Return to the Tian Family Village Charity House

After bidding farewell to Bai Ling and Little Bai, Zhao Liang raced toward Tianjia Village under the radiant moonlight, light and lively as a bubbling mountain brook. There is a saying: climbing up a mountain is easy, but descending is hard. Yet for someone like Zhao Liang, who spent nearly every day among the peaks, the way down was as smooth as a gentle road.

It took Zhao Liang little more than half an hour to run all the way back to the entrance of the charity house in Tianjia Village. Standing before the familiar gate, which he had not seen for so long, his heart surged with excitement.

Knock, knock, knock.

He rapped the door impatiently.

"Who is it? Knocking at this hour of the night!" boomed the deep, gong-like voice of Tian Yi from within.

To Zhao Liang, that voice sounded dearly familiar.

"Uncle Tian, it's me!" Zhao Liang replied quickly.

"Xiao Liang, is that you?" Suddenly, Tian Yi's voice trembled.

With a rush, the doors swung open. Tian Yi, tall and sturdy as a tower, appeared before Zhao Liang.

"Xiao Liang, it really is you!"

"Uncle Tian, it's me!"

Tian Yi pulled Zhao Liang into a tight embrace, as if afraid that letting go would make him vanish again.

"It's enough that you're back, that you're safe," Tian Yi spoke, eyes shimmering with tears.

The commotion had already awakened the others in the charity house. One after another, Zhao Liang's friends poured out to see what was happening.

"Ah, it's Zhao Liang! You’re finally back!"

"Where did you run off to, Zhao Liang? We were all worried sick!"

"I thought I'd never see you again in this life, Zhao Liang…"

"Come on, don't cry. Now that Zhao Liang is back, we should be happy."

Everyone crowded around Zhao Liang, talking over one another in a flurry of concern and relief.

Looking beyond the group, Zhao Liang spotted Mr. Jiang standing at the doorway, stroking his beard, a gentle smile on his face.

"Mr. Jiang, I’m home," Zhao Liang called, waving.

Mr. Jiang seemed not at all surprised by Zhao Liang’s return. With the calmest of expressions, he said, "It’s good that you’re back. I told you all along that good fortune would protect you, and nothing would happen. But your Uncle Tian would have none of it—he dragged me up and down the mountains day after day, nearly turning Crow Mountain upside down searching for you."

"You bookworm! Always so wise after the fact. Now that Xiao Liang is safe, what would you have done if things had gone otherwise?" Tian Yi grumbled, still breathless with emotion.

"Enough, enough, I won’t argue. Arguing with a soldier is a losing battle for a scholar," Mr. Jiang replied, hurriedly waving the white flag and slipping away before Tian Yi could retort.

Everyone ushered Zhao Liang inside, eager to hear what had happened over the past three months, where he had been.

Zhao Liang, eloquent as ever, recounted everything in vivid detail: how Tian Er had come seeking revenge, how he had fallen from the cliff, how he slew the giant serpent to save the warbler, and how Bai Ling had rescued him from the ravine.

He spoke so vividly that his audience was enthralled—at times furious, at times on edge—listening with bated breath for over half an hour, until his throat was parched and his voice hoarse.

"Alright, enough for now. I need some water—Uncle Tian, is there anything to eat? I'm about to starve," Zhao Liang complained, annoyed that everyone was so engrossed in his tale that no one had thought to ask if he was thirsty or hungry.

"Oh, right! We forgot you haven’t eaten," Tian Yi exclaimed, slapping his forehead.

He hurried to the kitchen and came back with four or five freshly steamed corn buns, stuffing them into Zhao Liang’s arms. "Eat, Xiao Liang! There’s plenty more if you’re still hungry!"

Having gone more than three months without a proper meal, Zhao Liang found the taste of the corn buns incomparably sweet and satisfying.

While Zhao Liang ate, Tian Yi vented his anger to the others. "That scoundrel Tian Er! The day after Xiao Liang went missing, I saw him and his wife trying to sneak out of the village in a hurry."

"Really? And then?" Zhao Liang asked, surprised to hear Tian Er had left the village.

"I asked him what he was doing, just out of prison and already leaving. He put on a false face, saying he’d brought shame upon himself and couldn’t face the villagers, so he was going elsewhere to make a fresh start."

"As if he’d have such a conscience," Jiang Tao interjected scornfully.

"Exactly," Tian Yi fumed. "I wondered how that rascal could have turned over a new leaf. Turns out he was just running away out of guilt. If I ever catch him, I’ll break his legs for sure."

"I’ll deal with my own revenge," Zhao Liang said calmly. "No one else needs to interfere."

"But how can that be? You alone might get hurt," Tian Yi protested.

"Don’t worry, Uncle Tian. I know what I’m doing," Zhao Liang reassured him, full of quiet confidence. "It’s late now—everyone should get some rest."

Only then did the others realize it was past midnight. Gradually, they dispersed and went to bed.

The charity house returned to its familiar peace.