That evening, Ning Chen had a feast laid out.

Ning Xing and Ning Mao came back too.

The two of them bowed, then stood in front of Ning Chen, ill at ease.

Ning Chen kept petting Lone Stride as he looked them over. "It's a family dinner tonight. No need to be stiff.

Speaking of which, you're both getting on in years. Isn't it time you got married? Don't go 'once bitten, twice shy' on me. Song Xiaoshuang was a fluke."

Ning Mao looked deeply ashamed.

He'd taken up with Song Xiaoshuang and nearly gotten Ning Chen killed.

Ning Chen hadn't blamed him, but it had left him badly scarred. Now, whenever he met a woman he liked, he didn't dare go near her.

Seeing how nervous the two of them were, Ning Chen turned to Gu Yichun. "Is Old Pan back?"

Earlier he'd sent Pan Yucheng to the Ghost-Shadow Sect to borrow some of its best fighters to come with them to Bianzhou.

Gu Yichun bowed. "He's back. I saw him just now... He brought a group of people with him. He's probably finding them somewhere to stay."

Ning Chen grunted. "Is the feast ready?"

"Yes, my lord prince, all ready!"

"Send someone for Old Pan. We'll talk while we eat."

"Yes!"

At the table were Xiaoxing, Chai Dazhuang and Uncle Chai's grandson, little Xiaohu.

Since they had to set out at dawn, the dinner broke up early.

The next day, Ning Chen was up at first light.

He washed, then ate the breakfast Xiao Yanxi had had made for him well ahead of time.

He packed a few things and stepped outside, and a shiver ran through him.

It was freezing!

By the look of it, it would snow within ten days.

The snow seemed to be coming late this year.

The cold wind woke him right up.

Chai Dazhuang and Gu Yichun had been waiting outside the door since before dawn. When they saw Ning Chen come out, they hurried over to bow.

Ning Chen asked, "Where are Old Pan and Old Feng?"

"They're waiting for my…