Chapter 216: Personally Crafting Furniture for Her

When the crowd rose and looked, they actually saw… a man had returned inside the Forest.

"It's Youchao Xuan."

Ashu almost shouted in surprise.

Great, Youchao Xuan is back.

He had come back alone, with Jingang and its wife following behind; Youchao Xuan was carrying a Hemp Robe bag, his silver hair fluttered in the wind, his blue eyes as deep as the sea, and he stood there gazing at them.

Nan Qinghuan saw his appearance and felt as if a distant relative had returned.

"Youchao Xuan, you're back?"

It really is just as you said.

She immediately rushed forward with joy, seeing he was fine, and said, "Great, I've been worrying about you, fearing you wouldn't return. Has the internal rebellion been settled?"

"Youchao Xuan, you're back, huh?"

The tribe members all greeted him, but this time Youchao Xuan seemed different to them.

He didn't seem very happy, a bit melancholy.

Youchao Xuan's gaze turned to Nan Qinghuan; he forced out a faint smile, "Goddess, thank you for your brilliant stratagem that helped us. I'm back; I said I would return."

Indeed, his words would not be broken.

Axi ran over, beaming, "Qinghuan, Youchao Xuan is back. Are Yao's and Ashu's Tulou all right?"

Ying also stepped forward and pulled Nan Qinghuan to his side. Though he's no longer as overbearing and unreasonable as before, he's still jealous; he won't allow Youchao Xuan to get too close to Qinghuan.

"Youchao Xuan, have you settled the matters within your tribe?"

Ashu knew he had been away a long time to handle affairs; what about him? Youchao Xuan didn't expect his return to be just in time—the tribe needed him, and he was back.

"Alright, tell me what you need me to do; as long as I can accomplish it, I'll do it."

That night, because Youchao Xuan had returned, the Tribe's people were even more delighted.

But Youchao Xuan still didn't seem happy; Nan Qinghuan sensed his mood.

The night was still, the bright moon hung high.

Outside, the Forest was cool. Youchao Xuan disliked the bustle, so he sat alone with Jingang on a clearing, lighting a Bonfire. Jingang crouched beside him, seeming to notice his master's gloom, and even offered him his favorite Plantain, but Youchao Xuan only smiled, "I won't eat it; you eat."

Jingang and its wife knew he was in a bad mood; they had witnessed what Youchao Xuan had done for the clan. He was unhappy now, but they didn't know how to cheer him up.

"Youchao Xuan."

A voice from behind came—Nan Qinghuan's. Seeing her arrive, he quickly stood up, "Goddess, why don't you play with them?"

"I heard you haven't eaten anything; what's wrong? You came back and are unhappy—did something happen within the tribe?"

She finally managed to persuade Ying to come see Youchao Xuan. He was back, but he was not the same as before; he had become silent and troubled.

Youchao Xuan had helped them so much; now it was her turn to lend him a hand.

Although she wasn't some confidante sister, she wanted to hear Youchao Xuan's doubts, perhaps she could help.

Youchao Xuan hadn't expected her to come; he gave a bitter smile, "It's nothing. You should go back; Ying will get angry."

"She won't."

While saying that, she sat beside Youchao Xuan, then took a raw sweet potato, dug a small hole and buried it in the earth, covering it with the fire.

"Tell me about the situation over there."

Under the night, Nan Qinghuan wore a Hemp Robe, her long hair tied into a braid at the back, looking very graceful.

Youchao Xuan let out a deep sigh, "The tribe suffered a rebellion; I repelled the enemy using the Goddess's strategy. The heavy rain helped me; I drowned Uncle's men with seawater."

Hearing that, she understood why he was upset; a family feud that forced him to kill his own relatives, no one could feel well.

"What happened next?"

A gentle breeze passed, bringing a damp scent.

A trace of melancholy flickered in Youchao Xuan's deep eyes; he extended his palm, looking a bit disgusted as if something dirty were on it, and said, "I killed my dear Uncle. Goddess, Uncle raised me; since childhood he told me to wait for a Goddess, to find her and follow her, for only she could strengthen our Youchao Tribe. Yet I killed him with my own hands and ripped out his heart."

Nan Qinghuan inhaled a gasp of cold air; she had never seen such terrifying eyes on Youchao Xuan.

"Youchao Xuan, I know you're very sad, but what you did wasn't wrong. Your Uncle shouldn't have coveted the Clan Leader's position; he deserved to die."

"Yes, Youchao Ji also said that, but I'm still very sad; he was so good to me yet betrayed me."

"Sad?"

Nan Qinghuan took a deep breath, thought for a moment, then stood up, "Come, I'll take you to a place to shout at the mountain; shouting will make you happy."

He hadn't reacted before Nan Qinghuan pulled him away; she led Youchao Xuan to the spot Ying had taken her to before. The moonlight was perfect, and from there the whole Tribe lay in view.

Only Chonglin was a bit dark.

Fortunately she had a little treasure to illuminate.

Soon, she muttered an incantation, and a sparkling little thing flew up, hovering high above their heads; instantly, the mountaintop here shone as bright as day.

"Goddess, what is this…"

"It's Ying's pet that he gave me. Come, shout toward the foot of the mountain; shouting will lift your sorrow."

"Shout?"

Youchao Xuan felt a bit restrained, but under Nan Qinghuan's gentle urging, he soon let go, shouting toward the mountain foot, voice after voice.

His voice was swallowed by the mountains, but the pent‑up breath in his heart finally escaped.

"Ha ha—"

After shouting, Youchao Xuan felt relieved; at that moment his mood instantly brightened.

"Goddess, thank you, I'm happy."

He could finally let go of this knot and live happily.

Seeing Youchao Xuan happy, she naturally felt happy too, "When something puzzles you, just shout; the great mountain will absorb all displeasure."

"Goddess, who said that?"

"Who said that?"

She thought for a moment, "Nature will tolerate everything; mountains and rivers have spirits that listen to mortals' suffering. Just consider it as the word of a god."

"God?"

"Right, a god. So what's happening over there now? Who's in the clan, you and Youchao Ji…"

"I only treat her as a younger sister. There's a High Priest in the clan now; she's loyal to me. Goddess, I have a request I hope you'll grant."

Hearing this, her expression darkened. It was Youchao Xuan's first time asking her, "You don't need to ask me. You've helped me so much without expecting anything. Tell me, what do you want me to do?"

Night fell low, and the Tulou was utterly silent.

After Nan Qinghuan settled Youchao Xuan, she returned to rest. She gently pushed the door open and entered the room, only to find… the interior shrouded in darkness and dim light.

Strange, why wasn't there a Bonfire? She prepared to feel her way in the dark to light a candle, but suddenly brushed against… a sturdy man's chest.

"Ying?"

In the pitch‑black night, she could still tell it was him; his chest was hard as rock, all muscle. No one else dared linger in their home except him.

Ying's breathing was a bit rapid; he suddenly lifted her up, and then the room instantly lit up. She actually saw… a brand‑new set of furniture—well, you could call it furniture: a table and stools, plus a round table for a vase. Though the workmanship was somewhat rough, it was already a luxury item in ancient times.

He actually made a set of furniture? When? How did she not know? Being held by him, she could only clutch his neck tightly, "Ying, this is…"

Ying saw her delighted eyes, felt joyful, couldn't help but plant a kiss on her forehead and, indulgently, asked, "Do you like it?"