Oh no! My grandmother made me shoulder the responsibility for eight households!

Chapter 392 A Triumphant Return

On the fourth day, Lin Chen prepared to leave.

The dock was packed with people.

Yagyu Yu arrived with civil and military officials to see him off, all dressed neatly as if it were New Year's Day.

Liu Shengxiong stood at the front, dressed in a black brocade robe and wearing a black gauze crown, with a polite smile on his face.

Liu Shengxue and Liu Sheng Piaopiao stood next to Lin Chen, their eyes red.

This time, I doubt I'll ever be able to come back.

Shan Ling Kongya wasn't so sad; instead, she felt a sense of relief, as if she had been freed from shackles.

Today she wore a light purple kimono, her hair was styled in an updo with a jade hairpin, and she looked more refined than usual.

Liu Shengxiong looked at Shan Lingkongya, hesitant to speak, his mouth opening and closing several times.

What was he trying to say? Take care?

Or should we "serve the prince well when we get there"?

Shan Lingkongya didn't look at him; she didn't glance at him once from beginning to end.

Her eyes were fixed on her daughter, occasionally glancing at Lin Chen with a complex expression.

At this moment, several eunuchs carried more than a dozen large boxes, huffing and puffing as they moved them onto the ship.

The box was made of fine nanmu wood, carved with flowers and inlaid with copper corners; it looked like it was worth a lot of money.

Two people had to carry the box, and they were both sweating profusely.

Lin Chen glanced at it and frowned slightly: "Didn't you say we didn't need to bring anything?"

Yagyu quickly moved closer, his face beaming with smiles:

"Your Highness, these are nothing valuable, just some local specialties from Dongli. They're not worth much, just a small token of our appreciation. Please don't find them offensive."

As he spoke, his eyes were constantly observing Lin Chen's expression, afraid that Lin Chen would be unhappy.

Lin Chen scanned it with his divine sense and found that it was indeed not a rare item, but it was not cheap either.

To put it bluntly, this is the dowry.

While Yagyu Yu referred to it as a "local specialty," he really meant it was a "dowry."

He dared not refuse to see it off.

If he doesn't give it to you, it will make him seem inconsiderate.

Only after Lin Chen received the gift did he feel at ease.

Lin Chen didn't say anything, turned around and walked towards the boat. After a few steps, he suddenly stopped, turned around, and said:

"By the way, Jing Ke will still stay in Dongli."

Liu Shengxiong's face lit up with joy, and he quickly cupped his hands in thanks, saying, "Thank you, Your Highness!"

"Don't thank me yet!" Lin Chen waved his hand and said:

"He will only stay for three months, after all, I can't live without him anywhere."

However, during these three months, he will guide your monks without reservation.

As for how much you can improve, that depends on your own fortune.

Yagyu Yu was stunned, as if he had heard something unbelievable.

"Your Highness," his voice trembled, "you mean... Lord Jing Ke... he will guide us?"

Lin Chen nodded: "What? You don't want it?"

"Yes, yes, yes!" Liu Shengxiong nodded his head like a chicken pecking at rice, almost knocking off his official hat.

"Thank you, Your Highness! Thank you, Your Highness!"

Liu Shengxiong was so excited that he was incoherent, while in his mind he was making plans:

Jing Ke, a terrestrial immortal, stayed for three months and even provided guidance on cultivation.

This means that cultivators in Dongli can see their cultivation levels rise significantly in these three months.

This means his investment has paid off.

This means that although Lin Chen said he wasn't used to it, he was actually quite satisfied inside.

What he didn't know was that Jing Ke stayed behind, and his guidance was just a side benefit.

The real reason is that they are keeping an eye on Dongli.

They were watching closely to see if the Yin-Yang Union Sect would make a comeback, and whether Yagyu Yu would pull any more tricks.

Lin Chen didn't say anything more and turned to board the ship.

Lan Fenghuang stood on the deck, leaning against the ship's railing, arms crossed, watching Lin Chen walk up, a meaningful smile on her lips.

Yao Yao blinked and asked softly, "Husband, is Piao Piao's mother coming with us too?"

Lin Chen ignored her.

Yao Yao asked again, "Do you have a crush on her?"

Lin Chen glared at her: "If you keep talking nonsense, I'll throw you into the sea to feed the fish."

Yao Yao stuck out her tongue and made a shushing gesture.

Ah Yue, Da Shuang, and Xiao Shuang followed at the very back, quietly.

The three exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with amusement, but said nothing.

Liu Sheng Piao Piao followed behind Liu Sheng Xue, secretly glancing at Lin Chen.

Then she lowered her head again, twisting the hem of her clothes with her fingers until her knuckles turned white.

What is she thinking? Nobody knows.

But the way she looked at Lin Chen was different from before.

He used to be my "brother-in-law" and also my "sweetheart".

Now... there are some things that are hard to explain.

Lingbo boarded the ship early and stood at the stern, her back to everyone, looking at the distant sea.

The wind made her clothes flutter, and her long hair danced in the wind.

She didn't turn around, but she "saw" everything that happened behind her clearly.

She already knew about Lin Chen taking Shan Ling and Kong Ya away.

But she didn't feel any ill will towards Lin Chen.

It's not because she's magnanimous, it's because that's just how the world is.

The strong are respected, and the weak are preyed upon by the strong.

It's common for powerful men to have multiple wives and concubines, and men like Lin Chen, surrounded by a group of women, are a dime a dozen.

She knew a lot more about people who were even more abnormal than Lin Chen.

Compared to those people, Lin Chen is practically a good person.

At least he doesn't force people, at least he's responsible, and at least he protects the people around him.

Lingbo pulled herself out of her reverie and continued gazing at the distant sea, as if something there held an even greater allure for her.

The ship slowly sailed away from the dock. Lin Chen stood at the stern, watching Liu Shengxiong grow smaller and smaller on the shore.

Shan Lingkongya stood at the cabin door, watching Dongli getting further and further away, and tears suddenly streamed down her face.

She didn't know if she would ever be able to come back in this lifetime, or even if she wanted to.

Liu Shengxue stood beside her, holding her hand, and said softly:

"Mother, don't cry, things will get better."

Shan Ling Kongya wiped away her tears, nodded, looked at her daughter, and smiled.

That smile contained relief, anticipation, and a touch of unease.

She turned her head and glanced at Lin Chen, who was standing at the stern of the boat.

Lin Chen was talking to Lan Fenghuang. His profile was gilded by the sunlight, revealing strong lines and a distinct face.

Shan Ling Kongya lowered her head, her face slightly flushed.

The ship continued heading towards Dayan.

On the distant sea, a huge figure was churning.

The number of sea creatures is increasing, and they are getting bigger and bigger. Some of them have even started tearing each other apart, and the sea surface is occasionally stained red with blood.

The world is changing at a speed visible to the naked eye.

Lin Chen stood at the bow of the ship, watching everything with a blank expression.

But he knew in his heart that this was just the beginning.

The world is truly about to change.