"Master, I'm here!"
That howl immediately startled many of Shi Village's villagers. They came to the village entrance and watched him warily.
"Ahem, hello, everyone. Don't be nervous—I mean no harm. I came to pay my respects to my master.
Oh, right, I also brought you lots of gifts!"
As he spoke, he took out dozens of ferocious beast carcasses, each as small as a mountain.
"Little brother, your master?"
"He came looking for me." Before Shi Yongheng could speak, an ethereal voice came from within the Willow Tree.
"Greetings, Willow Deity!"
The old man at the front said kindly, "Since you are the Willow Deity's disciple, you are one of our village's people. Come in, little brother. Please forgive us for any lack of hospitality."
"Then I won't stand on ceremony. Shi Hao calls you Patriarch Grandpa, right? Then I'll call you Patriarch Grandpa too. I'm also from the Stone Clan, so just call me Yongheng."
"The Stone Clan? Could you be from Martial King Manor?" The expression in a burly man's eyes immediately changed.
After all, Martial King Manor was the place that had nearly caused Little Dot's death.
Shi Yongheng said, "Don't worry. I don't have much attachment to Martial King Manor either.
What I went through as a child may have been a little better than Shi Hao's, but not by much.
When I was only a few years old, I slipped out of the manor and wandered the world alone."
Hearing that, everyone immediately lowered their guard.
"Good child, treat this place as your home from now on.
Oh, right, you mentioned Xiao Hao. How has he been lately?" asked the old man, Shi Village's Patriarch, Shi Yunfeng.
"Patriarch Grandpa, uncles, don't worry. You know that guy—anyone can suffer a loss, but he never will.