Why did you provoke me?

Yu Meng and Secretary Wu were talking about what had happened in the past few days.

Nangong Tianjing and Zhou Jingyan were also sitting together drinking tea.

"Third Uncle, are you really going to follow Yu Meng? Can she protect you?"

Nangong Tianshou didn't answer his question, but instead asked, "Are you leaving? That gun really can turn the tide for you?"

Zhou Jinyan shook his head. "It's just a weapon, just an opportunity, but we have to give it a try."

"It's worth a try, otherwise I won't be satisfied!" Nangong Tianshou said, holding his water glass. "I'm old and can't keep up with all the commotion. If I can have a peaceful end, I'll consider myself to have had a good death."

Zhou Jingyan didn't respond, but said something else, "Xiao Hao can stay with you for now. That kid is too well-behaved. I'll do my best to help him so that it will be easier for him when he picks him up."

"You're stubborn too. Don't be so persistent in everything; it won't do you any good. Just look at me." Nangong Tianshou couldn't help but offer a word of advice.

Zhou Jingyan smiled, a rare occurrence for him. "Third Uncle, I don't know what you're guarding? But now you've said it yourself, let go if you can!"

"You brat, you're meddling in my business now." Nangong Tianshou laughed and scolded. "I'm fine now, just mind your own business. We've got this agreed, I'm not raising a son for you. No one can replace a biological father."

"Don't worry, my father never taught me to shirk responsibility. Many people's lives are tied to my life, I can't possibly give it up."

"I'll remember what you said, and you should remember it too: no matter what, this place will always be your last resort."

Zhou Jingyan remained silent for a long time before softly saying, "Thank you, Third Uncle."

Neither of them spoke, and the steam rising from their teacups blurred their faces.

……

After saying goodbye to Yu Meng, Zhou Jingyan left with his men.

But when he got to the gate, the cripple stopped him and said something inexplicable: "I'll open the door for you whenever you come."

He remembered what Nangong Tianshou had said and knew he was an extraordinary person. Therefore, he bowed slightly and said, "Then I'll trouble you."

The lame man stepped aside, watching the departing convoy, muttering, "I hope I'll see you again."

Yu Meng stood behind the cripple, saying, "He's in danger on this trip."

The lame man suddenly turned around, patted his chest, and said, "You scared me to death! Couldn't you have made a sound? It was the same last time."

Yu Meng didn't say anything, she just looked at him.

The cripple returned to the small hut by the door and poured himself a cup of tea. "He's in danger, but there's a glimmer of hope. I just don't know if he'll be willing to seize it."

Yu Meng didn't go inside; she leaned against the doorframe with her hands in her pockets.

"What do you do for a living? How do you have the skills of a charlatan?"

"How can he compare to me?"

"You really knew who I was talking about."

The cripple paused upon hearing Yu Meng's words, then asked, "What did you say? Who do I know?"

"He was the first person I encountered who schemed against me."

This time, the cripple didn't argue but stared blankly at Yu Meng. "Is he dead?"

Yu Meng nodded.

The cripple put down his teacup, turned to look out the window, said nothing, and just sighed heavily.

"Don't you have anything to say to me?" Yu Meng's voice was soft.

The lame man shook his head, still looking out the window. He didn't turn around, nor did he respond to Yu Meng's words. He just sat there quietly.

Yu Meng did not insist and turned to leave.

She hasn't visited Qingyuan since she came back this time.

In the experimental garden, Qingyuan saw Yu Meng rush out, saying, "Nothing's wrong here. No need to come over."

"Yeah, I slept until 8 o'clock today, and I've already recovered."

"It's good to be young. After being on the road for several days, I recovered after a night's sleep." Qingyuan led the person into the rest room next door.

"How was it? Weren't Nian Nian and the others very surprised and delighted that you went?"

"That girl, she won't come back even if I go." Yu Meng brewed a pot of tea for Qingyuan.

Qingyuan laughed heartily, "With her temperament, you finally managed to get her to go out, there's no way she'll come back!"

"Aunt Qing, are you busy here?"

"It's alright, not as stressful as before. It's okay to go slower now." Qingyuan sat down and took Yu Meng's hand. "It's all thanks to you."

Yu Meng smiled and said, "I can't do so many things by myself. It's all thanks to everyone."

"Hey, I also sent some of those stamina-boosting pills that Qian Chuan researched to your sister this time. They're specially made by Qian Chuan, and supposedly they're milder than the last ones."

"Aunt Qing, how can I thank you enough? I should be the one doing all these things, but you're always the one worrying about it."

"Doing this little thing is nothing. I know you're under a lot of pressure, and Aunt Qing can't really help much, so I can only tell you to worry less."

"Aunt Qing, did you need any help from me?"

Qingyuan fell silent, then shook her head. "No, as long as you're doing well, I'm happy."

"Aunt Qing," Yu Meng said, holding her hand. "It's okay to tell me. If you can help me, you definitely will. If you don't tell me and keep it to yourself, it will become a worry for you over time, which is not good for you."

"Yu Meng, how come you are so understanding? I really envy your mother for having a daughter like you."

Yu Meng lowered her voice, "Aunt Qing, I'm not a good daughter. My mother misses me a lot because I'm away from home."

"Yes, what mother doesn't worry about her children?" Qingyuan sighed softly.

"Aunt Qing, who are you thinking about?"

"Who else could it be? You've got everyone else under your protection, except for that troublesome one."

Yu Meng laughed, "When I see him next time, I'll give him a piece of my mind and make my Aunt Qing worry about him, but that won't do."

"You can beat him up if you want, but he's left without a word. I'm genuinely worried about him."

"He's so shrewd, he won't suffer any losses," Yu Meng comforted him.

"I hope so!" Qingyuan didn't have much to say. She was just worried, but Hua Shulang was stubborn and wouldn't listen to her despite her repeated attempts to persuade him. What else could she do? She could only shamelessly ask Yu Meng to help her when it was convenient.

After talking for a while, Yu Meng went back. She went out for a walk and returned to all the places she was supposed to report to.

Yu Meng returned to her room, sat at the table, and her heart slowly calmed down. She needed to reorganize the information she had received and find out what was useful to her.

They suffered such a huge loss during this trip to Feng County, they will definitely not let it go.

What Yu Meng needs to do is find the right direction and make preparations in advance.

Sigh, Yu Meng thought, if the cripple had said more, she might not have had to work so hard.

The next day, Yu Meng hung the "Seclusion" sign on the door again. The unknown dangers were too numerous and too great; she decided to continue her cultivation.

Secretary Wu and Nangong Tianshou met at the entrance of Yu Meng's place. Upon seeing the sign at the entrance, the two turned around tacitly and entered the same room.

"Going this far? Just how strong is the opponent?" Nangong Tianshou looked at Secretary Wu.

"I don't know either!" Secretary Wu said with a worried look on his face.