A master of metaphysics is farming.

The young master of Shuiyun City not only has a gentle side, but also a side that is unknown to others.

Xiang He guessed his identity, why he opened a private school in the city, and what he had offended that someone wanted to kill him.

She gripped the rope and slowly moved down. Xing Ji and He Suian looked down and saw her figure gradually shrink. Then she turned and walked down the mountain.

"Young master, this will make the young lady suspicious."

He Sui'an descended slowly, his eyelashes fluttering lazily, his face calm and undisturbed.

"She's so smart, she already guessed that we were not ordinary people, but she wouldn't ask, after all, she's someone who hates trouble."

Bold, decisive, and efficient, such people don't concern themselves with other people's business.

Moreover, their affairs are troublesome.

Xing Ji followed silently behind, not daring to speak, while He Sui walked leisurely ahead, asking, "Has there been any news from the capital yet?"

"Not yet, it seems we'll have to wait a while longer."

"No rush. We'll be able to go to the capital for the imperial examination next spring, and we'll definitely see each other then."

"Yes."

The two continued downhill and encountered the wild dog that had just been killed; its companions were now gnawing on its flesh.

A mocking glint flashed in He Sui'an's eyes. "Cannibalism among their own kind is a common occurrence."

Upon hearing this, Xing Ji slowly lowered his eyes, concealing the unreadable emotions within them.

-

The two walked slowly to the foot of the mountain, looking up at the cliff. Xiang He was quite quick, and they could already see her faint figure.

Watching her carefully descend with the rope, the bamboo basket behind her drooping slightly, could it be that she had picked a lot?

"The girl is agile, as if she has been trained."

“That’s true,” He Sui’an said, his hands behind his back, her nimble figure reflected in his eyes. “Who did she learn from, this girl from the mountains?”

"Could it be that you've taken a master?"

A girl who grew up in a mountain village is not only skilled in martial arts and knowledgeable in traditional Chinese medicine, but also has profound knowledge of Taoism. It is obvious at a glance that she is not simple.

The two watched silently as her figure became clear, until she finally leaped down and landed steadily.

Xiang He put the bamboo basket behind him on the ground and examined it carefully again. "There are so many good herbs here, it's a pity I can't pick more."

He Sui'an also squatted down and took out one of the herbs that looked like grass. "What kind of medicine is this?"

"Stone lotus, also known as deer fairy grass, has the effects of nourishing the kidneys, yin, clearing heat and stopping bleeding."

Xiang He sorted and put the herbs away, then took the Deer Immortal Grass from his hand. "Are there any large pharmacies in the city? Take this to a large pharmacy and sell it; you can get more money that way."

Although the quantity is not large, its value lies in the difficulty of harvesting it.

"Of course, there are. Yong'an Pharmacy in the city is the largest. You can go and ask them."

“Alright,” Xiang He slung the bamboo basket over her shoulder. The sun was already setting. “Let’s hurry back. It’s getting dark, and Father and Mother must be worried.”

It would take about half an hour to walk back from the back mountain. Xiang He quickened his pace to get home. As he looked around, he suddenly felt a flash of white light. He turned his head sharply, and the white light flashed by.

That was on the mountaintop where they had just been. Xiang He was quite certain that someone or something had appeared there.

Seeing her standing at a distance, He Sui'an followed her gaze and looked up, but there was nothing there.

Is there something there?

Xiang He blinked a few times and continued walking forward. "Yes, there is, but they probably don't want me to see them. Never mind."

Only its shadow is visible, not its body; let's pretend we didn't see it.

The three continued their journey. Night had fallen, and a gust of cold wind swept over them. "Hey, your grandma's here to steal your meat!"

The voice was urgent, and He Sui'an frowned sharply, but he couldn't see anything. "What's that sound? Is someone talking?"

Xiang He was immediately at a loss and ran away, saying, "Fifth Uncle, go back and stop them for me."

"Okay, hurry up!"

She knew that Li wouldn't let them off so easily, especially since she had treated others to a meal today and hadn't even sent some to her house. She was bound to be extremely jealous.

Seeing the coldness in her eyes, He Sui'an turned her head and softly called out, "Xing Ji."

"Yes."

Xing Ji leaped out to protect the flesh of Xiang He's family.

Xiang He forced a smile. "Thank you."

"Your grandmother is indeed difficult to deal with."

"Of course!" Xiang He couldn't help but grumble and complain, "All they do is take our meat and vegetables every day, they won't let us have a peaceful life. I've never seen such an old person."

Rarely hearing her complain, He Sui'an's expression softened. "I heard from Xiao Yang that you put in a lot of effort to get away from that family."

Xiang He narrowed her eyes. "You're asking about our family."

"It's just something I mentioned."

The two chatted about trivial matters, hurrying along with brisk steps. The noise could be heard from afar, especially Li's voice, which was all too familiar.

They've been watching their family every day, determined to make their lives miserable.

After running a short distance, they could see Li Shi making a scene in front of their house. Yu Shi stood to the side with her hands on her hips, her eyes fierce. Xing Ji, tall and strong, stood blocking the doorway, while Xiang Zhong Piao waited on the wall for an opportunity.

Now I get angry whenever I see Li, and I act like I owe her something every day.

Xiang He let out a long breath, weighed the sickle in her hand, raised it to her eyes and aimed it at him. He Sui'an couldn't help but gasp when she saw her stance.

"Isn't that...too dangerous?"

"To deal with this kind of person, you have to be even more vicious and ruthless than her."

After saying that, Xiang He slightly raised his hand and suddenly threw the sickle towards Li's side.

Suddenly, Yu, who was watching the play from the side, felt a chill run down her spine. She looked sharply in the direction the chill had come from and saw something flashing with a cold light flying towards her—

"Mother, hide quickly!"

Li was in the middle of her rant when something flew past her so fast that she stopped in her tracks.

Everyone's gaze followed the sickle as it finally landed and sank deep into the ground.

The sickle had just grazed her face, and Li was so frightened that she stood there stunned and unresponsive.

Yu was so frightened that she fell to the ground, patting her chest with both hands.

Xiang He walked over step by step, picking up the sickle casually. "What did I say? What did you promise? The only place you can approach is at the bottom of the slope. Who gave you permission to come up here?"

She walked up to the two women and stood there. It was dark when she got closer and she could see that Li's hair was disheveled and there were even scars on her cheeks. She was taken aback for a moment, and then looked at Yu. Her hair was also messy and her clothes were dirty.

Looking up suddenly, Xing Ji was already standing to the side, Xiang Dayong's sleeve was torn off, and Su's hair was disheveled. He couldn't help but laugh out loud, "You guys were fighting?"

Madam Su brushed the stray hairs from her forehead behind her ear, rolled up her sleeves, and walked out. "They want to steal our meat and take the chickens back. I won't let them succeed."

As she spoke, she stood beside Xiang He with her hands on her hips, glaring angrily, "Mother, don't say I'm unfilial. I promised you a piece of meat, but you insisted on taking it all, and even tried to snatch the chicken Father gave you. Aren't you being a bit too greedy?!"

They were still treated as the younger generation. Although they had separated from the family, they were not cut off from their kinship. They would still give what they were entitled to. They just didn't expect that this old hag would come to their door and snatch everything away, leaving nothing behind. It was really too much!

The two women came to their senses, and Yu hurriedly went forward to help Li, but Li pushed her away and pointed at Su, scolding, "Your family doesn't even call the two heads of the household for cooking, and you still have the nerve to complain?!"

According to local custom, the stove must be cleaned by an older elder, symbolizing respect for the elderly, filial piety, suppression of evil spirits, harmony of feng shui, and prosperity for the family.

Madam Su scoffed, "He's great-grandfather personally came to clean the house, how could I dare to invite the two of you? You'd just empty my room!"

Xiang He watched intently from the side. Su Shi had really stood up for herself and was speaking with more confidence!

"Mother is right!"

At this moment, Xiang Dayong walked over, carrying a piece of meat in his hand. "Mother, don't say I'm unfilial. This is for Father and Mother. Don't come here to cause trouble in the future... and let us live in peace."

The words were not a plea, but a resolute decision.

Xiang He knew that the two women were angry with Li Shi, not only because of her years of exploitation, but also because of the death of He Yatou.