The Cloud Boat sailed eastward, traveling a long distance.
From time to time, disciples on board would approach to pay their respects to Xu Xian, and he responded to each of them in turn.
From the conversations among these disciples, it was clear that their destination was Demon-Slaying City.
They were all going there to hunt beasts.
In the Wendao Sect, merit points were equivalent to currency and cultivation resources.
There were essentially three ways to obtain them. The first was to perform tasks for the sect, for which the sect would pay a regular salary.
The second was to complete missions, which were generally carried out within the sect's jurisdiction.
The third was to trade with the sect.
This included spirit plants, ores, medicinal pills, beast hides, bones, meat, and so on.
The first and second methods carried the lowest risk. After all, within the Northern Borders, a special situation like the one in Yecheng was a once-in-a-millennium occurrence. However, the pay was relatively low.
The third method had a high ceiling and provided quick money. However, pills and weapons required specialized skills. Advancing as an alchemist or a master forger was no easy feat; it was even more arduous than cultivation itself.
Therefore, only spirit plants, ores, and beasts remained as viable options.
Spirit plants and ores were scattered across the continent. Finding high-quality ones required venturing into danger, and even then, success wasn't guaranteed.
Beasts, however, were a different story.
As long as one went to Demon-Slaying City and had the courage to go deep into the heart of the East Desolation, they were guaranteed to find some.
That was, provided they weren't eaten by the beasts first.
That place was where the law of the jungle truly applied.
An unordered land.
The money came fast.
And life was lost just as quickly.
Yet, in the face of immense profit, there were always those willing to take the risk.
Late at night, the Cloud Boat drew closer to the location of Houdao Village on the map. As they approached a certain city, Xu Xian woke everyone up and left the Cloud Boat under the cover of darkness.
They headed straight for that city.
While flying on their swords, Wen Qingxue asked in confusion, "Little Grand-Uncle, isn't your old home in a village? Why are you taking us to a city?"
Xu Xian smiled and said, "I'm going into the city to buy some things. I've been away for six years; I can't exactly go back empty-handed, can I?"
"Oh! Little Grand-Uncle, you've thought of everything."
Before long, the group arrived at the city, one of the one hundred and eight cities of the Northern Borders.
It was called Dongze City.
When they arrived, the sun had not yet risen, and the city gates were tightly shut. They found an abandoned, dilapidated temple outside the city to rest for a while.
They entered the city at dawn.
Xu Xian went on a massive shopping spree in the city, spending gold and silver freely. Throughout Fanzhou—whether in the Northern Borders or the Central Plains—gold and silver remained the universal currency in the secular world, even if the exchange rates and styles of coins varied.
Much like spirit stones, they were hard currency.
Xu Xian had some, though not a lot, but it was enough. Zhang Yang and Lin Qianqian also contributed some; it was money their families had given them when they left home, which they hadn't used since joining the Wendao Sect.
Hao Ren also generously provided funds. As a member of the Personnel Hall, he frequently traveled through the mortal world, so he naturally kept gold and silver on hand.
As for Wen Qingxue, she could only express her inability to help. She didn't possess any such secular items.
Xu Xian bought sweets and pastries in the West Market.
In the North Market, he bought agricultural tools—cleavers, wood-chopping axes, sickles—buying whatever he saw.
He even cleared out an entire silk shop. The people of Houdao Village wore clothes made of animal skins, which were hot in the summer and stiff as boards in the winter. He wanted the villagers to wear something better.
He bought rice and flour in the North Market, and oil and salt in the South Market.
The others watched him, faces full of bewilderment. If they didn't know he was going home to visit relatives, they would have thought Xu Xian was starting a wholesale business.
It was no exaggeration to say that he alone cleared out half a street.
Xu Xian shopped for a full hour before finally stopping and leading the group away.
Following the map's guidance, they headed straight for Houdao Village.
While riding the wind, Xu Xian gave Zhang Yang and Lin Qianqian a special reminder:
"Xiao Yang, Qianqian, I won't argue with you calling me Brother Xian right now. But once we enter the village, you must call me Little Grand-Uncle, just like Xiao Wen and Hao Ren. Understand?"
The two readily agreed, "Understood!"
"Say it louder!"
"Clear!"
"And show me respect."
"We know!"
Although Xu Xian didn't say it explicitly, they understood. When one left home to cultivate and returned to their birthplace after a long time, who wouldn't want to return in glory?
Of course, the most important thing was to let his family know he was doing well so they wouldn't worry as much.
This was the practice of reporting the good and hiding the bad.
Near noon, after passing through a vast range of mountains, a small mountain village nestled among the peaks appeared before them.
Xu Xian said with a hint of excitement, "Look! That's my village."
"The scenery is quite nice."
"It really is remote."
The others offered their own comments.
One by one, they landed and entered the mountain village along a small path.
It was late autumn. The wind whistled, and yellow leaves littered the roadside.
Returning to his homeland after six years, Xu Xian was very excited. He walked with long strides, leaving the others behind.
The others whispered among themselves.
Lin Qianqian asked, "Do you think the villagers will welcome us?"
Zhang Yang said, "They will. It's called Houdao Village. From the name alone, you can tell they're all honest, kind people."
Hao Ren, however, disagreed, saying profoundly, "In the mortal world, people usually name things after what they lack. It's hard to say."
At an open space at the village entrance, they encountered several children playing. The sharp-eyed children spotted them from a distance.
Seeing people dressed so elegantly and looking so refined, the children were naturally very curious.
Standing on high ground, they watched from afar.
As Xu Xian approached, a child threw a clump of hard dung at him. Holding a wooden stick like a little king of the kids, the boy blocked the path and demanded arrogantly, "Hey! You people, what are you doing in our village?"
Xu Xian looked at the child, who appeared to be seven or eight years old. There was something familiar about his features. He tentatively asked, "Xu Xiaoman?"
The group of children was slightly startled and let out a collective gasp.
The little kid king was a bit dazed. "You fellow, you know me?"
Xu Xian stepped closer, reached out to pinch the little guy's red, cold-nipped cheeks, and gave them a firm tug. He clicked his tongue and said, "Tsk, tsk. You've grown so much. You're actually quite cute."
Xu Xiaoman slapped Xu Xian's hand away and scrambled back, acting fierce despite his small size. "Don't go touching me! I'm warning you, don't try anything. My big brother is an immortal! Careful, or he'll come back and beat the life out of you!"
The other children quickly chimed in.
"Yeah, his brother is super powerful. We're all afraid of him!"
"We can all testify! If you dare mess with Brother Xiaoman, your family's eggs will all be shaken till they're scrambled!"
Xu Xian found this hilarious but didn't explain. When he left, this kid was only a little over a year old and hadn't even been weaned yet; there was no way he could remember him. Besides, after six years, his own appearance had long since changed.
He naturally had a way to deal with children.
He pulled a bag of candy from his robe and shook it, tempting them. "I have something delicious here. Does anyone want some?"
"It's very sweet!"
"Sweeter than honey!"
Children didn't have that many ulterior motives. They simply felt that Xu Xian didn't seem like a bad person.
One by one, they quickly surrendered.
"Who are you, anyway?"
"Xu Xian."
Xu Xiaoman, with his mouth stuffed with candy and more cradled in his arms, said indistinctly, "Xu Xian? You have the same name as my brother?"
Xu Xian smiled. "Is it possible that I am your brother?"
Xu Xiaoman: "????"
The group of children: "????"
And then...
The news of Xu Xian's return was spread throughout the village by these candy-eating children.
"The second son of the Xu family is back!"
"The second son of the Xu family is back!!"
"The second son of the Xu family is back, and he brought two wives with him! They're so beautiful!!!"
In a small courtyard in the village, Xu Xiaoman came stumbling in, shouting at the top of his lungs, "Father! Mother! My second brother is back! My second brother is back!"
Before long, a woman and a man hurried out of the house. They stared awkwardly at the unfamiliar young man before them, at a loss for words.
As their eyes met, it was as if all sound in the world had vanished.
Xu Xian's throat tightened. He dropped to his knees and bowed, his eyes rimmed with red, as he grinned and said, "Father, Mother. Xian'er has come home to see you!"
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