"Who to train with?"

Not hiding anything, Li Yunxi said, "The ones who killed my brother were from the Gao Feng exploration team. I found out that after that incident, most of them perished, with only one survivor. That team disbanded, and many joined the Jifeng exploration team. I..."

As Li Yunxi treated her wounds, she lowered her voice, "I know it was probably Zhou Brother and his team who avenged me. But the hatred inside me remains, so I took matters into my own hands."

"You went alone? That's very risky. What if you encountered an entire team? Isn’t the leader of the Jifeng exploration team Zhang Dingshan? You can't beat him."

"Don't worry, I wasn’t rash. I had someone secretly investigate each of them. I targeted them when they were alone. They have a dark history of robbing and killing. Each one of them has several lives on their hands. I didn't hold back."

Miao Miao wouldn't naturally feel sympathy for such a person. Her main concern was for Li Yunxi, whose martial arts skills were still not top-notch. A single misstep might lead to serious trouble. Not everyone at the base could commit a crime and walk away unscathed like their leader.

"Have you avenged them?"

"Only one left," said Li Yunxi with great cheer.

Miao Miao warned her to be cautious and didn't say much more. If Li Yunxi bore such a grudge, it was up to her to seek revenge. Miao Miao understood the pain of witnessing the death of a loved one, so she comforted Li Yunxi briefly before leaving her alone.

Li Yunxi took a shower. When she turned on her computer, a list appeared. Only the name "Song Jin'an" remained highlighted in red; the others were greyed out. She whispered to herself, "Brother, it won't be long now. They will pay. How I wish you were still with me."

Zhou You and Shao Qi headed straight to the largest supermarket in Yang City. One read out the list while the other picked items. Their cooperation was seamless, and they quickly gathered all they needed.

Though the warehouse was stocked with food and meat, they still chose and stocked up on their favorite dishes, as well as brand-new household items. They didn't have time to renovate the house, but they wanted everything inside to be new.

"With this cold weather, we should have a hotpot around the stove for the New Year," Shao Qi said, adding a fully-equipped hotpot to the cart.

"Eating hotpot is best with a crowd. How about we have an early reunion dinner with everyone before leaving?"

"Sounds good! I've missed your cooking," Shao Qi remembered being enticed by Zhou You's culinary skills in the past.

"That's easy. We'll get more vegetables and meat then." They returned with a massive haul, making others wonder if they were preparing to retreat into a paradise for a lifetime. Surely, they wouldn't need this much for just the New Year?

After getting the food and essentials, Zhou You and Shao Qi visited several stores, buying everyone lavish gifts. The presents were both expensive and exquisite, perfect for the festive atmosphere.

"Do you really think that massage chair is suitable for Brother Su? He looks perfectly healthy to me," Zhou You commented, seeing a large package being loaded.

"He had some serious injuries in the past. Even though martial arts strengthened him considerably, he still has some lingering issues. He'll find the massage chair very useful."

"That chair indeed is comfortable," Zhou You commented offhandedly. Shao Qi's eyebrow twitched in response, and he quietly ordered another one, envisioning relaxing moments at the ranch, enjoying the view and the company.

Shao Qi also sent gifts to Zhou You's family in his name, customary gifts from a son-in-law to his wife's family. Unfortunately, Zhou Hua Jin wasn't pleased upon receiving them. Her original plan of visiting with Zhou You for the New Year was dashed, and she held a grudge against Shao Qi.

"We still have three days till the New Year. Come back on the 29th for dinner, and bring the others. The more, the merrier," Zhou Hua Jin said coldly to Zhou You, ignoring Shao Qi.

The fact that Zhou You and Shao Qi arrived together to give New Year's gifts was a clear indication of their relationship's depth.

"No, we won't be celebrating the New Year in the city. We're heading out," Zhou You evasively replied, not willing to divulge the secret location of their retreat.

"Going out? Are you two mad? What could possibly be better outside?"

Zhou You calmly replied, "Good food, comfortable lodging, and freedom. Sounds good to me."

Mrs. Zhou, feigning concern, added, "It's going to snow soon. Everyone's busy stocking up. Why would you want to leave the city now, especially when you're not even returning for the New Year?"

Today, Mrs. Zhou was in good spirits. She thought having a stepson marry a man would be less troublesome than welcoming a daughter-in-law. She hoped they would celebrate the New Year together, but it seemed she was mistaken.

"We'll be gone for just a few days and will return after the New Year."

Zhou Hua Jin, no longer worried about their safety after the recent events, was still miffed at the idea of them leaving for the New Year. She tersely said, "Now that you're family, we should at least have a reunion dinner together."

Zhou You remarked nonchalantly, "There will be plenty of opportunities in the future. This New Year, I'd rather dine alone with my loved one. I imagine you all feel the same."

What Zhou You meant was that he didn't want to intrude on their family gathering. Everyone knew that their interactions weren't always joyous. While Zhou Yi Chen has warmed up to him significantly, Lady Zhou hasn't quite let go of her reservations.

Zhou You had reservations of his own. He has never been particularly close to Zhou Hua Jin. The disputes of the past may be forgiven, but once affections fade, they're hard to rekindle.

Chapter 156: The Storm Approaches

After leaving the Zhou residence, Zhou You and his companion set off for Litchi Mansion. The bridge that had been blown up that night was under repair. This river, an inland waterway of Yang City, carried the domestic water supply. It wasn't wide or deep, but the timing of the explosion had been impeccable, ensuring the Zhu family's heavy weaponry was left behind, thus preventing further losses.