Feng Jiu’er left. Nanmeng Rong watched her figure vanish from his sight and did not follow.

As she had said — and he knew in his own heart as well — coming back to Tianjitang to see her was genuinely a great risk.

Yet he could not help but want to come back and take a look. The two of them… had not seen each other for a full month.

Seeing that she was so well, he was at ease.

Jiu’er had been treating Feng Yi’nan’s leg injury for so long. Now that Feng Yi’nan could stand and walk again, of course she was delighted.

As for him… he could see her whenever she was truly willing to come and see him. That was enough.

Feng Yi’nan could truly walk this time. Earlier, he had already been able to stand, but had been unable to take steps.

After eating his midday meal today, however, he had quietly gone to walk in the rear courtyard on his own — and had found he could actually set aside the crutches that had been supporting him.

To be certain this was real and not an illusion, he walked laps in the rear courtyard for at least half an hour before he dared to alert anyone.

By the time Feng Jiu’er arrived, Feng Yi’nan was still walking.

It was as though he had spent hundreds of years unable to walk. Being able to walk again — even though it was exhausting — was more satisfying than anything else he could imagine.

“Nin… Young Master.” Catching sight of Feng Jiu’er and Xiao Yingtao coming over from a distance, Feng Yi’nan drew a deep breath and walked quickly toward them.

“Stop — slow down!” Jiu’er was nearly frantic. This fellow — how could he be so impatient? There was a saying that haste cannot bring a hot pot of soup to boil. What if he stumbled and injured his leg again?

Feng Jiu’er sprinted over immediately and steadied him at once.

The corners of Feng Yi’nan’s lips, the lines of his brows — all were wreathed in smiles. “I’m fine, truly fine. Young Master, even if I walk a little faster, there’s absolutely not a problem.”

“Please — sit down and rest a while. Don’t keep walking continuously.”

“No, I’m not tired at all. Let me walk a bit more.”

Having only just regained the ability to walk, how could Feng Yi’nan be willing to sit down to rest like this? If he didn’t take a few more steps, he would suspect himself of still being in a dream.

In the end, after walking for at least the time it takes two sticks of incense to burn, and only under Feng Jiu’er’s firm insistence, did Feng Yi’nan finally agree to sit down in the chair.

But as for the wheelchair — he refused to sit in it ever again.

“You! That wheelchair has been with you for so long — even if it has no great merit, it has endured hardship at your side. And now you’re treating it with such contempt.”

Xiao Yingtao, who had brought the wheelchair over only to have it refused, shot him an exasperated look. Though her words were reproachful, the corners of her lips were full of smiles.

Today was truly a fine day. That evening, under Xiao Yingtao’s direction, everyone gathered in the rear courtyard for a bonfire gathering.

Feng Yi’nan was in high spirits and could not help drinking a few extra cups. Had Jiu’er not stopped him, who knows how much more he would have poured down his own throat.

But today was genuinely a day for joy. Every single person was happy. Even Feng Jiu’er herself could not resist drinking two cups and was left feeling a pleasant, tipsy warmth.

Xiao Yingtao was going around toasting everyone when she suddenly stopped — whether she caught sight of something, no one could tell. As she poured wine for Qiao Mu, the liquid spilled right over the rim of the cup.

Everyone followed Xiao Yingtao’s gaze and saw that Xue Gu and Tuoba Keyan were coming out together from the west wing, making their way toward the gathering.

Oddly enough, ever since Tuoba Keyan lost all his martial arts, his temperament seemed in some ways brighter and more open than before. During this period, not only was he willing to go out, he was even willing to exchange occasional words with everyone.

But that did not include Xiao Yingtao.

Xiao Yingtao had always harbored a deep-seated unease toward Tuoba Keyan. Seeing him — how could she easily let her guard down?

Qiao Mu took the wine bottle from her hand and gave her a gentle nudge. “That’s all in the past. Besides, he doesn’t even remember any of it now. What are you still holding onto it for?”

Xiao Yingtao pressed her lips together tightly. Some things — you simply couldn’t let go of.

And moreover, who could say for certain whether Tuoba Keyan had truly lost his memory?

Xue Gu had already brought Tuoba Keyan before them. Feng Jiu’er said, “Come, sit down. Have you ever tried a barbecue before?”

The term “barbecue” was one that no one present could write out, including the one who had organized tonight’s gathering, Xiao Yingtao.

But having heard Jiu’er use it so many times, everyone had come to understand what it meant — essentially, grilled meat. Only, the meat was arranged in skewers rather than in large pieces.

Compared to roasting a big slab of meat, it was more refined, more relaxed, and more entertaining.

Tuoba Keyan had indeed never seen this manner of eating before. He glanced at Xue Gu, looking slightly ill at ease — for among those present, aside from Xue Gu, only Feng Jiu’er was someone he could exchange a word or two with.

Xue Gu inclined her head. “Sit down. Let us give it a try.”

“Yes — sit down, sit down. Have some meat, have some wine.” Xiao Yingtao picked up a cup, filled it to the brim with wine, and suddenly hurled the entire cup toward him.

No one had expected Xiao Yingtao to strike so suddenly. Although Xue Gu and Feng Jiu’er were both skilled fighters, neither was close enough to react in time — and besides, Xiao Yingtao had not released the slightest killing intent. Who would have anticipated it?

Had Tuoba Keyan been able to react and sweep it aside with his palm, he might have managed. But the crux of it was — he had lost all his martial arts, had he not?

The cup flew straight into him, and the wine inside drenched him from top to bottom.

“Xiao Yingtao, what are you doing?” Xue Gu gave her a look.

Xiao Yingtao shrugged her shoulders with a perfectly innocent expression. “I simply forgot his martial arts were gone. Were it the old him, catching a cup like this would have been no trouble at all.”

This Xiao Yingtao — she still harbored deep resistance and resentment toward Tuoba Keyan.

Jiu’er shook her head at Xue Gu. Xue Gu, too, could only accept the situation. She casually wiped the wine from Tuoba Keyan’s clothes and led him to a seat.

It was only natural. Tuoba Keyan had made Xiao Yingtao suffer in the past. That one lash he had given her had nearly taken her life.

Even now, despite Jiu’er having applied the finest medicines, the scar from that lash still remained on Xiao Yingtao’s body.

How could any young woman fail to hold a grudge?

Feng Yi’nan held no goodwill toward Tuoba Keyan either. The arrow that had left him directly paralyzed had been loosed by Tuoba Keyan. Being injured himself was one thing — they had been on opposite sides of a battlefield, each serving their own master. That, he could accept.

But that arrow — it had originally been meant to take Feng Jiu’er’s life!

For Feng Yi’nan, anyone who intended to take Jiu’er’s life and posed a threat to her was an enemy.

Tuoba Keyan was now living here — and frankly, his thoughts were the same as Xiao Yingtao’s: he too feared he might still be pretending.

What if he intended to harm Young Master again? What then?

Qiao Mu said nothing, though she had no words to spare for Tuoba Keyan either. Her attitude made everything plain: she was every bit as resistant toward Tuoba Keyan.

After sitting for only a short while, Tuoba Keyan made an excuse to leave, departing with a look of low spirits.

Xue Gu glanced at the group of young people, ate and drank a little, then left as well, unable to do otherwise.

After Tuoba Keyan departed, the atmosphere among everyone finally grew lively again.

Jiu’er glanced at Xiao Yingtao and said, a trace of helplessness in her voice, “He’s already like this now. Let the past go.”

Xiao Yingtao was plainly unconvinced. “What if he has been pretending all along?”