Chapter 16: Giving Gifts

After leaving the crowd, Yang Xuan and his two companions turned around and met the white dog behind the building.
As the white dog dismantled the formation, he listened to Yang Xuan's vivid description of the thrilling scene that had just happened on the rooftop.
"The name of that deer is Yinru, just a common beast in the world of mountains and seas. It's not surprising that you can defeat it. If you can't even beat this kind of beast, you should really consider giving up your identity as a sealer."
"Huh? If I'm not mistaken, that bird is a Three-Green Bird."
"The bird itself isn't particularly powerful, currently it's considered to be a second-level exotic beast. However, you guys may not necessarily be its match."
Listening to Yang Xuan's description, the white dog explained the identity of the two exotic beasts they had just encountered.
"If it was stronger than us, why did it let us go and just fly away?"
Yang Xuan couldn't help but ask the question that was bothering him.
"Of course there is a reason."
The white dog raised its head thoughtfully and looked towards the distant horizon: "There are only three Qingniao birds in the world of mountains and seas, which is why they are called 'Three Qingniao'. These birds themselves are not very powerful. The real power lies behind them. They are just messengers used to transmit information."
Yang Xuan asked curiously, "Who is the person behind you?"
"Yes..."
"Wait for me, classmates!"
The white dog was about to say something when suddenly there came a shout from behind.
"Huh?"
Yang Xuan looked back and saw the little boy and the old man they had just saved running up from behind.
"Grandpa, do you need anything else? We really don't need any repayment."
Yang Xuan rushed to speak, assuming that the old man had come to thank them.
"No no, I want to."
The old man said, turning to Ye Bingbing and asking, "You're the little girl from Ye Family Martial Arts Hall, right? It's been so many years, you've grown up so much, I almost didn't recognize you. Do you remember me? You used to come to my house to play when you were little, do you forget?"
"How could I forget you, Grandpa Sun."
Ye Bingbing quickly stood up and introduced, "They are all my classmates."
"Do you two know each other?"
Yang Xuan was a little surprised, but then he realized that since Ye Bingbing's family has been running a martial arts studio in this area, it's normal for them to have some familiar neighbors.
"Hmm, it's Grandpa who used to live next door to our martial arts gym. He moved to another street behind us later on."
Ye Bingbing explained to Yang Xuan in a low voice.
"Haha, as long as you haven't forgotten me, come, come to Grandpa's house and sit for a while. Grandpa has something to ask you."
Sun grandpa smiled heartily and extended an invitation.
Yip Bingbing hesitated for a moment, thought about it, and declined: "Grandpa, I want to go back to the martial arts hall first. Let's meet up with you later."
As they were almost home, Ye Bingbing still wanted to go back and check on things.
“No.”
But Grandpa Sun was determined and insisted, "It won't delay you for too long, my house is just around the corner, it's only a few steps away."
"Well... okay then."
Ye Bingbing couldn't bear to reject Grandpa Sun twice. After exchanging glances with Yang Xuan and Lu Xiaoqi, and seeing their tacit approval, she reluctantly nodded.
So the three of them, along with the white dog, followed Grandpa Sun to his home.
"Huh? What's this? A stove?"
Grandpa Sun's house had a courtyard, and when Yang Xuan walked into the yard, he found a large stone stove built outside the yard, feeling very curious.
"Hmm, Grandpa Sun's family used to work as blacksmiths."
"Oh?"
Yang Xuan walked around the large forge twice and found some tools for forging, such as hammers and pliers, placed next to the furnace.
Entering the room, Yang Xuan noticed that it was very bright and designed in a comfortable and zen-like fashion.
Suddenly, Yang Xuan felt that Grandpa Sun was not an ordinary person.
"Come, let's have some tea."
Grandpa Sun poured a pot of tea and filled a cup for each of the three of them, while the white dog played with the little boy outside.
"Thank you."
Yang Xuan politely nodded and asked, "Grandpa, what can we do for you?"
"I want to ask you something."
Grandpa Sun hesitated for a moment before getting straight to the point, "My grandson said he saw a strange deer and a beautiful big bird on the rooftop, and that you defeated them and saved him."
"Uh..."
Yang Xuan felt a suffocating sensation and quickly looked towards Ye Bingbing and Lu Xiaoqi.
To his surprise, these two girls were quietly sitting there, with Ye Bingbing holding a cup of tea and drinking it while looking down, which was typical of her usual demeanor.
However, when he saw Lu Xiaoqi also holding a tea cup and following Ye Bingbing to quietly drink tea without saying a word, he couldn't help but give a contemptuous look.
You are usually so loud and now you're pretending to be quiet?
Helpless, eventually Yang Xuan stepped in and replied, "Grandpa, maybe your grandson was frightened at the time and spoke carelessly. There are no monsters in this world..."
"Yes, I have seen it many times in the past few days..."
Before Yang Xuan could finish, Mr. Sun cut in decisively: "Although I am old, I am not so old as to have dim eyes or confusion."
"I know some bad things have happened recently, but I am already old and halfway to the grave. I can't do anything about these things."
"Anyway, it seems that you guys do know something."
After all, Grandpa Sun had lived for most of his life and was a shrewd person. He keenly caught the expressions on the faces and the private glances of a few people, nodding secretly as if he had understood something.
"It seems like you guys are unwilling to talk."
Grandpa Sun stood up and said, "That's alright, I won't force you. I just want to know if it's really true. Wait here for me."
After speaking, Grandpa Sun turned around and walked into the inner room.
"Wow, this grandpa is amazing."
As soon as Grandpa Sun left, Lu Xiaoqi couldn't help but speak, admiring, "He can see through the truth so easily, he's really impressive. It's all because of Yang Xuan, he has no acting skills."
"...Why didn't you come just now?"
Yang Xuan was speechless, but also admired Grandpa Sun in his heart: "But come to think of it, like the security guard we saved, Grandpa Sun's mental power should surpass ordinary people, being able to see the mutant beasts and not be hypnotized."
"Well, Grandpa Sun is actually very powerful."
Ye Bingbing also said: "When I was a child, I saw Grandpa Sun forge iron. The hammer was so thick that he could lift it up easily and swing it for a long time in front of the furnace."
"Is that so? Maybe Grandpa Sun had even more strength than Yang Xuan when he was young."
After hearing this, Lu Xiaoqi responded.
"Do you have to use me as an example?"
Yang Xuan was a bit speechless.
这时，孙爷爷手里捧着一个古木盒子，回来了。
“这个送给你们。”
孙爷爷说着，恋恋不舍的将古木盒子递给扬玄：“这是我们家时代祖传下来的古董，相传来历非凡，极为古老，你们拿去吧，就当做用来避祸驱邪。”
"Grandpa, you really don't need to give us anything."
Yang Xuan didn't take it and waved his hand to refuse.
"Take it, you can consider it as an old man's token of heart, it's useless in my hands anyway, who knows it might still have some use if you take it?"
Grandpa Sun forced the ancient wooden box into Yang Xuanhuai's hands.
"Alright... thank you, Grandpa."
"No need to thank me."
Grandpa Sun shook his head and looked at his grandson playing happily with the white dog outside, smiling, "Nowadays, my grandson is the root of my life and there's nothing that can compare to him."
"Although I don't know exactly what happened or what you will be facing, I hope this thing that I am giving you will bring you some good luck."