The man was waiting in the backyard. Hearing footsteps behind him, he turned to look and saw a beautiful woman in a red dress approaching under the bright lights of the tavern.

The woman had an oval face, big eyes, a tall and slender figure, swaying with grace and a soft, tender demeanor, exuding charm.

The man didn't look much and lowered his head, bowing in respect.

The lady boss looked at him and asked, "Who are you? Why are you looking for me?"

The man took a deep breath, suppressing some sorrow, and said, "My surname is Tang, first name Chou. I wonder if this esteemed establishment would take in a little girl, obedient and sensible, capable of doing any work, just in exchange for meals."

The lady boss was momentarily startled; she had already seen the little girl in the hall earlier and naturally understood who the man was referring to.

She was immediately infuriated, sneering coldly, "Is that your daughter?"

"Yes."

"You want to sell your own daughter?"

"I don't even want money."

The lady boss's anger quelled slightly, and she said, "But have you encountered any difficulties? If so, my place is recruiting a nursing home staff. I heard from the steward that you have some peculiar skills. Maybe you could try. As a nursing home staff, you'd have money to support your daughter."

The man named Tang Chou smiled and said, "Thank you for your kindness, but I won't live for much longer.

Lately, thanks to your family's porridge shop, Niannian and I have survived, you are good people... If possible, I wish Niannian could stay with your family, whether as a maid or servant, anything will do.

As long as she can live, that's enough."

As he spoke, he opened his hand, and the iron lump buzzed instantly with a few thin, blade-like wings, suddenly flew up, spinning rapidly with a cold glint in the palm of his hand.

Zhou Jia's eyes snapped open, and he got up, rushing over to shield the lady boss.

But Tang Chou didn't mind and just played with the Iron Butterfly.

After he finished with one, a second, then a third Iron Butterfly flew out from his pocket...

Three butterflies swiftly moved around him, like three black trails, simultaneously making a tearing sound.

With a movement of Tang Chou's palm, the three butterflies rapidly flew towards a nearby boulder, and after a turn, the boulder was left with several cut marks.

Tang Chou moved again, and the three butterflies returned to his palm, folding their wings, turning back into iron lumps.

He turned and bowed to the lady boss, saying, "I've already taught this little trick to Niannian; if you take this girl in, she'll not only be an obedient maid but also a personal bodyguard in the future."

The lady boss stared at him, hesitated for a while, then glanced at the seriousness in Zhou Jia's eyes and said, "Old Wu, fetch him some travel money."

Tang Chou was stunned, "You... don't want to take Niannian?"

The lady boss said, "Sorry, your skills are quite extraordinary, logically speaking, someone like you should not end up in such a plight.

But you are, which means there's no shortage of your story.

I just don't want my husband and me involved in these stories, bearing risks that should not concern us."

Tang Chou chuckled, sighed heavily, and said, "Since I'm leaving Niannian here, I'm sure the danger behind me will not affect this place, and I'm dying soon. When I die, who will know Niannian and I are related?"

The lady boss hesitated a bit more; she could tell her husband was gathering various skills, and this man's power was undoubtedly special, after all, she never heard of anyone who could turn iron lumps into flying butterflies...

The two were silent when suddenly, they heard faint sobbing in the distance.

Tang Chou and the lady boss turned around to see a beautiful woman holding a little girl's hand standing at the back door.

The little girl was tear-streaked, her eyes red like peaches.

"Sister Yan!"

"Niannian!"

The lady boss and Tang Chou called out their names.

Yan Yu's pretty face showed some embarrassment, "I... I saw this little girl waiting in the building, so I took her to find her father... looking for her father, we ended up here, and then... then..."

She didn't need to continue; the tears on the little girl's face already explained everything.

Tang Chou immediately understood, his eyes turned red, he lowered his head, clenched his fist, and softly said, "Niannian..."

The little girl burst into tears, rushed over, and clung tightly to the man, saying, "Dad... I don't want you to die, I don't want you to die!"

Everyone exchanged glances, Yan Yu said, "Why don't we wait for Young Master Li to return and then decide."

The lady boss said, "Listen to Sister."

...

...

At this time, the carriage slowly stopped.

Li Yuan got off the carriage with the short man, bypassed a flower bed scattered with petals, walked along the cobblestone path, and headed to the rear hall of the Blood Fury Hall.

A white-robed man with a beard was sitting in the courtyard of the rear hall, tracing on a stone table as if pondering something, and looked up at the sound of movement, saying, "You're here?"

Li Yuan stepped forward respectfully, saying, "Disciple greets the Sect Leader."

Tie Sha stared at him for a moment, then suddenly laughed and said, "You rascal, you've secretly brewed that much good wine. Remember to bring me two jars next time!"

The short man next to him said, "Sect Leader, he brought two jars of Spring Dream Brew."

Tie Sha froze for a moment, then burst into laughter, pointing at him, saying, "Come and sit."

Li Yuan, not standing on ceremony, bowed and sat on the stone stool opposite Tie Sha, facing each other across the table.

It was only then that Li Yuan noticed the chaotic lines on the stone table, like the ones he had seen in the "Soul-Throwing Technique" given by his teacher.

These were lines of the Life Atlas.

Yet, it was a Life Atlas with form but without soul.

"Have you seen this before?" Tie Sha asked in a casual, conversational tone.

Li Yuan answered honestly, "I've seen it in the Cultivation Skill given by my teacher."

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