Transforming into a stunningly beautiful fox spirit, leaving a scar on the heart of a prodigy.

The wind in Qingniu Town is softer than the snow in Shen Du.

Gu Xiang did not use his ability to shrink the distance to an inch, nor did he ride in the purple sedan chair that symbolized his status as the prime minister of the court.

He changed into a slightly worn blue cloth robe and cloth shoes with multiple layers of soles, just like the poor scholar who carried his books to the capital for the imperial examinations years ago, measuring the way home step by step.

The old locust tree by the roadside was bald, its branches pointing haphazardly towards the sky.

The large blue stone under the tree is still there, but it's covered with a thick layer of dust, and no one sits there anymore, fanning themselves with palm-leaf fans and telling stories.

Gu Xiang stood at the village entrance for a long time.

I feel apprehensive as I get closer to home.

These four words sound pretentious when read in books, but now that they've applied to me, I realize they're like a pound of cotton soaked with water, stuck in my chest, making it hard to breathe.

Smoke rose from the village chimneys.

The acrid smell of burning firewood mingled with the aroma of cooked food, whetting Gu Xiang's appetite.

He subconsciously touched his cuff, but it was empty. The fox that always clamored for roast chicken was gone, as was the folding fan that always tapped him on the head.

He gave a wry smile and started walking towards the west end of the village.

The road in my memory is a bit blurry, but I recognize the soles of my feet.

After turning two corners, a fenced courtyard came into view.

Several strings of red peppers hung in the yard, and a big yellow dog lay sunbathing at the door. When it saw strangers, it lazily raised its eyelids and barked twice.

Who is it?

A crisp sound came from inside the house, followed by the curtain being lifted and a woman walking out.

The woman was wearing a floral-patterned jacket, and her hair was styled in a bun with a wooden hairpin inserted in it.

He was also holding a winnowing basket, which was filled with the grain that was about to be fed to the chickens.

Eyes facing each other.

The woman's winnowing basket fell to the ground with a thud, scattering grains all over the ground, attracting several hens that clucked and fluttered over to snatch the food.

"Brother Gu...?"

The woman's voice trembled slightly, and her eyes immediately reddened.

Looking at the slightly plump woman in front of him, Gu Xiang could vaguely recognize the little girl who used to follow him around calling him "Brother Gu".

"Er Ya," Gu Xiang called out, her voice a little hoarse, "I'm back."

Er Ya hastily wiped her hands on her apron, wanting to come forward, but then hesitated.

She knew that the man before her was no longer the poor scholar he once was, but the celestial star of literature descended to earth, the prime minister of the Great Zhou Dynasty.

"Honey! Come out quickly! Brother Gu is back!" Er Ya shouted into the house.

A kind-hearted man rushed out, holding a rattle drum in his hand.

Upon seeing Gu Xiang, the man was at a loss for what to do. He tried to kneel down and kowtow, but Gu Xiang stopped him.

"We're all from the same village, this isn't proper." Gu Xiang had a strong grip and steadily supported the man.

The man's name was Da Niu. He was from the next village. He was honest and simple, and all he knew was farming.

Upon entering the house, a wave of heat hit me.

A chubby baby with a tiger-like face was sitting on the kang (a heated brick bed), drooling as he chewed on a cloth tiger.

It wasn't afraid of strangers, and it grinned and giggled, revealing two newly emerging baby teeth.

Gu Xiang was stunned.

"This is……"

"My son's name is Gou Dan (Dog Egg)," Da Niu said with a sheepish grin, scratching his head. "His real name is Li Nian Gu, which Er Ya named him."

Er Ya blushed, glared at her husband, and turned to pour water for Gu Xiang.

The water was boiled from well water, and the bowl was a large, coarse porcelain bowl with a chip on the side.

Gu Xiang held the bowl, the steam making her eyes sting.

"How old is the child?"

"She's over two years old." Er Ya pushed the melon seeds and peanuts on the kang (heated brick bed) towards Gu Xiang. "She was born in the twelfth lunar month two years ago. Back then, I sent a letter to Brother Gu and also sent him some red eggs, but..."

Er Ya's voice lowered.

Gu Xiang's fingers tightened suddenly.

The year before last, in the twelfth lunar month.

At that time, the demonic calamity in the northern border was raging. He didn't sleep for three days and three nights, issuing red-ink approvals and deploying troops in the government office.

Among that mountain of official documents, there might be a letter from home in Qingniu Town.

He didn't see it.

Or rather, even if you see it, you won't care.

"I'm sorry," Gu Xiang said softly, "I was busy back then."

"I know, I know," Er Ya quickly waved her hand. "Brother Gu is a man of great things, in charge of all the people in the world. How could he worry about such a small matter? I just... I was just thinking, how wonderful it would be if Brother Gu could come and have a drink at our wedding."

Da Niu chimed in from the side, "Er Ya always says that Brother Gu doted on her the most when she was little. On her wedding day, she kept looking towards the village entrance, but she didn't see him until it got dark."

Gu Xiang's heart skipped a beat.

He looked at the child playing with a cloth tiger on the kang (a heated brick bed), and the child's features vaguely resembled Er Ya's.

in case……

If he hadn't gone to the capital back then, he wouldn't have met Su Qing.

Perhaps now, he would have married a wife in Gujia Village, had a child, and lived a life of working at sunrise and resting at sunset.

Or, if Su Qing were still alive...

Gu Xiang closed his eyes, his heart, so full of life, pounding heavily in his chest.

"Brother Gu, would you like to hug him?" Er Ya asked tentatively.

Gu Xiang opened her eyes and stiffly reached out her hand.

The child wasn't shy at all; he waved his little hands and snuggled into Gu Xiang's arms.

It's a soft, fluffy lump with a pleasant milky aroma.

Gu Xiang held the child, her posture so clumsy it looked like she was holding a bomb.

The child stretched out his chubby little hand, grabbed a strand of Gu Xiang's hair hanging down in front of her chest, tugged it hard, and then stuffed his drool-covered finger into Gu Xiang's mouth.

"Oh dear, this child!" Er Ya was startled and tried to take the child back.

"It's nothing." Gu Xiang didn't flinch, letting the finger poke her lips.

He looked into the child's clear, bright eyes.

Clean and clear, it has never seen the filth of this world, nor suffered the hardships of this mortal realm.

"That's wonderful," Gu Xiang murmured.

This is the Great Zhou Dynasty that he risked his life to protect.

This is the human world that Su Qing gave him so that he could live and see the joys of life.

But amidst all this fireworks, his lamp was the only one missing.

Er Ya is a meticulous person.

She noticed the deep melancholy in Gu Xiang's eyes. Although she didn't understand the important matters of the court, she understood people's hearts.

"Brother Gu," Er Ya said softly, "Now that you're back, why don't you stay a while longer? Da Niu and I have been keeping the old house tidy, and the bedding is all freshly aired. You've suffered so much these past few years outside..."

The simple phrase "It's been tough" almost broke Gu Xiang's resolve.

All the officials in the court thought that Prime Minister Gu was dignified, and the emperor thought that his brother Gu was tired. Only this country woman saw through the bitterness in his heart at a glance.

"Okay." Gu Xiang nodded. "Then I'll take care of you."

We had dinner at Er Ya's house.

I killed an old hen, stewed mushrooms, and made cornbread.

Da Niu even took out his treasured liquor and poured a full bowl for Gu Xiang.

After a few rounds of drinks, they started talking.

Da Niu, his face flushed and neck swollen from drinking, slurred his words: "Brother Gu, you have no idea how much better life has been these past few years. Taxes are lighter, there are fewer corrupt officials, and we farmers can finally eat our fill. It's all thanks to you!"

Gu Xiang just smiled, sipping the cheap, harsh liquor that stung his throat.

"Things haven't been peaceful lately," Da Niu hiccuped, lowering his voice. "I heard that bandits have started causing trouble again in Luofeng Slope to the west."

Gu Xiang paused, his hand holding the wine bowl still.

"bandit?"

"That's right!" Da Niu said indignantly. "Those damned bastards, they call themselves 'Black Wind Stronghold,' and they specialize in robbing people on the road. A few days ago, Old Li from the next village went to town to sell grain and was robbed clean, and his leg was even broken."

Click.

A fine crack appeared in the rough porcelain wine bowl in Gu Xiang's hand.

The wine dripped down between his fingers and onto the table.

The air in the room suddenly turned cold, as if a gust of cold wind had sneaked in through the crack in the door. Da Niu shivered, sobering up halfway.

"Brother Gu...?" Er Ya looked at Gu Xiang with some fear.

Gu Xiang lowered his eyes, making his expression unreadable.

Black Wind Village.

He knew that name all too well.

He first met Su Qing in that teahouse, where he encountered the second-in-command of Black Wind Village.

That was the first time he witnessed Su Qing's methods, and the first time he realized that when reasoning fails, fists can be used.

Later, Blood Butcher, the leader of Black Wind Stronghold, almost killed him, and forced Su Qing to reveal her demonic form to him for the first time.

That was the beginning of their story.

Su Qing is no longer here.

How could someone dare to use this name to commit evil in his hometown, the place where he met Su Qing?

"Where are they?" Gu Xiang's voice was soft, but as cold as ice.

Da Niu swallowed hard and stammered, "It's...it's on the outskirts of Luo Feng Slope, in that wild boar forest. I heard the leader is also a cultivator, he can breathe fire, he's really powerful."

It can breathe fire?

Gu Xiang slowly stood up.

He didn't use his spiritual power to dry the wine stains on his hands, letting the spicy smell linger on his fingertips.

"Da Niu, Er Ya." Gu Xiang took out a silver ingot from his pocket and placed it on the table. "This meal was quite enjoyable. I have some things to attend to, so I'll be leaving now."

"Where are you going so late?" Er Ya asked anxiously. "It's dark outside."

"Go and reason with them."

Gu Xiang pushed open the door and went out.

It was indeed dark outside. The moon was obscured by dark clouds, and only a few stars hung sparsely in the sky.

Gu Xiang stood in the courtyard and took a deep breath.

That pent-up resentment, suppressed for three years, erupted wildly from the very marrow of his bones at this moment, following that name and that place.

Black Wind Village.

Luofengpo.

That's where Phoenix was buried, and also where his and Su Qing's memories were buried.

Who gave them the audacity to run wild there?

Gu Xiang lifted his foot and took a step forward.

The figure vanished instantly, leaving only a gust of wind that swirled up the fallen leaves.

Partridge Sky - Returning Home

Spring flowers bloom again on the path, and travelers returning to their hometowns are covered in dust.

All the young girls in my neighborhood have grown into married women, while I alone remain a stranger.

A breeze stirs, the wine warms slightly, and Black Wind Village becomes famous once again.

Where are the laughter and joy of yesteryear? Anger burns in the empty sky as a sacrifice to the old souls.