The horse carriage turned a corner and the dense forest very quickly, leaving only two ruts and some dust.

Bai Fanlu retracted his gaze and walked the old woman back to her house.

So that’s how Xue Lingzhi came full circle and was handed back to the old woman's hands.
This time, Bai Fanlu made sure it wasn’t going anywhere and directly turned the herb into a pill for the old woman. He only heaved a sigh of relief after watching her consume it before him.

He originally wanted to give her some silver but thinking about how the old woman refused Xue Linzhi, he guessed that she would probably reject the money. As such, he didn’t pursue further.

At the beginning, she was willing to accept the treasure, mostly because it was her son's final wish.

Later, she sold it as a way of expressing motherly love to her son.

Saying goodbye to the old woman, Bai Fanlu received a system prompt on his way to Gonghua Town.

Didi: [Congratulations on completing the side mission Gifting the Xue Linzhi'. You will be rewarded with 'Reader's Brain Fragment’ × 3, and also activate a Hidden Event One: ‘Two places in life to send one’s love', Hidden Event Two: ‘Waiting until black hair turns snow white’.

Although he didn't understand the hidden events, he was glad that he finally accomplished another thing.

Bai Fanlu arrived at Gonghua Town and strolled to Renxin Medicine Shop. He only lingered at the door but he didn't enter in the end.

When it was time to leave Gonghua Town, he didn't want to go back to Tianshu Sect for the time being. Prompted by the encounter with the old woman, he decided to go to Jiyang to visit Shen Lanshan and Xiang Wanyi. After all, he should see through what he promised.

When he arrived in Jiyang, he noticed that there was a group of disciples from an immortal sect that he didn't know of. Bai Fanlu reckoned that they should also have been dispatched to subdue demons.

He was currently in an awkward position and was also not sure if those people knew of the original owner. But to prevent stirring up any trouble, Bai Fanlu disguised himself by not wearing his Tianshu Sect robes.

Then, he circled round to the Shen Residence, and when he saw Shen Lanshan, he almost didn't recognise him.

"Brother Shen, it’s been a while. You are looking much better.”

People tend to be rejuvenated by happy events, and since Xiang Wanyi’s issue has been resolved, the results were apparent. Shen Lanshan has regained his vigour and returned to his handsome appearance – The man Xiang Wanyi fell for.

Bai Fanlu teased Shen Lanshan, but the man stared back at him carefully for a while, and smiled, "You are the one who has changed a lot.”

"Oh? Really?”

Bai Fanlu was hoping he wouldn’t hear others saying that he had become haggard.
Shen Lanshan shook his head, "Hmm. You’re fine.”

After greetings, Shen Lanshan led Bai Fanlu into the inner hall, and at the same time, he asked the helpers to announce his guest’s arrival.

When they got outside the room, a beautiful young woman came out and bowed to the two of them. She was still holding a baby in her arms. It seemed that the baby was born recently. Soon, Bai Fanlu realised that this baby was…

"Yes, this is 'him'. Shen Lanshan answered softly.

Bai Fanlu understood immediately.

The baby seemed to be very clingy to Shen Lanshan, and wanted to be carried. He didn't cry, but also liked to laugh. He was adorable, had big bright eyes and very pleasing features.

Shen Lanshan was teasing the little baby and the woman watched on with great concern. It wasn’t convenient to continue chatting with her around. After a while, the little baby got hungry, and the woman carried him into the house.

Shen Lanshan was able to talk to Bai Fanlu about what happened, "That day, Brother Liu came back and told me ways of helping Wanyi to reincarnate. So, we went to look and attempt them.

"At first, I went to the medical clinic to find out if there was any such situation, but I hit a dead end there. We also went to the nearby towns and villages, and asked the doctor for help.”

"Finally and coincidentally, my cousin, who was the lady you just met, came looking for us because something happened in her family. Unfortunately, my cousin’s husband died of illness on the journey. Her emotions affected her pregnancy resulting in an early and difficult labour. The labour went on for three days and everyone thought that the baby would be dead…”

"It was then that Wanyi… It’s all thanks to this opportunity. The midwife even said that if my cousin couldn’t deliver the child, she might also die.”

It’s true that everything in the world is predestined, and Bai Fanlu couldn't help sighing.

"Furthermore, my father was very pleased to have this child. My cousin’s father is my uncle. So, this child carried the Shen family’s bloodline. To be honest, the day you left, I told my father that I wouldn't marry in this life.”

Bai Fanlu was not surprised, "I knew you'd say that.”

That's why he deliberately cautioned Lord Shen in advance.

Shen Lanshan smiled, "Thank you, you are Wanyi’s and my benefactor.”

After a pause, he added, "Brother Xiao Liu too.”

Bai Fanlu's expression suddenly became a little unnatural.

Shen Lanshan said, "During the few days my cousin was in labour, we changed several midwives. All of whom were found by him. Brother Xiao Liu may be young but is actually very meticulous and patient.”

Bai Fanlu laughed dryly, not knowing how to continue the conversation, and could only nod his head slightly to agree.

Shen Lanshan and Xiang Wanyi were in love, and they are naturally more sensitive to emotional matters than others. Shen Lanshan had already noticed about those two, and said to Bai Fanlu, "In fact, I am quite envious of you.”

"Envy... us?

"Yes, you and Xiao Liu.”

Shen Lanshan held the teacup in his hand and looked down at the green tea leaves inside, floating up and down, as if they were alive.

"..." Bai Fanlu lowered his head, looking like he was sipping tea, but he didn't.

"The two of you are not much different. There’s still a lot of time and you two have the best years together. But me and Wanyi..." Shen Lanshan smiled before sighing, "When he grows up, I will be old, and I would be ashamed of entertaining the thought of being with him then.”

"Xiao Liu and I are not..." Bai Fanlu was eager to clarify, but was speechless when he saw the look in Shen Lanshan's eyes.

If there isn’t anything between them, there’s no need to react so drastically. Shen Lanshan didn't point out anything precise. All he said was their age. So if he reacted, it would be the same as a confession.

Bai Fanlu settled down his thoughts and changed the subject, "Wanyi will not mind. He is still so young now, but he treats you differently. If you really care about a person, even if his appearance changes, his status in your heart will not change..."

But after saying this, why does it sound like I'm giving advice to myself?

"I mean..." The more he tried to explain, the deeper he sank into it. So what was the point?

Shen Lanshan smiled slightly, "I'm relieved to hear you say this.”

"..." Bai Fanlu's heart was even more chaotic now.

Bai Fanlu stayed at the Shen’s residence for two days. On the one hand, he wanted to see what the immortal disciples in the town were doing, and on the other hand, he wanted to accompany the little baby who Wanyi had reincarnated to.
He always had a liking towards young babies. When he was in the orphanage, he was the oldest of all the children and took care of them. Each day, he would help the youngest babies change diapers and stop the other toddlers from crying.

Xiao Liu was the best. When he was only eight months old, he would him ‘Gege’. He never learnt to say Mummy or Daddy. He only learnt ‘Gege’.

Just like Wanyi, Xiao Liu always smiled at him. When he was unhappy and did not get enough attention, he would squat in a corner pouting. But once he saw Bai Fanlu, he would break into a grin.

When the boy got older, he would beg for hugs, and would fight with the other younger brothers and sisters for his favour. The way to fight for favour was to just squeeze into the crowd and hang on Bai Fanlu’s neck, and press his little cheeks to his face.

In fact, there was another trick that Bai Fanlu accidentally discovered later. It turned out that when he turned his back, Xiao Liu's innocent little face would immediately change into a domineering and cold little scoundrel’s appearance. He would flash that look to other siblings who coveted Bai Fanlu’s attention, scaring them away.

He didn’t know how effective this trick was but over time, the other kids recognised Xiao Liu as ‘Bai Fanlu’s favourite’, ‘the baddy who hogs big brother’, and ‘he used his pitiful looks to scam big brother again today’.

So with time, "Gege, don’t you favour me the most? Then why did you put on socks for him and not me?”

"Xiao Liu, you are four and should be able to put on socks by yourself a long time ago.”

"I don't want to. Gege, if you put them on for him, you must do the same for me, and you must put them on for me first.”

"Then if I give him a bottle of milk, do you want to drink it too?”

"Yes!”

"Then I change his diapers, do you want to wear diapers too?”

"Erm… Yes…"

The children chuckled at this, "Xiao Liu! You are so shameful! How can you wear diapers when you’re so old! Ha-ha-ha!”

Bai Fanlu teased him deliberately, "Come on, take off your pants, Gege will put diapers on for you.”

"...No! I don’t want to!”

He ran away with a reddened face.

The boy would only be embarrassed for half a day. At night, when the other kids slept, the scheming Xiao Liu would climb back to the bed with Bai Fanlu and squeeze between him and the little baby.

"Gege, I want you to sleep with me.”

"Okay, go to sleep.”

"Gege, you still like me the most, right?”

"Yes, I like you the most, okay?”

"He-he! I knew it! Gege, I also like you! Very very very very much! You are the number one in my heart! You must remember that in the future...in the future..."

“In the future, if you forget me and hear me say ‘I like you’, you must remember this again, you must…”

Bai Fanlu woke up suddenly and realised that he had fallen asleep leaning on the edge of the cradle unknowingly.

And the last sentence just now was not the voice of the child in the dream, but…

Bai Fanlu frowned, clasping his hands on the cradle, feeling a faint pain in his head.

The little Wanyi was in the cradle watching him with bright, round eyes, "Ya...ya..."

Bai Fanlu returned to his senses, and when he saw little Wanyi, his heart melted. He wanted to stretch out his fingers and squeeze the baby’s cheek, but stopped.
He can’t be sure if there’s any memory of the man’s soul after reincarnation. If it's a baby's body with an adult's consciousness, then it would be inappropriate for him to touch someone's face.

But this baby was just so adorable.

Bai Fanlu settled for swaying the cradle, and cooed softly, "Sorry, I have to go, and see another child who is about the same age as you now. There is turmoil everywhere, and I worry about them.”

When he said this, Shen Lanshan was walking into the yard and heard, "Are you leaving?”

Bai Fanlu nodded and asked him, "What's going on outside?”

Shen Lanshan went out to inquire about news for him. At this time, he said, "Those people seem to be from Liufeng Sect and came here in pursuit of a demonic creature… They haven’t tracked it down. Are you going to leave now? What if the demonic creature…”

Bai Fanlu never told Shen Lanshan his identity. So he said, "I'm a cultivator, don't worry.”

This area was not an area Tianshu Sect was responsible for, and as for Liufeng Sect, the Sect Master was a stubborn man. In the novel, he was the one who was most against the original owner.

Although his Shizun did his best to suppress public opinion, others might still be dissatisfied with Bai Fanlu in their hearts, so it’s better to be careful and avoid them.

Bai Fanlu decided to teleport somewhere, then reach his next destination via sword flight.

This journey was smoother than the last time. It only took one day to reach Ercang Mountain directly from Jiyang Town. In the afterglow of the setting sun, he stopped outside the courtyard wall shaded by a green forest at the northern foot of the mountain.

Children's laughter could already be heard from far away, and before Bai Fanlu jumped off his sword, his heart already flew to them.

He retracted his sword and ran a few steps until he saw the straw roof of the house, and smoke was slowly coming out of the chimney. It was dinner time and he could smell the roasted sweet potatoes.

After taking a deep sniff, Bai Fanlu was about to open the door, when from inside came a girl's cheerful giggles, "This smells so good! Can I eat it?”

"Yes, but it's very hot. Let it cool first. Get the rest over here.”

It was still that young voice, but it was a little calmer than before, and it sounded like two voices combined which was both strange and familiar.
The footsteps of Bai Fanlu stopped in place, and the hand that was about to push the door also stopped.

"They are playing with Xiao Hui and Xiao Bai. I'll fan it and cool them down first~"

"Yin Yin.”

“Yes? What is it?”

"Call me again... I seem to..."

"Ha-ha! Xiao Liu Gege, how many times have I repeated it today? Little, Li, Ge, Ge!”

The girl yelled again several times before the youth gave a shout of laughter.

Bai Fanlu heard it. He didn't know the reason but, his heart seemed to be drawn in by that laughter. He took two steps back gently, planning to leave without a sound.

Suddenly, someone behind him called out, "Fanlu Gege, are you back? Why don’t you go in?”

Then, inside, a sound of something falling to the ground came, and then the girl complained, "Xiao Liu Gege, the sweet potatoes are all falling on the ground!”

Bai Fanlu turned his head back awkwardly and saw that it was the herdsman uncle carrying a large bundle of firewood in one hand and a bamboo basket in the other. Seeing Bai Fanlu still standing still, he asked with a smile, "This is the house you started building! Don’t recognise it anymore?”

As he spoke, he stepped towards the front of the door and Bai Fanlu naturally stepped aside. The herdsman had already pushed open the wooden door and shouted inside, "Aunt Zhang, see who’s here!”

Just as he completed his sentence, the youth who was standing in the middle of a group of children smiled even wider. Then, he added, "Oh! Xiao Liu Gege is also back! There’re so many people here today..."

When the children in the yard saw Bai Fanlu, they suddenly forgot what they were holding and scurried over, jumping joyfully and chattering around him.

As Bai Fanlu interacted with them, he couldn't help but quietly pay attention to a certain place. The young man was stuck on the spot and silently bent over to pick up the sweet potatoes that fell on the ground.

He didn’t say a word or make any unnecessary moves.

The herdsman uncle probably also felt that the situation was not quite right. Before asking any questions, Bai Fanlu hurriedly explained, "We didn't come together, I just arrived. He... He arrived a little earlier than me.”

"Oh! I was wondering why you two weren’t together.”

The herdsman uncle smiled, but fortunately, more people entered the house, diluting whatever faint disharmony appeared in the lively reunion.

The Aunt Zhang who the uncle spoke of was the youngest of the three old people rescued back then. She was holding a handful of greens in her hand, that still had water droplets on them. It seemed that she had hurried out halfway through cooking.

She also had a little baby strapped to her back who turned her head to look around, waving her little hand and humming, as if she had just cried.

Seeing Bai Fanlu, Aunt Zhang immediately grinned, "Lu Fan is here too! Why didn’t Xiao Liu say anything?! I will prepare a few more dishes!”

"It just so happened that I brought firewood! Aunt Zhang, I'll help you.”

"Oh no need, you must be busy too! Why do you always send me firewood... Sorry to trouble you all the time."

"It's just a bundle of firewood," the herdsman uncle said as he nudged her into the wood shed, “Oh yes, today my hen has hatched a few chicks… I brought them here for you to raise..."

As soon as they heard that there were chicks, the children surrounding Bai Fanlu were immediately drawn away, and surrounded the herdsman uncle, vying to see the chicks in his basket.

For fear that the children might accidentally harm the chicks, the herdsman uncle hurriedly raised the basket. Just like that, a group of people went to the woodshed in such a bustling manner.

The big yard, which was still lively just now, suddenly quieted down.

Only Bai Fanlu was standing by the door, and a young man sitting next to a small tin bucket in the yard, fidgeting with roasted sweet potatoes in silence.