Nighttime conversation in the main hall

The wooden door creaked shut, cutting off the bustle outside the alley. Hogg seized Hillman's arm with a grip so strong his fingers nearly dug into the flesh. The wild joy in his eyes had yet to fade, and even his voice carried a barely perceptible tremor. "You rascal, so you remembered to come back!"

As he spoke, he hurriedly ushered Hillman toward the main hall, his steps lighter than usual. Hot tea had already been laid out inside, its faint fragrance rising from white porcelain cups. Two red candles burned on a stand in the corner, their flickering light casting the men's shadows across the blue-brick floor, now bright, now dim, filling the room with warmth. They sat facing each other, and Hogg studied Hillman closely. His gaze swept over the steady sharpness in Hillman's brow, then settled on the thick calluses on his palms, left by years of practicing his punches and smashing black rock. Only after a long while did he let out a heavy sigh. "Two years apart, and you've changed quite a bit. You're no longer that hotheaded boy who'd start a fight at the slightest disagreement."

Hillman lifted his cup and took a sip. The warm tea slid down his throat, soothing away the weariness of the journey. Looking at the few new strands of silver at Hogg's temples, he smiled, a note of nostalgia in his voice. "A great deal really has happened these past two years."

He did not dwell on his life-and-death battles in the Magical Beast Forest, mention the fear of facing ferocious beasts late at night, or speak of the excruciating agony of his soul being torn apart. He merely gave a casual account of wandering into Mist Canyon and encountering the Spined Iron-Armored Dragon that held the surrounding region in awe. He spoke of their initial clash on the Rocky Shoal, fists meeting claws in a fierce battle lasting over a hundred exchanges, and the trust that slowly grew between them as they repeatedly fought side by side against attacking beasts. He described the stunning sight when, having fully comprehended the Profound Mystery of Strength, he shattered a mass of black rock the size of a small hill with one punch, sending stone dust flying across the sky; then the clarity and vastness of his soul resonating with the earth at the moment he gained an initial grasp of all six profound mysteries, drew down the laws of heaven and earth, and achieved External Godhood. Hogg listened with shining eyes, sometimes frowning, sometimes exclaiming in wonder. His grip on his teacup tightened slightly, and he did not even notice that the tea had gone cold.

"Speaking of which," Hillman changed the subject, leaning forward slightly, his eyes full of genuine concern, "what I most wanted to learn on this trip home was how our Baruch Clan has been doing. And how has Wushan Town developed these past two years? After all, our roots are there. It's where we were born and raised."

At the mention of the clan and Wushan Town, Hogg's smile grew more heartfelt, and much of the weariness around his eyes faded. He set down his cup and counted off the details on his fingers. "After you left, I used the caravan connections to sell Wushan Town's fine timber and wild medicinal herbs to the prosperous cities in the south. We ran into plenty of setbacks at first. Those middlemen drove the prices down hard, and the clan's young men were all seething. Later, I took some men to the main city in the south and negotiated with the large trading firms there myself. After going back and forth, we finally opened several trade routes. We no longer had to bow to anyone's whims."

He paused, took a sip of tea to moisten his throat, then continued, "Wushan Town's logging camp has now doubled in size, and we've hired quite a few people from other towns. We pay more than anywhere else, so people from the neighboring villages and towns are scrambling to work there. The clan's young men no longer have to scrape by on a few plots of poor farmland, either. They either manage things at the logging camp or travel with the caravans delivering goods. Every one of them has earned real money, and their families are prospering. As for the herb garden on the hill behind the town, I had a large stretch of wasteland cleared and planted several hardy medicinal herbs. I even hired an experienced herbalist to guide the work. The harvest gets better every year. The income from the herbs alone is enough to keep the clan's elderly and children fed and clothed without worry."

"The Baruch Clan's old residence was renovated last year. With its blue bricks and dark roof tiles, it's much grander than before, and we planted a few new Chinese parasol trees in the courtyard. We also set up a martial hall beside it and asked the clan's most senior old martial instructor to teach boxing. The young men practice with him to strengthen their bodies, so at least we haven't abandoned our clan's foundations." Hogg's voice was full of satisfaction as he spoke. "We also put up a bluestone stele at the entrance to Wushan Town, engraved with the names of clan members who've gone out to make their way in the world. Your name is on it, too. Every time the clan's elders pass by, they talk about you, hoping you'll come home."

Warmth surged through Hillman's heart as he listened. His eyes grew slightly hot, and his smile deepened. He raised his teacup toward Hogg across the table. "You've put a lot of thought into this, big brother. I'll remember this kindness."

"We're brothers. There's no need for that." Hogg waved a hand, his face alight with an open smile. Then, as though something had occurred to him, his eyes lit up, and his voice filled with irrepressible admiration. "Oh, and Linley! You must want to hear how he's doing, too, right? That boy has really made something of himself!"

Hillman's heart leaped, and the hand holding his cup paused briefly. He hurriedly asked, "How is Linley? Is he doing well at the academy in Fenlan City? Has anyone mistreated him these past two years?"

"Mistreated him? Not a chance!" Hogg laughed heartily, his voice brimming with pride. "That boy was born to cultivate! In his first year at the academy, his exceptional affinity for both earth and wind shocked quite a few instructors. He skipped the Outer Court's basic classes altogether and entered the Inner Court for advanced studies. In just two years, his strength has shot up like a rocket. He's already a Third-Level Mage and a Fourth-Level Warrior! He's among the very best of all the new students in the Inner Court!"

"That fast?" Hillman's eyes filled with surprise. In Fenlan City, a Fourth-Level Warrior was already considered a capable fighter, never mind someone who also studied magic-and two elements at that, which was extremely difficult. Such progress was simply unheard of.

"That's not even all!" Hogg grew more excited as he spoke. He leaned closer and lowered his voice. "He's made three good friends at the academy: Yale, George, and Reynolds. The four of them share a dormitory room and are as close as real brothers. Linley is a simple-hearted boy. He puts all his attention into cultivation and carving. His Flat Blade Style stone sculptures have even earned him a bit of a reputation at the academy. I hear some instructors want to buy his work!"

"He's still practicing carving?" Hillman was a little surprised, then smiled again. He knew how obsessed Linley was with carving. Back in Wushan Town, the boy would often hide in the old residence's woodshed, pondering over his work for ages with a carving knife in hand.

"Of course he is!" Hogg nodded, a note of admiration in his voice. "He says carving not only tempers his spiritual power but also helps him comprehend magic, so he gains two benefits at once. His school is close by, and he doesn't have to stay in the dormitory, so he runs home every day after classes. As soon as he's back, he buries himself in his room, either cultivating or carving. Sometimes he doesn't even stop to eat. A while ago, the academy held the New Student Martial Arts Tournament. With his close-combat abilities as a warrior and his long-range magical attacks, he fought his way through round after round and placed in the top three. His reputation has even spread to the Outer Court. Quite a few female students have secretly slipped him love letters!"

At that, Hogg could not help laughing aloud. "But the boy's so shy. Whenever something like that happens, he runs away red-faced. Then he comes home and complains to me that those girls are too much trouble and are taking time away from his cultivation."

Hillman laughed along with him. Linley's still somewhat boyish face surfaced in his mind, and he recalled the days when the two of them had practiced their punches in the woods of Wushan Town as children. His heart filled with nostalgia.

The candle flames in the main hall swayed gently, stretching their shadows long across the room. The fragrance of tea drifted through the quiet night, mingling with their conversation and occasional laughter. Outside, moonlight filtered through the window lattice and spilled onto the blue-brick floor, warm and mellow, carrying a touch of the tenderness of peaceful days.