The moonlight is dim, illuminating the willows swaying in the wind.

Li Yuan invited Tang Chou for a candid conversation by the lake at night.

"Old Tang, how much longer can you live?"

"Two years..."

"Is your injury incurable?"

"The medicine I need for healing is in the hands of my enemy, and I can't get it."

"What enemy?"

"The He Family... It's an assassin family.

And my Tang Family is a puppet family.

They wanted to annex us to control our puppet power and enhance their family's strength.

Unfortunately, they failed, but our Tang Family was completely wiped out.

So, Young Master Li, there's no need to worry about revenge. Firstly, the He Family is very far away from here, and secondly, they no longer have the strength for revenge. Their concern now is whether they will be annexed by someone else."

"Then why do you want to sell your daughter and leave alone?"

Tang Chou was silent for a moment, then said, "My wife and brother died at the hands of the He Family. I always thought that since I wouldn't live long, I should drag the He Family down to Hell with me.

Even if I'm not successful, when I meet my wife and brother underground, I can at least tell them... I sought revenge for them."

"But you've changed your mind now."

"Because I'm still a father.

Besides hatred and regret in my heart, there is also Niannian.

When a daughter cries not to let her father go, not to let her father die...

It's really hard to refuse as a father."

Tang Chou's weary eyes narrowed slightly, turning red, and a faint smile crept onto his lips. It wasn't a bitter smile, nor a joyful one. People who've gone through a lot seldom have pure happiness or sorrow, it's usually a mix of both...

"So, I want to stay and serve you.

In hopes that after I die... Niannian can have a better future.

As for my Tang Family's puppet skills and cultivation skill, I've already told them to Niannian.

Because of the lack of the Life Atlas, it can only reach the Seventh Grade.

Young Master Li, with what you've learned, this might not be much... I hope you understand.

When Niannian grows up, she will definitely be close to you all and become a good assistant for you.

Niannian has good talent and a good disposition. When the He Family was exterminating, we hid in a narrow chamber in the Tang Family, witnessing everything. She neither cried nor screamed, only shed tears... "

"Why did you think of us?"

"Because you set up so many porridge stands, because you add meat to the porridge, because... the people serving porridge are particularly kind.

The girl who served the porridge even asked if I wanted another bowl, hehe...

Later, I survived for a few more months in the county, trying to learn as much as I could about you and the Hengwu Restaurant.

Then, I was certain that you were the best home for Niannian."

Li Yuan gently closed his eyes.

The man before him was sincere to the utmost. If what he said was all true, then this would be an unexpected harvest brought by "doing good" and "reputation".

"Do you know how to create puppets?"

"I do... but it requires many molds and equipment... those things are very precise, I can't make them."

"Then you can spare some time to teach me how to manipulate puppets, can't you?"

Tang Chou was taken aback for a moment, then said, "Any skill requires a lot of time to master, you..."

"I've taken you and your daughter in, can't I learn something too, Old Tang?" Li Yuan said with a smile.

Tang Chou said, "I understand... If Young Master Li wants to learn, just come find me anytime. My Tang Family is already gone, passing on this skill to one more person is also what I hope for."

Li Yuan patted his shoulder and said, "If you need any medicine for recuperation, feel free to tell Old Wu, I'll speak to him about it."

With that, he looked at the fork in the road and said, "Okay then, you go back, Niannian is still waiting for you.

From now on, consider this your home and don't feel like an outsider."

"Thank you, Young Master Li."

The two parted ways, and Li Yuan glanced at Tang Chou's back, he already had some general judgments in mind.

What the other party said was both true and false.

For example, "the He Family might not truly be as overwhelmed as he describes, but the He Family is indeed far away, Niannian would be very safe staying here";

For example, "Tang Chou might be a pseudonym", which could be easily verified by observing Niannian's reaction, although there was no need to verify it;

And another example, "there might be secrets hidden in what Tang Chou told Niannian, and these secrets could make Niannian stand out", after all... Old Tang did mention "he and Niannian hid in the Tang Family's narrow chamber, witnessing the family's massacre."

What does this indicate?

This implies that Old Tang and Niannian had a high status in the Tang Family.

But none of this matters, and what Li Yuan cared most about, the "Life Atlas", could not be conveyed, so what secrets Old Tang left for Niannian were not important.

If he wants to build a force, he must have the generosity to accommodate others.

...

...

The night had deepened, and the Inner City had imposed a curfew for the night.

But Li Yuan had a place to return to.

The second row, third house in Baiyun Alley, was the owner's residence in the city.

Due to the curfew in the Inner City, both he and Yan Yu, as well as the lady boss, would return here for the night.

As for when to return to Baiyun Alley, when to return to the Inner City, both women followed Li Yuan's lead.

Tonight, as Li Yuan went to chat with Tang Chou, they sensibly waited in the alley.

When Li Yuan returned, the lady boss instructed the maids to prepare the bath bucket, while Lady Yan fried an egg and cooked noodles, placing it in front of Li Yuan.

"How's Tang Chou? Are we keeping him?" Lady Yan asked, sitting across from her husband and watching him eat his noodles.

Li Yuan slurped his noodles. Coming home to a hot bowl of noodles at night gave him a sense of warmth. Hearing her words, he said, "I think he can stay, let the father and daughter stay in the backyard for a while."

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