LAVW – Chapter 11 Running Away from Home

Long Ye threw a fierce punch, but the fire in his heart didn’t subside much.

Because the one who provoked him wasn’t just Long Ming, but the entire environment surrounding him. Everything—everything—stood against him.

But how could he fight against it all?

A sense of powerlessness wrapped around the young man.

The broken engagement—it was undoubtedly Long Xing who used his grandfather’s name to accept it on his behalf. As long as there was a benefit, Long Xing wouldn’t hesitate to sell even Long Chengyang, let alone Long Ye, whom he despised.

Li Qingxi… He couldn’t even get a chance to see her.

And in this vast Long family, he had no power to change anything—now, he was even trapped in the ancestral hall.

Long Ye slowly retracted his fists, calming his emotions, and thought about what to do next after punching someone.

Shi Qian, on the other hand, was much more straightforward.

You’ve already beaten someone up—if you don’t run now, when will you?

The Long family was a filthy place—fairness was non-existent, and no one would protect Long Ye. Running away was the best solution!

Shi Qian stretched out his tiny paws and pointed toward the sky outside the ancestral hall.

“Squeak Squeak!”

Brother, the world out there is so big—don’t you want to see it?

Long Ye followed his gaze. The vast blue sky filled his vision, and in that instant, the light seemed to shine brighter, and the world suddenly transformed.

Yes—he could still leave!

For the past few years, while enduring life at home, Long Ye had thought about running away countless times.

He wanted to travel far, to search for the person he was meant to find.

But he had been too weak, too young, and with his engagement to the Li family, he had no choice but to stay.

But now? Staying home was even more unbearable—there was nothing holding him back anymore.

Might as well leave.

With a bold and determined spirit, Long Ye wiped his slightly damp face—and immediately winced in pain, baring his teeth.

“Squeak—Squeak Squeak Squeak!”

A certain mouse couldn’t hold back and burst into laughter.

Long Ye shot him a glare, then swiftly gagged Long Ming. With no tools on hand, he simply stripped off Long Ming’s pants and used them to tie him up tightly.

He couldn’t let Long Ming make a sound or cause any commotion that might attract people.

After tying him up, Long Ye looked at Long Ming’s fearful expression and sneered, “So you’re afraid of me too, huh?”

After enduring Long Ming’s disgusting behavior so many times, Long Ye felt that it was already impressive that he had held back from beating him up earlier.

But as he recalled everything Long Ming had done in the past, Long Ye threw in two more punches.

BANG! THUD!

“That should help you remember.”

After finishing the beating, Long Ye tossed Long Ming onto a nearby prayer cushion.

When he looked up again—Shi Qian was nowhere to be seen.

Instead, he was standing on the ancestral altar, holding a piece of pastry in his tiny paws, waving at Long Ye.

“Squeak Squeak!”

Over here! I’m here!

Watching the tiny creature struggle to hold a pastry as big as his own head, Long Ye’s first thought was that it was kind of impressive.

Then he remembered—Shi Qian was a Foundation Establishment-level spirit beast—and suddenly, he didn’t know how to feel about it anymore.

The offering table, originally filled with fruit, pastries, and animal sacrifices, now looked like it had been looted—all the tastiest offerings were gone.

And how did Long Ye know which ones tasted the best?

Because he used to sneak some when he was a kid, of course.

With large strides, he grabbed the mischievous little beast, stuffed him into his coat, and turned to leave the main hall of the ancestral Ancestral Hall.

Once outside, taking a left turn would lead straight to the main entrance of the hall.

It was said that this layout was built according to the instructions of their ancestors.

Right now, Long Ye couldn’t be more grateful for his old ancestors—because it made escaping much easier.

No need to use the gate—just climb over the walls.

Four walls later—he was out of the Long family compound.

Brushing the dust off his clothes, he walked away without looking back.

The only regret he had was the few spirit stones left behind in his room.

Thinking about the little bit of savings he had, Long Ye felt a pang of heartache.

Meanwhile, Back at the Ancestral Hall…

The messenger who had been sent to deliver news to the ancestral Ancestral Hall arrived shortly after.

But by the time they got there, wanting to tell Long Ye about his grandfather’s dream of his father, all they saw was:

• A chaotic offering table.
• And a tied-up human dumpling—Long Ming.

Long Ming’s eyes lit up with hope when he saw the newcomers.

“Mmm! Mmm! Mmm-mmm!”

“Save me! Save me!”

His legs were shaking uncontrollably—not just from the cold, but also from shame and anger.

The moment Long Ming got his pants back on, he turned to Long Xing and the clan leader, eager to complain.

“It was Long Ye! He beat me up!”

But before he could continue, Long Xing—who had been smiling at him just moments ago—now had a face like he was ready to eat someone alive.

“And why do you think Long Ye hit you? You idiot, what the hell were you doing in the ancestral Ancestral Hall?”

His voice turned even colder—”Did you tell him about the broken engagement with the Li family?”

Long Ming didn’t dare answer, but his ugly expression had already given away the truth.

He had been called an idiot, and, well—he had definitely said it.

In an instant, Long Xing kicked him to the ground in anger.

And then it hit him—the one who had let Long Ming wander around freely in the first place… was himself.

“Quick, have someone secretly go find Long Ye!”

“Have someone keep watch at the places Long Ye often goes.”

“Be careful around the Li family’s vicinity! Have someone keep an eye on it!”

“It’s almost dark, let’s look for inns and places to stay in the town.”

If Shi Qian had heard this, he would have laughed to death.

Long Ye was dirt poor, how could he afford to stay in an inn? The guy had taken him to stay in a wild temple.

And it was a Guanyin Temple.

The temple was old, who knew how many years it had been there, with its red and green paint mostly chipped away, showing the merciless passage of time.

However, there was still the lingering scent of incense at the temple entrance, indicating that there were probably still some worshippers. It was likely due to its not being too far out of the way, with a few scattered residents around.

As dusk fell, there was smoke from cooking fires everywhere, along with the voices of people calling their children home for dinner.

Long Ye sat on the threshold of the Guanyin Temple, with Shi Qian sitting beside him in the same posture, but his legs were so short that his feet didn’t reach the ground.

Shi Qian: “Squeak Squeak.”

Why isn’t anyone calling me home for dinner?

Though he had just eaten and hadn’t stopped, it didn’t stop Shi Qian from liking that feeling of being called home for dinner.

It made him miss his mouse mom a bit.

And he kind of missed his milk bowl and feather nest, which he hadn’t brought along when he left.

Long Ye was the one who was hungry. He hadn’t had a chance to eat before leaving for the Li family’s place, and he hadn’t had any opportunity to eat afterward either.

“Gurgle—”

The sound of hunger came from his stomach.

Shi Qian instinctively reached for his own belly when he heard it.

So soft, so full.

Wait, he wasn’t the hungry one now, he was just a cute little mouse.

So the one who was hungry must be obvious.

It was our poor rookie village hero, Aotian, who was a disgrace to all the dragon Aotians out there.

Shi Qian generously pulled out his storage necklace, grabbed some pastries, and handed them to Long Ye: “Squeak!”

Eat! Don’t be polite with me, bro.

Just remember the kindness of Qian Ge.

Shi Qian was feeding pastries to the runaway boy from the Long family, using snacks that came from the Long family’s ancestral hall.

Long Ye could never have imagined that a spirit beast, known for its greed, could have such benefits, actually feeding him in return.

But someone like him, raising a spirit beast without worrying about expenses and instead being fed by it, was probably a first.

Long Ye ate the pastries and began thinking about how to get some spirit stones.

He couldn’t really eat a spirit beast, could he?

As he was thinking, he heard two voices not far from the temple, calling children home for dinner, growing louder and louder.

After a while with no response, the parents started to get anxious. But before they could pull out their sticks, distant voices responded.

“Ah! We’re coming, we’re coming!”

“Mom! I’ll be in the house in a minute, just a minute!”

Two kids, about the same age, ran down from the small hill beside them, sweating all over their faces.

They quickly passed in front of the Guanyin Temple, not noticing the extra people, Long Ye and Shi Qian, sitting there.

At the doorstep, the two children exchanged a glance.

“See you tomorrow, my defeated subordinate!”

“Tomorrow, I will definitely beat you! I’ll knock you down to Qi Refining Stage Level One!”

Then, two large hands grabbed them separately, dragging them home, and wailing cries echoed from both courtyards.

Shi Qian: “Squeak.”

Almost got tricked.

He had thought this so-called “Old Ancestor” was at least at the Golden Core Stage. Shi Qian really didn’t want to encounter another Golden Core cultivator—he had trauma from that.

Long Ye, on the other hand, listened to the cries and momentarily fell into a daze.

He sighed. “I don’t actually hate him. It’s just… people can change so much. I never would have imagined that he would become like this—nothing like the playmate I remember.”

Shi Qian knew he was talking about Long Ming.

Such a bleak and lonely setting was indeed fitting for some heartfelt reflection.

Shi Qian quietly listened to the young man speak.

“Do all people change? She did too.”

“But it makes sense that she looks down on me. I’m just a lone boy with no real skills—not exactly an ideal match.”

At eighteen, members of the Long family could choose to work for the clan and receive a stipend. With that, they could live an ordinary, uneventful life.

Long Ye hung his head, so lost in thought that he didn’t even notice his hunger.

Shi Qian, however, didn’t like hearing this.

He stuffed another piece of pastry into Long Ye’s hands and began ranting: “Squeak Squeak Squeak!”

You’re too young and naive! They’re just using you!

They make you give everything, and then when a good opportunity comes, they kick you out and take all the benefits for themselves!

Shi Qian felt like his words were absolute wisdom—logical, well-argued, and even quotable.

Unfortunately, Long Ye didn’t understand a word.

He looked at the little spirit beast that seemed to be fuming on his behalf and casually ruffled Shi Qian from head to tail with one hand.

Long Ye smiled and said, “Yeah, but at least I still have Xiao Qian.”

Shi Qian: ?

What do you mean, “at least you still have me”?!

It’s like arguing with a wall! This is infuriating!

I have to make sure you understand me today!!

While Shi Qian was still contemplating how to form a contract, Long Ye, feeling a little better after eating a few pastries, picked up the little spirit beast and went inside the Guanyin Temple to prepare a place to sleep.

Shi Qian crouched to the side, watching Long Ye busily moving around, grinding his teeth slightly.

Once Long Ye got a fire going, Shi Qian suddenly remembered the fat pigeon that Brother Mouse had prepared. He pulled it out and handed it to Long Ye to roast.

Long Ye sighed at the lack of seasoning, but Shi Qian skillfully pulled out a salt jar.

Long Ye: ?

“Xiao Qian, how did you even manage to bring a salt jar with you?”

Shi Qian, recalling that he had pretty much tricked Long Ye into coming along, puffed out his chest and Squeaked, “Squeak!”

Obviously, it was to help you replenish your salt! Definitely not just to make the roast meat taste better.

Too bad there wasn’t enough space for the oil jar.

Shi Qian sighed regretfully, then dug out a set of clothes and Long Ye’s pitifully few spirit stones.

Long Ye: …

Long Ye suspected that Xiao Qian had planned this all along.

And he had proof.

Who else would bring a whole salt jar when leaving home if it wasn’t premeditated?

But now that all his food and clothing were provided by a spirit beast, what right did he have to complain?

Long Ye obediently played the role of the barbecue cook.

The two roasted pigeons had crispy, golden skin. Though they weren’t heavily seasoned, the meat itself was naturally delicious.

Shi Qian devoured two drumsticks, puffing up into a round little ball.

Seeing this, Long Ye couldn’t help but worry. “Are you sure you’re not eating too much?”

Those two drumsticks together were bigger than Shi Qian himself.

Shi Qian let out a burp that smelled like roasted pigeon leg—”Burp—”—and calmly shook his head.

He was a demon beast. Weak, yes, but still had a huge appetite.

Long Ye was still uneasy. He picked Shi Qian up and gently rubbed his belly, almost making him fall asleep.

Luckily, Shi Qian remembered his real goal. Taking advantage of the moment, he grabbed Long Ye’s finger and bit down hard.

“Hiss—” A drop of blood welled up at Long Ye’s fingertip. He gasped in shock. “Did you have a dream about food again?”

Shi Qian: “Squeak Squeak!”

Stay still.

Shi Qian then used his claw to scratch open his own tiny paw, squeezing out a drop of blood and pressing it against Long Ye’s wounded fingertip.

As their blood mingled, Shi Qian silently chanted the demon beast contract incantation.

A golden light radiated from Shi Qian’s paw, momentarily illuminating the Guanyin Temple. At the same time, half of his spiritual energy was drained away, causing his already weak aura to weaken further.

In contrast, the low-level Long Ye gained an immense benefit.

The bottleneck that had been blocking his cultivation suddenly loosened, and his spiritual energy surged forward.

Well, it wasn’t that much of an increase—just from Qi Refining Stage Level 5 to Level 8.

The weak little Shi Qian looked at this freshly upgraded Qi Refining Stage Level 8 newbie and gave his verdict:

“Squeak Squeak.”

Two weaklings.

This was the first sentence Long Ye ever understood from him.

Even in his excitement over his sudden advancement, Long Ye forced himself to think seriously about how to respond.

After a moment, he earnestly asked, “Xiao Qian, what does ‘weakling’ mean?”

Shi Qian: …

You know, sometimes a language barrier is actually a good thing, right?