Chapter 28: Warmth

Not long after, Tang San brought a basin of water, walking quickly to Xiao Wu's bedside and placing the basin on the ground.

Because he had been in poor health for quite a while before, his body was a bit weak now. Just fetching some water made a thin layer of sweat appear on his forehead.

"Xiao Wu, I brought the foot wash water!"

"Thank you!" Xiao Wu's voice was crisp, and she didn't even look at him.

"No problem, as long as you're happy."

Facing Tang San's affectionate gaze, she showed no reaction. For this guy who kept staring at her feet, she felt a bit disgusted.

Tang San waited by the side.

Xiao Wu's small feet slowly touched the water and suddenly withdrew.

"Hiss~ You rascal! Hey!" She glared at him angrily.

"Huh? What's wrong, Xiao Wu?" Tang San, who was absorbed in watching, was awakened.

"Why did you use cold water? What if I get sick?" Xiao Wu removed her small feet and tucked them back under the blanket.

"It's okay; if you get sick, I'll take care of you."

"Are you deliberately using cold water?" Xiao Wu frowned, looking at him coldly.

"How could that be? I... I'll go get warm water!" Tang San realized he misspoke and hurriedly tried to remedy the situation.

"Hmph, then go." Xiao Wu lay down directly, staring at the ceiling.

The second time, he brought warm water, but Xiao Wu was still dissatisfied, saying it was too hot. Moreover, when she said she wanted to do it herself, Tang San was reluctant.

"I'll go; I'll go! I'll do it!" He expressed that he also wanted to soak his feet and considered it a side task.

Without much delay, he set off again.

As he walked away, Xiao Wu's voice rang out.

"Wang Sheng!"

"Hey, Senior Sister Xiao Wu, what's the matter?" Wang Sheng smiled a bit flatteringly. After all, even his Third Brother was weak, let alone him.

"When he comes back, tell him not to bother me. I want to sleep. Also!" Xiao Wu's voice paused, looking at Wang Sheng strangely.

"Also what?" Wang Sheng was puzzled.

"Also, didn't you guys smell the odor of the latrine pit on him? Tell him to clean up when he comes back, or else don't enter Dormitory Seven! Got it?"

"Understood, understood!"

After instructing everything, Xiao Wu covered her mouth with her hand. She was indeed a bit tired. Anyway, Tang San couldn't escape, and she wanted to take her time dealing with him.

Hugging the blanket Ye Qiu bought for her, she slowly closed her eyes.

Tang San was clever this time. When he came back, he brought both cold and hot water, allowing him to adjust the temperature freely.

Unfortunately, Xiao Wu had already fallen asleep.

After learning about her instructions before sleep, Tang San didn't resist. After all, the scene when he went to the teacher's compartment in the evening made it difficult for him to know how to argue.

Xiao Wu asked him to clean up, which was also a form of concern. Right?

On this day, Tang San slept late but was happy. However, little did he know that this was just the first night!

...

At this time, with the help of the Ironhoof Horse, Ye Qiu had already arrived at the entrance of the Biyou Village.

Dismounting, his martial soul appeared, and the Ironhoof Horse entered the vortex and disappeared from sight.

Looking at the familiar village entrance, Ye Qiu didn't delay much. He walked and looked, not realizing that he had left here for almost three years.

The stone house located at the end of the village was not as dilapidated as Ye Qiu had imagined. Perhaps Village Chief Zhang often came to take care of it.

Under the peach tree nearby, he stopped for a long time before opening the door and walking in.

There wasn't much dust inside, and the layout was no different from when he left. The wooden horse he made for Xiao Wu was still in its original place.

Taking out a blanket from the Divine Might Dimention space, he placed it on the bed, making do for the night.

"Sigh, Old Ye, I've come to see you again. I wonder how your grandson is doing in Nouding City."

In the early morning, Ye Qiu was awakened by the old voice outside. It was Zhang Lao's voice.

Crack! Opening the somewhat old and unrepaired wooden door, Ye Qiu saw Zhang Lao outside.

He was sitting cross-legged under the peach tree, drinking his own brewed fruit wine, taking a sip and spitting it out.

"Zhang Grandpa!" Ye Qiu called out.

"Huh? Old Ye, did you hear your brat's voice? Could it be that I'm drunk?" Zhang Lao looked at the wine bottle in his hand. Although he hadn't drunk for a long time, this mere fruit wine shouldn't be enough to get him drunk.

"Zhang Grandpa, you're not drunk! I've really come back."

Ye Qiu stood with his hands crossed in front of his chest, leaning against the door frame, looking at the seated Old Zhang with a smiling expression.

"Hey!" Old Zhang turned around, rubbing his eyes vigorously. He even forgot to pick up his crutch from the ground, stumbling toward Ye Qiu.

"Ye Qiu, my boy, you really came back?!"

"Of course, it's true!" Ye Qiu walked over, extending his hand to support Old Zhang.

"Haha. You've grown taller, huh? And you look much more handsome." Old Zhang pinched his arm and shoulder, scrutinizing him.

Unfortunately, before the praising words could continue, blame followed, "Speaking of which, when did you come back? And you didn't even enter my house. Are you afraid that this old man too humble for you?"

"Grandpa Zhang, why do you still like saying such things? I arrived in the middle of the night, how can I disturb you all?"

Ye Qiu sweated on his forehead. After letting him stand firm, he walked to the side, bent over to pick up the fallen crutch, and stuffed it back into Old Zhang's hand.

"Alright, let's say you passed." Pulling his own grizzled beard, Zhang said.

Ignoring Ye Qiu's disdainful look, he pulled him, heading toward the house, "How about having breakfast at my place now? I'll prepare something good for you."

"Of course, that's fine!" Ye Qiu patted his stomach. He hadn't eaten last night's dinner, and he was indeed hungry.

"You first pay your respects to Old Ye. I'll go back and inform your auntie."

"Sure, be careful, walk slowly."

Watching the old man with his crutch slowly move away, Ye Qiu couldn't help but smile. Everything was still so familiar—the taste of home!

After finding a few incense sticks from the stone house,

Taking over the spot where Old Zhang had originally sat, Ye Qiu knelt there, raising the incense above his head. With each kowtow, another incense stick was inserted.

Afterward, leaning against the old peach tree, he softly recounted his experiences over the past few years:

"Grandpa! In these few years, I...

"I met a girl, very cute and clever.

"I met the Jerry couple, they were very kind and gentle.

"I encountered the Tang father and son, very dangerous, but I handled them safely.

"I became a soul master, weak at first, but I am growing stronger."

Ye Qiu spoke a lot, and quite some time had passed. Rising, he walked toward the village chief's house.

Both Old Zhang and the auntie were very welcoming. Although it was breakfast, it was extremely rich.

Of course, it would it even better with braised rabbit meat.

"Xiao Qiu, you child, come, eat more meat. Look at your skinny arms and legs," Aunt Zhang was somewhat enthusiastic, picking up the most delicious rabbit leg and placing it in his bowl.

Ye Qiu smiled politely and didn't refuse.

"Hehe." Old Zhang also chuckled.

"Speaking of which, it's quite a coincidence. Today is the day, nine years ago, when Old Ye found you. Your auntie knew about it, so she specially had the rabbit we just bought yesterday slaughtered, considering it a belated birthday for you."

"Thank you, Auntie." Ye Qiu's eyes were slightly moist. These so-called common people of the mainland made him feel the warmth of home.

"Dad! Why talk so much? Drink your wine."

...

(End of this chapter)