Chapter 407: Two Choices

After a hearty feast, Chen Wuji sent people up the mountain to fetch Huo Sanniang and the others, and notified the clansmen and villagers that they could come down the mountain.

For the clansmen, those who wish to go down the mountain may do so now; those who do not wish to come down may continue living on the mountain, or they may split their households right there.

For the villagers, Chen Wuji's terms are comparatively harsh: they must move down, or else attach themselves to the Chen Family in a deep binding; the choice is up to them.

That place was originally the Chen clan's secret rise‑ground, but when Chen Bushi went up the mountain he could not bear to see the villagers suffer, so he brought them all with him.

That was correct; if it were Chen Wuji, he would have done the same.

Only Chen Bushi carried things out overly thoroughly, dividing the houses and even the fields.

With that maneuver, the nature of the refuge changed.

Chen Wuji also could not simply ignore the reason; he had everyone driven down the mountain.

After all, that refuge was hewn out by the Chen ancestors enduring countless hardships, blow by blow; it is the obsession and painstaking effort of generations of the Chen clan. Chen Wuji does not care what Chen Bushi thought, but he will absolutely not let outsiders enjoy it guilt‑free.

What's more, a large portion of the villagers had previously targeted the Chen clan in every way, making things difficult for them at every turn.

They could either attach themselves to the Chen clan or move down; they had only those two options.

The Chen ancestors had crafted that valley to perfection, attending to every detail.

In this chaotic era where military disasters run rampant, that place is absolutely the unequaled choice for seclusion.

The only flaw is the difficulty of going down the mountain.

If one wanted to go down to the city to attend a market or such, they would have to spend the night in the city, or set out before dawn, and could barely make it back after night had fully fallen.

By the time noon approached the next day, the people in the mountain came down.

Huo Sanniang, Shen Youwei, and Xue Hongdou each came with a small bundle, traveling light.

From afar they saw Chen Wuji standing at the gate, flanked on both sides by dozens of armored guards; Shen Youwei tossed her bundle aside, ignored the guards beside Chen Wuji, and darted over like a swallow into its nest, throwing herself into his arms.

"My lord, I've missed you so much… your scent is wonderful." Shen Youwei grabbed Chen Wuji's head and rubbed it all over in his arms, making the surrounding guards either stare at the sky or stare at the ground.

Shen Youwei showed no shyness at all, yet she made those old veterans blush all over, each wearing an auntie's smile.

Chen Wuji also felt embarrassed by Shen Youwei's antics, saying, "All right, all right, so many people are watching."

"Let them look; I'm the consort appointed by the Court for you." Shen Youwei muttered, "My embrace is proper and lawful—I not only hug, I also want to kiss. Come on, give me a kiss, my lord—mm…"

Chen Wuji pressed a hand over Shen Youwei's plump lips, "Don't make a fuss, don't make a fuss, we'll kiss later."

"Hehe, even my lord gets shy." Shen Youwei giggled, let go of Chen Wuji, then turned her gaze to the knife held by a nearby soldier and crept over furtively.

"Uncle, may I have a look at your sword? It looks mighty impressive."

The guardsman who was asked, his auntie‑smile vanishing instantly, turned stern: "Madam, you probably can't lift this sword; better not try."

"It's just a sword—how heavy can it be? Let me give it a try," Shen Youwei pleaded.

The guardsman looked helplessly at Chen Wuji.

"Put it on the ground and let her play; if she can't lift it, she'll lose interest," Chen Wuji said.

"Here!"

The guardsman placed the strange sword on the ground.

Shen Youwei, face bright with excitement, ran over at once.

She did pick it up, but she wielded it like she was performing drunken fist, the sword dragging her along.

In the end only Chen Wuji stepped in to help her control it, then returned the sword to the guards.

"You're always doing baffling things—have you lost interest now?" Chen Wuji asked irritably.

Shen Youwei gave a weak nod, "This sword is so heavy, yet those uncles hold it as if it were light—does that mean they're really formidable in battle?"

"They really are!" Chen Wuji said sincerely.

Chen Li walked over from afar and said, "Family Head, everything on the mountain has been settled. Lao Jiu didn't come down; he intends to keep guarding up there. Only a few households in the village are unwilling to attach to our Chen Family; they moved down with their whole families, while the others simply split their households this morning."

"Anyone with a bit of sense knows how to choose," Chen Wuji said.

This result was no surprise.

For ordinary farming households, splitting the household is actually a very difficult matter.

Those who are split off must spend years building their own houses; if a family already has little land, they must also reclaim new fields or find another livelihood.

Now, if they choose to rely on the Chen Family, it is as if the Chen Family has provided them with a courtyard in the mountain, cleared fields, and at the same time they will not lose their houses and fields in the village.

"Which households are unwilling?" Chen Wuji asked.

"The Yuan Family."

Chen Wuji smiled. "No surprise."

"Let me inform San Shu to send people to keep a close watch on the Yuan Family; they know the location of the mountain villa, and since Gu Wenjie isn't dead, we can't rule out that he might send people to launch a surprise attack."

"Yes!"

Although the chance of this happening is now so low it can almost be ignored,

but as long as there remains any possibility, Chen Wuji must treat it as a matter to be handled.

The Chen and Yuan families have harbored grudges for a long time; although the Chen clan just saved the entire Yuan clan's lives, no one can guarantee they won't act as guides for the enemy.

Chen Wuji dare not count on their gratitude and repayment.

"By the way, why don't I see San Shu today?" Chen Wuji looked around and suddenly asked.

Chen Li shook his head. "I don't know."

"That's fair; I was just asking because you went up the mountain last night. Never mind, we'll talk when he returns." Chen Wuji waved his hand; he actually still had a few things he wanted to discuss with Chen Bushi.

"You also need to settle your own household; go attend to your affairs. For now you don't need to follow me—there are plenty of people around, and I won't run into any trouble."

Chen Li shook his head. "There's nothing to settle at my home; I've already taken care of what needed to be done."

Seeing this, Chen Wuji did not press further.

Chen Li and his companions regard his life as more important than their own.

"Wuji, how many days can you stay at home lately?" After Chen Wuji and Chen Li finished their matters, Huo Sanniang asked in a gentle voice.

Chen Wuji lightly put his arm around Huo Sanniang's soft waist, walking toward the courtyard, while saying: "This time I should be able to stay for a long while; Yunan's battle is over, as long as nobody provokes me, I definitely won't move again."

He has never concealed his ambition; this small mountain village will surely have to go out again.

But now he will indeed settle down peacefully.

He still has many important things to do while staying peaceful.

Huo Sanniang gave a light, shallow smile, her face full of joy, and said in a low voice: "Then hurry up and have a child, don't waste a single day; who knows when you'll suddenly be called to battle."

Chen Wuji:!!!!