I long to return home!

A cold wind howled as Huai Zhen walked alone through the small town.

As dusk settles, the entire street is adorned with all sorts of lanterns, a dazzling display of lights, and the sounds of vendors hawking their wares fill the air, creating a lively and bustling atmosphere.

Almost every few steps, you could see children dressed in thick clothes playing in the streets. It was the end of the year, and every household had various Spring Festival couplets pasted on their doors and windows.

As the year draws to a close, few restaurants remain open on the streets, as people have all returned home to reunite with their families.

As Huaizhen watched all this, though he was a cultivator who needed to abandon worldly desires in order to achieve the Great Dao, seeing every family reunited together inevitably brought him some sadness. He had lost his memory, was a person without a past, and didn't even know who his family was.

“Ling Jiao…” he murmured softly, “Who exactly are you?” At this moment, only the blonde woman named Ling Jiao in his fragmented memories was his only support.

...

Night fell, and every household lit their lamps, illuminating the vast expanse of darkness as if it were daytime. The loud sounds of firecrackers rose and fell in the streets, along with the sounds of drinking, laughter of men and women, and children playing, all mingling together in a strange yet captivating cacophony.

Huai Zhen looked through the slightly open doors and windows at the family reunion for New Year's Eve dinner. He had seen this many times when he was in the Xiaoyao Sect. Fortunately, the disciples of the sect would gather together. But now they were separated by tens of thousands of miles. Seeing this again now made him feel very sad.

Within the imperial city.

Looking at the dazzling array of nearly a hundred delicious dishes, Lei Mengying felt a mix of emotions. Beside her, besides Lei Chenshu, sat a dignified middle-aged man and a beautifully dressed middle-aged woman.

"Xiaoying, the desserts are here." Lin Qianyue smiled and placed a plate of sweet cakes in front of Lei Mengying. She said with a loving smile, "Xiaoying, you've grown up. I know that cultivation is hard, but even in hardship, we must not forget the time when the family eats together."

"You must eat your fill this time."

Lei Mengying took the sweet cake and nodded slightly, "I understand, Mother."

Seeing this, Lin Qianyue got up, ladled out a bowl of golden and delicious chicken soup, and placed it in front of Lei Qianjun. She said lovingly, "Qianjun, now is the time for your family to reunite. Xiaoying has been eating reunion dinner with us for two years. Don't look so gloomy in front of your children."

"Yes, Father, it's rare for Xiaoying to be with me. If we don't eat soon, the food will get cold. This was cooked by Mother herself," Lei Chen said with a smile.

Upon hearing this, Lei Qianjun glanced at Lei Mengying, who was eating dessert, then at Lin Qianyue and Lei Chenshu, picked up a snack and started eating. "Eat up."

This period of leisure was drawing to a close, and people usually talked about the year's harvest at this time. The delicacies on the table were visibly decreasing. Lei Qianjun looked at Lei Mengying again, but this time his face was more solemn. He slowly put down his chopsticks and bowl, and after a long while, he said, "Ying'er, I heard from your second grandfather that he encountered a ghost cultivator on his way back. Are you still feeling unwell?"

Lei Mengying paused for a moment, swallowed the delicious food in her mouth, and replied calmly, "Thank you for your concern, Father. Ying'er's health is much better now."

"What about that little Taoist priest you brought back? I heard you used up a lot of pills for him. Is he alright now?" Lei Qianjun's voice suddenly turned cold. He was so angry when he heard that his precious daughter had brought back a man that he almost skipped the morning court session.

"He's much better," Lei Mengying said somewhat perfunctorily.

Upon hearing this, Lei Qianjun's face darkened with displeasure. He said, "Ying'er, your father doesn't want you to go to the Yin Yue Empire either. The war between the two countries is currently intense, and Shen Lian is the most respected prince of the Yin Yue Empire, possessing considerable imperial power..."

Before she could finish speaking, Lei Mengying put down her chopsticks and bowl. "Mother, Father, Ying'er is full... I'll be going now." With that, she turned and left.

Seeing this, Lei Qianjun was speechless with bitterness and lost all appetite. "Sigh..."

Lin Qianyue's face showed slight anger as she complained, "Qianjun, today is a rare time for our family to be together, and you have to say these things to our daughter at this time."

"I don't want to either, but if I don't say it out loud, I'll feel suffocated as a father. The thought of not seeing my daughter for ten years is unbearable..." Lei Qianjun said sadly, clenching his fist tightly at his chest.

A few days ago.

Shen Lian followed the officials out of the imperial city, and soon saw Murong Shuang waiting in the distance.

"We're out," Murong Shuang said gently, and then the two walked side by side.

"What did you say to His Majesty inside?" Murong Shuang asked curiously.

Upon hearing this, Shen Lian sighed, looked at Murong Shuang's exquisite face, and smiled, "We discussed a proposal to unite the two countries as much as possible."

"For a period of ten years, cultivators from all sects in both countries who can form their core within ten years will be sent to each other for ten years of training, during which they can freely compete for opportunities of all sizes."

"To show our sincerity, I, as a prince of one of the kingdoms, will also be among them. The Wuji Empire will also send a prince, and it seems that only one princess has not yet formed her core," Shen Lian said calmly.

"You're going to stay here for ten years!" Murong Shuang was startled, then paused and said, "Your Highness, Shuang'er didn't mean anything by it. Why does Sister Ying want to go to the Wuji Empire?"

"This matter was not my decision. It was probably decided by your court officials after weighing the pros and cons. Your sister Ying became the sacrifice in weighing this relationship," Shen Lian said with emotion.

Hearing this, Murong Shuang couldn't help but feel sorry for Lei Mengying. Not long after, Shen Lian felt the cold wind blowing on his cheeks and said, "The end of the year is just a few months away."

"Then how will Your Highness spend the year-end?" Murong Shuang asked, puzzled.

Upon hearing this, Shen Lian looked at Murong Shuang and grinned mischievously, "Of course I've been to your residence."

"No! Your Highness, how can you spend the New Year at my house?" Murong Shuang quickly refused.

“Why not? Don’t forget our agreement. This prince will just stay at your residence temporarily,” Shen Lian said.

Thinking of the agreement between the two parties, and considering how much Liu Ma and Murong Shuang had thought about it, he gritted his teeth and agreed.

...

Takizhou.

On the street, Murong Shuang lowered her blushing face, not daring to look directly at Shen Lian beside her. Bringing a stranger home at the end of the year was already strange, let alone a man, which immediately changed the nature of the situation.

After walking for a while, they stopped at a magnificent courtyard. Shen Lian looked up at the three characters "Murong Mansion" on the plaque and smiled faintly, "We've arrived. Hurry up and take this prince inside."

Murong Shuang was taken aback. She still hadn't figured out how to face it, but when she thought of Liu Ma, everything else seemed less important.

Taking a deep breath, she took out the token from her storage bag. The guards at the gate hurriedly bowed and saluted, saying respectfully, "Young Miss."

"Let's go." Murong Shuang glanced back at Shen Lian and went inside.

Just as Shen Lian was about to take a step, he heard the black-robed old man's voice: "Your Highness, there is a Nascent Soul cultivator stationed in the manor. This old servant will go and have a talk with him first."