Chapter 372: Each Has Their Own Concerns

Hearing the sound of a child crying, Zhang Xiaolong rushed into the small courtyard, not sparing a glance at the others gathered there. He ran straight to his mother’s side, his face full of concern as he looked at his child.

When he saw the baby, his brows knit together. He asked: “Mother, why did you bring the child outside without wrapping him in a quilt? On such a cold day, aren’t you afraid the child will catch cold?”

Guo Sufei forced a bitter smile, about to reply, when the midwife, who had hurried over looking rather dejected, suddenly broke into a beaming smile. With an exaggerated tone, she exclaimed, “Oh my, look at you! You’ve no experience at all. How could you bring the baby out in this freezing weather without wrapping him up? In my experience, a child treated like this will surely fall ill again and again. Quick, hand him to me and let me have a look.”

Zhang Xiaolong’s face was filled with worry as he listened. He wanted to say something, but when he glanced at his mother, he swallowed his words.

The midwife stepped forward, reaching out to take the baby, but as soon as her hand got close, she recoiled as if startled. She cried out loudly: “Oh heavens, what… what’s with this child?”

Zhang Xiaolong was taken aback. He looked closely at the baby, but no matter how he looked, he couldn’t see anything unusual.

Zhang Xiaohua was puzzled as well. Could the midwife have noticed something? Even his own divine sense couldn’t detect anything out of the ordinary.

Then they heard the midwife speak in a trembling voice, “I’ve delivered babies my whole life. Newborns always look like little old men, wrinkled and ugly. Only after a full month do they slowly grow plump and fair. How could your child be so beautiful right after birth? This is unnatural… a demon, a demon!”

Having said this, she didn’t even have time to deliver the excuse she’d prepared earlier. She turned and fled, leaving Zhang Xiaolong standing there, calling after her:  “Wait… Granny Li, you haven’t taken your payment yet!”

Watching the old woman dash out of the courtyard at such speed, he muttered to himself: “This old lady can actually run this fast? Earlier, she was dawdling at home, claiming she couldn’t walk and needed more silver from me. Turns out it was all an act.”

At that moment, another figure familiar to Zhang Xiaohua limped into the courtyard, it was none other than Young Master Li Jinfeng. Li Jinfeng called out: “Xiaolong, what’s going on? Did Granny Li deliver the baby so quickly? At least invite her to stay for a meal! Letting her leave like this is terribly rude and unrefined.”

But Zhang Xiaolong had no time to explain. He hurriedly said to Guo Sufei: “Mother, quickly take the child inside. It’s warm in the house.”

Only then did Guo Sufei seem to wake from a dream. She hastily carried the baby into the house.

At this moment, Zhang Xiaohua’s expression grew somber. He reached into his robe and drew out the small sword, frowning in thought. After a moment, he slowly put it away, as if making up his mind about something.

The others in the small courtyard, such as Zhang Cai and Mr. Liu, watched the unfolding scene as if they were spectators at a play, never finding a chance to interject. It wasn’t until Guo Sufei carried the child back inside that they snapped out of their daze. Zhang Cai immediately demanded: “Xiaolong, what happened just now? Why did it take you so long to fetch Granny Li?”

Faced with his father’s reproach, Zhang Xiaolong could only reply helplessly: “Father, my own child was about to be born, how could I not be anxious? Young Master Li and I arrived at Granny Li’s house early, but… that old woman just kept dawdling. One moment she claimed her stomach hurt, the next her foot was in pain. Even when I offered more silver, she insisted we were all neighbors and there was no need for formality. I couldn’t figure out what she wanted. It wasn’t until I accidentally mentioned the wrong amount of silver, saying three taels instead, that she finally agreed to come.”

Off to the side, Li Jinfeng chuckled and added: “Uncle Zhang, don’t blame Xiaolong. Just look, I fell off the donkey, and Xiaolong didn’t even help me up. He just grabbed Granny Li and hurried her along.”

Zhang Xiaolong apologized: “Young Master Li, I’m truly sorry. Are you hurt?”

Li Jinfeng waved it off. “No worries, no worries. I’ve ridden plenty in my time, this was just a minor mishap!”

Zhang Cai was about to say more, but Mr. Liu interjected with a laugh: “Sometimes, fortune comes from mishap, Brother Zhang. Xiaolong’s delay turned out to be a blessing. If Granny Li had arrived on time, even if Xiaohua had rushed back, that strange phenomenon just now would surely have been witnessed by outsiders. In fact, I’m certain Granny Li would have spread word of it far and wide. If outsiders were to learn of this, the child’s entire life would be fraught with trouble!”

Everyone in the courtyard suddenly understood, except for Zhang Xiaolong and Li Jinfeng, who both looked puzzled. “Phenomenon? What phenomenon?”

Then, as if struck by a sudden thought, Zhang Xiaolong’s eyes widened. He exclaimed: “Xiaohua? Did Father say Xiaohua rushed back? Xiaohua returned? Where is he?”

Amidst the commotion caused by Granny Li, Zhang Cai and the others had forgotten to tell him that Zhang Xiaohua had come home.

Hearing his elder brother ask, Zhang Xiaohua stepped out from behind Liu Kai, smiling as he said: “Brother, I’m right here.”

Seeing his younger brother suddenly appear from behind Liu Kai, wearing a faint smile, standing as tall as himself, and bearing such a striking resemblance, Zhang Xiaolong’s eyes grew moist. An indescribable feeling welled up in his heart. As the saying goes, “An elder brother is like a father”, and in this moment, that sentiment rang especially true.

Zhang Xiaolong strode forward in a few quick steps, extending his long arms to pull Zhang Xiaohua into a tight embrace, just as he used to hold him when they were young. At this moment, Zhang Xiaohua’s eyes grew Piaomiao as well. Indeed, both his father and elder brother had missed him dearly. His father, constrained by his dignity, could only grasp his hand and look him over carefully, rarely ever hugging him. But his elder brother was different, just as he had helped raise him in the past, he never hid his feelings.

After holding his brother for a while, Zhang Xiaolong patted him on the back and let go, looking him up and down with a smile. “Xiaohua, you’ve grown up. You’re as tall as I am now.”

Zhang Xiaohua grinned: “Big brother, I’m actually a little taller than you.”

Then, he walked over to Li Jinfeng, cupped his fists, and said: “Young Master Li, I trust you have been well?”

Li Jinfeng was visibly moved and hurriedly returned the gesture. “Well, very well indeed. Thanks to-”

Before he could finish, Zhang Xiaohua interrupted with a laugh: “Young Master Li, you were my first teacher. There’s no need for all these formalities.”

Li Jinfeng, ever the open-hearted one, laughed: “Great kindness needs no thanks, but today I’ll thank you once, and never again in the future.”

With that, he gave a deep bow.

Zhang Xiaohua quickly returned the salute.

Li Jinfeng stepped forward, patting Zhang Xiaohua on the shoulder with a smile. “Back then, I could pat you on the head. Now, after a few years apart, I can only reach your shoulder. Ah, time flows like water, never to return. Good, good.”

No one could tell whether this fellow was feeling sentimental or simply full of praise.

Looking at Li Jinfeng, now just a bit shorter than himself, Zhang Xiaohua felt a surge of emotion. Who could have imagined, after that chance encounter in the carriage years ago, that things would turn out like this? Life’s twists of fate are truly subtle.

At this moment, Li Yinfeng, who had been watching Zhang Xiaohua all along, walked forward with Liu Kai by her side. Seeing her approach, Zhang Xiaohua quickly waved his hand. “Sister Li-oh, I should call you sister-in-law now. But please, don’t bow to me again. Just now, Uncle Li and Brother Li already thanked me. If you come to thank me too, and then Auntie comes out to do the same, I’ll really be too embarrassed!”

Li Yinfeng blushed slightly at his words and was about to speak, but Zhang Xiaohua hurriedly continued: “Besides, sister-in-law, what can I say? We’re good people, so the heavens rewarded me richly for saving others. No need for any more polite words.”

Hearing Zhang Xiaohua call her “sister-in-law” over and over, Li Yinfeng’s face turned crimson. Only after Zhang Xiaohua had rambled on for quite some time, until his mouth was dry and he finally stopped, did she say: “Zhang Xiaohua, I… I didn’t come to thank you this time.”

“Huh?” Zhang Xiaohua was taken aback. Why didn’t you say so earlier? Ah, I’ve been dodging the question for so long, how embarrassing~~

Zhang Xiaohua felt his own face grow a bit hot.

Li Yinfeng glanced at Liu Kai’s expression beside her, then asked: “Now that you’ve returned, I finally feel a weight lifted from my heart. But… do you know anything about Xiaohu’s whereabouts? I heard from my brother that the Piaomiao Sect has already been destroyed, and the sect outside Pingyang City has been taken over by another group. But why is there still no word from Xiaohu? Is he… is he still alive, or…”

She couldn’t bring herself to finish the last word.

“Xiaohu?” Zhang Xiaohua was momentarily stunned, but quickly understood. Seeing Liu Kai’s awkward expression, he understood everything. He couldn’t help but chuckle inwardly, though there was a trace of sorrow in his heart as well. He could only sigh and say: “Sister-in-law, I’ve only just returned myself, I haven’t been back to Piaomiao Manor for four or five years. I truly don’t know the details of what happened to the Piaomiao Sect. Although I visited Huanxi Villa a few days ago, I didn’t get any useful information.”

Hearing this, everyone around was startled. Zhang Cai asked nervously: “Xiaohua, what were you doing at Huanxi Villa? Are you looking for trouble? If someone from that sect saw you, wouldn’t your life be in danger?”

Zhang Xiaohua was surprised as well. The Heaven’s Way Alliance didn’t know he had killed their disciples, why would they be after him? But then he realized his father had misunderstood, so he smiled and explained: “Father, don’t worry. I’m not a disciple of the Piaomiao Sect. Even if I went openly to Piaomiao Manor, no one would recognize me. Besides, I only went to Huanxi Villa, which doesn’t have much to do with the Piaomiao Sect.”

“Oh, I see,” Zhang Cai seemed to understand, then added, “Still, you should be careful. Don’t go running around for no reason.”

At this moment, a slightly trembling and shy voice sounded: “Um, Xiaohua, did you… did you see Qiu Tong?”

“Ah!” Zhang Xiaohua looked over in surprise. Sure enough, it was Young Master Li Jinfeng, whose pale face was tinged with a faint blush, looking at him expectantly, his lips noticeably dry.