When they returned to the inn, Mu Dai felt somewhat restless. Yan Hongsha and the others had disappeared somewhere. When she sent messages asking where they were, Hongsha replied: “Busy having fun.”

Really, once they arrived in the ancient city, everyone became like eagles let loose from their leashes. But Mu Dai wasn’t worried – it seemed that after the fierce bamboo slip incident, there was nothing left in this world to worry about.

She played with Yue Xiao Feng in the inn’s bar, taking a tourism brochure to teach him to recognize pictures. Inadvertently flipping to a page, it was actually about Hangu Pass, complete with an ancient-style illustration showing the sage Laozi leaving the pass with his white hair and beard, looking ethereal and transcendent. The artist, fearing Laozi might be lonely, had added a rosy-cheeked little immortal boy leading an ox.

It was all too familiar. Mu Dai’s eyes actually became misty, and she pointed it out to Yue Xiao Feng: “Look, this is Hangu Pass. Auntie has been there.”

But Yue Xiao Feng was clinging to the table, standing on his toes with his little chin raised high: “Mommy, Mommy.”

Mu Dai was puzzled for a long time before realizing he was calling out to a photo hanging on the wall.

She carried Yue Xiao Feng over to look. The photo was taken in northern Tibet – a vast white expanse with snow peaks in the background and snowy ground in the foreground, with an SUV parked there and two deep tire tracks extending into the distant shallows.

Two people stood beside the front of the vehicle: a middle-aged man in red robes who must be a master, and a long-haired woman, gentle and serene, with eyes neither startled nor disturbed.

Mu Dai said: “That’s your mommy.”

She lifted Yue Xiao Feng high up. He was overjoyed, spreading his little arms as if to hug, then pressed against the wall and gave the part of the framed photo where his mommy stood a kiss, leaving a small wet lip print.

Mu Dai almost felt envious. Here the little guy was saying his mommy didn’t want him anymore, but when he saw his mommy’s photo, he became so jubilant that nothing could hold him back. If one day there was such a little guy in this world who was so attached to her, that would be wonderful.

At dinner time, several people still hadn’t returned. Mu Dai ate with Brother Mao and his wife. She put a small bib on Yue Xiao Feng and carefully fed him spoonful by spoonful. Sister-in-law Mao praised her: “You’ll definitely be a good mother in the future, so caring.”

Yue Xiao Feng corrected Sister-in-law Mao: “This is auntie, Pocket Auntie, not mommy.”

Brother Mao had been watching Mu Dai and asked her: “I heard from Shen Gun that you’re very skilled in martial arts, from an authentic martial arts lineage?”

Mu Dai said: “It’s my master who was skilled. She was called Plum Blossom Nine Lady and was quite famous in earlier years.”

Speaking of this, her heart couldn’t help but feel regret. She had asked Wan Fenghuo to help inquire about her master’s life story, but there was still no definite news. Once when she was anxious, she said to Wan Fenghuo: “How could there be no information? My master should have been quite famous back then.”

In those days, Plum Blossom Nine Lady should have been a chivalrous woman who helped the world. Maybe her stories were even made into songs sung in the streets.

Wan Fenghuo said: “Oh my little girl, do you know what the situation was like back then? Turbulent times produce heroes – there were remarkable people everywhere. How many people recorded in books ended up with no trace?”

The implication was: much less someone like your master, who wasn’t even mentioned by any scholar.

Brother Mao asked again: “So who’s more formidable, you or Luo Ren?”

Mu Dai said: “Little Luo, I guess.”

Brother Mao said: “I don’t think so. Shen Gun mentioned that Luo Ren had mercenary training, but you put in a solid ten-plus years of kung fu with famous master guidance. Let me tell you, I’ve always believed Chinese martial arts can instantly defeat any foreign school.”

Mu Dai laughed: “What’s the point of comparing?”

Brother Mao was rendered speechless by her laughter.

Near the end of the meal, she received two messages. One was from Shen Gun saying tomorrow was an auspicious day, suitable for marriage, travel, haircuts, and setting up beds – tomorrow would be best for the wedding.

Mu Dai didn’t care. Luo Ren had said this time was just to fulfill a wish, not a real big day. Whatever day it was didn’t matter – as long as it was auspicious and everyone was happy.

The other message was from Zheng Mingshan saying he had received Shen Gun’s notification and would definitely arrive by tomorrow evening.

This left Mu Dai conflicted for a long time: How should she explain to her senior brother that this was just a playful gesture? After all, for the real wedding that Hong Yi would host in the future, senior brother would definitely have to attend – would senior brother say she was doing a rehearsal for the wedding? What was this, trying to collect more red envelopes?

After dinner, Yue Xiao Feng started yawning. The little guy had been energetic all day and was finally getting tired. Sister-in-law Mao wanted to take him back to his room, but he refused, hugging Mu Dai’s arm and saying: “I want to stay with auntie.”

Sister-in-law Mao said: “That won’t do. You’re a boy and auntie is a girl – you can’t stay together.”

Yue Xiao Feng sat on his small stool without saying anything. After a while, he dragged his little stool to a corner of the kitchen and sat facing the wall.

Brother Mao was amused: “Little Mao Tou is actually sulking.”

Mu Dai felt it wasn’t that simple. After a while, she secretly went to look, and sure enough, Yue Xiao Feng was wiping tears while facing the empty wall.

When she tried to comfort him, he became even more upset. This time, he didn’t even want Mu Dai – he only wanted Daddy and Mommy.

Children who have never been separated from their parents are like this – no matter how happily they play with you during the day, when night comes and loneliness creeps into their hearts, parents are still the dearest.

The more they comforted him, the more chaotic it became. Finally, Brother Mao called Yue Feng.

Mu Dai watched from the side as Yue Xiao Feng held the phone, sniffling and speaking intermittently.

“Daddy, when are you coming back?”

“Daddy, don’t you miss me?”

“I almost got sold by bad people today.”

Then the person speaking on the other end seemed to change to Ji Tangtang. When Yue Xiao Feng talked to his mommy, his tone noticeably rose.

“Mommy!”

“Mommy, do you miss me?”

“Mommy, I want to sleep with Pocket Auntie, but Auntie Mao Mao won’t let me.”

After talking for a while, he suddenly looked up and said to Sister-in-law Mao: “Mommy says it’s okay!”

Sister-in-law Mao pinched his nose: “Aren’t you embarrassed? Pocket Auntie doesn’t want to sleep with you.”

Mu Dai quickly said: “It’s fine, it’s fine. It’s okay.”

Sister-in-law Mao took the phone and talked with Ji Tangtang for a while, then handed it to Mu Dai.

Talk to me? Mu Dai didn’t know what to say and took it with great trepidation.

She heard Ji Tangtang thank her, saying: “The little guy is very well-behaved. Let him pee before sleeping and he won’t get up at night. He sleeps deeply and quietly until dawn – no trouble.”

“It’s just a bit troublesome when he’s falling asleep. He’ll probably still miss his mommy. Sister-in-law Mao will help you coax him.”

Mu Dai kept responding, forgetting what she herself said. When she hung up, she suddenly felt that talking with Yue Xiao Feng’s mother made her heart feel very comfortable.

Mu Dai stayed with Yue Xiao Feng in the Peak Hall Room. Not feeling sleepy yet, she sat on the bed playing with toys with him – tiger-head hats, small balls, little trains. Some were even toys that Mao Wa had played with as a child. Sister-in-law Mao really was a practical homemaker.

So this was the very “blessed” room that Shen Gun mentioned? Where was the blessing?

She looked around curiously. Actually, it was just an ordinary room. If there was anything different, it was that this room was downstairs, unlike regular guest rooms which were all upstairs.

Luo Ren came back very late and first came to see Mu Dai. Mu Dai asked him: “Was there something fishy about that old man?”

Looking at Luo Ren’s expression, she knew her earlier worry was not just imagination. She immediately felt annoyed, not knowing what method Ge Er had used. Her eyesight and reactions weren’t poor – if Ge Er had made any big movements at that time, she would have kicked him over.

Luo Ren smiled and said: “It’s nothing.”

He added: “Walking around, you inevitably run into a few rotten people. Can’t blame you for that.”

“Was it troublesome to resolve?”

“Not too bad. I taught him a lesson, gave him a thorough cleanup, drove him away, and cleared out his messy den. That’s all I did.”

Yue Xiao Feng sat on the bed, angrily patting the blanket: “Won’t play with Uncle Xiao Dao!”

Luo Ren laughed and actually walked all the way to the bedside, sat down, and asked: “Do you like Uncle Xiao Dao?”

“Don’t like.”

The answer was decisive.

Luo Ren said: “I see. But I like you – what should we do about that?”

Probably because he had fought with Ge Er over the little guy earlier, Yue Xiao Feng suddenly wasn’t that annoying little brat anymore – he was someone Luo Ren had protected with effort. Seeing him now, he suddenly seemed different.

Yue Xiao Feng was stunned, probably never having anticipated that the adult world could be so complex, with such unreasonable answers – I don’t like you, but you still like me? What to do about that?

But children’s nature being what it is – when someone likes you, there’s probably no heart that doesn’t feel happy about it. Yue Xiao Feng muttered: “Who told you to like me?”

His voice was much lower, and he didn’t chase Luo Ren away anymore, pretending to play intently with his little train.

Luo Ren said quietly: “The little guy’s parents probably aren’t simple either.”

Mu Dai was curious: “Why?”

“Sometimes to measure a person, you can start with the weight of their opponents. Ge Er isn’t anything good, but he does have real skills.”

He patted Yue Xiao Feng’s head: “He said it was an old grudge with his mother from years ago. I don’t want to get involved in such old affairs. But if you’re a tough character, you can go adult to adult and settle it with his mother – targeting a small child, that I can’t stand.”

Suddenly thinking of something, he asked Mu Dai: “Did you get Shen Gun’s message?”

Mu Dai nodded, paused, then smiled: “Suddenly saying we’re getting married tomorrow feels weird.”

“Weird how?”

“Just… no feeling about it.”

“Oh, no feeling.”

He spoke impassively, as if repeating, or as if talking to himself. After a while, he looked at Yue Xiao Feng: “Can you count?”

“Yes, up to fifty!”

Yue Xiao Feng demonstrated fifty by first holding up one palm, then two palms.

This was fifty.

“Uncle Xiao Dao will play something fun with you – hide and seek.”

Luo Ren taught him: “You cover your eyes and count to fifty. During this time, Uncle Xiao Dao will find a place to hide. When you finish counting, you come find me. Okay?”

It sounded very fun. Yue Xiao Feng blinked.

Luo Ren made the decision for him: “Good, then let’s start.”

He casually pulled off a pillowcase and covered Yue Xiao Feng’s head, tying the corners in a knot. Yue Xiao Feng sat on the bed with his head looking like it was covered by a paper bag, and the knotted part looked like protruding bull horns.

Mu Dai couldn’t stop laughing: “Where did you learn to blindfold someone like that…”

Yue Xiao Feng spoke in a muffled voice and really began counting seriously: “One, two, three…”

Mu Dai pushed Luo Ren: “Hurry up and hide. This room isn’t good for hiding.”

She really started looking around for hiding spots for him.

In the wardrobe? No, too small. Behind the table? Also no, too obvious.

Just as she was thinking, her body swayed and Luo Ren pulled her into his arms with one motion, wrapping his arm around her waist and leaning close to her ear to whisper: “Did you really think I was interested in playing hide and seek with him? I’m not three years old.”

Mu Dai’s eyes widened as she looked at him, seeing something different in his gaze.

Suddenly feeling somewhat embarrassed, she whispered: “He’s right here.”

Yes, right here, like a rigid counter, reciting: “Eleven, twelve, thirteen…”

Luo Ren smiled: “So what if he’s here? Am I afraid of him?”

His arm tightened, and he lowered his head to kiss her cheek. His other hand moved up along her waistline. Mu Dai’s breathing became urgent, and she instinctively tried to struggle. Luo Ren’s hand stopped on her chest and, through her clothes, gripped hard.

Mu Dai cried out in pain and surprise, her mind going blank, her eardrums ringing, as she heard Yue Xiao Feng’s baby voice reciting: “Twenty-seven, twenty-eight…”

When he said “two,” it always sounded like he was saying “hungry.”

She looked into Luo Ren’s eyes and felt his gaze was deeper than ever before. Her lips suddenly felt a bit dry, and she bit them uneasily, trembling slightly against his body.

Luo Ren leaned close to her ear and said: “Tonight, after the little guy falls asleep, come find me.”

What did this mean?

Mu Dai’s breathing became rapid. She felt she understood, yet felt she didn’t understand.

Asking her to find him probably wasn’t for chatting.

Luo Ren smiled, released her, and Mu Dai lowered her head, her heart beating frantically. She only heard the door close and didn’t even notice when Luo Ren left.

“Forty-nine, fifty!”

Yue Xiao Feng excitedly pulled off the pillowcase.

Mu Dai’s cheeks were still burning hot. She slowly sat down on the bed edge, her hands twisted together.

Go, or not go?

She heard Yue Xiao Feng’s disappointed shout by her ear.

“Uncle Xiao Dao is a liar!”

“Bad person, Mommy will scratch you to death.”