Half a month passed in the blink of an eye.
Life in the small mountain village remained exceptionally peaceful. Yi Feng and Lady Bai had long grown accustomed to everything here.
Teaching in the morning, cultivating at dusk.
Leaving and returning together, they enjoyed a carefree life.
The minor interlude from before had long been cast to the back of Yi Feng's mind.
He had thought that life would continue so peacefully forever.
Unexpectedly, the young man he had saved earlier actually found the small mountain village. Carrying various gifts in his hands, he did not forget to bow respectfully, his face full of sincerity!
"Thank you, Senior, for saving my life!"
"This junior has no way to repay you, so I can only come to express my gratitude with a small token of my appreciation. If I have intruded, I hope Senior will forgive me!"
Looking at the bowing young man at his door, Yi Feng sighed softly in his heart.
As the saying goes, one does not slap a smiling face.
Even though Yi Feng was reluctant to have his peace disturbed, he couldn't bring himself to put on a stern face and shout at the other party. Moreover, the young man had come with a grateful heart and impeccable manners, which made it even more difficult for him.
After a brief moment of thought, Yi Feng had no choice but to politely decline.
"It was merely lifting a finger. You do not need to do this."
"Besides, I am but a man of the mountains and wilds. These treasures and spiritual items are of no use to me. My humble abode lacks fine tea and good wine, so I will not ask you to stay. Please, suit yourself."
With those soft words, Yi Feng bid farewell and closed the door.
Back then, he had only saved this person out of a momentary spark of compassion. He never expected any reward, nor did he want any entanglements with outside cultivators that would disrupt his current quiet life.
Even though it was a polite refusal, his attitude was very firm.
Presumably, this young man would know when to back down.
The thought that saving someone would bring such trouble made Yi Feng feel an indescribable sense of regret. He sat in the courtyard, his eyes staring blankly.
Who would have known that the young man outside the door would start shouting again.
"Senior? Senior!"
"This junior has come sincerely to offer my thanks, truly won over by Senior's noble character. If Senior is willing to come out of the mountains and help, this junior will agree to any condition!"
Hearing the urgent voice, Yi Feng sighed softly in his heart.
"Sigh..."
The martial world could never escape the conflicts of interests.
Endless fighting and killing, where the strong are revered.
Yi Feng had truly seen and experienced too much of these worldly disputes; he was long tired of them.
What meaning was there in days of endless slaughter for fame and fortune? Even if one truly dominated a region, they would ultimately become nothing more than a pile of yellow earth.
Even with a threshold of gold and iron, one eventually needs only an earthen mound for a grave.
Yi Feng had experienced too much and had long seen through everything. He would absolutely not be moved by any conditions. In his eyes, apart from Lady Bai and his few brothers, no one and nothing in this world mattered anymore.
His heart was as calm as water, yet the enticements outside the door continued incessantly.
"Senior!"
"As long as you come out of the mountains to help, this junior is willing to do anything!"
Even though this person had shown some manners earlier, he now seemed somewhat clamorous.
Yi Feng finally lost his patience and could not be bothered to speak further with him.
With a casual wave of his long sleeve, a stream of spiritual energy shot out. Under exquisite control, the spiritual power blew toward the door like the wind, and the sounds of various gift boxes tumbling to the ground echoed endlessly.
Following a thump, the young man also tumbled to the ground.
Then came a few muffled thuds.
"Bang! Bang!"
The young man pounded the ground unwillingly a few times before sighing deeply and leaving.
This commotion was naturally perceived clearly by Lady Bai, but she did not voice any questions. She walked out steadily and sat beside Yi Feng, only then looking at him with a faint smile.
"You..."
"Do you not wish to venture into the outside world? Are you truly willing to let go of all the prosperity of the mortal realm?"
Hearing her voice, Yi Feng smiled and took Lady Bai's hand.
"The mortal realm is like floating clouds to me; wealth and fame are but smoke. Being able to meet you in this life, I am already content."
"Even if there are three thousand waters of the weak river, I only ask to take one scoop."
"If there is anything that could make me step foot into the mortal realm again, it would only be to take you to meet those few brothers of mine. Otherwise, I much prefer our current peaceful life."
A few plain words, filled with true affection.
Lady Bai asked no more, smiling and nodding.
The warm gaze exchanged between the two surpassed a thousand words.
Afterwards.
The young man persisted in his visits, bringing increasingly precious gifts each time. Over the span of five years, he came no less than seven or eight times, yet Yi Feng never wavered in the slightest.
After repeatedly trying to no avail, the young man had no choice but to helplessly give up, sighing deeply as he bowed in farewell and departed.
Yi Feng also breathed a long sigh of relief, thinking he could finally live a stable life. He began planning to take Lady Bai back to meet his brothers, imagining the joy of their reunion.
"When we meet this time, Er Pang will surely be able to drink to his heart's content."
"I wonder how Da Bai is doing."
"As for that guy, he might even have flocks of children by now, right?"
Hearing Yi Feng's accounts, Lady Bai also grew curious about these people, full of anticipation for her first long journey in many years.
Just as the two were chatting and laughing, the small mountain village welcomed a group of extraordinary guests.
Their auras were unfathomably profound, absolutely beyond what the villagers could detect. In the span of a breath, they flashed to the front of the small courtyard's gate. The mere residual waves of spiritual energy they stirred up were enough to scatter fallen leaves all over the ground!
Instantly, both Yi Feng and Lady Bai furrowed their brows!
