After those words, Xie Lian's mind was filled with many thoughts all the way forward. A few more words were exchanged, but Hua Cheng gave him the distinct feeling, as if saying, "That's all I have to say." Hence, Xie Lian dared not ask more.
When he returned to the Pugilistic Shrine, dawn had yet to break.
Upon opening the door, Xie Lian found the pots and pans cleaned and neatly organized. Lang Ying, Gu Zi, and Qi Rong were all peacefully sleeping inside, wrapped securely in blankets. Clearly, someone had carefully looked after this place during his absence, quietly leaving afterward.
With Xie's return, a plethora of wishes followed him.
The shrine was flooded with a volume of requests it had never received before. Xie Lian knew it wasn’t because of the wealthy merchant spreading his good name—though the merchant who once resided in town did come through with his promise.
Although he came by, he seemed to have deliberately ignored the prominently displayed sign Xie Lian had set up. Neither did he donate as much incense money as he had claimed he would. Rather, he seemed to have mostly come to present a brocade banner, handing it to Xie Lian with much enthusiasm in front of the villagers of Pugilistic Village. When Xie Lian unwittingly opened it, he quickly shut it again, but the four large characters "Magical Hands, Rebirth" were already imprinted firmly in his mind.
Xie Lian: "???"
Seeing off that merchant, he sighed, thinking about how he constantly worried about the house collapsing at any moment, and wondering when he’d ever manage to repair it. Hua Cheng, leaning against the doorway, seemed to sense his worries, and said, "I’ve been meaning to say something for a while now: if you don't feel safe living in this house, why not move somewhere else?"
Xie Lian shook his head, saying, "Easier said than done, San Lang. But where to?"
Hua Cheng smiled and said, "Why not move to my place?"
