Not only was Lu Zhou surprised, but Lu Qing himself was also shocked, unable to process what had just happened.

After regaining his composure, Lu Qing tightly gripped the new cane in his hand, feeling a surge of emotion. This was a gift directly handed to him by the ancestor…

Without even examining the cane, he felt reluctant to let it touch the ground.

Suddenly, he seemed to understand what his second son had felt earlier.

Gu Xingzhao blinked, her gaze filled with curiosity: What exactly was Lu Yang feeling?

[The monitored individual, Lu Yang, feels immensely proud of being struck by lightning today and considers it a great honor.]

The system even replayed the scene of Lu Yang hiding behind Lu Xingyan while being chased by Lu Qing earlier that day.

“Pfft…” Gu Xingzhao nearly burst out laughing. How could someone be happy about being struck by lightning? Lu Yang looked as if he had found some rare treasure.

Shaking her head, she turned to Lu Qing and said, “I noticed your cane broke earlier, so I got you a new one. It’s adjustable. Try it out and let me know if the height is right. I can make adjustments if needed.”

A cane should fit well with one’s height to be truly comfortable, so she had bought one with an adjustable length and non-slip feet.

Upon hearing the ancestor’s words, Lu Qing finally placed the cane on the ground to test it. The cane wasn’t heavy but had a substantial feel. He wasn’t sure what material it was made of, but it felt much better than his old one.

He held it in his hand, reluctant to let it go.

Lu Qing: It fits perfectly, thank you, Ancestor. I will treasure it with my life.

A cane to live and die by.

Gu Xingzhao stifled a laugh. It was just a cane, but the old man’s reaction made it seem like he had been given the Imperial Sword itself.

“As long as it’s a good fit,” she said. “There’s a button under the handle. Press it and see.”

Curious, Lu Qing ran his hand down the handle and found the small protrusion she mentioned. Following her instructions, he pressed it… and suddenly, a beam of light shone from the tip of the cane, illuminating nearly half a meter of the dark path in front of him!

Lu Qing’s grip tightened on the cane, his eyes wide as he stared at the bright light before him. It was as if day had suddenly come. It reminded him of the light he saw when the ancestor healed Liu Xiangbai, though this one didn’t shine as far or cover as wide an area.

“!!!” Lu Zhou’s eyes practically popped out of his head, and the rest of the Lu family, upon seeing the light, were equally dumbfounded, rubbing their eyes in disbelief.

What in heaven’s name? Was it suddenly daylight? How could only the area around the old man be lit up?

Seeing such brightness in the middle of the night, Lu Qing grew anxious. What if others noticed besides the Lu family?

Lu Qing: Ancestor… did you use divine magic?

Gu Xingzhao chuckled, “You could say that. The mountain paths are uneven, and the night is dark. With the light, you can see where you’re going.”

She had specifically chosen an intelligent walking cane for the elderly, which came with a built-in flashlight. Pressing the button would activate the light, and it could even be adjusted to different angles. It wasn’t super bright, but it illuminated the path ahead for about a meter—just perfect for Lu Qing to avoid tripping over rocks in the dark.

Looking at the light, Lu Qing hesitated and then said: Ancestor, it’s better if you retract the divine magic.

Gu Xingzhao was taken aback. “Why?”

Judging by his reaction, Lu Qing didn’t seem too keen on using the flashlight cane.

Could it be? He didn’t like the idea of a glowing cane? That’s odd… If only there were TV stations in ancient times, she might have gotten him one of those canes with built-in radios too. She’d seen elderly people in her town using those, proudly strolling around the park to the envy of others.

She even thought about getting Lu Qing a four-wheeled electric scooter when they reached the northern territories. She’d seen an elderly couple riding one at night, with flashing LED lights on the wheels. It was quite the sight!

But she wasn’t sure if the old man could handle such modern contraptions…

Lu Qing sighed and explained: Ancestor, the night is dark, and this light is too bright. If anyone else sees it, it could cause trouble.

Such a treasure could attract unnecessary attention, and he didn’t want to burden the ancestor with more problems after all she had already done for them.

Understanding his concerns, Gu Xingzhao laughed. “It’s just a light to help you see the road. I gave it to you to use, so don’t worry about trouble. If anyone dares to covet it, the lightning will deal with them.”

Lu Qing froze, unsure how to respond.

Seeing his continued hesitation, Gu Xingzhao’s tone grew stern. “What, do you doubt my ability to protect you?”

Startled, Lu Qing hurried to explain: Ancestor, forgive me! I would never dare!

The ancestor was a deity, with powers beyond comprehension. He was already grateful beyond words for her protection; how could he possibly doubt her?

Gu Xingzhao was satisfied. “Good. Use it.”

“Also, it’s getting colder, and it might snow heavily later tonight. The warming pads I gave you earlier might not be enough. I’ve brought more warm clothing, which I’ll give to you once the group stops for a break.”

“Make sure to give some to Du Hangwu as well. Show him how to use the warming pads. Once he and the guards have their warm gear, you won’t need to worry about anyone saying anything when you wear yours.”

Hearing this, Lu Qing’s throat tightened, and his eyes stung with emotion.

The ancestor always spoke so casually, as if the things she gave were just trivial, but she had always been thinking of the Lu family. As soon as the weather turned cold, she sent warm clothing. When his cane broke, she replaced it without him even asking. Now, she had brought a cane that could light his way in the dark…

Lu Qing was deeply moved by the ancestor’s care. Her meticulous attention to their well-being made his eyes well up with tears.

Meanwhile, the other members of the Lu family stared enviously at the bright light illuminating the ground in front of Lu Qing. They admired how well the ancestor treated him, and silently wondered when they too might receive such personal blessings.

Lu Zhou felt a twinge of jealousy but reminded himself that he had the ancestor’s handwritten note!

Lu Xingyan, who carried a peace talisman and a small porcelain bottle, felt content and didn’t envy anyone.

Lu Yang, on the other hand, proudly thought that there was no need for envy. After all, he was the only one in the Lu family to have been struck by the ancestor’s lightning and personally given a note. Such an honor was not something just anyone could claim!

Mrs Xu sighed as she watched her husband’s expression. She knew exactly what he was thinking. Pulling their daughter closer, she silently prayed that their little girl wouldn’t grow up to be just like her father.

However, it wasn’t just the Lu family who noticed the light.

“Hey, look! What’s that over there!?”

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I wish I had a four-wheeled electric scooter with flashing lights too..