Qingyu Village was a large village with six to seven hundred households.
The village was built along the mountain with a small river flowing by the village border, villagers working hard in the fields, and children playing joyfully by the river, all speaking of the peace and harmony of the village.
When Shanshan and Wenwen arrived at the village chief Tang's house, old Tang still shook his head as usual.
"There are still no villagers sending their children to cultivate immortality this time. I'm afraid you two immortal masters will have to try another village!"
Shanshan and Wenwen were a little disappointed but more accepting.
"Village Chief Tang, we'll be on our way then."
"Stay for a meal before you leave!"
The two did not stand on ceremony: "Sure."
It wasn't that they lacked a meal. It was just that the village chief never stood on ceremony with others. When he asked you to stay for a meal, he truly meant to treat you.
It would be impolite for the two women to reject the village chief's kind intention.
"Village Chief, what's for dinner today? Is there any fish?" Wenwen asked.
The village chief laughed. "Knowing you'd come, I prepared everything early for you."
"Just wait a bit. The food will be served soon. We'll have a few drinks later."
"Sounds good!"
Not long after, a table full of home-cooked food was placed before the two women.
"Let's eat first. My wife went out with my grandson."
He poured two glasses of wine for the women: "Don't stand on ceremony. Try my wife's cooking."
"Sure."
As the three ate, they chatted: "I was just a child when we first met."
"In the blink of an eye, I'm an old father now, yet you two look the same as ever. You immortals really have it good!"
Shanshan said: "What's good about it? You have a hall full of children and grandchildren now, yet we still wander from place to place without a home."
Just then, an innocent voice sounded.
"Grandpa Village Chief, are you there?"
Two children around eleven or twelve walked in.
The boy looked wild yet sensible. The girl was carefree yet polite.
The girl looked gentle and refined, contrasting with her behavior, while the boy looked mischievous but acted properly.
The boy politely greeted them, "Hello Grandpa Village Chief, Sister Immortals."
The three smiled, "What a sweet mouth."
The girl respectfully bowed, then said with spirit, "Grandpa Village Chief, are they the immortal masters?"
The village chief said impatiently, "What nonsense are you up to again?"
From his tone, this lass probably caused no small amount of trouble before.
The little girl pulled at her brother, "We want to cultivate immortality."
The boy said weakly, "Sister, I don't want to cultivate immortality. I promised Xiao Hua to marry her when we grow up and have children together."
The girl slapped her brother's head harshly and said sternly, "You think!"
The boy nearly toppled to the ground. He stood straight and said pitifully, "Sister Immortal, I want to cultivate immortality."
Shanshan and Wenwen were speechless. They persuaded, "Do your parents know?"
The girl said, "They do."
The boy glanced at his sister and added: "Mother and Father said to go with fate. They don't object if we have the affinity but won't force it if we don't."
These two children actually snuck out without parental approval.
Wenwen and Shanshan exchanged looks. Shanshan said, "If so, let me check your health!"
"Okay," said the girl.
"Thank you Sister Immortal," said the boy.
Shanshan examined the two children and tested their aptitudes.
"Your aptitudes are decent. You can enter the holy grounds to cultivate."
The girl asked, "Sister Immortal, how much better is my aptitude compared to yours?"
Shanshan smiled. "Better than mine, but you can't compare to me."
The girl wondered, "Why not?"
"You'll know in the future."
"Oh~"
"Go back and pack. Spend two days with your parents and bid farewell! I'll come for you in three days," instructed Shanshan.
The girl said, "We don't need three days. We'll bring our stuff now and leave with you."
Wenwen wondered, "Do your parents really put their minds at ease?"
The village chief cut in: "I'd worry if it was their parents!"
Shanshan and Wenwen exchanged black lines and nodded. "Then grab your items and at least say goodbye to your parents! It'd be best if they came over too."
"We'll head to the next village once we eat."
The girl pulled the boy away, "Got it. We'll be right back."
The two children left the village chief's house. "Sister, I don't want to cultivate immortality. You can go yourself. Why drag me too?" asked the boy.
The girl said, "I don't want to go alone so I'm bringing you as company. Could you bear leaving your sister to be alone out there?"
The boy said weakly: "I can't, but I'll miss Mother, Father, and my siblings."
The girl said casually: "It's not like we can't come back. Once we gain some power, we'll be home in the blink of an eye."
The boy reluctantly agreed. "Fine."
The two then took down bundles from a tree. "Let's head back in a bit. Don't let Grandpa Village Chief see," said the girl.
"Did you pass the letter to Xiao Hu?" she asked.
"I did. It'll be delivered home by evening," replied the boy.
The girl nodded satisfyingly. "Good."
Sensing the right time, the two reentered the village chief's house. Shanshan, Wenwen, and the village chief were done eating and chatting.
Shanshan asked, "Where are your parents?"
The girl said, "Father's looking after the children. Mother's out in town, so they can't make it."
The village chief explained, "That's how their family is. Don't take it personally."
"I see! Let's be going then!"
After bidding the village chief farewell, Shanshan and Wenwen each led a child and flew towards the next village.
Shanshan asked: "What's your name?"
"Tang Duoduo. My brother is Tang Doudou. We're twins," replied the girl.
"A boy and a girl twin. Your parents sure worked efficiently!"
Tang Duoduo said helplessly: "I also have two younger sisters and two younger brothers. I don't know what my mother was thinking having so many."
Shanshan and Wenwen were slightly surprised. "Your family is quite lively with offspring!"
Tang Duoduo replied indifferently: "Still fine. If Father keeps angering Mother, I may get a few more siblings."
The two women didn't know how to respond. They changed topics: "Your surname is Tang like our sect leader. Maybe you're related from a few hundred years ago!"
Tang Duoduo admitted: "Most villagers have the surname Tang. Maybe there's some distant connection."
They passed through two villages unsuccessfully when someone knocked on Tang Village Chief's door.
"Village Chief, have my two bunnies left?"
The village chief walked out to see a youth holding one child's hand, carrying another child in his arm, with a third child on his back, and a fourth following behind.
The village chief was puzzled. "They left early. You didn't know?"
The youth said angrily: "How would I know? I only found out after reading their letter!"
"I was hoping those rascals would help me watch the kids. Instead they secretly ran off!"
The village chief comforted: "Don't be angry Little Yu. Just let the children be!"
"What can I do since they're gone? Forget it, I gotta go make dinner."