Chapter 89 - 77: Revisiting Langlang Village, Where Things are Not What They Used to Be, Home is Where the Heart is_2
Liang Lian wore a gentle smile and gave a small nod.
Han Ye agreed enthusiastically, “Indeed, there is no lack of allies on the path ahead. The world knows you, it’s just as logical as this poetry is. I dedicate this poetry to you, and to myself too.”
“Brilliant!”
Prefect Liang praised, looking at Han Ye riding off on his sword, blending into the multitude of sword cultivators in the sky. He couldn’t help but feel nostalgic.
Han Ye was no longer the man he used to be. To put it bluntly, Han Ye had become a person he had to respect.
A disciple about to enter the inner sect of the celestial school was definitely more significant than a prefect.
Furthermore, he felt that, in the future, Han Ye would inevitably become a person he looked up to.
After the hectic journey, Han Ye, along with many disciples, returned to the sect.
Wang Da Niu was extremely excited as he looked down at the familiar mountain range and shouted:
“Brother Han, we’re almost at Langlang Village. Shouldn’t we go back and take a look?”
Da Niu’s eyes were filled with anticipation as he beseeched:
“I miss Hongliu.”
“Langlang Village…”
Han Ye murmured, nodding with a smile, “Alright, it’s on the way. It’d be good to go back and have a look. Da Niu, you haven’t been home for more than a year.”
“You guys go, I’ll return to the sect first.”
Lin Shihuang announced before mounting his magic treasure and heading forward.
Han Ye and Wang Da Niu, on the other hand, left the group, becoming two streaks of light descending from the sky to Langlang Village.
Compared to before, the entrance of the village now boasted a giant and imposing stone stele marked with:
“Blessed Land of Dragon Sparrow Sect in Qingyun State.”
Seeing these words, Han Ye felt warmth for the Dragon Sparrow Sect’s actions.
Many cultivators had emerged from Langlang Village. The stone stele was worthy of those words.
Looking into the village.
Stepping into it, Han Ye felt a touch of homesickness. Most familiar faces remained, except for the young women washing clothes by the stream—they were all different.
Most likely, they got married. Thinking back, after he first entered Liu Manor, many matchmakers visited his home to propose marriages. Han Ye couldn’t help but smile.
He didn’t brazenly expose himself in front of the villagers, but used the concealment technique to hide his figure.
He didn’t want to disturb everyone.
“Brother Han, I want to visit Hongliu’s home.”
Wang Da Niu asked shyly.
“Go ahead.”
Han Ye naturally wouldn’t stop him, so he let him go.
Passing the small river where he used to wash up after his training sessions, and walking on the cobblestone road, he remembered the times when he idly strolled about here after meals.
Along the way he noticed Widow Liu’s house was terribly dilapidated, seemingly uninhabited.
His ‘Wei Wu Legacy’ attribute was first found here. Recalling his pitiful condition back then, Han Ye couldn’t help but shake his head and smile bitterly.
He asked a passing villager, “Brother, can I ask something? Where did Widow Liu go?”
The villager, returning with a yoke of oxen, found Han Ye somewhat familiar. He responded, “Oh, her. She moved out long ago, about half a year now. She went with a wealthy old man to the county, I heard. She’s supporting a young scholar to study, she’s in the autumn chamber now.”
“Wait, why do you look so familiar?”
“You… You are Han Ye!”
The villager finally recognized Han Ye, exclaiming in shock.
“Hush!”
Han Ye laughed lightly and gestured for silence.
The villager whispered reluctantly.
“Han Ye, you don’t know, but since you left, that Widow Liu seemed to turn into another person. She stopped seducing men, started managing her household, and became a virtuous woman, it was like I’d seen a ghost.”
“Oh, is that so? Well, that’s great.”
“How about Liu Manor now?”
“Liu Manor… looks like they are going to move, all the way to the capital. They’ve been moving their stuff in batches, and today seems to be their last day.”
The villager recalled.
“Han Ye, are you an immortal now?”
The villager looked at Han Ye up and down, asking nervously.
“Not yet, it’s still a long way off.”
Han Ye felt embarrassed.
“If you want to find the Liu Manor, you should hurry. The house has been sold, and the place will soon be vacant.”
“Alright.”
Han Ye arrived at the grand front door of Liu Manor.
He watched as carriage after carriage transported goods, driven by new family servants and guards, escorting the items for the long journey.
He was once one of them.
“Where is Mr. Liu and the others? Are they still here?”
Han Ye approached to inquire.
These new servants didn’t recognize Han Ye. Assuming he was an old friend of the master, they replied:
“You’re late. The master moved out several days to a month ago. We are here to clean up the last batch of items and transport them to the capital. The master has returned to his family and inherited the business. The house here has been deposed of.”
“I see…”
Han Ye’s expression was somewhat regretful upon hearing this.
He had intended to thank Mrs. Liu. It was she who helped him get rid of the servitude contract, but now it seemed, there wouldn’t likely be another opportunity.
As he watched the carriages disappear, Han Ye stood alone at the desolate entrance of Liu Manor.
The main gate was locked, but he leapt over it and landed in the courtyard.
There was dust everywhere, and the manor was utterly vacant.
Han Ye went to where he once practiced his martial arts. The wooden stakes were all still there, the artificial mountain was overgrown with weeds, the dog hole in the backyard was still uncovered.
Stroking the fist pits on the wooden stakes, he leaned down to look at the deeply indented bluestone slabs, and the heavy stone locks that were placed in the corner of the wall. They all bore the marks of his past.
All was impermanent.
Han Ye left the large courtyard of Liu Manor, in search of Da Niu, and departed on his sword..