The clan elder withdrew his gaze and looked at the still-burning flames. Patting the village chief's hand, he said, "Hurry, get people to put out the fire."
The village chief finally snapped out of it and was about to call everyone to extinguish the fire.
Gu Nuan quickly said, "No need, Clan Elder. This fire can't be put out, and even if it could, it'd be useless. Let's save the water."
Seeing that the Old Ancestor had no intention of speaking and was wholly focused on teasing the child, the clan elder asked, "Gu Nuan, what happened here? How did it suddenly catch fire?"
Gu Nuan was stumped by the question. To be honest, she didn't know how it had caught fire either. How was she supposed to answer?
"Change how you address her. She is this honored one's wife." The person who had been teasing the child suddenly spoke up, and his first words stunned everyone present, including Gu Nuan herself.
Gu Nuan pointed at herself in bewilderment and asked uncertainly, "Me? Your wife?" How come I didn't know?
"Who else? You already have my child." He glanced at her, then turned to the clan elder and said, "She is this honored one's wife. From now on, this honored one does not wish to hear any disrespect. Understood?"
The clan elder's pupils trembled. He composed his expression and, with trembling hands, performed a kneeling salute to Gu Nuan. "Your foolish grandchild Tao Ran pays respects to Old Grandmother."
When the other villagers saw that even the clan elder had bowed, they hurriedly followed suit with kneeling salutes. For a moment, that phrase "paying respects to Old Grandmother" bombarded Gu Nuan until she was burnt to a crisp outside and tender inside.
Gu Nuan quickly hid behind this bona fide Old Ancestor. Being bowed to by so many elders—she didn't want to have her lifespan shortened!
She was only about ten years old in this life, not even an adult yet. How had she become an Old Grandmother? Too terrifying.
The Old Ancestor pulled her back out from behind him. "Accept it. This is only proper."
Gu Nuan immediately smacked his hand away. "What do you mean, proper? We haven't actually gotten married. How is any of this proper? Besides, this is my child—what does it have to do with you?"
The clan elder was so startled by the smack that he trembled again, looking as though he might collapse at any moment.
The Old Ancestor looked at his smacked hand and raised an eyebrow. "You mean you want a wedding ceremony? That's no problem. I'll have them arrange it immediately."
"Is that what I meant?" Gu Nuan saw the clan elder trembling like a sieve and quickly ran over to help him up.
"Clan Elder, don't listen to his nonsense."
The clan elder said shakily, "I wouldn't dare, I wouldn't dare."
Seeing that the child had fallen asleep again, the Old Ancestor said, "Everyone, disperse."
The clan elder understood immediately and, with trembling hands, waved for the villagers to leave.
After walking a few steps, the clan elder remembered something and turned back. "Old Ancestor, we did not know you would return to the village today and have not yet sent anyone up the mountain to clean. May we ask you and Old Grandmother to rest at your foolish grandchild's home for now? Your foolish grandchild will send people up the mountain to clean at once."
Foolish grandchild?
Gu Nuan stared at him with wide eyes. This was a grandchild generation?
She turned to look at the certain someone with a calm expression. With that handsome face, he didn't look like a centuries-old monster at all!
Could there really be an Art of Eternal Youth in this world?
The certain someone said without even lifting his head, "No need. Mojing has already gone up the mountain to clean."
"Then your foolish grandchild and the others shall take their leave." Before leaving, the clan elder gave Gu Nuan a meaningful glance.
Seeing that everyone had left, Gu Nuannuan wanted to take the child back and leave with them.
The Old Ancestor looked at the pair of hands extended in front of him, raised his sword-like brows, and still returned the child to her. "Come with me."
Gu Nuan held the child, looking bewildered. "Ah? Go with you? Go where?"
"Up the mountain." With that, he walked off on his own.
Gu Nuan glanced at the still-smoking ruins, then had no choice but to follow. Whether she could stay in Peach Blossom Village still depended on him.
She completely didn't take that madam seriously.
"Um, how should I address you? Should I follow the others and call you Old Ancestor?"
The person ahead paused his steps, and when he moved again, three words popped out: "Gong Weili."
"What?" Gu Nuan was confused again, but quickly caught on. "Oh, you mean that's your name? Gong Weili! It sounds quite nice. So should I call you Old Gong, Mr. Gong, or Mr. Weili?"
Gong Weili stopped at this point, turned to look at Gu Nuan, and said, "You can call me husband."
Gu Nuan glared at him. "In your dreams. I think 'old man' suits you perfectly, hmph."
After huffing, she walked past him toward the village, not planning to go up the mountain with him.
But after only a few steps, she felt like she was walking in place. She looked down and was stunned—she was clearly moving her feet, so why was she stepping in the same spot?
She turned to look at Gong Weili. He had his hands behind his back, watching her expressionlessly, and didn't seem to be blocking her at all. So why was she walking in place?
Gu Nuan stopped and looked at him. "What's going on?"
"Let's go, come up the mountain with me." Gong Weili walked toward her and took the child that had only been in her arms for a short while.
"Hey!" Gu Nuan saw him carrying the child and leaving, and muttered, "I didn't agree to go up the mountain."
"Wait, I said, what was that walking-in-place thing about?"
"I'll tell you after we go up the mountain." Gong Weili didn't even turn his head.
In the end, she still had to follow him up the mountain.
A bluestone path had been built through the mountain, just like a hiking trail in the 21st century.
Gu Nuan hadn't walked long before she was exhausted. Just as she was about to sit down, she saw Gong Weili disappear around the bend, so she could only muster her energy and keep climbing.
The child was still in his arms!
By the time she climbed to the bend where Gong Weili had disappeared earlier, Gu Nuan couldn't climb anymore. This body's stamina was too poor—severely lacking exercise.
Just as she was catching her breath, a figure suddenly appeared in front of her, scaring Gu Nuan into screaming.
The newcomer waited until her scream stopped before saying, "Madam, the Venerable Lord sent me to escort you up the mountain."
"Venerable Lord? Gong Weili?" Gu Nuan asked, patting her chest.
"Yes, Madam."
Gu Nuan got a headache hearing "Madam." "Don't call me Madam. It gives me a headache."
"Madam, this subordinate will take you up the mountain now." With that, he lifted her and flew up the mountain.
"Ah! Gong Weili!" Gu Nuan screamed in fright.
Mojing placed her in front of Gong Weili and immediately disappeared.
"What did you call me for?" Gong Weili lifted his teacup and smiled at her.
Gu Nuan glared at him through gritted teeth. Was this how you brought someone up a mountain—by carrying them the whole way? "Where's my child?"
"In the room." He glanced up at the stool across from him. "Sit. Let's talk."
"Hmph." Gu Nuan turned her head and sat down.
Gong Weili poured her a cup of tea. "What's the child's name?"
"Gu Yao. But what's it to you?"
"My child. What do you mean what's it to me?"
Gu Nuan stood up at once. "What exactly do you mean?"
Seeing that he didn't speak, she thought of that possibility and stared at him in confusion. "Is he really your child?"
"Do I look like someone who claims children randomly?"
Gu Nuan looked at his silver hair, thought of the clan elder's foolish grandson, and silently nodded.
Gong Benli cast a cold glance at her, his finger pressing against her forehead.
Gu Nuan instantly felt as if many things were drilling into her mind, the pain making her want to pass out. "Gong Weili, what did you do?"
"Calm your heart, steady your breath, and receive it properly. Inside this is what you want to know about how to stay in place." Gong Weili changed his single finger to his palm, slowly channeling his energy at her forehead.