The mountain peaks were steep, half-hidden by the surrounding woods.

White mountain mist drifted halfway up the slopes, and the forest had already been tinged with the colors of autumn.

Ye Chutang carried Xiao Wu as she stepped out of the carriage and gazed silently ahead.

This was the first time she had come to this place in three years.

She had imagined this day many times before, but now that the moment had truly arrived, her heart was surprisingly calm.

Xiao Wu silently tightened her grip on her sister’s hand, her eyes pure and innocent.

She had no memory of their father and mother, and her impression of their older brother was limited to what her sister occasionally mentioned.

But she knew they were her sister’s closest family, and thus, her own.

Ye Chutang ascended the mountain path, her steps light yet firm. Xiao Wu followed closely behind.

At one point, Ye Chutang offered to carry her up, but Xiao Wu refused.

The woods were shady and the mountain breeze was refreshing. The occasional chirp of a bird only enhanced the tranquility of the place.

Finally, Ye Chutang stopped.

Xiao Wu followed her gaze and saw three graves ahead.

Names were carved upon the tombstones.

She could read the characters, and the name of the person who had erected the stones at the end was particularly jarring.

—The funeral arrangements back then had been handled by Ye Heng. To this day, traces of him remained.

It seemed no one had visited in a long time. Weeds grew thick around the graves, lending them an air of desolation.

"Father, Mother, Brother, I’m back."

Ye Chutang spoke softly, the depths of her clear, dark eyes like a still lake with a hidden undercurrent.

No one answered.

Every word was a solitary utterance, destined to remain forever unanswered.

A faint smile touched Ye Chutang’s lips. "Xiao Wu came too. She’s grown so much. If you could see her now, you’d find her absolutely adorable."

Xiao Wu hugged her arm, pressing her soft little cheek against the back of her hand and rubbing it gently. But her eyes remained fixed on the three graves.

She wasn’t scared at all.

Ye Chutang lowered her gaze and stroked the little girl’s head.

"Yan and A Feng are still at the Imperial College for their classes. I’ll bring them with me when they get their ten-day break in a while."

"Yan has always been sensible; he doesn’t give me much to worry about. A Feng, though, is rebellious. He’s started having a growth spurt recently. I wonder how many days he’ll manage to stay out of trouble at the Imperial College this time."

She spoke of ordinary things, as if they were merely catching up by a window after years apart, reminiscing about old times.

So much had happened in three years.

But in the end, she only spoke of trivial matters. As for the twists and turns, the clashes of steel—she didn’t mention a single word.

"...In the end, I came back too late."

At this, Ye Chutang fell silent for a long while before breaking into a faint smile.

"But Father and Mother certainly wouldn’t blame me. As for Brother—" 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

’He’d probably give me a harsh scolding.’

’In her brother’s eyes, she was too frail to take care of herself. Even something as simple as walking a few extra steps outside after a heavy snow, catching a chill, and getting a headache was considered a grave mistake. If he caught her, she’d be in for a good lecture.’

"Brother. I’m not afraid of the cold anymore."

Her voice trailed off, eventually fading into the forest, leaving only the RUSTLING of the wind as it swept through the trees, stirring the heart.

An unknown amount of time passed, and the sky began to darken.

Ye Chutang gazed silently ahead. Her voice was soft, yet it carried an undeniable conviction:

"Rest assured, Father. Ye Heng is not dead yet. I’m keeping him alive. Once I find the mastermind and the truth is revealed, I will make them repay everything we suffered a hundredfold."

’Letting only Ye Heng die would be letting them off too easily.’

With that said, she kowtowed, and Xiao Wu, standing beside her, did the same.

Pressing her forehead to the cold ground, Ye Chutang closed her eyes and vowed, word by word:

"Just a little while longer, and I, Awang, will bring you all home."