547: Chapter 547 Things Are Different Now

[Looking at Murong Zhaozhao, who was a head shorter than you, you suddenly remembered something and the corners of your mouth curled up slightly: "Zhaozhao, can you do me a favor?"]

[Murong Zhaozhao looked up and blinked: "What is it? We're so close, do you really need to be so polite?"]

[You smiled and said in a nonchalant tone, "Pretend to be my daughter and go by the name Qin Zhaozhao, how about it?"]

["Huh? Ptooey!" Murong Zhaozhao's face fell and she pouted, stomping her feet in anger. "I don't want to! I wouldn't pretend to be your daughter even if it killed me!"]

[You shook your head and let out a mock sigh, "Sigh, I'm just afraid my parents will nag me to get married and have children... With you as my daughter, they won't nag anymore."]

[After a pause, you looked into the distance with a troubled expression and spoke in a faint voice, "Since that's the case, I'll just have to find someone random to have one with..."]

["Ah—!?" Murong Zhaozhao jumped in anxiety and grabbed your sleeve. "No way!"]

[Her face turned pale and then flushed; after hesitating for a long while, she bit her lip and nodded. "Fine... but I'm only pretending to be your daughter, okay? It's not for real."]

[You nodded with a smile, "Of course it's for real."]

[After a pause, you added with a hint of mischief in your voice, "Why don't you try calling me 'Dad'?"]

[Murong Zhaozhao glared at you, her cheeks puffed out, and her voice was as quiet as a mosquito's hum: "Dad—"]

["Aye—" You laughed heartily, your laughter ringing out clear. "Good daughter, heh heh heh..."]

[As you spoke, you reached out and patted her head.]

[She obediently didn't dodge, and the corners of her mouth even curled up slightly. If it had been anyone else, they probably would have been swatted away before their hand even got close.]

[Qin Yu, who was watching from the side with a cold eye, shook her head and said sourly, "Yo—Zhaozhao, be good and call me 'Auntie'."]

[Murong Zhaozhao turned her face away, ignoring her completely.]

[A moment later, the three of you flew toward Longyang Town.]

[The Longyang Town of today was no longer what it used to be. It was the largest city on the Desolate Heaven Continent, with towering walls and wide gates, bustling with people coming and going.]

[You landed at the city gate and walked inside along the main road.]

[The streets were surging with crowds—]

[An old man selling candied haws was followed by several eager children, and a fabric shop assistant stood at the entrance shouting, his voice loud enough to be heard halfway down the street. From the teahouse came the sound of a storyteller striking his gavel, audible even from a distance.]

[The people coming and going mostly talked about Fengyun Pavilion and matters of immortal cultivation—]

[One person mentioned someone had reached Foundation Establishment, while another talked about what Magic Treasure someone else had obtained. A few young people were even squatting by the roadside, gesticulating excitedly about how so-and-so had split a mountaintop with a single sword strike.]

[This prosperity was already no less than that of an ordinary cultivation city in the Immortal Realm.]

[As you walked, Murong Zhaozhao suddenly stopped and stared fixedly in one direction.]

[It was an old man selling candied haws, carrying a straw pole stuck with strings of bright red fruits that glistened in the sunlight.]

[She tugged on your sleeve and asked in a low voice, "What's that?"]

[You glanced at it. "candied haws."]

[She licked her lips. "Is it edible?"]

[The old man had sharp ears and immediately approached with a grin. "Sir, would you like a stick? Ten wen."]

[Murong Zhaozhao turned to look at you, her eyes bright. "How many Spirit Stones is ten wen?"]

[You were stunned for a moment. You swept your Divine Sense through your qiankun ring, searching it over and over—there wasn't a single copper coin.]

[You searched your whole body—all your silver scraps had been eaten by Qin Han, and not a single coin remained.]

[You rubbed your hands together and gave a dry laugh. "They don't taste good."]

[The old man's face darkened. "Young man, what nonsense are you talking? If my candied haws don't taste good, they're free!"]

[Murong Zhaozhao grabbed your arm and shook it hard. "I want to eat them, I want to eat them!"]

[You looked awkwardly at Qin Yu. "Do you have ten wen?"]

[Qin Yu smiled and slowly held up a finger, waving it before your eyes. "One Spirit Treasure."]

["Fine, fine, fine!"]

[Only then did she gigglingly take out ten wen and hand them to the old man.]

[The old man nimbly pulled off a stick and handed it to Zhaozhao.]

[Zhaozhao popped it into her mouth and licked it, her eyes suddenly widening. "Wow—it's sweet and sour, so delicious!"]

[Several children by the roadside caught the scent and gathered around, looking up at her expectantly.]

[There was a little girl with a dirty face, but her eyes were very bright; she stared at the candied haws, her mouth watering.]

["Big sister, can I have a bite?" the little girl asked softly.]

["No." Zhaozhao turned her body away. "Ask your daddy to buy it for you!"]

[You shook your head helplessly and looked at Qin Yu.]

[Before you could even speak, she had already smiled and taken out a tael of silver, handing it to the old man. "Give a stick to every child."]

[The old man took the silver, his smile widening from ear to ear. "Alright, alright!"]

[One tael of silver was a thousand wen, enough to buy a hundred sticks. The old man was so happy his eyes narrowed into slits.]

["Thank you, big sister! Thank you, big sister!" the children cheered, each holding a stick of candied haws as they skipped away.]

[As the old man was about to leave, you spoke up, "Give me a stick too."]

[He looked back at you, sized you up, and his mouth curled. "Didn't you say they weren't good?"]

[You didn't reply and simply raised your hand.]

[He shook his head with a smile and reluctantly handed over a stick.]

[You took it, popped it into your mouth, and licked it.]

[The sweet and sour flavor dissolved on the tip of your tongue, seemingly pulling you back to your childhood in an instant.]

[You had almost forgotten how many years it had been since you last ate this.]

[It was a strange feeling.]

[It made you feel like you were living as a human being, with flesh and blood, someone who would also crave a bite of food.]

[Your body and mind suddenly relaxed, as if a shell had been shed.]

[Without speaking, you chewed on the candied haws and walked slowly along. The string in your heart that had been taut for too long finally loosened.]

[Before long, a magnificent mansion appeared before your eyes—the Qin Manor.]

[The Qin Manor of today was no longer what it used to be—]

[Eight courtyards were interconnected, with the back garden taking up nearly half the space, filled with rockeries, ponds, pavilions, and waterside gazebos—a scene at every step. Two stone lions stood majestically at the entrance, the main gates were wide open, and servants were coming and going.]

[A servant saw the three of you, and his gaze finally landed on Qin Yu. He was stunned at first, then his eyes widened, and he shouted joyfully toward the interior of the manor:]

["The Young Miss is back—the Young Miss is back—"]

[The shouts carried through the layers of the manor, sending out ripples of echoes.]

[As the three of you crossed the threshold, two people with graying hair ran out from the front hall; they were none other than your parents.]

[Seeing the old couple's white hair, your nose felt sore and your eyes reddened.]

[Lin Xueping's eyes were rimmed with red as she rushed to your side, looking you up and down. Tears fell like broken strings of pearls: "My son—you're finally back..."]

[Qin Xiuwen's face showed both surprise and joy, but in the blink of an eye, he pulled a long face and walked over, his voice carrying a hint of anger:]

["Do you still remember that you have a home?"]

[His voice wasn't loud, but his hands were trembling slightly.]