Rising to fame after a single battle in Chaoyang Town, the news quickly spread throughout Great Fog County. Amidst the heated discussions of the people, the Northern Barbarians who had ravaged the region never appeared in the territory of Chaoyang Town again.
After mulling it over, Chen Changsheng suppressed his impulse to break into the southwestern restricted courtyard at night and set aside his plans to break through to the Late Stage True Qi Realm. He quietly kicked back and relaxed in Chaoyang Town, living a very comfortable life.
On the early morning of March 29th, a rider galloped out from the town. Soon, two government officials arrived at the West Gate Tower, cupping their hands in a respectful greeting.
"Master Chen, Lord Li invites you over!"
He had to admit, the title sounded a bit strange.
"Thank you both!" Having no other choice but to internally grumble, Chen Changsheng nodded his thanks and flew off with a Flying Sweep.
In the center of Chaoyang Town stood the Town Magistrate’s Office. However, it had long been commandeered by County Captain Li, forcing the town magistrate to work in the adjacent building. The guards stationed around the office were all county soldiers who recognized Chen Changsheng. Seeing him touch down, they all cupped their hands in salute. As soon as he stepped into the main hall, County Captain Li stood up and walked over with a hearty laugh.
"Haha! My good nephew Changsheng, the Barbarians have all retreated to the grasslands!"
Chen Changsheng was overjoyed. Truthfully, he was desperate to return to Heifeng Stronghold, bring his children home, and quietly advance to the Late Stage True Qi Realm. Right now, he had both the money and the Blood Essence he needed. Inside the Celestial Essence Cauldron, there were even over twenty pellets of Spiritual Fertilizer.
If he broke through in Chaoyang Town, the resulting commotion would inevitably expose his true cultivation level. Going home to break through was the best strategy. Although breaking through at home meant the annoying energy fluctuations would still be sensed by the village martial artists, they were his own people. It was better than letting outsiders know. As for hiding in some remote mountain ravine to break through, he didn’t even consider it; it would be a complete disaster if a wild beast attacked him during his breakthrough.
If he wanted to break through in absolute secrecy without anyone knowing, he would have to find a special treasure or a location protected by an array in the future. Furthermore, he was eager to test the miraculous effects of the Spiritual Fertilizer on Spiritual Medicine.
Chen Changsheng immediately asked with joy, "My Lord, may I take the young men of Chen Family Village and return to Heifeng Stronghold?"
"Haha! Not only can you return to Heifeng Stronghold, but I’ve already sent someone there to deliver the news. Your clan leader has probably already led everyone back toward Chen Family Village!" County Captain Li laughed heartily. He waved his hand and continued, "I won’t hold you up any longer! In a few days, I’ll bring the bounties for you and the young men of Chen Family Village and find you there!"
Chen Changsheng cupped his hands in thanks. "My Lord, when that time comes, I will prepare a fine feast so we can drink to our hearts’ content!" The source of this chapter is novelping.com.
"Excellent! We won’t rest until we’re drunk!" County Captain Li accepted forthrightly.
Two hours later, seventy-seven people from Chen Family Village hauled a massive amount of supplies as they wound their way out of Chaoyang Town. Chen Family Village was not far from Chaoyang Town. Following the riverside path for seven miles, they arrived back at the familiar village before noon. Upon entering the village entrance, Chen Changsheng announced that the group was dismissed.
Ten days ago, after Chen Fusheng’s injuries had improved, he had already led people to successively transport the corpses of the fallen Chen Family Village members back home. The deceased had all been buried. The village wasn’t completely empty, either. As a small clan that had survived on Yuntai Mountain for seven hundred years, they always arranged for people to stand guard in shifts from Wind Fighting Ridge to Chen Family Village during every Northern Barbarian invasion.
Glancing at the long procession on the northwestern mountain ridge and then at his own tightly closed front door, Chen Changsheng decided to go fetch his children. After all, his four children were still young. They had a huge pile of bedding, clothes, rice, noodles, grain, and oil, which meant they were likely relying on others to help carry everything.
Pushing an entire handcart of supplies into the courtyard and tying his warhorse to a tree by the gate, Chen Changsheng used his Flying Sweep to hurry toward the mountain ridge. The mountain road was rugged, and the procession of over two thousand people formed a long, winding dragon.
From a distance, Chen Changsheng spotted Chen Yuyao and her three siblings. Even though they were technically just his inherited children, an urgent desire to see them suddenly welled up in his heart. However, Chen Yuyao and the other three children had come to a halt. Chen Changsheng’s heart tightened. Pushing off the ground with his toes and channeling his True Qi, he executed the Soaring Cloud Step. His figure rose into the air as he rapidly swept toward Chen Yuyao.
"Xi, can you behave for a bit? Just follow me nicely!"
"No! Big sister, I can’t walk anymore. Let third brother carry me!"
"Xi, can’t you see that the three of us are carrying things? Just be good and walk with us."
With his incredibly sharp senses, Chen Changsheng clearly saw his youngest daughter’s reluctant expression, even from over a hundred rods away. Seeing that they were in no danger, he let out an immediate sigh of relief, but then frowned. He hadn’t realized this little girl could be so unreasonable! On second thought, she was only three years old. It was perfectly normal for her to be a bit willful; he could just teach her slowly in the future.
With a few quick Flying Sweeps, Chen Changsheng rapidly arrived beside his children. He took the three heaviest bundles of provisions, hoisted his youngest daughter onto his shoulders with a smooth motion, and said with a beaming smile, "Let’s go, we’re heading home! Come see what good things Dad brought back for you all!"
He had only taken two steps when Clan Leader Chen Xuan flew over. The clan leader looked Chen Changsheng up and down before stepping forward to pat him on the shoulder, praising him. "Not bad at all, Changsheng! Good job!"
Chen Changsheng offered a reserved, modest smile before speaking to the clan leader. "Clan Leader! We did not disgrace our mission. We’ve returned!"
His words were calm and breezy. The clan leader continued, "You did very well. In all these years of being drafted for battle and corvée labor, this time we suffered the fewest casualties and gained the greatest harvest."
Then, Clan Leader Chen Xuan infused his voice with True Qi and raised his arms, shouting loudly, "The heroes of Chen Family Village have returned! Everyone, pick up the pace so we can reunite in the village sooner! Tomorrow morning, we will offer incense to mourn our fallen clansmen!" Follow the newest chapters on novelping . com.
As the crowd pressed forward, everyone began to fervently discuss the offensive and defensive battles of Chaoyang Town. They talked about which family had earned the most bounty, who received what share of the loot, and how much compensation the bereaved families were granted.
Chen Changsheng began to ask Chen Yuyao about the trivial matters of their daily lives over the past month. From the moment Chen Changsheng left Heifeng Stronghold, the four children at home had lived a life free from worries about food and clothing. Before they had even finished the horse meat at home, the clan leader had personally delivered a hundred catties of rice and over a dozen catties of pork. He had even arranged for Aunt Cuihua—Chen Shuisheng’s wife—to come over every few days to help with cooking and washing.
For the past month, the four children, especially the three older ones, had heard rumors of their father’s exploits every single day in the stronghold. They were already incredibly proud and bursting with vanity. Seeing their father acting so amiable and approachable today—completely unlike his former self, who always wore a stern face and beat them at the drop of a hat—they immediately crowded around him, relentlessly asking about the scenes where he displayed his great might.
"Dad! I heard you broke through right in the middle of a battle?" Chen Tongwu, who cared most about his father’s progress in Martial Arts, looked up with stars in his eyes as he asked.
Chen Hanwen, equally interested in the slaughter, asked with a face full of excitement, "Daddy! They said you slayed a Barbarian Martial Artist on the battlefield. Tell us, which move did you use?"
Clinging tightly to her father’s sleeve, Chen Yuyao interjected, "I know! Dad used the Third Form of the Seven Probes of the Coiling Snake, Seven Serpents Entwined!"
Chen Tongwu clapped his hands. "Wow! Dad can already use the third form! That’s so awesome!"
Releasing the fingers she had been chewing on, Chen Yuxi sat on her father’s shoulders, clapping and cheering as she asked, "Dad! We won’t have to go hungry anymore, right?"
Hearing this, Chen Yuyao’s eyes sparkled with stars as she quickly spoke up, "Right, right! I heard them say you captured a lot of gold and silver?"
Not wanting to be outdone, Chen Yuxi remembered the promise her father made when he left. "Dad! Where are the new clothes you promised me?"
Seeming to recall a certain rumor, Chen Tongwu asked tentatively, "Dad! Can I ride your warhorse?"
The mountain road wasn’t long, and Chen Changsheng walked with great joy. He watched the four children completely shed their former resistant attitudes, instead becoming incredibly affectionate with him. For some inexplicable reason, he felt that the barrier between him and the children had largely dissolved. A wave of comfort washed over his heart as he thought to himself, "This kind of family seems pretty great!"