The night breeze blew over the flowering branches, making a soft rustling sound, as if the sea kissed the shoreline. The blossom leaves drifted in the wind and fell on open places and the pond. Sitting peacefully in the moonlight, Ping'an dipped her feet in the pond, thinking about the ten years she had spent with Guo Baiyu and Zhao Renshu. If they had married someone else, they might now be fathers of many children. Then she heard footsteps approaching her, and someone sat next to her.
Guo Baiyu looked at Ping'an and found her face gloomy. He asked, "What are you doing up so late?"
Ping'an sighed deeply. "I was just thinking."
Guo Baiyu sighed, then a soft chuckle escaped his lips. He asked with a smile, "Are you thinking about the fact that the three of us cannot have children of our own?"
Ping'an frowned slightly at Guo Baiyu. "Sometimes, could you just pretend to not know what I'm thinking?"
Guo Baiyu patted gently on her head. "It can't be helped," he said with a warm smile. "You are my wife, and understanding your thinking is part of my job."
Ping'an said sadly, "I was thinking, what if you two married someone else? You two would already have children, living happily with your family and accepted by others, instead of living in seclusion with me here."
Zhao Renshu rubbed her head gently. "When will you stop thinking about this issue?" He sat on her left, putting an arm around her.
Ping'an looked at Zhao Renshu. "As long as I am still alive, I will keep thinking," she admitted.
"We already have children," Zhao Renshu countered. "Why do you always think we don't have one?"
Guo Baiyu added, "Renshu is correct. We had twenty-four children added six months ago with our six children, and now we have thirty children. Soon we will have hundreds of children." He smiled at Ping'an. "When you are old, there will always be someone to take care of you."
"Hundreds of children?" Ping'an murmured, surprised.
Zhao Renshu sighed and stretched out his hand. He lay on the ground, staring at the stars. He said, "Baiyu and I decided to form a Sector here."
"Really?" Ping'an asked, intrigued.
"Zhiqiang and Ah Bao have shown us that they can help us with teaching and organizing," Guo Baiyu explained.
"Remember that you once told me that I will not be young forever," Zhao Renshu said, looking at Ping'an. "One day I will be old. I need a disciple to inherit my master's legacy."
"I did mention it," Ping'an conceded.
"Dachin and I have compiled the principles and rules of the Guozhao Hunters," Guo Baiyu stated. "The teaching methods of the new disciples are the same as those of the sixth disciples. They have to go through basic training before they can decide what they want to continue studying."
"But Zhaohui is still a child," Ping'an worried.
"A clever boy, three times smarter than those older than him," Zhao Renshu chuckled.
"Everyone has responsibility; you two might as well assign something to me," Ping'an suggested, wanting to contribute actively.
Zhao Renshu got up from the ground. "You have an obligation to be our wife and take care of us," he said playfully. He squeezed her left cheek.
"Do you want a wedding?" Guo Baiyu asked, returning to an earlier topic.
"A what?" Ping'an blinked, surprised.
"A wedding," Zhao Renshu repeated, a bright smile on his face. "Since all our friends will wear wedding attire and bow to heaven and earth, our Ping'an should have the same opportunity too."
"I haven't thought about it yet," Ping'an confessed.
Zhao Renshu held her left hand with both hands and said, "Baiyu and I talked about it on the night of Yaoting's wedding. You do know that pretty soon Peizhi and Yueliang will get married. Yaoting will marry Dachin as promised. Longtong and Hongse will get married eventually."
Guo Baiyu said, "In our wedding, apart from friends and disciples, there may be no other guests. It may be the Xiao sisters and the Fairy Clans."
"Baiyu says to ask you first if you want a wedding," Zhao Renshu prompted again.
Ping'an smiled and said, "I'm good like this. I don't need a wedding for the two of you to prove your love to me." Zhao Renshu exhaled softly and leaned his head on her lap. She leaned on Guo Baiyu's left shoulder. The bright moonlight shone on the three Guozhao Hunters. Ping'an stared at the reflection of the moon in the pond. "I want you two to know that I am really happy now, and I can't ask for more."
Guo Baiyu kissed her forehead. "Hum us a song," he requested gently.
Ping'an began to hum softly as she gazed at Peach Blossom Valley, leaves fluttering in the wind, a peaceful scene.
Early in the morning, Master Fang and Madam Fang arrived at the home of Lee Dachin and Fang Yaoting. Master Fang, Madam Fang, Wang Shuchun, and the twin babies were all in the guest hall, a bustling family reunion. Master Fang was overjoyed with his two grandsons. When Lee Dachin and Fang Yaoting walked in, the whole family laughed together, a picture of domestic bliss.
Madam Fang was extremely happy. "Yaoting, I heard that Shuchun had twins; I couldn't believe it!" She patted Fang Yaoting on the shoulder. "You are not bad, giving me two grandchildren at a time! I want two granddaughters next!"
Master Fang laughed loudly and said, "How should I call you two?"
Madam Fang said, "Since Yaoting is the father, he should name them."
Lee Dachin watched the family reunion, and he himself was very satisfied with Master Fang and Madam Fang, seeing their happiness. He slowly retrieved himself back, not wanting to ruin the special occasion for the Fang family by his presence. He walked to the table in the backyard and began to review the rules and punishment of the Guozhao Principles, giving them privacy.
"The first-born is Weisheng, and the second-born is Weimin," Master Fang announced the names.
"You heard that, Fang Weisheng and Fang Weimin," Madam Fang said, turning to Wang Shuchun. "Do you agree?"
Wang Shuchun nodded and smiled. "Thank you, father, for naming the children," she replied graciously.
"Dachin, do you like it?" Fang Yaoting asked. He heard no answer, so he turned around, but Lee Dachin was already gone. Just when Fang Yaoting was about to go out to find him.
Wang Shuchun stood up and stopped him. "Yaoting, where are you going?"
Fang Yaoting still turned his back to his family. "Look for Dachin," he said simply. He walked out, determined.
"Don't think too much, I will talk to him," Madam Fang said to the worried family.
Lee Dachin was sitting in the backyard reviewing the principles of the Guozhao, when a pair of arms wrapped around him from behind. He put down the book. "You shouldn't be here," he said, knowing Fang Yaoting should be with his family.
"If I'm not here, where will I be?" Fang Yaoting countered, holding him tighter.
"You should be with your family," Lee Dachin insisted.
"Then my family shouldn't leave without telling me," Fang Yaoting replied, referring to Lee Dachin's quiet departure.
Lee Dachin smiled, a bittersweet expression. "You know we are getting old, not getting younger. Soon we will no longer be able to take care of ourselves. People like us, who knows whether there will be lasting love."
Fang Yaoting kissed Lee Dachin's head and turned him to face him. "Even if you are old and your hair is white, I will comb it every morning. When you are old and forgetful, I will stay with you and take care of you. If you can't see, I will be your eyes." Lee Dachin burst into tears, moved by his heartfelt vows. "If you can't cook for us, as long as you don't mind the burning smell, I will cook for us. We will live as two happy old men, being each other's cane." He wiped Lee Dachin's tears with his thumb. He kissed Lee Dachin's lips lightly. "Do you remember that poem Baiyu wrote years ago?"
Lee Dachin nodded, recalling the beautiful verses.
Fang Yaoting smiled and kissed Lee Dachin again. "We will live just like that. Until death does us part."
Madam Fang cleared her throat, interrupting their tender moment. "I didn't expect my son to be so talkative," she commented, a playful tone in her voice. She approached from behind, having followed them. "Dachin, I'm sorry; I'm so happy I forgot that our actions would hurt your feelings."
"It's okay. I am not upset," Lee Dachin replied, reassuring her.
"Shuchun told me that you took good care of her, thank you," Madam Fang said sincerely.
"I never thought I would mistreat her in any way," Lee Dachin replied, his integrity clear.
Madam Fang jokingly said, "No wonder you swept my son."
"What is it, Mother?" Fang Yaoting asked, stepping forward.
"I am here calling you to eat," Madam Fang replied.
"You go ahead. I'll wait for Dachin," Fang Yaoting said.
"Not acceptable; today we will have dinner together," Madam Fang stated, her tone firm but kind.
"Yaoting, go eat with the family. I will be heading out to the shop," Lee Dachin said, trying to avoid the awkwardness.
"Dachin, you are part of this family, so you will be sitting at that dinner table too," Madam Fang insisted, her smile warm and unwavering as she looked at Lee Dachin. "No matter what anyone else says, to me, you are family, and I accept you as my daughter-in-law, just as I accept Shuchun."