"Little immortal master?" Chen Ya smiled at Su Jiu.
"It's all thanks to you that our village was saved." The Old Lady clasped Su Jiu's hand in excitement.
A rare touch of warmth entered Su Jiu's smile.
She looked at the peaceful little village before her. Here and there, wisps of cooking smoke rose from a few homes, eventually dispersing into the air.
Before long, a crowd had gathered around Su Jiu.
An old man among them smiled. "Are you leaving already, little immortal master? We farmers don't have much worth offering, but please take these eggs to eat on your journey."
Su Jiu accepted the eggs and the wrapped bundle. A warm current flowed slowly through her heart, and before she knew it, her eyes were full of smiles.
Then several others brought things from their own homes and pressed them into Su Jiu's hands.
Su Jiu stared in surprise at the assortment before her. Only then did she remember that they seemed to be giving her these gifts to thank her for killing the fish demon.
Somewhere in her subconscious, Su Jiu sensed that something was wrong, but the villagers' enthusiasm soon swept away all her doubts.
Just as Su Jiu was about to leave, Yun Huanling, who had stayed beside her all along, said, "Su Jiu, isn't this village lovely? I want to stay here. Must you leave?"
Su Jiu looked at Yun Huanling in bewilderment and frowned. "What kind of joke is this?"
Yet Yun Huanling smiled. "Mountains, water, and homes. Spending a lifetime here like an ordinary mortal doesn't sound so bad to me."
Su Jiu's brows drew together in displeasure, but Yun Huanling stubbornly held on to her. "What's wrong with this place? No strife, no schemes, only endless comfort and warmth."
Su Jiu