Zhou Huan rushed back to Andong from Shandong. As the grand characters "Fushou Tang" grew closer, Dongzi was ecstatic and couldn't help but shout out.
"Brother, we've been away for so long, we're finally back."
Zhou Huan looked back with a deep expression. "This vehicle of ours has carried quite a few people; it's gotten quite worn out. It feels a bit much that Hong Kun and Tian Xiong had to take the train back themselves."
"Hey, Brother, seeing our family name sign is just comforting. Look, isn't that Hong Kun? How did they get back so fast?" Dongzi was surprised. They had set out together, yet the ones driving were slower than those who took the train.
Zhou Huan slowly drove the vehicle into the back courtyard of Fushou Tang. Shi Bingyuan, Tian Xiong, and Hong Kun rushed out to greet them.
"Hey, Tian Xiong, Hong Kun, how did you get back so quickly? We were in the flying car and still aren't back this fast!" Dongzi was perhaps a bit overexcited by the novelty of bringing Da Luobo along. Being on his home turf was new, especially since Da Luobo had never seen the grand setup of Zhou Huan's place, and Shi Bingyuan had never seen Da Luobo either. Who would have thought Dongzi could find such a wonderful girl?
Shi Bingyuan stepped forward to greet her: "This young lady is..."
"No need to know my name; just call me Da Luobo from now on. Lead us inside. Look, Master Zhou is still busy with those supplies." Da Luobo immediately took charge, not acting like an outsider at all. Before Shi Bingyuan could even lead the way, she picked up her package and headed into the house herself.
Dongzi was happy that Da Luobo seemed pleased, so he naturally didn't object. Instead, he blocked Shi Bingyuan with his hand. "Brother Bingyuan, make way, let me in. I can't let my wife haul things by herself."
"Master, we didn't tell you—we came back by boat. A boat traveling in a straight line is definitely faster than you. We wanted to get back early to settle things. The rooms for the three of you have been cleared out. I’ll share a room with Senior Brother Bingyuan, and we’ve annexed another room next to the ground-floor kitchen for Da Luobo and Dongzi to stay in. The utensils inside are already set up. Master, and you two future Martial Mistresses, you must be tired from the journey. Go upstairs and rest. We’ll call you when the meal is ready." Tian Xiong was as eloquent as ever. Shi Bingyuan and Hong Kun helped Zhou Huan and his group settle their luggage and belongings, while these few busied themselves tidying up inside.
Dongzi entered the room and saw Da Luobo making the bed. He scratched his head, feeling a bit unsettled, and finally said helplessly, "Da Luobo, if we sleep together, what if I toss and turn at night, or snore? What about you?"
Da Luobo continued making the bed. "It's fine. Weren't we sleeping together the past few days? Why are you acting nervous now that we’re home?"
"Alright, alright. Does this room of ours have a window?" Dongzi scanned from the doorway to the far end of the room but couldn't find one. This truly infuriated him. He threw down his things and stomped into the main hall where Shi Bingyuan was tidying up. Dongzi roared, "Who arranged this room for us?"
Hong Kun stepped forward. "Tian Xiong and I stayed up all night to fix this up for the two of you. How is it? Not bad, right?" As he spoke, Hong Kun held up his hand, separating two fingers. "Aren't you going to offer us a bribe?" Hong Kun joked.
Dongzi slapped Hong Kun's hand away. "What kind of shoddy thing did you two put together that requires a bribe? You two, come out! We’ll take your old room."
"Ouch! We were trying to be nice and set you up with a private room, and now you’re blaming us? I’d like to know what’s wrong with the room?" Hong Kun usually loved to tease Dongzi, and now they were sparring again.
Shi Bingyuan stepped in to mediate. "Stop shouting, both of you. Let's all go in and see what’s wrong together!"
"Fine! Let's see which one of you can give me a concrete reason!" Dongzi's tone was menacing.
At this moment, Li Tianxiong rushed over. "What's going on? Why are you all arguing?"
"Tianxiong, tell Dongzi if he’s being reasonable! We put in the effort to fix up a room for him, and he won’t say a nice word, instead complaining about us," Hong Kun droned on, detailing Dongzi’s supposed faults.
"You call this being nice? I bring my future wife back, and this is the room you give us?" Dongzi swept his hand around the room. "The room isn't small, but where is the window?" Dongzi looked ready to explode.
Da Luobo stood in the room, hands on her hips, surveying the area. She walked straight out and said calmly, "Darling, I like everything about this room."
"See? Your wife likes this room, but what about you?" Hong Kun deliberately mocked Dongzi.
But just then, everyone suddenly noticed a flicker of fire in Da Luobo's eyes. They heard her say softly, "Darling, it’s alright. If he won't install a window for us, we'll smash one out ourselves tonight. If that doesn't work, we can use explosives or something to blast one open."
Seeing Da Luobo's demeanor, the others felt as if they were looking at a second Dongzi. These two were truly a match made in heaven—hopeless!
Seeing the two of them picking up hammers and knives, it was Tianxiong who intervened. He stepped forward and grabbed Dongzi's arm. "Brother Dong, hold on! How could we not put a window in the place where you and Sister-in-law will live? That would be terrible. Hong Kun was just messing with you. Let me show you this window."
Tianxiong reached over to the wall facing the street and touched the large mural hanging there, finding a spot to pull. With a tug, the massive mural swung open, revealing a transparent floor-to-ceiling window before Dongzi.
"Brother Dong, Sister-in-law Dong, what do you think? This window has three layers. If you open it fully, it's a French balcony window. If you open just two sections, it’s a normal home window. And if you close the middle one, it can be used as a skylight," Tianxiong explained while demonstrating how to open and close the window for Dongzi.
Dongzi and Da Luobo were stunned speechless. Tianxiong seemed to be performing magic. Watching him, the two of them stepped forward together to operate the large mural, saying in unison, "We're going to live here from now on. It’s perfect!"
Their synchronized words drew a burst of laughter from the group. Dongzi came out, smiling broadly, and playfully wrestled with Hong Kun, while Da Luobo began arranging the room.
Before long, the meal was ready. There were eight people in Fushou Tang in total, all seated around the large central table.
Afterward, Zhou Huan took Xiao He and Xiaoling upstairs to discuss something privately. Meanwhile, Tianxiong and Hong Kun were clearing the dishes, and Shi Bingyuan was writing out some common talismans. Dongzi and Da Luobo returned to their room, shut the door, and opened the skylight to gaze outside.
The weather, nearing winter, was indeed getting quite cold. The days had become much shorter, especially in the Northern Hemisphere. Winter was almost here, and it was nearly dark by five in the afternoon. The clouds in the sky were being whipped into disarray by the north wind, and the setting sun looked weary, having put in a long year's effort and now ready to rest early.
"Darling, your martial brothers are truly wonderful. Look at the charming room they arranged for us," Da Luobo finally revealed a touch of feminine softness. She placed her hands on Dongzi's shoulders, their heads touching as they looked up at the sky.
Dongzi stared intently. "Hey, Da Luobo, do you see that distant, occasionally visible spot in the sky? Is that the moon?"
"Seriously? Of course, it is. Can you not even tell the moon apart?"
"Oh... So this is the phenomenon of the sun and moon shining together!" Dongzi murmured in awe, and Da Luobo listened.
"Brother Dong gazes at the fading moon in the twilight, the setting sun slips behind the mountains. Embracing my beloved, my heart knows no end; the sun and moon shine together until the glorious years." Dongzi couldn't recall where the words came from, even managing to compose a poem.
Da Luobo’s eyes were fixed on Dongzi's face—a look of profound adoration, a devoted love.
"Knock, knock, knock!"
"Who is it!" Dongzi called out loudly.
The door was slowly pushed open. Zhou Huan stepped in. Seeing the couple locked in a warm embrace right in the middle of their sweet moment, he smiled. "The poem Dongzi just composed was very moving; it deeply affected me as well, Brother."
"Really?"
"Really. Where did that poem come from, Dongzi?" Zhou Huan asked why Dongzi had suddenly written a poem.
Dongzi casually pointed toward the horizon. "The sun and moon shining together!"
Zhou Huan followed Dongzi's finger and indeed saw the dual light. He nodded. "Da Luobo has just arrived here and might need some time to adjust. Dongzi needs to take good care of her."