Immortality: Starting with a grave, I'm invincible when burying corpses.

September of the seventh year of the Tianshun reign.

The little guy was a bit shy today, constantly hovering around me, looking at this and that.

Feeling a bit annoyed, I decided to tap my head.

The little guy grinned, looking quite aggrieved.

Tsk... They didn't even use any force, yet they're getting better and better at pretending.

After a bit of fussing, the little guy finally told the truth and asked a somewhat unexpected question.

What is liking? What is love?

Holy crap! What era are we living in? People still believe this stuff? Don't they even know how high the divorce rate is these days?! (crossed out)

This is really a troublesome question; it's the first time in my life I've been stumped by this little guy.

Liking? Love?

I've never thought about these things since I came into this world, how would I know?

I haven't been to a brothel in years, and now you're asking me this!

What, shall I go to the brothels tonight and check it out in person? (laughs)

Looking at the little guy's innocent yet expectant eyes, he ultimately didn't say anything hurtful.

Looking closely, the little one seems to be no longer a little one; a sixteen-year-old girl stands gracefully, wearing a light blue dress, with a shy blush on her face.

You've grown up.

-

"Why are you suddenly asking this question, Xiao Ling'er? Do you have someone you like?"

"I just wanted to ask, so tell me about it!"

As she said this, Mu Ling'er's voice grew softer and softer, and her head drooped down in embarrassment.

Mu An smiled helplessly and, after thinking for a while, gave a seemingly plausible but ultimately flawed answer.

"If you are with someone and sometimes you feel especially happy and relaxed, and other times you feel annoyed, shy, and worry about all sorts of things, and you feel joy and sadness because of this person... but you still really want to be with this person, then you probably like them."

Mu Ling'er shook her head, tapped her chin with her finger and thought for a while. Her head-shaking and head-swaying appearance was cute, but what she said made Mu An's face darken.

"So, Da'an, you used to go to brothels a lot, sometimes happy, sometimes cursing, and you just liked the older women there?"

As if oblivious to Mu An's darkening face, Mu Ling'er continued muttering to herself, counting on her fingers as she spoke.

"Come to think of it, I like quite a few people..."

Seeing Mu Ling'er grinning mischievously as she rattled off the names of seven or eight people, Mu An knew perfectly well that the little one was making fun of him.

With a clang, Mu Ling'er clutched her head and cried out in pain, shrinking back in a pitiful state.

This time, I'm truly wronged.

Mu An sighed, rubbed Mu Ling'er's head, and his tone became a little more serious.

"Liking is liking, and love is love. These are two different things, and ultimately you have to experience it for yourself."

Mu Ling'er, who had been holding her head, raised her head and stared at Mu An without blinking.

"Aren't there many people in the city with three or four wives? Is it wrong for me to think that way?"

Mu An nodded to Mu Ling'er, then shook his head as Mu Ling'er looked smug.

"I can't say you're wrong, but I can't say you're right either."

"Sometimes you're right, sometimes you're wrong, isn't that the same as not saying anything at all?" Mu Ling'er tilted her head back and leaned against Mu An.

He picked up a piece of paper and drew four little people.

"Look, this is our family."

Mu Ling'er opened her eyes wide, looking like a curious child.

"Yes, Grandma Xiaohe, Grandma Xiaolü, Da'an, and me, Ling'er."

Seeing Mu Ling'er pointing intently at the people in the drawing, Mu An picked up his pen and drew a few more little figures, about the same size as Mu Ling'er when she was a child.

"And now?"

"Do these... represent the wishes of my younger siblings?" Mu Ling'er stared thoughtfully at the little figures in the drawing for a while, then muttered softly.

Mu An nodded slightly and pointed to the little figure in the painting, speaking earnestly.

"Human emotions are limited. If there are too many people sharing them, each person will naturally receive less. For example, Xiao He and Xiao Lü's care and love have all been given to you, Xiao Ling'er. If there are more people sharing them, you will naturally receive less."

Under Mu Ling'er's seemingly understanding gaze, Mu An took a pen and colored all the extra little figures black.

After doing all that, he patted Mu Ling'er's head.

"Perhaps there are some people whose emotions are so rich that they can give to so many people. But at least I am not that kind of person, and neither are Xiao Lü and Xiao He."

As for what kind of person you are, Xiao Ling'er, that's something you'll need to think about over time.

Whether it's liking someone or love, you'll gradually understand once you've truly grown up and experienced life.

Mu Ling'er raised her head and lowered it again and again for a while, before she suddenly grabbed Mu An's sleeve.

"Then why don't you have a wife, Da'an?"

Mu An was slightly taken aback, then smiled.

"I haven't met the right person."

"When will you meet him?" Mu Ling'er persisted, continuing to press for an answer.

"These things depend on fate. It might happen tomorrow, or it might never happen again."

Such an answer naturally did not satisfy Mu Ling'er. The little girl pouted and poked Mu An with her hand.

"Da'an, you're a god, you can live for a very, very long time, how lonely that must be..."

Seeing the little girl's posture, Mu An pinched her cheek until the little one waved her fists wildly before he let go.

"The world is vast, there are countless things to do, and so many things to pursue. Who says we have to be in a romantic relationship?"

Upon hearing this, Mu Ling'er's eyes suddenly lit up. She seemed to understand something and waved her fist, shouting at Mu An.

"I understand!"

"What did you understand?"

"Da'an, are you trying to tell me that I can be like you, ignoring all this mess and just pursuing what I want to do!"

Indeed, rather than getting caught up in these romantic relationships, I still want everyone in Qishan Road to be happier!

One day I will make sure everyone can live in beautiful houses, wear beautiful clothes, and have enough to eat every day!

Let those who want to start a family start a family, let those who want to pursue their dreams pursue their dreams, and let everyone choose the life they want to live!

……

I want to spread the ideas you told me about, Da'an, throughout the world, so that everyone can see your thoughts and the world can become the way you described it to me!

The impassioned speech left Mu An both amused and exasperated. He pinched Mu Ling'er's cheek again and said something amidst the little girl's stammering complaints.

"Then you'd better work hard, this isn't a dream that can be achieved in a day or two."

Mu Ling'er slapped away Mu An's mischievous hand and swung her fist forward.

"Yes! It definitely will!"

……

In the eighth year of the Tianshun reign, Zhuang Sheng opened a school in the southeastern coastal area, taught students, and promoted the new laws. He was reported by someone and wanted by the local government, so he fled into the deep mountains.

……

In the ninth year of the Tianshun reign, a severe drought struck the land.

In July, a large-scale peasant uprising broke out in Qingzhou, with the rebels taking in as many as four million displaced people.

In December, the rebellion was quelled.

Many prominent families made great contributions in suppressing the rebellion, and dozens of them were granted official positions by the imperial court.

Yang He of the Yang family was appointed as a staff officer of the Qingzhou Military Command, ranking as a sixth-grade official.

……

In the tenth year of the Tianshun reign, Zhuang Sheng, who ran a bookstore in the southwest, published the book "The Great Harmony Under Heaven". The publisher reported him, the bookstore was burned down, and Zhuang Sheng and his student Wan Shu were wanted throughout the country.

……

In the eleventh year of the Tianshun reign, rebellions broke out daily in the southern border, the northern border, and the eastern sea.

……

In the thirteenth year of the Tian Shun era, a large-scale conflict broke out on the border between the Tian Qi Domain, where the Great Qi was located, and the Wan Ling Domain, where the demon race was located.

Two villages in Daqi and a small town of the demon race were reduced to ashes in the conflict.

The demon race of the Myriad Spirits Domain mobilized 300,000 demon soldiers to press on the border of the Great Qi Kingdom.

The Daqi court sent a special envoy to attempt peace talks, but to no avail.

The Demon King of the Demon Clan made a harsh statement, demanding that the Great Qi hand over the general's family who were guarding the conflict location to appease the spirits of the deceased demons in heaven.