Chapter 71 - 70: Sorrowful Departure, Escorted by Wind and Snow

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK!

The crisp sound of knocking echoed down the somewhat deserted street. Song Ciwan opened her eyes. With a slight stir of her thoughts, a subtle sense extended toward the door.

By practicing the *Sutra of Sitting and Forgetting* for the Dual Cultivation of Life and Spirit, Song Ciwan had reached the Perfection of the Qi Transformation Stage. Not only had her True Qi grown denser and more substantial, but even her Divine Soul felt as if it were about to manifest a physical form out of the void.

As a result, she now possessed a perspective far broader and less restricted than what her physical eyes could offer.

In the terminology of the *Sutra of Sitting and Forgetting*, this was called "Bright Vision."

For now, however, this Bright Vision was still blurry, and its range was limited to about a hundred feet around her.

’So, who’s knocking?’

Her Bright Vision extended outward, forming a hazy impression. It was Aunt Jin Hua at the door!

Song Ciwan immediately flipped her palm over. The Millimeter Pearl-sized Vast Sea Grotto Heaven vanished and was drawn into her Dantian.

She got up, walked outside, and opened the courtyard gate.

Outside, Aunt Jin Hua stood with her hand raised. The moment she saw Song Ciwan, a look of relief washed over her face. "Lady Yue, you really are home! That’s wonderful! Quick, pack your things and leave the city with me. The Escort Masters from the Situong Escort Agency said they’re leaving at the second quarter of the Hour of the Dragon."

Song Ciwan asked in surprise, "Auntie, what are you talking about?"

Aunt Jin Hua spoke hurriedly, "We can’t stay in Su Yang City any longer. So many people have already left. My Old Yu said it wasn’t safe to travel at night, so we forced ourselves to stay one more evening. Good child, hurry up. We have to leave with the Situong Escort Agency."

After giving these instructions, she turned to leave, adding one more thing over her shoulder. "Lady Yue, don’t hesitate, you hear? The Pill Masters from the Demon Refining Platform have all left, so you don’t need to go to that place anymore. Hurry, hurry now! Come to my house as soon as you’re packed!"

She had come in a hurry and left just as quickly, but the news she brought left Song Ciwan momentarily stunned.

It wasn’t because the Pill Masters from the Demon Refining Platform were leaving. While that was somewhat unexpected, it was also understandable.

What truly gave Song Ciwan mixed feelings was that Aunt Jin Hua had actually made a special trip to her house at a time like this to invite her to leave with them!

Song Ciwan stood frozen for a moment before turning and rushing back inside to pack.

First, she carefully took the spirit tablets for Father Song and Mrs. Song, wrapped them up, and stored them in the Vast Sea Grotto Heaven.

She had to be thankful she’d obtained the Vast Sea Grotto Heaven; otherwise, not having a storage artifact would be incredibly inconvenient.

Items taken by the Heaven and Earth Scale could only be sold once placed inside. Song Ciwan certainly couldn’t sell her parents’ spirit tablets!

Her cellar was stocked with plenty of grain and various daily necessities, which Song Ciwan also moved into the Vast Sea Grotto Heaven.

Then she quickly tidied the rest of the house. Things she needed to keep out in the open were bundled up and placed in a long, deep bamboo back-basket.

Everything else was divided into two categories. Items that weren’t very useful and took up space were all tossed into the Heaven and Earth Scale to be sold later. The rest were selectively placed into the Vast Sea Grotto Heaven.

The Vast Sea Grotto Heaven currently had only three cubic meters of space, so Song Ciwan had to use it strategically.

She emptied her house in just half a quarter-hour, then hoisted the bamboo back-basket onto her back, picked up the Big White Goose, and locked the door behind her.

The moment she left, Song Ciwan looked back at her home.

This place was her first and only home since arriving in this world. It held everything familiar to her and carried so many memories from both her past and present lives.

But from this day forward, she was finally leaving it behind.

One person, one goose.

Heading toward a future no one could predict, in search of the freedom of an Immortal and the poetry of the Mortal World.

’From now on, wherever I am, that’s where my home will be.’

The Big White Goose in her arms stretched out its neck and suddenly let out a series of strained "ZHA ZHA ZHA" cries.

Song Ciwan realized then that a goose’s call could be so varied.

There was "GAGA," "KANG KANG," "ANG ANG," and even "ZHA ZHA"...

When it cried "ZHA ZHA," it sounded exceptionally solemn, as if it also understood they were leaving and was saying goodbye to their old home.

Song Ciwan gently stroked the goose’s head and neck, a slight smile touching her lips.

She turned and strode away, casting her melancholy aside and holding onto her joy.

’I am embarking on a long journey today, so why not face it with a song?’

Soon, Song Ciwan arrived at Aunt Jin Hua’s house.

Before she even got close, she saw a carriage draped in indigo cloth parked in front of the gate. A sturdy brown horse pawed the ground, waiting restlessly.

Aunt Jin Hua was rushing back and forth, carrying things out of the house. A young girl of about ten followed her, busily helping to move items as well.

A tall young man was there too. After stuffing a large bundle nearly half his height into the carriage with a THUMP, he immediately jumped onto the driver’s seat and called back, "Ma, stop packing! Lady Yue is here, let’s go!"

Despite the deep winter cold, Aunt Jin Hua’s hair was slightly disheveled, and a thin layer of sweat beaded on her forehead.

Bustling about, she waved at the approaching Song Ciwan. "Lady Yue, you’re here! Quick, come on!"

She shoved one last bundle into the carriage, then said with clenched teeth, "Forget it, this is all we’re taking. Lady Yue, get in the carriage, quick! We need to go!"

The streets were truly empty. A few other households in the neighborhood were packing, but most people were just carrying bundles on their backs or pulling handcarts. Only Aunt Jin Hua’s family had a horse-drawn carriage.

A neighbor pulling a handcart looked over, his voice tinged with envy. "Constable Yu’s family! If your carriage can even take that lone star of calamity, why can’t it take my little one? We’re all neighbors. Shouldn’t we help each other out when we’re away from home?"

Aunt Jin Hua spat sharply. "Help each other? It’s always me helping you. When have you ever helped me? Lady Yue, get on!"

Song Ciwan immediately got into the carriage, giving a hand to the little girl who was following Aunt Jin Hua.

This was Aunt Jin Hua’s youngest daughter, nicknamed Ah Chan. Because she was born with a black birthmark on her left cheek, she rarely appeared in public.

Even when she did, she was often timid, evoking a sense of pity.

Aunt Jin Hua’s eldest son was named Yu Lin. Yu Lin was the opposite of Ah Chan. He had been sent to train with an old master in martial arts from a young age and had achieved considerable Power after years of hard practice. He was the pride of his parents.

Song Ciwan knew of him, but they weren’t well acquainted.

Once she was in, Yu Lin quickly cracked the whip, and the carriage sped off.

Holding the goose, Song Ciwan sat squeezed among the various bundles in the cramped carriage. She glanced around, realized something was wrong, and asked, "Auntie, where’s Uncle Yu?"

That was right. Aunt Jin Hua’s family—she and her two children—were all here, but Constable Yu was missing!

"Your Uncle Yu..." Aunt Jin Hua wiped the sweat from her forehead again and sighed, a bitter smile on her face. "Lady Yue, your Uncle Yu said he couldn’t leave. The Lord County Magistrate is still here. As a constable, he eats from the Government Office’s bowl. How could he just up and leave?"

After saying this, she forced herself to rally her spirits. "He told me to take Brother Lin and Chan’Er and go on ahead. We’ll go to the County, to Pinglan City. There are countless experts in Pinglan City. With Ah Lin practicing martial arts, he’s sure to have a breakthrough once we get to Pinglan!"

At the mention of Yu Lin’s potential breakthrough, the light returned to Aunt Jin Hua’s weary face. At her age, what more could she ask for? All she wanted was for her children to have a bright future.

The carriage moved on, and the city gates were unobstructed.

Before long, the view ahead opened up. A large crowd had gathered at the city gates.

A sense of bustling activity washed over them once more. The banner of the Situong Escort Agency snapped in the wind. Suddenly, someone exclaimed, "It’s snowing!"

At the beginning of the Hour of the Dragon, a light snow began to fall.