What to do if you receive the wrong package?

The small, exquisite carriage moved smoothly along the road. Gu Yan sat by the window, lifting the curtain to enjoy the scenery along the way.

A bustling market, throngs of people, and the sounds of vendors hawking their wares. The warmth and vibrancy of everyday life are what truly comfort the human heart.

"Would you like to go for a walk?" Bai Heming asked, looking at Gu Yan with a longing expression.

"Is it okay, brother? How about we walk home after we finish lunch? We can take a stroll and digest our food at the same time."

"If you're still able to walk by then, of course it's no problem."

"I can walk, I can walk," Gu Yan quickly replied, afraid that Bai Heming would change his mind.

Before the two had exchanged more than a few words, the carriage arrived at its destination. Chao Chun Pavilion truly lived up to its reputation as the premier restaurant in Wuzhou; it occupied a vast area, with carved eaves reflecting the sun and painted beams soaring like clouds. A huge gilded signboard hung above the entrance, surrounded by beautiful flowers, and the bells hanging from the eaves jingled melodiously in the breeze. Even the waiters at the entrance were handsome and refined. Upon seeing the guests arrive, one of the waiters immediately greeted them with a smile, "Greetings, young master and young lady. Please come in." He then very attentively led Gu Yan and his companions to a private room on the second floor. The wooden staircase was very spacious, its sides also decorated with entwined flowers.

"Your place, so full of flowers, should be renamed Hundred Flowers Pavilion." Gu Yan casually stroked the flowers, the delicate petals moving through his hands.

"Guests may not know this, but the name Chaochun Pavilion means spring is like a tide, and the blooming of all flowers is just like the waves of spring."

Bai Heming casually ordered several signature dishes and a pot of Hundred Flowers Wine. He glanced at Gu Yan, whose attention was completely drawn to the surroundings, smiled slightly, and gestured for the waiter to leave.

Gu Yan circled the private room, taking a deep breath. A faint floral fragrance permeated the room, almost imperceptible unless one sniffed closely. Two landscape paintings hung on the wall; if Gu Yan knew art, he would recognize them as masterpieces. A window on one side of the room, which he initially assumed would lead to the outside of the restaurant, turned out to be a waterside pavilion and stage. On the stage sat five masked women playing musical instruments, their beautiful music captivating a large audience.

"How are you feeling?" Bai Heming poured Gu Yan a cup of tea.

Sunlight streamed through the carved wooden window, casting dappled shadows. Gu Yan stretched out his hand and moved slowly with the shadows, suddenly feeling a sense of tranquility.

"I never imagined the outside world was so wonderful. Big brother, could you take me to see it more often in the future?"

"Okay, if you're willing, I'll take you out."

"Thank you, brother"

As they talked, the table was filled with various delicacies. Bai Heming handed over a pair of exquisite jade chopsticks, "Try them and see if they suit your taste."

Gu Yan took the chopsticks without hesitation and mumbled a comment while eating: "How can you make eggplant so delicious?"

"Is this chicken? It's so tender!"

"Brother, brother, you must try this fish, it's so fresh!"

Finally, Gu Yan probably realized that she was being rather "noisy," and stuck out her tongue somewhat embarrassedly: "Big brother, I'm sorry. Was I talking too much and disturbing your meal?"

"It doesn't matter, as long as you like it." Bai Heming shook his head, his smile undiminished.

Gu Yan bit the end of her chopsticks, staring at Bai Heming's fresh and handsome face, somewhat dazed: if Bai Heming hadn't been related to her by blood, she would have almost thought that Bai Heming liked her.

But I have to say, her older brother is really good-looking.

With such a beautiful woman sitting across from her, her appetite improved considerably. After a hearty meal, Gu Yan slumped back in her chair, somewhat disregarding her image. Looking at the empty plates on the table, Gu Yan suddenly felt embarrassed; it seemed she had eaten a tiny bit too much, and she wondered if Bai Heming was full.

"Big brother, are you full?"

Bai Heming nodded, seemingly a little confused. "Aren't you full yet? Would you like me to order some more food?"

"No, no." Gu Yan quickly waved his hand. "I'm full, I'm full. Didn't we agree before that you would tell me why there are so many people from other places coming to Wuzhou recently? I was thinking, if you're full, please tell me." After saying that, he fawned over Bai Heming and poured him a cup of tea.

Have you heard the rumor that's been circulating for the past few years?

"No," Gu Yan shook his head blankly. "Could the sudden increase in people recently be related to this rumor?"

“That’s right.” Bai Heming nodded and said solemnly, “Legend has it that ten thousand years ago, the world was in chaos, the Big Dipper broke apart, and the seven stars turned into strange stones scattered throughout the world. Tianxuan, Tianji, Tianquan, Yuheng, Kaiyang, Yaoguang, and Tianshu were no longer cold stars in the nine heavens, but transformed into objects of blessing from heaven and earth. It is said that if you collect the seven divine stones, you can unlock the most precious treasure in the world. Most importantly, there is a map inside that can open the ladder to immortality. By climbing the ladder, you can obtain an immortal body, ascend to the immortal position, and from then on join the ranks of immortals and live as long as the heavens.”

"Really?" Gu Yan opened his mouth in surprise. This was too outrageous.

"Rumors are just rumors. After all, no one has actually seen the Seven Star Stone yet," Bai Heming shook his head. He had only heard about it himself.

"Seven Star Stones? The legend says that the Big Dipper in the sky turned into stones and scattered to earth? If you find all seven stones, good things will happen?" Gu Yan didn't know whether to say that superstition was unacceptable or to praise the person who made up the legend for their strong ability to fabricate stories.

Seven stones, can they summon a dragon?! Gu Yan even had a slight suspicion that the person who made this up might also have been a time traveler.

"That's what the rumors say, but who knows what they actually are?" Bai Heming chuckled.

"Since nobody knows, why are so many people coming to Wuzhou because of this rumor that may or may not be true?"

"Because there are always some people in the world who like to gamble and always want to get the biggest benefit with the smallest cost."

"What falls from the sky isn't necessarily a pie; it could be a trap," Gu Yan sighed. "Since no one has ever seen the Seven Star Stone, and the Great Qi has four ministries, one capital, and nineteen prefectures, how do we know the stone is in Wuzhou?"

"Because half a month ago, the northern part of Wuzhou should have had a bright moon in the sky, but suddenly there was lightning and thunder, strong wind and rain, and the moon was stained with blood, which was an unusual natural phenomenon."

"So people think this is a sign that the Seven Star Stones appeared in Wuzhou..." Gu Yan was speechless. She really wanted to explain that the blood moon appeared simply because the thick atmosphere absorbed the purple, blue, green, and yellow light, leaving only red light that could penetrate.

It has to be said, being uncultured is truly terrifying.

"What has Ke Ren found now?" Gu Yan pressed.

"For now... nothing has been gained." Bai Heming looked at Gu Yan, who was slightly resentful, and after thinking for a moment, decided to conceal some of the situation.

Although they found nothing, the villages in northern Wuzhou suffered greatly. They were questioned and searched daily by different people, and some even took their anger out on the unarmed villagers, killing and massacring entire villages. The mountain city where the Bai family was currently located was only temporarily safe because it was close to central Wuzhou. It was best to leave Wuzhou, this place of trouble, as soon as possible.

"According to legend, the Seven Star Stones were scattered among the people during a time of great chaos, to help those suffering in dire straits. Who would have thought that these scattered stones would lead to another upheaval in the world?" Gu Yan twirled the delicate white porcelain teacup in his hand, then suddenly remembered something. Suppressing his doubts, he looked up and said, "Brother, we've been out for quite some time now. Let's go back."

"Okay, shall we visit the market again on our way back?" Bai Heming asked, remembering what Gu Yan had said when he came.

Eager to confirm her suspicions, Gu Yan said apologetically, "I've been out for a while and I'm a little tired, so I won't go for now. I'll go with my older brother next time."

Who would have thought that Gu Yan's words would come true, and that "next time" would never come.

Not long after the two left Chao Chun Pavilion, it was surrounded by a group of people dressed in black, wearing black masks, and wielding black knives. The leader forcefully seized the place. The innkeeper, seeing this, wanted to reason with them, but before he could utter a word, the leader slashed him down, dismembering his body. The others, witnessing this, immediately screamed and fled the dangerous place.

On the way back, Gu Yan leaned quietly against the side of the carriage, her initial excitement and exhilaration replaced by confusion and unease. Upon arriving at the Bai residence, as soon as the carriage came to a stop, Gu Yan quickly lifted her skirt and jumped down. After a brief greeting to Bai Heming, she hurried towards her courtyard.

Upon entering the courtyard, Gu Yan handed the lunchbox to Chunxiu, who came to greet him: "I'm tired, I'll go and rest first. This is for you, eat slowly, you don't need to come in and serve me."

After returning to her room, Gu Yan did not rest. Instead, she went straight to the bedside, lifted the pillow, and brought the jade pendant to her eyes. When Bai Heming told Gu Yan the rumor, she did not expect that the rumor would be related to the jade pendant, because the Seven Star Stones, as the name suggests, consisted of seven strange stones, which were different in number and type from the jade pendant.

But when he mentioned the unusual natural phenomena in Wuzhou, Gu Yan hesitated. She had transmigrated on the very night of those phenomena. Therefore, she couldn't help but suspect the connection between the jade pendant in her hand and the Seven Star Stone.

Are there more than five jade pendants? Or are they just a cover for something else?

"A common man is innocent, but possessing a treasure is a crime." Just in case, Gu Yan decided that from today onwards, she would wear the jade pendant on her person and carry it with her at all times. Even if something went wrong, she could control the jade pendant immediately.

After obtaining the jade pendant, Gu Yan relaxed, a wave of drowsiness washed over him, and he turned over and lay down on the bed, soon falling asleep.