Chapter 182: The Homeland Is Hard to Leave

"Ying"

When she saw Ying arrive, Nan Qinghuan hurried forward and stood by his side. It must be said, Ying, dressed in a coarse Hemp Robe, now truly looks more and more like a mountain man.

The iron‑eating beast, seeing its master arrive, immediately rolled to Ying's feet, wanting to play, but Ying was in a bad mood and kicked it away with a single foot.

"Go away."

"Goo‑goo…"

The iron‑eating beast, kicked, let out a Goo‑goo, and Nan Qinghuan, a bit angry, said, "Don't kick it, it's so cute."

After saying that, Nan Qinghuan lifted the iron‑eating beast. Ying, seeing Nan Qinghuan, said that he hadn't spoken much either, and Ying merely repeated it once.

"Qinghuan, I'm afraid it's all for nothing; the house can't be repaired."

"I understand; it's because you all are unwilling to move away from here."

She felt a bit discouraged; she never expected the terrain to thwart the plans they had made.

Ying gave her a deep look, feeling somewhat guilty toward her. He had promised to build the house, but Youchao Xuan said the ground here was too low to construct, so... he was ready to give up.

"Qinghuan, it's not just me; the tribe won't agree to leave. We've lived here for hundreds of generations; we can't leave. Everyone is used to living here, and moreover, many of the tribe reject the house you mentioned; they feel living in the Cave is more comfortable and don't want to change."

These are the truth; Ying was afraid Nan Qinghuan would be displeased, so he hadn't mentioned them, but today a disagreement surfaced over the house issue, leaving no other option.

In fact, Ying had considered what Youchao Xuan proposed, but he cannot agree—absolutely cannot. Not only would he not consent, the tribe wouldn't either.

Youchao Xuan, seeing Ying arrive, continued to urge, "Ying, you can't do this. All my supplies are ready—wood, tools, people—they've already arrived. Consider the relocation; besides this method there is no other. Otherwise we'd be forced to build here, and when the Rainy Season comes it will be dangerous. What meaning is there in our hard work on the house? Isn't this damaging the reputation of the You Chao Clan?"

Youchao Xuan wants the house to achieve an ancient, illustrious reputation, but he doesn't want to see it washed away by floods. He hopes his house will stand for a hundred years, just as it does in Shanhai Yishi, standing unshaken for a century.

Hearing Youchao Xuan, Ying also grew angry, "You think about your house, but I think about my tribe. I know building a house is good, but Qinghuan, I'm sorry. If we truly have no power to move away this time, we would rather die in the Ying Tribe."

In the past, Ying would have been very angry and harshly scolded them, but now it's different. He said he'd change his temper so Nan Qinghuan wouldn't fear him; when a dispute arises, he now discusses it with her.

He spoke calmly with her, and he felt even more guilty about being unable to build a house and give her a home, because Qinghuan said that once the house is built, they can have offspring.

Now, regarding children and this homeland, he chooses to stay.

Ying felt distressed; fearing he couldn't control his temper, he left after saying that and walked away. This time Nan Qinghuan neither tried to hold him nor to persuade him, because she knew that leaving one's homeland is hard, and Ying would certainly refuse to abandon this place for a new one.

The tribe members felt the same.

She understood him, but the house still had to be built.

"Goddess, what should we do?"

Youchao Xuan didn't want them to quarrel, but should the house be built or not? Everyone from Youchao's side had arrived, the materials were all moved here—would it be all for nothing? He knew building the house was the Goddess's wish; she had worked so hard. Could it fail just because Ying and they refused to leave? Nan Qinghuan took several deep breaths, set the iron‑eating beast down, and surveyed the surroundings. The area was suitable for habitation, with mountains, water, and hunting grounds—a natural site. Yet... "Give me some time, let me think of a solution, okay?"

Youchao Xuan was about to say "I trust you" when he heard... "Youchao Xuan."

Youchao Xuan, seeing that female return, immediately bolted, "Goddess, you said I'm not here."

"Ah, Youchao Xuan, Youchao..."

Nan Qinghuan was speechless; she'd never seen Youchao Xuan so frightened of a woman. She turned her head to see who the woman was and saw... a young girl running toward them in a Hemp Robe. Nan Qinghuan was surprised—how could someone not from their tribe wear a Hemp Robe? No, on closer inspection it wasn't made by their people; the robe was finer and embroidered with patterns. She was delighted, "Girl, where did you get that clothing?"

Could there be another civilization here, with more advanced Embroidery Technique? She felt she had discovered a New Continent.

ChaoJi was very tall, much taller than Nan Qinghuan. When she saw her ask about the robe, she blinked her big eyes and said, "Ying's female, you like our clothing; tell me where Youchao Xuan is and I'll tell you, okay?"

It must be said, the girl is quite clever.

She asked about Youchao Xuan right away, and combined with his recent actions, she probably inferred something.

Is Youchao Xuan avoiding this girl? Indeed, the girl must like Youchao Xuan, while he doesn't like her much, so he ran.

"What are you looking for Youchao Xuan for?"

"Hmph, this person is a liar. He promised to take me back to the fierce lands, yet he came here and wants me to bring the building supplies, but he never shows up. Do you know anyone like that?"

The girl was quite young, looking about fifteen, with dark skin and dirty braids—truly resembling a primitive.

"Girl, are you a friend of Youchao Xuan?"

"No, we're from the same tribe. I'm called ChaoJi, Ying's female. When will you build the house? If you don't, we have to take our things back; the Rainy Season is imminent, you need to finish by next year."

Nan Qinghuan: "..."

"Welcome to the Ying Tribe, girl. The house will be built; you can settle first, I..."

"I won't stay. Your people live in the Cave here; I'm not used to that. We're accustomed to living in houses."

She only now realized how advanced Youchao Xuan's tribe was—they already had Hemp Robes and civilization. Indeed, compared to here, it's really poor.

We must strive to change.

But what can this girl do? She wanted to see.

"Girl, you keep saying you're here to build a house; may I ask what you can do?"

ChaoJi smiled, then took out several Wood Lumps from her pocket and proudly waved them before her.

"See? These are a few pieces of wood; I can make them turn into other things."