Ultimate Path to Heaven

Chapter 41 Gratitude That Words Cannot Express

Night falls.

After having dinner, Lin Yan came alone to the wooden house where Xiao Jin was. After hesitating for a moment when he saw that the door was closed, he quietly left.

Although no one disturbed him afterward, Xiao Jin did not sleep well that night, his mind filled with all sorts of chaotic thoughts.

The next morning.

A thin mist, like a milky white veil, flowed slowly between the cliffs.

All the busyness was as usual, but about two hundred people had already gathered in front of the village gate inside the canyon—all the villagers from Qingxi Village who had entered the valley.

In the blink of an eye, Xiao Muyu was outside the wooden house.

"Since you are injured, you should stay with Commander Ye and remain by the young master's side."

Looking at his closest brother Li Mian, Wang Suiyue, who was about to part ways, had a hint of reluctance in his eyes.

Li Mian, who had witnessed Wang Suiyue's actions, almost spoke but ultimately swallowed his words, his expression seemingly reluctant.

In this atmosphere, the wooden door creaked open, and Xiao Muyu and her son came out one after the other.

"Commander Ye!" The moment she stepped out, Xiao Muyu looked at Ye Bufan.

Ye Bufan immediately clasped his hands in greeting to Xiao Muyu.

"From this day forward, Jin'er is in your hands!"

To hand over?

Ye Bufan understood the meaning of those two words perfectly: "This humble servant is terrified and will gladly die for it!"

"Commander Wang!"

At Xiao Muyu's signal, Wang Suiyue led a group of Blood Guards towards the gate of the stronghold.

"Mother..." He said a lot, but as he stood beside Xiao Muyu, Xiao Jin still felt a little reluctant to part with her.

"When the time is right, Mother will personally send you to the Northern Region." She paused, as if hesitating, "The Dark Guard is not impregnable; you will need to listen to Commander Ye on many matters."

"Jin'er knows."

"Hmm?" From afar, Xiao Jin saw a dense crowd in front of the village gate and immediately recognized them as villagers from Qingxi Village. "What are these people doing here?"

Given the large population of Qingxi Village, the Valley Master Lin Yan temporarily housed them in the Juyi Hall, but Xiao Jin found it rather strange that he appeared there so early in the morning.

Just twenty or thirty meters away, a large group of villagers knelt down on the ground.

Everyone's foreheads were covered in damp dirt, and their shoulders trembled. The woman held her bewildered child tightly, tears streaming silently down her face. There was no commotion, only suppressed sobs and heavy breathing.

They expressed their gratitude for surviving the catastrophe, a gratitude that words could not convey, in the most humble and ancient way.

A sense of sorrow seemed to permeate the air... Everyone stopped in their tracks, and a deathly silence fell.

"This..." Xiao Jin never expected that these extremely ignorant villagers, whom he even found somewhat disgusting, would kneel here so silently.

(The '100' sign on the system's power value flashed intermittently, but Xiao Jin was completely unaware of it.)

Li Mian, who had witnessed the villagers' plight, was unwilling to let the memories fade away. With tears welling in his eyes, he let out a long sigh.

Lin Yan's brows furrowed slightly, and a strange light flashed in his eyes, revealing his state of mind.

Besides Lin Yan and his group, Lin Miao, who was there to "join in the fun," also came to see them off.

Looking at the villagers who had survived the ordeal, Lin Miaoshuang's almond-shaped eyes were brimming with tears, and the corners of her mouth gently turned up, forming a very shallow and pure arc... as if she had found some kind of comfort deep in her heart.

Xiao Muyu calmly observed the villagers, silently bid farewell to her son Xiao Jin, and then gestured for Wang Suiyue to walk towards the exit passage.

Once his mother was out of sight, Xiao Jin turned to look at the villagers who were still kneeling on the ground, wanting to say something, but in the deathly silence, he ultimately chose to leave silently.

The villagers only stood up one after another when Xiao Jin was far away, which caused a hint of displeasure to flash in Lin Yan's eyes.

Lin Miao, meanwhile, gazed at Xiao Jin's departing figure, lost in thought...

Seeing his sister like this, Lin Yan's eyes hardened, and he walked in the direction Xiao Jin had left.

Alone back in the cabin, Xiao Jin was pondering his next move...

Lin Yan walked in abruptly.

"I, Lin, have come uninvited; I hope Brother Xiao will not take offense!"

Just as he was feeling agitated, he saw someone he disliked. Xiao Jin didn't give any response and just sat there drinking his tea.

With a faint smile, Lin Yan closed his fan and sat down next to Xiao Jin.

"I wonder what Brother Xiao's plans are next? Will you be heading to Huizhou?" Lin Yan, who didn't take Xiao Jin's neglect to heart, poured himself a cup of tea.

"What brings you here, Valley Master Lin? Just say it directly!" For some reason, Xiao Jin was extremely unwilling to beat around the bush with Lin Yan.

Lin Yan casually picked up the teacup, took a sip, and said, "Brother Xiao is quite straightforward, so I'll get straight to the point."

Setting down his teacup, Lin Yan continued, "If Brother Xiao goes to Huizhou, please take my younger sister with you."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Jin, momentarily stunned, nearly choked on his water. "What the hell is this guy?"

Seeing Xiao Jin's reaction, Lin Yan's expression instantly turned serious: "To be honest, Brother Xiao, due to many concerns, I have never allowed my younger sister to leave this canyon..."

Regardless of whether Xiao Jin liked it or wanted to hear it, Lin Yan continued, "I always wished my younger sister could live a carefree life, but I never considered Miao'er's true feelings... until yesterday... I realize it was my fault as her older brother!"

Regardless, Xiao Jin found Lin Yan's words to be sincere, and was touched by Lin Yan's love—is this what it means to be loved?

"But why me?" Xiao Jin believed that Lin Yan, the valley master, was perfectly capable of getting Lin Miao out of the canyon on his own.

After a brief silence, Lin Yan's eyes hardened again: "Firstly, it's too sudden and there's no proper explanation; secondly, Brother Xiao's strength is extraordinary, and the secret guards have many businesses." His tone softened as he looked directly at Xiao Jin, "If Brother Xiao is willing, please protect your sister."

"this......"

Whether it was Chu Xiong or the secret guards engaging in trade, this Huizhou was inevitable, but Xiao Jin was completely unprepared for this sudden turn of events.

Then I thought... I wonder if Lin Miao can give me any points to agility... If so, it's not impossible...

Lin Yan, unaware of Xiao Jin's thoughts, assumed Xiao Jin's hesitation stemmed from some difficulty: "I own a restaurant in Huizhou. With Qin Huang accompanying me on this trip, I won't cause Brother Xiao any trouble."

"..."

Xiao Jin wasn't concerned about those things; what he cared about was whether or not to add points to his agility stat.

"We could go together, but..."

"Brother Xiao, there's no need to worry. I will handle things with my sister myself." With that, Lin Yan picked up a teacup from the table. "I offer this tea in place of wine, hoping Brother Xiao will protect my sister!"

"..."

Xiao Jin wanted to say something more, but since things had come to this point, he had no choice but to stop and pick up his teacup.

After setting down his cup, Lin Yan asked, "When will Brother Xiao depart?"

For Xiao Jin, there was absolutely no point in staying in this canyon any longer: "If possible, the sooner the better!"

Mother has already left the canyon, and Chu Xiong has gone to the northern frontier at some unknown time. Xiao Jin naturally doesn't want to delay, but what about Lin Miao...?

Upon hearing Xiao Jin's words, Lin Yan immediately stood up: "I will go find my younger sister right away!"

Watching Lin Yan's departing figure, Xiao Jin pondered for a moment before deciding to drop Lin Miao's concerns. "I must inform Commander Ye first."

Regardless of what happens, my mother still has arrangements for this trip to Huizhou.