When Shen Feng and his group descended from the sky, the people in Yuzhou City could not believe what they were seeing. They had always known that the City Lord was called the Wind God, but that was merely a title. To think that at this moment, the City Lord would truly descend from the heavens, nearly caused everyone to fall to their knees.
After landing, Shen Feng immediately went to find Du Xinshi. He then said to Chu Chaoyan, "Chaoyan, go inform my senior sister that I'm back. I'm heading home first."
Chu Chaoyan could not stop Shen Feng. She also knew that Du Xinshi had only a few days left, and it was uncertain if she could even give birth smoothly, given her poor health. At this point, all they could do was let Shen Feng accompany Du Xinshi. If organ transplantation was not possible, they could only try to fulfill Du Xinshi's wishes.
Meanwhile, Chang Haojie and Qu Zhaoqian had also parted ways. Qu Zhaoqian was still living with Yue Hengyi's parents. Originally, Chang Jianyi had hoped they would also live in Fengshen Palace, but Yue Hengyi's parents, being unrelated, disagreed. Thus, Chang Jianyi had no choice but to drop the matter.
"In a few days, I'll take you to eat honey. Just follow me. Next time I come to find you, you're not allowed to refuse," Chang Haojie said to Qu Zhaoqian as they parted.
Qu Zhaoqian quickly nodded. He had already heard from Chang Haojie about the discovery of a giant beehive in the mountains, which surely contained honey. Although it wasn't the round honeycombs seen in animations, it was in large sheets hanging on the rock face.
Chang Haojie also hadn't had anyone his age to play with for a long time. Moreover, due to his identity as an ability user, it was difficult for ordinary people to play with him. Although Wang Xiqiang and his sister were also studying in Fengshen Palace, Wang Xiqiang had never awakened his abilities, making it inconvenient for Chang Haojie to take him out often. Ultimately, Chang Haojie found a playmate in Qu Zhaoqian, with whom he planned to venture together in the future.
Upon returning home, Shen Feng went directly to find Du Xinshi. Before even entering the room, Shen Feng heard violent coughing. Walking in, he saw Du Xinshi still making clothes, coughing as she worked. Little Long sat nearby playing with toys, not disturbing his mother, quietly playing.
"Little Long, I'm back. Did you miss me?" Shen Feng said with a smile.
Upon hearing Shen Feng's voice, Du Fansheng immediately ran over with a smile, praising himself as he ran, "Dad, while you were away, I was very obedient. I didn't disturb Mom's work either. I was very good."
Shen Feng hugged Little Long with one arm, praised him a few times, then asked him to play in the living room. He then closed the door and began to inquire about Du Xinshi's health. After months apart, Du Xinshi was extremely gaunt. However, upon seeing Shen Feng, she still forced a smile.
Seeing this forced smile, Shen Feng felt a pang of heartache. He couldn't be by the side of the person he loved. Now that he had returned, he found that Du Xinshi's condition had worsened.
Looking at Du Xinshi busy working, Shen Feng quickly asked, "Stop making clothes. Whatever clothes you want, I can get them. Don't wear yourself out. Rest quickly, for the sake of the child in your belly."
Shen Feng absolutely did not want Du Xinshi to exhaust herself for the child. Moreover, such trivial matters as making clothes were unimportant. In Shen Feng's position, it was easy to obtain silk or leather clothes if he desired them. However, Du Xinshi had her own reasons.
Du Xinshi quickly replied, "Clothes bought are always just commodities. Only clothes I make with my own hands are filled with my heart. I don't want my children to look at other children having clothes made by their mothers and not have any after I'm gone. So, I can only try my best to make more clothes. Please don't stop me."
"Don't be too pessimistic. As long as you take good care of yourself, you can recover," Shen Feng quickly comforted her.
Du Xinshi's mood had been very low recently, and emotions could indeed affect one's health. Generally, pessimistic people have worse health because pessimistic emotions inhibit the secretion of hormones in the body, ultimately dragging the body down. Excessive pessimism is also bad for the heart.
Du Xinshi did not dwell on this matter and changed the subject. "I've made a lot of clothes for Little Long, enough for him to wear until he's eighteen. They're in the wardrobe. Remember to give them to him. As for the child in my belly now, I can probably only make clothes for him to wear until he's ten."
Shen Feng felt very heartbroken. Then he remembered something very important and quickly said, "Right, I heard about a new technology in Pudong, which is human cryopreservation. If replacing the heart is difficult, we can also freeze the body. When future technology reaches a level where treatment is possible, we can thaw and treat. This is a very good method. I'll have someone find a doctor in a few days. Don't worry, I won't let you die."
After Shen Feng said this, Du Xinshi felt immensely satisfied. She knew that Shen Feng truly loved her, otherwise, he wouldn't do so much for her. She also knew she hadn't misjudged him. Then she said, "Destiny decides life and death, wealth and honor are in heaven. Perhaps this is my fate. I am already very content to have met you in the apocalypse. Nothing else matters. During this time, I hope you will stay with me."
Du Xinshi knew her time was short. Originally, she was full of unwillingness, but now she had accepted it. Life was just like this, always filled with partings and deaths. To have someone she loved and two children was already a great satisfaction.
Shen Feng quickly nodded, indicating that he would definitely stay with Du Xinshi in the coming days. However, behind the scenes, Shen Feng had already sent people to Pudong to invite doctors, specifically professors researching human cryopreservation. If it truly didn't work out, then Du Xinshi would have to be frozen.
In the evening, Zhang Xixi returned home, and the family began to eat. Just as they were eating, the phone in the living room rang. Shen Feng walked over to answer it, "What is it? We are eating dinner right now. Even if there's something important, can't it wait until tomorrow?"
Even when living outside, security work had to be done well. Therefore, soldiers were guarding the small building, and ordinary people were not allowed to approach it. This call was made from the guardhouse outside, and Shen Feng was very displeased. What was so urgent that it had to be made at this time? It was truly excessive.
However, the soldier guarding the guardhouse immediately replied, "City Lord, there's a beggar who wants to come in. She says she's looking for Zhang Xixi and claims to be Zhang Xixi's sister-in-law."
Upon hearing this, Zhang Xixi instantly stood up and said, "I'll go out and see! Could it really be my sister-in-law?"
Ever since she learned that her elder brother had died on the grasslands, Zhang Xixi had been filled with regret. Their parting had been too casual, and she hadn't realized it would be their last. Later, when she tried to find her sister-in-law and nephew, she had no news. Shen Feng had searched for half a month in the north without finding anything.
But now, Zhang Xixi discovered that her sister-in-law might have found her actively, and she immediately became concerned, heading out at that moment.
After walking out of the small building, Zhang Xixi quickly saw a beggar in ragged clothes outside the distant iron fence. She was dirty, her hair was a mess like a bird's nest, and she held a swaddling bundle in her arms, from which a faint crying sound could be heard.
Zhang Xixi couldn't recognize who it was at all. After three years of separation, although Zhang Xixi still had an impression of her sister-in-law, in her memory, her sister-in-law had always been a relatively beautiful woman. But now, a dirty beggar appeared before her, and Zhang Xixi dared not acknowledge her.
"Xixi, I'm your sister-in-law," the female beggar, upon seeing Zhang Xixi emerge from the small building, couldn't help but cry. Tears streamed down her face through the iron fence.
Hearing this voice, Zhang Xixi no longer doubted. She immediately rushed out, tears welling up in her eyes, and hugged her sister-in-law, crying, "Sister-in-law, I've been looking for you for so long, but I've had no news of you. Where have you been?"
Tao Yaxiang cried and said, "Don't mention it. The north is in chaos now. I've been begging my way here. I originally heard someone was looking for me, but I was afraid it was enemies seeking revenge, so I didn't dare to acknowledge them. I just came like this, walking all the way from the north. My feet are covered in dozens of blisters."
Upon hearing this, Zhang Xixi immediately became anxious and said, "Quick, come in, come in. I'll take you to clean your wounds. Now that I'm here, I won't let you suffer."
"Ah? Come in here? Are you living here alone?" Tao Yaxiang hesitated. The place she saw before her was a bright and clean detached small building. It was too high-class, and Tao Yaxiang suddenly felt inferior.
Zhang Xixi, without further ado, pulled Tao Yaxiang in and said, "It's okay, there are many rooms here. I'm living with a sister, and the City Lord also often stays here. It's fine, just follow me in."
Zhang Xixi also knew that her sister-in-law had suffered. Seeing her in such a sorry state, Zhang Xixi knew she wasn't an ability user yet. She was bringing a young child to seek her out from the north, thousands of miles away. How could she possibly turn her away?
Tao Yaxiang held the child in one arm and a dog-beating staff tucked into her embrace. Her other dirty hand was held by Zhang Xixi. As she walked into the small building, a glimmer of hope finally appeared in her eyes. Recalling her half-year journey of begging, Tao Yaxiang felt as though she had experienced hell.