Chapter 360: I'm Coming Back (9/15, Autumn Subscription)

"Man Shui Cun?!"

"Black smoke is rising—something's happened at Man Shui Cun!"

"Captain Ye, should we head over?"

Everyone in the group looked at Fang Yue, but judging by their expressions, their thoughts varied.

Some clearly showed resistance, not too keen on getting involved in Man Shui Cun's affairs—their own journey here had already been hard enough, tiring enough, and if they went to help Man Shui Cun and ran into some powerful anomaly, wouldn't they just drag themselves down with it?

Others looked at Fang Yue with hope, clearly thinking that Fang Yue, so valiant as he was, would surely resolve Man Shui Cun's trouble like a hero.

"Ye Ge…"

The Blood Hunter gave Fang Yue a slight shake of his head. Clearly, he also didn't support Fang Yue going to handle this matter.

After all, the Blood Hunter had been hoping all along for the group to speed up and hurry back to Gu Yue Cun.

If they went to Man Shui Cun now, the delay wouldn't be just a little, let alone the fact that they didn't even know what the situation at Man Shui Cun actually was.

If it turned out to be something even they couldn't handle, wouldn't that be the end of them.

"Ye Ge, Ye Ge, hurry up and go! Something's happened at Man Shui Cun, let's go watch the excitement!"

Tian Dan Zhi Yuan Wu was the biggest lover of spectacle who never thought things were big enough, and was directly ignored by Fang Yue.

He deliberated for a moment, then had an idea.

"We're going to Man Shui Cun."

"Ye Ge?!" The Blood Hunter clearly wanted to say something, but was cut off by Fang Yue.

"I know what you want to say, but don't forget, Man Shui Cun has helped us before. Our Gu Yue Cun also has an ancient pact with Man Shui Cun—mutual aid. If we stand by and watch them die now, then when something happens to Gu Yue Cun in the future, wouldn't Man Shui Cun also have a reason to do the same?"

Fang Yue's thinking and logic actually had no real problem—everything was so correct, so right.

But when it came down to reality, the Blood Hunter still felt Fang Yue shouldn't bother with Man Shui Cun.

But no matter what, since Fang Yue, this Captain, had already given the order, the group was not allowed a second voice.

Before Fang Yue gave the order, anyone could discuss and offer opinions.

But after Fang Yue set the direction, the whole team needed to follow Fang Yue's command without fail.

This was what a team was supposed to look like.

Speeding up, it wasn't long before Fang Yue once again arrived at the entrance of Man Shui Cun.

Unexpectedly, there was actually someone guarding the village entrance.

"Deputy Captain Ye?"

The Guard Team member at the village entrance still recognized Fang Yue, and upon seeing it was him, said joyfully: "Captain Shan has been muttering about you every day since you went to Mo Cun!"

Fang Yue: ……thanks a lot for telling me that!

The corner of his mouth twitching slightly, Fang Yue pointed at the thick column of black smoke in the village and asked: "Did something happen in the village?"

Fang Yue found it strange—clearly black smoke was rising inside Man Shui Cun, looking like a major problem at a glance, yet the guard at the village entrance was completely calm.

"Oh, it's nothing. That's our Man Shui Cun custom—every year around this time, we burn large scarecrows to bless Man Shui Cun with peace for the whole year.

These past few days, at this time every day, we send people to burn a large scarecrow. There's also a meaning of a bountiful harvest in it.

If Deputy Captain Ye is interested, you can stay a few more days in Man Shui Cun. I've already sent someone to notify Captain Shan. If she knows you've come back, she'll definitely be very happy!"

Fang Yue:???

I thought something major had happened to your village, and it turns out you're just celebrating?

Also, what do you mean calling her Captain Shan—do you look down on me, Fang Yue?!

"Let's go! Right now!"

With a blank expression, Fang Yue turned around and led the group straight out of the village.

"Ye Ge? Not going into the village?" the Blood Hunter said joyfully.

The others were also full of confusion—even if Man Shui Cun was fine, resting in the village for a day or half a day would still be good.

But Fang Yue didn't think that way. Man Shui Cun had a Captain Shan in it, and he had no desire to run into that woman again.

Under the stunned expressions of the Guard Team members at the village entrance, Fang Yue quickly led the group away from Man Shui Cun.

Looking back, one could see Captain Shan, who had been tidying her disheveled hair while running as if she had just been woken up, hurrying toward the village entrance.

"Faster! Faster!"

Fang Yue's face changed and he hurriedly urged them on.

The group picked up speed, leaving Man Shui Cun behind.

And at this moment, Captain Shan had only just arrived at the village entrance.

Seeing Fang Yue's group fleeing as if their lives depended on it, shrinking into little black dots, she stamped her foot in fury.

"What's there to be shy about! You've already come back to Man Shui Cun, come and see me!"

Captain Shan seemed to want to rush out of the village and catch up with Fang Yue's group.

But thinking of Fang Yue's attitude, and that fleeing speed, her expression flickered between dark and light for a while before she finally suppressed her emotions.

"Hmph! You can dodge the first day of the month, but can you dodge the fifteenth? The Inter-Village Activity is almost here, and you're a Deputy Captain in the prime of your youth—surely you can't not come participate! When the time comes, you'll still have to face me! Heh heh!"

As if thinking of something, a faint blush rose on Captain Shan's cheeks. She put her index finger in her mouth and gently nibbled it, extremely alluring, making the eyes of the guard members beside her go wide.

But once discovered by Captain Shan, they were immediately scolded by her.

"What are you looking at? Never seen me before? Keep staring and I'll gouge your eyeballs out!"

Grumbling and cursing, Captain Shan walked back into the village.

The scolded village entrance guard scratched his head in frustration.

"Where did that temper come from, why take it out on us…"

"Morning grumpiness, morning grumpiness. Captain Shan was woken up from her dreams by us, of course she's in a bad mood."

The moment morning grumpiness was mentioned, everyone revealed a forgiving expression as if by unspoken agreement.

After all, who doesn't have morning grumpiness? Especially when Captain Shan got out of bed only to find no one there, forced to sulk back home and sleep another nap—who could stay in a good mood?

The misunderstanding in Man Shui Cun was merely a small incident.

After passing Man Shui Cun, everyone could feel that Gu Yue Cun was drawing nearer.

The village paths around them seemed to grow familiar.

The once fearsome wilderness scenery now, accompanied by the emotion of returning home, appeared almost beautiful.

Some in the squad even began humming tunes.

The Blood Hunter, unusually, lowered his guard and stopped frantically pushing the squad to hurry; moreover, since Fang Yue could once again be a lazy fish, he remained online for long stretches, easing the Blood Hunter's burden.

As a result, Tian Dan Zhi Yuan Wu, because Fang Yue stayed online so long, also extended her time in the game.

Thinking of returning to Gu Yue Cun to sell the specialty goods and meeting Lord Han again, Fang Yue felt a faint thrill in his heart.

Besides, Ma Tiejiang was still in Gu Yue Cun; given the example of Ma Ling'er, Fang Yue didn't think Ma Tiejiang was any good person—he needed to be captured and interrogated.

In short, if he returned to Gu Yue Cun, Fang Yue still had plenty to do; and after spending so many days away with the escort squad, the long-awaited return home stirred in him a touch of homesickness.

Gold nest, silver nest—still, your own dog's nest is the coziest.

Having seen several other villages—flourishing, decaying, distinctive, unremarkable—he ultimately felt the deepest affection for Gu Yue Cun.

Gu Yue Cun, I'm coming back!

Can't take it anymore… so sleepy…

(End of Chapter)