Returning Home

Yu Sui'an had her eyes gently closed, riding atop Li Guanqi's shoulders with both hands clutching his ears. Her once-chubby little face had thinned quite a bit, but it remained as adorable as ever. The smile at the corners of her mouth was impossible to conceal; it was as though at this moment, she were the happiest person in the world. Emotions surged within Li Guanqi as well, and the heart that had hung suspended during his years wandering abroad finally settled. That inexplicable sense of peace brought him immense relaxation. The nerves that had been strung taut in his mind gradually unwound. For he knew that within the borders of the Great Xia Sword Sect, he had nothing to worry about. It was a feeling of confidence—the feeling of having a mountain to back him up! On the path toward Tianlei Peak, countless disciples along the way stopped in their tracks and bowed respectfully to the group. Light shone in the young man's eyes, a smile gracing his lips. As they ascended toward the mountain peak, Li Guanqi saw his own courtyard. The courtyard was as it had always been, tidied spotlessly; one could tell at a glance that someone cleaned it regularly. "Little Steamed Bun, did you miss me?" Resting her head against his, the little girl peeked open one eye, grasping his ears with both hands as she beamed. "I did! Every single day!" Hearing that, Li Guanqi grinned broadly. He hadn't expected the little girl to have grown so much taller over these two years. And her cultivation... Li Guanqi could not help extending a hand to channel a gentle wisp of primal energy through her body. Seeing this, Li Nanting laughed. "Don't worry, there's nothing wrong with Sui'an's body. Her cultivation speed really is on the fast side, though." At that, the old man winked at Li Guanqi and transmitted his voice in a whisper: "Aside from you, this little girl is the Great Xia Sword Sect's second saint-grade spiritual root—and a water spiritual root at that!" Li Guanqi raised a brow, surprised that her talent was so monstrous. Back then, he hadn't noticed she possessed such astonishing potential. Li Guanqi curled his lips into a faint smile, lost in thought. Creak— The front gate of Li Nanting's courtyard was slowly pushed open. Everything was exactly as it had been, without the slightest change. Only the old man who used to love sitting on the courtyard's rocking chair was gone. Elder Xu, the one who had first taken him flying on a sword, would never be seen again. Looking down at the large carp swimming in the channel beneath his feet, Li Guanqi could not help chuckling. "Master, has Little Steamed Bun not come by to steal fish lately?" "Hahahaha! With you gone, this girl went off to torment other people instead!" Li Nanting burst into hearty laughter. Yu Sui'an straightened up, puffing her cheeks indignantly. "Grandpa Li! Didn't we promise not to say anything?!" Hearing this, the old man tapped his mouth playfully and gave a doting chuckle. "Ah, look at my big mouth, blurting out whatever comes to mind! Hahaha!" "Come on, let's go inside!" The three of them pushed the door open and stepped in. Once set on the ground, Yu Sui'an held tightly to Li Guanqi, not running off anywhere. They sat down in the room. Li Nanting poured him a cup of tea and said softly, "It hasn't been easy wandering out there these past two years, has it?" Li Guanqi respectfully took the teacup, a slightly distant look in his eyes as he murmured, "Yeah. A lot of things happened." Taking a sip of tea, the old man sighed. "The Sect Master, myself, and many others have been concerned about you. We know roughly what happened. Now that you're back, take a good rest for a while. Life out in the world is never easy; being back is just the chance to settle your mind." Li Guanqi smiled and nodded; he also intended to stay in the sect for some time. He turned toward Yu Sui'an, only to catch her looking at him with shifty, furtive eyes. How could Li Guanqi not know what was on her mind? He stood and took a good look at the little girl. She was at least a head taller than when he had left, almost reaching his chest. She really had grown a lot these past two years... Her round, chubby face had sharpened slightly, and her features had become much more spirited and delicate. Even as a child, she had been a budding beauty, and that was even clearer now. Who knew how many young masters of great clans she would captivate when she grew up? Li Guanqi leaned down slightly, looking at her with a smile, and asked softly, "Do you still like eating steamed buns?" Yu Sui'an's eyes curved with delight, and she nodded vigorously. Over the past two years, she had heard from the Sect Master and Li Nanting about much of what Li Guanqi had gone through outside. Knowing the perilous situations he had faced, she felt she could have forgiven him even if he had forgotten to bring her buns. Yet deep down, she still hoped he had remembered. Though a small matter, to her, it meant the world. Li Guanqi smiled faintly. With a wave of his hand, light flared, and an endless array of bamboo steamers materialized in the room. Inside every steamer were plump, white meat buns. Yu Sui'an's eyes went wide, sparkling with excitement. Li Guanqi said softly, "In these two years, I passed through no fewer than three hundred cities, towns, and villages. There were places where I couldn't stop, but these hundred-plus steamers of buns should last you for quite a while." Yu Sui'an leapt into Li Guanqi's embrace, laughing gleefully. "Hahaha, I knew Little Blind Man treats me the best! How could you ever forget my buns!" Tears shimmered in the little girl's eyes as she spoke. Wrapping her arms around Li Guanqi's neck, she closed her eyes tightly and whispered, "Thank you, Little Blind Man." Li Guanqi smiled gently. He naturally understood what she was thanking him for. That thank-you was not merely for the buns, but for what had happened back at Ziyang Palace. Ever since she woke up from her severe injuries, she hadn't seen Li Guanqi. Later, she learned everything that had taken place. Sensitive by nature, she had become all the more attached to him. It felt as if... Li Guanqi truly was her own elder brother, caring for and looking after her. Gazing at the big meat buns in the steamers, Yu Sui'an carefully picked one up and was about to stuff it into her mouth. Seeing this, Li Guanqi quickly said, "What's the rush? It's still cold." "Give it here, I'll warm it up for you." Under the little girl's puzzled gaze, Li Guanqi took the bun as a plume of flame abruptly flared in his palm! In an instant, the ambient temperature skyrocketed! When Li Nanting saw the flame, his pupils instantly contracted to needlepoints! Even Lu Kangnian, seated in the main hall, surged to his feet, turning his gaze toward Tianlei Peak with a grave expression! Li Nanting's throat bobbed with difficulty. In utter disbelief, he whispered through a voice transmission: "A heavenly flame?" Li Guanqi casually handed the warmed bun back to Yu Sui'an without denying it. Nodding, he said softly, "Ranked sixteenth among the heavenly flames: the Purple Dragon Thunder Flame. Back then, I just happened upon half a piece of ancient jade by chance, but who knew how much trouble would follow." He then recounted how Miao Rongchang had stalked him for two full years. Hearing the tale, Li Nanting broke into a cold sweat on his behalf and sighed. "What cultivators lack least is time. It's all too common for someone seeking vengeance to bide their time for centuries or millennia before striking. It is truly difficult to guard against. Fortunately, you were vigilant enough. Had it been otherwise, the consequences would be unthinkable..." Li Guanqi sighed softly. "Indeed... That was the first time I encountered such a thing. It truly gave me a lot to think about." The three of them squatted by the doorway, watching the setting sun. Yu Sui'an hadn't really listened, simply knowing that Li Guanqi was amazing. Munching on her bun, her eyes curved into crescent moons. Li Guanqi took out his red wine gourd and drank a mouthful of wine, feeling that today's sunset was exceptionally beautiful. The old man sat on the threshold puffing his dry tobacco pipe, his gaze infinitely gentle as he watched the two figures, one tall and one small.