The tender green treetops swayed gently. Beside the cliff below sat a child in white robes with his hair tied in hanging locks, half of his calves dangling over the precipice as he lightly kicked his feet. Beside him crouched a red fox, its beastly eyes warily watching the party below.

Yang Su forcibly tore his gaze away from the gigantic being atop that mountain and followed the voice to the child sitting by the cliff. He raised a hand to stop the soldiers who were drawing their bows and nocking arrows, lowering his voice.

“This child is no ordinary person. None of you is to act rashly.”

He could clearly sense demonic qi emanating from the child, and the fox crouching beside him was no ordinary wild beast either. Turning his head, he cupped his hands toward Yang Guang. “Your Highness, please wait here a moment. I shall go and have a look.”

With a sweep of his sleeve, his figure leapt from horseback, stepping across the shoulders of the soldiers ahead before landing not far beneath the cliff, standing atop a piece of bluish stone by the roadside.

As the distance closed, he saw that the child wore his hair in hanging locks and appeared to be around three years old. Softening his tone, he smiled.

“And who might this little child be?”

“My name is…” The child blinked and had only spoken two words when he turned his face toward the red fox beside him.

“Mother, may Mingyue tell him?”

The fox’s long muzzle curled slightly. She did not speak, merely nodding.

Having received his mother’s permission, the child sat upright once more and spoke crisply to the short-bearded man below.

“Of course, I’m my family’s teacher’s Dao attendant! My name is Mingyue. And who are you people? You’ve brought so many men and are even carrying weapons. You’re not allowed to enter Qixia Mountain.”

Yang Su understood who the teacher in the child’s words referred to. That formation had likely been temporarily entrusted to this child to guard this place.

It seems this old man will have to put on a smiling face and humble himself before this child…

“Then may I ask, Dao Child Mingyue, is your teacher at home?”

“He isn’t, he isn’t.”

Atop the cliff, the little hand waved several times rapidly. Mingyue withdrew his feet and stood up. “You should leave quickly. My teacher went to see the City God yesterday and has not yet returned.”

Gone to see the City God?

Yang Su had asked that question, hoping to learn of Lu Liangsheng’s whereabouts so that he could go and seek him directly. Never had he expected to hear that he had gone to see the City God. The expression on his face involuntarily froze for a moment.

How long had it been since they last met? Yet Lu Liangsheng had already mastered the divine ability of projecting his Primordial Spirit?

The soldiers and generals around him had already been frightened enough today that, upon hearing that he had gone to see the City God, they did not react in the slightest, as though such a thing were only natural.

“And when will your teacher return?”

Naturally, Yang Su was unwilling to leave just like that. Raising his hands, he cupped them toward the child. “We have come here especially to pay him a visit.”

Over there, Mingyue folded his little arms and tilted his head, looking at the swaying treetops as he pondered for a moment. “I don’t know either. Teacher didn’t say when he would return before he left. It might be a long time, or perhaps only two or three days. But so many of you can’t come in. Mingyue won’t let you enter either.”

The little fellow pointed toward the gigantic creature on the distant mountain peak and raised his chin.

“Otherwise, I’ll have it bite you.”

At this, Yang Su was momentarily at a loss for words. Naturally, he could not bicker with a three-year-old child. After frowning and thinking for a moment, he took an object from his sleeve and placed it upon the rock beneath his feet.

“When your teacher returns, please pass this item to him. He will understand.”

Having said this, he no longer tangled himself with the child. Returning to the main force, he discussed matters with Yang Guang and the generals and decided to withdraw to Fushui County for the time being and wait for a day or two.

“It seems this is our only option.” Yang Guang looked toward the outline of the mountain village in the distance and sighed. Pulling on the reins, he led the party around and headed back toward Fushui County along the mountain path.

As the dust drifted away down the road, Mingyue recited the incantation formula Lu Liangsheng had taught him and dispelled the illusion formation. He had merely happened to come to Little Spring(Xiaoquan) Mountain today to visit his mother and had thus encountered this scene. Had he been in Lu Family Village, he might not even have had time to withdraw the formation.

He looked at the sky and saw that it was already getting late. Turning his little head, he looked at his mother.

“Mother, it’s getting late. Mingyue should return to the village first, lest Teacher comes back and cannot find me.”

Yanzhi transformed into human form and gently drew her son into her embrace, rubbing her cheek against his. Only then did she reluctantly let him go, a smile blooming on her face.

“Mhm, it’s getting late indeed. Then hurry back.”

After seeing her son to the foot of the mountain, Mingyue walked a few steps before turning back and waving his little hand. “Mother, when I have time another day, Mingyue will come to the mountain to visit you again. I’ll bring you something delicious then.”

Having said that, he skipped and hopped back toward the village. As he ran, he frequently turned back to wave, causing Yanzhi to laugh softly and call after him: “Be careful!” “Watch the road, don’t trip!” “Another day, Mother will come to see you!”

Only after watching her son’s tiny figure disappear into the village entrance did the smile on her face slowly fade. Her body lowered, transforming back into a fox before leaping into the mountain forest.

“Senior Brother, it’s time to pack up the stall!”

As soon as he entered the village, Mingyue skipped along and greeted Wang Banxia, who had set up a fortune-telling stall not far from the entrance. Then, his little feet flew as he hurried back to the fenced courtyard. Originally, he had wanted to play with Yuwen Tuo, Li Sui’an, and Qu Yuanfeng—after all, Teacher still had not returned.

“Second Senior Brother, Third Senior Brother, let’s go—”

The moment he stepped through the courtyard gate, he saw the three youths sitting properly on several stone stools, leaning over the stone table, and attentively writing annotations on the classics. In the donkey shed, there was now an old donkey lying down, lazily chewing on its fodder.

Mingyue immediately swallowed the rest of his words and came to an abrupt halt, standing straight as a rod. Looking toward the figure beneath the eaves, he obediently called out: “Teacher.”

“You went to see your mother?”

Lu Liangsheng had also only just returned. He had not taken the official road; instead, he had ridden the old donkey directly over mountains and ridges, returning to Qixia Mountain in a straight line, which was much faster.

Amid Mingyue’s soft “Mm,” he entered the room and placed the tender green leaf in his hand onto the desk, then reached out and poked the Toad Daoist awake from his loud slumber on the couch.

“Master, wake up. Come up the mountain with me.”

Still half asleep and not yet recovered, the Toad’s body suddenly floated upward and was placed upon his disciple’s shoulder. He nearly failed to grab hold and almost slipped off.

“His mother’s… this old man had just dreamed of… uh… what was I dreaming about again?”

At the doorway, Mingyue walked over and raised an arm. Resting in his open palm was a jade pendant.

“Teacher, someone just gave this to me. They even brought a lot of people with them, but Mingyue sent them all away. I’m impressive, aren’t I?”

“Very impressive.”

Lu Liangsheng patted the little fellow’s head and took the jade pendant. There was no need for Mingyue to explain. From the spiritual power flowing within it, he could sense the message the other party had left inside the pendant.

‘Instead of properly conquering cities and seizing territory, why has Yang Su come to Qixia Mountain? And by Yang Jian’s order, he wishes to invite me to become the Imperial Preceptor?’

He gently patted the back of the child’s head. “Go and play.”

Then he walked out of the room.

Over there, the three youths stretched their necks to look over. Seeing Mingyue run off, Li Sui’an lowered his voice and asked:

“Master, what about us?”

The only reply he received was a slap on the top of his head, pressing him back down onto the table, causing Yuwen Tuo and Qu Yuanfeng to let out snickering laughter.

As Lu Liangsheng walked past them, he turned his face slightly and softly said: “Continue writing!”

Then he walked out of the courtyard and headed up Qixia Mountain.

The setting sun shone from the western peaks, dragging its shadow diagonally across the rocks and trees. Beyond the cliff, the sea of clouds billowed and churned, while the old pines swayed and danced gently. Amid the shifting patches of light and shadow stood a graceful figure, her dark hair fluttering in the breeze.

Honglian stood before the thatched cottage. Seeing Lu Liangsheng approach, a smile blossomed across her face, and she gracefully curtsied.

“Young Master.”

She softly called out.

Looking into her raised eyes, Lu Liangsheng reached out and took her hand. Pushing open the door, he led her inside and sat with her on the edge of the bed. After a long silence, he recounted to her his trip to the City God of Tianzhi and the conversation he had had with Zhou Yu.

“It may be impossible to let you reincarnate, but there is another method that might be worth trying. It may be somewhat dangerous. Honglian, are you willing?”

Beside him, feeling the warmth of the man’s hand, Honglian pursed her lips slightly, and lovely dimples appeared on her cheeks.

“This humble one trusts Young Master.”

On the writing desk, the Toad Daoist looked at his disciple, then at the little female ghost gazing back at him. Tilting his head and blinking his toad eyes, he had no idea what was going on.