Chapter 368 - 272: Returning Home

Chapter 368: Chapter 272: Returning Home

In the face of absolute power, the weak have no room to bargain.

Several leaders who appeared to be Martial Artists were exceptionally worried.

They were the smallest of the small factions.

Their villages or camps had only a thousand people or so.

’Young Master Tang is so powerful. Will he really, as promised, treat us and the ordinary people in our camps well?’

They didn’t have a shred of confidence.

’If it were us, if we had such power and could crush the other camps, the first thing we’d do is conquer them! Ruthlessly! The vanquished would become our slaves, guaranteeing our own people would survive the winter safely.’

On the surface, the eleven factions appeared to be in harmony.

In reality, they were internally divided into three Levels.

Factions with two or more Extraordinary members were in the top tier.

Those with one Extraordinary member were in the middle tier.

And the factions with no Extraordinary members did the hardest, most grueling work, yet received the fewest resources!

Tang Wen saw their worry but paid them no mind. More words would be pointless; they would understand in time. ’For them, this is nothing less than the favor of fate.’

As for Tang Wen, it was a trivial matter, not even worth calling an interlude.

The next day, General Zhao and his men remained behind to guard Five Families City.

Tang Wen and Hu Qi returned to Flame Camp.

"Sis! I’m back!"

As evening fell, the wooden door let out a CREAK and was pushed open from the outside.

Colorful clothes were hanging to dry in the courtyard, frozen solid in the low winter temperatures.

The gray brick ground was neat and tidy, swept clean of any dust.

The door to the main hall opened, and two figures—one large, one small—rushed out.

"Young Master, you’re back?!" The woman’s voice was filled with pleasant surprise.

"Yay! It’s Big Brother!" the girl’s voice chimed like silver bells.

It was the mother and daughter, Cui Lian and Taotao.

Tang Wen recognized them.

He hadn’t seen them for many days. The young woman, Cui Lian, had eyes full of joy, yet she remained reserved. She ran halfway to him before slowing down, wringing a handkerchief in her hands, unsure of what to do with them. She wanted to embrace him but didn’t dare.

Little Taotao, however, rushed straight toward him, her two small pigtails swaying.

"Little Taotao, you’ve gotten so big!"

He rummaged through his Void Stone, pulling out chestnuts, walnut pastries, and other snacks to press into the bright-eyed little girl’s hands.

The disappointment of not seeing his sister right away lifted, and his mood brightened.

"You must be tired from your journey, Young Master. Please, get some rest! Taotao, get down now."

He could tell that Cui Lian had been doing well this past year.

Her originally slender, sharp-chinned face had become a fuller oval.

Her skin was rosy and her figure graceful. Though she was young enough to be a girl, she possessed the allure of a young woman.

Tang Wen walked inside, holding Taotao.

Cui Lian chattered beside him, "Young Master, are you hungry? I’ll make you some tea first! The tea leaves are from General Zhao. Oh, wait, that’s not right—I should call the Young Miss and Lady Zhou Bing back!"

Gesticulating excitedly, she started to head out.

Tang Wen stopped her. "When do they usually get back?"

"Well, Xiaoliu and Peach Blossoms went to sell meat buns. They should be back soon."

"Miss Tangtang and Lady Zhou Bing are on duty at the Guard Battalion. They’ll probably be a bit later."

"As long as they’re back tonight, it’s fine. There’s no rush."

In the bedroom, everything was arranged just as it had been.

A gray, coarse-cloth sheet was spread on the bed, topped with a quilt and pillow.

Tang Wen was surprised to see this.

’I haven’t lived here in so long. The bed should have been put away.’

Cui Lian picked up a feather duster and, while sweeping away nonexistent dust, said, "The Young Miss was afraid you might return unexpectedly and have nowhere to sleep. She cleans your room every day and changes the sheets and quilt often."

CRUNCH, CRUNCH. Little Taotao ate happily.

This seemed to open the floodgates for Cui Lian, who began to recount everything that had happened at home since Tang Wen left.

Peach Blossoms and Xiaoliu returned and were thrilled to see Tang Wen.

Finally, a familiar set of footsteps sounded.

Tang Wen shot to his feet, accidentally knocking over his stool with his leg.

A familiar voice drifted in. "Who’s in the east room? Xiaoliu? You’re a Martial Artist now, how can you still be so clumsy..."

The footsteps drew closer.