Early morning, at the Si Household's ancestral grounds.
The night before, Si Chen had told Second Uncle and Third Uncle Granduncle of his decision to leave.
Second Uncle had fallen silent for a long time. Third Uncle Granduncle had said nothing either, merely patted his shoulder before walking away with his hands behind his back.
Si Chen stood in the courtyard and took one last look at the old tree.
"Young Master... can't you stay a few more days?"
Qing Li stood beside him, her eyes rimmed red and her voice thick with reluctance. After all, once they parted this time, there was no telling when they would meet again.
Si Chen turned and smiled. "I'll come back once I've dealt with things in the Demon Realm."
Qing Li knew he had important matters to attend to. She could not stop him, nor should she.
She handed him the Storage Ring she had prepared long ago.
"Eat these on the road. Whether you're in the Immortal Realm or the Demon Realm, you mustn't go hungry again, Young Master!"
Si Chen took it and swept it with his divine sense. It was packed full of all kinds of delicacies preserved using the Si Household's special methods.
For a moment, he felt dazed, as though he had returned to this body's childhood, to the days when Sister Qing Li carried him around in her arms.
"Sister Qing Li, I can't eat this much."
"You can."
Qing Li was adamant. "Take your time eating it. How could anything out there taste as good as the food at home?"
"Young Master, you mustn't get any thinner."
Si Chen did not know whether to laugh or cry, but he still put the ring away and nodded solemnly.
Only then did Qing Li manage a faint