Slaying demons and eliminating evil, a martial saint among mortals.

Tiger tilted his head.

"Why can't I say it?"

Liu Yunniang glanced in the direction of the main house and lowered her voice even further.

"That's because this matter hasn't been completely settled yet!"

"Your Uncle Qin only said he'd be back to pick us up in a couple of days; things aren't completely settled yet."

"If you go out and say it now, and your Uncle Qin doesn't come, other people will laugh at you."

Tiger still didn't seem to understand, so Liu Yunniang added another sentence.

"And don't let your dad know for now."

Tiger paused for a moment, then a very sensible smile suddenly appeared on his little face.

"I understand, Mother. You want to surprise Father, right?"

Upon hearing this, Liu Yunniang was slightly taken aback.

Looking into Hu Zi's clear eyes, she was momentarily at a loss for words.

Unexpectedly, that's what Tiger was thinking.

Soon, Liu Yunniang felt relieved.

In this family, Zhang Erniu was only gentle and kind when he was with Huzi.

She forced a smile and nodded to Hu Zi.

"Yes, that's exactly what I mean. My son is really smart."

"That's for sure, I'm definitely smart."

"I will practice martial arts hard in the future, join the Demon Suppression Division like Uncle Qin, and become a great hero who slays demons and eliminates evil."

"Don't worry, Mom, I definitely won't tell Dad. I'll let him know when Uncle Qin comes back to pick us up, so he won't keep worrying about it."

Liu Yunniang didn't reply, but gently touched Hu Zi's face.

"Okay, okay, okay, you're the best. Remember, don't go around telling everyone."

Tiger stretched out his little hand and patted his chest.

"Don't worry, Mom, I'll keep my mouth shut."

After he finished speaking, he couldn't help but glance at the courtyard gate again.

"Mom, I won't go far today. I'll go play with Niu Niu next door for a while."

"Her house is separated from ours by only one wall, so I come back when it's time to eat."

Liu Yunniang instinctively wanted to refuse, but then she thought that the child really couldn't be kept at home every day.

Niu Niu's house is indeed right next door, separated by a low wall.

If you need anything, just call out in the yard.

As long as you don't leave the alley, nothing should happen.

"Then you can only go play with Niu Niu, but you are not allowed to leave the alley, and you are even more not allowed to go towards the mountainside."

"Your mother is calling you back for dinner. You need to be back right away, do you hear me?"

After hearing this, Tiger immediately nodded like a chick pecking at rice.

"Don't worry, Mom, I promise I'll only go to Niu Niu's house and won't run around."

Liu Yunniang couldn't resist and gently pinched his cheek.

"Go ahead, come back when I call you."

As soon as Tiger heard her agree, a smile immediately returned to his face.

"Mom is the best!"

After he finished speaking, he turned around and ran towards the gate of the courtyard.

Liu Yunniang stood at the kitchen door, watching him disappear into the neighboring yard before turning her gaze away.

Soon, Niu Niu's voice came from next door.

"Tiger, why are you so late? We've been waiting for you for ages!"

"My mom said I can only play at your house and can't run around."

"Why?"

"They say it's not safe outside, but how could it be unsafe in broad daylight?"

The faint voices of two children could be heard from next door, carrying a touch of innocent liveliness.

Upon hearing the voice, Liu Yunniang smiled.

She glanced back at the main room door, which was half-open, and there was no sound coming from inside.

She stood there for a while before turning around and going into the kitchen.

Let's cook first.

After finishing the meal, they quietly packed up the money, clothes, and the children's belongings.

In the Liu family's yard next door, Hu Zi squatted in the corner, holding a small wooden stick and drawing lines on the ground.

Niu Niu was squatting next to him, holding a few pebbles in her hand.

The two children had agreed to play house today, but Tiger was clearly a little distracted.

Niu Niu looked at him several times, but finally couldn't resist anymore.

"Tiger, what's wrong with you today? You seem so distracted. Are you hiding something from me?"

Upon hearing this, Tiger immediately straightened his little body.

"No, you're my best friend, why would I hide anything from you?"

Niu Niu looked at Hu Zi with some suspicion.

"Really? I feel like something's off about you. There's definitely something you're keeping from me."

"We're best friends, I've told you all my secrets!"

Upon hearing this, Tiger was immediately conflicted.

He promised his mother he wouldn't tell anyone, but Niu Niu wasn't an outsider; she was his best friend.

Tiger looked left and right, and seeing that no one was in the yard, he mysteriously moved closer to Niu Niu.

"Niu Niu, I'm going to tell you a little secret, but you absolutely mustn't tell anyone!"

Niu Niu's eyes lit up immediately after hearing the word "secret".

"What secret? Tell me now! I promise I won't tell anyone."

"My Uncle Qin will be back soon. He said he'll take us to Dongxuan City."

"I might have to live in Dongxuan City from now on, so I won't be able to come visit you every day."

Although Tiger spoke in a low voice, he couldn't hide his smugness.

After hearing this, Niu Niu was stunned for a moment, and the pebble in her hand fell to the ground.

"Oh! You're going to such a far place!"

"Yes, my mother said that the Demon Suppression Division is watching over Dongxuan City, so it's safer than Heishan Town."

"My Uncle Qin is currently working in the Demon Suppression Division, so he'll definitely be taking us all over there."

Niu Niu lowered her head and poked the ground with a pebble.

"So you're not coming back anymore?"

Tiger scratched his head.

"Don't worry, I won't leave without coming back. When I become stronger, I'll definitely come back to find you."

"When I get to Dongxuan City, if there's anything good to eat, I'll save some for you and bring it back for you to eat."

Niu Niu was still a little unhappy.

"But after you left, there was no one to play with me anymore."

Tiger was actually a little reluctant to part with her, because Niu Niu was his best friend.

He thought about it seriously for a while.

"Once we've established ourselves in Dongxuan City, I'll have Uncle Qin bring you over too. Then we can play together again."

Niu Niu looked up at him.

"real?"

Tiger nodded vigorously.

"real."

"My Uncle Qin is really something now. Look, he's only been gone for two days, and he's already asking us to go to Dongxuan City."

As the two children were talking, a middle-aged man was standing at the door of the woodshed in the corner of the yard.

This man is Liu Changhe, Niu Niu's father. He's a gossip who loves to joke about other people's affairs.

He had come out to get firewood, and just as he reached the door, he overheard the two children talking.

Liu Changhe stood there with his arms crossed, a playful expression on his face.

He smiled and spoke after Hu Zi finished speaking.

"Really?"

"Tiger, you've probably been tricked by that idiot Qin!"

Tiger was startled and quickly turned around.

"Uncle Liu, why are you eavesdropping on our conversation?"

Liu Changhe smiled.

"You're not right about that. How would I be eavesdropping?"

"This is my yard. I happened to hear it when I came out to gather firewood."

"You just said that Qin Lie, that little idiot, was going to take you to Dongxuan City? How is that possible?"

"He himself doesn't even understand life, how can he expect you to go and enjoy a life of luxury?"

Upon hearing this, Tiger immediately stood up.

Her face flushed red, and her voice suddenly rose in pitch.

"Uncle Liu, you can't talk about my Uncle Qin like that."

"My Uncle Qin is no fool."

"He has now joined the Demon Suppression Division and can slay demons and monsters."

"A few nights ago, the huge rat demon in our house was killed by my Uncle Qin."

"When he comes back, he'll definitely be able to take us to Dongxuan City."

Upon hearing this, Liu Changhe laughed even harder.

"Okay, okay, your Uncle Qin is amazing."

"So, when he takes you to Dongxuan City, is he taking your mother, you, and Xiaohe, or is he taking your father along as well?"

Tiger did not hesitate at all.

"Of course we'll pick them up together."

"Of course my dad came with us too."

"We're a family, how could we leave my dad here alone?"

Liu Changhe's smile deepened.

"If you said you'd just take you and your child over, I might believe you. But if you said you'd bring your father along, you're probably just kidding."

"What kind of place is Dongxuan City? Can people like us just go there like that?"

"Even if Qin Lie really joined the Demon Suppression Bureau, how could he possibly turn around and think of you all?"

"I guess it's just to write you a letter to cheer you up."

Tiger got anxious.

"No, Uncle Qin wouldn't lie to me. If he says he'll come to pick us up, he definitely will!"

Liu Changhe didn't argue with him, he just smiled and waved his hand.

"Alright, alright, then Uncle Liu will wait and see when you go to Dongxuan City to be a young master."

"Don't forget Niu Niu when the time comes, and don't forget your Uncle Liu either."

After saying that, he picked up a bundle of firewood and went into the house.

Niu Niu looked at Hu Zi and whispered, "Hu Zi, my dad was just teasing you, don't be angry."

Tiger lowered his head and stopped slashing with the wooden stick in his hand.

The excitement I felt just now vanished after Liu Changhe's few words.

He was somewhat resentful; he was sure Uncle Qin wouldn't lie to him.

If I say I'll take them to Dongxuan City, I will definitely take them there.

But Liu Changhe's words were like a thorn in his heart, making him feel a little uncomfortable.

Just then, Liu Yunniang's voice came from the neighboring courtyard.

"Tiger, come back for dinner."

Tiger looked up and responded.

"They're here."

After saying that, he stood up and dusted himself off.

Niu Niu looked at him.

Are you still angry?

"I'm not angry."

"Your father will know when my Uncle Qin really comes back to pick us up."

After he finished speaking, he added a word of advice, still somewhat worried.

"But you can't tell anyone what I just told you."

"Don't worry, I won't tell. I'll definitely keep your secret."

Tiger went home dejectedly.

When I entered, Liu Yunniang was putting the food on the table.

Xiao He sat at the table, head down, chopsticks in her hand, but didn't touch them.

Zhang Erniu sat in a wheelchair, his complexion no different from usual.

Tiger originally wanted to ask Liu Yunniang whether Uncle Qin would really take them to Dongxuan City.

But he swallowed the words back down.

Mom said before that this matter should not be told to anyone else, but she had already told Niu Niu.

If she asks again, Mother will know she's already told someone.

Tiger felt a little guilty, so he could only lower his head, sit down at the table, pick up his bowl, and start eating.

Liu Yunniang glanced at him.

"What's wrong?"

"You were so happy when you went out to play, but you've been silent ever since you came back?"

"It's nothing, Mom, I'm just hungry."

Tiger lowered his head and ate his rice to hide his guilty conscience.