Ling Zhenfei knew these two women must have had a long chat, though he wasn't sure to what extent. After reminding them to go to bed early, Ling Zhenfei went back to rest.

Early the next morning, people started coming to pay New Year's visits. The tradition in Qinghe Village was to make such visits at dawn, and everyone got up very early.

The first meal of New Year's Day was eaten from the kitchen stove, with dumplings prepared by Zhou Yun and Liu Bingying, and they were incredibly delicious.

Ling Zhenfei had loved dumplings since he was young, and this time was no exception, especially as the dumplings were filled with the love of Zhou Yun and Liu Bingying.

Xiao Ke and Chunyu wore brand new clothes from top to bottom, embodying the saying "new year, new atmosphere."

When it was time for people to come to pay New Year's visits, it used to be one family from each surname visiting, but today was different. With Ling Zhenfei's current status, he's not only the village leader but also the Chairman of the Xi Shan Group.

Now, more than half the village makes a living by following Ling Zhenfei, so everyone came to his home for New Year's visits, making it incredibly lively.

People started coming and going right from the morning, and it continued like that; Ling Zhenfei had no choice but to keep hosting them.

Not only the villagers came for New Year's visits, but even some clients from Binyang sent people to give gifts or came in person to pay respects.

Even the hospitals big and small from Binyang sent people to wish Ling Zhenfei a happy New Year and brought some gifts. Within just a morning, the gifts in Ling Zhenfei's home had piled up into a considerable stack.

This is just how people are. When Ling Zhenfei was down, he couldn't even find someone to give gifts to, but now people are lined up to send him gifts, showing the disparity among people.

This scene also stunned Liu Bingying, especially seeing the director of Binyang Hospital, Chen Dafu, send so many gifts. Although she knew Ling Zhenfei was impressive, she didn't realize he was this impressive.

Seeing the gift-givers, one can't help but wonder how many gifts could be collected over this New Year.

The entire morning was chaotic, with people coming and going until finally, after lunch, the crowd thinned out but still kept coming one after another.

Ling Zhenfei's phone was also constantly buzzing with calls from various fan club presidents and hospital leaders, making it impossible to keep up. Eventually, he stopped answering unfamiliar numbers, or else he'd be doing nothing else all day.

Actually, Ling Zhenfei isn't the type who enjoys dealing with matters like these, and seeing the endless flow of people made him somewhat irritated, as the phrase "a bustling, busy household" came to mind.

But thinking of that phrase, Ling Zhenfei also thought of the phrase "a deserted household," feeling another kind of emotion inside.

He soon remembered the old man in the cave under Xianling Mountain. Perhaps in his prime, the elder might have been just as bustling, but now he's utterly deserted.

Imagining spending New Year's morning alone in that cave for twenty years was truly pitiful, and Ling Zhenfei felt a bit melancholic.

Ling Zhenfei, thinking about it, packed up the leftover dumplings and some meat from lunch, then left home alone, heading to Xianling Mountain.

Following the route from last time through Xi Shan, he arrived at the previous cliff's edge.

The snow atop Xianling Mountain showed no sign of melting, as it was still cold, and might only start melting in the spring of next year.

Ling Zhenfei found the familiar peach tree, then jumped down to the ground below.

The cave entrance at the foot of the cliff was still dark, like a demon ready to devour anything.

Ling Zhenfei knew that the other person already knew the moment he landed. He strode boldly towards the cave, a cold wind hitting his face just then, piercing directly into his chest.

Ling Zhenfei was prepared, lightly sidestepping the compelling Northern Spiritual Energy.

"Elder, please don't act; it's me."

With those words, Ling Zhenfei walked into the cave, where the person inside was glaring at him.

"Kid, what are you doing here? This is outrageous," the person said, visibly furious at Ling Zhenfei's return.

Ling Zhenfei laughed, saying, "Why are you getting so worked up? I'm just here to check on you."

"Are we close? Who asked you to check on me?"

Ling Zhenfei replied, "You really can't recognize kindness, like a dog biting Lu Dongbin. Has anyone checked on you in these twenty years? I'm probably the only one thinking of you."

"Kid, you better leave quickly," the elder was still angrily commanding.

From his Di Tian Shen Sui, Ling Zhenfei took out large chunks of beef, half a roasted chicken, a pig trotter, some fried fish and shrimp, a bottle of white liquor, and a large bowl of dumplings.

Like magic, Ling Zhenfei placed the items before the elder, who was dumbfounded.

Although the elder had the strength to neither eat nor drink, or need just a little sustenance to survive, eating is a universal desire.

Even if unnecessary, it can't be absent. Twenty years without meat! No one would resist such a temptation upon seeing so much good food.

Ling Zhenfei, after taking out the items, said to the elder, "The roasted chicken is leftover, please don't mind. The liquor is good stuff, all gifted to me; I don't know the exact cost."

The elder licked his lips, saying, "52's Feitian Maotai, this liquor is excellent."

Seeing the elder no longer resisting, Ling Zhenfei knew the liquor had already won him over.

Ling Zhenfei said, "So why wait? Let's eat."

But despite saying so, the elder still didn't move, saying, "Sigh, to tell you the truth, my body right now can't move, nor do I dare to."

Ling Zhenfei was taken aback, saying, "I knew you were injured before, but didn't realize you couldn't move."

The elder said, "I can't move, nor dare to, for fear that any movement would affect my entire body."

Somewhat surprised, Ling Zhenfei said, "Elder, if you trust me, may I check your pulse?"

"Go ahead," the elder said, having abandoned any resistance, completely surrendered to the feast of food and drink before him.

Ling Zhenfei placed his hand on the elder's pulse, trying hard to sense the condition within the elder's body.

The elder's internal condition was indeed very peculiar, slightly similar to what was in Hoshino Yuji's body.

Also injured and poisoned, the toxins and internal injuries interacting, causing the toxins to linger and the internal injuries to persist.

"What do you think, can't be healed, right? Have you ever encountered such a severe injury?" the elder spoke as if expecting all of this.

Ling Zhenfei remained silent. Of course, it could be treated. When his strength was lower, he managed to heal Watanabe Kazushi, and now with enhanced abilities, treating such ailments wasn't a problem.

But Ling Zhenfei needed to consider his own matters and couldn't treat the elder so easily.

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