The price of the Fearless Army is based on individual strength, whereas the city guards on the Blood Saber Sect's Inner City are only slightly more expensive than ordinary live goods.

"Alright, I'd like to trouble Sect Leader Tie and Elder Ding." Li Yuan expressed gratitude, considering that a nice environment is also suitable for raising birds, and then added, "Can I take all the Demon Dogs from the sect back to guard the yard?"

Tie Sha quickly replied, "Absolutely, you take them..."

Li Yuan said, "Aside from this, I also wish to erect a cenotaph for Master Li."

Tie Sha and Elder Ding were taken aback, showing surprise.

Immediately, Tie Sha said, "Okay, there's still clothing of Master Li in the Inner City, and there are places in the city that deal with burial businesses. I will have a paperman made that resembles Master Li according to your instructions, dress it in his clothes, and select a date for burial."

"Thank you." Li Yuan bowed.

Tie Sha and Elder Ding hurriedly returned the gesture.

Once Li Yuan was far away, Elder Ding stroked his beard and remarked, "I didn't expect this senior to be such a compassionate and righteous person. It seems... he's planning to settle here. Sect Leader Tie, this is indeed a great occasion."

Tie Sha glanced towards the Black Market direction, squeezed out a smile, and nodded, "Indeed... finally, some good news.

Though a ghost domain was born within the workshop, we have the Ancestor overseeing Shanbao County.

I see that the Ancestor has offspring with two ordinary women, likely intending to establish the Li Family here.

In the future... our Blood Saber Sect might very well become a green vine climbing the Li Family.

The Blood Saber Sect is safe, Elder Ding, with seniors accompanying you, I'm considering whether to take a trip to the Central Plains... seek out the Holy Fire Palace to see if I can gain insight from our lineage's Life Atlas."

Elder Ding sighed, saying only, "Tie Sha, you are a smart man, do what you think is best."

The Central Plains are perilous, but cultivation is immensely important.

Tie Sha is still in good condition now, but given a few more years, even with the Life Atlas, he might not be able to cultivate it if Shadow Blood declines.

So, Elder Ding couldn't offer much advice.

The two talked, and Tie Sha was preparing to rest.

However, as he was about to leave, rapid hoofbeats suddenly echoed from afar...

Soon, a disciple in a Profound Robe dismounted and bowed before the pavilion, announcing, "Sect Leader, a disciple discovered people escaping from the Black Market by Silver Creek's riverbank."

Tie Sha rose abruptly.

Elder Ding was also shocked, his eyes wide open.

The two looked at each other, reading the information in each other's eyes: Could it be the remains?

Tie Sha asked, "How many people?"

The Profound Robe disciple answered, "Six people."

Elder Ding stroked his beard, saying, "Impossible..."

Absolutely impossible to have six remains.

Tie Sha said, "Take me to see."

Moments later, they led several disciples to a small forest by a chilly riverbank, where six people huddled by the trees, surrounded by miscellaneous task holders with knives and swords.

The two approached, asking clearly, soon learning these six also encountered last night's incident, fled chaotically, boarded a ship, and then fainted in shock, only to wake at dawn finding the ship gently drifting ashore.

Elder Ding questioned further for a while, then shook his head at Tie Sha, indicating it's not the remains.

Tie Sha proceeded to investigate, suspecting these six might carry some personal treasure or something else...

But after striving the entire evening, Tie Sha couldn't find anything special about these six.

So, Tie Sha ordered the disciples to continue investigating.

...

The next day, all information on the six was organized, presented before Tie Sha.

Tie Sha looked at the six files, first stunned, then examining closely.

These six were strangers, with almost no interactions in the past, not carrying treasures.

However, there's one thing they entirely shared.

Yet that one thing left Tie Sha in disbelief.

Seeing Elder Ding arrive, Tie Sha pushed the six files towards him, asking, "Elder Ding, do you believe anyone can survive the ghost realm just because... their surname is Yan?"

Elder Ding shook his head, dismissing it as nonsense.

Then he glanced at the files.

On the files, all six people's surname was... Yan.

After a while, Elder Ding finished reading the files, like Tie Sha, fell into a peculiar silence.

Because their only commonality was indeed their surname.

...

...

Days later, a cenotaph was erected by the creek, with a stele inscribed "Tomb of Former Master Li Yu," signed "Li Yuan."

Li Yuan came alone to pay respects.

The weather was unfavorable, with snow and rain falling.

The young man placed white flowers and fruits before the tomb, grabbed a bundle of paper money, scattering it in the wind, then bowed, burning three sticks of incense to insert into a bronze incense burner.

After doing all this, he took out two jars of the finest Snow Brew, sitting cross-legged before the stele.

He gazed at the stele, memories of Master Li's care and days past surfacing in his mind.

He remained silent for a long while, breaking the seals on the jars, grabbed one, hand slightly drooping.

The pure liquor poured before the tomb.

"Teacher, drink first." The young man focused on the liquor.

Once the liquor depleted, he brought the remaining jar from Snow Brew Workshop to his mouth, drinking heartily with raised head.

Strong liquor hurtled down his throat, first like ice shards, then like fiery blades, stirring his insides as if burned to ashes.

He drank the entire jar in one go.

The young man's body slightly swayed, many words bubbling within, yet none spoken, only bowing again before leaving, saying, "Thank you for your guidance!"

With that, he turned and departed.

Moments later, people came one after another, Zhou Jia, Zhao Chunxin, seeing the white flowers and wine stains before the tomb, naturally knew Li Yuan had been here.

...

The next day, early morning.

A carriage stopped at Inner City's No. 9 mansion.

Li Yuan helped two ladies onto the carriage, accompanying them side by side.

Today was a fortunate day, the day they moved to Baihua Manor.

The carriage wheels rolled, quietly heading west, gradually distancing from Silver Creek and Black Market Ghost Realm.

Inside the carriage, the women leaned against their man, gently stroking their abdomen, though not yet showing, the thought of nurturing two small lives gave them a sense of wonder.

The carriage exited the Inner City, passing the bustling market, Li Yuan knowing the ladies recently had cravings, prepared to alight for some snacks.

Just as he was about to step down, Lady Yan suddenly said, "Husband, I..."

"Sister Yan, what's up, just speak." Li Yuan smiled gently.

Lady Yan said, "I thought this departure, unsure when we'll return next. So... I want to visit the shelter area."

"Understood." Li Yuan replied, "But I've inquired, Feng'Er hasn't returned, Brother Xiong hasn't either, however I didn't harm them."

"Husband, can you do me a favor?"

"Sister Yan, just tell me, your matters are mine."

"Could you ask someone to keep Feng'Er's place empty, not to rent it out? I want to leave a letter for her, letting her know where we've moved, in case she returns and can't find us, she might be anxious."

Li Yuan chuckled, didn't dampen his wife's spirits.

She went off with Brother Xiong, how could she return?

Amusedly, he said, "Alright."

"Then... let's detour over, I'll write a letter, place it on her table, she'll know immediately when she returns."

"Okay, as my wife wishes."

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