My words have become law; I truly have no desire to display my divine power before others.

Zhou Yan wanted to ask her what she was busy with, but seeing how hurried she looked, he was too embarrassed to ask.

Later, she went out again, saying she was going to eat at the clan elder's house and asked him to heat up the food on the stove himself.

Zhou Yan did not heat up the dishes.

He wasn't hungry, or rather, he didn't have much of an appetite.

The wound still hurts, although it's much better than yesterday, but it still aches when I move it even slightly.

He just lay there, watching the sky outside the window gradually darken and the moon slowly rise.

He heard voices outside.

More than one person.

Men and women were there, chatting and laughing, their voices coming from the courtyard gate, growing closer and closer.

Zhou Yan's heart suddenly jumped.

He remembered the pursuers.

Those black riders, those arrows, those guards lying in pools of blood.

Will they track us here? Will they find this village? Will they...?

He sat up gently, the movement aggravating his wound and causing him to wince in pain, but he gritted his teeth and remained silent.

He slowly moved to the window, used his fingers to pry open a small corner of the window paper, and looked outside.

Under the moonlight, several people were walking into the courtyard.

Leading the way was a girl, carrying a basket on her back and with thick braids—it was A Luo.

She smiled and walked away, turning back to say something as she went.

Following behind her were several people—a young gentleman, looking around curiously, finding everything new and interesting.

A man dressed as a corpse driver hunched his shoulders, looking around furtively.

A woman with a sword at her side walked steadily, her face expressionless.

At the very back was a young Taoist priest.

He wore a gray-blue Taoist robe, stood with his hands behind his back, and walked at a moderate pace.

The moonlight shone on him, as if coating him with a faint silver glow.

Zhou Yan's gaze fell on the Taoist priest, and he suddenly had an indescribable feeling in his heart.

He couldn't quite describe the feeling, he just felt that this person...

Before he could finish his thought, the Taoist priest suddenly raised his head and looked in his direction.

Zhou Yan froze.

That gaze, through the window paper, across the courtyard, across several meters, fell directly on him.

Those eyes were as calm as a stagnant pool, yet they sent a chill down his spine.

He felt as if he had been seen through.

It's not about being seen, it's about being seen through.

His injuries, his identity, and all the secrets he kept hidden in his heart were clearly seen by those eyes.

Zhou Yan instinctively shrank back, his clothes soaked with cold sweat.

He dared not look anymore.

But those eyes were already imprinted in his mind.

In the courtyard, Ye Qingfeng withdrew his gaze.

Lu Yang was looking around when he saw him looking in that direction, so he followed his gaze.

Over there was a side room with paper pasted on the windows, letting out a faint light.

Lu Yang squinted and, through the gap in the window paper, vaguely saw a figure.

The figure was leaning against the window, seemingly looking outside.

"Huh?" Lu Yang asked A Luo curiously, "Who's staying in that room? Is it your husband?"

A Luo's face turned red instantly.

"No...no!" She waved her hands hurriedly, her voice trembling with anxiety. "It's not my husband! It's someone I rescued from outside. He's injured and is staying at our home temporarily."

Lu Yang said "Oh," and looked at the window again, but the figure had already disappeared.

A Luo lowered her head, the tips of her ears turning red, and whispered, "He...he was seriously injured. He was found on the mountain. I...I can't just stand by and watch him die."

Miao Gui chuckled twice beside him, but didn't say anything.

Lü Yang nodded and didn't ask any further questions.

Ye Qingfeng didn't ask any more questions, but simply followed A Luo into the house.

Aro led them to a group of interconnected houses.

"Immortal Master, please stay in this room."

She pushed open the door to the innermost room, which was spotless and the bedding on the bed had been changed.

There was a pot of hot water on the table, and a bunch of wildflowers on the windowsill, which she had just picked that afternoon.

"Miss Shen lives in the outermost room, near the courtyard gate, where it's safer."

Shen Zhaoyue nodded.

"Young Master Lü, Master Miao, please stay in this room. I'm sorry, but rooms are limited, so I'll have to trouble you two to squeeze in." She then pushed open the door next door.

There was a large bed prominently displayed inside.

"It's alright, we are already very grateful that you would let us stay here," Ye Qingfeng said with a smile.

Miao Gui peeked into the room. Although it was a bit small, it was quite clean. He nodded in satisfaction: "Not bad, not bad at all. Much better than the inn."

Lu Yang had already lay down on the bed and stretched: "Ah, that feels good! Finally, I can get a good night's sleep!"

Ye Qingfeng walked into his room and sat down on the edge of the bed.

A'Luo stood at the door, hesitated for a moment, and whispered, "Immortal Master, if you need anything, just call me. I live in the room next door."

Ye Qingfeng nodded.

A Luo returned to her room, closed the door, and let out a long sigh of relief.

She's exhausted today.

I went to sell ginseng in the morning, but my things were stolen. I cried for a while, then someone helped me. I went to the elder's house for a meal, and then I cleaned the house... By the end of the day, my legs were weak.

She was sitting on the edge of the bed, about to take off her shoes, when she suddenly heard a "click".

The window moved slightly.

Aro paused for a moment and looked out the window.

A small hole appeared in the window paper, and a round eye was peering through it.

A'Luo was both amused and exasperated: "Baby, here you go again."

The window was pushed open, and a chubby little baby jumped down from the windowsill.

He was wearing a red bellyband, had his hair tied in a high ponytail, and had a round, chubby face with bright, dark eyes.

He jumped in front of Aro, looked up at her, and his face was full of anticipation:

"Ah Luo, can we play tonight?"

Aro paused for a moment, then asked, "Play?"

The chubby boy nodded and counted on his fingers: "You were selling ginseng in the morning, and you brought a lot of people back in the afternoon. You were busy all day."

Look, it's already dark, you should be free now, right? Everyone's gone to sleep, no one's going to ask you to play!

As he spoke, his eyes sparkled, and he tugged at A'Luo's sleeve, saying, "Play with me for a little while, just a little while!"

Looking at his expectant little face, A Luo's heart softened.

But she looked at the sky outside—the moon was already high in the sky, the night breeze was cool, and the courtyard was quiet.

She squatted down and patted the chubby baby's head: "It's too late today, how about we play again tomorrow? I'll come back earlier tomorrow and play with you all day."

The chubby baby's smile vanished instantly.

He pouted, his cheeks puffed out like a steamed bun: "You always say tomorrow! You said tomorrow last time, and the time before that! Tomorrow, tomorrow, tomorrow, which tomorrow are you talking about?"

A-Luo felt a little guilty, but still coaxed her, "This time it's for real. I won't go anywhere tomorrow, I'll just stay home with you."

The chubby baby snorted, turned around, and faced away from her: "I don't believe you! You're just going to make up excuses again!"