After the spiritual energy was restored: Goddess girlfriends came knocking.

The snow stopped at night.

After the three finished dinner, Cang Yao put down her chopsticks, looked at Lin Chu, then at Xiao Xiao, paused, and said, "I'm going to go on a river trip."

The small hand holding the food froze in mid-air.

Cang Yao repeated what Ao Tianxin had said: after the journey across the river is completed, the true dragon essence within the body of the true hidden dragon will be fully activated.

For ordinary people, it has the effect of transforming them, prolonging their lives, and even restoring their youth is not impossible.

Her eyes sparkled with hope as she said this.

Lin Chu put down her chopsticks, looked at her, and the corners of her mouth slowly curved up.

"That's a good thing." His voice was calm, with a hint of relief. "With your talent and experience, taking this step to become a dragon is nothing."

"That's what I think too." Cang Yao smiled, took out the book "Travels Along the Rivers" from her sleeve, opened it and placed it on the table. "Moreover, my master gave me this. The route diagrams inside are very detailed. Every waterway is clearly marked, showing how to get there, where there are bridges and dams. I'm very confident."

"I really don't know which senior author wrote this, it's so detailed."

Xiao Xiao leaned over to take a look, flipped through the pages, and her eyes gradually lit up.

She was naturally happy.

She had long regarded Lin Chu as the closest person to her besides her sister, and if there really was a way to extend his life, she would be happier than anyone else.

But after the initial excitement, Xiao Xiao felt that something was amiss.

She glanced at the book "Travels Along the River," then at Lin Chu's calm expression, and a thought flashed through her mind.

The handwriting in that book seemed somewhat familiar.

But she didn't have any clue at the moment, so she didn't think much of it.

"Sister, are you all ready?" Xiao Xiao was still a little worried. "Walking the dragon is a big deal. Over the years, many aquatic creatures have perished on the way."

"It's different." Cang Yao shook her head. "I have the essence of a true dragon in my body. Ordinary passes can't stop me. Don't worry."

She nodded slightly, suppressing her doubts.

In the days that followed, Cangyao began preparing for her journey across the river.

In the early morning, I would go to the East China Sea to sense the water's flow; during the day, I would ponder the route map in "Travels Along the Rivers" over and over again; and when I returned at night, I would write down all the questions I had from the day.

Lin Chu would give her lessons after dinner.

"To travel down the river, one must use the power of the floodwaters. The most dangerous things along the way are not natural disasters, but man-made obstacles." Lin Chu spread the map on the stone table, his finger slowly moving along the blue line of the river. "The talismans on the bridge piers, the dragon-locking chains in the dams, and the dragon-slaying sword under the bridge arches—these three are the most deadly. The dragon-slaying sword hangs directly under the bridge arches, specifically designed to kill demons traveling down the river. Once locked onto by the sword's intent, one will be severely injured at best, and die on the spot at worst."

Cang Yao listened attentively, her fingers following his movements on the map.

"However, it's not like there's no way out." Lin Chu pointed to several marked areas on the map. "I handled the Dragon-Slaying Swords for these bridges when I was building them. The blueprints are still in the Ministry of Works' archives. On the day the dragons emerge, I will arrange for someone to retrieve them."

Cang Yao looked up at him and blinked: "Can you get someone to take it off?"

"Just taking a few swords." Lin Chu smiled, her tone indifferent. "Over the years, I've built up a network of connections."

What he didn't say was that he did indeed hold a very high position, but he also offended many people.

The Dragon-Slaying Sword is a sacred object used by the human race to suppress evil spirits. Taking it without authorization would be a serious crime if impeached.

However, at this point, there's no need to worry about those things.

A month later, Cang Yao had everything ready.

That afternoon, Lin Chu moved a stool and sat under the locust tree, while Cang Yao sat in front of him with her back to him.

He was holding a wooden comb in his hand, the one he had given him years ago; the water ripple pattern on the back of the comb had been worn away.

Lin Chu gathered her hair behind her head and braided it strand by strand.

"The first time you braided my hair, I was so nervous I didn't know what to do with my hands," Cang Yao said with a laugh as she turned her back to him.

"Back then you even said that if you couldn't finish the brochure, you'd take it apart and start over."

"Because I want you to weave for a little longer."

Lin Chu chuckled softly, finished braiding her hair, and tied the end with a red string.

Then he stood up and went to the kitchen.

Cang Yao remained seated, listening to the sounds of chopping vegetables and sizzling oil coming from the kitchen.

Less than half an hour later, Lin Chu brought out three dishes.

"When did you learn to make braised pork hock?" Cang Yao picked up a piece with her chopsticks and narrowed her eyes.

"I learned it from Yu Qian." Lin Chu sat down opposite her. "When he was in Yunzhou, he learned a few tricks from the old women in the government office, and then he taught them to me."

Cang Yao chewed on the pork knuckle, her cheeks bulging, and shoveled the rice in her bowl down with her head down.

After finishing her meal, Cang Yao stood up to clear the dishes.

She washed every bowl thoroughly, wiped the stove, scrubbed the pots, and tightened the lid on the salt jar.

Then he went into the yard, took down the clothes that were drying on the bamboo pole, folded them one by one, and put them into the cabinet in the east room.

Lin Chu stood under the locust tree, quietly watching her busy work.

After it was over, Cang Yao walked up to him, opened her mouth as if to say something, but then closed it again.

In the end, he only said two words: "Wait for me."

Lin Chu reached out and tucked a stray strand of hair from her forehead behind her ear.

"Go." He looked deeply into Cang Yao's eyes, his brows curving upwards. "Believe in yourself. This journey across the river is nothing to you. I'll be waiting for you."

Cang Yao nodded vigorously.

He turned around and hugged Xiaoxiao, asking her to take good care of Lin Chu for him, and that he would be back soon.

Xiao Xiao watched her sister walk out of the courtyard gate, waved to them, and then turned into a red light and disappeared into the horizon.

At night, Lin Chu sat in front of the oil lamp in the room, spreading out the old map, her fingers slowly tracing the blue lines on it.

He folded the map and placed it aside. Looking up, he saw Xiaoxiao sitting beside him, seemingly lost in thought.

"Get some rest," Lin Chu said to her. "I'll make you egg pancakes tomorrow morning."

Xiao Xiao lowered her head, said "Okay," and turned around to walk quickly back to her room.

into the night.

A very light footstep came out of the house, passed through the corridor, and stopped in front of the small door.

The door was pushed open gently without making a sound.

Lin Chu walked in, his steps very light, his body enveloped in a very faint golden light, which was his luck, capable of concealing all his aura.

Since Xiaoxiao wasn't on guard, she wasn't alerted.

Lin Chu sat down on the edge of the bed.

His gaze fell on her small, round face.

Looking at that sleeping face, I recalled the first time she came to Qinghe Village many years ago, with two pigtails, peeking out from behind Cang Yao, her eyes full of wariness.

Later, she gradually began to volunteer to wash the dishes, sit on the porch to massage Mr. Chen's back, and squat at the kitchen door to gnaw on chicken legs until her mouth was covered in grease.

Later, every year she would wait for him to return by the stream, taking out one communication talisman after another from her sleeve, saying, "Don't lose them," "If you lose them, they're gone forever," "Call me and I'll come out."

Lin Chu reached out and gently touched her small forehead with her fingertips.

Her small brows slowly relaxed, and her breathing became deeper and more even.

"You've had a tough time all these years," Lin Chu said softly.

He pulled the blanket up a bit, tucked it in, glanced at her again, stood up, turned and walked out of the room.

In the courtyard, the locust tree leaves rustled in the night breeze.

Lin Chu sat down in the rattan chair, looked up at the starry sky above, and waited for daylight to arrive.