"This is what you should pay. You brat, I've been through tribulations and returned. I should start anew, don't think about the past anymore. The past holds no meaning for you."
Nuwa Stone also wanted Ye Tiancheng to move on, but it wasn't that easy. Ye Tiancheng couldn't stop recalling Hou Mingzhu's dazed appearance, and the guilt in his heart continued to accumulate.
The Great Green Snake also spoke up for Nuwa Stone. These two were rarely of the same opinion, instead of bickering and trying to outdo each other as they used to.
"The stinky stone is right. Everything is set in stone now. With your current cultivation, you are only one step away from becoming an immortal. Why be trapped in romantic affairs? Focus on how to break through to the next level, that is the ultimate Great Dao."
Ye Tiancheng could understand what these two divine artifacts said, but he felt a little uncomfortable.
If he hadn't chosen Su Muxian back then, Hou Mingzhu probably wouldn't be like this. It seemed like everything was karma, and there was no escaping it.
"I will definitely walk the Great Dao properly, but I still owe Hou Mingzhu a debt. Once I have the opportunity, I will definitely repay this debt in my heart."
"Your next step should be to continue searching for the fragments of the Fuxi Qin. Only by gathering all six fragments can you break through, otherwise, you will remain stagnant."
"I already have two fragments, but I really don't know where the remaining four are."
Ye Tiancheng missed the days when he had guidance. Now, whatever he did felt like blindly stumbling around like a headless fly, unlike before. With his past experience, Ye Tiancheng could always make the best and fastest decisions.
"I can give you a hint. The third fragment of the Fuxi Qin comes from the Hou family."
Ye Tiancheng hadn't expected this. He had only heard that the Hou family was always quite wealthy and had been in business, which was how they gradually built their fortune. However, he had never heard of any cultivators in the Hou family, let alone any magical artifacts.
"Stinky stone, where did you get this revelation? Is this information accurate? Don't trick me into a wild goose chase, only for there to be nothing in the end."
Ye Tiancheng had become accustomed to taking shortcuts. Now, living without guidance felt like suddenly losing his guiding light, making him exceptionally hesitant when making decisions.
"Don't worry, this information is very accurate. You were always very resistant to Hou Mingzhu, so I didn't tell you this clue. I thought you would resolutely sever all ties with the Hou family, even if it meant not getting the Fuxi Qin fragment."
That was before. Ye Tiancheng was just a farmer with no great ambitions back then. Everything was different now. He now had new aspirations, and he was willing to play along just to obtain the Fuxi Qin fragment.
"Things are different now. For the sake of the Fuxi Qin fragment, I can make any effort. Otherwise, tell me if you have any other hints?"
"I only know that the Hou family ancestral hall, the old Hou family ancestral hall, is the entrance to finding the Fuxi fragment. However, besides the Hou family members, no one knows where the old Hou family ancestral hall is. You'll have to figure this out yourself."
With the clue of the Hou family ancestral hall, it was a new breakthrough for Ye Tiancheng. At least there was a starting point, unlike before when he didn't even know where to begin.
"Alright, you've helped me a lot this time. It seems I need to find a way to ask Hou Mingzhu. Hou Mingzhu is a member of the Hou family after all. Even if she has lost her memory, she should have some childhood memories. Perhaps there are clues about the Hou family ancestral hall in those memories."
"Be careful if you get involved with anyone from the Hou family. Not a single one of them is easy to deal with, and you've had grievances with them. Even though you're doing this for the Fuxi Qin fragment, you must also be wary of the Hou family's schemes."
Ye Tiancheng had no idea about any schemes from the Hou family. His interactions with them were too few. He had inexplicably been taken in as a son-in-law by the Hou family before, and to this day, Ye Tiancheng hadn't figured out why such a thing happened. Perhaps this mystery would only be solved later.
"I will be careful. With you, this stinky stone, and the Great Green Snake by my side to protect me, it won't be easy for others to touch me. I'll make them taste the bitterness of a demon."
Ye Tiancheng's strength was extraordinary now, and he was even more arrogant than before. However, one should be low-key. Moreover, Ye Tiancheng wanted to avoid falling into that terrifying world again, so he had to be a good person now. Only by doing more good deeds could he eliminate the karma he had generated. If his karma accumulated too much, he might be drawn to some other terrifying place again. Ye Tiancheng didn't want to lose everything.
"Brat, be more low-key. I don't want to see you suffer more tribulations."
"I know."
Ye Tiancheng agreed verbally, but in his heart, he was contemplating visiting the Hou family villa today to secretly meet Hou Mingzhu and ask her about the Hou family ancestral hall. He hoped to get some different clues from Hou Mingzhu.
Relying on his divine skills to protect him, Ye Tiancheng evaded the Hou family's strict infrared surveillance system and then, like a gust of wind, suddenly appeared in Hou Mingzhu's room.
"Where did you come from? Oh, right, I've seen you before. You're the brother from the hospital."
Hou Mingzhu had been lying obediently on the bed, seemingly asleep. She suddenly spoke, which startled Ye Tiancheng.
"Weren't you asleep? Why are you suddenly talking? You scared me."
"I was pretending to be asleep. I couldn't sleep so early. They insisted I sleep, and the nurses at the hospital were so strict."
It seemed Hou Mingzhu was truly having a tough time now, being disciplined like a child. If it were the Hou Mingzhu of the past, how could she have resigned herself to this? Even if the King of Heaven descended, he wouldn't have been able to stop her from doing anything.
"I came to play with you. By the way, do you know where your Hou family's ancestral hall is?"
"Our family's ancestral hall?" Hou Mingzhu seemed to understand and not understand the question. After a long pause, she shook her head, "I don't know."
"Then can you help me inquire about it? Please."
Hou Mingzhu's intelligence was now like that of a child. She should be relatively easy to coax. Moreover, Ye Tiancheng no longer treated her as an outsider. After fighting monsters and leveling up together for so long, he had long regarded Hou Mingzhu as a good friend.
"Am I that familiar with you? If we're not familiar, how can you ask me to do things for you?"
Hou Mingzhu's tone of voice had a bit of her original demeanor. Ye Tiancheng even began to wonder if she had remembered something.
"Did you remember something?"
"No, my past memories are very hazy, but I remember I know you."
Having hazy memories was better than remembering nothing at all.
"Then shouldn't you help me with this favor?"
"Take me to the amusement park. That weird old man won't take me. If you take me, then I'll help you."
Hou Mingzhu actually made conditions with him. Ye Tiancheng really didn't want to agree, but he didn't know how to refuse. With this childish nature, if you didn't show her some benefits, Hou Mingzhu probably wouldn't help him.
"Alright, I can take you, but it has to be tomorrow."
The amusement park would definitely be closed in the middle of the night. Ye Tiancheng wouldn't do something so foolish.
"Pick me up first thing tomorrow morning. I'll be waiting for you at home."
"Alright, go to sleep. Sleep early, and I'll come find you tomorrow."
At least there was room for negotiation. As long as there was hope, it was enough. Ye Tiancheng watched Hou Mingzhu close her eyes and fall asleep, then left the Hou family the way he came.
The next morning, Ye Tiancheng arrived as promised. This time, he didn't come secretly but openly, and he brought some gifts.
"Uncle Hou, this is some nutritional supplement for you. I want to take Mingzhu out to play."
When Hou's father saw Ye Tiancheng, he basically had no good expression. Their engagement had already been called off, so how could he still have a good impression of Ye Tiancheng?
"Mr. Ye, since you have drawn a clear line with my daughter, then break it cleanly and don't pester her. I believe that with your great wealth, you wouldn't covet anything from our Hou family. Please be merciful and let our Hou family go."
Seeing that Mr. Hou's attitude towards him had worsened, Ye Tiancheng could only suppress his anger. Given Hou Mingzhu's current condition, if he secretly took Hou Mingzhu away and her father found out, Ye Tiancheng suspected Hou Mingzhu's father would call the police.
He just wanted to fulfill Hou Mingzhu's wish and get more clues about the Fuxi Qin fragments. He didn't want any complications.
"Uncle, Mingzhu is like this now, and I want to take her out more. Perhaps she can recover better."
"What do you mean? I thought that just because my daughter has a temporary health issue, you could take advantage of the situation. I gave you a chance before. You were once the son-in-law of our Hou family, but that was in the past. You wouldn't still be thinking of pestering our Mingzhu, would you?"
"Uncle, the reason I've returned to help Mingzhu at this time is precisely because I'm not the kind of person you think I am. I'm not ungrateful; I still remember the help the Hou family gave me back then."
After going through various trials, Ye Tiancheng had matured a lot, which was why he could say such things. Even if he was trying to deceive someone, he had to organize his words properly, otherwise, Hou's father wouldn't believe him.
"Do you really think so?"
"Of course. Mingzhu's recovery is still uncertain. Those noble young men who were involved with her before must have tried to avoid her, afraid of getting entangled and being unable to shake it off. I'm telling the truth, Uncle, please consider it carefully."
Hou's father thought about it and realized it made sense. Hou Mingzhu had always had special feelings for Ye Tiancheng. Even if she had sought others before, it was only to anger Ye Tiancheng. Perhaps Ye Tiancheng could help his daughter recover her memory, something even experts couldn't do. At this point, Hou's father could only try his best, how could he have more expectations?
"Alright then, I'll trust you this once. However, don't take Mingzhu running around. Mingzhu's health is not good right now, and I don't fully trust you. I will send someone to follow you. If I discover any improper behavior, I will show no mercy."
Hou's father was quite imposing in front of Ye Tiancheng, but in reality, he didn't have the right. However, Ye Tiancheng was willing to give Hou's father face. Everything was for the sake of finding the Fuxi Qin fragments. At this moment, he could only endure. He shouldn't conflict with Hou's father.
Thus, under the guidance of the monkey, Ye Tiancheng took Hou Mingzhu away.
In the car, Hou Mingzhu was like a curious baby, asking questions here and there, and talking more than before.
"Mingzhu, I can't believe you've become like this. What exactly went wrong?"