Under the moonlight, Chen Tang trudged through the snow, walking faster and faster.
Even though the north wind was biting cold, he didn't feel cold at all.
The Mountain Lord Tiger Milk and Mountain Ginseng Monkey Wine had changed his constitution tremendously!
Originally, he was just an ordinary boy with mediocre talent and average bones.
After over two months of cultivation, it truly was as if he had undergone a rebirth!
Chen Tang didn't think much about the top-quality Earth Ginseng he gave away, mainly because there were plenty more on the Snow Mountain, and with the Celestial Ginseng Monkey Wine, it no longer impressed him.
Moreover, on the way down the mountain, though he was passive, he didn't miss some advantages with the ladies.
Before long, Chen Tang returned to Changze County.
It was the dead of night, and the streets were empty except for the occasional White Servant patrolling.
Chen Tang deliberately avoided these White Servants to avoid questioning and unnecessary trouble.
As he walked along, he saw no wanted posters.
It seemed that the long night from a month ago had passed without much disturbance in Changze County.
Moments later, Chen Tang was near his home.
However, he didn't enter hastily but wandered around, observing his surroundings.
He found nothing unusual.
In the dead of winter, the chimney at home wasn't smoking.
That meant no one was home.
It looked like that master and apprentice pair had already left.
This was within Chen Tang's expectations.
He had stayed on the Snow Mountain for a full month; who could outlast him?
This trip down the mountain was rather a twist of fate.
He sent Li Junqing down the mountain and was only a few miles from home, intending to stay the night.
Tomorrow he'll return the thirty taels of silver to Mei Yingxue at the Plum Blossom Martial Arts Hall and be done with a matter of concern.
On the way, he planned to buy some salt and other necessities from the market before heading back to the Snow Mountain.
Chen Tang pushed the door open and entered the yard, tiptoeing to the front of the house, but didn't go inside directly. Instead, he leaned against the door to listen carefully.
There was indeed no sound inside.
Only then did Chen Tang feel relieved and pushed the door open to enter.
As he opened the door, there sat that master and apprentice pair at the table facing the door.
The chubby old man smiled knowingly at the doorway.
Qingmu, resting her chin in her palm, looked drowsy with bleary eyes, much like a young wife waiting sorrowfully for her husband to return home.
Chen Tang was dumbfounded.
What was going on?
What's the meaning of this?
Chen Tang held back for a long while and pointed at the nearby stove, saying, "You, you are sitting inside, don't you feel cold without lighting the stove?"
"Quite alright, quite alright."
The chubby old man still smiled good-naturedly, looking very approachable.
"Brother, you've been hunting for so long that your sister was almost worried sick."
Qingmu spoke of worry, yet there was a hint of triumph on her face as if saying 'I finally waited for you.'
Chen Tang chuckled coldly inwardly.
Yeah, right, who'd believe that?
Wait a minute!
Chen Tang frowned and asked, "Who's this brother, and who are you calling yourself a sister?"
"My name is Chen Qingmu, and I'm your cousin."
Qingmu pointed at the chubby old man and said, "His name is Chen Shang, and he's your uncle."
Then Qingmu beckoned with a smile, saying, "Come quickly, meet your cousin, and pay your respects to your uncle."
Really?
Chen Tang was somewhat uncertain due to the woman's definitive tone.
After all, he had transmigrated here, and his predecessor's memories weren't complete.
Moreover, if they truly were some out-of-town relatives, it would be normal for his predecessor not to have met them, and perhaps only Chen Da'an would know.
The Mountain Guest once said that this chubby old man wouldn't harm him. Could it be because he is my uncle?
Chen Tang saw a fleeting slyness in Qingmu's eyes and couldn't help but feel suspicious.
No, it didn't make sense.
What are the chances?
After killing someone that day, he ran into two people, took them home, and after a month, they became his uncle and cousin?
"Stop it."
Chen Tang closed the door behind him, ignoring the two, went over to the stove, put in some firewood, and lit a fire.
Qingmu smiled, saying, "If you don't believe me, you can ask around tomorrow, go find the Chief Constable of Changze County, or maybe that Miss Mei."
Chen Tang became increasingly skeptical, yet he knew there was something fishy here.
"What happened exactly? Spill it."
Chen Tang came to the table and sat down.
The chubby old man said, "A few days after you left, a county constable came to the door."
"Which constable? To investigate the case from that night?"
Chen Tang frowned and asked.
He thought he had done a clean job that night; he didn't expect a constable from Changze County to come knocking so soon.
Logically, they shouldn't suspect him.
"His surname is Meng."
Qingmu said, "Don't worry, no one suspects you. That night's case was already dropped."
"He came just to comfort the county's people. When he came here, Master worried about further complications, so I made up an identity, saying we are your relatives from elsewhere, newly arrived in town."
Chen Tang smirked and said, "And this Chief Meng just believed that so easily?"
In Qian Country, common folk traveled based on road permits, violators would be arrested and punished according to law.
For that chubby old master and apprentice pair coming from out of town, it was all right if no one checked, but if found out, it would cause quite a hassle.
Qingmu chuckled and said, "Master is an old hand in Jianghu, faking a road permit is easy for him."
"What happened then?"
Chen Tang asked, "Did this Chief Meng not question about that night's case?"
"No."
Qingmu said, "With a few words, he was sent off."
The chubby old man suddenly said, "This Chief Meng is not simple. Although he didn't bring up the case, there was indeed a probing intent that time."
Chen Tang pondered for a moment, then looked at Qingmu and asked, "Why did you just mention Miss Mei?"
Logically, they should have no dealings with Mei Yingxue.
Qingmu smiled slightly and said, "While you were gone this month, Miss Mei came several times to inquire about your whereabouts."
"Oh?"
Chen Tang was a bit surprised.
Then it dawned on him that he owed her thirty taels of silver and then disappeared.
No matter who it was, they would've worried that he'd skip town with the debt.
"What is your relationship with this Mei Family Miss?"
Qingmu's eyes burned with a gossipy soul, curiously asking, "Did you know each other and share mutual feelings already? But due to social status differences, you couldn't be together?"
What a clichéd gossip story.
Chen Tang chuckled helplessly and said, "It's because I owe her money, and she's afraid I'll run away!"
"No, that's not it."
Qingmu shook her head and said, "If it were money, she'd have sent a servant to demand payment; she wouldn't need to come personally each time."
"Moreover, when she asked about you, she seemed genuinely more worried about your safety. She even asked us which mountain you went hunting on."
Chen Tang said, "Naturally, if I were dead, she'd never get back her thirty taels of silver."
"That's not true."
Qingmu said, "That Mei Family Miss never mentioned the money at all when she came over. Ask Master if you don't believe me."
The chubby old man nodded.
Qingmu said, "Brother, don't let such a good girl down."
What a jumble of words.
Recognizing Qingmu's jesting, Chen Tang didn't continue the conversation.
Tomorrow, he'll head to the Plum Blossom Martial Arts Hall, return that thirty taels of silver, and if he sees Mei Yingxue, he'll find out.
"So, how long do you two plan to stay here?"
Chen Tang asked the chubby old man and Qingmu bluntly.
"Ah, you can't deny getting old; I can't stay up this late."
The chubby old man sighed, pretending not to hear, and turned into the inner room.
Qingmu blinked and said, "Brother, have sweet dreams tonight. Sister's going to sleep first."
After speaking, she also turned and went into the room, leaving him with a mesmerizing figure.
Chen Tang didn't mind.
He would just make do for the night, return the money tomorrow, and then head back to the Snow Mountain.