43: Chapter 43 Taking stock of the spoils, returning to Shazhoufang

"Big Brother is right!" Chen Qingyuan agreed.

Immediately, the two brothers divided the work.

Chen Qingshan, having a higher cultivation level, was responsible for using his spiritual power to erase the residual Divine Soul mark on the Demonic Path Cultivator's Storage Pouch!

Meanwhile, Chen Qingyuan handled the two Storage Pouches belonging to Zhao Yong and Zhao Hao.

The Restriction on the Demonic Path Cultivator's Storage Pouch was quite stubborn, costing Chen Qingshan considerable effort and mental energy.

It wasn't until over an hour later that all three Storage Pouches were broken open. The items inside were taken out one by one and sorted on the open ground of the cave.

Inside the Demonic Path Cultivator's Storage Pouch!

There were 293 Low-Grade Spirit Stones; for a Late Stage Qi Refining Cultivator, having such wealth was not surprising.

There were three bottles of Yin Sha Pills; the bottles were shrouded in Yin Qi, and one look confirmed they were Demonic Path Medicinal Pills, which they could not use!

There was one Blood-Burning Pill; this pill could stimulate one's potential in a short time to increase strength, but it would cause severe damage to one's Origin Qi afterward. It was a life-risking item.

It could be kept, so Chen Qingshan tucked it away.

There was half a bottle of First Grade High Grade soul nurturing pill, five pills in total, which were valuable and could strengthen the Divine Soul. Chen Qingyuan kept them, though he didn't know how much five pills could improve it.

The remaining Materials that could be sold were only two items!

A piece of hundred-year-old locust wood heart, First Grade High Grade; based on its size, it should be enough to refine two Magical Artifacts!

A small bag of Grudge Soul Sand; this object was as black as ink and icy to the touch. One could faintly hear subtle wailing sounds from it. It could be used to refine Yin-attribute Magic Treasure and should also be salable!

As for Magical Artifacts, only the soul-shaking bell was usable. It was also one of the biggest gains this time, capable of directly attacking the Divine Soul with extraordinary power.

Other items, such as the Incomplete Manual of "Ghost Refining Technique," as well as several methods for refining ghosts and harmful Spells, made one's scalp tingle.

The Chen Family would naturally not Cultivate them and could only destroy them.

The Storage Pouches of the Zhao father and son were much inferior!

There were 155 Low-Grade Spirit Stones.

There was one First Grade Medium Grade Magical Artifact, the Wind-Splitting Claw, two First Grade Low Grade Magical Artifacts, and the rest were mostly Low Grade Materials!

Including what was brought out from the Zhao Family residence, it was worth at most fifty or sixty Spirit Stones!

Looking at the items piled up on the ground, especially the few items reeking of Devilish Qi, the two brothers' expressions were somewhat solemn.

"These things,"

Chen Qingshan pointed at the pile of Demonic Path items with a tone of disgust,

"we will destroy them all here to avoid any trouble if we take them back!"

"Mhm, I'll listen to Big Brother!"

Inside the cave, the firelight was warm.

Chen Qingyuan had just finished sorting and putting away the counted items!

Just then, Zhao Su, who had been unconscious in Chen Qingtang's arms, suddenly fluttered her eyelashes and let out a faint moan.

"Mmm..."

Chen Qingtang stiffened, looked down, and her voice trembled so much she could barely speak!

"Su... Su Su? How are you? Are you feeling any better?"

Chen Qingshan and Chen Qingyuan also immediately crowded around.

Under the expectant gazes of the three, Zhao Su finally struggled to open her eyes a crack.

"Mo... ther..."

Even though she was so weak, her little mouth still murmured to comfort her!

"Su... Su... is fine... Mo... ther... don't cry!"

"Mhm, mhm! Mother... won't cry... won't cry!"

Chen Qingtang's tears burst forth again as she gently stroked Su Su's pale little face!

"Su Su, don't be afraid. Mother is here, and your uncles are here too. We are safe..."

Seeing this, Chen Qingyuan hurriedly bent down to bring his face into the little girl's line of sight, revealing a smile as gentle as possible!

"Su Su, Uncle is here too! Don't be afraid!"

Zhao Su slowly focused on Chen Qingyuan's face and looked for a long while!

The two had never met, but the little girl suddenly smiled sweetly!

"Little... Uncle..."

"Yes! Good child!"

Chen Qingshan, however, grabbed Chen Qingyuan and pulled him away!

"The child just woke up, what are you making a fuss for!"

As he spoke, he took out a water bag, wiped the mouth of the bottle with a clean new garment, and then handed it to Chen Qingtang!

"Little Sister, give the child some water. She just woke up, so she needs more rest!"

"Mhm! Okay!"

At this moment, the care and protection of her Family made her unable to hold back the grievances and heartache she had suppressed for years!

Tears fell, landing right on Zhao Su's small face.

The little girl's brows immediately furrowed slightly, and she reached out her thin little hand, trying hard to touch her mother's face!

"Mother... don't cry... Su Su really... doesn't feel uncomfortable anymore... Look, Su Su is all better..."

Her sensible words were like the softest needles, piercing the hearts of everyone present.

"Good... good... Mother won't cry, Mother is just happy..."

Chen Qingtang quickly grasped her daughter's hovering little hand and pressed it tightly against her tear-stained cheek, her voice choked with sobs, unable to speak.

...

The journey back was unexpectedly much smoother than anticipated!

Ten days later, the two brothers, dusty and travel-worn, finally escorted Chen Qingtang and her daughter back onto the familiar land of Shazhou Workshop.

The entrance to the workshop was still bustling with people, noisy and chaotic.

"Little Uncle!"

Zhao Su lay on Chen Qingyuan's back, curiously looking around!

At this time, she had just recovered from a major illness and was physically weak; she had spent almost the entire journey over the past few days on Chen Qingyuan's back.

She reached out her little hand and carefully wiped the non-existent sweat from Chen Qingyuan's forehead with her sleeve, asking in a childish voice!

"Is this Shazhou Workshop? Is this where Mother grew up?"

"That's right, Su Su is so smart!"

Chen Qingyuan turned his head, his tone gentle!

"This is Shazhou Workshop. From now on, this will be Su Su's new home. We will all live here together, okay?"

"Mhm! Mhm! That's great!"

Meanwhile, Chen Qingtang looked at the scene of the workshop, which was almost identical to how it had been over a decade ago—familiar streets, familiar shops!

Even the scent wafting in the wind was just like in previous years.

In an instant, she felt as if she had returned to her youth, only there were no old acquaintances by her side, and she was no longer the innocent and carefree Chen Family daughter she once was.

"Father..."

"Your daughter is unfilial... I returned too late..."

As she spoke, her eyes grew hot, and her vision blurred.

She hated, hated herself for being blind and marrying the wrong man!

So much so that she couldn't even see her father one last time.

Even when Chen Renhai passed away and the Family underwent a drastic change, she was unable to return home—this belated guilt,

now that she saw these familiar scenes, finally erupted completely!

Just then, a rough, large hand gently rested on her shoulder.

"Little Sister, it's all in the past."

Chen Qingshan's voice was calm and gentle!

"If Father has a spirit in heaven, seeing us siblings reunited and the Family gathered together, he would only feel comforted."

"Let's go, let's go home."

Chen Qingtang wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes, looked up to meet her brother's gaze, and nodded heavily.

"Mhm, let's go home."

However, before they even reached the door of their home, they saw a figure standing quietly in the wind and snow from afar.

It was none other than her sister-in-law, Jiang Rou.

The snow in the sky never ceased, and she stood silently in front of the alley, letting the snowflakes cover her shoulders and hair!

Gazing into the distance at the road home!

Gentle and firm!