Chapter 332: Zhu Shun and Huang Tianxi, Does Does Da Xia's Third Cold Origin Banquet, Xia Yu

On the main road of the inner city, Zhu Shun led his wife Huang Yuniang and his three children, Zhu Shen, Zhu Wen, and Zhu Wen, walking toward the main building.

Zhu Shun was dressed in a descending-red Ying Xuan Ling gorgeous robe, and his wife and three sons were also clearly dressed up for the occasion. The family of five was unusually conspicuous on the main road. Many people coming and going recognized them and greeted them one after another.

"Master Zhu, Lady, peace and health for the Cold Origin!"

"Brother Meng is too polite, peace and health for the Cold Origin."

"Captain Zhu, peace and health for the Cold Origin. Are these your wife and three young masters?"

"Not bad, peace and health for the Cold Origin, peace and health for the Cold Origin!"

"Master Zhu's attire, are you going to the Political Hall for the banquet?"

"Hahahaha, just received a notice from the Camp Needs Department. Those who have been granted titles tonight can go to the Political Hall with the lord to celebrate the Cold Origin Festival together."

"Master Zhu, Lady, you have a treat tonight."

"Hahahaha!"

Zhu Shun responded politely to the greetings of passersby in the front. His wife behind him was radiant, clearly feeling unusually satisfied with her husband's current status in Does Does Da Xia. The three children also looked spirited, looking up at Zhu Shun's back from time to time, their admiration and respect for their father overflowing.

Huang Yuniang looked at the lights on both sides of the street, slightly clenching her silk sleeves, fearing that this was a dream and she would suddenly wake up at any time.

Thinking back three years ago, her husband Zhu Shun was just an ordinary Woodcutting Realm expert in the Huang Zhao camp. At that time, let alone cultivation, their family couldn't even guarantee two meals a day, basically living a life of hunger, lack of clothing, and restless sleep.

But ever since the Huang Zhao camp merged into Does Does Da Xia, from the moment her husband Zhu Shun was selected as a member of the first batch of hunting teams, the quality of their family's life began to rise rapidly like a rocket.

Endless food, endless cotton clothes, increasingly spacious and comfortable living environments, all kinds of exquisite furniture and utensils—let alone the three children, even she, a woman, could eat beast meat to cultivate to her heart's content. It could be said that there had been earth-shaking changes in all aspects of clothing, food, and housing.

Hunger, lack of clothing, and restless sleep—these had all become things of the past. What they were pursuing now was how to eat better, how to dress better, and how to sleep more sweetly.

If the previous changes were only improvements at the material level; then two months ago, on the first day of October, the moment her husband Zhu Shun was granted the title of Ninth-Rank Ying Xuan Ling Viscount by the lord, what it brought was satisfaction at both the material and spiritual levels.

The entire camp only granted 2 Eighth-Rank titles and 27 Ninth-Rank titles, and her husband Zhu Shun was one of them.

At first, she couldn't perceive how much significance this had.

But later, as the Camp Needs Department sent the Ninth-Rank Ying Xuan Ling Lady's mandate clothing, two maids, and five attendants, as well as her husband Zhu Shun's title salary, she gradually reacted.

And now, with her husband bearing the title of Lord, wherever she, the wife, went, people had to respectfully call her Lady, and even the three children had the title of Young Master like the successors of the camps in Longyou before.

Compared to those material enjoyments before, the psychological satisfaction brought by this improvement in status was particularly strong.

Therefore, Huang Yuniang often felt like she was dreaming, fearing that one day she would wake up and return to the dark cave under the cliff.

"Dad, why did you stop?"

Huang Yuniang's train of thought was interrupted by the voice of her eldest son, Zhu Shen. Looking up, she found that her husband next to her had suddenly stopped and was not continuing to walk forward.

"You go to the first floor of the main building and wait for me first. I'll go see your aunt!"

Hearing Zhu Shun's words, Huang Yuniang turned to look, and her expression froze instantly.

It turned out they had already walked to the vicinity of the main building, the entrance of Residence No. 7.

The owner of Residence No. 7 was Huang Yong, the former leader of the Huang Zhao camp who had sacrificed heroically in the Beehive defense battle half a year ago.

Huang Yong was not just her husband Zhu Shun's old leader, but also Zhu Shun's brother-in-law. His wife, Zhu Mei, was Zhu Shun's only younger sister.

When the Hunting Department was first established, the Zhao Long team was founded by Huang Yong and Zhu Shun together, but with Huang Yong as the leader. Now that Huang Yong had died in battle, the captain of the Zhao Long team naturally became Zhu Shun, which was also the reason why some people on the street called Zhu Shun captain just now.

"Dad, we want to see Aunt too."

"Aunt likes me the most, I want to see her too."

"Alright, let your dad go alone. You all follow me to the main building, hurry up!"

Hearing her young youngest son Zhu Yun and youngest daughter Zhu Wen also clamoring to go, Huang Yuniang immediately scolded them, took their little hands, and led her eldest son Zhu Shen quickly toward the main building.

Huang Yong had died in battle for half a year, and the Huang family now only had Zhu Mei and Huang Tianxi, an orphan and a widow. Worried that Zhu Mei would feel sad seeing their big family, her husband and she were careful to take turns visiting Zhu Mei alone on weekdays, so naturally, they wouldn't bring the three children to visit together at this moment.

Zhu Shun remained on the spot alone, looking at the firelight in the residence, sighed slightly, and then walked forward, gently knocking on the gate.

"Who is it?"

After the gate rang a few times, a somewhat childish child's voice came from inside, about eight or nine years old. This child seemed to be busy with something, and there was even some panting in his voice.

"Tianxi, it's me."

"Uncle, it's Uncle! I'll open the door. Mom, Uncle is here!"

Hearing his nephew's voice running excitedly toward the gate, Zhu Shun couldn't help but show a happy smile on his face.

Whoosh...

The gate opened, and a small fist suddenly hit straight out from the door, aiming directly at Zhu Shun's chest.

Zhu Shun raised an eyebrow. Not only did he not reach out to block it, but he also slightly relaxed his pores, lowering the defense of his skin membrane, and then smiled and caught the punch with his chest.

Slap...

This ordinary punch naturally couldn't cause any harm to Zhu Shun.

However, after catching this punch, Zhu Shun's expression froze instantly. Looking down at his nephew Huang Tianxi, who was not yet nine years old, his face was full of shock.

"Eight thousand nine hundred jin, good boy!"

Huang Tianxi was shirtless, wearing only cotton trousers, clearly practicing just now. Seeing the shock on Uncle Zhu Shun's face, he showed a hint of pride on his face, chuckled and said: "I said, Uncle, you would definitely be shocked when you came this time."

Zhu Shun was not just shocked at this moment; he knew very well what a base strength of 8,900 jin at less than nine years old meant.

The current record for breaking through to the Earth-Digging Realm in the Martial Arts Academy was ten years and one month. According to Director Qiu, it seemed very difficult to break the ten-year record, and there were not many seedlings in the entire camp at present.

If he remembered correctly, Huang Tianxi was still four months away from being nine years old, which meant his nephew had a full sixteen months to break the record.

This was almost a certainty!

It turned out that the few seedlings Director Qiu mentioned included his nephew.

"Good boy, how did you cultivate? The speed is so fast?"

"Above, there is the lord's grace; below, there is the father's legacy. Before I broke through to the Earth-Digging Realm, I not only had the qualification to cultivate in the Martial Arts Academy for three days every month, but I could also go to the Camp Needs Department to collect three Beast Spirit Pills. I don't have to serve, I just need to put my mind on cultivation. Having this speed is as it should be."

Huang Tianxi's expression had already recovered at this moment. Although he was young, his temperament could be switched freely. At this moment, when mentioning the lord and his father, his solemn demeanor formed a sharp contrast with his recklessness just now, which made Zhu Shun, the uncle, somewhat uncomfortable.

However, after listening to his nephew's words, Zhu Shun thought for a moment and shook his head: "These are just external things. Your own talent and diligence are the most important. Your eldest cousin Zhu Shen, I can also send him to the Martial Arts Academy three times a month, and I haven't lacked in exchanging Beast Spirit Pills, beast meat, and refined salt for him at the Camp Needs Department. He only broke through to the Earth-Digging Realm last month. Compared to you, he is far behind!"

Zhu Shun didn't say this to comfort his nephew.

His eldest son Zhu Shen was fourteen years old this year and had just broken through to the Earth-Digging Realm; his second son Zhu Yun was twelve years old, and his base strength was only 7,800 jin; his youngest daughter Zhu Wen was just six years old, and her aptitude couldn't be seen yet.

His three children, among the peers in Xia City now, were indeed considered quite good, but compared to the top batch, they were clearly not enough.

His nephew Huang Tianxi's aptitude was clearly comparable to the top batch.

Huang Yong could be considered to have a successor!

"Big brother, why did you come over?"

While Zhu Shun was sighing, his younger sister Zhu Mei had already walked out from the inner residence.

Seeing that Zhu Mei was also wearing the Ninth-Rank Lady's mandate clothing, Zhu Shun froze, then reacted and asked with surprise: "Did you also receive a notice from the Camp Needs Department?"

"Xi'er, we are going to the main building for the banquet soon. I have already prepared your clothes, hurry up and change."

"I know, I'll go right away."

Zhu Mei first signaled her son to change clothes, then smiled and nodded to Zhu Shun: "Received it. It was Director Qiu who sent someone to notify me, saying that anyone with a rank can bring their family to the banquet."

Getting Zhu Mei's confirmation, Zhu Shun's face was full of joy.

Huang Yong's Ninth-Rank Ying Xuan Ling Viscount title was posthumously granted. After all, he was no longer there. Strictly speaking, the Huang family had no title, only Zhu Mei bearing the Ninth-Rank Lady's mandate. It would have been normal for the Camp Needs Department to ignore them, but who would have thought that Qiu Peng would still invite her so thoughtfully.

That an orphan and a widow could receive such attention made Zhu Shun feel a few more points of loyalty to Does Does Da Xia. Although he was a Cold-Resistant Realm expert, he also had to risk his life outside frequently. Who could guarantee that he wouldn't end up like Huang Yong one day?

Now knowing that even if he died in battle, his family would still receive the camp's attention and care, he naturally felt much more comfortable.

Seeing that his nephew would take a while to change clothes, Zhu Shun was silent for a moment, lowered his voice and said: "Although Ah Yong's inheritance and pension are not small, you two, mother and son, still have to continue living in the future. The Camp Needs Department just stipulated that the title salary can only be collected for three more years after death. The half-year mourning period is about to pass. My previous proposal, you..."

"Big brother, don't mention this again!"

Zhu Mei's face sank instantly, directly interrupting Zhu Shun, not letting him finish his words.

Zhu Shun's expression froze, then anger rose on his face, and he continued: "The lord said very clearly in the Xia Law that one can remarry as soon as the mourning period is over. This is clearly aimed at your situation. You are only twenty-nine years old this year. Do you really intend to spend the rest of your life alone? Even if you can't forget Ah Yong for a short time, you at least have to give me an attitude. Within three years, within five years, it's all fine. Otherwise, how can I be at ease?"

Zhu Mei's face was full of stubbornness, her lips trembling slightly, as if she was intimidated by Zhu Shun's anger, lowering her head and not saying a word.

Seeing his sister's posture, Zhu Shun softened instantly, sighed heavily, lowered his tone, and said softly: "Big brother can help you for a while, but your second half of life is still long. I often go out, who knows which day I will end up with the same fate as Ah Yong? If you never remarry, I'm afraid I won't be able to close my eyes even if I die one day."

"Big brother, don't say that, I..."

Hearing these words from Zhu Shun, Zhu Mei burst into tears.

When her parents passed away, Zhu Mei was only six years old. She was basically raised by her brother Zhu Shun. Having depended on each other for so many years, how could she not know her big brother's feelings for her?

In the half year since her husband died, her big brother and sister-in-law basically sent things to her house every few days. Although she refused countless times, they would still send them without fail every few days.

Zhu Mei knew in her heart that Zhu Shun persuading her to remarry was for her own good from the bottom of his heart, but she just couldn't get over the hurdle in her heart.

"Listen to me, find another..."

Seeing Zhu Mei's expression soften, Zhu Shun thought she was moved by him and hurriedly prepared to continue persuading her while the iron was hot, but before he could finish, he was interrupted by Zhu Mei again.

"Big brother, you don't have to say any more. I can listen to you for other things, but not this one. I won't remarry. From now on, I will raise Tianxi to adulthood. I want to see him get married and have children, see him accumulate military merits, and smoothly inherit Ah Yong's Ninth-Rank Ying Xuan Ling title. I won't consider other things. The days will definitely get better slowly."

"Then what about the life of you two, mother and son, in the future? Ah Yong's pension and his inheritance are fine for your life, but they won't be enough for Tianxi's cultivation. He has high talent and is about to break through to the Earth-Digging Realm. The demand for beast meat will be greater. Beast Origin Pills, refined salt, and the beast blood needed after reaching the Earth-Digging Realm limit—these will drag you down..."

Hearing this, Zhu Mei gritted her teeth and said: "Big brother, exactly. I was planning to tell you tonight that my base strength is also 20,000 jin. I can join the hunting team, and I want to join the Zhao Long team."

"You..."

Hearing this from Zhu Mei, Zhu Shun was so angry that he couldn't speak.

Does Does Da Xia's development to this day had basically determined the lifestyle pattern of men outside and women inside. Women who went out mostly were responsible for some collection or mining work with less danger. There were also those who hunted, but they were generally unmarried or had husbands who were not capable.

Let alone those of them with titles, any man with a bit of ability, even if he bought a few captives, would help his family solve the problem of corvée labor. How could he bear to let his wife go out and risk her life with cold beasts?

"Sigh... forget it, forget it. Big brother can't persuade you. Since you insist on this, I won't say anything more in the future. You will have to suffer the bitterness yourself!"

Zhu Shun was silent for a long time, finally sighed heavily, and stopped talking.

He, as the big brother, knew his sister's temper very well. The persuasion in the previous half year had ultimately not had any effect.

In the future, he could only help from the side. Fortunately, his nephew's talent was indeed good. As long as he followed the steps, inheriting the title shouldn't be a big problem.

"The lord has already stipulated that if a title is granted due to other merits, it must reach at least one-third of the military merits required for the corresponding title. Killing 166 enemies on the battlefield—Tianxi's aptitude is good. As long as he can go to the battlefield, even if I have to risk my life, I will help him inherit Ah Yong's title!"

"Big brother..."

Hearing Zhu Shun's solemn promise, Zhu Mei's tears burst instantly, her heart clearly moved to the extreme.

"Tianxi is here, wipe your face!"

Zhu Shun didn't say anything else. Noticing that Huang Tianxi had come downstairs, he immediately reminded his sister to wipe her face so as not to let her nephew see anything unusual.

"Mom, I've changed my clothes, let's go!"

Although Huang Tianxi was not yet nine years old, he was already 1.5 meters tall. He was wearing a bright yellow cotton coat, with a dark blue beast-fur lined jacket for cold protection on the outside. Because he was under fifteen, he didn't wear a hair crown, and his black hair was tied behind his head with cotton thread, looking both clean and neat. Seeming to know that the banquet occasion tonight was important, his expression was also quite serious, and with his burly build, he looked like an adult.

"Alright, let's go together! Yuniang and the four are waiting for me on the first floor. Let's find them first, then go to the Political Hall for the banquet."

Huang Tianxi clearly noticed the tear stains on his mother Zhu Mei's face. He seemed to know the reason, noticed his mother deliberately turning her face to avoid it, and very sensibly pretended not to see it, even deliberately changing the subject, asking Zhu Shun: "Uncle, I heard that at the banquet in the Political Hall tonight, the lord, Minister Xia Chuan, and the directors of the six departments will all be there. Is it true?"

"Of course, not only that, but also Lord Yu Wen, Lord Yuan, Lord Qiu... whom you talk about on weekdays, will all be there. You can see them all at once tonight."

"That's great, hahahaha!"

Seeing the excitement on his nephew's face, Zhu Shun shook his head slightly.

Now the population of Xia City had exceeded 400,000. For children like Huang Tianxi who were not old, let alone the lord Xia Hong, even the directors of the six departments, they basically couldn't see them, so it was not strange to show such a reaction.

Zhu Shun led the mother and son to the main building quickly, but as soon as they entered the first floor of the main building, they were instantly dumbfounded.

It turned out that the first floor of the main building was filled with tables and was already a sea of people, with at least twenty thousand people at a rough glance.

"Follow me closely, don't get lost. How can there be so many people?"

Zhu Shun signaled the mother and son to follow closely, and then began to look for Huang Yuniang and the four children in the crowd.

Taking the opportunity to look for his wife and children, he observed the guests gathered on the first floor at this moment and immediately understood.

"All are Earth-Digging Realm experts, and they all have killing intent. They should all be members of the hunting teams, but it seems they are all members of low-level hunting teams. In this way, the second floor should be..."

"Is Master Zhu looking for the Lady and the children? They have already been received by me to the top floor Political Hall. Master, hurry up and go up too. It's almost time for the banquet."

A staff member of the Camp Needs Department responsible for the Cold Origin Banquet noticed the three of them with sharp eyes and hurriedly rushed up to signal the three to go upstairs from the suspension ladder in the middle.

"Thank you. Mei Niang, Tianxi, follow me up!"

Zhu Shun led the two to the suspension ladder and walked quickly to the top floor amidst the envious eyes of the crowd around him.

Huang Tianxi was clearly infected by the enthusiastic atmosphere, his face flushed, and he followed his uncle and mother to the hall quickly.

The huge golden load-bearing pillars sitting in the hall; the imposing circular golden giant roof above; the beast bone sculptures of various shapes and superior workmanship on both sides; the aroma of wine lingering in the hall; the various melons, fruits, and delicacies on the tables that he had never seen before; the holy cauldron burning with raging flames in the center of the hall...

Of course, there were also the two golden seats at the very back of the hall, symbolizing the peak of Does Does Da Xia's power.

Entering the hall for the first time, Huang Tianxi was naturally shocked by a pile of things he had never seen before.

"Dad, we are here."

"Aunt Mei is here too. Aunt, come quickly, we are here."

"Let's go!"

Until his uncle spoke, Huang Tianxi came back to his senses and followed his mother to the table where his aunt and cousin were.

There were a total of twenty-nine tables in the hall, clearly corresponding to the twenty-nine title holders of Does Does Da Xia at present; the number of chairs equipped for each table was also different, clearly corresponding to the specific number of people in each family. ===== CHAPTER 333 =====

There are a total of twenty-nine tables in the great hall, clearly corresponding to the twenty-nine current title-holders of Does Does Da Xia; the number of chairs provided at each table also differs, obviously corresponding to the specific number of people in each family.