Seeing Chen Xun's gratitude and loyalty, Old Li was moved. He couldn't really let Chen Xun stand in front, so he quickly stepped in front of Chen Xun, holding a hatchet towards the black tiger, and shouted stubbornly, "Chen Xun, you're still young, run away... uh!"
Before Old Li could finish, he was astonished to find that the approaching black tiger suddenly turned and left...
Old Li was dumbfounded.
Could it be that the black tiger wasn't hungry?
He didn't notice that the black tiger was trembling slightly, even its steps were unsteady.
Old Li came back to his senses, overjoyed to have survived, but he didn't let his guard down. He kept his eyes on the black tiger until its silhouette disappeared before he finally breathed a sigh of relief and sat down heavily in the snow, his face pale and breathless.
Chen Xun also stood up at this moment, laughing wildly, "In front of me, the king of all beasts, that little thing is still too green! Awoo~"
He even imitated a beast's call with pride.
"Hahaha, you little brat, always bragging."
Old Li could only chuckle at Chen Xun's outrageous claim, then looked around and said quickly, "Let's go, this place isn't safe to stay. Who knows if that black tiger will come back, let's hurry and leave."
Old Li slung a bundle of firewood onto Chen Xun's back, took one himself, and quickly pulled Chen Xun away.
Luckily, they were already at the foot of the mountain, and the two soon left Little River Peak.
***
They arrived home at noon.
After unloading the firewood from their backs, Old Li fetched a teapot and poured two cups of hot tea, handing one to Chen Xun.
"It's terribly cold, Chen Xun, have some hot water."
Old Li said, taking a comfortable sip.
Chen Xun held the teacup but didn't drink, instead tilting his head curiously to examine the patterns on the cup.
Old Li was speechless.
"Grandpa, Brother Chen, you're back! I've already cooked, just waiting for you!"
Li Yuan heard the commotion from inside and came out with a smile.
"Alright, alright."
Old Li was about to call Chen Xun for lunch.
However, Chen Xun had already dashed into the house.
Old Li smiled helplessly.
Li Yuan covered her mouth with a smile, then asked curiously, "Grandpa, don't you usually say that Brother Chen is good for nothing but eating? Why didn't you say it today?"
Old Li glared, "Nonsense, when have I ever said that about your Brother Chen?"
After the black tiger incident, he found Chen Xun more and more pleasing to the eye.
Although this kid was a bit crazy and his thinking was abnormal, he was truly loyal, and taking him in wasn't in vain.
Of course, Old Li didn't tell Li Yuan about the black tiger encounter on Little River Peak. Since they were safe now, mentioning it would only cause Li Yuan unnecessary worry and fear.
***
Since the black tiger encounter on Little River Peak, whenever they ran out of firewood and needed to go chop more, Old Li went alone and never took Chen Xun with him again.
This winter, Chen Xun stayed at home and rarely went out.
Usually, Old Li was busy with the market for a living, and Li Yuan took on more sewing work, leaving only Chen Xun idle.
Several times, while Li Yuan was sewing in the courtyard, she saw Chen Xun doing strange and funny movements, which made her laugh so hard that she accidentally pricked her finger with the needle.
In the depths of winter, Little River Town welcomed the New Year.
Every household hung red lanterns and set off firecrackers.
Chen Xun spent the New Year with Old Li's family, enjoying a harmonious and joyful time together.
And so, winter passed, spring came, the ice and snow melted away, and everything revived...
.......
"Wow, all the snow has melted, spring is finally here!"
Early in the morning, Li Yuan yawned as she stepped out of the house into the gentle warm sun, and upon seeing the scenery outside, she exclaimed happily.
Li Yuan quickly spotted the familiar figure in the familiar spot in the courtyard and greeted, "Brother Chen, good morning!"
Although Li Yuan knew that Chen Xun, as always, was lost in his own world and wouldn't respond, greeting him every morning had become a habit.
After greeting, Li Yuan was about to head to the kitchen to see what her grandpa had made for breakfast.
"Mm, morning, Yuan Yuan."
However, at that moment, a calm voice sounded, causing Li Yuan to stop in her tracks, frozen in place.
Li Yuan turned abruptly, looking at the figure standing with his back to her, incredulous, "Brother Chen, was that you... was it you just now..."
Chen Xun slowly turned around, nodded with a smile, "Yes."
Hearing this, Li Yuan's pupils contracted infinitely, her big eyes filled with surprise, apprehension, disbelief, and various other emotions.
Even though Chen Xun's hair was disheveled and his blue shirt tattered, the sunlight revealed a faint, warm smile on his face.
Li Yuan swallowed hard and shouted loudly, "Grandpa! Grandpa! Brother Chen is normal now!!"
What the heck?
Old Li didn't hear clearly and came out of the kitchen grumbling, "So early in the morning, what's this girl shouting about?"
Li Yuan quickly pointed at Chen Xun, "Grandpa, Brother Chen is normal! Really!!"
Huh?
Old Li was stunned, instinctively thinking Li Yuan was joking, but when his eyes met Chen Xun's, which were different from before under his messy hair, his heart couldn't help but tremble.
Good heavens, could it be true?
Old Li walked up to Chen Xun, uncertainly calling, "Chen, Chen Xun?"
Chen Xun smiled slightly and replied, "Grandpa Li."
Though in actual age, Chen Xun was much older than Old Li, it didn't stop him from addressing him this way.
Damn!
Old Li was so shocked he staggered, his face full of disbelief, "Chen Xun, you're better?? What happened?"
Chen Xun smiled without speaking, offering no further explanation.
He was still searching for answers himself, so how could he explain?
***
At the dining table.
Old Li and Li Yuan absentmindedly sipped their porridge, their eyes and thoughts entirely on Chen Xun beside them.
Chen Xun, at this moment, was eating slowly, even elegantly, a stark contrast to his previous wolfing down of food.
Old Li and Li Yuan still hadn't recovered, feeling everything was too sudden, dreamlike, and unreal.
After all, a person who had been crazy for years suddenly becoming normal one morning was truly bewildering.
"Ahem, Chen Xun, what are your plans for the future?"
A quick look at "paw𝑟ead.com" will leave you more fulfilled.
Old Li put down his chopsticks and asked with a dry cough.
In his view, since Chen Xun was better, he couldn't possibly stay at Old Li's house any longer.
To be honest, although Old Li's family could make ends meet, their conditions weren't great. In Little River Town, their living standard was even considered below average.
Otherwise, Li Yuan could have continued her studies.
Due to the family's limited finances, Li Yuan had dropped out after two years to help Old Li make a living.
At this moment, Li Yuan also looked at Chen Xun curiously.
Chen Xun put down his chopsticks and said sincerely, "Grandpa Li, thank you for taking me in these past six months."
"It's just an extra pair of chopsticks, no need to mention it." Old Li waved his hand, then said with relief, "Chen Xun, seeing you now speaking and behaving like a normal person, I'm truly happy."
Proofreader & Editor: Peter Pan