Return Journey

No one cared about the fallen Hainan Yellow Rosewood in the backyard. As the night grew deep and quiet, everyone harbored their own “ghosts” in their hearts.

At the breakfast table the next day, Yan Heqing noticed that the people of the Wen family were looking at him strangely. While drinking his porridge, he glanced at where Wen Chu was sitting but didn’t find anything unusual on his face.

Cuihong sat next to him and seemed completely unaware of anything strange. He was busy praising the Wen family’s breakfast, so much so that his head nearly sank into the plate.

After breakfast, the Wen family members, unusually, didn’t go out. Everyone sat on the living room sofa, silent, and the room was so quiet that it felt like a pin drop would be heard.

Yan Heqing and Cuihong quietly chose to sit at the farthest corner of the living room, trying to minimize their presence. There was no other reason for this than the overwhelming pressure from the Wen family members, who, as the wealthiest people in Ningcheng, exuded an air of authority. If it weren’t for the outstanding balance, they would have left long ago.

Wen Chu sat directly across from them, with a tea table separating them.

Today, he wore a camel-colored coat, its stiff cut complementing his sharp features and serious expression, making him the most imposing person in the room.

He said nothing, and no one else spoke either.

Wen Heng finally broke the silence and spoke up.

“Yan Daoist, we all saw the entire process of your battle with the Hainan Yellow Rosewood yesterday. But don’t worry, we Wen family members are not ordinary people. Since childhood, we’ve been exposed to such things and are accustomed to the appearance of these strange creatures.”

Wen Heng’s voice broke the eerie silence.

“Yeah,” added the other Wen family members, eager to back up Wen Heng, nodding in agreement.

“Mm,” Yan Heqing responded calmly, but internally, he let out a sigh of relief.

Their reactions were just what he hoped for. He had been wondering how to explain to a group of ordinary people that a tree had turned into a spirit. But now, no words were needed—he didn’t have to waste any breath.

Feeling inspired, Yan Heqing suddenly had an idea. He opened his bag and pulled out a gourd.

The gourd was something he had found while working the day before. It still looked fresh on the outside, and its interior had been hollowed out. For aesthetics, he had tied a tassel around the opening, and now it was the perfect time to use it.

He walked around the room with the gourd, ensuring everyone could see it, before speaking.

“The Hainan Yellow Rosewood in the backyard still needs to be purified. After I perform this ritual, everything will be completely resolved.”

He paused and intentionally made his tone sound difficult, his face showing a hint of embarrassment.

“Just…” He made it seem even more difficult, with a tinge of awkwardness.

“Just what? Whatever Master Yan wants, the Wen family will definitely do everything to fulfill it,” Wen Heng said quickly, almost reaching out to grab him.

At Wen Heng’s response, Yan Heqing felt overjoyed inside but still maintained his authoritative demeanor as a master and said coolly, “Just… after the matter is done, I hope the esteemed patrons remember to pay me the balance.”

---

In the Wen Family’s Backyard

Yan Heqing was still wearing the pure white shirt he had bought from Pinduoduo, holding the gourd in his left hand. He stood in front of the fallen Hainan Yellow Rosewood’s body.

Cuihong had transformed into bird form and perched on his shoulder.

The rest of the people stood at the farthest corner of the yard, but one person didn’t retreat. He stood five steps behind Yan Heqing.

Yan Heqing chanted a few words, then his right hand began to glow with golden light. His fingertips lightly tapped the gourd, and it floated magically in the air.

Meanwhile, Wen Ya’s gaze began to wander, and her grip on Gu Lin’s arm stiffened. She turned her head to whisper to Wen Heng, “I’m starting to feel unwell. Can you help me?”

Wen Heng nodded, silently approached Wen Ya, and gently placed his hand on her pale wrist. Black and gold light spilled from his fingers and entered her skin.

The light spread beneath the surface, turning the area underneath her skin a faint blue before gradually fading. Her movements became less stiff, and her grip on Gu Lin’s arm strengthened. She smiled to thank Wen Heng.

Gu Lin, standing beside her, seemed unaware of their conversation and continued to look forward with his usual expression.

The gourd, glowing with golden light, grew larger in the air, becoming as tall as a person before it stopped.

Then, the gourd began to spin rapidly, its tassels almost invisible. At the same time, an unnamed wind emerged from inside the gourd.

The wind caused the branches of the fallen Hainan Yellow Rosewood to creak and sway. Within half a minute, the tree’s size began to shrink, from being large enough to embrace two people to the size of a bowl.

The gourd stopped spinning and began shrinking back to its original size before returning to Yan Heqing’s hand, as if nothing had happened.

“Done.”

Yan Heqing placed the gourd back in his bag and turned to find Wen Chu staring at him with an unreadable expression in his eyes.

“Mr. Wen, is there anything else? The Hainan Yellow Rosewood has been dealt with.”

After Yan Heqing spoke, Wen Chu, unusually, did not look at him.

Staring at his side profile, Yan Heqing felt a little confused: “…”

Staring at me but not speaking. Interesting.

Since there was no other business, Yan Heqing decided not to waste any more time.

The others, including Wen Heng, started walking towards them.

Yan Heqing immediately put on a flattering smile and, like he was showing Wen Heng, held up the gourd, “Hey, Mr. Wen, look, the Hainan Yellow Rosewood has been dealt with.”

Wen Heng smiled and, sensing the underlying meaning in his words, whispered something to someone behind him. That person left.

A few minutes later, Li Lian appeared.

“Yan Xian, please come this way.”

“Alright.”

Looking at the transfer of the balance via the green bubble on his phone, Yan Heqing was so shocked that he didn’t bother pretending. He stared in disbelief at the five zeros following the number. “So much?”

Li Lian: “Yes.”

Yan Heqing, still suspicious, asked, “Are you sure? Check again.”

Li Lian genuinely smiled, “That’s the correct amount. If you want to thank anyone, thank my boss. The payment was charged to his card.”

Yan Heqing gave a thumbs up: “Okay, okay.”

Being rich feels so good.

With the Hainan Yellow Rosewood issue completely resolved, Li Lian offered to take Yan Heqing and Cuihong back.

Naturally, the two of them agreed, happy to save on transportation costs. But once in the car, they realized the driver wasn’t Li Lian.

“Mr. Wen, does this mean you’re taking us back?” Yan Heqing asked cautiously.

Wen Chu: “No need to call me Mr. Wen anymore. We’re no longer in an employer-employee relationship. Just call me Wen Chu. Li Lian had something to do, so I’m taking you instead.”

“Oh, okay,” Yan Heqing replied.

Cuihong, perched on his shoulder, whispered in a voice only they could hear, “Yan Xian, how have you been feeling these days? Have you remembered anything?”

Yan Heqing responded in the same quiet voice, “It’s fine. It just feels like I made money too easily. I feel a bit uneasy. Also, do I need to remember something? That question is a bit strange.”

Cuihong flew off his shoulder, flapping its small wings in mid-air. Its tiny eyes stared at Yan Heqing, and after a few seconds, it gave up.

“I told you, you won’t understand. You’ll know later.”

Cuihong looked mysterious, but its appearance as a small bird lacked any intimidating presence. Yan Heqing didn’t take its words seriously, instead happily admiring the balance in his phone.

Cuihong, unable to get any satisfaction from words, sulked silently on the side chair.

At that moment, the silent driver, Wen Chu, spoke up: “Yan Heqing.”

“Hm?” Yan Heqing unconsciously responded when his name was called.

Wen Chu’s voice was cold, but because of his unique pronunciation, it always seemed like there was a subtle hidden tone that made Yan Heqing feel something intriguing when it reached his ears.

From the moment he first met Wen Chu, he had liked listening to him talk, but since Wen Chu was a beautiful yet silent person, hearing him speak was quite rare.

Now, not only was he speaking, but he had also called out his name.

Yan Heqing felt his heart skip a beat.

“You’ve lived so many years, seen many people and things. Do you forget everything?”

After asking this, Wen Chu kept his gaze fixed on the road ahead. His hand gripping the steering wheel tightened.

In the back seat, Yan Heqing brushed off the dust from Cuihong and placed it back on his shoulder before answering: “Since you’re not afraid or surprised by those things, I’ll tell you a secret.”

“Although I look like a young man, I’ve actually lived for countless years. I estimate around a thousand years, give or take.”

“I’ve seen many people, experienced many things, but I’ve forgotten where I came from. In my memory, it’s as if I’ve always looked this way.”

“There’s no one around me who understands my abilities, and I can’t talk to anyone about the confusion and pain in my heart.”

As Yan Heqing spoke, a mischievous smile appeared on his face. “I think, by all logic, I should be considered a deity in this world.”

“Kid, why don’t you say ‘Yan Daxian’ and let me hear it?”

Wen Chu, who had been holding the steering wheel, was so tense that he didn’t move: “…”

In the rearview mirror, Yan Heqing’s expression, once full of gloom, completely vanished. Instead, he had his usual carefree look.

“Yan Daxian, I have a question.”

“Please, ask away,” Yan Heqing replied with a playful tone, pretending to be the wise master always ready to answer.

The vehicle turned left according to the map, and Wen Chu’s voice remained unchanged: “After living so many years, you still don’t have money? Even gods are scraping by like beggars?”

Upon hearing this, Yan Heqing’s face stiffened. With a crack, he let out a heart-wrenching scream: “Ahhh, I want to get off!”

Wen Chu’s calm voice responded: “Too late, we’re not stopping now.”