Chapter 239: Returning to Zhongyuan

After a series of actions by Duan Fengyun, Youruo and the others now completely trusted him.

Youruo and the others were initially in a state of disbelief; they had not expected that in the few years since they left Zhongyuan, it would have undergone such earth-shattering changes.

Subsequently, Youruo, Chuchu, and Di Er Meng revealed troubled expressions; their husbands now possessed immortal bodies, yet they themselves would still have to experience birth, aging, sickness, and death.

Ding Ning, however, looked indifferent, because Qin Shuang had not consumed a Dragon Pellet, so the two of them could experience birth, aging, sickness, and death together.

As for the fact that Duan Fengyun and the other two had consumed Dragon Pellets while Qin Shuang had not, Ding Ning did not concern herself with it.

This was a matter between martial brothers, and the situation at the time surely would not have allowed Duan Fengyun and the others to give the Dragon Pellet to Qin Shuang.

Since her own husband had said nothing, why should she worry about it needlessly?

Seeing the expressions on their faces, Duan Fengyun knew what they were worried about, so he first took out the welcome gifts he had prepared for the four of them from his robes.

"Inside this medicine bottle are Youth-Preserving Pills I requested from the Supreme. Each of you take one; after consuming the Youth-Preserving Pill inside, you will be able to maintain your current appearance forever."

Upon hearing this, Youruo took the bottle directly from Duan Fengyun's hand and poured out the five crystal-clear pills.

After Youruo gave one pill each to Ding Ning, Chuchu, and Di Er Meng, she took one for herself, and then the four of them swallowed the pills in one gulp.

Everyone desires beauty; which of the four of them would not want to remain forever young like this?

There was one pill left, which Youruo kept in the bottle; she would keep it safe to give to Ruoruo when she grew up.

Seeing the four who had just consumed the Youth-Preserving Pills, Duan Fengyun laughed:

"I forgot to tell you, the Youth-Preserving Pill will expel the impurities from your bodies and promote your metabolism.

Don't go and crush the outhouse later just to relieve yourselves."

The four women instantly glared at Duan Fengyun with resentment; they could already feel their stomachs beginning to churn.

Ignoring their dignity, the four turned and rushed into the courtyard; fortunately, they had had four outhouses built for convenience back then, otherwise, it would have been embarrassing today.

After a full stick of incense had burned, the four emerged looking radiant.

Having expelled the impurities that had long remained in their bodies, they felt much lighter.

But their faces turned bitter again; although they could maintain their current appearance, they would still experience birth, aging, sickness, and death.

Duan Fengyun had already thought of a solution for their concerns.

"Don't worry, Xu Fu has a martial art called the Heart Sutra of the Saint.

The Heart Sutra of the Saint can allow a person to live for a very long time; when the time comes, we will find a way to snatch it from Xu Fu for you."

Upon hearing this, the four became happy again.

Duan Fengyun picked up Xiao Wuyou and Xiao Ruoruo and said:

"You all go and pack up your belongings; we are returning to the Dragon Gate!"

"Dragon Gate?

What does that mean?"

Youruo asked in confusion.

Duan Fengyun smiled awkwardly; he had forgotten to mention this to Youruo for a moment.

"I have established our own force—the Dragon Gate—on the former site of the World Society.

I have also restored your Huxin Xiaozhu to its original state; I never let you go in because I was waiting for you, the mistress, to move in."

"Really!"

Youruo was full of joy; having grown up in the World Society, she naturally had an inseparable attachment to it, and upon learning that Duan Fengyun had rebuilt the World Society, she was naturally happy.

Youruo waved her hand and said:

"What is there to pack?

After I return to the Dragon Gate, I'll just buy new things.

Ding Ning, Chuchu, Meng, don't pack your things either.

After we return to the Dragon Gate, I will go and open the little treasury of the great Gang Leader Duan, and then we can all go shopping together."

In high spirits, Youruo waved her hand and took all the expenses upon herself.

Ding Ning and the others nodded without refusal; they thought that given the relationship between Duan Fengyun and the three men including Qin Shuang, Qin Shuang and the others surely wouldn't ask Duan Fengyun for a salary, so the three of them were likely penniless as well.

Since that was the case, everyone walked toward the pier without a second thought.

Xiao Sanxiao watched the reunited family with a smile on his face.

Although he had seen through the joys and sorrows of the human world, he still greatly appreciated such scenes of long-awaited reunions and harmony.

But halfway there, an awkward situation arose.

Because Ling Guang had been brooding over the death of Duan Fengyun, he felt even more guilty after returning, and finally, he decided to wait for them on the only path to the pier.

Because Ling Guang did not speak, and because Duan Fengyun's mind was entirely on his daughter and son, his Spirit Sense naturally did not detect Ling Guang.

Holding his daughter and son, the smiling Duan Fengyun and the guilt-ridden Ling Guang locked eyes.

Duan Fengyun looked at Ling Guang awkwardly and said:

"Island Master Ling, long time no see."

Duan Fengyun truly had not expected to run into Ling Guang halfway.

Ling Guang looked at Duan Fengyun in disbelief; the authenticity of Duan Fengyun's suicide at the time could not have been faked to him, and he had confirmed that Duan Fengyun was dead.

Yet now, Duan Fengyun was standing alive before him, which left him a bit confused for a moment.

He asked in confusion:

"Duan Fengyun, have you risen from the dead?"

Duan Fengyun laughed awkwardly:

"That's right, Island Master Ling, the heavens did not want me to die young, so they brought me back to life.

Island Master Ling, I have already returned my life to those four people, and now I will not return it to them again."

Xiao Sanxiao did not want the situation to continue like this, so he stood out and said:

"Ling Guang, Duan Fengyun has already compensated for those four people with his death.

The current Duan Fengyun no longer owes those four people anything, so do not make things difficult for them anymore."

In fact, even if Xiao Sanxiao had not spoken, Ling Guang would not have made things difficult for Duan Fengyun again.

Ling Guang cupped his hands and said:

"Patriarch, rest assured, I will not make things difficult for them again.

Duan Fengyun, I wish you all a safe journey, and you are welcome to visit Linggui Island again next time!"

"Very well, Island Master, you take care as well!

You are welcome to visit Zhongyuan, just mention my name when you come to Zhongyuan!"

Duan Fengyun said with a smile.

Nie Feng and the others also cupped their hands and said:

"Farewell!"

After exchanging pleasantries with Ling Guang, the group quickened their pace and arrived at the pier.

The Dragon Turtle, sensing the presence of Xiao Sanxiao and Duan Fengyun, surfaced from the lake again.

The Dragon Turtle's massive body caused Youruo, the others, and Xiao Wuyou to retreat repeatedly in fear.

Duan Fengyun smiled and said:

"You have been on Linggui Island for so long, have you never seen the Dragon Turtle?

The Dragon Turtle is the guardian beast of this Linggui Island; it is because of the Dragon Turtle's existence that Linggui Island has always been peaceful."

Duan Fengyun shouted:

"Brother Turtle, they are all my family, please do not frighten them."

The Dragon Turtle looked at Duan Fengyun, let out a roar to indicate that they were not that close, and then sank to the bottom of the lake.

It must be said that this act of Duan Fengyun's was truly impressive; the three little ones, including Xiao Wuyou, looked at Duan Fengyun as if he were an immortal.

Bu Tian had previously been unconvinced while arguing with Xiao Wuyou about whose father was more impressive, but seeing that Duan Fengyun could actually communicate with the Dragon Turtle, Bu Tian was now completely convinced.

There was an extra boat by the pier, and Xiao Sanxiao pointed at the boat and said:

"When you came, you didn't know the way, so I, this old man, brought you here.

Now that you are going back, you should know the way, right? I haven't been back to take a look for a long time, so I won't go back with you; you all should head back first!"

Duan Fengyun cupped his hands and said:

"Then many thanks, Senior.

After you return to Zhongyuan, please be sure to come to the Dragon Gate for a visit; I will personally cook a few dishes for you then."

Duan Fengyun felt very grateful toward Xiao Sanxiao.

If it weren't for Xiao Sanxiao bringing Youruo and the others to Linggui Island to avoid Xu Fu's pursuit, how could they have obtained the Dragon Essence so easily?

Xiao Sanxiao laughed:

"You brat have said so much, but that last sentence is the one I like to hear.

Rest assured, after I return to Zhongyuan, I will definitely go to the Dragon Gate for a visit."

"Take care, Senior!"

"Take care, Grandpa Xiao!"

After bidding farewell to Xiao Sanxiao, the group rowed the small boat and returned.

Duan Fengyun, Youruo, Xiao Wuyou, Xiao Ruoruo, and Long Er, a family of five, sat in one boat, while Nie Feng and the other seven were in another.

The two boats slowly disappeared from Xiao Sanxiao's sight under the afterglow of the setting sun.

After Duan Fengyun and the others left, Xiao Sanxiao immediately found Ling Guang.

Through the lesson of those four wretched fellows, Xiao Sanxiao already knew that the rules he had established were no longer effective and needed to be changed.

That was why he sought out Ling Guang.

"Ling Guang, pass down the message according to my wishes.

From now on, any clansman who commits heinous crimes on the island will be subject to clan rules.

The light punishment is expulsion from Linggui Island, and the heavy punishment is immediate execution.

It has been thousands of years; it is time for some iron-blooded measures to wake them up.

Otherwise, they will all forget the requirements I, this Patriarch, have for them."

Regarding Xiao Sanxiao's request, Ling Guang did not resist in the slightest.

As a descendant of Xiao Sanxiao, for his ancestor's opinions, he could only obey and obey.

Not long after Duan Fengyun and the others set sail, it became pitch black, so the group arrived at the small island from before to rest.

After simply finishing dinner, Duan Fengyun lay comfortably on the grass, with Xiao Wuyou and Xiao Ruoruo leaning against his two shoulders.

Amidst Duan Fengyun's gentle singing, the two little ones fell soundly asleep.

Duan Fengyun sat up, held Youruo in his arms, and said:

"You have worked hard these years."

Youruo smiled and said:

"I know you did it all for our own good.

Now that our family is together safely, that is what matters most."

Duan Fengyun's family of four was like this, Bu Jingyun's family of three was like this, and Qin Shuang and Nie Feng's families of two were also like this.

Having not seen each other for a long time, they chatted all night under the moonlight, pouring out their experiences over the years to each other, and even at dawn, they still felt no sleepiness.

As for the abandoned Long Er, he found an empty space and practiced his sword art continuously; Duan Fengyun and the others were becoming stronger and stronger, and he could not hold them back.

After practicing for a while, Long Er lay down to sleep.

Duan Fengyun had once told him that if he wanted to be invincible throughout the world in the future, he must possess a healthy body, and for Long Er at his current age, possessing a healthy body meant getting plenty of sleep.

For the sake of the future, Long Er would constantly grow stronger.

Brought to you by the great author Duan Fengyun, from the work "Crossing the Heavens Starting from Wind and Cloud".