"My benefactors! Thank you again for your help, my daughter has woken up!"
Aunt Chen walked over, her eyes brimming with tears. Behind her was a young, beautiful woman.
The woman had fair skin and a slightly pale complexion, but her spirits were good.
She smiled charmingly at everyone present, "To all of you benefactors, I only woke up last night and just learned of everything. So many things have happened while I was unconscious, and I truly must thank you all properly."
This woman was Xiao Ya.
When she was unconscious, her face was pale, her breath faint, and her spirits low, making it impossible to judge her beauty.
Now that Xiao Ya had awakened, her complexion was clearly better than before. Her watery peach blossom eyes held a hint of gentleness.
Although she was a farmer's daughter, born of humble origins, she possessed an air of delicate grace.
"Xiao Ya, you're finally awake. Our goal was to save you, and it's good that you're awake," Bai Niannian smiled gently and patted her shoulder.
Xiao Ya's smile bloomed, her peach blossom eyes filled with gratitude, "Benefactors, my cooking is quite famous in Chen Family Village. Tonight, let me personally cook a meal to entertain you, as a token of my gratitude."
"Yes."
Aunt Chen chimed in repeatedly, her cheeks beaming with smiles, "Thanks to you, I have the chance to reunite with my Xiao Ya. We don't have much to offer, so please let us entertain you."
The village chief nodded with slight approval, "I still have some vegetables in my field. I'll have someone send them over later, and you can cook them."
Feng Ninghe hesitated for a moment, then nodded gently, "Aunt Chen, I plan to stay in Chen Family Village for two more days, until I personally witness the High Priest's punishment, and then we will leave."
Upon hearing that they were leaving, Aunt Chen quickly said, "If you don't mind, it would be good for you to stay in Chen Family Village for a few more days. We have no way to repay your kindness, so we thought to keep you longer and let you eat more dishes."
Bai Niannian's eyes curved into a smile, "We still have some matters to attend to and cannot stay in Chen Family Village for long."
Learning this, Aunt Chen's eyes instantly dimmed slightly, revealing a look of understanding. She nodded calmly, "Since that is the case, we won't keep you any longer."
The sky began to darken.
Chen Family Village shed its usual desolate atmosphere and was filled with joy.
Even though some girls had turned to bone and could not return, most people were joyful because the truth behind the nonexistent curse had been revealed.
From now on, no more girls in Chen Family Village would meet with misfortune.
Feng Ninghe and the others also arrived at Aunt Chen's home immediately.
Aunt Chen and Xiao Ya busied themselves with cooking.
Soon, they presented the dishes.
Aunt Chen warmly invited everyone, "Everyone, please don't be shy, eat more."
Xiao Zhao patted his little belly, a slight smile on his tender face, "We certainly won't be shy. I've prepared my stomach!"
Xiao Ya couldn't help but smile, her beautiful face radiant with joy, "I've also made some sweets. I wonder if they'll suit your taste."
She casually brought over a plate of pastries.
The pastries were crystal clear, sprinkled with osmanthus flowers around the edges, looking fragrant and delicious, whetting the appetite.
Si Xin Xin's eyes immediately lit up, and she quickly picked up a pastry and ate it.
The pastry was filled with a sweet flavor.
Si Xin Xin quickly added two more for Feng Ninghe and Si Jianye, "Dad, Mom, these pastries are absolutely delicious. You should both eat more."
Seeing Si Xin Xin's small face beaming with smiles, Feng Ninghe's heart warmed involuntarily, and she nodded in agreement.
The pastries were indeed delicious, their craftsmanship even rivaling that of the cooks in the Medicine Valley.
Xiao Ya looked at Feng Ninghe with slight curiosity, "Miss, you look very young, I didn't expect you to already have children."
She also specifically glanced at Si Jianye, who was wearing a mask.
A golden mask covered his face, making it impossible to see his features.
His thin lips and well-defined jaw, not covered by the mask, exuded an untamed spirit.
Even though his face was completely hidden by the mask, one could still sense an air of nobility.
Xiao Ya couldn't help but wonder what kind of face was hidden beneath such a mask.
Facing the question, Feng Ninghe smiled it away and replied softly, "I'm already in my early twenties, not young anymore."
Cultivators could naturally maintain their youthful appearance.
Moreover, she had all sorts of elixirs in her possession. With these miraculous medicines, it was difficult even to age if she wished.
That night.
In the Kingdom of Lin, within a luxurious palace.
A man sat quietly on a long bench, holding a book in his hand.
"Young Master, something is wrong."
A guard hurried forward and approached the man.
The man had his back to the guard. In the brightly lit bedchamber, he casually turned the pages of the book in his hand, glancing at the guard from the corner of his eye, "What is it?"
The guard quickly said, "The thing you wanted is gone! The errand boy responsible for the handover has disappeared. I went to the palace specifically, only to find it empty!"
The hurried voice successfully caused the man's expression to change.
The man's devilishly handsome eyes narrowed, and a hint of coldness flashed through them, "What about those girls?"
"The girls are all gone!"
The guard quickly revealed all that he knew, "Our deceased have committed suicide by poison!"
The man put down his book and stood up.
A chilling male voice escaped his lips, "Who did this? Go and find out. This matter must not be leaked! If necessary, act directly!"
The guard nodded repeatedly, "Your subordinate will investigate immediately!"
*
Chen Family Village.
Chen Family Village returned to tranquility in the night.
Everyone returned to their rooms to rest.
In the spacious courtyard, a small wooden house appeared out of thin air.
This wooden house was obtained by Feng Ninghe from a secret realm.
They had a large group, and Aunt Chen didn't have enough rooms to accommodate them.
Si Jianye skillfully stepped into the house.
The house was not large and was decorated very simply.
Si Jianye's gaze swept around the room, as if searching for something.
Feng Ninghe immediately saw his thoughts and proactively said, "King of the Underworld, the house is only this big, there's no room for an extra bed. Why don't you find another room?"
Every night for the past few days, Si Jianye had used Si Xin Xin as an excuse to bring his bed and squeeze into their room.
Si Xin Xin carefully examined the room, a hint of regret on her small face.
"Daddy, it seems we can't sleep together tonight. There will be plenty of opportunities to sleep together in the future."
She sighed with a hint of disappointment at the end.
Si Jianye frowned slightly, his cool eyes scrutinizing his surroundings, remaining silent.
*Thump thump*
The door was knocked upon at this moment.
A clear female voice slowly sounded, "Miss Feng, are you in the house?"
Feng Ninghe recognized the voice as Xiao Ya's and responded generously, "Please come in."