The protagonist committed numerous evil deeds.

Chapter 248 Another Departure

eight years later

"They say that all cultivators in the past could fly, is that true?"

"Of course, my mother said she saw it when she was a child. It was incredibly powerful; it could kill a monster with a single move."

"If only we could cultivate immortality."

"But now there are no monsters for us to fight, and no one cultivates immortality anymore."

Wang Meilan's (the woman who, along with her husband, had been bullied by Wen Li) two grandsons squatted in the corner and finally sighed at the same time.

"I really want to cultivate immortality and fight monsters."

"what!"

Just as they finished remarking, they were both hit hard on the head from behind.

"You're all so stupid! Fighting monsters? When a monster comes, you won't even know where to crawl!"

Upon hearing the voice of the newcomer, the two children jumped up excitedly, "Sister Xun! Sister Xun!"

"What delicious food did Sister Xun bring this time?"

The girl wore a pale yellow dress, her hair was tied back with a matching yellow ribbon, and she held pastries and two pigeons in her hands, her face full of smiles.

"We'll have pigeon soup tonight, and I also brought you some hibiscus cake."

As she spoke, Wen Li handed over the hibiscus cake in her hand, reminding, "Don't eat it all by yourself, leave some for your parents."

The two children grabbed the hibiscus cakes and ran into the house, shouting, "Yay! We get hibiscus cakes!"

Hearing the noise, Wang Meilan heard a voice coming from the kitchen, "Don't eat too much. If you can't eat at the dinner table later, I'll punish you with a few sticks."

"Xunzhi, why did you bring something again! This hibiscus cake is from that shop in the capital, right? It's so expensive. My kids think we can buy this stuff anytime."

Wen Li carried the pigeons inside, and Wang Meilan was startled again. Ignoring her wet hands from washing vegetables, she slapped Wen Li on the back.

"You even brought two pigeons! Those are so rare!"

“It’s not difficult for me. As soon as I go out, two pigeons fall in front of me on their own.”

"That should be yours too. You're still growing, so eat more to nourish yourself."

The girl's delicate brows furrowed slightly, her tone somewhat coquettish, "If I'm going to mend them, I have to know how to do it. It's not that I don't know how, but I just thought you were so skilled. Only in your hands would these two pigeons have died a worthy death."

"Alas, they don't appreciate kindness."

Wang Meilan gave her a loving, sidelong glance.

"It's agreed that you won't bring anything for the next few days. Come to my house empty-handed for a meal, and you're not allowed to not come!"

"Okay, then I'll deal with this pigeon first."

After finishing all the tasks, Wen Li didn't rest either. She helped wash vegetables and add firewood, while Wang Meilan cooked and chopped vegetables quickly and efficiently.

The two worked together seamlessly, and their mouths were never idle, chatting about this and that.

"By the way, Xunzhi, do you remember the portrait I showed you last time? It was the one I hid when the Demon Lord was wanted. I can't find it anywhere."

Have you seen it?

Wen Li shook her head. "No."

"That's really strange. It can't just disappear into thin air, can it?"

What do you need that thing for?

Wang Meilan's head was starting to ache slightly again, but thankfully it wasn't as bad as before.

She thought for a moment and finally remembered, "A strange thing happened a few days ago. There was a theft in a county down below. Some people suspected that maybe a monster's soul didn't reincarnate and possessed a person?"

Otherwise, how could anyone do such a bad thing?

Some people say that the Demon Lord might not have died out here, and that her remnant soul might still remain. Just thinking about the Demon Lord gives me a headache, and I just can't remember what she looks like.

I honestly have absolutely no recollection of it. I just wanted to find that portrait to take a closer look, but I can't find it anywhere.

Wen Li paused, her hands still from washing vegetables, and asked casually, "Theft? Is that true?"

"It's true. I heard someone even got caught red-handed. How can there be such a wicked person? Stealing is something only demons do! Anyway, no one has ever done this in all these years!"

Wang Meilan became increasingly angry as she spoke, and the kitchen knife made a loud thud as she chopped at the cutting board.

Over the past eight years, it's as if everyone has eliminated all the evil from their bodies—hypocrisy, deception, jealousy, theft, robbery, violence, murder... all have vanished without a trace.

Everyone was so kind and beautiful it seemed unreal.

But now some people have turned bad.

It should be said that some people have fully recovered.

"Auntie, do you remember how old I am this year?"

“Nineteen years old,” Wang Meilan blurted out.

How old was I a year ago?

"Nineteen?" came the answer that came out of my mouth.

"What about two years ago?"

"Nineteen." Without hesitation.

"How old will I be next year?"

Wang Meilan didn't answer immediately. She was a little confused. Was it still nineteen next year?

Something seems off.

Wen Li rubbed the dirt off the radish with her fingers, then washed it in water, while waiting for her answer.

Wang Meilan placed the knife on the cutting board and exclaimed in surprise, "Oh my! Xunzhi, you'll be twenty next year!"

After washing the radish, Wenli placed it on the cutting board. "Yes! You finally know I won't be nineteen next year."

It was a very ordinary conversation, and Wang Meilan didn't take it to heart. But in the following days, Wen Li didn't come to her house for meals, and she didn't run into anyone when she went there.

If they reappear, they will say they are there to say goodbye.

"Go to the capital!"

Wang Meilan was very surprised, followed by worry, "Why so suddenly? Zishui and the capital are in the south and north respectively, a long distance away. It's too dangerous for a young lady like you to travel like this..."

“Don’t worry, I’ve been to faraway places before, and I have many acquaintances in the capital. I’m just going to visit some friends.”

Wen Li said casually, and Wang Meilan knew she couldn't persuade her; she wasn't the type to listen to reason.

"When will you be back?"

"do not know."

"You don't know? You're planning to never go home again? You're going to settle down in the capital?"

"No, I'll come back whenever I feel homesick. I won't settle down in the capital; I'll just travel around to different places."

He had a cynical attitude.

Wang Meilan kindly advised, "You should find a place to settle down."

Wen Li smiled.

Wang Meilan never left Zishui City in her entire life, and Wen Li could never stay in Zishui City forever.

Despite their misunderstandings, they both wished each other well.

Wen Li only came to say goodbye to Wang Meilan and left letters for some friends. The rest of the messages were relayed by her good neighbor, Wang Meilan.

She dislikes farewell scenes, fearing that if she gets sad, everyone will collectively become silly in front of her.

She'd been here long enough; she'd been wanting to go out and see the world for ages.

There are some things she can't let go of, but she's simply following her heart and starting anew.

Before leaving, she lit incense for her family and said a proper goodbye to her mother.

Go and clean that dilapidated temple again. It's remote and old, and nobody goes there except her.

After doing all that, she left gracefully.