As the only large city within a hundred miles, the houses in Fenglin City were naturally not cheap.
Ling He's financial support was like a drop in the ocean, and Jiang Wang himself had no savings. Fortunately, there was someone who was not short of money.
Jiang Wang, holding Jiang An'an, went straight to Zhao Rucheng.
"Give me some silver," Jiang Wang got straight to the point.
Zhao Rucheng was playfully making faces at Jiang An'an, and casually asked, "How much do you need?"
"How much silver would it take to buy a small courtyard near the Daoist Academy? It's just for my sister and me to live in."
"Why buy a courtyard at all? Can't you just stay here with me? I have plenty of empty rooms," Zhao Rucheng winked at Jiang An'an with one eye, then the other, occasionally flashing what he thought was a handsome smile. Of course, his appearance was indeed quite handsome.
Jiang Wang glanced at Jiang An'an before saying, "We need our own home."
He didn't mind where he lived, but it was different for little An'an. The young girl had just been sent over, and no matter how strong she appeared, her heart was inevitably fragile and sensitive.
"Oh," Zhao Rucheng stroked his chin thoughtfully, "I seem to have a few properties near the Daoist Academy. Let me check."
He turned his head and called out, "Uncle Deng!"
In a moment, a middle-aged man with a mild demeanor walked in and bowed meticulously, "Young master."
"Do we have any suitable properties near the Daoist Academy? Clear one out and hand over the deeds to my third brother."
The butler, addressed as Uncle Deng, replied, "There's no need to clear one out specifically. There are three vacant ones now. Which one would you like?"
Zhao Rucheng looked at Jiang Wang again, "Third brother, what do you think?"
Jiang Wang smiled warmly at the butler, "Thank you, Uncle Deng. The house doesn't need to be too big, just for An'an and me to live in. Most importantly, it should be close to the Daoist Academy so that I can come home to accompany her at any time."
The butler returned the smile, "There is a small courtyard in Fei Ma Alley behind the Daoist Academy. I'm not sure if the arrangement will suit your taste."
"Let's go and take a look!" Zhao Rucheng immediately said, "Just give me the keys."
Although Jiang An'an was not talkative and didn't interact much with others, her delicate and lovely little face naturally drew people's affection.
All the way, Zhao Rucheng kept teasing her.
"An'an, do you think Brother Rucheng is more handsome than Brother Wang? Ah, I asked a silly question, there's no comparability."
"An'an, An'an, do you see those candied haws over there? Come to my arms, and let's buy the whole bundle! How about that?"
"An'an, do you know you're quite heavy? Look at how fat you are! Your brother's arms are almost broken! Why don't you switch and let Brother Rucheng hold you?"
Little An'an remained silent until she heard this, then she tilted her head and looked at Jiang Wang.
"Are you tired?" she asked softly.
Jiang Wang smiled gently, "Not at all. I can hold you until next year without letting go."
The courtyard in Fei Ma Alley was quite nice, with one main house, one south house, and two side rooms to the east and west. Although no one lived there, all the facilities were complete. It only needed some daily necessities to be purchased to move in immediately. The room decoration was also very elegant and comfortable.
Jiang Wang led little An'an through each room to make sure she didn't show any resistance.
"Alright, this is the place," Jiang Wang smiled brightly at Zhao Rucheng, who was chattering around little An'an, "Give me the keys, you can go now."
"Okay!" Zhao Rucheng turned around and left quite promptly. As he stepped over the threshold, he suddenly turned back and waved at An'an, "Brother Rucheng is leaving now, don't miss me too much~"
Little An'an trotted over and, with a bright smile from Zhao Rucheng, slammed the courtyard gate shut.
At night, after a day of hustle and bustle, Fenglin City quieted down.
Inside the Tongtian Palace, the little earthworm completed its final leap and spat out a round Daoist element into the star array.
Jiang Wang opened his eyes, ending today's meridian cultivation. The accumulation of Daoist elements, day and night, drop by drop, all efforts would not be in vain. They would eventually become the foundation for the extraordinary.
It was these countless days and nights of monotonous cultivation that led to the brilliant future of soaring through the azure sky.
The room was very quiet. Jiang An'an lay on her little bed, her small hands neatly placed outside the quilt, motionless.
Because An'an was so young, Jiang Wang had specially had a small bed made for her, so she could sleep in the same room with him. One big and one small bed, placed on opposite sides of the room.
Listening quietly to Jiang An'an's breathing, Jiang Wang spoke softly, "An'an, still not asleep?"
The room immediately echoed with the little girl's somewhat flustered voice, "S...leeping."
Jiang An'an's nervousness caused Jiang Wang a pang of pain. Such a young child had already learned to read people's expressions. Just because Jiang Wang had reminded her to go to sleep early before his meridian cultivation, she was now anxious for not being able to fall asleep.
A girl not even five years old, suddenly in a strange place, suddenly away from her mother, not crying loudly was already very strong. What kind of panic was in her heart?
But of course, these things should not be brought up again.
"Um, brother can't sleep either," Jiang Wang's voice became even softer, "Do you want to look at the stars?"
After a while, a soft "yes" came from the room.
"Then get up," Jiang Wang got up, lit the oil lamp, and then went to the small bed to help An'an put on her coat.
Those hands that were so lively with a sword were particularly clumsy when taking care of a child.
"It's not like this, brother, you put it on backwards..."
Jiang Wang sheepishly withdrew his hand, "Then An'an, you put it on yourself."
After a while of bustling, the two walked out of the door.
At that time, the bright moon was in the sky, with twinkling starlight. The empty courtyard was filled with clean moonlight, making this lonely night soft and warm.
"Are we going to look at the stars in the courtyard?" Jiang An'an asked, tilting her little head.
"Of course not," Jiang Wang suddenly picked her up, leaped into the air, and landed on the roof.
Jiang An'an screamed, and when she landed on the roof, her little face was already red.
Jiang Wang looked down at her, feeling a bit guilty, "Did I scare you, An'an?"
Jiang An'an blinked her big eyes, and there was a hint of excitement, "Brother, can you fly?"
Although she seemed eager to try, Jiang Wang did not want to jump around on the roof like a monkey, making people laugh, "Not yet, but once brother's Daoist skills are accomplished, I definitely will. Then wherever An'an wants to go, we can fly there, okay?"
"Okay."
Jiang Wang took off his coat, spread it on the roof, then lay down on his back beside it, propping his head up with one hand, and called out, "Come, lie down like brother and look at the stars."
Little An'an obediently lay down on Jiang Wang's coat, her small hand also meticulously propping up her head. She widened her bright eyes and gazed straight at the starry sky.
The vast night sky was dotted with twinkling stars, each shining in turn. Countless lights were born in the endless darkness, the star river was vast, containing countless dreams and memories.
"That one is the Purple Micro Star, that one is called Jade Balance... The Southern Dipper is over there, see, right there..."
"They twinkle, as if they are blinking."
"Only our cute An'an, when she blinks, looks like a star. Like your Wild Tiger brother, the big-bearded man you saw during the day, when he blinks, he just looks like a cowbell."
Jiang An'an giggled.
"Do you know, An'an, these stars are billions of miles away..."
"How far is a billion miles? Is it farther than from Fengxi Town to here?"
"Much farther, countless times farther. If there was a road to the stars, an ordinary person walking their whole life from birth to death might just be considered as having just started on this road."
"Ah?" An'an was a bit surprised, "So far?"
"Yes, that far. They are in the endless darkness, crossing such a vast distance. They send their light to you. They offer you their beauty, which may have been extinguished tens of thousands of years ago."
"They are so kind."
"Father is like one of those stars. He may have left a long, long time ago, but he is still far, far away, trying hard to shine and accompany us with his light. So no matter when, do not be afraid, okay? Brother will always be with you, and so will the stars."
"Brother," Jiang An'an's voice was very soft, "My mother doesn't want me anymore, does she?"
Jiang Wang was silent for a moment.
Should he tell little An'an the truth, that she was a burden, affecting her mother's life?
Should he denounce Aunt Song's selfishness and make little An'an hate her birth mother from then on?
How should he answer?
He didn't have much time to think, because silence was also a kind of hurt.
In the end, he just turned to the side and held An'an's small hand earnestly and gently.
"How could anyone not want such a lovely An'an? It's brother who really wants to live with you. That's why I insisted on having Aunt Song send you over. When Aunt Song left, she was very sad and reluctant to part with you."
"Really?"
The starlight and moonlight were on Jiang An'an's little face, caressing the tear marks that had not yet faded. She was as beautiful as an elf of the stars and the moon.
Although her face still had lingering confusion, her big eyes suddenly lit up.