After the path was cut off

The damp chill of early spring dawn slowly spread across the rooftops of Baixi Town.

The water vapor from last night clung to the blue tiles, and when the pale golden light shone on them, a thin mist rose. Smoke began to rise from the chimneys of each house, the aroma of firewood, rice porridge, and steamed wheat noodles mingling together, adding a touch of tranquility to this town that had just awakened.

There was the crowing of roosters in the distance and the barking of dogs nearby.

In the streets and alleys, the sounds of children chasing each other could already be heard.

If you only look at this moment, Baixi Town is just a cozy little town.

Li Qingfeng stood at the courtyard gate, gazing in the direction Li Qinghan had left.

That aloof figure had long since disappeared into the morning mist, but he lingered there for a moment.

Only after the worry in his heart subsided did he turn around and walk towards the town's middle school.

He wants to leak the news.

It needs to be released quickly enough, but also naturally enough.

Not far away, a small, chubby-faced figure emerged from the corner of the alley.

The child looked to be seven or eight years old, with rosy cheeks, big, bright eyes, and carefully holding a steaming bamboo steamer in his hands.

His name is Tang Xiao'ao.

Orphaned at a young age, she lived with her older sister, Tang Xiao'e. She was very intelligent and stubborn, and loved going to school, asking so many questions that they gave her teacher a headache.

"Brother Qingfeng!"

Tang Xiao'ao spotted Li Qingfeng at a glance and immediately ran over, handing him the bamboo tray.

"Here you go! The first batch of steamed buns my sister made this morning!"

After saying that, he lowered his voice, with a hint of smugness, as if he had done something wrong.

"I didn't dare take more, so the mayor's and Uncle Jingshan's portions... were gone."

Li Qingfeng took the bamboo basket and chuckled:

"Stealing again?"

"It wasn't stealing."

Tang Xiao'ao puffed out his little chest.

"My sister loves me the most."

As he spoke, he glanced behind Li Qingfeng again.

"Where's Sister Qinghan? Why didn't she come with you today?"

Li Qingfeng's heart stirred.

Tang Xiao'ao is a quick-witted and fast-talking kid with many friends.

Once the news got out of his mouth, it wouldn't be long before half the town knew.

Li Qingfeng rubbed his head.

"Your sister Qinghan has gone out to take care of important business and will be back in a couple of days."

Tang Xiao'ao said "Oh," clearly somewhat disappointed.

But then he remembered something else, and his eyes lit up.

"By the way, Brother Qingfeng, I think I understand what you meant by 'embracing the original essence and guarding the one' in class the other day!"

Li Qingfeng smiled and said:

"No rush."

"If you treat your brother to steamed buns, your brother will first tell you some incredibly good news."

"You're the first to know."

Tang Xiao'ao's attention was immediately drawn to it.

"What good news?"

Li Qingfeng bent down and whispered.

"My great-uncle is back."

"Grand Uncle?" Tang Xiao'ao was taken aback, then his little brain started working quickly, and his eyes widened suddenly.

"Is it that immortal ancestor?"

"An immortal patriarch who has become a disciple of the Heavenly Profound Sect?"

Li Qingfeng nodded.

Tang Xiao'ao suddenly became excited.

"The immortal has returned? Where is he? Can I see him?"

"Don't rush."

Li Qingfeng held down his bouncing shoulders.

"There's even better news."

He paused.

"Our great-uncle is going to take us away from Baixi Town to a place called Yunmeng Great Marsh."

"A very, very large spirit beast will come to pick us up, and it can carry many people to the sky."

"Once we get there, my great-uncle will establish a celestial sect to protect everyone and ensure a peaceful life."

Of course, that's a rather blunt statement.

Li Qingfeng knew perfectly well whether the Yunmeng Marshland was safe or not.

But right now, if the news isn't bright enough, it won't reveal the faces of those hiding in the shadows.

Tang Xiao'ao couldn't understand the nuances of the situation.

All he heard were "immortals," "flying to heaven," and "peaceful days."

"real?"

His voice rose.

"Brother Qingfeng, you can't lie to me!"

"Of course it's true," Li Qingfeng said.

"Can I tell my sister? Can I tell Little Fatty, Er Ya, and the others? Can I tell everyone?"

Tang Xiao'ao's face turned red with anxiety.

"Of course," Li Qingfeng smiled. "I was just about to ask you for this favor."

"Wow—!!" Tang Xiao'ao cheered, shoved the steamer of buns into Li Qingfeng's arms, and ran off.

He ran while shouting at the top of his lungs:

"The immortal has returned!"

"The immortals are going to take us flying away!"

"The immortal has returned!"

"The immortals are going to take us flying away!"

The children's clear voices pierced through the morning mist, crossed the streets and alleys, and even entered the homes where smoke was just beginning to rise from the chimneys.

Li Qingfeng withdrew his gaze and lowered his head to open the bamboo drawer.

A wave of heat hit my face.

He picked up a steamed bun, took a bite, chewed it slowly a few times, and suddenly whispered:

"Xiao'e's steamed buns are getting better and better."

"If I had known, I should have kept Qinghan here a little longer."

------------

Following the cheerful little figure, we saw Tang Xiao'ao running all the way into his family's small steamed bun shop on the street.

The shop was steaming hot, and a thin girl with two large braids was deftly stacking buns into the steamer. Fine beads of sweat hung on her forehead, her sleeves were rolled up to her forearms, and her movements were so fast that she hardly stopped.

She was Tang Xiao'e.

She has delicate features, but a quick temper. People in town say she's not like a girl, but more like a wheel that never stops.

"You little brat! Where have you been again?!" Tang Xiao'e shouted without looking up, her voice urgent and crisp.

"You ran away when I was busiest! I've wasted my time raising you! Get back here and start the fire right now!"

Normally, Tang Xiao'ao would have argued back a bit.

But he couldn't care less about that today.

He rushed to the water vat, scooped up a large bowl of cold water and drank it down, wiped his mouth, and his face turned red with excitement.

"Sis! Stop steaming buns!"

"Hurry up and pack your things!"

"The immortal has returned!"

"The immortals are going to take us flying away!"

Tang Xiao'e paused in her movements.

She then lifted her flour-covered face and glared at him irritably.

"What kind of immortal?"

"Even if your parents come back to life, you still have to come and start the fire first."

"It's true!"

Tang Xiao'ao stomped his feet in frustration.

"Brother Qingfeng told me himself!"

After saying that, he tried to run outside again.

Tang Xiao'e reacted quickly and grabbed him by the back of his collar.

"Stop right there. Explain what happened."

Tang Xiao'ao took a deep breath.

"His immortal great-uncle has returned and is going to take the whole town to a place called Yunmeng Great Marsh."

"And there are also very, very large spirit beasts that can carry people up to the sky!"

"We won't have to hide anymore!"

Tang Xiao'e was taken aback.

"The immortal has actually returned."

But she wasn't Tang Xiao'ao after all; she wasn't blinded by that fleeting joy. A mere moment later, she gripped her brother's collar tightly and demanded:

"Did you hear me clearly?"

"Is Li Qingfeng referring to the Li family leaving?"

"Should we only bring a portion of the people?"

"Or...everyone?"

"Of course, it's everyone!" Tang Xiao'ao twisted his body, trying to break free.

"Brother Qingfeng said it's the whole town!"

"Sister, let me go! I need to tell Little Fatty and the others!"

Tang Xiao'e loosened her grip.

Tang Xiao'ao immediately slipped away like an eel and rushed back into the street in the blink of an eye.

"The immortal has returned!"

"The immortals are going to take us flying away!"

His shouts soon faded into the distance.

Tang Xiao'e stood in front of the steamer, not moving for a long time.

She squeezed the dough in her hand until it became deformed.

The heat hit her face, but she seemed not to notice.

An immortal? Has he really returned?

Are you going to take all the mortals with you?