Chapter 124: The Eve of Departure

Xiao Sanxiao's pace was very fast, but fortunately his residence was not far from here, and Duan Fengyun and the others, who were nimble of foot, followed his steps to his residence.

Xiao Sanxiao's residence gave one the feeling of a paradise on earth at first glance; the courtyard was full of green plants, birdsong, and fragrant flowers, making one feel relaxed and happy.

Xiao Sanxiao pointed to the seats in the courtyard, signaling for the group to sit down first.

Immediately after, he walked into the room and brought out a pile of strange and curious trinkets to hand to Xiao Wuyou and the other two.

Duan Fengyun spoke up:

"Senior, are you the only one in your home?"

Xiao Sanxiao smiled and said:

"I am accustomed to being a free and unfettered crane; the people in my home are relatively lazy and do not like to run around, so they are all at our old residence."

After saying this, Xiao Sanxiao picked up Xiao Wuyou and began to tease her, without mentioning anything about Di Shitian.

Duan Fengyun took a quick glance, located Xiao Sanxiao's kitchen, and then looked at the fish pond beside Xiao Sanxiao's courtyard, and he smiled.

Acting on the thought that one who takes things from others feels soft-handed and one who eats others' food feels soft-mouthed, and coupled with the fact that they were also a bit hungry after their journey, he said:

"Senior, I will borrow your kitchen for a moment!"

Xiao Sanxiao did not make a sound, continuing to tease Xiao Wuyou and the other two.

Seeing that Xiao Sanxiao did not make a sound, Duan Fengyun took it as his tacit consent.

He walked into the kitchen and saw that the seasonings were all complete, but there were no vegetables.

A clever housewife cannot cook without rice; this really stumped him.

Without ingredients, even his excellent culinary skills could not be put to use.

At this moment, Xiao Sanxiao's voice came from outside the kitchen:

"Kid, in the vegetable patch behind my house, there are vegetables I grew myself, and there are also chickens I raised on the side.

You go pick the vegetables and catch the chickens yourself; remember to make it delicious, don't waste this old man's hard work."

Having received Xiao Sanxiao's hint, Duan Fengyun immediately walked out of the kitchen and said to Nie Feng and the others:

"Feng, come with me.

I will pick the vegetables, and you go catch the chickens.

Then, Shuang and Yun, you two divide the work; see who will chop the firewood and who will kill the fish!"

After arranging the work for everyone, Duan Fengyun and Nie Feng, the two nimble ones, went to the vegetable patch behind the house.

The variety of vegetables in Xiao Sanxiao's patch was quite complete, giving Duan Fengyun a lot of room to work with.

Soon, Duan Fengyun had finished picking the vegetables, and Nie Feng, who had gone to catch the chickens, also returned.

As expected of the meticulous Nie Feng, he did not forget to process the chickens and bring them back after catching them.

When the two returned to the courtyard, Bu Jingyun, who was responsible for killing the fish, and Qin Shuang, who was responsible for chopping the firewood, had also finished their work.

Qin Shuang had already lit the stove fire, waiting for Duan Fengyun to return and show off his skills.

Duan Fengyun handed the picked vegetables to Youruo and the others, and after letting them be responsible for washing them, he ducked into the kitchen himself.

Before long, blue smoke rose above the kitchen.

Soon, Chef Duan began to show off his skills, and bursts of fragrance wafted from the kitchen.

Nie Feng placed Duan Fengyun's creations on the dining table one by one, and after the final dish was served, the long-impatient Xiao Sanxiao directly grabbed a large mouthful with his chopsticks.

Before Xiao Sanxiao had even swallowed the first bite, he immediately began to grab a second mouthful.

After being satisfied, Xiao Sanxiao said:

"Unexpected, truly unexpected.

You, Duan kid, actually have such good culinary skills; it truly amazed this old man."

Duan Fengyun feigned modesty:

"Senior, you flatter me.

Senior, this junior would like to ask you for a favor."

Seeing that Xiao Sanxiao was satisfied with his cooking, Duan Fengyun began to put forward his request.

Xiao Sanxiao stopped smiling and said with a serious face:

"I know your thoughts, but I must declare one thing to you first.

If you send your wives and children to a safe place, if you cannot defeat Di Shitian, you will never be able to see each other again in this lifetime.

You must think this through!"

Upon hearing this, the four women, including Youruo, were about to speak, but were stopped by Duan Fengyun.

Duan Fengyun replied:

"Senior, we have thought it through.

You should be very clear about Di Shitian's methods; for the safety of Youruo and the others, I have no choice but to make this choice.

I believe that Yun and the others and I can defeat Di Shitian; please have confidence in us."

When Bu Jingyun first heard Xiao Sanxiao's words, he thought about how he might be separated from Chuchu and Xiao Butian for a long time, and his heart wavered slightly.

But when he heard Duan Fengyun's words, his determination instantly firmed up again.

Yes, perhaps sending Chuchu and the others away now is the most ideal method.

If they were to fall into Di Shitian's hands and become bargaining chips to threaten him, or if other actions were taken that would make him regret it, it would be a lifelong tragedy.

Seeing that the four heads of the households, including Duan Fengyun, had all firmed up their respective thoughts, Xiao Sanxiao spoke:

"Good, since you have all firmed up your thoughts, then I will agree to your request.

Tomorrow, I will take your wives and children to Linggui Island; Linggui Island is my Clan's place of seclusion, unaffected by the strife of the outside world.

With your wives and children on Linggui Island, you can rest assured.

But before you defeat Di Shitian, you are not allowed to go to Linggui Island."

Di Shitian should be re-emerging into the pugilistic world very soon; you few lads are standing out from the crowd, so Di Shitian will certainly seek you out first.

I will take them away early tomorrow morning, so cherish today's reunion well.

There are four guest rooms in the backyard, you may each choose one."

After finishing, Xiao Sanxiao walked out the door and strode away, leaving the group time to have a good reunion.

After the few of them each chose a room, they each held conversations within their rooms.

Duan Fengyun held Xiao Wuyou in his left arm and Xiao Ruoruo in his right, looking at his two children with great reluctance to part.

He knew deeply that it was still early before the time of the Dragon's Auspice, and without the help of the Dragon Essence, it was simply a pipe dream to imagine defeating Di Shitian with their Mortal strength.

Therefore, this parting with Xiao Wuyou and the others would be for a very long time.

By the time he saw Xiao Wuyou and the others again, they should all be at the age to go to school.

Duan Fengyun was suddenly filled with guilt toward Xiao Wuyou, Xiao Ruoruo, and Youruo; he had lived in vain as a transmigrator, as he had not even been able to find a way to resolve Di Shitian in advance.

He had truly lived in vain as a husband and as a father.

Duan Fengyun said self-reproachfully:

"Youruo, I'm sorry.

It is all my fault for lacking the ability to protect you all.

I am truly not a good husband or a good father."

Youruo smiled and said:

"I know you are very self-reproachful inside, and the children and I are also very reluctant to part with you.

But we do not wish to become your burden, nor do we hope that because of us, you will be threatened by the enemy into doing things you are unwilling to do.

The children and I have confidence in you; we believe you will certainly be able to defeat the enemy and come to bring us back.

The children and I will wait for you on Linggui Island; you must come to pick us up!"

Youruo took Xiao Ruoruo, Duan Fengyun wrapped his right arm around Youruo, and the family of four snuggled together, cherishing this brief, beautiful time.

And in the other three rooms, the same guilt and farewells were being repeated.