276: Family

On this day, within Jinguancheng.

Among the common folk, Ninth Mountain's lavish rewards and compassionate care for its soldiers drew widespread praise from the populace, and their enthusiasm for supporting the army soared.

Among the aristocratic families, several returned from the Yun Family greatly enraged, but not long after, news arrived that the South City Guard Division had suddenly moved to arrest important members of their families, primarily the younger generations of the main lineages, bringing up old scores. By the time these families reacted, the individuals had already been imprisoned in the South City Guard Division's jail.

The families' hearts skipped a beat, and they immediately ceased their activities.

The most explosive news was that someone had been released by Ninth Zhonglang: the Sihai Sect, which had gone to the Yun Family. Rumors said that some kind of agreement had been reached.

For a time, the rumors from the Yun Family spread throughout the large and small aristocratic families of Jinguancheng. That esteemed individual wanted the aristocratic families to obey, and had Yun San Gongzi, who was originally a military commandant of Ninth Mountain and was now Piaoji General, convey the message. Those few families refused, and were thus retaliated against.

Many aristocratic families felt endangered and had strong reservations about the Sihai Sect, feeling disdain.

But at the same time, the Yun Family's grand rewards and rapid ascent to becoming a new noble of Jinguancheng also swayed many families, especially those second and third-tier families.

It seemed that aligning with Ninth Mountain wasn't a bad idea.

This evening, on the ninth peak of Yunding Mountain, the Ninth Zhonglang Hall stood tall.

In the side hall, there was a small bridge over flowing water, with the glow of the sunset reflected on it. Beyond the covered bridge, after a few turns, there was a secluded courtyard.

At this moment, wisps of cooking smoke rose above this secluded courtyard, and the rhythmic sound of a knife chopping vegetables on a cutting board could be heard from within the courtyard.

Under the twilight hues of dusk, everything in this place seemed to be separated from the clamor and disturbances of the outside world.

Upon entering the courtyard with one's gaze, one could see several figures peering cautiously through the doorframe of a tiled house from which smoke was rising, their bodies pressed against it.

There were cooks wearing grey cloth robes with the marks of time on their faces, and maids in pink and white servant dresses.

Their faces held a mix of awe and intense curiosity, a contradictory expression appearing on several of them.

Following their gaze, one could see that inside was indeed a kitchen, with a fire blazing in the stove and hot oil sizzling in a pot.

In front of the chopping board, a figure in green robes had his sleeves rolled up to his elbows. One hand held a cleaver, expertly slicing a piece of golden-yellow meat. The knife struck the cutting board with a unique, practiced rhythm.

After slicing, he swept the golden, fragrant, dripping meat slices with the blade of the knife, tossing them into the stove on the side to begin stir-frying, then added water.

Done with that, he moved to another stove and lifted the lid of a yellow clay pot. A gurgling sound came from within, as if something was stewing. Even the mist that escaped when the lid was lifted shimmered with an ethereal glow.

Amidst the rising steam, Chen Yuan's profile appeared. He picked up a ladle, scooped out a spoonful of golden broth from the clay pot, and tasted a small amount at his lips. His eyes narrowed slightly, then he nodded.

He then replaced the lid and moved to another stove, continuing to busy himself.

Outside the door, the cooks and maids watched the figure busy at the kitchen stoves, their mouths agape, feeling somewhat unreal.

The General, who was feared like a tiger outside, possessed Divine Abilities, and had slain countless demons, was now skillfully busy at the kitchen stoves after sending them out.

This extreme contrast made them feel a sense of unreality; their General of Ninth Mountain also experienced the mundane aspects of life.

And at this moment, the strange aromas wafting from the kitchen made their throats involuntarily swallow.

So fragrant!

It must be that the ingredients the General used were extraordinary; even the mist rising from them shimmered with light.

Approximately half a cup of tea later,

Chen Yuan finished his work.

When he turned around, the heads that had been like moles behind the doorframe quickly retracted.

Chen Yuan smiled, not exposing them. He flicked his sleeve, and several steaming, fragrant dishes were stored within it.

Then, his body flickered, disappearing from the spot.

A dozen breaths later, Chen Yuan appeared in the west wing of the mountain villa on Yunding Peak, in front of that room.

With a flick of his finger, the door opened, and he walked in.

Inside the room, the Princess of the Western Regions was standing by the window opposite, gazing out. A thin layer of golden light shimmered outside, but from this vantage point, one could admire the scenery of Yunding Mountain.

Under the setting sun, a waterfall hung, dyeing the mist into shattered gold. Above the mist, a rainbow bridge spanned, and occasionally, a few cranes gracefully flew across it.

Upon seeing this scene, Chen Yuan felt a stirring within his heart.

From now on, he would have something to care for!

This would be his weakness, his vulnerability, but from this point on, his Soul gained a vivid taste.

Hearing the movement, An Ge turned her head, her expression somewhat unnatural, but her eyes held a newfound peace and composure compared to before.

"When do you plan to let me leave?"

Chen Yuan's footsteps, as he entered, paused, then he walked to the table in the room and gestured.

"So eager to leave?"

"Sit first!"

An Ge raised her hand to smooth the hair at her temples and walked over, her lake-blue eyes flickering. She said as calmly as possible,

"Seeing that you're not dead, and still lively, I should leave. My Family must still be anxious looking for me."

"You snuck out?" Chen Yuan said this and began to laugh.

An Ge avoided his gaze and sat down, her tone somewhat displeased, "Your laugh makes you seem very smug. I don't like it."

Chen Yuan shook his head. Coaxing women was truly difficult; he was not adept at it, neither in his past life nor this one.

He could only raise his hand and flick his sleeve.

Immediately, four dishes appeared on the table, and their fragrance wafted over.

"Taste them. I made them."

As he spoke, he introduced them with a sense of happiness and nostalgia.

"These are all dishes from my hometown."

"This is Boiled Sliced Pork."

"This is Supreme Buddha Jumps Over the Wall,"

"This is Braised Pork."

"..."

An Ge's lake-like eyes gazed at the few dishes, which had excellent presentation and aroma, and she was somewhat lost in thought.

This great General of hers had actually cooked personally.

She extended her chopsticks and first tasted the Boiled Sliced Pork.

Then she nodded and said two words reservedly.

"Not bad."

Next, this Western Regions woman tasted the other dishes with her chopsticks, and slowly, her chopsticks moved more and more frequently.

Ever since she discovered she was pregnant, she had become particularly prone to hunger. The little one she was carrying seemed like a bottomless pit.

At this moment, encountering such hearty dishes made entirely from spiritual ingredients and the flesh and blood of demons, her appetite was naturally aroused.

Chen Yuan watched, his eyes smiling, and his hands also moved, helping An Ge with the dishes.

"Eat!"

Initially, An Ge was still a bit unaccustomed, but feeling everything that Chen Yuan expressed, she gradually became more natural.

Chen Yuan savored this rare tranquility.

He had already decided in his heart that after this brief reunion, he would send her and the little one in her belly away.

Jinguancheng was not a place to stay long; he had to get An Ge out of this vortex.

That way, he would have no more worries!!!