"Go Home!"

The City Wall before them was unfamiliar.

But the Farmland beyond it was exceedingly familiar. As one side of the City Wall slowly sank into the ground and revealed a passage, Wang Kui wiped the rain from his face. Much of the exhaustion from the journey instantly dissipated, and he turned back with a broad grin.

"Go home!"

He had never gambled in his life.

He had always kept his head down and done his work.

He knew full well that he had no talent and had not awakened as any kind of special Cultivator. He had worked diligently for the Wang Family for thirteen years. Aside from occasionally skimming a little for himself, he had never done anything out of line in his life.

It was not because he had high moral standards.

It was because he did not have the guts.

Even when he had invested in Chen Fan back then, he had merely wanted to give it a try. Without outside circumstances forcing his hand, he would have found it difficult to decisively leave the Wang Family and join Chen Fan's ranks. But now, it seemed he might have picked the right person this time.

As long as he could survive this Rainy Season.

Then he would be among the first to join this force. Becoming the head worker bee would definitely not be a problem, and his future prospects would surely far surpass what he had had in the Wang Family.

There was roughly half a shichen left until Eternal Night descended.

Torrential rain poured down as fog shrouded the world. The chill swept through every corner of the Wasteland like a flood.

Jiangbei Chen Family Station No. 37.

Inside the newly built Wooden Hut.

Chen Fan and the others sat on the floor around the stove. Every one of them had changed into dry clothes, while their rain-soaked garments hung from the clothes rack inside. Crippled Monkey was handing out food to everyone.

Every station stored quite a bit of food.

They would not lack food in the short term. Their current supplies were enough for the few of them to eat for two or three months, though it was all coarse grain.

Of course, it definitely would not be enough to last through the entire winter.

But they could worry about the future when it came.

"Wang Kui."

Chen Fan looked at Wang Kui, who sat among the group. "Resources are insufficient at the moment, and the space within the City Wall is limited. There is only enough room to build one house. The remaining space has to be reserved for other structures."

"Tomorrow, take some people and put up a partition inside."

"Crippled Monkey and I will sleep on the left. The rest of you can sleep together on the right."

"No problem."

Wang Kui hurriedly rose to his feet and nodded in agreement.

Threads of cold air slipped into the hut through the cracks in the door, bringing a bone-piercing chill, but they were quickly scattered by the waves of heat pouring from the stove.

"Sit down."

Chen Fan calmly looked at the others and said softly, "No one knows whether we can make it through tonight. Since we have met here, it can be considered fate. Let's chat casually and talk about any wishes we might have."

"If someone meets with misfortune, then after the others survive the Rainy Season, help fulfill that person's wish. That way, our meeting will not have been in vain."

"Wang Kui, you go first."

"Me?" Wang Kui sat before the stove, his stiff, damp, freezing hands stretched around it to warm them. After pondering for a while, he said hoarsely, "I don't really have any wishes. I worked for the Wang Family for thirteen years. I'd say that even if I have no great achievements, I have at least put in plenty of hard work."

"But I never got promoted, and my pay never went up."

"I feel a little unwilling to accept that."

"I just want to save up more Eerie Stones, marry a wife, and have a chubby son. But you'd better not remember that wish. I have to handle that myself. You lot can't do it."

As soon as he finished speaking.

The others around him could not help bursting into laughter, and the tense atmosphere dissipated considerably.

"Don't say that."

Another man, who never let go of his saber, grinned and waggled his brows. "If you die, I'll definitely have my child take the Wang surname. Consider it carrying on your family line for you."

Only then did he turn serious and look at Chen Fan.

"Station Chief." "Like Wang Kui, I'm a station chief under the Wang Family. But I haven't worked as long as he has. I've only done it for three years. I couldn't get promoted either, and my pay never went up. Still, I don't hate the Wang Family."

"After all, there are only so many holes for carrots."

"But—"

"The Wang Family merely gave me food to eat. Station Chief, you saved my life."

"My name is Zhou Mo. I'm a Level 2 Cultivator. From now on, whatever you tell me to do, I'll do!"

"Zhou Mo."

Chen Fan silently repeated the man's name, his gaze settling on the saber in the man's arms. "A saber user? A Level 2 Cultivator, and the Wang Family had no intention of training you?"

This was the first Level 2 Cultivator he had encountered.

"Heh."

Zhou Mo shook his head with some self-mockery. "A Level 2 Cultivator's physical abilities are not actually that much different from an ordinary person's. We're not much stronger. In this world, no matter how strong a Cultivator is, he still cannot directly contend against Strange Entities. At most, he has a little more ability to protect himself."

"If you're not a special Cultivator, there's simply no need to train you."

"When I was young and ignorant, I absorbed quite a few Eerie Stones. I dreamed of becoming a strong man and roaming the world as a wanderer. Later, I realized it was simply impossible. But I've loved wielding a saber since childhood. Though I gave up improving my cultivation, I did develop some skill with the saber during my spare time."

Right after that.

Wang Mazi, seated beside the stove, scratched the back of his head and began introducing himself as well. "Station Chief, you know this already. I used to be the station chief of Chen Family Station No. 36. Before joining the Chen Family, I was a peddler. I liked wandering all over the place. My wish is simply to live a little longer and, if I get the chance, go see places farther away."

"I want to see what the wider world looks like."

"You'll have the chance." Chen Fan nodded lightly.

Then Station Chief Qi, sitting nearby, spoke up somewhat nervously. "My name is Qi Chong. I used to be a station chief for the Wild Wolf Gang. I don't have any particularly great wish. My old mother was devoured by Strange Entities in her early years, and not even her body was left behind."

"When I make it big someday, I want to build a cenotaph for my old mother."

"Space within the city is limited. Building a cenotaph would cost quite a lot."

"Mm."

Chen Fan nodded lightly.

The cold wind howled outside, and heavy rain battered the Wooden Hut. The heat waves flowing from the stove not only drove away the chill, but also gradually eased everyone's tension.

Eternal Night was about to arrive.

After chatting for a while, everyone gradually became more familiar with one another.

Even Crippled Monkey could not help saying a few more things.

There were only so many topics men talked about, back and forth.

They discussed which women in the city's brothels had the most fire in them.

They discussed what fresh news had recently happened in which Lineage.

They discussed embarrassing things from their pasts.

It was a little vulgar, but such topics were often very suitable for breaking the ice.

"..."

After Chen Fan started the conversation, he rarely participated in the discussion. He quietly sat beside the stove, warming his hands. If he wanted to build a force of his own on the Wasteland, then these people would be his first foundation.

He needed a general understanding of each person's temperament and abilities.

For example, Zhou Mo never let go of his saber and carried himself like a wandering swordsman. Chen Fan could consider training him toward individual combat strength and having him form the camp's patrol and guard unit.

Qi Chong had no ambition and was restrained and dutiful, but his filial devotion was commendable. In the future, he could be put in charge of planting the Farmland.

Wang Kui had a quick mind and relatively rich management experience. He could be trained as a deputy.

Wang Mazi had experience as a peddler and enjoyed wandering about. In the future, he could handle the camp's trade, taking the camp's goods to the market to exchange for Eerie Stones.

Crippled Monkey was utterly loyal and exceptionally efficient at getting things done. Naturally, he was an absolute confidant.

(End of Chapter)