4 004

The next morning, Shen Xiaotang was crouched under the eaves brushing her teeth when she looked up and saw the Shen family approaching her house, carrying some items.

“Xiaotang, please accept these…” Shen Mancang and Zhou Aizhen smiled ingratiatingly as they handed over the things they had brought, their faces creased even deeper with wrinkles.

Behind the two elders, Shen Qiming and Yang Xiuxiu, seated in a wheelchair, both looked uneasy.

Having grown up in the same environment and educated for years, Yang Xiuxiu had always been a staunch atheist, believing only in science.

But this sudden, intense pain had driven her in-laws and husband to seek Shen Xiaotang’s help. After Xiaotang assured her the pain would pass, it indeed subsided shortly thereafter.

For safety, Shen Mancang stayed home to watch their granddaughter Shen Yuan, while Shen Qiming and Zhou Aizhen took Yang Xiuxiu to the county hospital.

The patient had suffered spasms for a full half-hour. The doctors thoroughly examined Yang Xiuxiu from head to toe but could find no cause.

Shen Qiming was anxious and pleaded, “Doctor, please check her carefully again. My wife can barely stand.”

The doctor, baffled yet sympathetic, suggested, “Why don’t you observe her at home today and bring her back for another check tomorrow morning?”

They did not admit Yang Xiuxiu since no issues were found, and no medication was prescribed. By the time they left, dusk had fallen.

“Xiuxiu, listen to your mother. Tomorrow morning, let’s go apologize properly to Xiaotang,” Zhou Aizhen urged earnestly.

Shen Qiming glanced over. Although both he and Zhou Aizhen, university-educated teachers, did not believe in superstition, as husband and father, he did not want any more accidents involving his wife or daughter.

Yang Xiuxiu silently studied her mother-in-law’s pleading face and her husband’s hopeful eyes. After a long pause, she nodded blankly, “Alright, I’ll go back with you.”

…

Shen Xiaotang quickly spat out the mouthwash, waving her hand to refuse, “No need, no need. You should take these things back.”

Zhou Aizhen grew anxious.

Shen Mancang’s eyes flashed with panic. “Xiaotang, we truly realize our mistake!”

“Really no need! The agony you went through yesterday has already balanced out any debt you owed me. We’re even now,” Shen Xiaotang explained, shaking her head.

Normal social exchanges and accepting gifts were fine, but their obvious acts of fear-driven flattery were strictly forbidden by her sect.

She reassured them, “Don’t worry. She just overexerted herself yesterday; her body’s still recovering. A couple more days of rest and she’ll be fine.”

Hearing this, the four visibly relaxed.

Still, Zhou Aizhen, adhering to the principle that too much courtesy is no offense, thought since they had brought gifts, they should leave at least one or two items behind. As they were debating, Shen Qiming suddenly exclaimed, “Hey, aren’t those two cars coming to see Xiaotang?”

“What?” Yang Xiuxiu looked toward the road and indeed saw two cars approaching. The lead vehicle had already veered off the village road, entering a small path heading toward them.

“The cars are coming! They really are here for Xiaotang,” Shen Mancang said, curious, eyes fixed on the approaching vehicles.

As the cars neared the house, Zhou Aizhen called her son and daughter-in-law, “Xiuxiu, Qiming, stand over here a bit.”

Shen Xiaotang, one hand holding a toothbrush and the other a cup, stared blankly as the two small cars pulled up in front of her home.

She had just called for help yesterday, and this morning her newly found uncle had come to claim her? The speed was astonishingly fast!

At that moment, the car doors opened and people stepped out.

“Hahaha, this is Shen Xiaotang,” the village secretary, who had been invited to guide them, emerged from the back seat of the front car, pointing at Xiaotang with a hearty laugh.

Shen Xingyan also got out of the car.

To avoid drawing attention in the now hot May weather, he was dressed in black casual clothes, fully covered, wearing a mask and large sunglasses.

Facing the curious villagers who had gathered, his handsome brows furrowed slightly, eyes flashing with a trace of annoyance.

But soon, his gaze met Shen Xiaotang’s, and the annoyance instantly turned to surprise.

Accompanying Shen Xingyan was Zhou Ya, who also stared in shock at the little girl before her.

Any lingering doubts vanished the moment she saw the face so strikingly similar—almost identical—to Shen Xingyan’s features.

If not for the age difference, with such resemblance, Zhou Ya might have mistaken them for father and daughter.

—

Shen Xingyan possessed a cold, distant aura; Shen Xiaotang seemed to share it, though upon reflection, there were subtle differences.

His nature was outwardly cold but warm inside, while the moment Zhou Ya met Xiaotang’s eyes, she felt an inexplicable chill, as if Xiaotang saw through everything.

After just one glance, Shen Xiaotang broke eye contact with Zhou Ya.

She turned to Shen Xingyan, smiling brightly as if winter had thawed into spring: “Uncle?”

“Mm.”

Blood ties are truly mysterious. Initially, they planned to follow the civil affairs bureau’s requirements and conduct a genetic test at a designated location.

But the instant Xiaotang spoke, Shen Xingyan instinctively agreed.

…

Inside the house.

Shen Xingyan stood before Shen Xiaotang, hesitating before speaking, “Your… your mother…”

Shen Xiaotang replied, “My mother was also saved by my master…”

Back then, when Shen Xinyi fell into the sea, she suffered a head injury. Shen Yidao rescued her, but she lost her memory upon awakening.

The internet was not as advanced then, so tracing Shen Xinyi’s origins was difficult.

Shen Yidao had also tried divination, but strangely, no matter how he calculated, he could not uncover her background.

There were only two possibilities.

Either someone tampered with Shen Xinyi, and that person’s cultivation far surpassed Shen Yidao’s.

Or there was some karmic link between Shen Xinyi and Shen Yidao.

Later, Shen Xiaotang’s father died unexpectedly, and Shen Xinyi passed away due to childbirth complications.

Shen Yidao took Shen Xiaotang as his disciple, confirming the karmic connection.

…

Shen Xingyan opened his mouth, about to ask why she hadn’t contacted him sooner.

But the words caught in his throat.

When Shen Xinyi died, Shen Xiaotang was just a newborn infant. How could she have known anything?

Only those who raised her could tell her.

Unaware that Shen Xingyan misunderstood the situation because Shen Xinyi never regained her memory, he hoarsely said, “Uncle will take you home.”

However, the required procedures still had to be followed.

The kinship and paternity tests take the same time—results come 3 to 7 working days after samples are taken.

To save time, Shen Xingyan spared no expense speeding up the process.

Sampling at the local civil affairs bureau was done at 10 a.m., and by before 4 p.m., results arrived.

No surprises.

*

As neighbors gathered, watching the spectacle, Shen Xiaotang returned home to pack.

About half an hour later, she emerged, locking the door behind her, a bulging backpack on her shoulder and dragging a black 24-inch suitcase.

Zhou Ya stepped forward to help, but Shen Xiaotang declined.

“Aunt Ya, the suitcase is heavy. I’ll manage.”

The girl’s overly mature words made Zhou Ya smile as she reached for the suitcase, “No worries, Aunt Ya’s strong…”

But the word “strong” was swallowed back, and her smile vanished.

Zhou Ya exerted all her strength but failed to lift the suitcase. Shen Xiaotang hurried to help, finally placing it into the trunk.

“What do you have in there, Xiaotang?” Zhou Ya asked, rubbing her sore, numb hands as she got into the car.

Shen Xingyan looked over as well.

Shen Xiaotang answered the villagers’ farewell goodbye, “It’s all stuff my master left me.”

Upon hearing this, Zhou Ya refrained from pressing further.

Shen Xingyan, who was about to say, “Don’t just throw away unimportant things; you can buy new ones later,” also held his tongue.

*

Two hours later.

The car entered the underground parking lot of Y City Airport.

Remembering the suitcase’s weight, Shen Xingyan tried to help unload it but was surprised by its heft and couldn’t lift it.

Shen Xiaotang quickly ran over with a cheeky smile, “Uncle, I’m strong. Let me do it.”

Startled, Shen Xingyan handed it over. Her ease with the heavy case stirred a mix of shame and concern in him.

He couldn’t imagine what hardships this twelve-year-old, still so slight, had endured to develop such strength.

“Ah Yan, let’s go!” Zhou Ya urged.

Feeling an indescribable heaviness inside, Shen Xingyan quickened his pace. The three soon reached security.

Zhou Ya and Shen Xingyan passed smoothly, but Shen Xiaotang was stopped.

Moreover, when staff opened her backpack and that unusually heavy black suitcase, over a dozen airport security guards rushed over and surrounded them.

Shen Xingyan and Zhou Ya stared in disbelief at the knives—kitchen knives, scissors, sickles—all gleaming silver, silently showcasing their sharpness and danger.

Normally, some everyday knives are not allowed on planes but can be checked in.

However, Shen Xiaotang’s case held over a hundred blades!

For public safety, the airport security manager arrived promptly, polite but firm, requesting their cooperation with questioning.

“You said the suitcase holds relics from your sect, right?” Shen Xingyan gritted his teeth during the inquiry, as more onlookers gathered.

Shen Xiaotang looked confused, a hint of grievance in her eyes. “But this is the legacy my master left me.”

Legacy?!

What sane person would pass down so many dangerous blades to a twelve-year-old girl?!

Shen Xingyan’s mind raced wildly.

How could he have forgotten?

Before coming to pick her up, the police had called to inform him that Shen Xiaotang had been reported.

The accusation: promoting superstition and cheating elderly people out of their money!