[Mo Dao Zu Shi Fanfiction] I Raise A Ying in Yiling

Time slipped by unnoticed as Wei Chaoyan was busy with both her relentless pursuits and the demonic path of the mortal world. Before she knew it, it was the last day of the month. Wei Chaoyan remembered that she needed to return to the village on the first day of the new year to face Village Chief Wei and the others who had saved her. She hesitated for a moment.

Wei Chaoyan unconsciously touched the smooth and delicate wooden box in her hand. Inside the box were the memorial tablets of Zezang and his wife that she had secretly commissioned to be carved, a purse containing a lock of Wei Ying's black hair, and the Filial Piety Classic that Wei Ying, Qi Ye, and she had personally copied over this period of time (except for Wei Ying's copy, which was to be placed in the cenotaph of Zezang and his wife, and her and Qi Ye's copy, which was to be burned for their parents at their graves).

Wei Chaoyan couldn't help but laugh when she thought about how she tricked Wei Ying into clumsily sewing on the purse. Who would have thought that Wei Wuxian, who was so skilled in weapon crafting in the original work, would be just as clueless about needlework as he was about cooking?!

Fortunately, despite the bumps and bruises, quite a lot was completed. Although the embroidery thread was crooked and rather ugly, it was Wei Ying's filial piety. I suppose Zezang and his wife wouldn't mind; on the contrary, they would be very happy.

After carefully reviewing her needs for tomorrow and finding that she had prepared everything or discussed it with Madam Yan without any problems, Wei Chaoyan breathed a sigh of relief. Although she didn't know where the inexplicable resentment she felt towards Grandpa and Grandma Wei and even all the villagers of Wei Village came from, she knew that she had to face it when the time came. She hadn't severed ties with Wei Village, and Yiling Town wasn't as far away as the ends of the earth from Wei Village. She would meet them sooner or later!

Wei Chaoyan shook her head to clear her mind of the jumbled thoughts, then got up and took in the mourning clothes that were hanging outside. These were relatively formal mourning clothes that Wei Chaoyan had hastily made from a piece of high-quality plain-colored fabric that her wife had bought. Tomorrow, she and Wei Ying would wear these clothes back to Wei Village.

Wei Ying and Qi Ye, who were playing with Qing Yan in the courtyard, caught sight of Wei Chao Yan tidying up the mourning clothes that were drying. Knowing what they would have to do when they returned to the village the next morning, the two felt a pang of sadness. Turning around, they saw Qing Yan playing happily behind them, oblivious to everything. The two of them, with one mind, put aside their low spirits and followed Qing Yan around, playing with him and making him laugh heartily. The clear and cheerful laughter of the children filled the entire Wei residence.

The dinner at the Wei residence was unusually quiet tonight. Although the dishes on the table were plentiful, apart from the youngest, Wei Qingyan, who ate with great relish, the rest of the guests seemed to have little appetite.

After quickly and easily finishing dinner, Wei Chaoyan tidied everything up and led her three younger brothers to a small room. With a touch of nostalgia and sadness, she respectfully lit incense for the ancestral tablets of the elders on the table, and whispered to them that she would be taking Wei Ying and the others back to the village to see them the next day, and that they should not worry.

After saying that, Wei Chaoyan left the room with her people. As she turned around and closed the wooden door, she muttered to herself, "Father and Mother, this memorial tablet has been there for quite some time. I wonder if you have seen Uncle Changze and Aunt Cangse here. If not, please look around for any trace of them. If you find them, please tell them that I have built a place for them to stay where you sleep. Please come and stay with them when you have time."

After muttering these thoughts to herself, Wei Chaoyan returned to her room with a slightly lighter heart. She quickly tidied herself up with Qingyan, and then, together with Wei Ying and Qi Ye, who had also taken a bath and were now clean, they rolled onto their soft beds. In perfect unison, they rubbed their pillows, pulled up the folded blankets at the foot of the bed, covered themselves, and instantly drifted off to sleep. Hmm, there are still many things to do tomorrow, so I need to rest early!

Nothing happened that night. Before the sky woke up and Wei Chaoyan opened her eyes at the end of the Yin hour the next day, she threw off the covers and sprang out of bed. After quickly getting herself ready, she fiddled with Qingyan on the other side of the bed while waking Wei Ying and Qi Ye on the other bed, telling them to quickly put on the mourning clothes that she had folded and placed at the head of the bed the night before.

After a while, Wei Ying and the others finally got dressed and washed up. After having a simple breakfast in the main hall, Wei Chaoyan packed up the things she needed to take and put them into the storage bag she carried with her, then tucked the storage bag deep into her bosom.

Having prepared everything, Wei Chaoyan opened the gate at the end of the Mao hour (5-7 AM). As soon as the gate opened, she saw Lady Yan, dressed simply, with a look of mixed reminiscence and sorrow on her face, leading a group of people with complete tools who looked like experts, waiting half a zhang away from the gate of the Wei residence. Judging from the slight dampness in her hair, they must have been waiting for some time.

Seeing Wei Chaoyan open the door, Lady Yan nodded slightly to her and said in a slightly hoarse voice, "Ready? Then come with me!" Without waiting for Wei Chaoyan's reaction, she waved her hand to signal the people following behind to set off.

Seeing how swift and decisive Yan Niangzi's actions were, Wei Chaoyan said anxiously, "Hey! Wait for us, Aunt Yan! Aying, Qiye, take Qingyan and follow Aunt Yan first. Sister needs to lock the gate, she'll be there shortly!!"

As he spoke, he pushed Wei Ying and the others toward Lady Yan and the others, while quickly closing the gate and locking it. He managed to lock the gate just before Lady Yan and her group were out of sight.

As Wei Chaoyan ran quickly towards the receding figure, she shouted, "Hey, what about me! Aunt Yan, slow down, wait for me!!!"