90: Passing the New Year

It snowed again, and the earth was covered in silver.

Heyu Town had an unusually large amount of snow this year. They say a timely snow promises a bumper harvest, but the snow in Heyu Town meant that every snowfall buried a new group of people.

Seven days had passed, and not a single person from those conscripted from the town had returned.

There was no good news, nor bad news; it was as if those who left had vanished from the face of the earth.

On the 30th day of the 12th month, in the 3397th year of the Yuanhe calendar of the Jingyuan Dynasty, as the year drew to a close, most households in the town and villages became lively, busy preparing New Year's Eve dinner, or with children of all ages gathering in village entrances and alleys to light firecrackers.

Jiang Nian had just finished distributing salaries and New Year's red envelopes to all the maids and servants in the residence, allowing them to go home for a reunion.

Nanny Liu flicked her handkerchief, walked forward, and whispered, "Young Madam, that girl is here again. She's crying at the main gate right now."

Jiang Nian knew that the girl Nanny Liu spoke of was the granddaughter of the family Guard, Xu Yinghui. She had met her once and was deeply impressed by the little girl's intelligent and clear eyes.

This was the third time the little girl had come. The previous two days, Nanny Liu had persuaded her to leave, so it seemed she would have to meet her today no matter what.

"Bring her to the flower hall in the front courtyard."

Nanny Liu softly acknowledged with a "Yes" and then left the main hall to make arrangements.

Most of the maids and servants in the household had already been given New Year's leave to return home, but a few widows, old women, or orphans remained in the courtyard to continue their duties.

In these times, the widowed, solitary, and orphaned were all too common. In a world dominated by Contract Masters, the lives of Mortals like them were sometimes as insignificant as weeds.

The three giant python Source Beasts in the household were growing faster and faster. The courtyard was no longer large enough for them to stretch out, so when there was nothing much going on, the three giant pythons were usually free-ranged in the back mountain.

Ever since the Wood Spirit Crystal Pattern Python recovered, its size had grown at an alarming rate, showing a tendency to surpass its older siblings.

Chu Shengyuan even 'dominantly' declared that the Wood Spirit Crystal Pattern Python was his second uncontracted Source Beast, and the actual situation was not far off, as he had been feeding the Wood Spirit Crystal Pattern Python all along.

The Wood Spirit Crystal Pattern Python was exceptionally affectionate and intelligent towards Chu Shengyuan, accurately executing all his commands.

These past two days, whenever Chu Shengyuan had free time, he would drag Chu Shenghan to the back mountain, seemingly conducting some kind of adaptability test on his sister, which resulted in Chu Shenghan being able to face the three giant pythons expressionlessly and without retreating or dodging.

At this time, Chu Shengfan should be with the head steward reviewing the accounts for this period, unlike his two younger siblings who only knew how to play.

Chu Shengfan, only two years older, appeared far too mature and sensible.

And Chu Qinhui was still guarding the ancestral hall, not having left it for a single step.

Collecting her scattered thoughts, Jiang Nian worried that her husband might be getting bored in the ancestral hall. She had intended to let Xiao Fan take his place for a while, but he refused.

She wondered if this was a form of 'punishment' he inflicted upon himself.

Sighing softly, Jiang Nian rose and walked towards the flower hall in the front courtyard.

In the flower hall, Nanny Liu was softly speaking to a simply dressed little girl sitting by a round table.

Seeing Jiang Nian arrive, Nanny Liu bowed respectfully and then quietly stood behind Jiang Nian.

The little girl stood up from her chair and, imitating Nanny Liu, bowed to the madam before her.

Jiang Nian came to her side, pulled her, and had her sit beside her.

"Are you... Xu Yinyue?"

Xu Yinyue nodded twice, then her clear eyes looked up at Jiang Nian.

Looking into her eyes, Jiang Nian involuntarily paused for a moment, then smiled gently, "Are you here to look for your grandpa?"

Xu Yinyue nodded again, "The New Year is almost here, why isn't my grandpa home yet?"

Jiang Nian took out a handkerchief and wiped Xu Yinyue's tear-stained face, "Why did you come alone? Where are your parents?"

"My parents died when I was two," Xu Yinyue said, with no sadness on her face when speaking of her parents' death.

Pity flashed in Jiang Nian's eyes, "Did your grandpa say anything to you before he left? This mission he's on is very dangerous, and there's no news of his return yet. Tell me your home address, and we'll notify you as soon as there's any news, okay?"

Hearing Jiang Nian's words, Xu Yinyue's lively eyes instantly welled up with tears. She said in a choked voice:

"I saw Grandpa already died. Can you let me take his body home?"

Jiang Nian's heart sank. Her palm pressed against the edge of the table, and she forced a smile, "Little girl, what are you saying? We haven't received any news about your grandpa yet, so how can you say you saw him die?"

Xu Yinyue slowly shook her head, "I don't know. Two days ago, I saw my grandpa holding Feiyu, lying on an ice plain. There were many, many Source Beasts around, and many, many corpses... some human, some Source Beast.

I could see Grandpa was in great pain before he died. He must have had something to tell me... The other old grandpa next to him must know something. Has he returned? I want to see him."

The little girl's words were fragmented and not very logical, but Jiang Nian generally understood.

These things sounded like a little girl's delusion, or perhaps a scene she saw in a dream due to missing her grandpa, which she mistook for reality.

But seeing the certainty in her eyes, Jiang Nian fell silent for a moment, then softly asked, "Can you tell me what Source Beast you've contracted?"

The little girl spread her hands, and a Leaf Wing Insect appeared in her palm.

Jiang Nian was naturally very familiar with the abilities of the Leaf Wing Insect; it had no ability whatsoever to see scenes from other places across spatial distances.

Could it be that human Contract Masters could also develop some innate abilities, or was it a special connection the little girl had with her relatives?

However, regardless of which it was, Jiang Nian felt it was necessary to take the little girl to the ancestral hall.

Although she didn't know if it was true, it was at least a small piece of news from Beyond the Border.

Acting on her thought, Jiang Nian stood up and took Xu Yinyue's hand, "Come with me to the ancestral hall?"

The little girl nodded blankly.

Leaving the flower hall, the sky grew darker, and snowflakes, carried by the north wind, lashed against the ground.

Both Jiang Nian and Xu Yinyue were Contract Masters, so this harsh weather, apart from affecting their mood, had no impact on their speed.

When the two arrived outside the ancestral hall, Jiang Nian pushed open the door and led the little girl inside.

Chu Qinhui was very puzzled by their arrival, his gaze falling on Jiang Nian.

Jiang Nian briefly recounted what Xu Yinyue had said to Chu Qinhui, who was also momentarily stunned.

He crouched down and asked the little girl with a somewhat agitated tone, "When and how did you see this? Can you see it again now?"