Mistakenly Connected to the Jade Flower Branch

The room was packed with people, all with expressions of shock and disbelief. Liu Lin's kung fu was among the best on Chongming Island; he was the backbone after the old leader's passing, and now he was just gone?

He entrusted his child to someone yesterday, and he's gone today? Was it a premonition or premeditated?

Luo An asked, "Who discovered it first?"

Qin Jiu said, "It's me. After Brother Xu and I brought Yan Zeyu back, we felt something was wrong, and when we came to check, this is how it was..."

Liu Lin has a good alcohol tolerance; he drank several extra cups last night but didn't get drunk. He's always an early riser, and the sun is already high in the sky.

Luo An said, "You may all leave."

Everyone obeyed and retreated outside the door; no one went far.

Nianyao obediently continued sleeping, but suddenly sat up in fright.

Uncle Liu is gone? What does that mean?

Nianyao was filled with doubt and surprise. She rolled out of bed and fell to the ground, blanket and all.

She looked up blankly and saw the words on the wall: "There are tall trees in the south..."

Memories, both clear and hazy, rushed back. Yesterday, Luo An was completely drunk. Later, she got drunk too, came to help Luo An cover himself with a blanket, and saw Luo An fall off the bed.

And then...

The piercing thrill and the euphoric pleasure still lingered in her memory. Nianyao looked down and saw her inner garment disheveled, the deep and shallow marks a shocking sight…

What did she do after drinking? Had sex? In Luo An's room? She initiated it? My God!

Nianyao hurriedly straightened her clothes, but as soon as she stood up, she fell back down: "It hurts! It hurts everywhere!"

How utterly chaotic is this? Nianyao cursed angrily: "You reap what you sow."

Nianyao sat on the ground for a while, then remembered the important matter: Hu Zi said Uncle Liu had left?

Nianyao struggled to her feet, tidied herself up a bit, and walked around the room a couple of times to get used to the soreness before going out.

A large crowd had gathered in front of the Willow Grove Courtyard. When they saw her approaching, they made way for her.

As Nianyao stepped forward, she saw Luo An come out.

Nianyao's lips trembled: "What happened to Uncle Liu? He left? Where did he go?"

Luo An stared at her intently and said in a deep voice, "Uncle Liu passed away peacefully without illness."

Nianyao's legs were already weak, and upon hearing this, she could no longer stand and knelt down on the ground.

Luo An reached out to support him: "Please accept my condolences!"

Condolences? Condolences for what!

Nianyao pushed Luo An aside and stumbled into the room, followed by the others who squeezed in.

Liu Lin lay on the bed, so quiet she seemed to be asleep. Her face was slightly flushed, even better than usual.

Nianyao knelt before the bed and called out, "Uncle Liu!"

Liu Lin didn't answer her, and she would never answer her again. Her father had just passed away, and now Liu Lin, who loved her most, was gone too.

Yuan Feng stood in the courtyard, her expression calm and composed. Seeing Luo An approach, Yuan Feng said, "Thank you for the soup last night, young master."

The Eight Treasures Soup is good for replenishing qi and blood; it must have been made for her.

Luo An asked, "Aren't you going to ask where Nanfei went?"

Yuan Feng said in a very calm tone: "Nanfei Flower's name has spread far and wide to the south of the desert."

Luo An asked, "You don't believe him?"

“Young Master, this is trust.” Yuan Feng thought for a moment, “Chief Xue isn’t pregnant, is she?”

Luo An asked, "What do you mean?"

Yuan Feng said, "I've never been pregnant, but I've seen it. Usually, a woman in her second month of pregnancy can't stand the smell of meat. The Eight Treasures Soup has pork bones and black-boned chicken, but Chief Xue didn't have any reaction at all."

Luo An said, "Pregnancy varies from person to person; not everyone experiences the same symptoms."

Yuan Feng raised an eyebrow: "Is Chief Xue really pregnant?"

Luo An simply replied, "No."

They either pretend to be mute and don't speak, or they speak in a very convoluted way.

Yuan Fengwei was slightly annoyed: "If Chief Xue were really pregnant, Young Master wouldn't have dared to be so unrestrained last night."

Luo An felt slightly embarrassed, but then realized something was off. Was Yuan Feng some kind of super-hearing creature? Could she hear everything across the courtyard?

Luo An asked, "General Yuan and the others flew south, they must have slept late. Did they see anything?"

Yuan Feng said, "I saw that the light in your room was always on, and I was worried that you might get drunk and cause trouble, so I went to check. You're very good at pretending; I couldn't tell at all."

Yuan Feng spoke seriously, showing no sign of anything unusual.

Luo An barely managed to remain calm: "General Yuan is even wary of me?"

Yuan Feng said, "Young master is joking. Everyone dies eventually, and the worst thing is to die a bad death. Uncle Liu was old, and it is a good thing that he died peacefully without illness."

Has he already seen through the illusions of the world at such a young age?

Luo An said, "Nanfei would love to see you like this..."

Yuan Feng smiled, seemingly unconcerned: "Young Master, I've come not only to unite with Southern Yue against..."

"Luo An." Nian Yao came out of the room. Her steps were unsteady and her face was pale. "Uncle Liu treated you well. You should take care of the funeral arrangements."

Luo An nodded, his eyes filled with pity.

Nianyao had no choice but to turn her face away from Yuan Feng and say, "General Yuan, please come with me."

After the two sat down in Anshun Hall, Nianyao asked, "Do you know where Nanfei went?"

Yuan Feng said, "Isn't it at Fengchun Tower?"

Nianyao said, "He's not here. I sent someone to Wudong County to look for Nanfei as soon as you came yesterday. He didn't stay at Fengchun Tower for more than a quarter of an hour, and nobody knows where he went."

Yuan Feng asked, "General Xue, do you suspect me or Nan Fei?"

Nianyao said, "I was in Uncle Liu's room just now. The brother who was on patrol last night told me that he saw you pass by Uncle Liu's yard."

Yuan Feng said, "Young Master got drunk last night, and I was worried, so I went to check on him. I just happened to pass by."

After a long pause, Nianyao asked, "What did you see?"

Yuan Feng smiled: "I've seen everything I needed to see."

Nianyao gritted her teeth: "General Yuan, do not look at what is improper."

“It wasn’t intentional.” Yuan Feng paused. “It’s normal for couples to enjoy each other’s company. Chief Xue, you don’t need to take it to heart.”

It would be abnormal to perform a live sex act. Nianyao blushed and didn't know what to say for a moment.

Yuan Feng stood up: "I'm here to seek cooperation, not revenge. You can rest assured about me and Nan Fei. I won't bother you for now. Call me anytime if you need anything."

The funerals of the Dahe Gang are simple, without elaborate rituals or mourning ceremonies. They bathe, change clothes, and decorate bamboo rafts. In life, they worship the river god for his protection, and in death, they are taken to the river god's temple with flowers everywhere.

The bamboo raft was right in front of them, and Liu Lin, dressed in a burial shroud, lay among the flowers.

When she saw her father off last time, she only felt sadness. Now, seeing Liu Lin off, she felt more panic.

Her loved ones, one by one, are leaving. Who will be next?

Luo An kept watching her, but she dared not turn around or meet his gaze, afraid that she would burst into tears on the spot.

Nianyao sprinkled kerosene on the bamboo raft, lit it, and pushed the raft forward with all her might, calling out, "Brothers, let's send Uncle Liu off with this gang gift!"

Nianyao was the first to kneel down on one knee, followed by Luo An and the others.

The bamboo raft drifted downstream, farther and farther away, until it gradually disappeared from sight...

Luo An reached out to help Nian Yao up: "Get up."

Nianyao clung to him for support and stood up. Nianyao was very strong, and Luo An supported her steadily.

Nianyao stood up and steadied herself, then broke free from him and strode back, with her brothers following her.

Yuan Feng watched from afar, then walked over and said, "Young master has good taste; Chief Xue is quite good."

"It is truly not easy to receive praise from General Yuan." Luo An looked at her, and just as Yuan Feng was wondering about it, she heard him say, "Nan Fei is back."

Yuan Feng suddenly turned her head. A boat was approaching on the river. Several people were standing on the boat, but it was impossible to see who they were from a distance.

Yuan Feng suddenly felt nervous.