What to do if you receive the wrong package?

Gu Yan had just run out the door when she saw the familiar "bird" silhouette standing on the window that had just embarrassed her and her older brother.

It's alright, it didn't fly away. It's no wonder she worked so hard to save the little thrush. Of course, Jiang Si deserves a lot of credit for this.

She slowly approached, extended her left hand to the little thrush that was tilting its head and staring at her, and muttered in confusion, "Brother Li is unconscious, so my idea just now should not be valid. But I clearly heard something fall inside the room."

The little thrush obediently flew to Gu Yan's left hand and gently pecked him a couple of times, as if complaining that Gu Yan had only just remembered him.

Gu Yan lowered his head and met Xiao Huamei's small, beady eyes. On a sudden inspiration, he picked up Xiao Huamei and climbed through the window of the second room.

As soon as he landed, Gu Yan saw a pile of broken pieces by the window. Taking two steps forward, his attention was drawn to a pile of burnt firewood in the middle of the room, the surrounding area slightly charred.

Gu Yan pursed his lips, raised his hand to fan his nose, and continued walking forward.

My brother is really brave, burning firewood directly inside the house without even worrying about carbon monoxide poisoning.

Upon realizing this, Gu Yan instantly understood.

Maybe my older brother really did have some carbon monoxide poisoning, which is why he was in a hurry to open the window for ventilation. Who would have thought that he would run into me as soon as he opened the window?

Not knowing whether the poisonous gas had dissipated, Gu Yan quickly walked towards the door.

Hurry up, hurry up! If things don't disperse by then, she'll be the one suffering later.

When Gu Yan returned to the cabin, she saw Bai Heming staring intently at Li Hengzhi on the bed, not even noticing her return.

Gu Yan held the little thrush and placed it in the bird's nest on the table. Looking at his older brother, who was expressionless and even had somewhat vacant eyes, he didn't know what to say for a moment.

She could only stand beside Bai Heming, gently pat his shoulder, and whisper, "Big brother, Brother Li will definitely wake up."

Bai Heming seemed not to hear, and it took him a long time to come back to his senses and lower his eyes.

"Actually, we knew each other before."

???

Is my older brother talking to me?

Gu Yan was completely confused and was just wondering whether to respond when he heard Bai Heming start talking to himself again.

"When I was fourteen, my master and mistress were unable to take care of me due to certain matters, so they had to take me to Qingzhou and settle me in Kunlun Ruins."

Bai Heming closed his eyes, and the events of many years ago seemed like yesterday; the clear memories allowed him to recall them instantly.

"My master and mistress were extremely busy during the first year, and I was often left alone in the courtyard. I didn't dare to go out, so I could only secretly climb over the courtyard wall and peek outside."

“One day, a boy about my age suddenly found me, and I was so scared that I fell off the courtyard wall. That boy was Li Hengzhi, and from that day on, I made a new friend in Kunlun Ruins.”

Gu Yan's eyes widened instantly upon hearing this. So his elder brother and Brother Li had known each other for a long time. Then why did they not seem familiar to the other person before?

Moreover, Jiang Si didn't mention that the two knew each other when he spoke about it before.

Did Jiang Si not know that Brother Li and his elder brother had met in their childhood?

Gu Yan became more and more confused, so he simply continued listening.

"Actually, Li Hengzhi said that he had noticed me a long time ago. He didn't expect that I was timid and never went out. When he finally greeted me, I was so scared that I fell down. Seeing that I didn't like to talk, Li Hengzhi took the initiative to take me all over Kunlun Ruins. After we finished exploring Kunlun Ruins, he took me to explore Qingzhou."

"Those three years were probably the happiest three years of my life."

Li Hengzhi's attentive companionship over those years gave Bai Heming a great sense of security, especially since his master was not around when he escaped from the Bai family mansion. This led to Bai Heming's fondness for staying by Li Hengzhi's side in the later years. Whether it was practicing martial arts and swordsmanship, reading and learning to read, or even eating and sleeping together, the two of them were inseparable without any reservations.

Unfortunately, happy days always come to an end. In the spring of the fourth year, Li Hengzhi had to go with his master to the Qingfeng Sword Sect to attend the spring banquet held once every four years. Before leaving, Bai Heming's tearful appearance made Li Hengzhi wish he could plead with his master to take Bai Heming with him.

However, he also knew the importance of the Spring Festival Banquet, and repeatedly assured Bai Heming that he would return in five days and bring him a small gift before following his master away, turning back every few steps.

Unexpectedly, when Li Hengzhi returned with the gift, full of joy, Bai Heming was nowhere to be found.

"On the third day after Li Hengzhi left, my master's wife returned alone. My master's wife is an exceptionally gentle person, but that day she was gloomy. Even though she didn't say anything to me, I knew something serious must have happened. I only had time to leave Li Hengzhi a letter and a birthday gift that I had been preparing for a year in advance, and then I left Kunlun Ruins with my master's wife."

"I never expected that we would never see each other again after that parting, until rumors spread in Wuzhou and we bumped into each other by chance on the street."

After Bai Heming finished speaking, he looked at Li Hengzhi on the bed and felt a pang of sadness in his heart.

Even though Gu Yan, as a listener, had many questions, he could only suppress his curiosity when he saw Bai Heming's pale face and red eyes, and whispered, "Brother, you should go and rest for a while too."

"It's okay, I just want to see him."

After seven years apart, how could he not be excited to see her again? But when he saw Jiang Si beside Li Hengzhi and thought about the difference in their current status, he could only suppress his feelings and pretend to be indifferent.

Seeing that his persuasion was ineffective, Gu Yan was about to do something when he saw Jiang Si, who had returned at some point, standing beside him and handing Bai Heming a water pouch.

Jiang Si glanced at Li Hengzhi, thought for a moment, and then spoke.

"At the spring banquet back then, Hengzhi told me that he wanted to introduce me to someone, someone who was very special to him. Unfortunately, I only met him many years later."

“After that, Hengzhi rarely attended the Spring Banquet because he felt he had lost you. Every year he sent people out to look for you, but no matter how many people he sent out, he could not find a boy named Du Mengbai.”

Upon hearing this, Bai Heming suddenly raised his head and looked at Jiang Si's expressionless face, which was focused on stating the facts. He felt a faint pain in his heart, which had been aching.

He turned around and slumped onto the table, burying his face in his arms, tears finally streaming down his cheeks. Bai Heming bit his lower lip hard, managing not to let out a single sob, though his slightly trembling shoulders betrayed his true feelings.

Gu Yan looked at Bai Heming with some worry, but knew that nothing she said would make a difference. She could only glare at Jiang Si with a hint of anger before dragging him out the door.

Jiang Si, standing outside the door, hadn't expected his words to cause such a strong emotional reaction from Bai Heming. He could only scratch his head sheepishly, trying to explain with a complicated expression.

"I'm sorry, I don't know what I said..."

"It's alright, you don't need to apologize." Gu Yan glanced at the closed door and raised his hand to interrupt Jiang Si.

“My older brother is more thoughtful than most people, and sometimes his honesty is more impactful. Oh well, let him figure it out himself. When it comes to matters of the heart, no amount of advice from others can compare to personal experience.”

Jiang Si raised an eyebrow at Gu Yan's calm and collected expression, and then leaned against the doorpost.

"Looks like you're quite knowledgeable about matters of the heart?"

"Of course... no. I just heard it from others." Gu Yan waved his hand somewhat guiltily, avoiding Jiang Si's slightly probing look, and stiffly walked to the stone platform by the door to sit down.

Don't let her being single in modern times fool you; she's incredibly knowledgeable about relationships.

Unfortunately, in ancient times, for a young lady confined to her boudoir, knowing too much could lead to trouble.

That was so close! I must be more careful next time.

However, thinking of the name Jiang Si had just mentioned to his elder brother...

She turned her head and looked at Jiang Si with a puzzled expression.

"Young Master Jiang, who is this Du Mengbai you just mentioned?"

“Du Mengbai is your elder brother. He used the name Du Mengbai during those years in Kunlun Ruins.”

As Jiang Si explained, he walked over to Gu Yan's side and sat down as well.

"Why did you choose this name, brother?" Gu Yan asked, lying on his knees, still turning his head to stare at Jiang Si, as if trying to get more information from him.

"I don't know either, but I've only heard Hengzhi say that your elder brother's master's surname is Du."

“Master? Oh right, my brother just mentioned his master and mistress.”

"I don't know much either. Your elder brother's master is named Du Chuan, and he used to be a disciple of the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion. As for his master's wife, I don't know much about her."

Gu Yan nodded without speaking, but turned his head to look at the small patch of shadow he had cast on the ground and fell into deep thought.

What kind of world is this?

Seven Star Stones

Various sects

What is the purpose of God bringing these five women into this turbulent and ever-changing world?

She had neither a cheat code nor a legendary system; she was just an ordinary person who knew nothing.

Thinking of this, Gu Yan felt somewhat pessimistic. People are like duckweed, their lives as insignificant as grass. She didn't know if she would ever be able to leave Qixia Mountain again.

Jiang Si looked at Gu Yan, who had suddenly fallen silent, and seemed to sense the negative emotions emanating from her. Before he could think of anything to say to comfort her, he saw Gu Yan turn her head back.

"Young Master Jiang, what shall we have for lunch?"

"?" Jiang Si was taken aback by the question, then raised his hand and pointed to the bamboo basket placed in the shadows on the side.

"There are a few wild rabbits and pheasants that I just caught in there."

“Sure.” Gu Yan straightened up immediately upon hearing this.

"How are we going to eat it? Roast it or stew it? How about we just roast it? We don't have any tools right now, so it's easier to just pluck the feathers and roast it."

"Okay, whatever you say." Jiang Si didn't say anything more, got up, picked up the bamboo basket next to him, and planned to go to the place where he had just fetched water to process the food.

"Thank you for your hard work, Young Hero Jiang."

Gu Yan smiled and waved at Jiang Si's back. Thinking of the fire marks in the middle of the second wooden house, he also planned to stand up and pick up some branches and wood to continue making a fire in the second wooden house.

Without hesitation, Gu Yan stretched lazily after standing up straight, and had only taken a couple of steps when he heard the door open behind him.

Turning around, I saw Bai Heming, whose expression had returned to calm, walk out of the door.

"Brother..."

"I'm fine now. What are you doing? I'll come with you."

Hearing Bai Heming's usual voice, Gu Yan scratched his head, somewhat at a loss.

"I didn't do anything, I just wanted to gather some branches for firewood. Jiang Si went to deal with the wild rabbits and pheasants, saying he'd roast them later."

Bai Heming nodded, walked in another direction, and began to bend down to pick up the items.

When Jiang Si returned with the bamboo basket, the second wooden house already had a pile of firewood, and there was even a small pile of firewood with a clay pot on it.

Jiang Si roasted the two rabbits, while Bai Heming swiftly chopped up the pheasant and threw it into an earthenware pot to make soup.

Bai Heming remained silent, and Jiang Si was a man of few words to begin with. This left Gu Yan speechless, unsure how to begin, making the atmosphere in the room rather heavy.

Since she couldn't be of much help, she turned around without hesitation and slipped back into the first room to look after Li Hengzhi.

Gu Yan sat by the door, casually playing with the mechanical bird he had just picked up from the table. He kept an eye on the surroundings while worrying about Jiang Si and his older brother being alone together. He also kept glancing back at Li Hengzhi from time to time.

I prayed frantically in my heart.

Brother Li, wake up! You need to wake up quickly for my sake.

Before I knew it, I accidentally bumped into something of the mechanical bird. The bird hopped around in my hand a couple of times and then flapped its wings and flew away.

I must say, this mechanism is really well made; the mechanical bird looks almost alive once it takes flight.

Only after the mechanical bird disappeared from sight did Gu Yan realize that she seemed to have messed things up.

He hurriedly ran to the second wooden house, which had been converted into a kitchen, stood at the door, pointed to the sky, and said somewhat embarrassedly, "Big brother, I accidentally released the mechanical bird just now."

"Huh? It's okay, it flew away. Are you alright?"

"Ah, I'm fine."

Bai Heming looked at Gu Yan, who was standing at the door looking somewhat at a loss, and took the initiative to explain.

"That mechanical bird is a kind of guiding mechanism. It will find Xuan Yi and Mu Mu and lead them to us. We can't leave the cabin right now, so we can discuss what to do next when they arrive."

Gu Yan suddenly realized and nodded in relief.

By the time Xuan Yi and Shen Mujin arrived with the mechanical bird, it was already completely dark.

Shen Mujin stood behind Xuan Yi, looking at the dilapidated wooden house in front of her. In the first room, she could vaguely see the flickering candlelight. She swallowed nervously.

"Ayan and the others are really here?"

The more I look at this place, the more it seems like a haunted place.

"Don't be afraid, I'm here. You'll see when we get there."

Xuan Yi took Shen Mujin's slightly cool hand and held it tightly. With his other hand, he picked up a small knife and threw it through the window of the wooden house without saying a word.

Shen Mujin was shocked by Xuan Yi's actions.

"Didn't you say you were going to take a look?"

"Yes, I'm just testing the waters."

Jiang Si, who was pretending to sleep against the wall inside the room, appeared by the window the moment the knife flew in and intercepted it.

"Are the bad guys here?" Gu Yan stood next to Jiang Si, her nerves on edge.

“How could the enemy only throw one? It seems that Xuan Yi and Mu Mu have arrived.” Bai Heming sat on the edge of the bed without moving at all.

After hearing Bai Heming's explanation, Gu Yan immediately picked up one of the few candlesticks in the room, happily ran to open the door, peeked out and looked left and right, and called out softly.

"Mumu, is that you?"

Not far away, Shen Mujin saw a figure emerge from the cabin. The familiar face looked particularly sinister in the candlelight, coupled with Gu Yan's soul-summoning cries.

Shen Mujin wanted to laugh, but she also felt that the scene in front of her was somewhat eerie.

The fear and trepidation he had felt along the way vanished the moment he saw Gu Yan.