedly. “That’s how the Deity Transformation Tribulation works. Once you absorb the golden radiance it releases, all your injuries will heal on their own.”
Xiao Rangchen was silent for a moment. “Yes. I suppose that must be the reason.”
His expression remained perfectly calm, but as his fingertip traced the rim of the cup, he kept rubbing it back and forth.
Lou Chengfeng then enthusiastically began recounting other strange and interesting tales from the cultivation world. He was naturally talkative and had extensive experience and knowledge. Before long, Xiao Rangchen found himself listening with rapt attention. From time to time, he even pointed out the oddities in the stories and discussed them with Lou Chengfeng.
In the nearly twenty years since Lou Chengfeng had come here, he had never met anyone who could converse with him so easily. Old Zhang was only a mortal and treated such matters as fanciful tales. Lou Yue had been willing to listen when she was young, but after growing up, she only found him long-winded. Xiao Aiai had not the slightest interest in such things.
All the knowledge and experience he had accumulated had truly had no one to share it with.
Now that he had finally encountered someone he liked on sight and who could keep up with him, he wished he could pour out everything he knew in one breath.
Laughter rang out across the mountaintop, loud and carefree, again and again.
Lou Yue irritably covered her ears and turned over in bed.
Liufeng Xin yawned and mumbled drowsily, “Why is Uncle so happy today…?”
Lou Yue did not answer. Liufeng Xin had kept pestering her with all sorts of questions the previous night and had not let her go until the early hours of the morning. Right now, all she wanted was to bury her head in the pillow and sleep.
“It sounds like he’s talking with someone.” Liufeng Xin sat up, curious to know who could make Lou Chengfeng laugh so heartily.
She had just opened the door and stretched when she met the eyes of the person standing outside the neighboring room.
Liufeng Xin blinked, wondering if she was seeing things because she had just woken up. She squeezed her eyes shut and then opened them again.
The next moment, she retreated into her room at the fastest speed possible and slammed the door shut.
Lou Chengfeng knew that Lou Yue had returned the night before, so he immediately called out loudly, “What time do you think it is? Tell Lou Yue to get up already. We have a guest!”
After saying that, he turned to Xiao Rangchen and chuckled. “I spoiled the child too much. Her temper isn’t the best, but she has a heart of gold.”
Xiao Rangchen gazed at the tightly shut door, his eyes deep and solemn, as though concealing something more.
Inside the room, Liufeng Xin jumped straight onto the bed and tugged hard at Lou Yue. “Sister, something huge has happened. Wake up already!”
Lou Yue ignored her completely. Even when the shoulder of her clothing was pulled loose, she remained utterly still.
Liufeng Xin caught sight of the faint red marks on her shoulder. A sly, knowing grin immediately spread across her eyes, and she drawled, “The one who nibbled on you has come knocking at your door. Are you sure you still want to sleep?”
Lou Yue slowly opened her eyes.
Liufeng Xin added in a low, excited voice, “Xiao Rangchen is here.”
“He’s outside, chatting away with your father like they’re old friends!”
Lou Yue frowned. “What is he doing here?”
“Did he figure out it was you?” The gossip in Liufeng Xin’s eyes was becoming impossible to hide.
“Impossible.” Lou Yue was certain. “I erased every trace.”
Besides, judging by his reactions at the time, he had indeed thought it was a dream. Otherwise, he would have been shocked to discover that she was a woman.
She propped herself up and pondered for a moment. “It should be because he said before that he would come looking for me once he reached the mid-stage of Deification.”
“Don’t let him suspect me. I don’t want him to know yet.” Lou Yue gave Liufeng Xin a serious warning.
Liufeng Xin understood her concerns and nodded. “Got it. But do you think Aiai will tell her brother?”
Lou Yue shook her head slightly. “She probably won’t. She promised to keep it a secret.”
“What are you going to do, then? Avoid seeing him?”
Lou Yue got out of bed and went behind the screen to change clothes. When she emerged, she had already taken on her male appearance, and the marks on her neck had vanished without a trace.
Liufeng Xin clicked her tongue. “Goodness, this Formless Art really is miraculous.”
Lou Yue headed toward the door, but Liufeng Xin suddenly grabbed her and flashed a mischievous smile. “What do you think it means when the two of us walk out of the room together first thing in the morning—one man and one woman?”
One look at that wicked grin, and Lou Yue knew she was up to no good. “Don’t cause trouble.”
“You don’t want him to find out, do you?”
Lou Yue saw right through her. “You’re just itching to put on a show.”
“Heehee, I’m killing two birds with one stone.”
Lou Yue sighed helplessly. “Why do you have to provoke him?”
Liufeng Xin put away her playful expression, her tone turning more serious. “Do you think I want to provoke him? I’m hoping he’ll cherish you more. When something is hard-won, people are more careful before doing anything in the future. Our Yueyue is so wonderful—she can’t suffer the slightest grievance or take even the smallest loss!”
“Aren’t you afraid he’ll ‘deal with you’?”
Liufeng Xin pulled a jade token from inside her clothes. “I have this, so I’m not afraid. Besides…”
She looked at Lou Yue with a smile both sly and sweet. “Usually, when these leading men get jealous, they only go to the female lead and vent all that jealousy on her, taking advantage of her a little to make themselves feel better.”
Lou Yue: “…”
Before Lou Yue could explode, Liufeng Xin hurriedly opened the door and dragged her outside.
The sound of the door opening immediately drew everyone’s attention.
The instant their eyes met, Lou Yue’s breathing hitched almost imperceptibly.
Liufeng Xin wrapped an arm around her waist and called sweetly to the other side, “Father, I got Lou Yue out of bed. We stayed up late last night, and she was so tired that she slept in.”
Lou Yue fought the urge to punch Liufeng Xin into the next world.
Lou Chengfeng had long since grown accustomed to scenes like this. He had even seen all three of them clinging to her at once, so this barely counted as excessive. Besides, Liufeng Xin and Hong Chou had both taken to calling him their godfather, so addressing him as Father was perfectly normal.
“Then don’t wear yourself out. Get some more rest!” Lou Chengfeng looked at Lou Yue as he spoke. With Xiao Rangchen present, he couldn’t openly embarrass her, so he could only hint at what he meant.
Lou Yue: “…”
Were these two actually father and daughter in their past lives? They were so perfectly in sync, and both of them were so good at making pointed remarks.
She avoided Xiao Rangchen’s gaze and secretly pinched Liufeng Xin’s waist in warning.
Liufeng Xin gritted her teeth through the pain, maintaining a brilliant yet somewhat ferocious smile. “Mm-hmm, got it~”
Xiao Rangchen’s gaze lingered on the two of them for a while before calmly returning to Lou Chengfeng. His expression appeared no different from usual.
Liufeng Xin whispered in puzzlement, “Why does his reaction seem so mild? Normally, his icy glares would already be flying everywhere.”
She furrowed her brows. “Something feels off.”
Lou Yue pulled her away, too lazy to continue with the subject.
It was only after everyone had taken their seats around the table that Lou Chengfeng learned Xiao Rangchen already knew the others.
He became even more warm and familiar, his tone carrying a hint of grievance. “Rangchen, since you all know one another, stay at our place for a few more days and keep your uncle company. You don’t know how they all treat me—they think I’m so long-winded that no one ever pays any attention to this lonely old man.”
“There are no rooms left,” Lou Yue interrupted coldly.
Lou Chengfeng was momentarily speechless. There really weren’t any rooms left.
But he quickly changed tack. “Rangchen, how about sharing a room with your uncle? There’s a small room in mine. Your aunt used to always send me there when—cough, cough… Anyway, you could stay there, if you don’t mind…”
“He minds.”
“He doesn’t.”
The two of them spoke at the same time.
Lou Yue shot a cold look at the person across from her.
Xiao Rangchen calmly met her gaze.
“Aiya, Rangchen, don’t mind her,” Lou Chengfeng said. “Lou Yue has always had a contrary streak. You have to take the opposite of whatever she says. There’s an old saying: ‘Beating is affection, scolding is love.’ That’s exactly what she’s like!”
Lou Yue gritted her teeth and glared at Lou Chengfeng. “Where did you learn that? If you don’t understand it, don’t use it!”
“Your mother said it. I’ve regarded it as gospel ever since.” Lou Chengfeng paused, then turned to the others with a proud, nostalgic look. “Don’t let Lou Yue fool you—she was adorable when she was little.”
“Do you know what the first thing Lou Yue said after she was born was?”
Everyone except Lou Yue turned to look at him.
“‘What the hell? Are you out of your mind?’ That’s what she said.”
“Pfft—” Hong Chou nearly spat out her drink.
Xiao Aiai couldn’t hold back her laughter either.
Liufeng Xin laughed even more openly.
Even a faint smile flickered through Xiao Rangchen’s eyes.
Only Lou Yue sat there in a daze.
“She was only a year old! Who did she learn that from?” Liufeng Xin laughed so hard she could barely straighten up.
“Ten months old, actually. I have no idea where she heard it, but it nearly made me die laughing.” Lou Chengfeng raised his wine cup with a grin. “So, all of you should be a little more tolerant of her. That temper of hers really is something she was born with.”
To everyone else, Lou Yue’s dazed expression looked like embarrassment at having her childhood humiliation exposed in public.
Only Lou Yue knew what kind of storm had already erupted in her heart.
She heard nothing of what was said afterward. Once the welcoming feast had more or less come to an end, she rose from her seat and returned to her room.
Xiao Rangchen quietly watched the way Lou Yue’s brows drew together.
Lou Yue did not leave her room again that day.
Late that night, Xiao Rangchen helped the thoroughly drunk Lou Chengfeng onto his bed. He then turned and quietly stepped outside.
The window of Lou Yue’s room was still lit.
He stood in the shadows, gazing at that patch of light for a long time. Beneath his calm eyes, undercurrents churned layer upon layer, gradually forming a sea so deep it seemed bottomless.
The next moment, he slowly raised his feet.
Step by step, patient and steady, he approached the brightly lit door.
When the knock came, Lou Yue was clutching the drawing in her hand, lost in memory.
On the yellowed white paper, a modern house had been sketched in clumsy ink strokes. Whoever held the brush was clearly unaccustomed to using one; the lines were crooked, and in several places the ink had bled into messy smudges.
Yet at a glance, Lou Yue recognized it as her home in the modern world.
Beside her lay a box filled with colorful marbles, along with several camisoles and pairs of shorts cut out by hand.
Xiao Rangchen knocked twice more.
Only after a long while did the door slowly open.
His gaze first fell on her downcast eyes, then swept over the wooden boxes and assorted belongings scattered haphazardly behind her.
“What’s wrong?”
Lou Yue did not answer.
Xiao Rangchen glanced outside, then stepped into the room. With a soft click, he closed the door behind him.
He walked up to her and looked down at her. Then he reached out, his palm slightly cool as it gently cupped the back of her neck.
With the slightest pressure, he drew her forehead against his shoulder.
The room was utterly silent—so quiet that they could hear the faint chime of the bronze bell stirred by the night breeze outside, so quiet that they could hear each other’s soft breathing.
The candle flame flickered, merging their shadows into the same pool of warm, golden light.
After a long moment, he finally spoke, his voice low and measured, each word deliberate:
“Lou Yue, no matter what happens, I’ll always be by your side.”
