The lively chatter and clinking of chopsticks filled the air as the friends happily enjoyed their meal. But the warmth around their table abruptly shattered the moment Boss Xiong and Xiong Lifeng stepped into the inn. The once vibrant conversation instantly died, replaced by a tense silence as everyone wondered about the unexpected visit.
Xiong Lifeng carried a basket and walked straight to the group of friends' tables. "Ping'an, Old Lu made these desserts for you," Xiong Lifeng said, offering the basket. "He wants to come to see you, but he is very busy. He said next time when you visit, make sure you go visit him."
Ping'an took the basket, a soft smile on her face. "Please thank him on my behalf."
"How do you feel now?" Xiong Lifeng asked, genuine concern in her voice.
"Good," Ping'an replied, though her smile was a little strained.
"Lifeng, let's go," Boss Xiong interjected, his voice stiff.
Xiong Lifeng smiled, ignoring her father's impatience. "Come and visit next time you come here."
Boss Xiong cleared his throat, then, surprisingly, addressed the two men. "Which one of you is her husband?"
Zhao Renshu, who had always held a grudge against Boss Xiong, gave him an irritated stare. "We are both her husbands. Do you have any problems about it?"
"Forgive me for calling you a child of the devil," Boss Xiong said, his voice surprisingly subdued, almost an apology.
Ping'an looked at her father, her eyes unreadable. "I have forgotten," she murmured.
"You married both of them willingly?" Boss Xiong asked.
"Yes," Ping'an confirmed.
Boss Xiong looked at Guo Baiyu and then Zhao Renshu, a flicker of something akin to approval in his eyes. "Good." He looked back at Ping'an. "I want you to know that you are welcome to visit home anytime."
"Thank you for your kind words, Boss Xiong," Ping'an replied, her voice neutral.
"Let's go," Boss Xiong said, turning abruptly.
"Take care," Xiong Lifeng said to Ping'an, a genuine warmth in her smile.
Ping'an smiled back at Xiong Lifeng, a silent understanding passing between the sisters. Xiong Lifeng then quickly chased after Boss Xiong.
"That is a relief," Zhao Renshu muttered, leaning back. "I was preparing to throw a punch."
Guo Baiyu shook his head. "No matter what, he is still your father-in-law. You can't go around punching him."
"Hypocrite!" Zhao Renshu teased, pointing at Guo Baiyu with his finger. "Who was the one that punched him? Huh? Who?"
"Me," Guo Baiyu admitted calmly, going back to eat as if Zhao Renshu's words had no effect on him.
Fang Yaoting, the Huang sisters, and Lim Peizhi opened their mouths in shock, completely taken aback by this revelation.
"How long will everyone stare at me?" Guo Baiyu asked, a slight amused raise of his eyebrow.
"I never thought you would punch an old man," Huang Hongse said, still stunned.
"At that time, he crossed the line," Guo Baiyu said calmly, justifying his actions.
"Hongse, if you were there, you might have killed him!" Guo Longtong exclaimed. He then turned to Ping'an. "Sorry," he mumbled, realizing his slight.
A booming voice resonated from the entrance, drawing the eyes of every friend seated within the inn. They watched as an older lady entered, flanked by two younger women. The old lady's gaze, sharp and unwavering, fixed solely on Fang Yaoting as she walked directly towards him.
"What is Madame Hang doing here?" Guo Longtong murmured to his friends, recognizing her.
Madame Hang smiled broadly and walked directly to Fang Yaoting. She put her arms around Fang Yaoting, a possessive gesture. "Childe Fang," she cooed. "Let me introduce, this is Chuju and this is Mudan. Among all the other girls, they are the most beautiful."
Guo Longtong hit the table angrily, then stood up and pointed at Fang Yaoting, his face burning with fury. "Fang Yaoting! What does this mean?" he shouted.
"What do you mean?" Fang Yaoting asked, feigning ignorance, his expression unreadable.
"This!" Guo Longtong yelled, pointing to the two ladies clinging to Fang Yaoting. "What are they doing here?"
"To accompany me," Fang Yaoting replied casually.
Guo Longtong's face was burning red with rage. He shouted, "You bastard! How dare you?" He breathed heavily, trying to control his anger. "Hongse! Kill him!"
"Yaoting, you better have a good explanation," Huang Hongse said, her voice cold and dangerous, "otherwise I will kill you."
"I don't need to explain anything," Fang Yaoting replied, his gaze unwavering.
"Do you remember what you said?" Zhao Renshu interjected, making a fist with his right hand. "Explain yourself, or I might join in the fight."
Guo Longtong was about to explode in anger. Huang Hongse was preparing to attack Fang Yaoting. Zhao Renshu was preparing to jump into the fight. Fang Yaoting, however, looked directly at Lee Dachin, his gaze seeking something.
"Everyone, please calm down," Lee Dachin said, his voice surprisingly firm, stepping forward. "There is nothing between us."
Everyone's eyes immediately shifted to Lee Dachin, surprised by his intervention.
"Guo Longtong, do you hear his voice clearly?" Fang Yaoting asked, a slight smirk now playing on his lips. "There is nothing between us."
Fang Yaoting stood up and discreetly gave Madame Hang a gold ingot, a clear dismissal. He then put his arms around the waists of Chuju and Mudan, and the three of them went upstairs, leaving the friends stunned.
Madame Hang giggled loudly, pocketing the gold. "Childe Fang, enjoy your night." Madame Hang then turned to the group of friends and rolled her eyes at them, a sneer on her face. "Have a good day, Childe Guo and Childe Lee." She then walked out of the inn.
"Fang Yaoting! You bastard!" Guo Longtong shouted, absolutely furious. He turned to Lee Dachin, his voice pleading. "Dachin, don't be scared of him. You have the great Annihilator, the Red Moon Hunters, the Tiger General of Waterfall City, and me! We can defeat him easily! Everyone, follow me upstairs and kill that bastard!" He took two steps forward, but no one followed him.
Lee Dachin put on a brave face, though his eyes showed a flicker of pain. "Longtong, thank you for worrying about me, but there is nothing between us. Let us eat. I'm hungry." He stood up and gently pulled Guo Longtong back to his seat.
Everyone at the table knew that Lee Dachin was putting on a strong front. They all sensed that there was a deeper problem between Lee Dachin and Fang Yaoting.
"After this," Lee Dachin said, forcing a cheerful tone, "I will go home and pack my things."
"We will help you," Ping'an offered, her voice soft with understanding.
"Longtong, can you find us a horse carriage?" Guo Baiyu requested.
"You guys go ahead, and I will follow you there," Guo Longtong replied.
"Sounds good," Guo Baiyu agreed.
When Guo Longtong caught up with the four friends (Guozhao Hunters and Huang sisters), they had already walked halfway. The four friends jumped into the carriage, and it drove to Lee Dachin's house. The house was in a narrow, wooden area. There were ten houses in total, and Lee Dachin's house was the smallest out of the other nine houses. The house was very simple and small, a humble hut. The little house was fenced up. Inside the small house, there was a small bed around the corner.
Lee Dachin seemed to be ready, because all his possessions had been packed. He didn't have many personal belongings; there were four boxes, and three of the four boxes were full of books.
Uncle Lee and Aunt Lee walked over to Lee Dachin's hut, surprised.
"Dachin, what is going on?" Uncle Lee asked, confused.
"Childe Guo, why are you here?" Aunt Lee demanded, recognizing Guo Longtong.
"We are helping Dachin move," Guo Longtong explained cheerfully.
"What?" Uncle Lee exclaimed.
Lee Dachin walked out of the house to meet his uncle and aunt. "Uncle and Aunt Lee, I decided to leave this town. I will move to Cloud City."
"Why?" Uncle Lee asked.
"I took a job as a teacher to teach in Cloud City," Lee Dachin replied, a faint smile on his face.
Uncle Lee smiled proudly. "It's good for you. I wanted to tell you that we are selling the land, and we can repair the shed for you, but taking a job is better."
"I will leave tomorrow morning," Lee Dachin said. "If I have time, I will come to visit everyone."
"I wish you a pleasant journey," Aunt Lee said, a rare warmth in her voice.
"Come back and visit us when you have a break," Uncle Lee added.
The group of friends jumped into the horse carriage, and they drove away.
"Good thing he is leaving," Aunt Lee remarked, turning to her husband. "If he were staying... I would have to find a place to store the winter wood."
"Stop complaining," Uncle Lee sighed.
Inside the horse carriage, Guo Longtong shook his head and muttered, "They could've waited until we were further away to celebrate their happiness."
Lee Dachin smiled, a sad glint in his eyes. "Aunt Lee is like that. Her mouth might be cruel, but she has a good heart."
Guo Longtong scoffed indifferently. "Good heart? You consider her having a good heart, then my heart must have the heart of a Buddha!" He glared at Lee Dachin. "Haven't you forgotten, she had refused to send you to school, and instead had you work at the farm with your uncle, knowingly that her sons are not as smart as you? Do you not understand her intention?"
Lee Dachin simply smiled at Guo Longtong and said, "It's because no mother or father in the world would rather support another person's son than their own, it doesn't matter if their sons are not as good as the person standing next to him."