"Great kindness needs no words of thanks. In my next life, I'll be an ox or a horse to repay Brother Yuan!" Cha Hu clasped his hands and bowed deeply in farewell. "Goodbye!"
Straightening up, he instructed the two boys, "From now on, you may regard Uncle Yuan as your father. You must listen to him!"
The two boys' eyes reddened, clearly reluctant to part. One of them asked, "Grandpa Tiger, where are you going? Are you abandoning us?"
Cha Hu said, "I'm going somewhere very far away. Be good. Don't cry." With that, he turned to leave.
Who would have thought that an indifferent voice would ring out from within the manor? "Stop!"
Cha Hu halted and turned back. Yuan Gang and the others also looked back, only to see Niu Youdao emerge leaning on his sword, with Guan Fangyi at his side.
Cha Hu turned around fully and clasped his hands. "May I ask who you are?"
Niu Youdao glanced at the infant in Yuan Gang's arms, then swept his eyes over the two boys. "Niu Youdao."
Cha Hu hurriedly clasped his hands in salute. "I have long heard of Daoist Master's great name. Seeing you today, your bearing is indeed extraordinary."
Niu Youdao said, "I have long admired Mr. Cha as well. May I ask where Mr. Cha intends to go after entrusting these children to another?"
Cha Hu said, "Naturally, I shall follow the tide of the times and obey orders by heading to the Fifth Domain."
Niu Youdao said, "Then stop running around blindly. Go back and evacuate with Thatched Cottage Manor. You'll have someone to look after you that way. There's no shortage of places for you to stay here either. Duan Hu, arrange a guest courtyard for Mr. Cha."
"Yes!" Duan Hu acknowledged,