Siblings, Into the World

The Little Holy Maiden's expression remained calm as she bowed to Elder Three, "Elder Three, on your previous distant journey, enduring hardships, disciple is here to handle the matter of sending this young master back home."

Lin Su's heart suddenly skipped a beat. No, Master, don't agree to her. If you agree, her "send-off" will surely turn into something unrecognizable, and I might end up being flattened by her...

But Elder Three had already nodded, "Very well... I appreciate your help, Holy Maiden!"

The Little Holy Maiden turned to Lin Su, "Young Master Lin, come aboard the boat. I will accompany you for a part of the journey."

Lin Su's heart trembled, but he had no choice. He reluctantly boarded her silver boat, which soared into the sky, carrying Lin Su and Little Yao on their way home.

With clouds drifting by his ears, Yunxi Sect vanished from sight in the blink of an eye.

Lin Su shifted his gaze to the Little Holy Maiden at the boat's bow, his mind brewing a bunch of arguments. Some were reasonable, some twisted, and some downright unorthodox. In any case, he was prepared to pull off a big bluff, resolve the impending disaster, and then...

The Little Holy Maiden spoke first, "You violated the sect rules, and my sister will summon you to the Asking Dao Pavilion, making you endure an unbearable punishment. It's the consequence you deserve. However, you cured my ailment, which is a fact. Today, I sincerely send you off!"

What?

Lin Su was genuinely surprised. She wasn't here to flatten him; she genuinely meant to see him off? Did she not communicate with her sister?

It was understandable, though, given her upbringing in feudal ethics. Who would want to make an issue about sensitive matters with others? Lin Su relaxed, "Holy Maiden is indeed... truly principled!"

"Naturally!" The Little Holy Maiden smiled slightly, "In the martial world, settling grudges and repaying kindness are the way to go. Anyone who offends this lady will be pursued to the ends of the earth. But for those who have shown kindness, I will reciprocate."

What?

Does leaving mean it's over, or is there still a possibility of accountability in the future?

Lin Su, now at ease, joked, "Holy Maiden, you have a broad-minded and principled approach. How can a person like you hold grudges over trivial matters? By the way, your ailment, named 'Thousand Knots,' originated from obsession but can be healed by letting go. If it recurs, just release your attachment, attain mental clarity, and it will be cured in a maximum of four days."

The Little Holy Maiden was slightly stunned, "What do you mean?"

Lin Su explained, "Your ailment, 'Thousand Knots,' stems from obsession. To be free from it, you just need to let go of your fixation. If you achieve mental clarity, it will heal in a maximum of four days."

Her gratitude welled up after this explanation. Lin Su felt fortunate. He decided to introduce her with a preventive measure for the "monthly thing" next month—once it arrives, introspect first, then let go of the fixation to avoid seeking trouble from Lin Su. The miraculous part was that this "ailment" would indeed heal in four days!

However, Lin Su had his bottom line. "Letting go of fixation, attaining mental clarity" was a remedy for anyone—treating illnesses or promoting overall well-being. He didn't want to fool the Little Holy Maiden too much.

The atmosphere during the journey was pleasant. Under the blue sky and white clouds, Lin Su, feeling nostalgic, resisted the urge to compose poetry and sing songs. He refrained from provoking her literary path sensibilities.

After an unspecified duration, the silver boat descended. A great river and an ancient city came into view.

"We've arrived at the Haining City in Quzhou!" The Holy Maiden's silver boat landed outside the city, "If fate permits, we may meet again in the martial world!"

"Is there a possibility of meeting again in the future?" Lin Su muttered.

"Yes, perhaps you can seek out that Buddhist monk, inquire about why your sect's path can't be opened. Once you unlock it, being fellow disciples of Yunxi, you may meet again on the path of cultivation..."

The silver boat soared into the sky and disappeared in an instant.

Lin Su stared at Little Yao, "Finally stepping into the secular world. Little Yao, what do you want the most?"

Little Yao licked her lips, "A bag of candy!"

Lin Su gave her a sideways glance, "Your ambitions are quite modest. How about asking for something bigger?"

"...Two bags of candy!"

Lin Su laughed heartily, holding her hand, "Let's go! We'll return home first and then get you all the candy in the city..."

Haining Mansion was a prefecture in Quzhou, equivalent to a prefecture-level city in modern society. In this era, without steel and concrete skyscrapers, without bustling traffic, the streets were filled with pavilions, towers, and endless scenery. Lin Su marveled at the carved beams and painted rafters along the streets. People walked by in luxurious silk or scantily clad, giving him a sense of novelty.

Books claimed that the population density in feudal societies was lower compared to modern times, but in this world, it seemed different. Even in a small prefectural city like this, it portrayed the lively and bustling scene he imagined from the prosperous Bianliang of the Great Song Dynasty.

However, Lin Su knew this wasn't the Great Song. This world was more mystical and mysterious.

Even within the city, hints of the extraordinary emerged. For instance, he saw several peculiar mounts that resembled a mix of wolves and horses. On the Yangtze River, a person walked on the waves, not seeming like a cultivator but more like a scholar.

Little Yao was drooling all the way, wiping her mouth when she smelled the aroma from a tavern or passed by a fruit stall. Lin Su knew she was hungry; he was hungry too. Little Holy Maiden, not accustomed to mundane affairs, hadn't prepared any food on the silver boat. After more than ten hours, the siblings were famished, but they had no money.

Having scammed a small pot of silver from Elder Three with great difficulty, it was all spent, scattered by Elder Three. They didn't have a single copper coin on them.

So, Lin Su could only console her, "Hold on a little longer, girl. Once we're home, in the Duke's mansion, there will be all kinds of food. I'll cook you a lavish meal—roast chicken, grilled lamb, and more!"

Little Yao's saliva flowed uncontrollably.

Lin Su brought her to a cloth shop. The elderly shopkeeper raised his eyes, "Is this young master here to buy clothes?"

"Shopkeeper, I want to inquire. Where is the Duke of Dingnan Mansion located?"

The shopkeeper's expression was strange; he frowned slightly, "Young master is not a local, is he?"

"... Why do you ask such a question, shopkeeper?" Lin Su also frowned.

The shopkeeper said, "Because locals know that Dingnan Hou Mansion is in trouble. There is no Dingnan Hou Mansion anymore..."

What? Lin Su's face changed!

Little Yao's face also changed!

"What happened? Shopkeeper, tell me..."

The shopkeeper looked around, ensuring no one was paying attention, then lowered his voice and said...

Three months ago, Dingnan Hou made a mistake and was beheaded by the Emperor's decree. His title was stripped, and all his properties and lands were confiscated. The servants and maids under him scattered like monkeys when a tree falls. There was no Dingnan Hou Mansion anymore. Thankfully, the Emperor, in his mercy, left the old house to the widowed mother and orphaned daughter, right over there...

At this moment, Lin Su felt a sense of loss and a strange sadness.

The home he had finally found had already been destroyed.

After traveling thousands of miles, the scene wasn't what he had imagined.

Although theoretically, he had no connection with Dingnan Hou Mansion in this world, he felt an inexplicable emptiness, difficult to understand but very real...

Lin Su felt a touch on his hand, and Little Yao tightly grasped his hand, "Brother, don't be sad. Little Yao is here with you..."

Having experienced the pain of losing family, the world for her became as cold as an ice cellar without a home. It was only when her brother appeared that she smelled the fragrance of spring again and saw the seven colors of sunlight. But now, her brother's home was also in trouble. She didn't know how to comfort her brother, so she simply held his hand, telling him that she was there for him...

Brother didn't cry, but she shed tears first.

Lin Su gently wiped away her tears, "Let's go, back home!"

Passing through the bustling streets, ahead was a large courtyard, backed by a high mountain, facing the boundless Yangtze River. It looked prosperous, but wild grass grew in front, and a lonely wild dog searched for food, perfectly depicting the dilapidation of a Hou Mansion.

Accompanied by a creaky and desolate door hinge sound, Lin Su stepped into the Dingnan Hou Mansion of his previous self—a home he found through this physical body.

The spacious front yard was empty, devoid of any people. There was not a single soul, only overgrown weeds hiding the past glory.

Entering the backyard, a maid-like figure stepped out from the main hall. As her gaze fell on Lin Su's face, she immediately let out a world-shattering scream, "Third Young Master... Lady, Third Young Master has returned!"

In the main hall behind her, a woman around forty or fifty years old, supported by a young man in his twenties, came out. As soon as she saw Lin Su, she became excited. Her pale and haggard face suddenly showed a sickly blush, and tears flowed from her eyes. She rushed forward, grabbed Lin Su's hands, and sobbed, "Third Son, you've finally returned! Mother was afraid you'd leave this world without seeing you one last time due to this illness..."

Feeling her surging emotions, the warmth from her hands, ripples quietly stirred in Lin Su's heart. If he had the habit of keeping a diary, perhaps he would write something like this:

On the eighty-third day of transmigrating to this world, I returned to the home of the original owner of this body.

The Hou Mansion was so dilapidated that there was no hope in sight, and everyone seemed to have reached a dead end.

In theory, I have no connection with Dingnan Hou Mansion in this world. However, perhaps due to the mysterious force of blood, I clearly feel a strong maternal love and sibling affection.

After traveling a thousand miles, there's finally a way back. My wandering boat has returned to the harbor!

Little Peach, the maid, brought a pot of thin soup and porridge, clear enough to see the bottom. There were also two steamed buns, yellow and hard. If brought to the previous world, even dogs might not eat them. However, Lin Su and Little Yao ate them heartily. During the meal, the mother kept holding onto Lin Su's hem, as if afraid that if she let go, he would run away.

After finishing the meal, Lin Su's second brother whispered, "Mother, Third Brother has returned. You can rest assured now. When the child writes another 'Qi-guiding Script' for Mother, it will help your recovery."

"Second Son, you shouldn't overexert yourself..."

"Rest assured, Mother. The child can still handle it!"

He took out a piece of golden paper, opened the inkwell, and a strange fragrance filled the room. The second brother's brush moved on the golden paper, writing...

"The qi of heaven and earth, the might of the Script, man stands on his bones, qi enters within..."

Golden light filled the room, and the sunset outside the window diminished, as if the setting sun melted into the words.

The second brother's face gradually paled. Writing seemed extremely laborious, and with each word on the golden paper, it seemed to consume his energy. More than halfway through, the golden light flickered, and the tip of his brush also trembled. As the final stroke fell, the second brother's body swayed.

Little Peach unbuttoned the mother's collar. Her neck was densely covered in handwriting, "The qi of heaven and earth, the might of the Script..." Layer upon layer, deep red indicated a touch of fading, and the lighter ones were close to disappearing.

Applying the new Script to the mother's neck, the words completely vanished from the golden paper, transferring to the mother's neck. Her pale face turned rosy, and she breathed out gently, slowly closing her eyes.

Lin Su watched in amazement. Could the power of the Script heal illnesses?

The second brother stood up slowly, "Third Brother, Mother has fallen asleep. Let's go to the ancestral hall and offer incense to Father."

At the moment Dingnan Hou was beheaded, Lin Su was in Yunxi Sect, unaware of the news. Now that he returned home, it was only natural to offer incense to his father.