The woman, seeing Tian Hua remain silent and gaze out the window, spoke to him, "I thank the young sir for saving our lives. If the young sir doesn't mind, I would like to invite you to the tavern for a gathering, offering some modest wine to express our gratitude."
"If the young lady wishes to thank me for what I just did, it's really unnecessary. Anyone in such a situation would not stand by and do nothing. Please don't trouble yourself. I have other matters to attend to; I'll take my leave now," Tian Hua said.
After saying this, Tian Hua quickly got off the carriage. Once off, he walked swiftly towards Little Bell. The suddenness of his action left the woman bewildered. She hadn't expected Tian Hua to get off the carriage suddenly. By the time she reacted and lifted the curtain to look, Tian Hua was already far away!
"Miss, he's a strange person!" Xiaoyu looked at Tian Hua from a distance and commented.
The woman observed Tian Hua from afar and said thoughtfully, "Yes, indeed a peculiar person. Xiaoyu, let's go back."
"Are we just going back like this?" Xiaoyu asked.
"Given the circumstances, there's no reason for us to stay here. Let's go back first!" the woman replied.
Xiaoyu nodded, got on the carriage, cracked the whip, and the horse neighed, leaving in a cloud of dust.
Little Bell saw Tian Hua approaching and hurriedly ran up, asking, "Tian Hua gege, what were you doing over there just now?"
Tian Hua didn't answer his question but looked at him, saying, "Little Bell, can we go back now?"
Looking at him, Little Bell said, "But it's still early!"
Tian Hua looked at him, thought for a moment, and was about to say something when Little Bell interjected, "Okay! Tian Hua gege, let's go back."
"Little Bell, you..." Tian Hua looked at him in surprise.
"Tian Hua gege is the best to me, so of course, I'll listen to gege. That way, gege will like me even more!" Little Bell said with a smile.
Tian Hua looked at Little Bell, feeling that he was even more adorable at this moment. He couldn't help but smile and then carried Little Bell on his back, saying, "Ready, let's go!"
"Okay, let's go back," Little Bell said, flying the kite.
"Tian Hua gege, I beat up some bad guys over there just now!" Little Bell suddenly said.
Tian Hua, hearing this, asked with a smile, "How do you know they were bad guys?"
"Because Tian Hua gege is a good person! So anyone Tian Hua gege beats must be bad guys!" Little Bell said.
Tian Hua laughed at that.
Business at Tian Xiang Tower was thriving. Passing by the front of the tavern, one could hear music and laughter emanating from inside. Since the opening of Tian Xiang Tower, the town had become livelier. It was always packed with customers from morning to night, and there was never an empty seat.
The success of the tavern made other taverns sigh in lamentation. Since the opening of Tian Xiang Tower, the business of other taverns had declined significantly. Sometimes there were only a few people in other taverns, while a long line formed outside Tian Xiang Tower, waiting to get in!
Murong Feiyan, the first dancer of Tian Xiang Tower, had become a well-known figure in Mountain City Town. Walking down the street, one could hear people discussing, "The dance today was truly beautiful. Murong Feiyan's dress was exceptionally gorgeous. Her smile today was captivating..."
After such remarks, there would often be a long sigh of admiration, expressing both lingering and intoxicated sentiments.
Compared to that, the Mountain City Tavern fared much better. Those who came here were regulars, and the tavern was small anyway, so there wasn't a need for too many customers. Therefore, it remained fully occupied every day.
Boss Han didn't care about making money. According to him, he opened the tavern just to make a living, not to earn money. Thus, how much money was made each day was not important. What mattered to him was providing a stable home for Little Bell. Because of this mindset, when Tian Hua had no money to pay for his first meal, Boss Han didn't make things difficult for him. Upon learning about his situation, Boss Han kindly offered him a place to stay.
All these were because money held little value in his eyes. To him, money was just a tool. As long as there was enough to spend, that was sufficient. More than that was unnecessary!
There were many things more important to him than money! That's why the business at the Mountain City Tavern had always been good.
After saving the two women, Tian Hua returned to the tavern. Upon his return, he greeted Boss Han and proceeded straight to the kitchen
in the backyard.
Entering the kitchen, Tian Hua saw the chef chopping vegetables. He approached and gestured a few times, then took the knife from the chef's hand, starting to cut vegetables. At this point, the old man walked out of the kitchen to the courtyard to sit for a while and take a break. Tian Hua's cooking skills were now more than enough to handle things, and he no longer needed to watch over him. He had truly graduated!
Tian Hua concentrated on chopping the vegetables, then put them into the pot, starting to stir-fry. Dish after dish was cooked, and Boss Han would occasionally come in to take them out. Sometimes the old man would also bring dishes out. Perhaps he had spent too much time alone in the backyard, and now he wanted to go out and take a look.
Tian Hua focused on cooking, his mind devoid of any other thoughts. During these moments, all he cared about were the names of the dishes and the cooking methods.
Night silently descended.
Boss Han and Tian Hua sat in the backyard, drinking.
"Tian Hua, you've been busy in the kitchen all afternoon. Thanks for your hard work. Here, Uncle Han toasts you!" Boss Han raised his wine glass.
"Boss Han, there's no need to say that. I was just busy in the kitchen for half a day. Master has been alone in the kitchen for so many years without feeling any hardship. How could I dare to say I'm tired!" Tian Hua raised his wine glass.
After hearing this, Boss Han smiled and nodded.
"Tian Hua, you seem to have something on your mind," Boss Han put down his wine glass and looked at Tian Hua.
"What could be on my mind!" Tian Hua said.
"Today, you came back earlier than usual with Little Bell, and you went straight to the kitchen to work all afternoon. You must have encountered something today, making your actions different from usual," Boss Han said.
Tian Hua, upon hearing this, couldn't help but think of the beautiful face inside the carriage. He stared blankly at the table until Boss Han gently called him a few times.
Tian Hua snapped out of his thoughts and, after a moment's hesitation, said, "Today, when I took Little Bell to fly kites, I saved two girls..." Tian Hua then recounted what had happened today, leaving out the part where the woman invited him to dinner to express gratitude.
"Ah, I thought it was something serious. This is a good thing! Looking at your expression today, I thought something bad had happened!" Boss Han chuckled.
Tian Hua also laughed a few times and said, "I'm afraid of ruining their good fortune, and then they'll come looking for revenge."
"A real man shouldn't be afraid to take action. In matters like this, one should act without fear. Tian Hua, Uncle Han is proud of you!" Boss Han said enthusiastically.
Tian Hua, upon hearing this, felt a warm sensation in his heart. He lifted his wine glass and said, "Boss Han, thank you!"
Boss Han also raised his wine glass and loudly said, "Come on, bottoms up!"
Tian Hua, at present, indeed had an improved tolerance for alcohol. In the past, after drinking to such an extent, he would have already fallen into a deep, unconscious sleep. However, lying on the bed now, his mind was remarkably clear, devoid of any drowsiness.
In the distance, kites were still flying, and a gentle breeze wafted through. There were occasional soft laughter and the enchanting smiles...
Unavoidably, these thoughts crossed Tian Hua's mind. He tried hard to control himself from dwelling on them, but his efforts were in vain. The more he tried not to think, the more these thoughts intruded.
"Is this deliberately arranged by fate?" Tian Hua sighed inwardly.
Outside the window, the moon was cool as water!
Tonight, it was destined to be another sleepless night!
He slept late but woke up early.
After washing his face, Tian Hua went to the kitchen to prepare breakfast. Since Tian Hua started working, he took charge of most breakfast preparations.
The old man woke up a bit earlier. When he got up, Tian Hua was placing a dish he had just prepared on the table in the yard. Seeing the old man, he greeted him with a smile, and the old man nodded in response.
Soon, breakfast was ready. The old man watched Tian Hua move in and out of the kitchen, smiling and nodding in satisfaction in the yard.
After preparing the meal, Tian Hua and the old man sat down, waiting for Boss Han and Little Bell to wake up for breakfast.
Boss Han walked out of the house, seeing Tian Hua and the old man sitting at the table. He looked at the food on the table and said with a smile, "Tian Hua, you woke up so early today!"
Tian Hua responded, and Boss Han went into the house to wake up Little Bell.
After washing their faces, they sat down to eat.
"Tian Hua gege, are we going to fly kites again today?" Little Bell asked.
"Not today. Let's wait for a couple of days before we go again, okay?" Tian Hua said.
"Okay, sounds good!" Little Bell agreed.
Boss Han, watching Little Bell obediently, thought: When did this little girl become so well-behaved? Then he looked at Tian Hua, a smile on his face.
After breakfast, Tian Hua said he wanted to go out for a walk.
Tian Hua walked alone on the street for a while. As he walked, he felt that people seemed unusually agitated. He heard conversations along the way, mostly about Murong Feiyan's performance at Tian Xiang Tower: "She performed at Tian Xiang Tower today. Guess which dance she will perform? What outfit will she wear? I guess she will dance..."
Tian Hua quickly walked away upon hearing these discussions. However, he found that no matter where he went, as long as there were groups of people, he could hear discussions. Helplessly shaking his head, he continued walking in the town, unknowingly arriving outside the East Gate.
The East Gate led to Sunset City. Initially, Tian Hua wanted to go to Sunset City, but since Kong Xu's visit to Boss Han's house, Tian Hua felt that he had implicated Boss Han and the others. He felt obligated to protect them, a duty he considered right, but in his heart, he was anxious and helpless: How long should he stay here? At this rate, when would he be able to return home?
As he walked in the wilderness, Tian Hua thought about what he should do. How could he resolve this situation? His desire to see the world outside had lost its initial passion. Perhaps, he thought, it had become a bit blurry now. Initially, his goal was clear: to see the appearance of the outside world. He thought he could end this journey quickly and return home. However, now he realized that his initial idea was too simple.
When he saved Lu Yunshan and settled in at Boss Han's inn, his original wish had unconsciously changed. Now he had some connection to this place, which gave him warmth and joy but also brought him concerns. He could no longer travel aimlessly as he did initially.
Tian Hua's mind began to wander, becoming more chaotic the more he thought.
In the distance, two people were whispering!
Tian Hua noticed them and initially didn't want to eavesdrop on their conversation. However, he found the two acting a bit suspicious, so he decided to listen to what they were saying.
"Is the information accurate?"
"Don't worry! Absolutely accurate!"
"Good, I'll go back to arrange manpower. At midnight tonight, we'll go to Tian Xiang Tower. When the time comes, you open the gate, and we'll strike from inside and outside."
"Alright! In that case, I'll go back now!"
"Sure, let's go!"
After they finished talking, the two of them left separately.
Tian Hua, after hearing their conversation, was surprised: They were planning to rob Tian Xiang Tower.
Tian Hua looked at the figure walking towards the town and pondered for a moment. Then he decided to follow the person back to the town, to the inn.
In the inn, Tian Hua was contemplating the conversation he overheard. He wondered whether he should go and see it for himself or inform the town guards. However, if he informed them, they might not believe him.
As he pondered, he suddenly thought of Murong Feiyan. Thinking of her, his heart suddenly tightened. Images of thieves entering Tian Xiang Tower, ransacking the place, capturing Murong Feiyan, and leaving flashed in his mind.
Tian Hua thought and sighed in his heart: Perhaps, this is another deliberate arrangement by fate!
At midnight, the darkest hour of the night, the town was silent.
At this time, about thirty people were taking advantage of the cover of the dark night, quietly moving towards Tian Xiang Tower.
When these people arrived at the entrance of Tian Xiang Tower, one of them gently pushed the large gate. The gate moved slightly, and the person rejoiced.
The gate was gently opened, and about thirty people stealthily entered one by one.
The lights in Tian Xiang Tower were turned on, illuminating the hall brightly.
The leader stood on the stage at this time, making a gesture to his subordinates. They saw the signal and quickly headed towards the second floor of Tian Xiang Tower. However, everything was quiet and discreet.
All the people inside were awakened. When they opened their doors, wondering who knocked on their doors in the middle of the night, sharp blades were already at their throats. The instructions were clear: no talking, just follow us!
In the hall of Tian Xiang Tower, everyone had already gathered. The leader stood in front of the crowd and said, "Who is Hu Jinhua?"
Hearing this, Hu Jinhua in the crowd was taken aback but calmed down slightly. After a moment of silence, she walked out and said, "I am Hu Jinhua, the landlady of Tian Xiang Tower."
The man looked at Hu Jinhua and then said, "Very well! Since you're here, I won't waste time. As long as you agree to two conditions, I promise that you and
your people will be safe!"
"What are the two conditions?" Hu Jinhua asked.
"First, hand over all the money in Tian Xiang Tower!" the man said.
"I agree to this!" Hu Jinhua said.
Nodding, the man continued, "Second, hand over Murong Feiyan!"
This time, Hu Jinhua didn't immediately answer. She looked at the man and said, "No, I can't agree to that!"
The man heard this, paused for a moment, and then said, "Are you not afraid of death?"
"Of course, but even if I'm afraid of death, I can't hand her over to you!" Hu Jinhua said firmly.
"Alright, alright..."
After saying "alright" three times, the man smiled. Suddenly, he drew the long knife in his hand and swung it towards Hu Jinhua. People in the inn exclaimed.
"Wait!"
A voice arose from the crowd, and the knife stopped in front of Hu Jinhua.
A woman walked out of the crowd, and the man looked at her.
"Don't hurt her; I'll go with you!" Murong Feiyan said.
"Feiyan, you..." Hu Jinhua stepped forward, tears welling up in her eyes.
"Jinhua sister, rest assured, I won't let them harm you," Murong Feiyan said.
"You are Murong Feiyan?" the man asked.
"Yes, I am Murong Feiyan," Murong Feiyan replied.
The man looked her up and down, then exclaimed, "Indeed, meeting you in person is better than the legends. Much more beautiful!"
Except for a few people overseeing Tianxiang Tower, others were currently packing the money inside the tower. In no time, all the money was packed.
A person stepped forward and said, "Boss, it's done!"
The man waved his hand and said, "Let's go!"
The group, carrying the money, surrounded Murong Feiyan, preparing to leave.
Just as they took a few steps, the door was slowly pushed open!
The leader was surprised: the door seemed to have been closed when they entered just now.
Inside, everyone held their breath, staring at the door.
The door opened, and a young man walked in.
The young man entered, casually closed the door behind him.
This young man was none other than Tianhua. Before midnight, he had told Mr. Han that he wanted to rest in his room. After entering the room, he immediately came out through the window and arrived outside Tianxiang Tower.
At midnight, when about thirty people thought they were unnoticed, entering Tianxiang Tower and pushing the door to go in, Tianhua had been watching them from not far away. He stood outside the door until they took the money and were ready to leave before pushing the door in.
The thirty people were astonished to see Tianhua entering: Who is he? Why is he coming in now? The door was clearly closed just now, how could he open it... They had too many questions.
Murong Feiyan saw Tianhua and smiled.
The leader was about to speak, but Tianhua interrupted, saying, "Leave your things and your people, and go!"
The leader was a bit annoyed, but seeing Tianhua alone, he didn't understand the situation. He said angrily, "Who are you, little brother?"
Tianhua ignored him, repeating, "Leave your things and your people, and go!"
The man became angry, "Who are you, daring to be so arrogant!"
Having said that, he signaled to his subordinates, and a few people, understanding, drew their knives and rushed towards Tianhua. Tianhua watched them approaching, standing still. When the knives were close to him, the attackers suddenly screamed and flew in all directions.
Some fell on the open ground, some on tables and chairs, shattering them.
The leader was stunned by the situation: What's going on? He looked at his subordinates on the ground, writhing in pain. Swallowing his saliva, he said, "This young man, let's talk."
Tianhua glanced at him and said, "I don't want to fight with you. As long as you leave the money and people, then leave, I won't take action."
The man looked at him, then at the money in his subordinates' hands and Murong Feiyan, suddenly raised his hand and said, "Everyone, attack together, kill him!"
At this point, the remaining people drew their knives and rushed towards Tianhua. Tianhua looked at them, shook his head helplessly, and said, "Why bother!"
Ah... Ah... Ah...
Shouts echoed, and Tianhua moved back and forth among the crowd. Ten or so people lay down in no time. Tianhua jumped out of the circle, leaped onto the stage in the center of the hall, and looked at them, saying, "Leave your things and your people, then leave!"
The remaining people looked at Tianhua, then at the ten or so people lying on the ground, hesitated and dared not approach.
The leader, seeing this situation, felt both anxious and angry. Suddenly, he shouted and rushed towards Tianhua. Just as he was about to get up, Tianhua in the center of the stage suddenly disappeared, and the crowd exclaimed.
As the man was looking around, a knife appeared on his neck. He turned his head in surprise, and Tianhua was holding the knife against his neck.
"To subdue you is an easy task, but I don't want to fight. So, leave your things and people, and then leave!" Tianhua said.
The man looked at him, then nodded vigorously.
Tianhua threw the knife on the ground, and the man let out a deep breath, then said to the remaining people, "Let's go!"
The remaining people put down the money bags, helped their companions, and left.
When they reached the door, ready to open it, Tianhua suddenly said, "Wait!"
The crowd turned around, looking at him in fear.
"And him, take him away too!" Tianhua said.
As Tianhua finished speaking, a person flew out from the crowd and fell in front of the leader. When the person landed, he screamed in pain. People inside Tianxiang Tower were shocked.
The leader looked at the person on the ground, then at Tianhua in horror.
"I hope you won't come again next time, so take your spy back with you!" Tianhua said.
The leader opened the door and left, and the others followed. The person on the ground quickly got up, looked at Tianhua in astonishment, and then followed the crowd.
After the people left, there was cheering in Tianxiang Tower. They surrounded Tianhua, expressing their gratitude and admiration. At this moment, Hu Jinhua looked at everyone and said, "Make way, don't let this young man stand there. Let him sit down first before we talk."
The crowd dispersed, and Hu Jinhua walked forward. Just as she was about to say something, Tianhua preemptively said, "Madam, I'm leaving first!"
After saying that, Tianhua walked towards the door. Just as he reached the entrance, someone blocked his way. Tianhua looked, and at this moment, Murong Feiyan was looking at him affectionately.
"Young master, this is the second time you've saved my life!" Murong Feiyan said.
Hearing her words, Tianhua lowered his head and did not look at her.
"Last time, the young master left in a hurry, so I couldn't promise to host a banquet to thank the young master. Tonight, the young master already knew about the conspiracy of the bandits, came alone to save our lives. I assume the young master should have nothing else to do tonight, so please allow the young master to stay and let us host a banquet to express our gratitude!" Murong Feiyan said.
Hearing her say this, Tianhua thought for a moment and said, "Acts of valor like this are also our duty. But it's late, and I don't want to disturb you. I appreciate your kindness, but I'll take my leave."
After saying that, without waiting for Murong Feiyan to say anything, Tianhua walked past Murong Feiyan and quickly left.
"Since the young master doesn't want to stay, please leave your name and address so that we can visit and express our thanks!" Murong Feiyan said to Tianhua's
retreating figure.
Tianhua, without stopping, said, "A person wandering around, where is there an address? In this lifetime, what use is it to remember the name of someone you may never meet again!"
The people in Tianxiang Tower stood there dumbfounded, looking at each other in confusion.
Leaning against the doorway, Murong Feiyan watched Tianhua's departing figure and softly said, "He is indeed a strange person!"
The moon, lonely as a hook!
The woman, seeing Tian Hua remain silent and gaze out the window, spoke to him, "I thank the young sir for saving our lives. If the young sir doesn't mind, I would like to invite you to the tavern for a gathering, offering some modest wine to express our gratitude."
"If the young lady wishes to thank me for what I just did, it's really unnecessary. Anyone in such a situation would not stand by and do nothing. Please don't trouble yourself. I have other matters to attend to; I'll take my leave now," Tian Hua said.
After saying this, Tian Hua quickly got off the carriage. Once off, he walked swiftly towards Little Bell. The suddenness of his action left the woman bewildered. She hadn't expected Tian Hua to get off the carriage suddenly. By the time she reacted and lifted the curtain to look, Tian Hua was already far away!
"Miss, he's a strange person!" Xiaoyu looked at Tian Hua from a distance and commented.
The woman observed Tian Hua from afar and said thoughtfully, "Yes, indeed a peculiar person. Xiaoyu, let's go back."
"Are we just going back like this?" Xiaoyu asked.
"Given the circumstances, there's no reason for us to stay here. Let's go back first!" the woman replied.
Xiaoyu nodded, got on the carriage, cracked the whip, and the horse neighed, leaving in a cloud of dust.
Little Bell saw Tian Hua approaching and hurriedly ran up, asking, "Tian Hua gege, what were you doing over there just now?"
Tian Hua didn't answer his question but looked at him, saying, "Little Bell, can we go back now?"
Looking at him, Little Bell said, "But it's still early!"
Tian Hua looked at him, thought for a moment, and was about to say something when Little Bell interjected, "Okay! Tian Hua gege, let's go back."
"Little Bell, you..." Tian Hua looked at him in surprise.
"Tian Hua gege is the best to me, so of course, I'll listen to gege. That way, gege will like me even more!" Little Bell said with a smile.
Tian Hua looked at Little Bell, feeling that he was even more adorable at this moment. He couldn't help but smile and then carried Little Bell on his back, saying, "Ready, let's go!"
"Okay, let's go back," Little Bell said, flying the kite.
"Tian Hua gege, I beat up some bad guys over there just now!" Little Bell suddenly said.
Tian Hua, hearing this, asked with a smile, "How do you know they were bad guys?"
"Because Tian Hua gege is a good person! So anyone Tian Hua gege beats must be bad guys!" Little Bell said.
Tian Hua laughed at that.
Business at Tian Xiang Tower was thriving. Passing by the front of the tavern, one could hear music and laughter emanating from inside. Since the opening of Tian Xiang Tower, the town had become livelier. It was always packed with customers from morning to night, and there was never an empty seat.
The success of the tavern made other taverns sigh in lamentation. Since the opening of Tian Xiang Tower, the business of other taverns had declined significantly. Sometimes there were only a few people in other taverns, while a long line formed outside Tian Xiang Tower, waiting to get in!
Murong Feiyan, the first dancer of Tian Xiang Tower, had become a well-known figure in Mountain City Town. Walking down the street, one could hear people discussing, "The dance today was truly beautiful. Murong Feiyan's dress was exceptionally gorgeous. Her smile today was captivating..."
After such remarks, there would often be a long sigh of admiration, expressing both lingering and intoxicated sentiments.
Compared to that, the Mountain City Tavern fared much better. Those who came here were regulars, and the tavern was small anyway, so there wasn't a need for too many customers. Therefore, it remained fully occupied every day.
Boss Han didn't care about making money. According to him, he opened the tavern just to make a living, not to earn money. Thus, how much money was made each day was not important. What mattered to him was providing a stable home for Little Bell. Because of this mindset, when Tian Hua had no money to pay for his first meal, Boss Han didn't make things difficult for him. Upon learning about his situation, Boss Han kindly offered him a place to stay.
All these were because money held little value in his eyes. To him, money was just a tool. As long as there was enough to spend, that was sufficient. More than that was unnecessary!
There were many things more important to him than money! That's why the business at the Mountain City Tavern had always been good.
After saving the two women, Tian Hua returned to the tavern. Upon his return, he greeted Boss Han and proceeded straight to the kitchen
in the backyard.
Entering the kitchen, Tian Hua saw the chef chopping vegetables. He approached and gestured a few times, then took the knife from the chef's hand, starting to cut vegetables. At this point, the old man walked out of the kitchen to the courtyard to sit for a while and take a break. Tian Hua's cooking skills were now more than enough to handle things, and he no longer needed to watch over him. He had truly graduated!
Tian Hua concentrated on chopping the vegetables, then put them into the pot, starting to stir-fry. Dish after dish was cooked, and Boss Han would occasionally come in to take them out. Sometimes the old man would also bring dishes out. Perhaps he had spent too much time alone in the backyard, and now he wanted to go out and take a look.
Tian Hua focused on cooking, his mind devoid of any other thoughts. During these moments, all he cared about were the names of the dishes and the cooking methods.
Night silently descended.
Boss Han and Tian Hua sat in the backyard, drinking.
"Tian Hua, you've been busy in the kitchen all afternoon. Thanks for your hard work. Here, Uncle Han toasts you!" Boss Han raised his wine glass.
"Boss Han, there's no need to say that. I was just busy in the kitchen for half a day. Master has been alone in the kitchen for so many years without feeling any hardship. How could I dare to say I'm tired!" Tian Hua raised his wine glass.
After hearing this, Boss Han smiled and nodded.
"Tian Hua, you seem to have something on your mind," Boss Han put down his wine glass and looked at Tian Hua.
"What could be on my mind!" Tian Hua said.
"Today, you came back earlier than usual with Little Bell, and you went straight to the kitchen to work all afternoon. You must have encountered something today, making your actions different from usual," Boss Han said.
Tian Hua, upon hearing this, couldn't help but think of the beautiful face inside the carriage. He stared blankly at the table until Boss Han gently called him a few times.
Tian Hua snapped out of his thoughts and, after a moment's hesitation, said, "Today, when I took Little Bell to fly kites, I saved two girls..." Tian Hua then recounted what had happened today, leaving out the part where the woman invited him to dinner to express gratitude.
"Ah, I thought it was something serious. This is a good thing! Looking at your expression today, I thought something bad had happened!" Boss Han chuckled.
Tian Hua also laughed a few times and said, "I'm afraid of ruining their good fortune, and then they'll come looking for revenge."
"A real man shouldn't be afraid to take action. In matters like this, one should act without fear. Tian Hua, Uncle Han is proud of you!" Boss Han said enthusiastically.
Tian Hua, upon hearing this, felt a warm sensation in his heart. He lifted his wine glass and said, "Boss Han, thank you!"
Boss Han also raised his wine glass and loudly said, "Come on, bottoms up!"
Tian Hua, at present, indeed had an improved tolerance for alcohol. In the past, after drinking to such an extent, he would have already fallen into a deep, unconscious sleep. However, lying on the bed now, his mind was remarkably clear, devoid of any drowsiness.
In the distance, kites were still flying, and a gentle breeze wafted through. There were occasional soft laughter and the enchanting smiles...
Unavoidably, these thoughts crossed Tian Hua's mind. He tried hard to control himself from dwelling on them, but his efforts were in vain. The more he tried not to think, the more these thoughts intruded.
"Is this deliberately arranged by fate?" Tian Hua sighed inwardly.
Outside the window, the moon was cool as water!
Tonight, it was destined to be another sleepless night!
He slept late but woke up early.
After washing his face, Tian Hua went to the kitchen to prepare breakfast. Since Tian Hua started working, he took charge of most breakfast preparations.
The old man woke up a bit earlier. When he got up, Tian Hua was placing a dish he had just prepared on the table in the yard. Seeing the old man, he greeted him with a smile, and the old man nodded in response.
Soon, breakfast was ready. The old man watched Tian Hua move in and out of the kitchen, smiling and nodding in satisfaction in the yard.
After preparing the meal, Tian Hua and the old man sat down, waiting for Boss Han and Little Bell to wake up for breakfast.
Boss Han walked out of the house, seeing Tian Hua and the old man sitting at the table. He looked at the food on the table and said with a smile, "Tian Hua, you woke up so early today!"
Tian Hua responded, and Boss Han went into the house to wake up Little Bell.
After washing their faces, they sat down to eat.
"Tian Hua gege, are we going to fly kites again today?" Little Bell asked.
"Not today. Let's wait for a couple of days before we go again, okay?" Tian Hua said.
"Okay, sounds good!" Little Bell agreed.
Boss Han, watching Little Bell obediently, thought: When did this little girl become so well-behaved? Then he looked at Tian Hua, a smile on his face.
After breakfast, Tian Hua said he wanted to go out for a walk.
Tian Hua walked alone on the street for a while. As he walked, he felt that people seemed unusually agitated. He heard conversations along the way, mostly about Murong Feiyan's performance at Tian Xiang Tower: "She performed at Tian Xiang Tower today. Guess which dance she will perform? What outfit will she wear? I guess she will dance..."
Tian Hua quickly walked away upon hearing these discussions. However, he found that no matter where he went, as long as there were groups of people, he could hear discussions. Helplessly shaking his head, he continued walking in the town, unknowingly arriving outside the East Gate.
The East Gate led to Sunset City. Initially, Tian Hua wanted to go to Sunset City, but since Kong Xu's visit to Boss Han's house, Tian Hua felt that he had implicated Boss Han and the others. He felt obligated to protect them, a duty he considered right, but in his heart, he was anxious and helpless: How long should he stay here? At this rate, when would he be able to return home?
As he walked in the wilderness, Tian Hua thought about what he should do. How could he resolve this situation? His desire to see the world outside had lost its initial passion. Perhaps, he thought, it had become a bit blurry now. Initially, his goal was clear: to see the appearance of the outside world. He thought he could end this journey quickly and return home. However, now he realized that his initial idea was too simple.
When he saved Lu Yunshan and settled in at Boss Han's inn, his original wish had unconsciously changed. Now he had some connection to this place, which gave him warmth and joy but also brought him concerns. He could no longer travel aimlessly as he did initially.
Tian Hua's mind began to wander, becoming more chaotic the more he thought.
In the distance, two people were whispering!
Tian Hua noticed them and initially didn't want to eavesdrop on their conversation. However, he found the two acting a bit suspicious, so he decided to listen to what they were saying.
"Is the information accurate?"
"Don't worry! Absolutely accurate!"
"Good, I'll go back to arrange manpower. At midnight tonight, we'll go to Tian Xiang Tower. When the time comes, you open the gate, and we'll strike from inside and outside."
"Alright! In that case, I'll go back now!"
"Sure, let's go!"
After they finished talking, the two of them left separately.
Tian Hua, after hearing their conversation, was surprised: They were planning to rob Tian Xiang Tower.
Tian Hua looked at the figure walking towards the town and pondered for a moment. Then he decided to follow the person back to the town, to the inn.
In the inn, Tian Hua was contemplating the conversation he overheard. He wondered whether he should go and see it for himself or inform the town guards. However, if he informed them, they might not believe him.
As he pondered, he suddenly thought of Murong Feiyan. Thinking of her, his heart suddenly tightened. Images of thieves entering Tian Xiang Tower, ransacking the place, capturing Murong Feiyan, and leaving flashed in his mind.
Tian Hua thought and sighed in his heart: Perhaps, this is another deliberate arrangement by fate!
At midnight, the darkest hour of the night, the town was silent.
At this time, about thirty people were taking advantage of the cover of the dark night, quietly moving towards Tian Xiang Tower.
When these people arrived at the entrance of Tian Xiang Tower, one of them gently pushed the large gate. The gate moved slightly, and the person rejoiced.
The gate was gently opened, and about thirty people stealthily entered one by one.
The lights in Tian Xiang Tower were turned on, illuminating the hall brightly.
The leader stood on the stage at this time, making a gesture to his subordinates. They saw the signal and quickly headed towards the second floor of Tian Xiang Tower. However, everything was quiet and discreet.
All the people inside were awakened. When they opened their doors, wondering who knocked on their doors in the middle of the night, sharp blades were already at their throats. The instructions were clear: no talking, just follow us!
In the hall of Tian Xiang Tower, everyone had already gathered. The leader stood in front of the crowd and said, "Who is Hu Jinhua?"
Hearing this, Hu Jinhua in the crowd was taken aback but calmed down slightly. After a moment of silence, she walked out and said, "I am Hu Jinhua, the landlady of Tian Xiang Tower."
The man looked at Hu Jinhua and then said, "Very well! Since you're here, I won't waste time. As long as you agree to two conditions, I promise that you and
your people will be safe!"
"What are the two conditions?" Hu Jinhua asked.
"First, hand over all the money in Tian Xiang Tower!" the man said.
"I agree to this!" Hu Jinhua said.
Nodding, the man continued, "Second, hand over Murong Feiyan!"
This time, Hu Jinhua didn't immediately answer. She looked at the man and said, "No, I can't agree to that!"
The man heard this, paused for a moment, and then said, "Are you not afraid of death?"
"Of course, but even if I'm afraid of death, I can't hand her over to you!" Hu Jinhua said firmly.
"Alright, alright..."
After saying "alright" three times, the man smiled. Suddenly, he drew the long knife in his hand and swung it towards Hu Jinhua. People in the inn exclaimed.
"Wait!"
A voice arose from the crowd, and the knife stopped in front of Hu Jinhua.
A woman walked out of the crowd, and the man looked at her.
"Don't hurt her; I'll go with you!" Murong Feiyan said.
"Feiyan, you..." Hu Jinhua stepped forward, tears welling up in her eyes.
"Jinhua sister, rest assured, I won't let them harm you," Murong Feiyan said.
"You are Murong Feiyan?" the man asked.
"Yes, I am Murong Feiyan," Murong Feiyan replied.
The man looked her up and down, then exclaimed, "Indeed, meeting you in person is better than the legends. Much more beautiful!"
Except for a few people overseeing Tianxiang Tower, others were currently packing the money inside the tower. In no time, all the money was packed.
A person stepped forward and said, "Boss, it's done!"
The man waved his hand and said, "Let's go!"
The group, carrying the money, surrounded Murong Feiyan, preparing to leave.
Just as they took a few steps, the door was slowly pushed open!
The leader was surprised: the door seemed to have been closed when they entered just now.
Inside, everyone held their breath, staring at the door.
The door opened, and a young man walked in.
The young man entered, casually closed the door behind him.
This young man was none other than Tianhua. Before midnight, he had told Mr. Han that he wanted to rest in his room. After entering the room, he immediately came out through the window and arrived outside Tianxiang Tower.
At midnight, when about thirty people thought they were unnoticed, entering Tianxiang Tower and pushing the door to go in, Tianhua had been watching them from not far away. He stood outside the door until they took the money and were ready to leave before pushing the door in.
The thirty people were astonished to see Tianhua entering: Who is he? Why is he coming in now? The door was clearly closed just now, how could he open it... They had too many questions.
Murong Feiyan saw Tianhua and smiled.
The leader was about to speak, but Tianhua interrupted, saying, "Leave your things and your people, and go!"
The leader was a bit annoyed, but seeing Tianhua alone, he didn't understand the situation. He said angrily, "Who are you, little brother?"
Tianhua ignored him, repeating, "Leave your things and your people, and go!"
The man became angry, "Who are you, daring to be so arrogant!"
Having said that, he signaled to his subordinates, and a few people, understanding, drew their knives and rushed towards Tianhua. Tianhua watched them approaching, standing still. When the knives were close to him, the attackers suddenly screamed and flew in all directions.
Some fell on the open ground, some on tables and chairs, shattering them.
The leader was stunned by the situation: What's going on? He looked at his subordinates on the ground, writhing in pain. Swallowing his saliva, he said, "This young man, let's talk."
Tianhua glanced at him and said, "I don't want to fight with you. As long as you leave the money and people, then leave, I won't take action."
The man looked at him, then at the money in his subordinates' hands and Murong Feiyan, suddenly raised his hand and said, "Everyone, attack together, kill him!"
At this point, the remaining people drew their knives and rushed towards Tianhua. Tianhua looked at them, shook his head helplessly, and said, "Why bother!"
Ah... Ah... Ah...
Shouts echoed, and Tianhua moved back and forth among the crowd. Ten or so people lay down in no time. Tianhua jumped out of the circle, leaped onto the stage in the center of the hall, and looked at them, saying, "Leave your things and your people, then leave!"
The remaining people looked at Tianhua, then at the ten or so people lying on the ground, hesitated and dared not approach.
The leader, seeing this situation, felt both anxious and angry. Suddenly, he shouted and rushed towards Tianhua. Just as he was about to get up, Tianhua in the center of the stage suddenly disappeared, and the crowd exclaimed.
As the man was looking around, a knife appeared on his neck. He turned his head in surprise, and Tianhua was holding the knife against his neck.
"To subdue you is an easy task, but I don't want to fight. So, leave your things and people, and then leave!" Tianhua said.
The man looked at him, then nodded vigorously.
Tianhua threw the knife on the ground, and the man let out a deep breath, then said to the remaining people, "Let's go!"
The remaining people put down the money bags, helped their companions, and left.
When they reached the door, ready to open it, Tianhua suddenly said, "Wait!"
The crowd turned around, looking at him in fear.
"And him, take him away too!" Tianhua said.
As Tianhua finished speaking, a person flew out from the crowd and fell in front of the leader. When the person landed, he screamed in pain. People inside Tianxiang Tower were shocked.
The leader looked at the person on the ground, then at Tianhua in horror.
"I hope you won't come again next time, so take your spy back with you!" Tianhua said.
The leader opened the door and left, and the others followed. The person on the ground quickly got up, looked at Tianhua in astonishment, and then followed the crowd.
After the people left, there was cheering in Tianxiang Tower. They surrounded Tianhua, expressing their gratitude and admiration. At this moment, Hu Jinhua looked at everyone and said, "Make way, don't let this young man stand there. Let him sit down first before we talk."
The crowd dispersed, and Hu Jinhua walked forward. Just as she was about to say something, Tianhua preemptively said, "Madam, I'm leaving first!"
After saying that, Tianhua walked towards the door. Just as he reached the entrance, someone blocked his way. Tianhua looked, and at this moment, Murong Feiyan was looking at him affectionately.
"Young master, this is the second time you've saved my life!" Murong Feiyan said.
Hearing her words, Tianhua lowered his head and did not look at her.
"Last time, the young master left in a hurry, so I couldn't promise to host a banquet to thank the young master. Tonight, the young master already knew about the conspiracy of the bandits, came alone to save our lives. I assume the young master should have nothing else to do tonight, so please allow the young master to stay and let us host a banquet to express our gratitude!" Murong Feiyan said.
Hearing her say this, Tianhua thought for a moment and said, "Acts of valor like this are also our duty. But it's late, and I don't want to disturb you. I appreciate your kindness, but I'll take my leave."
After saying that, without waiting for Murong Feiyan to say anything, Tianhua walked past Murong Feiyan and quickly left.
"Since the young master doesn't want to stay, please leave your name and address so that we can visit and express our thanks!" Murong Feiyan said to Tianhua's
retreating figure.
Tianhua, without stopping, said, "A person wandering around, where is there an address? In this lifetime, what use is it to remember the name of someone you may never meet again!"
The people in Tianxiang Tower stood there dumbfounded, looking at each other in confusion.
Leaning against the doorway, Murong Feiyan watched Tianhua's departing figure and softly said, "He is indeed a strange person!"
The moon, lonely as a hook!
