Chapter 60 - Returning Back To The Li Family Castle

After the Old Man's story about the "Sword of Flower" ended and with Li Jie's confusion about his path cleared, he and Teng Peng left the crowd back to his house, where he will pick up the maid Xiao Chu, to return back to the Li family castle, because it was already getting late.

As for the Old man, he just started with an entirely different story, but there was a mysterious glint at the corner of his eyes when he saw the boy leaving who reminded him of someone important and special to him.

The Old man was also looking towards the sky, when he said in his heart, "If fate has it, maybe one day we shall meet child".

After which he started with his recital towards the crowd, whereas Li Jie and Teng Peng were rushing towards Dai Chen's home at an accelerating speed.

While passing through many streets which were in poor condition, the roads had plotholes and some muddy roads, while Teng Peng was the one leading them as he had all the knowledge of the fastest way to get back to Teng Peng's house.

While running and passing through many garbage areas and broken muddy roads, Li Jie had a thought, "Today was very exciting, and I was lucky to listen to that Old man's story, I wonder if the story he told me is even true, I will ask father back home, the people here live in a very horrible condition, now that I am sure what I have to do, I will not stop no matter who it is, I will just go forward with my decision, no matter how painful it might feel to me", thought Li Jie with a serious expression on his face with complete resolution.

After some time running and passing through some ragtag streets, they could finally see the sight of Teng Peng's house, after reaching near the door, they both stopped, Teng Peng was gasping for breath as he was tired from all the running as well as his breathing rate high, wheres Li Jie was completely fine even after running for quite long.

Finally after Teng Peng felt a bit better he knocked on the door two times repeatedly in succession whereas the third time he knocked after some time, which was apparently a code for those inside to know that the one knocking is someone from their family and they don't have to be overly cautious with the help of the secret code.

The door was opened by Fu Li who was happy to see them, she was a bit worried if they were to encounter trouble and for their safety, but now she was relieved by seeing both of them in their good condition.

"See Fu Li, I told you before, you were getting worried for no reason, Teng Peng was with Brother Li Jie, it wasn't possible for anything to go wrong with his", said Dai Chen from behind Fu Li.

Fu Li just helplessly smiled and moved behind her and said, "Yes Yes, elder brother Dai Chen I get it, I won't trouble you anymore with my concern and well being for my family", said Fu Li sarcastically to which Dai Chen just helplessly smiled and shook his head, he knew how stubborn this younger sister of his is, of course, he never thought she was wrong as a matter of fact, he very much appreciated her concern and overly cautious nature and protectiveness towards the family members.

"I have to say, Teng Peng, that sister Fu Li's worries weren't unfounded, did you go out of the region which is safe, because seeing how you were quite late, does make one worried and even maid Xiao Chu was very worried for brother Li Jie, tell me Teng Peng is this the reason why you came back late because you went out of the region overlooked by Fu Li", asked Dai Chen with a solemn expression, who glared at Teng Peng.

At first, Ten Peng was relieved that he will not be scolded, but seeing Dai Chen's glaring eyes, he gulped and started reciting everything they experienced and how they had to make a stop for listening to the Old man's stories, which made them both curious, listening to Teng Peng's story Dai Chen's face twitched, Teng Peng was really asking for it, to stop on their way just to listen to a stranger's story.

Listening to Teng Peng, Dai Chen just sighed, it's not something much serious but that's the thing about "The Slums", anything can become dangerous, no matter how easy-going the situation feels to be for a person because both Dai Chen and Fu Li had experienced the true horrors of the slum, they were worried and understood, how important it was to be cautious.

Dai Chen then looked at Fu Li, who was snickering, due to the comical situation, where Teng Peng didn't do anything wrong but his stupidity knows no bounds thought Fu Li.

"It's ok, leave it, brother Dai Chen, as for you Teng Peng, let me tell you so that you don't make the same mistake ever again, never ever stop to listen to a stranger's story or to see something entertaining performed by anyone, you are lucky that old man had no ill intentions, or else you would be forcefully pressured to give them all of your money, it's one of the tricks some people use to get anything valuable that you might have, do you understand".

Teng Peng hurriedly shook his head and said, "Sister Fu Li, I will be sure to keep your words in my mind from next time".

Fu Li nodded and they went back inside the house, whereas Li Jie was stunned by what Dai Chen said, he never thought something as simple as entertainment near the road can be so dangerous, thankfully the old man was a kind person, or else it would have been very troublesome, he kept this in his mind that he won't let his guard down near anything he felt to be insignificant thought Li Jie.

When Maid Xiao Chu saw Li Jie, she was relieved, "Young Master, it is quite late already, it will take us some time too to reach back home", from her tone it can be seen that she wanted to hurry, Li Jie understood after listening to her and said, "Yes, we will go now".

After talking with maid Xiao Chu for a bit, he went to Dai Chen and Fu Li and said that he will have to go back home, to which Dai Chen nodded as he was the one who will be leading them back to the Li family castle.

After preparing everything all three of them were ready to go back to the Li family castle, Li Jie was talking enthusiastically with Teng Peng and the other kids and promised them that he will be coming back soon in the future to play with them.

After which all three of them started to go back to the Li family castle while going far from Dai Chen's house they were waving their hands towards the kids, and finally, they went quite far with nothing but garbage in sight, and it started to get smellier as they got near to their destination, Li Jie couldn't help but pinch his nose, no matter how many times he tries, this smell is just too unbearable, but this situation wasn't good for the maid Xiao Chu as she was carrying a big bag with all her strength, which had all the necessities she thought the young master would need, but instead, it just proved to be unnecessary as they weren't here for any longer, and due to holding the big and heavy bag with all her strength, she couldn't even use one hand to pinch her nose, she was troubled the closer they got to their destination because the smell just kept getting more and more unbearable for her, she finally regretted bringing this useless bag with her, she wanted to cry but had no tears.

Looking at maid Xiao Chu's unsightly expression, Dai Chen asked her if he can help her with the bag, to which she directly agreed without a single thought.

Dai Chen was the only one among them who didn't close his nose, as a matter of fact, he was even calmly breathing as if the unbearable smell didn't even bother him, Li Jie was quite surprised at Dai Chen's capacity to bear the smell, he only felt more praise for Dai Chen in his heart.

After getting near the big rock which would help them get out of "The Slums", without anyone noticing, just like before Dai Chen placed the medallion on the stone which opened the path to go outside, after leaving from the rock which was outside of "The Slums", they resumed their journey back towards the Li family castle.

While getting back towards the Li family castle, they kept talking to each other, and Li Jie was happy and thinking of when he becomes stronger, he will travel to various unknown places, no matter how good or bad they are.