Two months later.

Ning Xiu wore a red little jacket with a lifelike little tiger embroidered on it, and matching little pants with two pink chubby tiger paws embroidered on them. He lay against the window and looked out for a while, then turned his head and shouted to Chu Jun, “Mother~ Snow~”

Cold wind carrying snowflakes blew in from outside, making Ning Xiu shrink his neck from the cold.

“Come here.” Chu Jun put down the book in his hands.

Ning Xiu stepped on the cotton quilt on the couch and threw himself into Chu Jun’s arms.

Big Yellow, who was curled up by the fire, stood up, sneezed, walked to the window and used his mouth to close the window, then swaggered back to lie down by the fire.

The little black dragon hung upside down from the beam, snoring, breathing out bubbles and smoke alternately, occasionally choking on its own smoke.

Ning Xiu looked at Ning Buwei lying on the bed, “Mother~ Father~ When will he wake up?”

Chu Jun put on his shoes for him, “He’ll wake up when he’s had enough sleep.”

Ning Xiu puffed out his cheeks and said in his childish voice, “Want Father~ to play together~ There are so many people here~”

“The capital of the mortal realm is naturally lively.” Big Yellow yawned lazily, “Especially during New Year.”

Ning Xiu sat on Chu Jun’s lap and tugged at his sleeves, “Mother, I want~ to eat candy~”

“You already ate some today.” Chu Jun reached out to pinch his face.

“Don’t pinch~” Ning Xiu shook his head and burrowed into his arms, muttering quietly, “Want Father~ want Father to wake up~ want Father to pinch~”

Chu Jun laughed, “Then go call him.”

Ning Xiu perked up immediately upon hearing this. He slid down from Chu Jun’s body, pattered over to the bed, climbed up with effort, and crawled into Ning Buwei’s quilt. He remembered Chu Jun’s instructions and didn’t dare lie on his chest, obediently lying on Ning Buwei’s arm instead. He reached out his little hand and touched Ning Buwei’s somewhat prickly stubble.

“Father~ time to get up~”

Ning Buwei showed no reaction whatsoever.

Ning Xiu tilted his head and touched his ear again, “Father~ Father~ let’s go play~ it’s snowing outside~!”

Ning Buwei frowned slightly.

Ning Xiu blinked and went to touch his eyebrows, “Father~ are you~ awake?”

Ning Buwei remained motionless.

Ning Xiu looked at him puzzledly and said quietly, “Father~ Mother gave me~ lots of candy~”

Ning Buwei lifted his eyelids and glanced at him.

“Ah~” Ning Xiu covered his mouth, then excitedly threw off the quilt directly, “Father! Father!”

Ning Buwei slapped his little face with one hand, grabbed his mouth without any courtesy, and said weakly, “Little ancestor, I just want to sleep peacefully.”

Ning Xiu happily rubbed his head against Ning Buwei’s palm, but was pushed away in disgust. “Of all things to learn, you had to learn from that mutt.”

“Who are you calling a mutt! Who are you calling a mutt! I’m a proper divine beast!” Big Yellow barked at him twice.

Ning Buwei curved his lips slightly, held Ning Xiu with both hands and lifted him up, shaking him vigorously.

“Ah~ ya~” Ning Xiu was shaken dizzy and couldn’t stop laughing, “Father~ I’m dizzy~”

Chu Jun walked to the bedside, rescued his son from the devil’s clutches, placed him by the bed, and looked down at Ning Buwei, “Not sleeping anymore?”

“Mm.” Ning Buwei sprawled flat on the bed without any dignity, saying lazily, “If I sleep any more, someone will get anxious enough to instigate my son to shave my beard.”

Chu Jun said without changing expression, “I’ll shave it for you.”

Ning Buwei lifted his leg, with his fat son still hanging on it, and pointed at Chu Jun with his foot rudely, “If you dare touch my beard, I’ll kick your son.”

Ning Xiu happily hugged his calf and climbed up with all his might.

Chu Jun said calmly, “Go ahead and kick.”

“Da?” Ning Xiu tilted his little head, slipped and fell head over heels, and was caught by Chu Jun in his arms.

“Your candy is gone.” Chu Jun smiled slightly.

“Da~” Ning Xiu guiltily lowered his little head.

Ning Buwei pulled him over, “It’s fine, Father will take you out to play.”

Ning Xiu’s little head immediately perked up again, “Da!”

Ning Xiu clung to him affectionately for a while, then ran off to play with Big Yellow. One person and one dog looked up at the little black dragon sleeping soundly on the beam, trying to pull the dragon down.

“Da?”

“Woof!”

Ning Buwei leaned against the bed, touched his somewhat prickly beard, and considered seriously, “What do you think about me growing a beard like Hao Zheng’s?”

“…………” Chu Jun stared at him expressionlessly.

Ning Buwei stroked his non-existent beard, “With a beard, when I go out, people won’t call me Brother Chengfeng, at least they’ll call me Grandpa.”

Chu Jun grabbed his wrist, swept his other hand across his chin, and the patch of dark stubble was shaved clean, protesting strongly with actual action.

“Tsk.” Ning Buwei touched his smooth chin and said meaningfully, “Beards are useless. Some people may not have beards, but they’re still crafty and cunning, don’t you think?”

Chu Jun calmly took his pulse, “About Yuquan Village—”

“Don’t mention it yet, I have a headache.” Ning Buwei pretended to cover his head.

Chu Jun reached out and pinched the back of his neck, “You’ve been lying down for so long, want to go out for some fresh air?”

Ning Buwei nodded, looked at Ning Xiu and Big Yellow, and pulled on Chu Jun’s hand to leverage himself up from the bed. He stretched and turned his neck, sighing, “Fortunately there’s only one cub. If they all came, the house would be torn down—”

Before he could finish speaking, he saw Big Yellow suddenly open his mouth wide and spit out four cubs of varying heights with four consecutive “puh puh puh puh” sounds.

“Ahhh what’s happening!” Feng Zizhang was greatly alarmed, while Jiang Yizheng beside him grabbed his arm in terror, “I-I don’t know!”

Instead, Yang Lingzhu and Cui Yuanbai reacted quickly, standing in front of the two of them, one carrying a sword and the other holding poison needles, alert and with fierce momentum.

Big Yellow sheepishly rubbed his nose with his paw, “I just wanted to cough up a hairball, really.”

“Dad!” Cui Yuanbai saw Ning Buwei and his eyes immediately lit up. Like a tiger pouncing on food, he lunged at him, but was caught mid-air by Chu Jun grabbing his collar.

“Father!” Cui Yuanbai’s eyes lit up again, and he clung to Chu Jun with both hands and feet.

“Father! Venerable! It’s really you!” Feng Zizhang ran to Ning Buwei, tripped over something unknown, and knelt directly in front of him, tears immediately welling up in his eyes from the pain.

Jiang Yizheng looked at Ning Buwei with red eyes, “Father, are you injured again? Why have you lost so much weight?”

“Not dead, not injured either.” Ning Buwei held up two fingers to push them away, looking disgusted, “Stay away, you reek of saliva.”

“This grandpa’s saliva doesn’t smell! If it has a smell, it’s fragrant!” Big Yellow barked angrily.

Ning Buwei grabbed a pillow and threw it at him, “Who are you calling ‘grandpa’ to!”

Yang Lingzhu stood quietly and obediently in the corner, observing the surrounding environment, and asked softly, “Venerable, we were originally preparing accommodation arrangements for the holiday at Wanxuan Academy, how did we suddenly appear here?”

Chu Jun said, “Big Yellow brought you here, don’t worry, I’ll explain this matter to Hao Zheng.”

“Alright.” Yang Lingzhu said seriously, “After you and Senior Ning left, it’s been almost half a year. Ning Xiu went missing after an incident midway, but Dean Hao told us that Ning Xiu was with you and Senior Ning, though we couldn’t confirm it.”

“Hao Zheng didn’t lie to you.” Chu Jun said, “He can be trusted.”

Yang Lingzhu nodded, “Alright.”

“Da! Sister~” Ning Xiu walked over and hugged her hand.

Yang Lingzhu hugged him and kissed him, saying happily, “Xiao Shan!”

Ning Xiu grinned at her, then received several kisses from his brothers and sisters, making the little cub dizzy with happiness, “Da~”

So happy~

The originally spacious room instantly became crowded and lively. Though only four cubs were added, Ning Buwei felt like a hundred people had been added, chattering and laughing noisily, giving him a headache.

“This is the mortal realm?” Feng Zizhang asked.

“I’ve never seen what the mortal realm looks like!” Cui Yuanbai excitedly wanted to run outside but was grabbed by the belt by Big Yellow.

“The head teacher said the mortal realm is especially lively, especially during New Year. Venerable—Big Yellow said today is New Year’s Eve, is today New Year’s Eve?” Jiang Yizheng asked while lying against the window.

“Yes.” Chu Jun, who was getting clothes for Ning Buwei, spared a moment to reply.

“My classmate said that during New Year, you have to put up spring couplets.” Yang Lingzhu recalled, “Everyone sits together to eat reunion dinner, and the streets are very lively.”

“Dad, let’s go out and play!” Cui Yuanbai looked at Ning Buwei with shining eyes.

“Father~ let’s go~ play!” Ning Xiu, now with an accomplice, crossed his little arms confidently.

“Go go go, let’s all go!” Ning Buwei sat cross-legged on the bed and waved his hand grandly.

Immediately there was a cheer.

It was still morning, and the streets of the capital were at their liveliest. Feng Zizhang and Jiang Yizheng, wearing the vermillion disciple robes of Wanxuan Academy, didn’t stand out too much, but rather attracted attention due to their outstanding temperament.

Feng Zizhang and Jiang Yizheng walked in front, looking at this and that, stopping to buy anything they liked.

“This must be the couplets Lingzhu mentioned, right?”

“Such a big character for fortune!”

“What are these red fruits for?”

Ning Xiu rode on Ning Buwei’s shoulders, holding a small string of candied hawthorns, curiously watching the bustling crowd and various novel things he’d never seen before, so busy his eyes could barely keep up.

Cui Yuanbai held candied hawthorns several times larger than Ning Xiu’s, munching while being led obediently forward by Chu Jun.

Yang Lingzhu had originally been following behind Jiang Yizheng, but since Jiang Yizheng and Feng Zizhang walked too fast, she gradually fell behind and had to walk behind Ning Buwei, secretly and carefully grabbing his sleeve.

Ning Buwei walked a long way before noticing he hadn’t seen her. When he turned around, he saw her following nervously behind, and she quickly let go of his sleeve when she saw him turn.

Every child Ning Buwei had encountered was rougher than the last, except Yang Lingzhu who was so quiet and well-behaved it was unusual. When she didn’t speak, he even forgot there was such a child.

He cleared his throat and extended one hand, “Hold on.”

Yang Lingzhu looked up at him carefully. Seeing the big demon’s confident expression, she hesitantly grabbed his hand.

It was a bit cool, but it made her feel especially secure.

Yang Lingzhu slowly curved her eyes, and her shoulders, which had been tense from being in an unfamiliar environment, finally relaxed as she began to look around with peace of mind.

“Young master, do you want hair ornaments? Buy one for your daughter!” The nearby vendor smiled and called out. “These are this year’s most popular styles in the capital!”

Ning Buwei stopped and looked down at Yang Lingzhu’s unadorned little head, “Fine, give me two.”

A moment later, Yang Lingzhu with a big red peony in her hair and Jiang Yizheng with a rose-pink-colored peony in her hair stared at each other: “…………”

“I think it looks pretty good.” Ning Buwei nodded with satisfaction and asked Chu Jun, “What do you think?”

Venerable Jinghe said calmly, “Good-looking.”

Jiang Yizheng’s face was written all over with ‘I never thought you were this kind of person, Venerable,’ and ran forward with Feng Zizhang in grief and indignation. Yang Lingzhu touched the flower on her head and said quietly to Ning Buwei, “Thank you.”

Ning Buwei grinned sinisterly. “What did you say? I can’t hear you.”

Yang Lingzhu’s face turned completely red. She bit her teeth and raised her voice. “Thank you, Dad!”

After speaking, she turned and ran to catch up with Jiang Yizheng.

Ning Buwei was stunned and asked Chu Jun, “Do I really look like a dad?”

Chu Jun: “……More so with a beard.”

Ning Buwei clicked his tongue, “Ha, you’re just jealous because no one calls you dad.”

Chu Jun went along with him and nodded seriously, “Mm.”

Ning Buwei smiled and bumped his shoulder, “Petty. Ning Xiao Shan, Cui Xiao Huan, hurry up and call him dad.”

Cui Yuanbai’s voice rang out loudly, “Dad!”

Ning Xiu said with full vigor, “Dad~”

One on each side, they shouted so loudly it hurt Chu Jun’s ears, and he looked at Ning Buwei helplessly.

Ning Buwei smiled brilliantly.

****

“A bit this way, no wait, a bit higher!” Ning Buwei stood at the bottom of the ladder with his hands on his hips, directing.

Feng Zizhang held up his arms helplessly, “Father, look carefully before you speak.”

Ning Buwei glared at him, “I said, a bit higher!”

“Fine, fine, higher.” Feng Zizhang stretched his arms and slapped the horizontal banner onto the door frame.

“Snow snow~” Ning Xiu handed a carrot to Cui Yuanbai.

Cui Yuanbai corrected: “It’s snowman, snowman.” (TL: 雪人 xuě rén)

“Xue-leng~” Ning Xiu studied carefully.

Big Yellow carried a branch to him, “Shan, learn from grandpa: snow-man.”

“Xue~ yin~” Ning Xiu picked up a small snowball, “Da~”

“Forget it, unclear speech isn’t your fault, blame your father.” Big Yellow said quietly, then immediately got kicked.

“Ning Chengfeng! You kicked me again! When you were little, you cried and fought with me for the den—mmmph woof!” Big Yellow was viciously grabbed by the muzzle.

“Fight for den~” Ning Xiu learned it perfectly, and was glared at by his father.

Inside the house, Jiang Yizheng and Yang Lingzhu took turns bringing dishes to the table. Jiang Yizheng looked at Chu Jun admiringly, “I never thought Venerable’s cooking was so good too!”

Chu Jun, who was sitting by the window watching Ning Xiu and Cui Yuanbai build a snowman, said unhurriedly, “Ordered from a restaurant.”

“……Wow.” Jiang Yizheng was speechless for a long while, then said dryly, “Venerable, you actually know how to order from restaurants.”

Yang Lingzhu silently covered her face.

Chu Jun smiled helplessly. “It’s getting dark, call them in for dinner.”

A large group sat around the table. Big Yellow occupied two seats by himself. They had just started eating when Cui Yuanbai asked puzzledly, “How come the roasted chicken is missing half?”

“The fish is missing half too!” Jiang Yizheng said in shock.

“Burp~” A satisfied burp came from the beam, and half a dragon tail drooped down.

“Little Black—” Feng Zizhang gritted his teeth.

“Today I’m going to stew him and none of you stop this grandpa!” Big Yellow barked angrily.

Yang Lingzhu said in delight, “The pork knuckle wasn’t eaten.”

“Da~” Ning Xiu happily rubbed his little belly.

Ning Buwei picked up his wine cup and looked at Chu Jun sitting beside him.

Chu Jun gracefully picked up his own wine cup and clinked it with his.

Boom!

Outside the window, heavy snow fell, and in the pitch-black night sky, countless brilliant fireworks exploded, accompanied by the sound of firecrackers, disappearing into the lively capital of the mortal realm.