Liu Bei POV

“Xuan De, go and knock.”

“Un.” I nodded and Zi Long stepped to the side,. At this moment, she looked like a guardian angel, fierce and protective, but there was a kind smile on at the same time.

As I thought so, I did my best to keep calm and stiffly raised my hand as I knocked the door.

— *Dong* *Dong* *Dong*

The knocks reverberated in my ears continuously. At this time, my impatience was at its maximum and I could not wait to push open the doors even before a reply came from inside. Naturally, this was not possible.

— *Dong* *Dong* *Dong* *Dong*

And so I gave the door 4 more knocks in quick succession after my first 3.

“Coming!” Just as I was thinking if I should slam my body against the door, a reply came from inside. It seemed distant but it was clear and emotional, tearful even.

I know this voice. I cannot be more familiar with it.

This voice, it’s–

*Giiaa*!

“Big brother!!” Just as the name of the voice came to mind, the doors opened and the very person flew out at me. I instinctively opened my arms and grabbed the one who came flying over, calling out to her as I did so. Before this, I never knew that I could yell so loudly.

“Yun Chang!!” I roared as tears streamed down my face. Only now did I understand that I should not bother trying to stay calm at times like these.

“Big brother! Big brother!!” Yun Chang yelled as she leaned against me. Before I could embrace her, she embraced me tightly, so much so that it was difficult to breathe.

“Yun Chang! Yun Chang!,”

My tears just will not stop huh…

“Big brother! You’re still alive right… *s.h.i.+ku*… You’re real right…”

I could not see what Yun Chang’s expression was now but this was probably the first time hearing Yun Chang’s tearful voice. In it was neither the austere honour nor cool calm, all I could hear was a girl’s longing and relief.

“I’m back, Yun Chang.” I should probably say more at this time but when I heard Yun Chang’s voice, I felt myself go weak. For now at least, I would like to indulge in her embrace, “I’m back… I’m not going anywhere…”

“My lord…” Some distance away was Wen Yuan who looked at me as she muttered softly, so softly that I could barely hear her voice.

Just as I was about to call out to her, Wen Yuan looked about and muttered ‘she went back huh!’ before jumping into the muddy courtyard and then into the inner residence, ignoring the trail of mud on her clothes.

Did she go to look for Feng Xiang? Speaking of which, there does not seem to be a screen wall here.

“Uncle!” Just as I was preoccupied with my thoughts, a rather unfamiliar form of address by a familiar voice rang out.

“Ah, Guan Ping huh?” When I looked to the right, I saw Guan Ping run over and bury her twin tails into my waist and hug me.

“I just knew uncle didn’t die.” Guan Ping said happily as she looked at her ‘mother’.

“Why?” I was actually rather curious as to why she seemed so a.s.sured of it when she said that. However, it turns out that Guan Ping’s answer was simple beyond imagination.

“Because it’s uncle, that’s why~”

Hahaha, because it’s me huh? I felt like I was being toyed with by fate again when I heard these words from Guan Ping.

Beside Guan Ping was someone else, “Ah, Liao Hua, you’re here huh?”

&ld

quo;Yes.” Liao Hua’s expression did not say much and she only looked at me as she respectfully bowed, “It’s really great that you could return.”

Her words were as calm as how she seemed. Yet this did not mean that she was truly calm inside as her hat was currently falling off, which made her look rather comical but also made me feel bad for what happened.

“Ah, I made you all wait too long.”

Liao Hua saluted me and continued to do so even after I replied her. I thought she did not hear me at first and was wondering what I ought to say to alleviate the awkwardness when Liao Hua suddenly bowed once more, deeper than before, such that her hat fell to the ground.

“… Not at all.” All she said were 3 words but her tone was noticeably shaky. Because her face was completely hidden from my view, I could not see her expression and even after a few seconds, she remained in that position and did not move.

Similarly, Yun Chang and Guan Ping were still hugging me. The only motions were Yun Chang’s trembling from crying.

If not for what happened, both Yun Chang and I would have felt awkward by now but all I felt was warmth. All that I could think about was that I wished this moment would continue on.

“My lord! Please slow down!” Just then, a yell could be heard coming from inside the residence. When I looked over, I heard the sound of wood splintering as a figure came charging through the railings of the inner residence,

She wore a plain set of clothing and stood barefoot in the muddy ground. Her clothes were covered in mud from her heavy landing but her eyes were focused only on me.

“… Xuan, Xuan De?”

“I’m back, Feng Xian.”

My emotions had not receded yet and when I recognised who she was, my tears came streaming down once more.

But this disbelief, sorrow and surprise; this is probably the first time I am seeing such emotions from her.

As I looked at Feng Xian, I wanted to call out to her, and just like with Yun Chang, I had a lot to say to her. I also hoped that my appearance would be able to calm her down. She was, after all, one of my biggest worries. Now that I see she’s still here, I cannot be more relieved.

“Feng–”

*Pudong*

Just as I was calling out to her, she sank heavily to her knees, sending muddy water flying out in all directions.

“Ah, my lord!” Wen Yuan yelled as she finally came running out, with Red Hare in her hands, seeming very frantic as she did so. Now that I think about it, Wen Yuan is supposed to be incapable of contact with dogs which means that Feng Xian just handed it to her without thinking before running out.

“My lord!” Wen Yuan called out once more and placed Red Hare on the corridor floor before jumping down, landing to the side in a kneeling position so that she would not spray muddy water on Feng Xian.

But even when Wen Yuan tried pulling Feng Xian up, all she did was look fixedly at me as though she were unwilling to have me out of her sight.

“… Yun Chang.” I said softly. Yun Chang understood and sniffed her nose before slowly letting go of me and taking a few steps back. She then turned to look at me and lowered her head, probably because she felt shy or because she was worried that she had acted improperly.

But then she raised her head after a moment and smiled at me with red, puffy eyes. Yun Chang right now is probably the cutest I have ever seen. Compared to how she usually is, she feels a lot more feminine.

“Please come in, big brother. Guan Ping, let big brother come in.”

“Un,” Guan Ping said as she left my side and gave me a silly smile.

I returned her smile and stepped in as I made my way to Feng Xian.

“Thanks for everything.” I said to Liao Hua, who was still bowing, as I patted her back.

Only then did she finally raise her head and said slowly, “Yes…”

I have a lot more to say to Liao Hua but there are more important things at hand.

“Feng Xian, Feng Xian?” I called out to her as I walked over. As I did so, she followed me with her gaze the entire time, like a child looking at a cherished toy.