Warmth

Before long, Tang San returned carrying a basin of water. He hurried to Xiao Wu's bedside and set it on the floor.

Having been worked up for so long earlier, his body was somewhat weak. Just fetching some water had already brought a thin layer of cold sweat to his forehead.

"Xiao Wu, I brought back the foot-washing water!"

"Thanks!" Xiao Wu's voice was crisp, but she did not even glance at him.

"It's nothing. As long as you're happy."

Faced with Tang San's tender gaze, she showed no reaction at all. If anything, the thought of this bastard staring at her feet made her feel a little sick.

Tang San waited at her side.

Xiao Wu's little feet slowly touched the water's surface before abruptly pulling away.

"Hiss—You bastard! Hey!" She glared at him furiously.

"Huh? What is it, Xiao Wu?" Tang San, who had been staring in fascination, was jolted awake by her shout.

"Why did you bring cold water? What if I get sick?" Xiao Wu withdrew her feet and tucked them back beneath the blanket.

"It's fine. If you get sick, I'll take care of you."

"So you deliberately brought cold water?" Xiao Wu frowned and looked at him coldly.

"How could that be? I-I'll go fetch more right away!" Tang San knew he had misspoken and hurriedly tried to make up for it.

"Hmph. Then go." Xiao Wu lay down directly and stared at the ceiling.

The second time, he brought hot water, but Xiao Wu was dissatisfied again.

She bluntly said it was too hot.

And when she put on her shoes and said she wanted to do it herself, Tang San was unwilling to let her.

"I'll go, I'll go!" He said he wanted to fetch some water to soak his own feet too, so it would be on the way.

Without wasting any more time, he set off again.

After he had gone some distance, Xiao Wu called out.

"Wang Sheng!"

"Yes, Sister Xiao Wu, what is it?" Wang Sheng smiled somewhat ingratiatingly. Even his Third Brother had turned soft and helpless, let alone him.

"When he comes back, tell him not to disturb me. I'm going to sleep. Also!" Xiao Wu paused, looking strangely at Wang Sheng.

"Also what?" Wang Sheng was completely baffled.

"Also, haven't you noticed that he smells like a latrine? Tell him to wash himself clean later, or he's not allowed back into Dormitory Seven! Do you understand?"

"Understood, understood!"

After giving all her instructions, Xiao Wu covered her mouth with a hand. She truly was a little sleepy. Tang San was not going anywhere anyway; she would deal with him slowly.

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

Tang San had learned his lesson this time. When he returned, he carried cold water in one hand and hot water in the other, allowing the temperature to be adjusted freely.

Unfortunately, Xiao Wu had already gone to sleep.

After learning of her instructions before sleeping, he showed no resistance at all. After all, it was the truth. When he had gone to Teacher's partition that evening, that scene had nearly left him unable to make a move.

Xiao Wu telling him to wash clean was also a sign that she cared about him. Wasn't it?

That day, Tang San went to sleep very late, but he was willing to. However... little did he know that this was only the first night!

Starlight did not disappoint those on the road.

In the dead of night, there was no one around.

At this time, with the speed of the ten-year soul beast Iron Hoof Horse, Ye Qiu had already arrived at the entrance to Biyou Village.

He swung down from the horse. His Martial Soul appeared, and the Iron Hoof Horse sank into a vortex, vanishing before his eyes.

Looking at the familiar village entrance before him, Ye Qiu did not linger. He walked and looked around, only realizing that he had unknowingly been away from here for nearly three years.

The stone house at the end of the village was not as dilapidated as Ye Qiu had imagined. Perhaps Village Chief Old Man Zhang came by often to tend to it.

He stood beneath the peach tree beside it for a long time before finally opening the door and walking inside.

There was not much dust inside, and the layout was much the same as when he had left. The wooden horse he had made for Xiao Wu was still where it had been.

He took a blanket from Divine Might Space and placed it on the bed, making do for the night.

"Sigh, Old Ye, I, Old Zhang, have come to see you again. I wonder how your grandson is doing in Nuoding City..."

In the morning, Ye Qiu was awakened by an aged voice outside. It was Old Man Zhang's voice.

Crack! He got up and opened the somewhat weathered wooden door, seeing Old Man Zhang outside.

He was sitting cross-legged beneath the peach tree, drinking fruit wine he had brewed himself. He took a sip, then poured out a sip.

"Grandpa Zhang!" Ye Qiu called out.

"Huh? Old Ye, did you hear that brat of yours calling out? Could I be drunk?" He looked at the wine jug in his hand. He had not drunk in a long time, but surely a little fruit wine would not be enough?

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

Ye Qiu folded his arms across his chest and leaned against the doorframe, smiling at Old Man Zhang on the ground.

"Hey!" Old Man Zhang turned around and rubbed his eyes hard. He even forgot to pick up his cane from the ground as he staggered toward Ye Qiu.

"Brat Ye Qiu, you really came back?!"

"Of course it's true!" Ye Qiu walked over and reached out to support him.

"Haha... You've grown quite a bit! And you've become much more handsome too." Old Man Zhang pinched his arm and shoulder, looking him up and down.

Unfortunately, before he could offer more than a few compliments, he began scolding him again. "When did you get back? You didn't even come sit at my place. What, are you afraid this old man might try to cling to you?"

"Grandpa Zhang, why do you still like saying things like that? I only arrived in the middle of the night. How could I disturb you?"

Cold sweat broke out across Ye Qiu's forehead. Once Old Man Zhang had steadied himself, Ye Qiu walked to the side, bent down to pick up the cane he had dropped, and placed it back in his hand.

"Fine, I'll let you pass." He tugged at his grizzled beard.

Ignoring Ye Qiu's eye roll, he grabbed him and started pulling him toward his home. "Then you can come have breakfast at my place now, right? I'll make you something good."

"Of course!" Ye Qiu rubbed his stomach. He had not eaten dinner yesterday either, and he truly was hungry.

"Then go pay your respects to Old Ye first. I'll head back and tell your aunt."

"Alright, be careful and take your time."

Watching the old rascal slowly walk away with his cane, Ye Qiu could not help but smile. Everything was still so familiar—the feeling of home in his hometown!

After finding several sticks of incense in the stone house,

Ye Qiu took the place where Old Man Zhang had been sitting cross-legged. He knelt upright, raised the incense over his head, and planted one stick after every kowtow.

Then, with his back against the old peach tree, he softly spoke of what he had gone through over the past few years:

"Grandpa! These past few years, I...

"I met a girl. She was very cute, and very well-behaved.

"I met Mr. and Mrs. Jerry. They were very kind and caring.

"I met the Tang father and son. They were dangerous, but I remained safe.

"I became a Spirit Master. Though I'm weak, I'm growing."

Ye Qiu said a great deal, and much time passed. Then he rose and headed toward the Village Chief's home.

Old Man Zhang and Aunt Zhang were both very hospitable. Though it was breakfast, the meal was exceptionally lavish.

Of course, it would have been better without the braised Rabbit Meat.

"Xiao Qiu, come on, eat more meat. Look at those little arms and legs of yours..." Aunt Zhang warmly placed the best rabbit leg into his bowl.

Ye Qiu smiled politely and did not refuse.

"Hehe." Old Man Zhang also laughed happily.

"Speaking of which, what a coincidence. Today is the day Old Ye found you nine years ago. Your aunt found out and specially slaughtered the rabbit she bought yesterday, just to celebrate your birthday."

"Thank you, Auntie." Ye Qiu's eyes grew a little moist. These so-called commoners at the bottom of the continent had let him experience the warmth of home.

"Dad! Why bring that up? Go drink your wine."