Chapter 21: "Co On, Let's Go Ho!"
????The wall before them was unfamiliar.
??But the fields stretching out beyond it—Wang Kui knew them by heart. As the wall slowly sank into the earth, revealing a narrow passageway, Wang Kui wiped the rain from his brow. The exhaustion of their long journey seed to lift, replaced by a broad grin as he glanced back at his companions.
??“Co on, let’s go ho!”
??Wang Kui had never been a gambler.
??His whole life, he’d played it safe.
??He knew he had no special talents, had never awakened as a Special Practitioner. For thirteen years, he’d served the Wang Clan faithfully—never once stepping out of line, save for the occasional petty theft. Not because he was especially virtuous.
??No, he simply never had the nerve.
??Even when he’d first thrown in his lot with Chen Fan, it had been a whim—a half-hearted gamble, spurred more by circumstance than conviction. If not for the pressure from above, he doubted he’d ever have broken with the Wang Clan to join Chen Fan’s camp. But looking back now, maybe he’d made the right choice after all.
??If he could just survive this Rainy Season...
??He’d be among the first to join this new force. Becoming a head worker bee here was a real possibility—his prospects far brighter than anything the Wang Clan had ever offered.
??...
??About half an hour remained before Eternal Night fell.
??Rain lashed the land, shrouding the world in mist and chill. The cold seeped into every corner of the Wasteland.
??Waystation No. 37, Jiangbei Chen Clan.
??Inside a newly built wooden hut.
??Chen Fan and his group sat in a loose circle around the stove, each clad in dry clothes. Their soaked garnts hung from a rack nearby, steaming faintly in the warm air. Crippled Monkey moved quietly among them, passing out bowls of food.
??Every Waystation kept a sizable reserve of provisions.
??For now, they had enough to last two—maybe three—months. It was all rough grain, but it would suffice.
??Of course, it wouldn’t see them through the whole winter.
??But that was a worry for another day.
??“Wang Kui.”
??Chen Fan looked over at him. “Resources are tight. Space inside the Wall is limited—enough for just one house for now. The rest has to be saved for other buildings.”
??“Tomorrow, take a few n and put up a partition inside the house.”
??“I’ll sleep on the left with Crippled Monkey. The rest of you can lay out bedding on the right.”
??“No problem,” Wang Kui replied, rising quickly and nodding his assent.
??A cool draft slipped in through the door, but the stove’s heat soon chased it away.
??“Sit down,” Chen Fan said quietly, his face calm as he addressed the others. “No one knows if we’ll make it through the night. But since fate has brought us together here, let’s talk a little—share any wishes or regrets you carry. If any of us don’t make it, those who survive the Rainy Season can help fulfill those wishes. At least we won’t have t in vain.”
??“Wang Kui, you start.”
??“?” Wang Kui sat by the stove, his stiff, rain-chilled hands outstretched to the warmth. He thought for a long mont, then rasped, “Honestly, I don’t have any grand ambitions. Thirteen years with the Wang Clan—maybe I wasn’t a hero, but I worked hard.”
??“But I never got a promotion. Never got a raise.”
??“It stings, a little.”
??“I just want to save up so Ghoststone, marry a wife, and have a chubby son. But don’t trouble yourselves rembering that for —that’s sothing I’ll have to manage myself. None of you can help with that.”
??His words drew laughter from the group, the tension in the room easing for the first ti.
??“Aw, don’t say that...”
??A man who never let go of his long blade waggled his eyebrows, grinning. “If you kick the bucket, I’ll make sure my firstborn takes your surna—call it carrying on your family line!”
??Then he turned serious, looking at Chen Fan.
??“Station Master.”
??“Like Wang Kui, I used to be a Station Master for the Wang Clan. Didn’t serve as long—only three years. Never got promoted, never got a raise. But I hold no grudge against the Wang Clan.”
??“They only have so many positions to fill, after all.”
??“But—”
??“The Wang Clan just gave
a al. You, Station Master, saved my life.”
??“My na is Zhou Mo. Level 2 Practitioner. From now on, whatever you say, I’ll do.”
??“Zhou Mo...” Chen Fan repeated the na, his gaze lingering on the long knife in the man’s arms. “A blade user? Level 2 Practitioner. The Wang Clan never considered cultivating your talent?”
??This was the first Level 2 Practitioner he’d t.
??Zhou Mo shrugged, a bitter smile on his lips. “A Level 2 Practitioner isn’t much different from an ordinary person. A bit stronger, maybe, but in this world, even Practitioners can’t stand up to Ghostbeasts. At best, you’ve got a slightly better chance of survival.”
??“If you’re not a Special Practitioner, there’s no point in investing in you.”
??“When I was young, I absorbed a lot of Ghoststone, dreaming of becoming strong and roaming the world. That was just a fantasy. But I’ve loved the blade since I was a boy. Gave up on cultivation, but kept training with the knife—got pretty decent with it in my spare ti.”
??Next to the stove, Wang Mazi scratched the back of his head and spoke up. “Station Master, you know . I used to be Station Master at the Chen Clan’s Waystation No. 36. Before joining the Chen Clan I was a traveling rchant—couldn’t stay put. My only wish is to live a long life. Maybe, soday, see what lies beyond the horizon.”
??“See what the world is really like out there.”
??“You’ll get your chance,” Chen Fan nodded.
??Then Station Master Qi—nervous, fidgeting—found his voice. “I’m Qi Chong. Used to be Station Master for the Wild Wolf Gang. I don’t have any lofty ambitions. My old mother died to a Ghostbeast years ago—never even found her body.”
??“If I ever make it, I want to build a proper cenotaph for her, at least.”
??“There’s not much space in the city. Building a cenotaph isn’t cheap,” soone muttered.
??“Yeah,” Qi Chong nodded, voice small.
??Outside, the storm howled and rain battered the roof, but the stove’s warmth drove away the chill, letting everyone relax a little.
??Eternal Night was nearly upon them.
??After a while, the conversation grew easier, the group loosening up—even Crippled Monkey joined in with a few words.
??n’s talk was always the sa—whores in the city, which family had a new scandal, embarrassing stories from the past.
??Crude, perhaps, but perfect for breaking the ice.
??...
??After starting the conversation, Chen Fan mostly sat back, warming his hands by the fire. If he wanted to build his own force here in the Wasteland, these n would be his first foundation.
??He needed to know their personalities and strengths.
??Zhou Mo, always with his blade—had the makings of a lone fighter, perfect for leading a patrol or guard squad.
??Qi Chong—no ambition, steady and dutiful, with a sense of filial piety. He’d be well-suited to managing the farmland.
??Wang Kui—quick-witted, experienced, a natural deputy.
??Wang Mazi—an old hand at trading, always roaming. He could handle the camp’s trade, taking goods to the markets in exchange for Ghoststone.
??Crippled Monkey—utterly loyal, sharp and efficient. The kind of right-hand man you never let go.
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