After Chen Xun left the Magistrate's Office, he and Old Li, along with his granddaughter, prepared to head home.

Old Li noticed that Chen Xun hadn't brought the black tiger out with him. He sighed inwardly, guessing that it had been confiscated by the town chief, but he didn't dare say anything. As long as everyone was safe, that was enough.

Chen Xun smiled but didn't offer much explanation.

It can be hard to make great work when its stolen from bit.ly/3iBfjkV.

It wasn't until they were halfway home and encountered the eagerly waiting manager of the Spring Breeze Restaurant that Old Li learned from their conversation that Chen Xun had sold the black tiger to the town chief.

The manager of Spring Breeze sighed in regret and left disappointed.

Having been beaten to it by the town chief, there was nothing the manager could do.

Moreover, the manager didn't blame Chen Xun. After all, if the town chief wanted the black tiger, Chen Xun had no choice. He might have even sold it at a very low price.

On the way home, Old Li and Li Yuan didn't ask how much the black tiger was sold for.

To them, it was Chen Xun's money, and it wasn't their place to inquire.

Of course, neither Old Li nor Li Yuan had any designs on Chen Xun's money.

...

Evening.

Chen Xun and Old Li's family gathered for dinner.

Halfway through the meal, Chen Xun suddenly put down his chopsticks, took out a pouch of money, and handed it to Old Li.

Old Li was taken aback, and Li Yuan looked at the pouch in surprise.

"Chen Xun, what is this..." Old Li had a feeling.

Chen Xun smiled and said, "This is the money from selling the black tiger, for you and Yuan Yuan."

Old Li said with difficulty, "Chen Xun, you should keep this money for yourself. You'll definitely need it in the future. Yuan Yuan and I don't covet your money."

Chen Xun smiled helplessly and said, "There's not much in there, Grandpa Li, just take it. Otherwise, I'll feel guilty for eating and drinking for free at your place for so long."

Old Li wanted to say something more.

Seeing Chen Xun holding out his hand, Li Yuan said, "Grandpa, just accept Brother Chen's gesture. You can keep it for him!"

"Alright, alright." Old Li reluctantly accepted the pouch, saying, "Chen Xun, I'll keep it for you. When you get married or something, just ask me for it."

In Old Li and Li Yuan's eyes, there probably wasn't much money in the pouch, which is why they reluctantly accepted it to save for Chen Xun.

Little did they know, it contained a hundred gold pieces.

Chen Xun nodded and smiled.

Li Yuan looked at Chen Xun's smile, lost in thought, not knowing what was on her mind.

After dinner.

Chen Xun stood in the courtyard, quietly gazing at the stars in the night sky.

"Brother Chen."

Li Yuan's voice suddenly came from beside him.

Chen Xun continued to look at the night sky and smiled, "What's up, Yuan Yuan?"

Li Yuan tilted her head slightly, looking at Chen Xun's profile for a moment before lowering her head, "Brother Chen, are you leaving soon?"

Chen Xun was momentarily stunned, then turned to look at Li Yuan, understanding that she had noticed something during dinner. He nodded, "Yes."

Upon receiving his answer, Li Yuan felt a pang of reluctance, "Where will you go, Brother Chen?"

A hint of confusion flashed in Chen Xun's eyes. He shook his head and said softly, "I, Chen Xun, am like a rootless duckweed, drifting wherever the wind takes me."

Hearing this, Li Yuan's mouth opened slightly, her eyes dazed. For some reason, a wave of sadness welled up in her heart.

The Brother Chen before her gave her a sense of eternal loneliness, a loneliness that was indescribable and inexplicable.

Li Yuan wanted to say that since Brother Chen didn't have a home, he could stay and make this his home. But for some reason, she already knew that Brother Chen would refuse.

Li Yuan murmured, "Will Brother Chen come back?"

Chen Xun pondered for a moment and said, "Perhaps."

He added, "When I have time, I'll come back to visit Little River Town."

Li Yuan's heart relaxed slightly, and she nodded silently, not knowing what else to say.

Chen Xun turned slightly and asked, "Yuan Yuan, speaking of which, where are your parents and grandmother?"

A flash of sadness crossed Li Yuan's eyes, "That year, there was a severe drought, and there was no food at home. Many people in Little River Town starved to death, including my parents and grandmother. Grandpa almost didn't make it either... Fortunately, Ji Bochang, the town chief, took office in time and brought relief food, saving Grandpa's life. Since then, I've lived with Grandpa, and it's been over ten years now."

Chen Xun nodded slightly, gently patted Li Yuan's head, and withdrew his hand without offering any further words of comfort.

Natural disasters are merciless, and Li Yuan was already considered lucky. Countless others, especially the elderly, women, and children, perished in the calamity.

To be alive is a blessing.

Li Yuan brushed away her sadness and giggled, "Brother Chen, when you leave, you must say goodbye to me and Grandpa! Let us see you off! Don't just leave without a word, okay?"

Chen Xun nodded and smiled, "Alright."

...

The night was dark, and the wind was high.

Old Li and Li Yuan had long since fallen asleep.

Inside Chen Xun's room.

Chen Xun slowly opened his eyes on the bed, and then his figure gradually faded away.

Meanwhile, in the government prison.

Two jailers were sound asleep. In this enclosed prison, even without their watch, the prisoners couldn't escape.

Most of the prisoners in the jail were also asleep.

Only three prisoners, separated by cold iron bars, looked at each other with vacant eyes.

These three prisoners were, of course, Dawei, Xu Qiang, and Skinny Monkey, who had just been imprisoned today.

"Skinny Monkey, it's all your fault for coming up with such a lousy idea, making us spend two years in jail. Ugh! If I'd known, we should have just robbed and run away. That would have been better!" Xu Qiang sighed.

Skinny Monkey, feeling indignant, said, "Second Brother, you can't blame me entirely, can you? My plan was definitely feasible. We just didn't have enough time to prepare. Who could have guessed that the black tiger had no external injuries?"

Xu Qiang nodded silently, "You're right. It seems what Chen Xun said was true. It was probably the work of an immortal, and the black tiger's injuries were internal."

Dawei's eyes gradually focused, and he said weakly, "Alright, stop talking about it. What's done is done. Let's just serve our time quietly."

Now, everything related to getting married and settling down would be delayed by two years. How many two years does one have in life?

"Hiss~"

Perhaps he had touched a wound, and Dawei winced in pain.

Skinny Monkey pursed his lips and lowered his voice, "Big Brother, Second Brother, when we get out, we mustn't let Chen Xun off the hook. Our predicament is all because of him! Hmph!"

Hearing this, Dawei and Xu Qiang's eyes flickered, but they said nothing.

They knew that their situation was their own doing, but they couldn't swallow their anger.

What could they do with their anger?

They couldn't confront the town chief or the Magistrate's Office, could they? They didn't dare!

So, they could only vent their frustration on Chen Xun.

"What grave injustice have I done to earn such resentment from you three?"

Suddenly, an ethereal voice echoed in the ears of Dawei and his two companions.

The three of them shuddered in shock, immediately scanning their surroundings, then exchanged bewildered and terrified glances, seeing the horror in each other's eyes!

Until a young man appeared out of nowhere, like a ghost...

Dawei and his companions' pupils contracted sharply, and they recoiled in fear!

Ch... Chen Xun!!