Although Ji Yuan had only been away for four or five days, he hadn't expected that something big had happened in Zengtou City during that time.

By the time he returned to his lakeside cabin, the sky was already near dusk.

The waning sunlight spilled over the water, casting shimmering ripples... Looking at this beautiful scene, Ji Yuan couldn't help but let his Flying Boat descend onto the lake, scattering golden flakes across the whole pool.

Right as he was about to reach his door, he happened to run into Lin Hu, who'd just come back from selling fish at the Fish Cage. As soon as Lin Hu saw Ji Yuan, he hurriedly lowered his voice and spoke, half-startled, "Brother Ji, you don't know, do you? While you were gone, something big happened in Zengtou City!"

"Oh?"

Ji Yuan put away the Thunder Falcon Boat and asked, "What happened?"

"The Qin Family...is finished!"

Lin Hu bit his lip, loosening his tightly clenched fists, unable to hide the delight in his voice.

"The Qin Family's finished too?"

Indeed, Ji Yuan was surprised to hear this. He hadn't even made a move, so how did the Qin Family destroy itself already?

"Who did it?"

Ji Yuan asked.

Lin Hu, hearing the question, hesitated for a moment before finally speaking, "It was Zengtou City itself, I suppose. Because it wasn't just one person—it was many who'd been bullied by the Qin Family; they all joined hands."

Ji Yuan understood instantly.

When the tree falls, the monkeys scatter.

When a wall collapses, everyone gives it a push.

Just those two simple sayings.

"But didn't Qin Long and Old Third He join the Water Dragon Sect? They're not dead, right? Aren't those people worried they'll come back for revenge?"

Ji Yuan asked, tentatively.

"Brother Ji, maybe you're not clear about it." Lin Hu shook his head. "Lately, there's been a rumor spreading in Zengtou City—no one knows if it's true—but folks are saying those cultivators who joined Water Dragon Sect were all sent to the frontlines as cannon fodder, fighting desperately against Joy Palace."

"Oh? Is that so."

Ji Yuan was surprised, but after thinking it over, he nodded, "That's not impossible."

"Brother Ji, you didn't hear anything?"

Lin Hu asked in a hushed voice—after all, Ji Yuan was the most powerful person he had access to.

"No, I've just been cultivating at home these days, haven't been asking around."

Ji Yuan chuckled, then returned home.

The Qin Family is gone, and I didn't even need to do anything... For a moment, Ji Yuan felt a sigh well up in his heart. Thinking about it, in the Cultivation Realm, what's the best revenge?

It's living longer than your enemy.

Not fighting and killing.

Fighting and killing carries the risk of dying, but as long as you outlive them, you can watch them rise and fall... just like Old Man Huang in the beginning.

He killed the original host's parents.

But before Ji Yuan made a move, he died himself.

And now the Qin Family too—before Ji Yuan could act, they'd already been destroyed for various reasons...

"Hoo—"

You need to live long; if you live long enough, revenge doesn't even need your own hands.

Live long, and you can watch others float up and down in the world.

Live long, and you get to watch the world's tides and changes.

At this thought, Ji Yuan let out a long breath. Glancing up again, he saw Tu Yue already standing at the door, having sensed his aura; though she was stiff as a wooden post, from another angle, she was extremely obedient.

If it were anyone else, they probably wouldn't be so willing to tirelessly help raise chickens and pigs.

"Let's go. It's time to move."

Ji Yuan sighed quietly.

Tu Yue's answer was only silence.

Since he'd decided to move, the buildings were easy to handle. He could just deactivate all the effects with a single heart thought.

The remaining Spirit Fish, Reed Chickens, and Spirit Pigs were also easy.

Just kill them all.

This time, Ji Yuan didn't plan to sell anything. He packed everything into his Storage Bag to take with him—either to eat himself, or feed the Big Toad.

If he wanted to raise them again, he'd have to buy new ones.

Ji Yuan had checked the map carefully; the nearest Black Water Square to the island was, at full speed, only about half a day's journey for him.

He'd just spend a few days shopping when the time came.

Being still young, the thing Ji Yuan had most was time.

At dawn the next day, Ji Yuan had settled everything at home, even packed Tu Yue into his Storage Bag, and finally arrived at the backyard Fish Pond.

The unknown Spirit Seed he'd planted ages ago had sprouted, but was growing extremely slowly—despite the boost from Ji Yuan's attributes, it'd only produced a single stalk and two tender leaves.

No one could tell what kind it was.

He'd just take it along to keep raising it on the island.

After digging up that little plot of Spirit Field, plus the Spiritual Soil, and putting it all in his Storage Bag, Ji Yuan looked around at the courtyard he'd lived in for years; to say he felt no reluctance would be a lie.

Once he left, it was almost certain he'd never live here again.

But Ji Yuan had already thought it through last night—it was already May, and at the latest, he'd have to head to the Water Dragon Sect by next February.

At most, just seven months from now.

Seven months; if he cancelled the back yard lease and kept only the front yard, that would be just twenty-one Spirit Stones—basically the price of drawing a Talisman.

Given that, there's no need to cancel it.

If something came up, he'd have a place to stay when he returned.

It'd also be easy for Du Wanyi and the others to find him, so they wouldn't have to wonder where he'd gone.

Spending a Talisman's worth of Spirit Stones to resolve so much hassle was certainly worth it, so when leaving, Ji Yuan planned to pay the next seven months' Immortal Residence fee at the Fish Cage in advance.

When he reached the door, he called Lin Hu out.

"Brother Ji."

Lin Hu rubbed his hands together, always with that cheerful grin.

"For the next few months I'll probably be hunting Demon Beasts in Cloud Rain Marsh, so I won't be home much. If anyone comes looking for me, either just let them know, or you can take a message and pass it along."

Ji Yuan came up with the most sensible and reasonable excuse.

Hunting Demon Beasts was what the Fishermen of Cloud Rain Marsh did all the time; Luo Tian, for example, had spent all his time in the Marsh, hunting Demon Beasts with Water Bombs.

"Huh? Brother Ji, you're leaving?"

Lin Hu blurted out.

"Not leaving for good—I'll be back. My home's here."

Ji Yuan smiled, "Alright, that's that. I still need to say a few words to Brother Wen; you go pack up too."

Lin Hu wandered home in a daze. In the coming months, Ji Yuan wouldn't be around much, and when these months were up, and the Water Dragon Sect's selection arrived next year, he'd have to go.

Meaning, the days of living alongside Brother Ji were basically finished.

He'd known this day would come, but still, Lin Hu felt heavy-hearted.

All these years, Ji Yuan had been a psychological pillar—whether fishing, heading to Zengtou City, or staying home.

Just knowing Brother Ji was there made him feel at ease.

But now, Ji Yuan was leaving... The feeling was honestly a bit painful.

Then Ji Yuan knocked on the gate of the Wen house. When Wen Lin came out, Ji Yuan repeated his words but added a few more for Wen Lin:

"I've never forgotten the matter you entrusted to me, Brother Wen. Don't worry—before I join the Water Dragon Sect, I'll give you an answer."

Wen Lin was secretly relieved after hearing this; outwardly, he just smiled, "I'll leave it to Brother Ji to arrange."

Perhaps overhearing Ji Yuan outside, Wen Linger, who'd gotten up early, poked her little head out from behind the door, peering curiously.

"Mm."

Ji Yuan glanced at Wen Linger, then turned to look at his own yard; after two years of care, the branches of those two peach trees had already stretched beyond the wall.

The young summer peaches were easy to spot.

"I won't be back when the peaches ripen, so please pick them for Ling Er, and share some with Lin Hu's family too."

"I've cultivated them for two years; the flavor's wonderful now—they're no longer sour."

"Alright."

Wen Lin nodded his assent.

"Then I'll take my leave."

Ji Yuan clasped his hands in a brief salute, then nodded at Wen Linger and smiled, "Next time I come back, I'll bring you something to eat."

"Yay! Brother Ji is the best!"

Wen Linger darted out and hugged Ji Yuan's leg.

She was already six years old, even as tall as Ji Yuan's thigh, and her words were no longer childishly hesitant—more clear and lively now.

"Brother Ji, are you leaving?"

Wen Linger let go, hesitated a bit, but finally asked.

"Don't worry, just going out for a while; I'll be back."

As usual, Ji Yuan tried to pat Wen Linger's little head, but she instinctively dodged.

"Mom said girls' heads shouldn't be randomly touched!" Wen Linger protested righteously, but then moved her head over herself, giggling, "But Brother Ji can touch it."

"Alright, alright."

Ji Yuan finally rubbed her little head, then cupped his hands to Wen Lin, "I'm off! Take care, Brother Wen."

"You too, Brother Ji."

Ji Yuan still had to drop by and leave word with Du Wanyi, so she wouldn't worry, so he hopped on his Flying Boat and left.

Father and daughter of the Wen family watched Ji Yuan's Thunder Falcon Boat disappear, before Wen Linger quietly asked, "Dad, will we see Brother Ji again?"

"Of course, definitely."

Wen Lin squatted down, smiling, "Next year, Ling Er, you'll have your Spirit Root tested too—maybe you'll join Water Dragon Sect with Brother Ji."

"..."

Ji Yuan stopped by Taian Square to tell Du Wanyi his plans, so she wouldn't keep traveling to Zengtou City every month. If anything urgent came up, she could tell Lin Hu; Ji Yuan would know when he returned.

Du Wanyi wanted to tag along with Ji Yuan, saying it'd be good to look out for each other in Cloud Rain Marsh.

But Ji Yuan politely declined.

Mist Island was somewhere he couldn't let outsiders know about.

So, having said his farewells, Ji Yuan again boarded the Flying Boat and left. The next day, he arrived near Mist Island, and spotting Broken Cliff Mountain, he piloted the Flying Boat down in a dive.

When his figure passed through the mist, he saw the Big Mouth Eating Toad squatting atop the cliff.

It craned its head up, and spotting Ji Yuan's Flying Boat, began hollering madly.

"Gua—"

"Gua gua—"

"..."

Ji Yuan took the chance, tossed a pound of Spirit Pig meat into its mouth as it opened wide, and the toad quieted instantly, looking blissful.

Ji Yuan then pointed down the cliff, urging the Flying Boat to land.

The Big Toad hopped quickly after him.

Ji Yuan arrived at the spot where he'd built a wooden hut before. Although it had been days, the hut still stood, proof that the Big Toad really accepted him.

Since that's the case... Ji Yuan looked at the forested island, feeling indescribably at ease.

After years since crossing over here, it was finally time to build a home of his own!

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