LRAB Chapter 317 Lodging
Chapter 317 Lodging
Chapter 317 Lodging
"Hey kid, why aren't you taking the money and going home? What are you doing following me?" Wu Heyi's voice wasn't loud, but the little brat less than two meters behind him could hear him clearly.
At this moment, Wu Heyi frowned slightly, his eyes filled with a hint of doubt and impatience. His tall and straight figure looked particularly robust in the afterglow of the setting sun. Although his clothes were somewhat old, they were clean and tidy, showing that he had experienced many hardships.
Seeing that the other party did not respond, Wu Heyi stopped. His steps, which had been steady and powerful, suddenly stopped, raising a small cloud of dust.
The little boy named Rong also stopped. He was thin and small, wearing a patched coarse cloth shirt, with messy hair and a look of timidity and stubbornness on his face.
Wu Heyi turned around and stood face to face with the other person. He crossed his arms, and although he didn't deliberately exude any aura, his sharp eyes still made Rong feel a little scared.
Rong unconsciously took a small step back, clutching the hem of her clothes tightly with both hands, and lowered her head, not daring to look Wu Heyi in the eye.
"Speak up, or don't blame me for taking action!" Wu Heyi said, feigning ferocity. He deliberately raised his voice, which carried an undeniable air of authority.
His eyes were fixed on Rong, trying to read his thoughts from the child's expression.
Rong hesitated for a moment, his feet shifting nervously on the ground. After a long while, he finally mustered up the courage to say, "Big brother, my mother said I can't just take money from other people!"
His voice trembled slightly, carrying a hint of tension and determination.
"So?" Wu Heyi asked calmly, a hint of sarcasm in his tone, "Are you planning to leave me a hand, or a leg?"
He tilted his head slightly, a half-smile playing on his lips.
Hearing this, a flicker of fear crossed the boy's heart, and his body trembled slightly, but he still mustered his courage and said, "I can...I can...I can do it for you..."
Rong's voice grew fainter and fainter. He couldn't think of any use for himself. He had no cultivation or ability, and was usually an inconspicuous presence in the village.
He lowered his head, his face showing anxiety and helplessness, and he kept rubbing his hands together.
Wu Heyi looked at the child who was about to cry and felt utterly speechless. He shook his head helplessly, thinking to himself, "Why is this child so stubborn?"
Indeed, in those war-torn years, even survival was a problem for ordinary families.
Everywhere there were traces of war; villages were burned down, farmland was abandoned, and people were displaced.
Even in peacetime, if a family has the talent of a Soul Master, it would take a lot of money to cultivate him, let alone in times of war!
The Star Luo Empire adheres to the law of the jungle, where the strong are respected, unlike the Heaven Dou Empire, which is relatively able to teach without discrimination.
In the Star Luo Empire, without a powerful background and strength, it's difficult to rise to prominence.
On this continent, there are many people who have a little bit of talent for cultivation, but they never have the chance to stand out.
They are like gems buried in the dust, ignored by everyone.
"Alright, I need someone to serve me tea and water, so you can come with me!" For some reason, Wu Heyi gave the child a way out.
Perhaps seeing the stubbornness and will to survive in the child's eyes, or perhaps recalling his own difficult past, he patted Rong on the shoulder, his tone softening slightly.
Upon hearing Wu Heyi's words, Rong was overjoyed. His eyes lit up, a bright smile spread across his face, and he jumped up excitedly, saying, "Thank you, brother! I will definitely serve you well!"
His voice was filled with gratitude and joy.
"Come on, tell me what your martial spirit is!" Wu He said as he walked, his steps becoming steady and powerful again, as if the little incident just now had not affected him at all.
Rong hurriedly handed the dagger in his hand to Wu Heyi and said, "Master, this is my Martial Soul Flame Crystal Blade. After being infused with soul power, it can release a faint flame blade light."
With a hint of pride on his face, he carefully handed the dagger to Wu Heyi.
Rong quickly explained the function of his martial soul to Wu Heyi, gesturing as he spoke: "As long as I inject my soul power into this sword, I can release a fiery blade aura. Although it is very weak, it can still play a certain role."
His eyes were full of expectation, hoping that Wu Heyi would recognize his martial spirit.
Wu Heyi took the dagger and looked at it. How could this be called a knife? Although one side of the blade had a curve similar to a knife, its length was not even enough to be considered a short knife. At most, it could only be considered a dagger.
The hilt of this dagger is made of rough wood with some simple patterns carved on it, and the blade is not very sharp. It is obviously made by an ordinary family.
Wu Heyi shook his head. Now he understood where this kid named Rong got his confidence to be a robber!
Even if the blade's aura is weak, it has fire properties, so it's perfectly fine to use it as a lighter.
As the sky gradually darkened, the afterglow of the setting sun dyed the entire sky orange-red.
Wu Heyi abandoned his plan to reach the next town in a day and a night. He looked up at the sky, frowned, and thought that there was no rush to get there.
He asked Rong for directions to his village, intending to stay there for the night and take the child home.
After all, my decision to take him with me was just a momentary act of kindness.
When Rong heard that Wu Heyi was going to visit his home, he was incredibly excited. He skipped and hopped ahead, saying as he went, "My lord, although my family is poor, my mother's cooking is delicious, I'm sure you'll like it!"
His face was beaming with happiness, as if he could already see Wu Heyi enjoying his meal at his house.
On the winding, overgrown mountain path, Wu Heyi walked along, stumbling along with Rong.
The soil beneath my feet was soft and damp, and with each step I felt like I was sinking deeper into it.
They walked along the mountain path for about 30 minutes.
At first, in the hazy mist and swirling mountain air, only the vague outline of a village could be vaguely seen.
Its outline, nestled amidst a verdant forest, resembled an unfinished ink painting, sketched with only a few faint strokes.
As the two approached, the village gradually became clearer.
Wu Heyi's heart skipped a beat, as if an invisible hand had suddenly gripped his heart.
What appeared before him was a dilapidated village nestled in a mountain valley. The houses in the village were crooked and dilapidated, with large patches of plaster peeling off the walls, revealing the rough bricks and stones underneath.
The thatched roof was sparse and trembled in the breeze, as if it could be blown away at any moment.
The dilapidated state of these houses is comparable to that of the economically impoverished and neglected small towns in the former Sun Moon Empire.
Rong led Wu Heyi through the dilapidated village, making many twists and turns, and soon arrived at the front of his house.
The door was already dilapidated, with deep cracks all over the door panel, as if wrinkles etched by time.
Rong reached out, gently grasped the rusty door knocker, and slowly pushed it open.
With a piercing creak, a pungent smell wafted out – the stench of a wooden door rotting in a damp environment, a mixture of earthy odor and decaying weeds, making one involuntarily frown.
Rong strode inside, and Wu Heyi hurriedly followed.
Upon entering the house, the first thing that catches the eye is the dim lighting.
The paper pasted on the windows was already riddled with holes, and sunlight could only filter through those holes, sporadically illuminating the floor inside.
In the middle of the room, a hunched woman was lying on a dilapidated bed.
Her body was so thin and bony that it looked as if a gust of wind could blow her over.
Hearing the noise, she struggled to get out of bed, every movement was so difficult, as if every joint in her body was in pain.
Beside the bed, a little girl of only three or four years old was squatting on the ground, carefully tending to some plants.
Although her little hands were still small, they were very skillful, and her movements were quick and efficient. Her earnest and focused expression perfectly embodied the saying "a poor child learns to be independent early."
In this dilapidated little house, the hardships and difficulties of life are vividly reflected in the lives of this old man and the young boy.