Because he had already informed his master of his leave and agreed on a time with Master Li, Ziyue left the Scorching Sun Gang branch early the next morning with the New Year goods and gifts he had prepared for his parents. Then, he met up with Uncle Ming and the others at the Qing River Pier.
"Uncle Ming."
Ziyue greeted Xu Ming respectfully.
"You're here. We're just waiting for you. We'll set off when it's about time."
Xu Ming said with a complicated look in his eyes. He did not expect that the ordinary mountain village youth would be accepted as a disciple by the Inner Gate Master. In terms of status, Xu Ming was already higher than him.
Ziyue noticed the look in Uncle Ming's eyes and did not say anything. He only nodded. Then, he saw his two companions, Zhang Guoyi and Xu Li.
Zhang Guoyi had been promoted from a Chores Apprentice to an Outer Gate Apprentice. The last time they met was when he was promoted to an Outer Gate Apprentice.
However, for some reason, he did not choose to stay in the Scorching Sun Gang branch to practice martial arts and literature. Instead, he returned to the Jade Moon Flower Boat.
As for Xu Li, after he failed the assessment, he still became an Apprentice of the Inner Gate Master with the help of Xu Ming.
However, like Ziyue and the others, he also started as a Chores Apprentice. Now that he was with Xu Ming, he felt quite comfortable.
When they saw Ziyue, the two of them looked a little unnatural.
Youths from mountain villages matured early. The three of them were originally youths who left the village together. However, in just a few months, their statuses had changed. Naturally, they felt awkward.
"Zhang Guoyi, Xu Li, I trust you've been well."
Ziyue smiled and greeted them.
The two of them smiled stiffly but did not reply.
Ziyue felt helpless. He also knew that there was a gap between them. Some of their original friendship had been washed away by time and disappeared.
Right at this moment, Uncle Ming called out, and then the group walked directly towards the city gate.
Perhaps it was because they had all started practicing martial arts, but the group's speed was not slow. Even Xu Li, who originally had the weakest physique, no longer needed Xu Ming's help. He only rested two or three times in between before smoothly returning to Cloud Leaf Village.
"Yue 'er, Yue' er, you're finally back … Come … Let me see, you're taller, darker, thinner … Quick, husband, catch that chicken in the house. Kill it today and make a stew for Yue 'er."
He Honghua, who was sitting on the doorstep and sewing the soles of shoes, quickly got up and ran over. She looked at Ziyue from head to toe.
At this time, Zhang Yong, who heard the commotion, hurriedly came out of the room and looked at him with a silly smile.
"Mother, Father, I'm back."
Bai Ziyue said, somewhat moved.
After not seeing him for a few months, his father still looked the same as before. However, his mother's belly had obviously grown a little bigger.
"Look at you. It's your own home, and you even brought something.
That's right, when your aunt came back last time, we already received the ten taels of silver you sent. From what she said, you seem to have gotten into some trouble?
That's why we didn't dare to touch the silver. We thought that if it really didn't work out, we would just pay for it.
However, later on, we heard that you became the disciple of some big shot in the sect. Now, your status is very high. What's going on? "
He Honghua opened Ziyue's luggage. The needlework bracelet inside made her very happy, but she still grumbled.
However, when she talked about other things, her expression became serious.
"Don't worry, it's nothing.
Now that I've become the disciple of the sect's inner sect leader, Liu Dong, ordinary people don't dare to bully me.
You can relax and spend the silver. I earned it with my own ability. "
Ziyue was touched, but he continued to speak.
"What ability do you have to earn so much silver?"
Bai Yong asked with a frown.
Ten taels of silver was already a huge sum in his eyes.
Ziyue didn't know how to respond to this. His silver came from killing people and robbing them of their treasures.
"What are you talking about? Our son is capable, so why are you afraid?
Don't give me that dirty look.
Come, let's go inside. I still have a lot to say to you. "
When He Honghua saw this, she put her hands on her hips and glared at him.
"Mother, this is a pregnancy prevention talisman that I specially asked for for you. It's very auspicious if you carry it with you."
When Ziyue saw this, he quickly took out a talisman and hung it around his mother's neck.
"Oh right, I have something to discuss with you. It's about our family moving to town …"
… …
In the next few days, Ziyue didn't cultivate much, which was rare. The family spent the new year in a lively atmosphere.
After Ziyue's persuasion, Bai Yong and He Honghua finally agreed to move to town.
Thus, he had no choice but to stay for a few more days. He originally planned to return to town after the new year.
On the third day of the new year, Ziyue was walking on a mountain road.
He had just returned from his third uncle's house.
Perhaps it was because his third uncle knew that he practiced martial arts, and his current physique looked rather sturdy, so his third uncle allowed him to go back alone.
Naturally, Ziyue was more than happy to relax about this.
With his current strength, he wasn't afraid of anything. Even if he encountered the Ghost Head Stronghold's bandits, as long as they weren't in groups, he was confident that he could escape unscathed.
"Eh?
Since when was there a village here? "
Ziyue crossed a bend and walked along a small path. A hundred meters down the path, there was a village.
Lanterns were hung high in the village, and there seemed to be a lot of people coming and going. From where he was looking, there was even a busker performing a show. Some children were clapping their hands in joy, and it was a lively scene.
For some reason, Ziyue's interest was piqued, and he couldn't help but step forward.
The closer he got, the clearer the scene inside became.
For some reason, he vaguely felt that something was wrong.
However, at this moment, there seemed to be an inexplicable attraction in the village, attracting him. As he got closer, the attraction became stronger.
One hundred meters, eighty meters, sixty meters …
Ziyue gradually got closer, and his gaze fell on the busker, the group of children, and the surrounding houses. His heart suddenly jumped.
He suddenly realized that these houses were too gray and dilapidated, and the lanterns were also very old, as if they had been hung there for years under the sun and wind.
Even the faces of the children and buskers were stiff and distorted, and there was a faint sense of eeriness.
"No, something's not right."
Ziyue's heart trembled, and he faintly felt that the Soul Subduing Talisman in his pocket was heating up. This was a phenomenon caused by the touch of Yin Qi.
Suddenly, he seemed to have thought of something, and his expression changed greatly. He quickly turned around and ran.
Soon, he ran back to the previous intersection.
He quickly identified the direction and didn't even look back. He knew that at this time, he couldn't turn back. Once he did, he would be trapped and there would be no possibility of escape.
The energy in his body surged, and he even activated a Light Body Talisman to increase his speed to the extreme.
When he really stepped into Cloud Leaf Village and returned home to see his parents, he let out a long sigh of relief.