Liu Family Village

The moment he heard he had a chance to live, Chen Qinkuai scrambled to his feet, terrified that a second's delay would get him killed by the ruthless demonic cultivator before him.

"Please ask, Immortal Master," Chen Qinkuai said. "Whatever this lowly one knows, I'll tell you honestly."

"Let me ask you this," Zhang Yuan said. "Where are we? Are we still within the Ao Kingdom? How far is it from Jianning City in the Ao Kingdom?"

After flying all that way in pursuit of Black Robe, he was a stranger in unfamiliar territory. He truly had no idea where he was now.

Chen Qinkuai answered honestly, "Immortal Master, we're in the Ao Kingdom, but I've never heard of that Jianning City you mentioned."

Zhang Yuan nodded.

Since Chen Qinkuai had never heard of Jianning City, they must have been some distance from it.

Although catching up to Black Robe had not taken long, he had flown at least seven or eight hundred li. For a mortal, that was a distance they might never cover in their entire lifetime.

Especially a farmer.

Zhang Yuan asked again, "Where do you live? Are there any cities nearby?"

Chen Qinkuai dared not conceal anything. "I live in Liu Family Village. There's a city called Dragon Creek City a hundred li from the village."

Zhang Yuan committed those two place names to memory, then glanced at Chen Qinkuai.

He lived in Liu Family Village. Chen Qinkuai had indeed answered his question, but he had slipped a little trick into his answer.

He had only given the name, not its precise location.

He did not want Zhang Yuan finding this Liu Family Village.

"You answered well," Zhang Yuan said.

Chen Qinkuai's heart lifted. I managed to bluff my way through.

Yet before he could enjoy his relief for long, Zhang Yuan's next words sent his heart back into his throat.

"I've only just arrived in the Ao Kingdom and am unfamiliar with the land and its people. I have nowhere to stay yet. Would you be willing to put me up?" Zhang Yuan asked with a genial smile.

In the bitter cold of the twelfth lunar month, Chen Qinkuai still needed to climb the mountains to gather firewood. Clearly, Liu Family Village was very remote—just the place for Zhang Yuan to rest and recuperate.

For a moment, Chen Qinkuai did not know what to say.

If he refused, he feared his head would leave his shoulders the moment he uttered a single word.

If he agreed and brought this man back to the village, who knew what disaster he might bring upon it? Chen Qinkuai would become the village's sinner.

As he wrestled with his decision, Chen Qinkuai glanced at the herb basket that had fallen to the ground and the scattered firewood. He fell silent for a moment.

"Follow me, Immortal Master. Cross two more mountains to the east, and you'll reach our Liu Family Village," Chen Qinkuai said, pointing east.

Zhang Yuan nodded. "Lead the way."

Chen Qinkuai nodded silently.

Without using any divine ability, Zhang Yuan followed him over the mountains. In less than half an hour, a village with curling wisps of cooking smoke came into view. It was not far at all.

The village was not large. At a rough glance, it contained about a hundred households.

A large stone stood at the village entrance, presumably engraved with the three characters for Liu Family Village.

Zhang Yuan swept his gaze over it.

He could not read.

"Old Chen, why are you back so early today?"

A sturdy man at the village entrance spotted Chen Qinkuai returning from the mountains and called out to him.

True to his name, which meant diligent, Chen Qinkuai was famously hardworking in Liu Family Village. Every day, he headed up the mountains early in the morning to gather herbs and firewood, never returning before sunset.

It was truly strange for Chen Qinkuai to return so early today.

At the question, Chen Qinkuai forced a smile but gave no answer.

Puzzled, the sturdy man scratched his head. Then his gaze caught the figure in red robes behind Chen Qinkuai.

"Huh?"

The sturdy man hesitated for a second, then asked, "Old Chen, who's this?"

Chen Qinkuai shook his head slightly, signaling with his eyes that the man should not ask further.

The sturdy man nodded thoughtfully. Sure enough, he stopped asking questions and gave Chen Qinkuai an admiring look.

In his younger years, he had gone to Dragon Creek City to seek his fortune. He recognized Zhang Yuan's red robes as the wedding attire worn by wealthy families.

Who would've thought? Old Chen usually seemed so honest, yet one trip into the mountains and he'd brought back a son-in-law—and a handsome one at that. Quite the feat!

The sturdy man opened the Gate for them, allowing them into the village.

Only after they had walked some distance away did Chen Qinkuai speak.

"Immortal Master, that gatekeeper is called Liu Song. If he's offended you in any way, please be forgiving."

Rather speechless, Zhang Yuan nodded helplessly.

He had not exchanged a single word with Liu Song. What offense could there possibly have been?

The man's misunderstanding of him still ran far too deep.

Chen Qinkuai relaxed a little.

Liu Song, the gatekeeper, was Liu Family Village's notorious bigmouth. Who knew what stories he would spread after seeing the "Immortal Master" today?

If he spread anything unfavorable and the "Immortal Master" behind Chen Qinkuai heard about it, Liu Song might lose his life.

Still, Chen Qinkuai had not said a single word to Liu Song today. Presumably, there would be no problem.

"This way, Immortal Master. My home is just ahead," Chen Qinkuai said, quickening his pace.

Chen Qinkuai's home stood beside the fence at the edge of the village, in a secluded spot with few neighbors nearby.

Zhang Yuan was very satisfied with this. A little peace and quiet suited him nicely.

Seeing that they were almost home, Chen Qinkuai felt some of the weight lift from his heart. But just as he approached the Gate, he heard angry curses and scolding coming from inside.

Chen Qinkuai's expression shifted, and his steps faltered. Then, forgetting even Zhang Yuan behind him, he hurried toward the Gate.

The Gate stood wide open.

In the Yard, an old woman and a middle-aged woman were pointing at a young girl and berating her.

"If our family hadn't helped your father all these years, you and your father would've starved to death long ago! And now you won't even repay us! A whole family of white-eyed wolves—ungrateful wretches, just like your mother!"

"You little bitch, listen here! Whether you like it or not, you're coming with us today. If you don't get up, I'll fetch people to drag you away!"

The girl they were pointing at and cursing wore thin clothes, her cheeks pale. She had fallen into the snow in the Yard and sat there expressionlessly, saying nothing.

Seeing that expression on the girl's face, the old woman and the middle-aged woman felt as though their punches had landed in cotton. Their anger found no outlet.

"She's infuriating me! This little beast is infuriating me! Yulan, hit her!" the old woman said furiously, clutching her chest.

With a vicious look in her eyes, the middle-aged woman raised her hand to strike.

"Stop!"

Chen Qinkuai rushed into the Yard and planted himself in front of the middle-aged woman.

Both women froze at the sight of Chen Qinkuai. Clearly, neither had expected him to return so early.

"Qinkuai... why are you back?" Looking at Chen Qinkuai's burly frame, the middle-aged woman discreetly lowered her hand and asked timidly.

Chen Qinkuai's face was expressionless. "Mother, Sister-in-law, what are you doing here?"

Hearing his questioning tone, the old woman said coldly, "Chen Qinkuai, am I not allowed to come here? What's this? Now that Yumei is dead, you no longer acknowledge me as your mother?"

Chen Qinkuai fell silent for a moment. "Mother, that's not what I meant."

The old woman snorted. "Yulan, tell Chen Qinkuai what we came here for today."

With the old woman backing her, Liu Yulan, who had been timid only moments ago, immediately grew bold.

"Qinkuai, let me be frank with you. A wealthy family in the city has taken a liking to Xinqiao. Mother and I came today to take Xinqiao into the city to enjoy a life of comfort."

Liu Yulan spoke with beaming eyes and a broad smile, presenting it as though it were the absolute truth.