Trust That Answered Every Call

After everyone divided up the work and put in the effort, they finally managed to make a decent lunch.

Although the rice was a little burnt, the beef was a little charred, the vegetables were a little undercooked, and the seasonings were a little off.

For Xiao Family Disciples cooking for the first time, and out in the wilderness at that, this was already quite good. Everyone ate happily.

Of course, more importantly, the process of cooking made everyone feel as though they were preparing for a celebration together. Everyone could throw themselves into it without feeling tired in the slightest.

"It feels just like New Year."

Xiao Xun'er softly offered her assessment, and the others nodded in agreement.

When Yao Chen in the Ring heard the unfamiliar term "New Year," she thought about it for a long time without understanding what it meant, so she asked her Disciple.

(Kid Yan, what does New Year mean?)

In response to Yao Chen's question, Xiao Yan immediately explained in his heart.

(It was something this Disciple suggested to Father when I was young. At the beginning of every year, all the Clan's businesses would be suspended, and every clan member would gather together to prepare New Year supplies and arrange a feast. Only at that time did everyone not have to think about work or anything else, and could simply spend time with their families.)

As Xiao Yan spoke, he smiled faintly.

(Originally, it was only meant to strengthen the Clan's unity. I never expected everyone to like it so much. The custom has continued ever since, and we do it every year.)

After Listening to Xiao Yan's account, Yao Chen felt a surge of envy rise in her heart again.

Putting aside everything else and asking only to reunite with one's family for this one day of the year, spending it together.

How much time could one spend with one's family over the course of a year?

The day Xiao Yan had established undoubtedly allowed the Xiao Family members to know clearly, at least on this day, that they still had a home, a place where they could settle down. No matter how downtrodden they had been throughout the year, someone was still waiting for them to return home and reunite on this day.

Yao Chen completely believed that even if the Xiao Family's power was a hundred or even a thousand times smaller than that of other families on the continent, the Xiao Family was far happier than those great families.

For Xiao Yan to have been born into the Xiao Family... no, it should be said that for the Xiao Family to have produced Xiao Yan was absolutely the greatest fortune the Xiao Family had received in all these years.

From within the Ring, Gazing At the Xiao Family Disciples laughing and joking as they held their bowls, a faint sense of being Moved gradually surfaced in Yao Chen's heart.

(Kid Yan.)

(Hm?)

(You must cherish this scene before you.)

Yao Chen gave this heartfelt warning.

Memories were priceless. No amount of money could buy them back.

That was something Yao Chen had experienced firsthand.

Xiao Yan also heard the emotions Contained in Yao Chen's words. Smiling faintly, he replied.

(This Disciple understands.)

After lunch, everyone cleaned up the cooking utensils. Following a brief rest, they began their afternoon combat training.

During the combat training, Yao Chen in the Ring once again sighed at the terrifying combat strength of the Xiao Family Disciples, which was completely unmatched by their Dou Qi levels.

With this level of real combat skill, even if you sent in a Dou Master, they would not dare guarantee they could defeat this group of little girls and boys who were not even Dou Zhes.

It was simply too terrifying.

Perhaps it truly was because they had changed to a new environment, but everyone trained even more actively than before. Before they knew it, evening had arrived.

"It's time."

Xiao Yan stretched his sore arms, while everyone else wore exhausted expressions as well.

Xiao Yan waved his hand and spoke encouragingly to everyone.

"Hang in there a little longer, everyone. Let's make dinner together, and after we eat, we'll soak in the Hot Spring~"

"Yeah!!!"

The moment they heard about soaking in the Hot Spring, the exhausted crowd became energized once more and enthusiastically got to work on dinner.

With their lunchtime cooking experience, making dinner was much easier by comparison.

Everyone gathered around the campfire. In the night, the firelight illuminated each person's face, all of them brimming with cheerful smiles.

Seeing this scene, Yao Chen's heart was filled with envy.

If she were also one of those young girls and could take part in it, how wonderful would that be?

Yet now, after experiencing so much hardship, she had become too mature. Even if she returned to that age, she would no longer be able to experience joy equal to that of these children.

After the pleasant and harmonious dinner, everyone cleaned up the pots, bowls, and utensils. Xiao Yan then shed his usual maturity and energetically raised his fist high.

"Now then! Time for the Hot Spring!!!"

"Yeah, yeah, yeah!!!"

At Xiao Yan's command, the boys ignored the fact that several little girls were still nearby. Led by Xiao Ning, who took the lead, they stripped naked and jumped straight into the Hot Spring, drawing looks of disgust from the girls on the shore, led by Xiao Mei.

"These boys, honestly..."

"Xun'er, you girls go wash over there."

Xiao Yan spoke gently to Xiao Xun'er. She nodded lightly, then called the girls over to the other side of the partition.

At that moment, Xiao Yan shouted loudly enough for both sides to hear.

"Don't just focus on enjoying yourselves, everyone. We came here for intensive training this time. Even while soaking in the Hot Spring, remember to cultivate your Dou Qi!"

"Got it~~~"

The way his words were answered by everyone did not make Xiao Yan feel proud of standing above them. It merely brought a trace of warmth flowing through his heart.

The warmth brought by family was beyond comparison with any Rare Treasures. There was no doubt about it.

Xiao Yan removed his clothes, entered the Hot Spring, and began cultivating his Dou Qi. Before long, surprise rose in his heart, and he spoke to Yao Chen within.

(Elder Yao, isn't the effect of this Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid a little too remarkable?)

(Hmph~ What else did you expect?) Yao Chen snorted smugly before continuing, (Though part of the reason is that you, Kid, have a special constitution. You absorb medicinal power much faster than others, so it is only natural for the effects to be more apparent.)

(Is that so?)

Hearing Yao Chen's words, Xiao Yan frowned slightly.

Yao Chen immediately sensed it clearly: Xiao Yan had deliberately slowed his cultivation speed, and the medicinal power seeping into his body slowed significantly as well.

This Kid...

Yao Chen could not help knitting her Dark Eyebrow.

Xiao Yan had clearly done this after hearing her words, so that he would not absorb too much medicinal power and affect the others.

Even if he cared for his family, did he really need to go this far?

You prepared the supplies and found the place. Even if you took a larger share, would that not be perfectly justified?

But seeing the others around Xiao Yan laughing and playing with him, Yao Chen swallowed the rebuke she had intended to voice.

Perhaps this was precisely why the Xiao Family children trusted Xiao Yan so much.

Xiao Yan had always upheld the convictions in his heart and his Righteous Path. Whether anyone knew or anyone watched, he spared no effort in being his best self and doing what he ought to do.

He truly wanted to walk the path of his Righteous Path to the very end in this world.

At that thought, Yao Chen smiled helplessly in her heart.

No matter.

Since this was the road her Disciple had chosen, then as his teacher, she would naturally support him to the end. He was worth it.

Even if trouble arose, she would be there to cover for him.

After all, she was Yao Chen~