My words have become law; I truly have no desire to display my divine power before others.

Lu Yang put down his chopsticks and looked at Ye Qingfeng.

Miao Gui also stopped chewing and looked at Ye Qingfeng.

Shen Zhaoyue also looked at Ye Qingfeng.

The table fell silent.

Ye Qingfeng put down his chopsticks and remained silent for a moment.

He was indeed not in a hurry to get going.

After becoming an immortal, he had calculated his future return to Jingyang Prefecture. Although the details were not accurate, the divination indicated an ominous outcome.

He couldn't figure out the true form of that thing in Jingyang Prefecture before, but now that he's become an immortal, he still can't figure it out.

Although I have become a celestial being, I am currently only on the first level. I need to climb nine more levels to achieve the full celestial status.

He knew that going back would be no different from courting death, so he needed some credibility and reputation.

The Hundred Thousand Mountains are teeming with life, making this a perfect opportunity for him!

Moreover, the commotion caused by the mountain god's seal earlier had bothered him; he hadn't forgotten his promise.

He glanced at the elder's expectant face and nodded: "Very well. Then I'll trouble you for a few days."

The clan elder was overjoyed and quickly raised his cup: "It is my honor that the Daoist Master would grace us with his presence! Come, let me offer you a toast!"

Lü Yang laughed too, picked up his wine glass, and joined in the commotion.

Miao Gui also raised his glass, his face full of flattery.

Shen Zhaoyue did not raise her glass, but the corners of her mouth twitched slightly.

After several rounds of drinks and five courses of food,

The elder was in high spirits and became quite talkative, recounting old stories of the village, legends of the Ten Thousand Mountains, and the extraordinary people he had encountered over the years.

Ye Qingfeng listened, nodding occasionally and asking a question or two now and then.

Just then, a head peeked in through the door.

It's Aro.

She changed into clean clothes, and her hair was combed again, tied into a thick braid that hung down in front of her chest.

She stood at the doorway, looking somewhat embarrassed at the people inside.

The clan elder saw her and waved, saying, "A'Luo's here? Come in quickly!"

A'Luo walked in, first greeting the clan elders, then bowing to Ye Qingfeng: "Immortal Master."

Ye Qingfeng looked at her: "Is something the matter?"

A'Luo hesitated for a moment, then mustered her courage and said, "Master, you and your companions will be staying in the village for a few days. Have you not found a place to stay yet?"

The elder smiled and said, "I have a few empty rooms in my house. We can tidy them up and you can move in."

A'luo quickly said, "Elder, your family has many people, so it's inconvenient for you to live here. My family... I live alone. Although the house is a bit old, it's very clean."

"I...I can clean up a few empty rooms for the immortal masters and the others to stay in."

The clan elder paused for a moment, looked at A Luo, and suddenly laughed: "You little rascal, you sure know how to steal business."

A'Luo blushed: "I'm not trying to steal your business, I just... I just want to repay the Immortal Master. If it weren't for the Immortal Master today, my two ginseng roots would be gone."

"I...I don't have much to repay you with, so I can only tidy up a few rooms to make the immortal master more comfortable."

As she spoke, she secretly glanced at Ye Qingfeng, then quickly lowered her head again.

Ye Qingfeng agreed without hesitation.

He nodded. "Okay. Thank you for your help."

A'Luo's eyes lit up immediately, and she waved her hands repeatedly, "No trouble at all! I'll go back and pack right away!"

She turned and ran outside, but stopped at the door and turned back to say, "Immortal Master, please come over slowly after you've finished eating, there's no rush!" Then she disappeared.

The clan elder watched her retreating figure, shook his head and chuckled, "This girl, usually so composed, is acting like a child today."

Lu Yang muttered to himself, "This girl is quite enthusiastic."

Miao Gui curled his lip: "They're grateful to the immortal master, not to you."

Lu Yang glared at him: "I never said I was grateful to you!"

The two started arguing again.

Ye Qingfeng picked up his wine glass and took another sip.

Outside the window, the sky gradually darkened. Scattered lights appeared in the village, wisps of smoke rose from chimneys, and the sounds of chickens and dogs filled the air.

In the distance, the mountains stretch out in a continuous range, turning into deep blue silhouettes in the twilight.

Ye Qingfeng looked at the mountain and suddenly remembered the stone statue and the words the mountain god had said.

"I have lived for tens of thousands of years and have guarded these Hundred Thousand Mountains for ten thousand years."

"If an immortal meets the right person, he can lend him a hand."

"I trust the immortals."

He put down his wine glass, and the corners of his mouth twitched slightly.

This village, these people, these mountains.

Perhaps there really is some kind of fate involved.

By the time we finished eating, it was completely dark.

The clan elders saw her off at the door, repeatedly telling A-Luo that if she needed any help, she should come to them.

A'Luo nodded repeatedly and led Ye Qingfeng and the others towards her home.

Her home is on the west side of the village, near the foot of the mountain.

The courtyard was small, with three main rooms and two side rooms, surrounded by a wooden fence.

There were a few green vegetables planted in the yard, and a few chickens were sleeping in the chicken coop in the corner.

A Luo pushed open the courtyard gate and turned on the lights inside the house.

"Immortal Master, please stay in this room, it's the biggest and brightest." She pushed open the door to the main room, which was spotless inside.

The bedding on the bed was newly changed, there was a pot of hot water on the table, and a bunch of wildflowers on the windowsill.

"Young Master Lü will stay in the room on the left, and Miss Shen will stay in the room on the right. Master Miao... Master Miao, may I stay in the side room?"

Miao Gui waved his hand: "It's good enough to have a place to stay, I'm not picky."

A Luo smiled and ran in and out to fetch them hot water and towels.

Lu Yang sat on the bed, looking at the simple yet clean room, and suddenly said, "This girl is a really nice person."

Miao Gui, unusually, didn't argue: "It's true."

Shen Zhaoyue didn't speak, but simply placed the knife beside the bed, leaned against the headboard, and closed her eyes.

Ye Qingfeng stood by the window, looking at the night outside.

A'Luo was still busy in the yard, closing the chicken coop, bringing in the clothes that were hanging outside, and bolting the yard gate.

As she did these things, she hummed a song softly, her voice so low that it was hard to make out what she was singing, but the melody was gentle, like a mountain breeze.

......

A Luo's yard is not big, with several rooms close together, windows facing windows, and doors facing doors.

The moonlight streamed down from the sky, shining on the flagstone path, on the crooked green vegetables in the corner, and on the sleeping hens in the coop.

Zhou Yan lay on the bed with his eyes wide open.

He's been lying down all day.

He was still asleep when A Luo went out during the day. He vaguely heard her close the door and then drifted off to sleep again.

When I woke up, the room was empty except for the sunlight streaming in through the window, which shone on the bowl of porridge on the table that had gone cold.

The porridge was made of white rice, thick and with a few green vegetable leaves on top. He picked it up and drank it; although it was cold, it tasted good.

And he's been lying there ever since.

When it got dark, A-Luo came back in a hurry, saying she needed to tidy up a few rooms.

She was constantly going in and out, carrying blankets, getting pillows, wiping tables, and sweeping the floor, keeping herself very busy.