But even though Linda was reluctant, the time to part had come.
Liam and Cindy accompanied Linda for three days and were set to return on a ship on the morning of the fourth day.
Linda tearfully bid them farewell, "Dad, Mom, you must come pick me up soon," she said with anticipation.
"Good girl, don't worry. When things get better in our country, Dad and Mom will come get you right away," Cindy promised, embracing her daughter and patting her on the back.
"Uh-huh, Dad and Mom, you should be careful and take care of yourselves," Linda obediently advised.
She knew her parents had returned to attend to some matters, and she understood it could be very dangerous. She couldn't bear to worry them, so she silently wiped away her tears.
Liam touched his daughter's head and said, "Don't worry; you should also be careful and take care of yourself while you're alone in Britain."
"If anything happens, you can talk to your uncle and aunt. Get along with Petunia and Lily. I will invite Grandmaster Jiu to see you in two years."
Grandmaster Jiu's surname was also Lin. In terms of seniority, he was Liam's great-uncle. When Liam first arrived in New York, he met this senior, who recognized Liam's solid foundation and taught him a few moves.
This senior was extremely skilled in ghost hunting and geomancy, arguably one of the best in the field. However, he was now old and retired, residing in New York, and it was not easy for him to go out.
Travel between New York and Britain was quite easy, so Liam specifically asked Grandmaster Jiu to come and teach Linda for two months during the summer vacation two years later and give her some basic cultivation knowledge.
Linda nodded, indicating that she would obey.
Even though her heart was filled with reluctance, she understood that her parents had valid reasons for separating and that they had to part ways.
Liam was still uneasy about Linda being alone in Britain. He patted the small cloth bag in his hand and then handed it to Linda.
"There are some talismans among them, all of which you recognize. You must use them carefully and be careful not to be noticed by others.
But if someone really bullies you, use them bravely; don't be afraid."
Linda took the small bag, and the anxiety in her heart eased a little.
She took a deep breath and tried to make herself look stronger.
She believed that even though the future was full of unknowns, there would always be a way to solve problems as long as one faced them bravely.
No matter how reluctant she was, it was time to board the ship.
Cindy carefully gave a few more instructions to Mr. and Mrs. Evans. She held back her tears and smiled as she bid them farewell.
Then she suppressed the reluctance in her heart and hugged Linda one last time.
Under her daughter's reluctant gaze, Cindy and her husband boarded the ship and returned to their hometown.
They stood on deck, filled with emotion, gazing at the receding coastline.
This separation was both a form of growth and a challenge for them.
And throughout Linda's journey, she would face a new life and challenges alone.
Mr. and Mrs. Evans were very good relatives. They knew that Linda was very sad after leaving her family.
So they began to comfort her, often speaking to her in a soft voice and telling her interesting stories to ease her longing.
William even obtained special permission to take his family and Linda on a trip for a few days.
Gradually, Linda also began to integrate into this family and became familiar with everything in Britain, even the changeable weather conditions.
However, Linda never fully adapted to British cuisine.
It turned out that the food they ate when they first arrived was already the best English food; the rest was... really hard to describe.
For example... have you ever seen fish and chips drizzled with vinegar? That taste that makes your face turn sour with one bite.
Linda found this really hard to accept.
And the desserts were really sweet. It was like they had been spiked with a lethal amount of sugar.
But there was still powdered sugar on the table next to it. Who would add more sugar?
Linda had difficulty with spoken English as well as food.
Her language skills were truly terrible.
Luckily, Petunia and Lily were there and could understand her broken English, which prevented her from becoming completely helpless.
Speaking of Petunia and Lily, their relationship actually improved thanks to Linda's presence.
Petunia loved to teach others, especially her little sister, but Lily was not fond of being taught.
Petunia couldn't understand why she complained so much at such a young age and sometimes continued without getting tired.
As a result, there were often unpleasant moments between the two.
However, with Linda's presence, Petunia's attention was drawn to her, and Linda became the subject of her lessons.
Lily became an observer, which somewhat reduced the tension between them.
Petunia would explain everything about Britain to Linda, help her with her clothing, correct her spoken English, teach her spelling rules, and dedicate herself to raising Linda as a refined English lady.
Lily sometimes joined in with Petunia to support them.
After all, you don't get the chance to be a big sister every day, so you have to make good use of your "power."
Fortunately, Linda had a very soft personality and accepted these things willingly without showing any resistance.
A few weeks passed, and the three began to get along more harmoniously.
Linda still needed to continue her education in Britain, but since she had accumulated a certain amount of knowledge while in the States, primary school education in England was not difficult for her.
However, William was concerned that she might not be accustomed to the cultural differences, so he arranged for her to attend school with Lily as her classmate.
The English primary school system lasts seven years; children typically start school at four years old and graduate at eleven.
Both Linda and Lily were ten years old and in the 7th grade, while Petunia had already graduated and started middle school, making it impossible for them to go to school together for a long time, which she regretted.
As November slowly approached, the weather had turned cold, with average temperatures ranging from 4°C to 10°C.
Flora had prepared the family's winter clothes in advance, ensuring that everyone would be warm enough.
That day was Sunday, and the weather was still quite clear. Lily excitedly invited Linda to her secret base.
Here, in the middle of this peaceful land, there was a clear pond as green as jade.
The water was calm, reflecting the surrounding mountains and trees like a beautiful painting.
And at the water's edge, there was a very large and ancient tree.
The trunk of this ancient tree was as thick as a giant's arm, and its bark was rough and sturdy. It had no leaves, only bare branches, which gave it a sense of age.
Linda stood by the pond, quietly looking at the surface. The vast meadows, clear blue sky, and distant mountains were reflected in the water, creating a stunning view.
Suddenly, a faint rustling sound was heard, and a figure emerged from behind the ancient tree, startling Linda.
Linda looked up, her gaze fixed on the giant ancient tree.
From the hollow of the tree, a figure slowly emerged, and Linda's heart trembled with fear.
She thought the ancient tree had come to life.
It turned out to be a boy.