Chapter 491: Chapter 166: Invasion of the Ice Barbarians, Rebirth in Flames (Long Chapter)

...

Cultivation was cultivation, but life still went on.

Time flashed by, and it was already the end of the year.

Tang Nian and Xiaozhao brought quite a lot of New Year’s goods back to the Ghost Realm to pay respects to their parents.

Xue Ning recently had another severe illness, which resulted from overexertion and accumulated into a disease, and once she calmed down, it erupted completely.

She spent her days by the stove, and now feeling a bit better, she came with the two girls to visit Li Yuan.

However, Li Yuan saw that Xue Ning was extremely frail and dared not let her into the Yin Qi-heavy Ghost Realm,

so the family had a reunion meal at the edge of the Ghost Realm.

The round table was set at the boundary of the Ghost Realm, half outside and half inside.

Hot dishes were set outside, and cold dishes inside...

Lady Yan and Xiaozhao sat inside;

Xue Ning, Tang Nian, and the Tang Chou Puppet sat outside;

Li Yuan sat in the middle.

At the feast, Xue Ning’s face was pale, and she coughed incessantly, feeling her entire body light as if floating in midair.

Li Yuan held her hand, warming her like a human stove, while eating and conversing about Ping’an.

Xue Ning raised her hand to her forehead and softly said, "The Central Plains are getting more chaotic, the Five Elements Forces have somehow involved the Buddhist and Daoist paths, and the Emperor has somehow promised something to get many Commanders on his side...

Now it is the Five Elements Forces against the Buddhist and Daoist paths, fighting the Emperor, Commanders, and the Lotus Sect...

As a Direct Disciple of the Divine Wood Hall within the Five Element Forces, I’m really worried for Ping’an."

Li Yuan said, "That stubborn kid refuses to come back. If he does, it would cut off his future, which is harder for him than death itself.

In the sands of time, the blood of heroes flows endlessly...

As parents, we wish for our children to be safe and sound, but they have their own ideas."

Xue Ning fell somewhat silent.

She grasped Li Yuan’s hand, her lips moving but stopping just short of speaking, only softly affirming.

But everyone at the table, except for Xiaozhao, was of discerning nature, and who couldn’t understand her meaning?

Xue Ning hoped that Li Yuan could help their son, at least protect him as he grows stronger.

But she couldn’t bring herself to say it.

Because she knew what Li Yuan was involved with, and why he was so gravely injured.

Now Li Yuan was not unwilling to go out, but he could only maintain his body’s balance in the Ghost Realm...

How could she say anything?

To speak of it would be selfish and annoying.

But how could she not think of it?

She had only one son.

Li Yuan suddenly asked, "Has there been a large-scale conflict in the Central Plains, or has there appeared an exotic beast? Have those strange beasts started to attack and seize territories?"

Xue Ning shook her head.

Li Yuan explained the "Lotus Sect’s plan" and his own speculation, concluding, "As long as the Lotus Sect has not completed the large-scale breeding of exotic beasts, the peak of confrontation will not arrive.

Before then... Ping’an, as the hope of the Divine Wood Hall, should still be protectable."

Xue Ning nodded, smiling, but then was overtaken by another fit of violent coughing.

She tightened the large coat wrapped around her, but could not hold in the warmth.

In the deep winter on the Cloud Mountain Path, the sky was freezing cold and snow stretched endlessly...

In this reunion meal, everyone had their worries, except Xiaozhao.

Xiaozhao cheerfully talked about her new friends, where she planned to go, and the amusing incidents during this period...

By the end, it was only her speaking enthusiastically.

Meanwhile, Li Yuan, Yan Yu, Xue Ning, and Tang Nian each had their own thoughts, each with their own obsessions...

Xiaozhao became the little ball of joy.

Although Tang Nian was only eleven years older than her, her life had been full of ups and downs, her heart had matured through countless trials, exceeding her age.

Not only mature but also reckless, reckless enough to be utterly fearless of life and death, because she understood what she absolutely had to do.

Her recklessness and maturity were restrained within calmness, forming her destiny.

At this moment, she suddenly approached Xiaozhao, laughing, "Miss Sheng surely hasn’t told you that a Tang Sect Inner Sect genius wrote her a love letter."

Xiaozhao immediately shouted, "I don’t even like him, why bring it up, Sister Nian?" 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

Tang Nian laughed, "It’s just intriguing."

Having said that, her eyes smiling drunk, squinting like crescent moons, she continued, "Let me tell you, nothing in the Tang Sect escapes me, I’ve already memorized that love letter of yours."

"What?"

Xiaozhao was taken aback.

Tang Nian coughed a little, cleared her throat, then in a rough voice recited, "To the esteemed Saintess, it has been three months since our farewell at Luo Xi, the gentle breeze and bright moon are still vivid..."

"Ahhhh!"

Xiaozhao swung her fist, starting to hit Tang Nian while trying to cover her mouth.

Tang Nian twisted her body to dodge, then got up, laughing and running while speaking.

Xiaozhao immediately chased after her.

This scene was lively and bustling.

And when the reunion meal had ended, Yan Yu quietly pulled Tang Nian aside, saying, "Niannian, next time there’s a love letter, show it to me too, and tell me about the suitor’s background.

My stalls here can push ’Yinji Powder’ to surrounding towns.

If it’s not too far, I can have the vendors take a look."

"Okay, stepmom." Tang Nian smiled, then softly said, "Don’t worry, stepmom, it’s all just for fun."

After chatting for a while, Tang Nian, taking the Tang Chou Puppet with her, left. She commanded the puppet waiting outside to lift the Palace Carriage, carrying her, Xue Ning, and Xiaozhao away.

The carriage departed...

Vanished without a trace...

Leaving only the wind blowing snow, filling the sky with somberness.

Li Yuan and Yan Yu watched as Cang Mountain, covered in snow, gradually lost any human figures, then they turned and headed back.

After a few steps, Li Yuan suddenly said, "Sister Yan, I want to try."