Chapter 363

"Lin Ling, Captain!"

"Lin Ling, Captain."

The crowd parted to make a path, and Lin Ling walked up to Fang Yue, holding a small wooden box in his hands.

"Catch."

With a light toss, the small wooden box landed in Fang Yue's hands.

"What's this?" Fang Yue hefted it—it felt weightless.

"Sent by the Qing Office. Inside are your official Captain credentials and some other things—take your time going through them."

Only then did Fang Yue notice his name carved on the box: Yese Liming—Third Captain of Gu Yue Cun Guard Team.

He opened the box: inside lay five or six small bottles, an identity plaque, and a Document.

Fang Yue first examined the pills in the bottles: three bottles for increasing cultivation, three for healing injuries.

Each bottle of cultivation-boosting pills contained about a dozen pills—not much.

But each bottle of healing pills contained exactly one hundred pills.

Compared to the Zha Yuan Pills Fang Yue often saw, these three bottles of pills had far more normal descriptions.

It was like comparing street vendor junk to a proper restaurant meal.

Fang Yue quickly put away the healing and recovery pills after a quick glance.

The real focus was the last bottle—the one for restoring Internal Breath.

"Name: Zheng Yuan Pill."

"Grade: Good Grade Lower Tier."

"Effect: Restores Internal Breath."

"Description: Made primarily from Blood Stone, blended with large quantities of auxiliary herbs. Superior effect, unlikely to accumulate pill toxins, safe for multiple doses."

"Note: Real candy!"

Fang Yue didn't dare try one right then and there, but just from the description, this thing was no ordinary pill—far, far superior to Zha Yuan Pills.

Fang Yue suddenly had a question.

"Do all Captains get these when they take office?"

"Yes. The only difference is the quantity. You earned great merit—the Qing Office clearly holds you in high regard, so they gave you more. Of course, if you think it's too much, you can sell me some."

Lin Ling's old eyes were hungry for those bottles of cultivation-boosting pills.

Fang Yue hurriedly tucked all the bottles away—he still wanted his strength to grow faster, and had no intention of giving away resources.

"But if every Captain gets these pills, why have I never seen you take any?"

This was clearly a sorrowful question—Lin Ling couldn't help but tilt his head up at a forty-five-degree angle toward the sky: "Because… we ate them all. We've been Captains for years, survived countless life-or-death battles—there's nothing left in storage."

As he spoke, Lin Ling's tone carried a hint of bitterness—he likely received far fewer pills than Fang Yue did back then.

The craftsmen responsible for repairing the Di He, alongside the villagers, had lowered the stone materials and were hauling in piles of supplies—Gu Yue Cun was bustling with activity.

With Lin Ling present, such minor tasks didn't require Fang Yue's command—it was a rare moment of ease.

The other two items in the small wooden box were just a wooden identity plaque—its texture felt incredibly smooth. According to Lin Ling, it was resistant to extreme heat and cold, unlikely to break, and could simply be kept on one's person.

The final item was a Document, issued by the Qing Office of Qingsi County, officially appointing Fang Yue as Captain of Gu Yue Cun, effective immediately.

It also stated he must report to the Qing Office once a year, though no specific date was given—anytime within the year would suffice.

"Don't just stare at it—tell me what happened on your journey. The escort team clearly lost many people. Did they stay in Mo Cun… or die on the road…?"

Lin Ling spoke as if casually, but his peripheral gaze never left Fang Yue.

Was it his imagination, or had Fang Yue's aura grown stronger since returning?

No, no—that was impossible. In just over ten days, how could he have broken through again? It must be an illusion!

"My journey was long and complicated—we'll discuss it later. First, gather the Guard Team. We need to capture someone."

Fang Yue's gaze swept over the busy scene, then turned toward the depths of Gu Yue Cun.

Ma Tiejiang's forge lay in that direction.

Other matters could wait.

But capturing Ma Tiejiang was paramount.

"Capture someone? Who… oh, Hua Wuye's here. She was on night watch last night and slept soundly. I barely woke her up—she took ages to wash up and get ready, so she's only just arrived. You don't know how exhausting it's been without you—I did day shifts, she did night shifts, every single day. Lord Han has been in seclusion since you left the village—never emerged."

Lin Ling complained beside him.

Far off, Fang Yue could already see Hua Wuye approaching.

He waved to her; she quickly reached their side.

The three Captains of Gu Yue Cun were reunited at last.

"Deputy Captain Yese… no, Captain Yese, welcome back to the village!"

Unlike Lin Ling's slightly smug tone, Hua Wuye's voice was far more sincere.

After all, Fang Yue was the one who uncovered the true murderer behind her family's massacre.

After brief pleasantries, Hua Wuye rose slightly on her toes and scanned the crowd twice, then her expression darkened with disappointment.

"Hua Qiuqiu… someone from the Hua Family of Mo Cun—no one came back with you to Gu Yue Cun?"

Fang Yue froze, puzzled by her question.

He didn't know what exactly Hua Wuye's letter had said, but her tone implied the Hua Family of Mo Cun should have sent someone with him.

Seeing Fang Yue's reaction, Hua Wuye's expression dimmed slightly: "…It's fine. If they won't come, let them stay."

Though she spoke lightly, her clenched fist betrayed her inner turmoil.

Fang Yue quickly pulled out the iron box Hua Qiuqiu had given him—the one engraved with the pattern of Phoenix Dancing Through Nine Heavens—and handed it to Hua Wuye.

"What's this?" Hua Wuye blinked, but as soon as she recognized the box's shape, her pupils shrank: "How did this end up with you? Did Hua Qiuqiu die?"

Fang Yue:???

How did you even think of this?

Fang Yue quickly and patiently gave a brief explanation of the cause and effect.

"She… actually agreed to let me keep this thing…" Hua Wuye's expression grew distant, her thoughts drifting far into the past.

Only when Fang Yue placed the 【Heavy Water Shoes】 before her did she blink in surprise.

"What's this? Also from Hua Qiuqiu?"

"No no no, this is a small trinket I bought in Mo Cun. Wear it on your feet, step into water, and it increases weight to enhance training. I specifically bought it for you."

"For… me? You bought this as a gift?"

Hua Wuye looked up at Fang Yue, then at Lin Ling beside her, expressionless, and scratched her slightly reddened cheek with her finger: "I… I already have someone I like."

"Huh?"

"So I can't accept your gift. Thank you!"

"…You've misunderstood. Didn't you give me the Wu Mu Fruit before? I didn't know its value then. When I found out, I had little money, so I bought this to return the favor. So don't be formal with me—take it. It's just a small thing."

(End of Chapter)