"Let's Go Home!"

Though the wall before them was unfamiliar, the patch of farmland outside it was unmistakably recognizable. As one section of the wall slowly sank into the ground to reveal a passage, Wang Kui wiped the rain from his face. Much of the exhaustion from the trek vanished in an instant, and he turned to the men behind him with a broad grin. "Let's go home!" He had never gambled in his life. He had always kept his head down and done his duty. He knew full well that he possessed no talent and had not awakened as any special kind of cultivator. For thirteen years, he had worked diligently for the Wang family. Aside from skimming a little off the top on occasion, he had never done anything out of line his entire life. It was not that he had high principles. He simply lacked the courage. Even his initial decision to invest in Chen Fan had been made with the mindset of giving it a shot. Without external pressure, it would have been difficult for him to decisively break away from the Wang family and place himself under Chen Fan's banner. But now, it seemed he might have backed the right man after all. As long as he survived this rainy season, he would be among the very first to join this faction. Securing a position as the head of the worker bees would certainly be no issue, and his future prospects would far outstrip anything he could have achieved with the Wang family. ... Roughly an hour remained before Eternal Night descended. The downpour cascaded as fog enveloped the world, and a chill surged across every corner of the wasteland like a flood. Jiangbei Chen Family Outpost No. 37. Inside the newly constructed wooden cabin. Chen Fan and the others sat cross-legged around the hearth. Each of them had changed into dry clothes, while their rain-soaked garments hung from wooden racks along the walls. Quehou was busy distributing food to everyone. Every outpost stored a fair amount of provisions. For the time being, they would not lack food. Their current supply was enough to feed the group for two or three months, consisting entirely of coarse grains. Naturally, it was not enough to last the entire winter. Still, future concerns could wait for the future. "Wang Kui." Chen Fan looked across the circle at Wang Kui. "Resources are limited right now, and the enclosed space within the wall is small. There was only enough room to erect a single cabin; the remaining space must be reserved for other structures. "Tomorrow, take some men and set up a partition inside the cabin. "Quehou and I will sleep on the left, while the rest of you will share a communal bed on the right." "Understood," Wang Kui replied, quickly rising to his feet and nodding in agreement. A faint draft crept through the gap beneath the door, bringing a brisk chill that was swiftly driven away by the waves of heat radiating from the hearth. "Sit." Chen Fan looked at the others with a calm expression, speaking in a low voice. "No one knows whether we can endure tonight. Since we have crossed paths here, consider it fate. Let's speak freely. Tell us what wishes or regrets you carry. "If any of us unfortunately falls, the survivors can help fulfill their wish once they make it through the rainy season. That way, our meeting won't have been in vain. "Wang Kui, you start." "Me...?" Sitting before the hearth, Wang Kui held his stiff, chilly hands near the flames to warm them. After pondering for a long while, he said hoarsely, "I don't really have any grand wishes. I worked thirteen years for the Wang family, and even if I don't have great achievements to show for it, I put in plenty of hard labor. "Yet I never got a promotion or a raise. "It left me feeling a bit bitter. "All I wanted was to save up some more ghost stones, find a wife, and have a chubby baby boy. Though you'd better leave that wish off your list—that's something I have to do myself. None of you can do it for me." As soon as the words left his mouth, the others could not help but chuckle, and much of the tense atmosphere dissipated. "Don't say that..." another man, who never let go of his long saber, said with a wink and a grin. "If you kick the bucket, I'll definitely have my kid take the surname Wang, just to carry on your family line!" Then his expression turned earnest as he looked toward Chen Fan. "Stationmaster. "Like Wang Kui, I was a stationmaster under the Wang family, though I haven't worked as long as him—only three years. Likewise, no promotion, no raise. But I don't bear the Wang family any grudge. "After all, there are only so many radish pits to go around. "However— "The Wang family merely gave me meals to eat. You, Stationmaster, saved my life. "My name is Zhou Mo, a Level 2 cultivator. From now on, whatever you say, I'll do!" "Zhou Mo..." Chen Fan repeated the name under his breath, his gaze lingering on the long saber cradled in the man's arms. "A saber user? As a Level 2 cultivator, the Wang family never thought to nurture you?" This was the first Level 2 cultivator he had encountered. "Ha." Zhou Mo shook his head with a touch of self-mockery. "The physical constitution of a Level 2 cultivator isn't much different from an ordinary person's—hardly stronger at all. In this world, no matter how strong a cultivator is, they can't directly fight off ghost creatures. It only grants a tiny bit more ability to preserve one's own life. "Unless you're a special cultivator, there's no point in nurturing you. "When I was young and foolish, I absorbed quite a few ghost stones, dreaming of becoming a powerful figure wandering the martial world. Later, I realized it was entirely impossible. Still, I've loved wielding a saber since childhood. Even after giving up on advancing my cultivation, practicing with the blade in my spare time helped me pick up a few tricks." Immediately after, Wang Mazi scratched the back of his head beside the hearth and began his introduction. "Stationmaster, you already know. I used to be the stationmaster of Chen Family Outpost No. 36. Before joining the Chen family, I was an itinerant peddler who loved roaming all over. My only wish is to live a bit longer and, if the chance comes, travel to farther places. "I want to see what the wider world looks like." "There will be a chance," Chen Fan said with a slight nod. Beside him, Stationmaster Qi spoke up, sounding somewhat nervous. "My name is Qi Chong. I used to be a stationmaster for the Wild Wolf Gang. I don't have any grand wishes. My elderly mother died in the jaws of ghost creatures years ago, and not even her remains were found. "When I prosper in the future, I want to build a proper cenotaph for her. "Space inside the city is limited, so establishing a cenotaph there is quite expensive." "Mm." Chen Fan gave another gentle nod. Outside, the cold wind howled and heavy rain battered the wooden cabin. The heat flowing from the hearth not only drove off the chill, but also allowed the men to gradually let go of their tension. Eternal Night drew near. As the conversation flowed, everyone grew familiar with one another. Even Quehou could not resist chiming in with a few remarks. The topics among men always circled back to the same few things. Which brothel in the city had the most captivating women. What fresh gossip had surfaced regarding the prominent families. Embarrassing mishaps from their own pasts. Though somewhat crude, such topics were often the best icebreakers. ... After getting the conversation started, Chen Fan rarely took part, merely sitting quietly beside the hearth to warm his hands. If he wanted to build a faction of his own on the wasteland, this group of men would be his very first foundation. He needed a rough sense of each person's character and capabilities. Zhou Mo, for instance, never parted with his blade and carried himself like a bladesman. He could be cultivated toward individual combat power and tasked with forming a patrol guard for the camp. Qi Chong lacked ambition, remaining cautious and dutiful, yet possessed genuine filial piety. In the future, he could be put in charge of tending the farmland. Wang Kui had a sharp mind and considerable managerial experience; he could be groomed as a second-in-command. Wang Mazi had experience as an itinerant merchant and enjoyed wandering far and wide. Down the road, he could handle the camp's trade, taking their goods to the market to trade for ghost stones. As for Quehou, he was fiercely loyal and executed tasks with utmost efficiency—naturally, he was an absolute confidant.