Old Chen swallowed hard, forcing a show of anger. "I... I severed all ties with her a long time ago, what the hell are you looking at!"
Old Madam Hu: "Don't say such hurtful things. She's your own child, how can you just cut ties with her like that? Look at me all these years, I still can't stop worrying about Xiaojie. Just thinking about her... oh, it hurts my heart!"
The Xiaojie" she mentioned is now the person in charge of Liu Family Village. Old Chen, an ordinary citizen, wouldn't dare to respond.
Old Madam Hu changed the subject. "Why don't you go and check on her for me, and also on Master Bai... You've been helping out for so long, it's time to come back."
Old Chen was about to say something when Old Madam Hu looked at Old Chen's wife and Chen An'an and his wife, and said, "The three of them can stay and talk to me."
This is clearly telling Old Chen--
You have to go, whether you like it or not, and handle things properly before you can reunite with your wife and daughters.
-
This day was destined to be extraordinary. That evening, Qiu Shuyu had just brought back the news that Old Chen had been arrested, and Song Xiaozhu was comforting them when Liu Family Village was in an uproar.
Liu Xuangang is back!
Their village chief is back!
Liu Family Village was instantly illuminated, and many villagers were moved to tears, shouting, "Village Chief! Village Chief!"
They all thought Liu Xuangang was dead, torn apart and reduced to nothing in that ferocious beast tide.
Who would have thought he was still alive...
As expected of a formidable " Hunter "!
As expected of a top-tier Awakened One!
Hearing the commotion, Xiao Tong rushed out the door. Upon seeing his father, his eyes revealed undisguised confusion. "Dad..."
Xiao Yunjie's eyes also showed surprise, but her mind was quick, and she had already...
She quickly ordered the Guard Team to stop the enthusiastic villagers, then stepped forward to support her haggard husband, and said loudly, "It's getting late, everyone should rest first. Let's give the village chief some time to recuperate."
With her help, the excited villagers finally calmed down, and after returning home, they eagerly discussed... the arrival of this miracle.
With such a commotion, Song Xiaozhu and the others naturally heard it all. Even Master Bai, who was staying at the temple, put on a burlap coat and stood outside.
Luo Liuzi quickly brought back the news. "Incredible! Their village chief is still alive... I mean the previous one, Village Chief Liu!"
Song Xiaozhu was also quite surprised. She looked at Bai Jing from afar and saw that Bai Jing's brows were slightly furrowed, as if she was thinking about something.
They both knew about Xiao Tong and Hu Yuan's conversation.
Admittedly, Hu Yuan had the motive to sow discord, and her words are not to be believed.
But Liu Xuangang, who had disappeared, suddenly returned. This whole thing seems suspicious no matter how you look at it.
Song Xiaozhu thought about things more deeply; she had been "waiting" for the Polluted Beast.
I waited a whole week, but I still didn't get even half a chicken.
The Growth Quest is there, and she would never dare to venture into the isolation zone—the notification sound could definitely deduce this—so there's only one possibility for this quest: the Polluted Beast will appear in the Garbage Mountain.
Regardless of whether Hu Yuan's words are true or false, the last beast tide was very likely related to Liu Xuangang.
As luck would have it, Liu Xuangang returned just as the warning tone announced an impending attack by Polluted Beast.
It's hard for Song Xiaozhu not to overthink things.
Of course, she couldn't know these things for the time being; she could only try to find out tomorrow.
This is a serious matter, and Song Xiaozhu will have a good talk with Xiao Yunjie.
-
Xiao Yunjie helped her husband into the house, and important figures from the village rushed over to inquire about the situation.
Xiao Yunjie saw everyone off without keeping them, saying only, "It's getting late, let's talk about it tomorrow." She didn't even let Xiao Tong stay.
Everyone was curious, but Xiao Yunjie had said so, they didn't dare to ask any more questions. They could only greet Liu Xuangang and then say goodbye.
Xiao Tong wanted to stay, Xiao Yunjie said, "You and Er Ying will take turns on duty tonight. Keep an eye on the village."
Xiao Tong: "Yes!" He glanced at his father again before turning and leaving.
Only the couple remained in the room, and with its unique soundproofing, Liu Xuangang finally breathed a sigh of relief, "Jie... I'm sorry to have troubled you."
Xiao Yunjie wasn't one to dwell on romantic feelings. After checking Liu Xuangang's physical condition, she went straight to the point and asked, "What happened? They just let you come back like that?"
Liu Xuangang said with a wry smile, "You don't miss me at all..."
Xiao Yunjie remained calm as always, like a block of ice that never freezes.
Liu Xuangang knew his wife very well. He sighed resignedly, pulled her into his arms, and hugged her tightly before he felt a little better and had the strength to speak, "... It was just a misunderstanding."
Xiao Yunjie: "Misunderstanding? The iron ore beneath the temple isn't the foundation of the safety barrier?"
Liu Xuangang shook his head. "Just some redundant backups."
Xiao Yunjie: "What do you mean?"
Liu Xuangang explained carefully, "That day I pried open the iron ore, and then the barrier broke... Actually, it was a coincidence. Even if I hadn't touched it, the barrier wouldn't have held up."
Xiao Yunjie frowned upon hearing this. She had also considered this point, but had no way of verifying it.
Moreover, judging from the underground environment, they have gone very far and are no longer in the village. As for whether they have reached the vicinity of the isolation zone... that's unlikely.
"Is that really true?" she asked suspiciously.
Liu Xuangang: "Otherwise, if I really damaged the safety barrier, why would they let me come back?"
Xiao Yunjie, quick-witted as ever, retorted, "Even if you didn't break the cordon, they wouldn't let you come back."
Liu Xuangang is an Awakened.
After learning of his innocence, the people of the Fortress might release him, but as a matter of course, they wouldn't let him return to Liu Family Village.
Awakened are not so rare among the people in the Fortress, especially " Craftsman," " Planter," and " Digger "... These non-combat types are no different from ordinary people unless they have extremely high talent, and the conglomerates do not give them preferential treatment in terms of resources.