Chapter 364: The Current State of Huanxi Villa

As soon as those words were spoken, Qiu Ju immediately understood, the young man before her was none other than Zhang Xiaohua from years past.

She covered her mouth and laughed, stepping aside to let him in. “Xiaohua, come in quickly.”

Zhang Xiaohua smiled and entered Qiu Ju’s room.

The layout of the inner courtyard was clearly different from the small room Zhang Xiaohua had lived in before. If it had been the old earthen bed right by the entrance, Qiu Ju would hardly have let him in so late at night. This was obviously a small parlor-like room, with a little table in the center and stools arranged around it. Zhang Xiaohua entered, casually chose a stool, and sat down. Qiu Ju picked up a teapot from the side, poured a cup of hot tea, and handed it to him with a smile. “Xiaohua, have some hot tea to warm yourself up.”

Zhang Xiaohua reached out and accepted it, taking a small sip before setting it down. Qiu Ju said: “Don’t put it down, just hold it like that, it’ll warm your hands too.”

Zhang Xiaohua paused, then smiled. “Big Sister Qiu Ju, you really are thoughtful.”

Though he no longer feared cold or heat, he still held the cup in both hands. Just as he was about to speak, Qiu Ju said: “Xiaohua, where have you been these past few years? I remember five years ago, Sister Qiu Tong said you went missing, killed by a band of mountain bandits. Hehe, not to tease you, but Xiaohua, after learning martial arts from Captain He for so long, you couldn’t even handle a few bandits?”

Seeing Zhang Xiaohua return safe and sound, with all his limbs intact, Qiu Ju naturally teased him without restraint. Zhang Xiaohua smiled and replied: “Big Sister Qiu Ju, you’re mistaken. There were hundreds, maybe thousands, of those bandits, and I was all alone. How could I possibly defeat them? Unless I had three heads and six arms.”

Qiu Ju laughed: “With your scrawny frame back then, even if you had nine heads and thirty-six arms, you still wouldn’t have stood a chance.”

At that, she covered her mouth and laughed again, then continued: “By the way, tell your sister what really happened back then. Sect Master Ou sent so many people to look for you, but there was no news at all. The young miss and Sister Qiu Tong thought you were gone for good and mourned for a long time. Sigh, if they could see you return to Huanxi Villa today, they’d be overjoyed.”

Zhang Xiaohua thought for a moment, then said: “Actually, there’s not much to tell. Back then, I ran into some mountain bandits doing evil, kidnapping a young woman. Since I’d learned some martial arts, I went with Second Brother to the bandits’ lair to rescue her. We managed to save the girl, but then I was discovered by people from the Heavenly Dragon Sect and got captured by them.”

“Heavenly Dragon Sect?” Qiu Ju asked in confusion. “What kind of sect is that? I don’t think I’ve ever heard of it.”

Zhang Xiaohua replied: “There are countless sects in the martial world, Big Sister Qiu Ju. It’s normal that you haven’t heard of them.”

“So what happened after that? The Heavenly Dragon Sect actually kept you captive for five years? You were just a child, they are too inhumane.”

Zhang Xiaohua couldn’t help but laugh. “Big Sister Qiu Ju, I wasn’t that little at the time.”

Qiu Ju smiled and said nothing more.

Zhang Xiaohua continued: “Actually, they didn’t hold me for long. I found an opportunity to escape. But when I fled, it wasn’t on land. I escaped over the vast sea, drifting alone until I ended up on a deserted island. It wasn’t until recently that I managed to return to the mainland.”

“Ah!” Qiu Ju’s eyes widened in shock. “Xiaohua, you actually went out to sea, and survived alone on a deserted island for five years?”

“That’s right, Big Sister Qiu Ju. Honestly, it wasn’t that bad. It was hard at first, but after a while, I got used to it. Really.”

“Sigh, poor child.” In that instant, Qiu Ju’s maternal instincts surged, and she felt deeply for Zhang Xiaohua’s hardships. “At least you’ve finally come back. That’s good. From now on, just stay here at Huanxi Villa, don’t go anywhere else. By the way, when did you return to the manor? How come I haven’t heard Qiu Xiang mention it? I even ran into Tian Chongxi this afternoon, and he didn’t say anything either. Don’t tell me you just got back?”

A string of questions revealed Qiu Ju’s genuine concern.

“Qiu Xiang?” Zhang Xiaohua was surprised and couldn’t help but ask: “Who is Qiu Xiang?”

“Oh.” Qiu Ju laughed. “You really must have just returned and haven’t met Sister Qiu Xiang yet. I suppose Tian Chongxi intended to introduce you to her tomorrow morning.”

As she spoke, a trace of sorrow appeared on her face. She said: “I suppose Tian Chongxi has already told you about the events with the Piaomiao Sect. Ever since Miss and Sister Qiu Tong followed the Sect Leader’s wife to the Incense Spreading Sect, our Huanxi Villa has been temporarily managed by Qiu Xiang. Sigh, it’s already been three years. But Xiaohua, don’t worry, even though you haven’t met Qiu Xiang, you’re still considered an old member of Huanxi Villa. My relationship with her is decent. Tomorrow morning, I’ll speak to her first. Otherwise, if you wait for Tian Chongxi to report, and she rejects you outright, it’ll be too late for me to help.”

Hearing these words, Zhang Xiaohua felt a warmth in his heart. True affection often reveals itself in ordinary moments. Though he and Qiu Ju had only met a few times, she still remembered that he was once a servant at Huanxi Villa and looked after him so attentively, such genuine kindness was rare.

Zhang Xiaohua smiled and said: “Let’s talk about this later. Sister Qiu Ju, do you know anything about my Second Brother, Zhang Xiaohu? Is he alive or dead?”

Qiu Ju thought for a moment, then sighed. “To tell you the truth, Xiaohua, I really don’t know your second brother’s whereabouts. On the day the Piaomiao Sect was besieged by three factions, I only heard faint sounds of fighting from within the villa. I couldn’t possibly know the details of the battle. In the end, the disciples of our Piaomiao Sect were taken in by the Sect Leader’s wife and brought to the Incense Spreading Sect. I didn’t see them myself, so naturally, I have no news of Zhang Xiaohu.”

Upon hearing this, Zhang Xiaohua sighed. “Then what about Miss Ou and Sister Qiu Tong? How are they? And what’s the current state of our Huanxi Villa?”

Sorrow clouded Qiu Ju’s face again. “Our Huanxi Villa and Piaomiao Manor have always been closely connected. When the Piaomiao Sect was destroyed by the combined forces of the Incense Spreading Sect, Dalin Temple, and the Heaven’s Way Alliance, half of our people died in battle on the spot. A small number of disciples escaped with Elder Hu, and the rest, those with mediocre martial arts or whose skills had been crippled, were all taken away by the Incense Spreading Sect. Thanks to the protection of Abbess Jingyi from the Incense Spreading Sect, our Huanxi Villa was spared, and the other two factions had to yield. But Miss was still taken away, and Sister Qiu Tong, unwilling to leave her, went along as well. The rest of us wanted to go too, but Miss wouldn’t allow it, so we stayed behind.”

At this, Zhang Xiaohua asked: “Sister Qiu Ju, do you know where the Incense Spreading Sect is located?”

Qiu Ju shook her head. “That, I really don’t know. There were many people traveling together that day. When I said goodbye to Miss, she didn’t mention it, and I doubt she knew herself. But their carriage was heading south, so perhaps it’s somewhere in the south.”

“What’s the villa like now? Is it the same as before?” Zhang Xiaohua asked.

Qiu Ju gave a bitter smile and replied: “Huanxi Villa is no longer what it once was after being separated from the Piaomiao Sect. Although the three factions have an agreement not to interfere with us, the Heaven’s Way Alliance is stationed right next door, occupying Piaomiao Manor. Every move we make is under their surveillance. I’ve heard from our guards that, in the past few years, their disciples were everywhere around the villa, watching us openly and in secret. It’s only this year, since nothing unusual has happened, that they’ve relaxed a bit. Still, when you returned today, you must have been questioned at the gate. Even during the New Year, they keep people here and won’t let us have any peace.”

“What about inside the villa?” Zhang Xiaohua asked again.

“Inside, not much has changed. Some people, seeing no future for Huanxi Villa, have slipped away quietly. They really have no conscience. Miss treated them so well back then, yet they just left without a second thought. Xiaohua, you don’t know, many of them had indenture contracts here, but with the Heaven’s Way Alliance interfering, all those matters were left unsettled.”

Zhang Xiaohua smiled faintly and said nothing.

Seeing this, Qiu Ju smiled. “At least you have a good heart. Even knowing the villa’s situation, you still came back. Miss and Sister Qiu Tong’s kindness to you back then wasn’t in vain.”

“But our manor’s medicinal fields have long since gone to waste, we’re preparing to turn them into farmland. Xiaohua, you come from a farming family and must be skilled at this. Tomorrow, I’ll mention it to Qiu Xiang; why not become Tian Chongxi’s assistant?”

Zhang Xiaohua smiled and said: “By the way, Sister Qiu Ju, where has Elder Yu gone?”

“Oh, Elder Yu? Naturally, he went with Miss to the Incense Spreading Sect. Though he was the steward of the manor, his main duty was to protect Miss’s safety. Sister Qiu Tong could only attend to Miss’s daily needs. When it came to real protection, it had to be Elder Yu who took the lead.”

“I see.” Zhang Xiaohua rubbed his nose with his finger.

“There have been a lot of changes at the villa, but as long as you work hard like before, you’ll have no trouble making a living. Xiaohua, with Miss and Qiu Tong gone, if you ever need anything, just come to me. I may not be Qiu Xiang, but I can still speak up for you, I won’t let you suffer any injustice.”

“Hehe, then I’ll thank you in advance, Sister Qiu Ju.” Zhang Xiaohua smiled. “But actually, I didn’t come back to the villa for good this time. I haven’t even returned home to see my parents yet, and besides…”

Qiu Ju laughed: “You came to the villa before even going home? Miss really did have an eye for people. It’s fine, I’ll have Tian Chongxi give you a month’s leave. Go home and reunite with your parents. You can come back to the manor later.”

Zhang Xiaohua smiled wryly: “Sister Qiu Ju, could you let me finish what I’m saying?”

Qiu Ju laughed: “It’s just that I haven’t seen you in years, and seeing an old face from the villa makes me happy. Go on, I won’t interrupt anymore.”

Zhang Xiaohua said: “Sister Qiu Ju, after I go home, I don’t plan on returning to the villa!”

“What?” Qiu Ju’s expression changed, but then she gave a bitter smile. “I suppose, with the villa as it is now, it’s only natural you wouldn’t want to come back. It’s all right, Xiaohua. Just come visit us old friends from time to time.”

Zhang Xiaohua said helplessly: “Big Sis, didn’t you say you wouldn’t interrupt?”

This time, Qiu Ju really did fall silent and didn’t interrupt again.

Zhang Xiaohua smiled and said: “I plan to go home and see my parents, and then I’m going to look for Miss and Sister Qiu Tong.”

“Ah?” Qiu Ju couldn’t help but interrupt again, her voice full of surprise and delight. “You… you’re really going to look for them?”

“Yes,” Zhang Xiaohua replied. “It’s been so many years since I’ve seen them. I don’t even know if they’re still safe and sound.”