Knock.
Knock.
"It's me," Wang Da called softly as he pushed the old thatched door.
After nearly a month away, the familiar sound of the creaking hinges already made his chest loosen.
The door swung open and Wang Er—broad-shouldered and alert—immediately pulled him inside.
His eyes scanned the dark tree line behind Wang Da, tension written all over his face.
"Brother, come in quickly! You scared me showing up this late."
Inside the small hall, the dim oil lamp flickered as Grandpa and Wang Ci stirred awake, blinking at him.
The moment they recognized him, both lit up with joy.
"Da'er, you're back?" Grandpa's voice trembled with happiness.
"Are you alright?"
Wang Da smiled, soft and reassuring.
"I'm okay, Grandpa. Really."
He looked around the familiar space, his heart warming just from being home.
"And you all? You've been well?"
Grandpa nodded too quickly. "Of course we have."
"Nothing to worry about."
But Wang Ci immediately pouted. "Grandpa is lying again."
"Ci…" Grandpa sighed helplessly.
She ignored him and faced her older brother.
"He got a fever last week and fell."
"Hurt his back too."
"He pretended he was fine and wouldn't let us call anyone."
Wang Da's smile faded into worry as he knelt beside Grandpa.
His voice was soft, but serious.
"Grandpa… you need to take care of yourself. You can't keep hiding things like this."
Grandpa looked a little guilty, but his eyes softened at Wang Da's concern.
Wang Er jumped in quickly, trying to lighten the mood.
"Come on, let's not talk about the past first."
"Brother, come sit. It's been forever."
"Have you eaten yet?" Wang Ci added, already moving to grab a bowl as if on instinct.
Wang Da chuckled, the sound warm and gentle.
"I have, don't worry. I'm not here starving this time."
They sat together on the floor, close like they always used to.
The conversation flowed naturally—small things, big things, things that didn't matter and things that mattered too much.
Wang Da asked if they needed anything, if they had enough to get by, if their neighbors were treating them well.
As always, they refused help.
Eventually, Wang Da grinned at Wang Er.
"You know… you're not getting any younger."
"Shouldn't you start thinking about marriage?"
Wang Er stiffened, then huffed dramatically.
"No. Ci should get married first."
"I'll only settle down after she finds a good guy who'll actually treat her right."
Wang Ci immediately threw a tiny cushion at him. "Why do you say things like that in front of Brother?!"
Their laughter filled the small room, warm and bright.
After a while, Grandpa gently cleared his throat.
"Da'er… stay tonight. It's late. You should rest."
Wang Da hesitated, the smile fading from his eyes even though it stayed on his lips.
"You know I can't."
He lowered his voice, looking at each of them with quiet sincerity.
"If people find out about… I've become a Gu Master…, it'll bring trouble here."
"And I can't let anything happen to you."
The entire family fell quiet.
Wang Da took a breath, steadying his voice.
"I wish I could take all of you somewhere safer."
"Somewhere better."
"If I had the ability right now, I would."
He pressed his hands together, grounding himself.
"But I don't."
"Not yet."
He looked at them with a warmth that held both love and promise.
"But I will."
"One day, when I'm strong enough—when I'm capable enough to confront the Gu Yue Clan—I'll come back and take you all away from this place."
"I swear I will."
Grandpa placed his hand over Wang Da's, his worn palm warm and steady.
"We believe you," he said softly.
"We always have."
And so the night stretched on, the four of them talking, laughing, remembering old stories, and quietly holding onto hope.
Not the dramatic kind—just the real, gentle hope a family shares when they trust one another completely.
The night had deepened into silence by the time their laughter faded.
Warm light from the oil lamp flickered across their faces as they sat together on the floor, leaning against old walls, enjoying a rare moment of peace.
After another hour of stories, teasing, and soft conversation, Wang Da finally pushed himself to his feet.
His movements were gentle, reluctant even—as if standing meant breaking something precious.
"I should go," he said softly, looking at each of them in turn.
"If everything goes smoothly… I'll try to come back next month."
His voice wasn't loud, but the promise in it felt steady and warm, like someone placing a reassuring hand on your shoulder.
Wang Ci immediately stood as well.
"Brother, can't you stay just a little longer? Just until dawn?"
Wang Da smiled and shook his head.
"If I stay any longer, someone might notice I was here."
"I don't want trouble tracing back to you."
Wang Er stepped forward, guilt flickering across his face.
"We can handle trouble, you know."
"You don't always have to protect us alone."
"I know," Wang Da said, eyes softening.
"But if I don't carry this part… you'd all carry more."
"Let me lighten that for you. Just this one thing."