Leaving

A figure hurried toward a certain place.

At this moment, in East Village.

There was still a courtyard here, its lamps lit. It was also the only courtyard in all of Small River Village that still had lights on.

The figure hurried inside.

Inside the room.

Chen San Ye paced back and forth without pause, his brows furrowing.

Chen Xuan had been in the mountains for an entire day. Night had already fallen, yet no news had returned, making Chen San Ye somewhat nervous.

It was not that he was worried about Chen Xuan's safety. He was worried that if something happened to Chen Xuan, there would be one less way for him to obtain Tiger Heart.

There was not much time left to wait on his youngest son's side. If he missed this chance, who knew when another such opportunity would come.

"Damn it, that brat isn't really so useless, is he?"

Chen San Ye could not help cursing under his breath.

But at that very moment, a figure hurried inside.

Seeing the figure, Chen San Ye's expression brightened.

"Er He, how did it go?"

His voice was urgent as his gaze immediately fell upon the figure who had entered.

"Master, that brat came back. He's dragging something on a flatbed cart."

Er He quickly reported to Chen San Ye.

"Dragging something?"

"Are you sure it's the Tiger and Leopard?"

Chen San Ye's eyes lit up. Joy appeared on his face as he spoke anxiously.

"Master, it was too dark, and I was afraid he'd spot me, so I didn't dare get too close!"

The figure spoke awkwardly.

"Useless trash!"

Chen San Ye cursed angrily, his eyes flickering afterward.

The figure lowered his head, not daring to raise it.

"Fine, go down first!"

"I won't forget your service this time!"

After a moment, Chen San Ye took a deep breath and calmed himself. Then he waved the figure away.

"Thank you, Master!"

Hearing Chen San Ye's words, the figure was overjoyed. He quickly bowed in thanks before withdrawing.

After the figure left, Chen San Ye continued pacing back and forth through the room.

His thoughts drifted ceaselessly.

From time to time, he looked in Chen Xuan's direction, urgency rising within him before he quickly forced it down.

Meanwhile.

Chen Xuan's home.

As Chen Xuan dragged the flatbed cart closer, he spotted a figure at the doorway who had long been craning her neck in anticipation. He hurried a little faster.

"Mother!"

Chen Xuan was slightly out of breath as he dragged the cart, but he still hurriedly called out to his mother.

"Come in quickly. The food is ready!"

Zhang Chunhua looked at her son with some distress, then at the flatbed cart behind him, before speaking softly.

"Mm, all right, Mother!"

Chen Xuan smiled and nodded.

Then he dragged the flatbed cart through the gate.

After setting the cart down, Chen Xuan entered the main room with his mother.

Zhang Chunhua had clearly already prepared the meal in the main room, and it was especially plentiful today, leaving Chen Xuan somewhat surprised.

"Since we're leaving, I made a little extra."

Zhang Chunhua explained softly. Her expression carried both melancholy and anticipation.

"Delicious, Guoguo, delicious!"

Xiao Shitou ate happily beside them, his whole little face flushed rosy red.

"Xiao Shitou, if it's delicious, then eat more!"

Chen Xuan said with a smile, rubbing his younger brother's little head.

"Mm-hmm!"

Xiao Shitou nodded heavily.

Amid the rising steam, the family ate slowly.

This might have been their final meal in Small River Village.

After leaving, they likely would never return.

The night passed without incident.

As the morning sunlight spilled down with the first rays of dawn, a new day arrived.

Early in the morning.

Second Uncle Chen Er Shan led a donkey to the entrance of Chen Xuan's courtyard.

"Second Uncle, you mean you want to go to Green Mountain City with us?"

Chen Xuan looked at his second uncle in surprise.

"Yes, Er Gou, you know the village suffered a locust plague this year. Everyone's been living hand to mouth. Since I'm driving the donkey cart for you anyway, I thought I'd go to Green Mountain City and see if I could find some work!"

Chen Er Shan gave a bitter laugh, his expression helpless.

If possible, he did not want to go to Green Mountain City either. After all, if he left, there would be no one to look after his wife and son. But Chen Xuan's family was leaving, and if he did not try his luck in Green Mountain City, his own family would have a hard time making it through this winter.

"I see!"

Chen Xuan nodded slightly.

Over this period, he had already gotten a rough grasp of the village's situation.

The locust plague's impact was even greater than he had imagined. Most of Small River Village's residents had to consider how they would survive this spring.

His second uncle's family was no better off.

Thoughts raced through Chen Xuan's mind. He looked at his second uncle, wanting to tell him to bring his family along.

After all, with the Conceptual Ability, getting them settled would not be too much of a problem.

But after considering it, he decided against it.

It was not that he was unwilling, but that he would find it difficult to persuade his second uncle.

For an entire family to enter Green Mountain City was simply too risky.

His second uncle was an honest, dutiful man. He would not agree, at least not for now. It would not be too late to discuss it after they entered the city.

"Er Gou, everything has been packed up."

Just as Chen Xuan's thoughts churned, Zhang Chunhua's voice came from inside the room.

"Okay, Mother, we can set off!"

Chen Xuan answered, then placed his younger brother on the donkey cart while he hitched up the flatbed cart.

Fortunately, autumn had begun, and after returning, he had coated it with a layer of lime powder. Although the tiger had sat there all night, no foul stench had emerged.

Behind him, Zhang Chunhua took one deep look at the courtyard before climbing onto the donkey cart.

Chen Er Shan immediately took up the reins of the donkey cart.

The morning glow gradually spilled across the land.

The family slowly headed into the distance.

As it was still very early, the villagers in the mountain village had not yet risen to work.

Only the creaking of the cart axle and the flatbed cart grinding over stones echoed continuously.

Xiao Shitou babbled excitedly atop the donkey cart, exceptionally cheerful.

Zhang Chunhua and Chen Er Shan were both anxious, yet expectant.

Green Mountain City was merely a place from rumor even to them.

For Zhang Chunhua especially, there was more nervousness than excitement. She did not know whether she could survive in the city, nor whether she could find her husband and son there. Everything was unknown to her.

Before Chen Xuan's eyes, lines of text had already begun flickering into view.

With such a major shift in direction, naturally he could not refrain from simulating it.

In fact, during this period, he had constantly used the Conceptual Ability to simulate their journey to Green Mountain City.

The reason he had decided on today was because, according to his Conceptual Ability's settings, today was the most suitable time.

Of course, even though it was the most suitable.

To avoid any mishaps, Chen Xuan still tried setting all sorts of objectives to ensure no other accidents occurred.

Objective: Search for dangers encountered on the way to Green Mountain City (to be determined)

Settings complete

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Chapter thirty-four was revised. It really was a little inappropriate, so it was changed to the protagonist buying the bow and arrow from Chen San Ye. Since he was unwilling to go hunting, there was no need for him to receive benefits from others out of thin air. Sorry, I did not think it through properly here.