Xiao Ze stood on the stone steps at the entrance of the village, lost in a daze for a moment.
He seemed to see his younger self, catching fish with the village children by the stream, running in the fields, and listening to the village elders tell stories under the locust tree.
"Xiao Ze." Ning Rongrong jumped down from the carriage, curiously observing the simple small village. "Is this where you grew up?"
Xiao Ze came back to his senses, a smile unconsciously curving his lips: "That's right, this is Qingxi Village, where I grew up."
Huo Wu looked around, "It looks so ordinary here."
"Of course it's ordinary, it's just a simple village. Our Qingxi Village is actually quite well-off. Other villages might not even be able to afford meat," Xiao Ze said with a smile.
"Then should we expand this village?" Ning Rongrong asked.
She really wanted to help Xiao Ze's village.
Xiao Ze slowly shook his head: "No need. They have their own lives. We can help for a while, but not for a lifetime. We can just use elixirs to condition their bodies; there's no need to give them money."
"Okay."
Shui Yue'er was full of enthusiasm, pulling her sister's hand and excitedly saying, "Look at that stream over there, the water is so clear."
Zhuqing felt the tranquility of the village.
Dugu Yan came to one side: "So this is a village, it really is a quiet place."
"Let's go, I'll take you to see where I lived when I was little."
As Xiao Ze walked into the village, he saw a few children. He didn't recognize these children; they might have been born in the years after he left.
"Big brother, big sister, who are you? Why are you coming to our village?" a bolder child stepped forward and asked.
Xiao Ze crouched down and rubbed his head: "I'm also from this village."
"Really? I haven't seen big brother before."
"Xiaobao!" A Dama saw Ning Rongrong and the others, and her heart skipped a beat. Given their appearance and clothes, if Xiaobao offended them, wouldn't it be dangerous?
Xiao Ze slowly looked up: "Wang Dama, long time no see."
Wang Dama's expression froze, she was stunned for a moment, and it took a while before she recognized Xiao Ze: "Xiao Ze!! You're Xiao Ze, the boy!"
"You've changed so much! I remember you used to be very dark, I didn't expect you to have become fair now."
Ning Rongrong chuckled. She had seen the dark-skinned Xiao Ze back then, and he was indeed very dark.
Xiao Ze was a little embarrassed: "Wang Dama, it's because I've been cultivating, so my skin has lightened."
"Becoming fair is good, good. And these are…?" Wang Dama asked cautiously.
"They are all my wives."
Upon hearing this, the women were in excellent spirits.
Especially Ning Rongrong, her smile was so wide she couldn't suppress it.
"All of them?!"
"All of them," Xiao Ze nodded.
"Ah!!! Everyone, come out and see, our Xiao Ze is back, and he brought several wives with him! Everyone, hurry out!! Old Man Li, Old Man Xu, Village Chief!!"
Wang Dama's voice was very loud, startling Xiao Ze.
In no time, everyone from Qingxi Village swarmed out, immediately surrounding Xiao Ze and the others.
"Damn! Xiao Ze, you've really changed so much, I almost didn't recognize you."
"That's right, much more handsome."
"Xiao Ze has made something of himself, even found so many wives."
"These wives all have extraordinary temperaments, they must all be young ladies from prominent families."
"Yes, with their curves, they'll definitely give birth to big, chubby boys."
Xiao Ze scanned his surroundings. He recognized many people, but there were also quite a few he didn't know, mostly women, who seemed to have married into Qingxi Village.
Xiao Ze came before the Village Chief: "Village Chief, today I'm treating everyone to lunch."
"This… so many people, won't it be too much of an expense?" The Village Chief's white hair had increased, but he was still quite spirited.
"Don't worry, Village Chief, Xiao Ze is very rich now," Ning Rongrong said, bending down. "And I'm also rich, I can support Xiao Ze."
"Xiao Ze, you're so lucky to have found such a wife," the Village Chief said, giving Xiao Ze a thumbs-up.
"Yes, meeting them is my blessing," Xiao Ze said, pinching Ning Rongrong's cheek with a smile.
"Since that's the case, then let's have lunch in the square!"
"Good!!"
"Yay, there's delicious food!"
"Everyone, eat your fill, I'm not short on money!" Xiao Ze said.
In the square of Qingxi Village.
Dozens of long tables were neatly arranged, laden with abundant dishes.
The aroma filled the entire square, making the village children surround the tables, salivating.
Xiao Ze's group, along with the Village Chief and some familiar people, sat at one table.
"The Xiao family boy has really made something of himself. This spectacle is even livelier than our New Year celebrations," the Village Chief said, his beard almost askew from smiling.
"Of course! Village Chief, you don't know that Brother Xiao Ze is in Heaven Dou City, which is the capital city of the Heaven Dou Empire. He is the most talented Spirit Master there," Shui Yue'er said while eating a braised pork hock.
Hearing this, the Village Chief was somewhat shocked.
He had some knowledge and knew that Heaven Dou City was the best city in the Heaven Dou Empire. To be the most talented in such a city, wouldn't that mean the Xiao family boy was the most talented Spirit Master in the Heaven Dou Empire?
"Is this true?"
Xiao Ze nodded: "In a while, I'll be participating in the All-Continent Soul Master Competition."
"Good, good, Xiao Ze, you've really brought honor to our Qingxi Village! Maybe our Qingxi Village will have to change its name in the future," the Village Chief said with a laugh.
"Village Chief, there's no need for that," Xiao Ze said, both amused and exasperated: "I still really like the name Qingxi Village."
"As long as you like it. Come, eat, taste the flavors of your childhood."
While Xiao Ze was chatting with everyone.
Ning Rongrong curiously tasted some homemade fruit wine from the villagers, spitting out her tongue from the spiciness, yet couldn't resist taking another sip.
Huo Wu was surrounded by a group of aunties praising her beauty, and she uncharacteristically blushed.
Shui Yue'er had already started learning how to weave flower wreaths with the village girls, while Shui Bing'er quietly observed the environment of Qingxi Village. The upward curve of her lips showed that she quite liked such an environment.
Xiao Ze scanned the rosy expressions on everyone's faces, nodding with satisfaction.
While cooking, Xiao Ze had added a few elixirs.
Enough for them to live for a hundred years without illness, and even these young children might have a chance to awaken spirit power and become Spirit Masters in the future.
With Spirit Masters, Qingxi Village could slowly grow.
Of course, perhaps Qingxi Village didn't need such growth.
A simple life was what they desired.
After several rounds of drinks, someone started it, and the villagers began to sing, tapping their bowls and chopsticks.
Xiao Ze stood in the boisterous crowd, watching the scene before him.
The villagers who had watched him grow up were beaming, and their simple joy was truly relaxing.
Xiao Ze suddenly felt that he, too, wanted to find a place to live quietly like this.
But ultimately, it was impossible.
(End of Chapter)
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