I reign supreme in the Western fantasy world for eternity.

Elena took out an exquisite wooden box from her storage ring and presented it to Ji Tian's mother with both hands. Her light golden hair slid slightly over her shoulders as she moved, making her face appear even more fair and radiant.

"Auntie, this is tea that my father had someone send over from the capital last month. It's nothing expensive, please have a taste."

Unfortunately, Ji Tian wouldn't let her bring those things that looked expensive at a glance, saying that "it might cause a deterioration in neighborly relations."

Elena didn't believe it. With Ji Tian's current abilities, even if a similar situation occurred, it would be resolved. But seeing his confident expression, she couldn't refute him, so she could only bring tea with a wide price range.

Ji Tian's mother was stunned. The ring flashed slightly and produced something. She had never seen such a magical thing before. She wanted to know what her son had gone through all these years.

But in front of the girl, he didn't want to speak up or ask too many questions, so he just kept his gaze on Elena.

The girl had gentle, unassuming features, and her smile was perfectly curved. Her gray-blue eyes were as clear as mountain streams. Her dark blue riding outfit was well-tailored, making her waist look slender and her figure curvaceous.

She took the wooden box, her fingers tracing the carved patterns on its surface. She was overjoyed, but still politely said, "Oh, you've come all this way, why bring a gift... How old are you, young lady? How are your parents?"

Elena lowered her eyes and spoke softly, "I'm nineteen. My father works in the capital, and my mother lives there with me. Everything is fine at home. Thank you for your concern, Auntie."

She was telling the truth, but she didn't mention that she was the daughter of the lord here.

After all, for Ji Tian's parents, the lord here was far more authoritative than "father's position in the capital," and saying so would inevitably create a distance between them.

Ji Tian's mother was increasingly pleased with what she saw, and pulled her hand towards a chair: "Alright, alright, you must be tired from the journey, right? Sit down and rest for a bit, I'll go make you something delicious!"

Elena was pressed into a chair by Ji Tian's mother. Before she could say "No need to trouble yourself," the mother had already rushed into the kitchen, and the sound of pots and pans clattering filled the air.

Old Jack brought in a teapot, poured Elena a cup of tea, and then sat on the small stool opposite her, his rough hands resting on his knees, unsure of what to say.

Elena picked up the teacup with both hands, took a small sip, and smiled, "Uncle, please sit here and rest. There's no need to bother."

"Yes, yes." Old Jack responded twice, but didn't move. He just secretly looked at Elena and thought the girl was more and more respectable. He then glanced at his son.

Ji Tian was still squatting at the door, teasing the dog.

Old Jack finally managed to utter, "Ji Tian, ​​are you... alright at the lord's manor?"

"That's good." Ji Tian said succinctly.

Old Jack nodded, then fell silent again. He actually wanted to ask many questions: What do you do at the lord's manor? Who is this girl to you? When did you become a knight? Didn't you say it would be another two years when you came back last time...? But the words stuck in his throat.

Elena noticed the old man's unease and spoke up, "Uncle, Ji Tian is highly regarded in the lord's mansion, and the Viscount greatly appreciates him. He even took leave specifically to accompany me back this time."

Before she arrived, Ji Tian had told her that he had always visited home as a "trainee knight," a role that his parents would find more acceptable.

Old Jack's eyes lit up, the wrinkles on his face smoothed out, and he said repeatedly, "That's good, that's good... This child has never caused us any trouble since he was little."

He paused, then asked cautiously, "Then, young lady...you are...?"

Elena smiled slightly: "I'm Ji Tian's friend, we're quite close. I just happened to be passing through and thought I'd come and see where he grew up."

"Friend..." Old Jack nodded thoughtfully, his gaze sweeping back and forth between the two men before he asked no further questions.

The sizzling sound of burning firewood came from the kitchen, and a rich aroma wafted out.

Ji Tian's mother brought out a large plate of steaming chicken, then turned back to bring out rye bread and a large bowl of thick soup made from various vegetables and grains.

"There's nothing fancy at home, please don't mind, young lady." She arranged the dishes and then served Elena a bowl of soup.

Elena took the bowl and thanked her softly.

The four people sat around the table. Old Jack sat in the main seat, Ji Tian's mother sat next to him, and Ji Tian sat opposite Elena.

Ji Tian's mother put a lot of meat on Elena's plate, saying, "Try it. It's made with our own rooster, and it's more fragrant than what you buy outside."

Elena took a bite and sincerely praised, "Auntie's cooking is really good."

Ji Tian's mother beamed with joy, "Eat more if you like. Look how thin you are, you look like you'd be blown away by the wind."

She served Ji Tian another bowl, saying, "You eat too, look how thin you are."

Ji Tian didn't say anything and ate silently.

Halfway through the meal, Ji Tian's mother suddenly put down her spoon and looked at Elena: "Girl, what do you think of our Ji Tian?"

Elena paused for a moment, then looked up at Ji Tian.

Ji Tian was drinking soup, expressionless, as if he hadn't heard anything.

"Ji Tian... he's a good person." Elena carefully chose her words. "He's very serious, very reliable, and kind to people."

Ji Tian's mother's smile deepened. "He's just a man of few words, a real quiet type. He was like that when he was little. Even if he won a fight, he wouldn't say a word and would come home and treat his wounds by himself."

"Mom." Ji Tian put down the soup bowl.

"Alright, alright, I won't say anymore." Ji Tian's mother waved her hand with a smile, then asked Elena, "How many people are in your family?"

"My father, my mother, and I, just the three of us."

Of course, she didn't include her family members.

Ji Tian's mother was somewhat surprised, but she still held Elena's hand and patted it, saying, "Good, it's good to have an only child."

Elena's ears turned slightly red, but she didn't pull her hand away. Old Jack, who was eating his rice in silence, just nodded when he heard this.

After dinner, Ji Tian helped his mother clear the dishes, but was told to leave the kitchen. "Go keep your friend company. Don't let her sit there all the time. Go for a walk. The persimmon grove behind our village is quite nice. Take the girl to see it."

Ji Tian responded, wiped his hands, and walked out of the courtyard.

Elena was standing under the old locust tree, looking up at the dappled sunlight filtering through the leaves. The afternoon sun cast a soft and serene silhouette on her.

"Want to go for a walk?" Ji Tian walked up to her.

"it is good."

The two walked slowly along the path behind the village, passing through a rice paddy where the rice seedlings were lush and green, and the wind blew them up in waves.

Several villagers carrying hoes passed by, curiously eyeing Elena and winking at Ji Tian.

"Ji Tian, ​​is this your wife?" a bold middle-aged man shouted at the top of his lungs.

Ji Tian didn't stop walking and ignored him.

Elena glanced at him sideways, a slight smile playing on her lips.

The persimmon grove is on a low slope behind the village. The trees are not tall, and the branches and leaves are full of green fruits, which are not yet ripe.

At the top of the slope, there is a flat, large rock that is warm from the sun.

Ji Tian sat down on the rock and patted the spot next to him. Elena also sat down, put her hands behind her back, and looked up at the sky.

"Did you often come here when you were a child?"

Ji Tian gazed at the distant, rolling fields. "Yeah. I used to sit here all the time, meditate, and watch the sunset."

"one person?"

"Um."

Elena was silent for a moment. "Don't you feel lonely?"

Ji Tian thought for a moment, "I'm used to it."

Elena didn't ask any more questions.

The mountain breeze blows from the top of the slope, carrying the scent of grass and earth.

"Your parents are very good," Elena suddenly said.

"Um."

"Your mother...likes me very much."

Ji Tian turned his head and glanced at her. "Mm."

Elena turned around, her grey-blue eyes looking directly at him. "Is 'hmm' all you can say?"

Ji Tian thought for a moment, then said, "Yes."

Elena sighed, turned her head away, and stopped looking at him, but her lips were trembling slightly, as if she was trying to suppress a laugh.

She lowered her head and took out a thin booklet from her storage ring. The cover was written in delicate handwriting: "Introduction Guide to the Wind Spirit Moon Shadow Sect".

"You must have seen it before, right? This is what I wrote, but it's not finished yet..." Her voice lowered, "I think, when I'm ready, I'll go visit your sect again with a completely new identity."

Ji Tian looked at the booklet. "And now?"

Elena put the booklet back into her ring, stood up, and dusted off her skirt. "Now? Let's look at the persimmons first."

She walked to a persimmon tree, stood on tiptoe, and reached out to touch the lowest green persimmon. Just as her fingertips touched the peel, her foot slipped, and she swayed.

Ji Tian reached out and supported her waist, his palm firmly supporting her.

Elena's body stiffened for a moment, then relaxed, but she didn't turn around. From Ji Tian's perspective, her ears just turned red.

He released his grip and took a half step back.

Elena steadied herself, casually picked the green persimmon, held it in her palm, and examined it closely.

"It's not ripe yet, you can't eat it," Ji Tian said.

"I know." Elena tucked the persimmon into her sleeve. "I just... wanted to keep it as a souvenir."

She turned around, the setting sun painting her face a soft orange-red, her eyes reflecting the glow of the evening sky.

"Ji Tian, ​​thank you... for bringing me here."

Ji Tian looked at her, and after a moment, said only one sentence:

"Of course."