The vicious female supporting role is posted in the opposite direction by the cub

Having resolved the medicinal herb monopoly crisis facing Chu Fengteng, Yan Yueqing felt a little relieved and prepared to take her leave.

Chu Fengteng seemed to suddenly remember something important, and hurriedly took out a small bag, about the size of a palm, carefully wrapped in dark blue velvet, from his blue cloth medicine pouch.

"Auntie Xiaoxing, please wait." Chu Fengteng said solemnly, presenting the small bag with both hands. "This is something my master specifically instructed me to give to you personally before he left. He said... this item is destined for you, please accept it and carry it with you at all times."

Yan Yueqing was slightly surprised. She took the velvet bag, which felt slightly heavy to the touch and carried a refreshing coolness.

With a light flick of the fingertip, the velvet slipped off, revealing a pendant lying quietly inside.

It was a crescent-shaped pendant, about the size of a thumb. The material was neither gold nor jade, and its entire body had a warm and restrained dark black color, as if it had absorbed the deepest light. The crescent's curve was smooth and rounded, and the edges were polished to an extremely smooth finish. It felt cool to the touch, yet it also subtly exuded a sense of warmth.

Most strikingly, at the center of the crescent moon is an extremely tiny, almost imperceptible star. This star is not a gemstone, but rather a solidified, deep silver light that shines faintly yet persistently against the dark backdrop, like a solitary, cold star hanging in the night sky.

Yan Yueqing's gaze was instantly drawn to it.

familiar!

A powerful sense of familiarity, originating from the depths of her soul, surged up and instantly overwhelmed her.

This look, this feeling... she's definitely seen it before! And not in an ordinary place!

Her thoughts surged violently like a lake surface tossed with a pebble, and fragments of memory flashed by—that ethereal stream of time, carrying countless possibilities!
In that dimension beyond reality, she seemed to have seen something similar, an object emitting strange fluctuations!
They are like fragments of stars, floating in the torrent of information.

As soon as this thought arose, another thought that she had been deliberately suppressing suddenly surfaced—the system!
The system that accompanied her through a thrilling journey, gave her the ability to change her destiny, but ultimately left quietly, leaving only the words "Live well"!

An indescribable sadness instantly gripped her heart, accompanied by intense nostalgia and a sense of bewilderment about the unknown.

When the system left, the "seed" that had sprouted in her heart along with the system's mission, symbolizing some kind of strange connection, also vanished without a trace...

Wait! Seeds?!

Yan Yueqing's heart sank!
That seed... she had previously considered it merely an accessory to the system's existence, something that would naturally dissipate when the system left.

But why is it that now, upon seeing this crescent moon pendant and recalling the scenes in the flow of time, she is so acutely and clearly aware of its disappearance?
It was as if some unseen force had subtly blurred her memory of the seed, until this pendant suddenly awakened her!

It disappeared so completely! And...it's too suspicious!
A strong sense of unease, like cold vines, instantly wrapped around her heart, making her fingertips feel cold.

Was the appearance of this pendant a coincidence? Or was it the beginning of some deeper connection that she couldn't yet comprehend?
Is there some hidden connection between the disappearance of the seed left by the system and this mysterious pendant from Elder Chu?
"Auntie Xiaoxing?" Chu Fengteng saw her holding the pendant for a long time without speaking, her expression changing from initial surprise to deep nostalgia, and now to a faint sense of solemnity and unease. He couldn't help but call out softly with concern.

Yan Yueqing snapped back to reality, her fingertips instinctively tightening as she felt the strange interplay of coolness and warmth in the crescent pendant, as if holding a small piece of frozen night sky. She suppressed her turbulent emotions and gave Chu Fengteng a reassuring smile, though the smile didn't fully reach her eyes: "Please thank Elder Bai for me. This pendant… is very unique, I'll accept it."

She carefully picked up the pendant, the tiny silver speckles shimmering faintly between her fingers. Without further hesitation, she put it around her neck.

The cool crescent moon pressed against her skin, and the strange chill seemed to seep in instantly, calming her chaotic thoughts somewhat. However, the vague unease deep within her did not dissipate; instead, it settled and turned into a heavy sense of vigilance.

"Okay, I will definitely tell Master." Chu Fengteng breathed a sigh of relief when he saw her accept and put it on. Although he noticed that her mood was different, he wisely did not ask any more questions.

Yan Yueqing nodded and was about to leave when her phone suddenly vibrated, breaking the delicate silence in the room. The name "Du Mansheng" appeared on the screen.

She answered immediately: "Mansheng?"

"Yueqing!" Du Mansheng's clear and cheerful voice came through the receiver, carrying the excitement of a travel-worn journey and a hint of reliance on finding a pillar of support. "We've arrived in the capital! We just got off the plane, and Xiaoxiao, Mianmian, and Tangtang are with me!"

The seriousness on Yan Yueqing's face was instantly dispelled by this energetic voice, replaced by warm surprise: "So soon? Didn't you say two days?"

"Plans can't keep up with changes!" Du Mansheng laughed, with the chattering of little girls audible in the background. "Tangtang knows you have time to go back to the capital, and she wanted to come back to see you but was too shy to ask. Since Xiaoxiao and Mianmian are transferring schools here, I thought there's no time like the present, so I decided to come early! Where are you in the capital? Come 'rescue' us! These three little devils got too excited on the plane and are now low on battery. They desperately need food and amusement park to recharge!"

Yan Yueqing chuckled, as if she could already see Du Mansheng being surrounded by three little girls: "Just finished. Which exit are you at? I'll be right there."

"Terminal 3, International Arrivals Gate B! Waiting for you, Yueqing!"

Her voice was accompanied by Tang Tang's energetic "Godmother," and it seemed that Du Mianmian (formerly Xiaoyu)'s quiet "Hello, Aunt Yueqing" and Du Xiaoxiao (formerly Song Xiaoxiao)'s slightly proud "We've arrived!" could also be heard from the side.

"Okay, wait for me, I'll be there soon." Yan Yueqing hung up the phone. The heavy unease she had felt earlier because of the pendant and the missing seed was temporarily dispelled by the excitement of seeing the children and the lively atmosphere brought by Du Mansheng.

She turned to Chu Fengteng: "Sister Mansheng has taken the children to the capital. I need to go pick them up as soon as possible. As for the medicinal herbs, proceed with the work according to our agreed-upon plan. I will have the team coordinate the funding as soon as possible."

"Don't worry, Aunt Xiaoxing, you go ahead." Chu Fengteng saw her off understandingly.

Yan Yueqing quickly left the food supplement shop, got into the car, and said to the driver, "Go to Terminal 3 of the airport, hurry up."

She leaned back in her seat, her fingertips unconsciously tracing the new crescent moon pendant around her neck. The cool touch remained, and the faint silver glow flickered in and out of view amidst the changing light in the car.

I closed my eyes, forcibly suppressing the lingering unease in my heart.

Right now, family reunions and the children's laughter are more important. (End of Chapter)