Chapter 29: Xiang Village [1]

Chapter 29: Chapter 29: Xiang Village [1]

Huo Jingchen finished work earlier than usual.

The clock had barely passed five when he closed the final document on his desk.

His assistant, Zhou Rui, looked at him in surprise.

"President Huo, you’re leaving already?"

"Yes."

Huo Jingchen stood and picked up his jacket.

There was no particularly urgent reason for him to return to the residence early.

At least, none that he was willing to admit.

He simply...

wanted to get home before Xi Yunxui left.

The thought had appeared in his mind several times that day.

He hadn’t seen her that morning.

He hadn’t seen her during lunch.

And for some reason, the idea of reaching the residence only to find that she had already left made him feel slightly dissatisfied.

He didn’t question the feeling.

He simply left.

---

The Huo residence was unusually quiet when Huo Jingchen arrived.

He entered through the main door, handing his jacket to a nearby servant.

"Welcome back, Young Master."

Huo Jingchen nodded.

His footsteps slowed as he entered the main hall.

He subconsciously listened.

Perhaps he would hear Xi Yunxui’s voice.

Maybe she would be in the kitchen.

Perhaps she would be talking to one of the gardeners.

Or maybe she would be carrying something down the corridor, looking slightly confused by one modern device or another.

He listened carefully.

Nothing.

Only his younger sister’s voice could be heard from somewhere nearby.

"I miss Xi Yunxui."

Huo Jingchen stopped.

He turned slightly.

Huo Yuning was sitting in the living room with Auntie Zhang.

"She didn’t even say goodbye properly," Huo Yuning complained.

Auntie Zhang sighed.

"Young Miss, she went to visit her mother. She’ll be back tomorrow."

"Tomorrow?"

"Yes."

Huo Yuning leaned back.

"That feels so long."

Huo Jingchen’s expression remained unchanged.

But inwardly...

He was disappointed.

She’s not here.

He had actually come home early hoping to see her.

He immediately found the thought ridiculous.

Why had he done that?

Huo Jingchen said nothing.

He walked upstairs.

As he did, one thought became increasingly obvious.

He didn’t feel like eating.

Normally, he wasn’t a big eater anyway.

But recently, Xi Yunxui’s cooking had somehow changed his expectations.

After having her food several times, ordinary meals suddenly felt less appealing.

He didn’t understand it.

Perhaps his stomach had simply become accustomed to lighter food.

Perhaps...

He stopped thinking about it.

---

After freshening up and changing into comfortable clothes, Huo Jingchen wandered through the quiet second floor.

Without really planning to, his footsteps eventually took him toward the library.

The door was unlocked.

He pushed it open.

Then stopped.

He looked around.

The change was remarkable.

The library that had once looked forgotten now appeared completely different.

The shelves were clean.

The books were properly arranged.

The old manuscripts were carefully organized.

Even the tables and cabinets had been cleaned.

Everything was orderly.

Huo Jingchen walked slowly through the rows.

He reached toward one of the shelves and ran his fingers lightly across the wood.

There was almost no dust.

He picked up a book.

Then another.

Each had been placed carefully.

A faint fragrance lingered in the room.

It was subtle.

Clean.

Warm.

Familiar.

Huo Jingchen’s fingers paused against the book.

He knew that scent.

Xi Yunxui.

His chest tightened slightly.

It was only a dull ache.

Nothing serious.

Yet he couldn’t explain why the realization that she had been here so recently made something inside him feel strange.

He looked around the library again.

For some reason, the room felt like her.

Huo Jingchen frowned.

What am I thinking?

He placed the book back.

Just then—

His phone rang.

He took it out.

The caller was Zhou Rui.

Huo Jingchen answered.

"What happened?"

Zhou Rui’s voice became serious.

"President Huo, there’s been another phenomenon."

Huo Jingchen stopped walking.

"Another?"

"Yes."

Zhou Rui continued.

"It occurred in Xiang village, in the eastern mountain region."

Huo Jingchen’s expression became thoughtful.

"Describe it."

"A large golden light appeared over the mountains. It was similar to the phenomenon we saw last night, but the energy readings are stronger."

Huo Jingchen’s eyes narrowed.

"Do you know what caused it?"

"Not yet."

Zhou Rui paused.

"The local authorities haven’t been able to determine the source either. There are reports of unusual changes in the surrounding area."

Huo Jingchen remained silent.

Two phenomena.

One in the city.

Another in a remote village.

And both involved that strange golden light.

Something wasn’t right.

"Have someone investigate discreetly."

"Yes."

Huo Jingchen looked toward the window.

"Tomorrow we’ll go there ourselves."

Zhou Rui was surprised.

"Personally?"

"Yes."

"I understand."

The call ended.

Huo Jingchen lowered his phone.

His thoughts remained on Xiang Village.

He didn’t know why, but something about the incident felt familiar.

Perhaps it was connected to the ancient book.

Perhaps it was something else entirely.

He couldn’t say.

And he certainly had no idea that the woman he had spent the entire day hoping to see was currently in that very village.

---

Meanwhile, in Xiang village.....

Xi Yunxui was completely unaware of any of this.

She sat across from her mother at a small dining table.

A simple meal was spread before them.

Freshly cooked vegetables.

Fish from the river.

A small pot of soup.

And several dishes Xi Yunxui had helped prepare.

Her mother smiled as she placed another portion into her bowl.

"Eat more."

Xi Yunxui laughed.

"Mother, I can serve myself."

"You’re too thin."

Her mother immediately added another piece of fish.

"You must eat more."

Xi Yunxui stared at her bowl.

It was already overflowing.

She sighed.

"Alright."

She picked up her chopsticks.

"This is enough."

Her mother smiled happily.

"Good."

Xi Yunxui took a bite.

The food was simple.

Nothing like the extravagant meals served at the Huo residence.

But as she sat there with her mother, she felt an unfamiliar warmth spreading through her chest.

There were no business meetings.

No wealthy guests.

No strange system missions.

No ancient books glowing in mysterious ways.

Just food.

Family.

And a quiet evening.

Xi Yunxui smiled.

She had no idea that several thousand miles away, powerful figures were already discussing the golden phenomenon.

She didn’t know that the appearance of that light had drawn the attention of people who had spent decades searching for signs of something long forgotten.

She didn’t know that sects, hidden families and cultivators were already beginning to move.

And most importantly—

She didn’t know that the man who had been wondering why he couldn’t stop thinking about her was preparing to travel toward the very village where she was currently eating dinner.

For now, Xi Yunxui simply picked up another piece of fish.

"Mother, this is really delicious."

Her mother smiled.

"Then eat more."

Xi Yunxui sighed.

"Mother, if you keep feeding me like this, I won’t be able to walk tomorrow."

Her mother laughed.

The little house filled with warmth.

Outside, the night deepened.

And far above the village, the faintest trace of golden light still lingered in the clouds.