The five-colored pillar of light subsided, and Yang Ge crossed a hundred zhang of lake water as though walking on level ground, then stepped ashore.
"Second Master!"
The two hundred-odd elites of the Bright Cult's Greenwood Hall gathered along the shore scrambled to salute him with clasped fists.
Yang Ge returned their salutes on all sides. "I've left you brothers dining on the wind and sleeping beneath the stars for three whole months. I feel terrible about it, and I can't thank you enough!"
"You're too kind, Second Master!"
"It's an honor for us brothers to guard you during your cultivation!"
"What the fuck are you being so polite with us for...?"
The Greenwood Hall elites answered in a joyous babble.
Yang Ge could not help laughing either. "All right, no more treating each other like strangers. Brothers, bring out your cooking gear. I'll show you what I can do today..."
Outside the crowd, the Yang father and son struggled mightily before squeezing their way to the front.
Seeing their men's exuberant warmth, both of them began to question their lives.
Yang Yinghao said, "Go on, shoo! Get back to your own business!"
Yang Tiansheng said, "You all heard him! He offered himself; we're not giving him a hard time. Wei Xin, what are you standing around for? Hurry up and look nearby for a cow that fell to its death..."
Swallowed by the crowd and unable to push his way forward, Wei Xin strained his voice to answer, "Yes, Hall Master!"
Yang Ge smiled and curled his lip, then called toward Wei Xin's voice, "Don't listen to your hall master. Whose cows are so tired of living that they fall to their deaths every day...? Get some chickens and ducks. Pay the owners generously, and come to me for