act14mini

You're still so stubborn...

The day you ran away, the Elder gathered up the whole village to help me look for you.

I live here alone, but the villagers don't give me a hard time. That plot of land you keep bringing up, haven't I been tending to it even now?

That just means they have some shred of conscience left in them.

Can you just promise your dad one thing?

Just stay here for good... and don't make a fuss about it...

Fine, whatever you say.

So you're leaving? Going to Jiangnan?

I have places to be. Bringing you back here has already delayed my journey by a lot.

Then there's no harm in delaying it a while more, right? It's dark already. Why not rest here a few more days and teach me some kung fu before you go!

Didn't I teach you enough on the way here?

Dad, let's...

Miss, thank you so much for bringing my boy home. We have nothing to repay you with...

It's fine.

Since you're in a hurry, I won't pressure you to stay.

Fang Xiaoshi, we may have met by chance, but I have some parting words for you.

The Jianghu can be vicious, and you have learned something, whether you wanted to or not. But now that you're home, you should make your peace and avoid causing any more trouble.

Hmph, I can make a name for myself wherever I am. One day, in Jiangnan, you'll hear all about the valiant Fang Xiaoshi's deeds!

As long as I don't hear of you making mischief.

And whoever you trouble next, she may not be as forgiving as I am.

You, forgiving...?

Oh hey, can you say that line the heroes always say... the one in all the novels...?

Hm?

'Jianghu zai jian.'

Jianghu zai jian. See you around, kid.

Miss, let me see you off.

No need to trouble yourself.

It's alright.

We haven't done any work on the roads for a long time, so they're full of holes. I'll guide you to the gate.

Qiubai walks at a brisk pace, and the old man quickens his steps to catch up, ending the conversation.

The sky gradually turns dark. It may be strange to ordinary folk, but Jianghu adventurers prefer to travel at night, using the darkness to their advantage.

The newly raised grave at the entrance of the village is stubby and inconspicuous, hardly visible in the twilight.

Zhou Si, is everyone here?

I'll count again, Elder.

Aside from Dayuan who stepped on his plow out in the fields today and couldn't make it, everyone else is here.

The whole village is here, Dad? Isn't this a bit much for a welcoming party?

We're not Zhous, after all. Even when they had that meeting at the temple back then, there was nothing for us.

*sigh*

Considering what's happened today, and how we're mixed up in it...

Three years later, Fang Xiaoshi stands once again before the temple. This time there are no explosives, and the man beside him is even older.

The wall he blew up has already been rebuilt and the statue of the mountain digger repaired, but the craftsmanship is a little lacking, and upon seeing this slightly amusing sight Fang Xiaoshi carelessly lets out a laugh.

There are several broken tiles on the floor, with bugs in the still-damaged ceiling forming layers and layers of webbing that blends into the wood.

Perhaps it is too dark to be certain, but he can't figure out if the temple was impossible to renovate, or if it was successfully repaired but has gradually returned to a dilapidated state.

So, this is where we stand now.

Xiaoshi has apologized. He was still a child then, and the hunter has spent the last three years doing his best to help rebuild the Yishan temple.

Come on, Elder. Let's get to the point already.

Hunter, how many years has it been since you first came to the village?

This year-end, it'll be twenty one.

Your family is the only one with a different name, but you married a daughter of ours, so all these years you have been a part of our family.

Let our previous bumps in the road, misunderstandings and conflicts, all stay in the past.

From this day forward, the clan officially accepts you into our family and our ancestors will bless you with peace and prosperity as well.

Xiaoshi may change his family name to Zhou too, if he so wishes.

What?!

What are you trying to pull this time...?

Nuh-uh, I like my own name just fine. Why would I change it?

Elder, just come out and say what you mean already.

In the end... we are all one family, and that means we face our challenges together.

I gathered the whole village here today, to make one request:

Xiaoshi, for the sake of the village... can you pretend to be dead?