A Warm Niuyang Mountain

The tiger opened its eyes and saw Lu Yao, jumping up excitedly and running to her side.

It spoke in human tongue, "Young Lady! It's been three months! You're finally back."

Lu Yao chuckled, stroking its head, and pointed at Anli. "This is Second Young Lady."

The tiger looked over, its round eyes filled with astonishment, and nudged Anli's hand with its large head.

Anli was a bit stunned, but the tiger's head was surprisingly soft, and she couldn't help but pet it.

The tiger squinted comfortably.

"You lecherous tiger," Lu Yao playfully scolded, kicking its backside.

The tiger's rear end swayed, and it whined affectionately at Anli, "Second Young Lady~"

Meng Anli chuckled and called out, "Ayao, don't bully him."

He's so cute, like a big cat.

Lu Yao pulled her hand. "He's a bad one. He's only acting like this because you're beautiful. Don't be fooled by him."

"Young Lady."

The tiger cried out mournfully.

But Lu Yao, laughing and joking, pulled Meng Anli to the end of the cave.

Lu Yao explained to Meng Anli, lightly pressing a stone. The rock face split down the middle, moving aside to the left and right.

It opened up to a breathtaking view.

Neatly arranged houses, teahouses, taverns, and pawnshops stood side by side. Small stalls lined the bluestone street, selling vegetables, fruits, clay figurines, sugar figurines, and candied hawthorns carried on shoulders.

Immortals and mortals mingled, along with half-human, half-beast little demons.

Everyone was in a state of peace.

Meng Anli had seen such a scene before.

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

On Chongwu Mountain, the scene was just as lively.

She always wanted to run out and play, so her mother had her three older brothers accompany her to protect her.

Whatever she fancied, her eldest brother would buy it.

Her second brother was always the one carrying things, his cold expression contrasted with the colorful items hanging on him, which was quite amusing.

Her third brother always found fun and novel things to do, leading her to experience them.

Later, when her mother became a god and her father took up duty in the Heavenly Palace, they moved to the Heavenly Palace and never returned.

The most recent news was that when the Mountain God sent Meng Shiwan to the Heavenly Realm, he mentioned that Chongwu Mountain had now split into several factions, with frequent conflicts. He wanted her father to return and take charge.

Her father said that the Heavenly Realm's official duties were too demanding, and he had no time to return.

The Mountain God left in disappointment.

"Ta-da~"

A string of candied hawthorns suddenly appeared before her, bringing Meng Anli back to her senses.

She looked up; Lu Yao was holding the candied hawthorns and shaking them gently. "Little Anli, your favorite candied hawthorns are here~"

Meng Anli remembered that when she was imprisoned, Ah Yao had also brought her candied hawthorns to save her.

Her eyes suddenly welled up with warmth.

She quickly lowered her gaze to hide it, took the candied hawthorns, and naturally tilted them towards Lu Yao.

"Anli, you truly are the best in the world to me," Lu Yao said with a smile, taking the first bite and sighing contentedly.

"Our Niuyang Mountain's candied hawthorns are still the best!"

The vendor selling candied hawthorns smiled. "Young Lady, is it because you ate my candied hawthorns that your words are so sweet?"

"Yes, yes."

Meng Anli watched their interaction and took a bite of the candied hawthorn.

The sugar melted in her mouth. She tried biting it, and her intact teeth crunched through the candied hawthorn. The sweetness was mixed with a hint of sourness, flowing down her throat and into her chest.

It felt sour and full.

She remembered Meng Mingde saying that if Niuyang Mountain dared to oppose him, he would destroy it.

Later, with the Crown Prince's help, they had annihilated all of Niuyang Mountain.

Looking at the bustling scene, she could no longer hold back, and tears streamed down her face.

When Lu Yao turned around and saw her crying pitifully, she asked nervously.

"Are they so bad they made you cry?"

Meng Anli's tears turned into a smile. Looking at the living, breathing Lu Yao, she suddenly hugged her tightly.

She shook her head. "No, they're so good they made me cry."

The candied haw vendor, relieved, picked another one and offered it to her. "If you like it, I'll give you more. Don't cry."

Meng Anli waved her hand.

"Thank you, Uncle," Lu Yao said, taking it and reaching for her money.

The vendor smiled and floated away.

The people around watched her with kindness and curiosity.

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

She was determined to protect Lu Yao and Niuyang Mountain.

Lu Yao shoved the other string of candied haws into her hand. "Stop crying, okay? If it's delicious, we'll eat more."

"Sister!" a young man called out, riding a horse towards them.

He reined in his horse in front of them, the black horse rearing. The young man was dressed in sharp, fitted clothing, his smile bright and bold.

He looked somewhat similar to Lu Yao.

This must be that brat Lu Kang, the one Uncle Lu always talks about?

The young man dismounted with practiced ease, a head taller than Lu Yao.

Lu Yao playfully punched his shoulder. "Good lad, you've gotten stronger."

She pulled Meng Anli over. "This is Anli. She's two years older than you, so she'll be your second sister from now on."

Lu Kang looked her over curiously, his eyes and nose red, holding a string of candied haws in each hand.

He let out a chuckle.

"Is my second sister here a little bunny?"

Meng Anli blushed with shame, seeing her awkward state revealed by a younger boy.

"You brat! Don't you dare be disrespectful to your sister." Lu Yao stood on tiptoe and hit him on the head.

"Ouch~" Lu Kang jumped. "She really does look like a little bunny~"

"Say that again!" Lu Yao delivered another powerful blow.

Lu Kang hid behind Anli. "Second Sister, help!"

Meng Anli dodged, watching from the side while chewing on her candied haw.

She let Lu Yao have her fun.

Lu Kang yelped. "How did you get so much better?"

"Hmph, I'm your sister, and I'll always beat you!"

"I was wrong, I'll behave!"

Lu Yao finally stopped and pulled Meng Anli forward.

"Second Sister," Lu Kang said, following them with his horse, and asked curiously, "How did you become friends with someone so fierce?"

"She's not fierce at all!" Meng Anli said sternly. "Ayao is the best."

Lu Kang gasped.

"The best?"

"Of course, I'm the best."

Lu Yao, bouncing happily, led them to their mansion.

Pavilions and towers, nestled by mountains and water, with faint auspicious light.

It was a veritable blessed land.

Lu Yao's mother, Fang Xianrou, was as delicate as her name suggested, slender and frail, like a maiden yet to be married. She was gentle, smiled often, and was impeccably polite.

She even thoughtfully asked about Anli's preferences and prepared dishes for her, and after the meal, she prepared the pastries Anli liked.

She was as gentle as Meng Anli remembered her own mother.

It was hard to imagine she had raised two such vibrant and spirited children.

In the Crown Prince's mansion, it was already noon.

The Crown Prince asked anxiously, "Hasn't Meng Anli arrived yet?"

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 his communication mirror and contacted Master Zhang, asking him to investigate.