"Good morning, Xiaoliang, what would you like to eat?"

Sealed Yao Qingxue and Commoner Yao Qingxue walked out from the bedroom one after another, rubbing their sleepy eyes and saying the same words.

But they saw Wu Liang already placing steaming dishes on the table.

Seeing the two mothers wake up, he smiled and said, "Even though you both were often not home when I was young, I occasionally got to taste the dishes you made. But you've never tasted my cooking, have you? Give it a try."

Last night, after leaving the cave, everyone returned to Taohua Village.

The villagers of Taohua Village cheered joyfully for a while when they saw the appearance of two Yao Qingxues, proud to have two Saintesses among them.

The temporal distortion between the forest and the village had been erased by Sealed Yao Qingxue, so there was no longer any fear of someone accidentally entering and dying.

Today was the only moment Wu Liang had for a brief respite here; after leaving Peach Blossom Spring, he would have to start running around again.

The human swine of the [Pioneer] was thrown into the room that once imprisoned the ten madmen, whose bodies had been taken away for burial.

The members of the exploration team also temporarily disguised themselves as amnesiacs to become villagers and stayed behind.

This was the most ordinary day.

It was also the day Wu Liang longed for the most.

"It's quite tasty, Xiaoliang, your cooking skills are even better than mom's, except a bit salty..."

The two Yao Qingxues felt their eyes turn slightly moist as they ate the dishes on the table.

When they left, he was still a child, but with his current cooking skills, Wu Liang was indirectly telling them not to worry, that he could take care of himself outside.

This was a child's growth, and also a mother's sorrow.

After all, only this one day was left.

Though they said to let Wu Liang leave the Tianshan Mountain Range and let himself free, smiling gently to put him at ease, could Yao Qingxue herself be at ease?

She couldn't!

If possible, what mother would want her child to face such unknown dangers?

Watching as Wu Liang embarked on the path against the supernatural, living days with his life hanging by a thread.

Yao Qingxue was afraid.

Afraid that after abandoning Wu Liang for five long years, just as mother and son reunited, it would be his turn to leave her.

Watching her own mother's tears fall in large drops, falling into the food and being eaten by her, Wu Liang showed a reassuring expression and said, "Mom, try to put less salt when cooking, it's not good for your health."

"Mmm..."

After eating, Wu Liang accompanied Yao Qingxue for a walk in the village.

Watching the villagers doing farm work as usual and greeting them, Wu Liang truly felt what relaxation was like.

When he first came to Taohua Village, he didn't feel this way.

Back then, he was still worried about his mother's amnesia and the various anomalies here.

Now that all these troubles were gone, Wu Liang felt as if it was before the Supernatural Calamity arrived, back when everyone was an ordinary person, like someone burdened with a mortgage, on top of having elderly parents and young children, fighting every day just to survive.

Suddenly, one day, he won the lottery and paid off all loans, his elderly mother's serious illness healed, and his young child obedient and well-mannered.

In an instant, he felt a delusion that his life was brightening again.

Not only him, but even Yao Qingxue couldn't help but say, "Xiaoliang, do you know what the most painful and happiest things are in a world without the supernatural?"

"Carrying debts yet to be repaid, recalling being laid off, thinking about the expenses of a child's private preschool and the family's stay-at-home spouse, as well as the life-saving medication expenses for both sets of parents each month. Looking at the savings of just tens of thousands, trying out various part-time jobs like food delivery or taxi driving but finding it impossible to maintain current living standards, thinking about selling the house for a smaller one, but then realizing it's rental, and then getting a friend's wedding invitation requiring monetary gifts, making even breathing feel difficult."

"..."

Listening to Wu Liang subconsciously listing out a series of worries of ordinary life in the old world, covering almost every ordinary person's troubles, made Yao Qingxue's mouth twitch uncontrollably.

What had this kid been through in those five years without her being there?!

"Uh... that's too painful, you don't have to be so detailed." She sighed and replied.

Upon hearing his mother's helpless sigh, Wu Liang also smiled knowingly and put away his facetious words, "Actually, whether it's pain or happiness, it all boils down to one thing—whether you can keep everything dear to you."

After speaking, he squatted down, brushing aside a tuft of weeds by the rural path, and looked at the ants beneath, tirelessly carrying food.

Pointing to these ants, he asked Yao Qingxue a question, "Mom, do you know that when ants are attacked by fire, they clump together and roll over it? When do you plan to restore the villagers' memories?"

This seemingly unrelated set of questions immediately prompted a resigned expression from Yao Qingxue.

Her son was just too smart.

He was so much like his dad.

When he became aware of the villagers' memories, Yao Qingxue knew she couldn't pretend to forget about this matter anymore.

"I plan to restore them after you leave. Even if there's a rebellion, they are just ordinary people, I can handle it."

Yes, this problem had actually been considered by Yao Qingxue last night already.

Besides creating this space of Peach Blossom Spring, she had actually transplanted all the mountains and flora from the outside world into it.

To avoid being discovered by the [Promised Land], she didn't move any modern technological structures or similar items in.

This led to the unavoidable need for a large number of hands to help properly establish this place.

For example, even within Taohua Village there is no electricity currently, how could this place serve as humanity's last sanctuary?

Without exposure, it's difficult to bring in many people from the outside.

Thus, restoring the memories of these people in Taohua Village and advancing the living standards and technology to modern levels is crucial at this stage.

However, this is also the most difficult part.

The exploration team members are highly aware because they are official members who have been to the front line, have their aspirations, and great ideals.

But the villagers remain an unknown factor.

Yao Qingxue isn't sure whether, after all these ordinary people's memories are restored, they will accept their own deaths.

If someone refuses to remain trapped here and tries to escape, but fails and falls into despair, it could break everyone's spirits like a breached dam.

In more extreme cases, some might even blame Yao Qingxue for everything.

It wouldn't be surprising if the villagers turned against Yao Qingxue.

That's when, as Wu Liang said—it would be like ants moving through fire by clumping together.

By sacrificing the outermost layer of ants to form a protective barrier, the inner ants would remain relatively safe.

So, to protect Peach Blossom Spring, the outermost ants would have to be burned away.

Should it come to this, perhaps Commoner Yao Qingxue wouldn't bear it, but Sealed Yao Qingxue would not hesitate to get rid of those who disrupt and sow discord...

She didn't want Wu Liang to see this side of her.

That's why she decided to wait until Wu Liang left to address it.

"Hehe, mom, no need, start restoring the memories now. I'll handle the dirty work for you, you think it over, I'll fetch some firewood first."

With that, Wu Liang turned and walked towards the forest.

After all, since he was leaving, he'd better chop enough firewood for his mom in this secluded Peach Blossom Spring, especially since winter was approaching here.

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