[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-if-you-will-not-reject-me-i-wish-to-bow-and-take":3,"chapter-if-you-will-not-reject-me-i-wish-to-bow-and-take-if-you-will-not-reject-me-i-wish-to-bow-and-take-chapter-74":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","If You Will Not Reject Me, I Wish to Bow and Take You as My Adoptive Father",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2276801,4454,"Chapter 74: The Final Farewell","if-you-will-not-reject-me-i-wish-to-bow-and-take-chapter-74",74,"\u003Cp>“Yes, once the hummingbird carries the news back to Luodou, Miss Yu’s legendary feats—first defeating Hunter Flag Immortal, then besting the disciple of Bo Yue the Hermit—will surely become known throughout the land, earning everyone’s reverence.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>County Magistrate Wang did not understand Guan Zhong and Xiao Yu’s concerns; at this moment, his face was filled with sincere admiration and awe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Who is using hummingbirds to spread the news?” Guan Zhong asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>County Magistrate Wang blinked, then said: “Who needs to deliberately spread the news of the Feixian Du battle? Regardless of the outcome, it must be reported immediately to Luodou.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yet, I learned the details of the Feixian Du battle from the Fire Crow Army’s messenger.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This morning, a messenger bearing the Fire Token arrived at Chicken Crowing Town, ordering me to prepare all necessary supplies for Marquis Lieyang and the Fire Crow Army.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Fire Crow Army’s messenger...” Guan Zhong’s heart lurched, but his expression remained calm as he asked: “The foremost merit of the Feixian Du battle belongs to Marquis Lieyang. Shouldn’t you have warmly received the Marquis and the imperial troops? Why did you seek out my young mistress alone?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This past midnight, Song Changqing honored his promise: before the Fire Crow Army marched out, he found Xiao Yu and Guan Zhong and instructed them to keep pace with the main force.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the evening, as the Fire Crow Army set up camp, Song Changqing came out again to inform Guan Zhong and Xiao Yu outside the camp that Marquis Lieyang and the Fire Crow Army would remain outside the city, but would pass through the county at dawn the next day and continue southward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Knowing Marquis Lieyang would enter through the North City Gate and exit through the South City Gate, they chose to rest at an inn near the North City Gate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah, regardless of Marquis Lieyang’s glorious battlefield achievements, merely for being an outstanding hero of the Central Realm, I must bathe, burn incense, and pay my respects at the earliest opportunity.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But I, Wang, am but a low-ranking official with no fame—I couldn’t even enter the Fire Crow Army’s camp before being turned away by a general, who warned me: do only what the Marquis orders, and don’t meddle in unnecessary matters.” County Magistrate Wang chuckled bitterly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Guan Zhong longed to share the magistrate’s indignation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Marquis is occupied with urgent military affairs and must hurry to Tianmen Town to meet the imperial envoy—he must begin marching again at dawn tomorrow!” he said gently and sincerely to soothe him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>County Magistrate Wang nodded: “I understand. The messenger has already headed south toward Suiyang Commandery. Marquis Lieyang is on a forced march and has no time for formalities.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Guan Zhong thought for a moment, then rose and bowed to the magistrate again: “Your Excellency should know: the Marquis leads the Fire Crow Army, covering hundreds of miles daily, and my young mistress and I have followed them all along.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Tomorrow morning, we will depart Chicken Crowing Town with the Fire Crow Army, ultimately arriving at Yingxiang Prefecture.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So we must decline your kind invitation.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>County Magistrate Wang exclaimed in surprise: “Why must your steward and young mistress hurry so?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Guan Zhong sighed: “My master’s life and death remain unknown; this old servant is frantic with worry. Miss Yu, filial and devoted, is equally eager to return to Yingxiang Prefecture!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>County Magistrate Wang’s eyes flickered: “Why is General Guan’s life and death unknown?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Wasn’t Guan Huchen already executed by Marquis Lieyang’s order, beaten to death?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Guan Zhong said: “My master suffered grave injuries and nearly perished on the battlefield of Feixian Du.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fortunately, he possesses a divine steed capable of traveling three thousand li in a single day, and our family still has a box of Huawu Incense—perhaps it can save him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah, General Guan is a pillar of the Great Shu Kingdom. May Heaven bless this good man with safety and deliverance from calamity!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>County Magistrate Wang offered his sincere prayer, then rose and took his leave without again inviting Miss Yu to a banquet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet, after leaving the courtyard gate, he immediately ordered his government office runners to deliver eighteen redwood food boxes to the inn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the boxes were steaming delicacies, exquisite sweet pastries, assorted nuts, and fresh fruits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Yu and Guan Zhong feasted heartily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After satisfying their hunger and thirst, they dismissed the government office runners with a few words of thanks and over ten taels of silver.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Yu lifted a cup of hot tea and whispered: “Uncle Zhong, do you think Marquis Lieyang is playing a grand game—or is some imperial general displeased with our Guan family?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Guan Zhong understood she was referring to the messenger’s spreading of her legendary feats—slaying Kong Zan and defeating Zhou Lang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I dare not even think about it. Whatever I imagine brings only great terror,” Old Zhong chuckled bitterly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s not that bad...” Xiao Yu waved her hand. “If Marquis Lieyang were playing a grand game, using me as a pawn to lure the Eight Immortals’ remnants, he would closely monitor our every move.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He is an upright hero—he wouldn’t use others to kill.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If the Eight Immortals’ remnants appear and I cannot stand against them, he will act immediately.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If this has nothing to do with Marquis Lieyang, and is merely some imperial general’s grudge against the Guan family, there’s no need to worry.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Marquis Lieyang is an upright hero; no imperial general would dare go too far.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah, perhaps Marquis Lieyang is indeed a great hero—but the fact remains: my master died under mysterious circumstances!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And Chiyan...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My master should have listened to our ancestors: stay indoors, read books for ten years, then emerge again.” Guan Zhong sighed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Could it be that Marquis Lieyang discovered my righteous father’s scheme?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How could he have discovered it? Marquis Lieyang had just arrived at Feixian Du. My master left no trace of his plan—and even if he had discovered it, he—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Guan Zhong froze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huchen had once analyzed with him: once the Shadow God Map was complete, even if Marquis Lieyang discovered the scheme, he could only endure it—or assist in completing the Little Lifu Plan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because once the Shadow God Map was complete, the truth that Miss Yu was the “Little Lifu” could no longer be concealed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once the Emperor learned someone had secretly murdered Little Lifu... who could bear the Emperor’s wrath?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Marquis Lieyang might harbor some displeasure toward the “Little Lifu Plan,” but it was not a mortal enmity—there was no direct conflict of interest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To satisfy his petty anger and provoke the Emperor’s fury was not worth it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Therefore, even if he knew of Huchen’s scheme, Marquis Lieyang would endure it—or even join it to gain advantage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huchen’s judgment was likely correct—but it rested on one crucial assumption: the Emperor was still alive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter how beautiful “Little Lifu” was, her value mattered only to the Emperor who still cherished the original Lifu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A new Emperor would find “Little Lifu” utterly worthless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Marquis Lieyang needed no restraint—he could vent his anger immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah, we must ask my master himself. Let’s rest early. Starting tomorrow, we must follow the Fire Crow Army even more closely.” Guan Zhong sighed helplessly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Miss Yu... Miss Yu...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Yu was physically exhausted and slept deeply, yet her soul, having lost the Shadow God Map entirely, grew increasingly unstable the more weary she became.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That night, after reciting the Dao De Jing several times, she drifted into a drowsy slumber. Hours passed before she heard someone calling her from afar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huhuhu... bang bang bang~~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, a cold wind swept outside, rustling the magnolia branches by the veranda, gently tapping against the window.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Yu rubbed her eyes and sat straight up in bed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Uncle Duan, is that you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huhuhu...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The cold wind grew fiercer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Yu grabbed her clothes from the bedside, slipped on her embroidered slippers, and hurried to the door, opening it to find two dark shadows standing in the courtyard beyond the veranda.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Miss Yu!” Both shadows bowed deeply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, Uncle Duan, what are you doing?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Yu tried to stop them, but her hands passed through nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Miss Yu, thank Heaven you did not stay near the army camp tonight—we could come to bid you farewell.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah, this place is too far from our graves—we’ve reached the limit of how far we can wander.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you advance one more day, we will have no chance to say goodbye in person.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Yu said: “Last night before sleeping, I returned to the ruins of Feixian Du and called out Uncle Duan’s name.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She wanted to know if the Duan family had been in danger after the flood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Uncle Duan appeared safely, she could also say a proper farewell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But she had met no ghost.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yesterday’s flood rose too fast, too sudden. As it surged toward me, I panicked and dove underground—then lost my way.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I wandered until I reached San Cha Ridge, then brought Guisheng to Hualong Pass to find you.” Duan Yuhuan spoke with embarrassment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Yu solemnly knelt and bowed deeply to the two ghosts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two ghosts panicked and immediately knelt opposite her, bowing three times.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Yu said seriously: “Uncle’s kindness to me deserves this bow. Since we are parting, and I do not know when we may meet again, I feel sorrowful—I truly wish to pay my respects to you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had bowed even to her hostile righteous father—how could she remain aloof toward Duan Yuhuan, this noble ghost who sacrificed himself for her and had repeatedly bowed to her?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Duan Yuhuan said: “Miss Yu’s kindness to our father and son is truly mountain-high and sea-deep. I long to repay you, but my power is too weak—I could not help you at all.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How could you say that? Yesterday, inside the Flag Gate Escape Array, had you not guided me, I would have perished under Kong Zan’s Heavenly Blade.” Xiao Yu said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Miss Yu—is that you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, a rustling sound came from the opposite room—Old Zhong had been awakened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Miss Yu, take care!” Duan Yuhuan said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Miss Yu, travel safely,” Guisheng said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that, the two dark shadows slowly drifted northward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Squeak~~~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Guan Zhong emerged holding a candlestick, startled: “Miss, why are you kneeling in the courtyard in the middle of the night?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah, I met two good ghosts...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Yu rose from the ground and recounted her story with the Duan family ghosts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Human and ghost are separate paths; the Flag Gate Escape Array affects them differently. With his guidance, I returned in time to the wine cellar and stopped Li Qing and Wang Bao. Later, I slew Kong Zan and evaded Zhou Lang’s flying sword—all thanks to his warnings.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Guan Zhong was astonished: “I never imagined that when you buried the bones in the mountains, it would bring such a miraculous encounter. Truly, the Heavenly Dao is impartial—good and evil are repaid in kind.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a pause, he mused: “Since Master Duan and his son have done you great kindness, you must repay them wholeheartedly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How?” Xiao Yu asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Guan Zhong glanced at her, remembering she had only just emerged from barbarian ways and did not yet understand Central Realm customs, and said: “To be buried in the earth is a great rite. To return to one’s ancestral homeland is also a great rite.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Yu understood: “I must return the Duan family’s remains to their homeland, so they may be buried in their native soil. Only then will their spirits find peace and enter reincarnation.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah, I only know they lived in Guangning Prefecture—I never asked for their exact address. I must inquire carefully there.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She turned her pleading gaze toward Guan Zhong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Guan Zhong smiled and said, “This isn’t hard. Once we return to Yingxiang Prefecture, I’ll personally assign capable people to go to Guangning Prefecture and find the Duan family members.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If his family is still alive, we’ll give them silver to have their own kin retrieve the remains from San Chaji.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the Duan family has no survivors or is too destitute, we’ll hire a escort agency to bring the coffin back from San Chaling and bury it in the Duan ancestral graves in Guangning Prefecture.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you, Uncle Zhong! This arrangement is very thoughtful.” Xiao Yu felt joy in her heart and bowed twice to Guan Zhong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, no, no!” Guan Zhong quickly stepped aside and said, “Master Duan helping the young lady is helping Master and me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without his guidance, if the young lady hadn’t returned to the wine cellar in time, I would surely be dead, the Divine Pill lost, and Master would have suffered endless humiliation.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Duan father and son have great merit toward the young lady and all of the Guan household.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I still feel regret—I didn’t get to thank the two benefactors personally just now!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When it doesn't involve his own life or the Guan family's core interests, this old loyalist is actually a decent man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Yu felt a deep sense of emotion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the following days, Xiao Yu and Guan Zhong marched alongside the Fire Crow Army through grueling travel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Xiao Yu didn’t suffer in vain—during the march, she silently recited the Dao De Jing over and over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To cultivate the breathing techniques of the Mighty Dragon Art, one must first accumulate “Dao Qi.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Yu’s goal went far beyond mastering the internal energy of the Mighty Dragon Art—she aimed to become an immortal!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Dao Qi she accumulates now will surely prove immensely useful when she later cultivates immortal arts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, when reciting the Dao De Jing, she did so with intense subjective initiative.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not only did she recite the original text, but whenever they passed through towns, she searched bookstores for commentaries and analyses by various “Daoist masters” on the Dao De Jing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Anyone who published books in ancient times was essentially a master.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If the young lady wishes to recite scriptures to increase Dao Qi, she might as well recite the Huangting Dadong Jing,” Guan Zhong suggested after learning her situation at the bookstore entrance. “It’s said that reciting it ten thousand times can lead directly to daytime ascension and becoming an immortal.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How many days would it take to recite the Huangting Dadong Jing ten thousand times?” Xiao Yu asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Guan Zhong thought for a moment and said, “I’ve heard that if one recites diligently every day without pause, it would take at least twenty years.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“To trade just twenty years for eternal freedom? That’s a bargain. So how many people have become immortals this way?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Guan Zhong shook his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had lived over forty years and had never heard more than a few tales of ascension.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I don’t know. Maybe no one could endure that long, or maybe reciting the Dadong Zhenjing requires special methods.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Either way, if you want to grow Dao Qi and become an immortal, you gain big; if you don’t become an immortal, you still won’t have wasted time cultivating Dao Qi through recitation.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Yu thought he was right—yet she still silently recited the Dao De Jing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were simply too many versions of the Dadong Zhenjing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not only did different towns and bookstores carry different editions—even within the same bookstore, there were four or five versions of the Dadong Zhenjing, some with different titles: some bore “Dadong,” others only “Huangting.” She couldn’t tell which were real.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If she spent years earnestly reciting a fake scripture compiled by some third-rate Daoist, she wouldn’t just fail to grow Dao Qi—she might ruin her already slim chance of immortality.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Dao De Jing had its share of versions too, but at least she could somewhat distinguish them and find the most credible ones.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Early on the fourth day, as Xiao Yu was about to mount her horse, she suddenly remembered Xiang Huchen and turned to Guan Zhong. “Has Father Yi returned to Yingxiang Prefecture by now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Guan Zhong paused, his expression worried. “If no mishaps occurred on the road, he should have arrived last night... I hope Master has had a smooth journey and has already escaped disaster.”\u003C\u002Fp>",2699,"2026-06-20T00:29:13.334Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","22199e6aedfbcaea2cb5bb9dd537e82754df67d287814ae17057fb0d9aad59fb","if-you-will-not-reject-me-i-wish-to-bow-and-take-chapter-75","if-you-will-not-reject-me-i-wish-to-bow-and-take-chapter-73",840,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fif-you-will-not-reject-me-i-wish-to-bow-and-take-cover.jpg"]