A Cozy Niuyang Mountain

The tiger opened his eyes and saw Lu Yao. Excitedly, he sprang up and ran to her side.

He spoke in human words. "Young Miss! It's been three months! You've finally returned."

Lu Yao chuckled and patted his head, pointing at Anli. "This is the Second Miss."

The tiger looked over, his round eyes filled with amazement. He rubbed his huge head against Anli's hand.

Anli was a little bewildered, but the tiger's head was surprisingly soft, and she could not resist giving it a stroke.

The tiger narrowed his eyes comfortably.

"Lecherous tiger." Lu Yao laughed and cursed as she kicked him in the backside.

The tiger wiggled his rear and coquettishly called to Anli, "Second Miss~"

Meng Anli chuckled. "A Yao, don't bully him."

He was so adorable, like a big cat.

Lu Yao took her hand. "He's bad. He's only acting like this because he thinks you're pretty. Don't let him fool you."

"Young Miss..."

The tiger called out mournfully.

But Lu Yao laughingly dragged Meng Anli to the end of the cave.

As Lu Yao explained things to Meng Anli, she lightly pressed a stone. The stone wall split down the middle and slid open to either side.

The view suddenly opened up.

Neat houses stood in orderly rows. Teahouses, taverns, and pawnshops lined the streets, while stalls were set up along the bluestone road, selling vegetables, fruits, clay figurines, Sugar Figures, and candied hawthorn skewers carried on poles over their shoulders.

People and immortals came and went, along with little demons that were half-human and half-beast.

Everyone looked peaceful and harmonious.

Meng Anli had seen a scene like this before.

When she was very young, her family had still lived on Chongwu Mountain.

Chongwu Mountain had been just as lively.

She had always wanted to run outside and play, so her mother had made her three older brothers follow her to protect her.

Whatever caught her eye, her eldest brother would buy it for her.

Her second brother was always the one carrying things. His cold face paired with all the brightly colored trinkets hanging from his body had been enough to make anyone laugh.

Her third brother could always find fun and novel things to show her, taking her along to experience them.

Later, her mother achieved Ascension to Godhood, and her father went to serve at the Heavenly Palace. They moved to the Heavenly Palace and never returned.

The latest news she had received was that when the Mountain God sent Meng Shiwan to the Heavenly Realm, he had mentioned that Chongwu Mountain was now divided into several factions, with battles breaking out from time to time. He wanted her father to return and take charge of the situation.

Her father had said that official duties in the Heavenly Realm kept him too busy and that he had no time to return.

The Mountain God had left in disappointment.

"Ta-da~"

A string of candied hawthorn skewers suddenly appeared before her, pulling Meng Anli from her thoughts.

She looked up to see Lu Yao lightly shaking the skewers. "Little Anli, your favorite candied hawthorn skewers are here~"

Meng Anli remembered that when she had been imprisoned, A Yao had also come to save her with candied hawthorn skewers.

Her eyes suddenly burned.

She hurriedly lowered her gaze to hide it, took the skewers, and naturally tilted them toward Lu Yao.

"Anli really is the best friend in the world to me." Lu Yao smiled as she ate the first one, letting out a satisfied sigh.

"The candied hawthorn skewers from my great Niuyang Mountain are still the tastiest!"

The uncle selling candied hawthorn skewers laughed. "Is Young Miss's mouth so sweet because she ate my candied hawthorn skewers?"

"Yes, yes."

Meng Anli watched their interaction and bit into a Candied Hawthorn Skewer.

The sugar melted in her mouth. She tried biting down, and her intact teeth shattered the candy coating. Sweetness wrapped around a faint sourness, sliding all the way down her throat and into her chest.

It felt sour and swollen.

She remembered Meng Mingde saying that if Niuyang Mountain dared oppose him, he would wipe Niuyang Mountain out.

Later, with the Crown Prince's help, they had slaughtered everyone on Niuyang Mountain.

Looking at this bustling scene, she could no longer hold back. Tears poured down like a spring bursting from the ground.

When Lu Yao turned around and saw her crying so pitifully, she anxiously asked,

"Did they taste so bad that you cried?"

Meng Anli laughed through her tears. Looking at the living, breathing Lu Yao, she suddenly threw her arms around her.

She shook her head. "No, they were so delicious that I cried."

The uncle selling candied hawthorn skewers breathed a sigh of relief and plucked another one off for her. "If you like them, I'll give you more. Don't cry."

Meng Anli waved her hands.

"Thank you, Uncle." Lu Yao accepted it and reached for money with one hand.

The uncle laughed and drifted away.

The people around them all watched her with kindness and curiosity.

Meng Anli felt a little embarrassed and wiped away her tears.

She had to protect Lu Yao. She had to protect Niuyang Mountain.

Lu Yao stuffed the other string of candied hawthorn skewers into her hand. "Stop crying. If they're tasty, we'll just eat more."

"Big Sister!" a youth shouted as he rode over on horseback.

He lightly reined in his horse before them. The black horse reared up, and the youth, dressed in neat fitted clothes, wore a bright, flamboyant smile.

He looked somewhat like Lu Yao.

This must be the brat Uncle Lu often mentioned—Lu Kang?

The youth nimbly jumped down from the horse. He stood a whole head taller than Lu Yao.

Lu Yao happily punched him in the shoulder. "Good boy, you've gotten sturdier again."

She pulled Meng Anli over. "This is Anli. She's two years older than you, so from now on, she's your Second Sister."

Lu Kang curiously sized her up. Her eyes were red, her nose was red, and she held a string of candied hawthorn skewers in each hand.

He burst out laughing.

"Is my Second Sister a little rabbit?"

Meng Anli's embarrassed state had been seen by a younger brother two years her junior, and her face reddened with shame.

"You brat! Don't be so disrespectful to your sister." Lu Yao stood on tiptoe and smacked his head.

"Ow~" Lu Kang jumped up. "She really does look like a little rabbit~"

"You're still saying it?" Lu Yao gave him another hard smack.

Lu Kang hid behind Anli. "Second Sister, save me!"

Meng Anli stepped aside and bit into her candied hawthorn skewers as she watched from nearby.

She let Lu Yao hit him to her heart's content.

Lu Kang let out a howl. "How have you improved so much?"

"Hmph, hmph. I'm your sister. I'll always be able to defeat you!"

"I was wrong. I'll behave!"

Only then did Lu Yao stop and pull Meng Anli forward.

"Second Sister," Lu Kang asked curiously as he led his horse after them, "how did you become friends with someone so fierce?"

"She isn't fierce!" Meng Anli said seriously. "A Yao is the best."

Lu Kang sucked in a sharp breath.

"The best?"

"Of course I'm the best."

Lu Yao happily skipped and hopped all the way to their residence.

Pavilions and towers nestled against the mountains and beside the water, with faint auspicious light shimmering in the air.

It was a blessed land, a paradise hidden within a cave.

Lu Kang's mother, Fang Xianrou, lived up to her name. Slender and delicate, she looked like an unmarried young lady. She was gentle, fond of smiling, and impeccable in her manners.

She thoughtfully asked about Anli's preferences, prepared dishes for her, and after the meal, had pastries that Anli liked brought out.

She was as gentle as Anli's mother in her memories.

It was hard to imagine that she had raised two children so fiery and lively.

At the Crown Prince's residence, it was nearly noon.

The Crown Prince asked anxiously, "Meng Anli still hasn't arrived?"

Liuyin shook her head. "She left the academy early this morning and still hasn't arrived. Could something have happened?"

The Crown Prince took out the Communication Mirror and contacted Master Zhang, asking him to investigate.