The glue was cooked by Xi Yuan, the couplets were pasted by Ling Ye, and while they weren’t paying attention, Nan Shan secretly slipped out to pay New Year visits.
She was supposed to wait until the first day of the new year, but she couldn’t help going early when she thought about how it had been ten years since she returned home.
Thankfully, the elders she was familiar with, though aged, were still around.
“Why are you here so early?”
Her third aunt asked with a smile.
Nan Shan looked at the wrinkles at the corners of her aunt’s eyes, stayed silent for a while, then forced a smile.
“I don’t know why, I just suddenly missed you.”
“Still acting like a child, already thirty and still being clingy,” her third aunt teased, glancing at her.
“You just brought me fish the other day—already forgot?”
Nan Shan knew it was Xi Yuan who caught the fish.
She smiled and didn’t deny it.
“Was it tasty?”
“Delicious! I don’t know what method you used to catch deep-water fish—ah, the flavor was so fresh,” her third aunt couldn’t help but click her tongue in delight.
Nan Shan’s smile deepened.
“If you liked it, I’ll go catch more.”
She thought she’d ask Xi Yuan later where he caught them.
With her current cultivation, catching a few fish shouldn’t be difficult.
“No need, no need. Girls shouldn’t be soaking in cold water all the time,” her third aunt quickly refused.
Nan Shan snorted lightly, “Didn’t you just say I’m already thirty?”
Her third aunt was about to respond when a deep male voice suddenly came from outside.
“Third Aunt, are you home?”
“Yes, I am!”
Third Aunt replied with a smile, and the next moment, a burly man with broad shoulders and a bear-like back stepped in.
“Third Aunt, I’m heading back to the city soon. Might be a few days before I return, so I came to wish you a happy new year in advance. —Oh, Sister Nan Shan, you’re here too?”
The big man paused mid-sentence, surprised to see Nan Shan.
A grown man calling her “sister” made Nan Shan feel a bit awkward at first, but after staring at his face for a while, she suddenly sensed a hint of familiarity.
“…Erpang?”
She asked in shock.
The burly man looked puzzled.
“Why are you calling me that?”
Nan Shan:
Time leaves obvious traces not only on the elderly but even more drastically on children.
How long had it even been?
How did that soft, chubby little boy grow into such a giant bear of a man?
While she was still dazed, the man had already left.
Third Aunt watched his back and couldn’t help but sigh, “I still remember how mischievous he was as a child. Now he’s so steady—bought a house in the city, even brought his parents to live with him. Such a filial child.”
“Yeah… He’s changed a lot over the years,” Nan Shan murmured softly.
Third Aunt smiled.
When she turned and saw Nan Shan’s face, she added, “Everyone changes a lot, unlike our little Nan Shan—so many years and still hasn’t changed much. That means you’re blessed.”
Nan Shan chuckled.
“Third Aunt, don’t tease me.”
“Tease? Everyone in the village knows our little Nan Shan is promising, often going off to cultivate with some master,” Third Aunt said as she gently tidied Nan Shan’s hair.
“But don’t push yourself too hard. People only live once—we’re just here to find a bit of joy.”
Nan Shan perked up.
“I understand. Thank you, Third Aunt.”
After chatting with her for a while, Nan Shan went to visit other elders.
By the time she left the last house, it was already around noon.
Xi Yuan stood leisurely against the big poplar tree opposite the door, dressed in luxurious robes.
His overly handsome appearance contrasted starkly with the mud walls and dirt roads around him, making him look completely out of place.
Nan Shan ignored him and walked straight ahead.
“Ten years apart, and Miss Sun doesn’t even plan to formally greet her fiancé?”
Xi Yuan said lazily.
Without looking back, Nan Shan replied, “Still not giving up? Looks like you’re asking for another Dream Curse.”
Xi Yuan chuckled. Watching her walk farther away, he slowly raised his hand and formed a seal with his fingers.
Suddenly, a sharp pain surged from Nan Shan’s neck—her fake spirit bone began to throb dully.
She instinctively tried to suppress it with spiritual energy, but stopped moving her hand just moments later.
She halted in her tracks and turned back with a cold expression.
“Soul-guiding technique,” Xi Yuan explained helpfully.
Nan Shan narrowed her eyes dangerously and was just about to speak when the burning pain on her neck suddenly vanished.
Then Ling Ye’s voice rang out.
“It’s time to eat,” he said.
Nan Shan responded and walked toward him.
Ling Ye shot Xi Yuan a warning glance, then walked home with her.
Back at home, Nan Shan made up an excuse to retreat to her room and carefully examined her spirit bone.
As expected, another crack had appeared.
“Head southwest. That’s where your path lies.”
Jiyue’s gentle voice still seemed to linger in her ears, yet Jiyue himself had vanished forever.
A heaviness weighed on Nan Shan’s heart.
She had a feeling she wouldn’t be able to stay by her parents’ side for long.
But that’s alright.
Once she found her path, she could stay by their side forever.
Nan Shan let out a quiet breath, calmed herself, and opened the door—only to unexpectedly meet Ling Ye’s gaze.
“Mother-in-law asked me to see if you want some chilled coriander root salad,” Ling Ye said calmly, as if he hadn’t noticed her reddened eyes.
Nan Shan averted her gaze.
“Yes, I’d like some.”
Ling Ye nodded and turned away.
Nan Shan watched his tall figure and quietly let out a sigh of relief.
The whole day passed peacefully.
After they stayed up through the New Year and she received red envelopes from her parents, Xi Yuan didn’t try to get her alone again, and even left cooperatively when Ling Ye said he was going.
But Nan Shan still had the feeling he was scheming something.
She didn’t dare let her guard down.
“Nan Shan, Nan Shan…”
Nan Shan abruptly snapped out of her thoughts and blinked at Liu Jinhua.
“What is it, Mama?”
“I just wanted to ask—are you sleeping with me again tonight?”
Liu Jinhua asked with a smile.
Nan Shan grinned.
“Of course I am!”
It was past midnight.
Liu Jinhua, tired from a long day, quickly fell asleep.
Listening to her mother’s heavy breathing, Nan Shan tossed and turned for a long while before finally feeling a little sleepy.
“Nan Shan.”
“Nan Shan.”
“Nan Shan.”
Nan Shan’s eyes flew open.
“Who’s there?!”
No answer.
Liu Jinhua was still fast asleep beside her.
She frowned, then suddenly spotted a glowing butterfly slowly flapping its wings in the room.
The butterfly sensed her gaze and lazily floated into the air, as if trying to lead her somewhere.
Nan Shan stared at it and couldn’t help but follow.
It was early in the new year, and the night was still cold.
Nan Shan was dressed lightly, but with her spiritual energy protecting her, she didn’t feel uncomfortable.
It wasn’t until she realized she wasn’t wearing shoes that a sharp cold shot up from the soles of her feet, making her shiver.
That’s when she noticed she’d somehow wandered into the graveyard behind the village.
It was utterly silent, only the wind blowing. Mounds of graves stood out in the thick night like people crouched on the ground.
Nan Shan scanned the surroundings cautiously, then said coldly, “Still playing tricks? Xi Yuan.”
As soon as she finished speaking, a chuckle came from beside her ear.
She instinctively wanted to summon her spiritual power but forced herself to hold back.
The breath near her ear suddenly withdrew, and when she looked up again, Xi Yuan was already standing in front of her.
Nan Shan met his eyes coldly and quietly restrained her spiritual energy.
Although she had made some progress in her cultivation on Dongyi Island, her skills might still not be a match for Xi Yuan’s.
Besides, her fake spiritual bone was on the verge of collapse—she couldn’t afford much strain.
“What do you want this time?” she asked.
Xi Yuan glanced at her, his eyes alluring:
“Don’t you already know what I want?”
“I’ll say it again—I won’t go with you.”
Nan Shan frowned.
Xi Yuan was intrigued by her firm tone:
“Do you think that’s up to you?”
Nan Shan sneered, “If I remember correctly, aren’t you still poisoned?”
Xi Yuan actually laughed this time.
Seeing the mischief in his eyes, Nan Shan suddenly had a bad feeling.
Sure enough, he said, “You’re just as foolish as that prince of the underworld you’re so fond of.”
“…Your poison is gone?”
Nan Shan’s voice tightened.
Xi Yuan smirked.
“It was gone five years ago.”
“Then why did you let Ling Ye—” …threaten you.
She stopped mid-sentence, suddenly realizing—he had only pretended to be under Ling Ye’s control.
He wanted her, but didn’t want to take the risk of saving her from Dongyi.
So he stayed by her parents’ side under the pretense of being threatened, betting that once she was rescued, she would definitely return home.
And of course, it also helped them both lower their guard around him.
“You figured it out?”
Xi Yuan asked patiently.
Nan Shan stared at him for a long while, her fingers behind her back quietly gathering spiritual power.
“Ling Ye has been watching you closely these past days. I don’t know how you slipped away today, but I believe he’ll find out soon,” she said slowly.
“Do you really think he’ll let you take me away so easily?”
Xi Yuan raised a brow.
“Of course not. But if you insist on coming with me, what can he do?”
Nan Shan was about to scoff and tell him to dream on, but suddenly froze.
“You’ve finally noticed,” Xi Yuan said with satisfaction.
Nan Shan looked at the faint glow rising from her body and took a while to react.
“Soul-guiding technique—can summon souls of the living or gather the aura of the dead. A technique that a Qingqiu fox can only use on one person in a lifetime,” Xi Yuan explained unhurriedly.
“If you won’t come with me, I’ll just take your soul.”
Nan Shan’s gaze instantly turned sharp.
“My friend never said he needed you alive,” Xi Yuan added with a smile.
Nan Shan: …
“I’ll give you one day to think it over,” Xi Yuan said, pausing as if amused by something.
“Why do I always give you time to think? I must really be kind and soft-hearted.”
He sighed, as if helpless with himself.
“Give me your answer before nightfall tomorrow.”
With that, he turned and left.
After a few steps, he stopped again, as if remembering something.
“Don’t try anything clever,” Xi Yuan said blandly.
“Or I’ll kill you.”
With a wave of his sleeve, a chill swept through the air.
When Nan Shan opened her eyes again, dawn had already broken.
The temperature had dropped, and frost covered the eaves.
Nan Shan put on a new outfit her mother had prepared and stepped out of the house—just in time to see Ling Ye cold-faced, cleaning the stove alongside Xi Yuan.
“Awake, fiancée?”
Xi Yuan teased with a grin, clearly enjoying the way Ling Ye’s face darkened further.
Nan Shan gave him a look, then stepped forward to help.The three of them finished cleaning the stove and carried it back to the kitchen.