Chapter 359 - Taming Shelter

เผยแพร่เมื่อ 17 มี.ค. 2569 07:40

Elder Chen, who had been silently observing, let out a bitter laugh. "Normal? These guys aren't the only ones who mistreat us. But of course, it's nothing new that nobody finds out because we're so few here in the outskirts that statistic collectors don't even bother to come. They simply guess random numbers for their reports." "That's true, but that's not what they're talking about, neighbor," Reed clarified, wincing as a wave of pain washed over him. "We pretended everything was fine to avoid worrying our son, and although we partly believed that the almost non-existent interest in the area would hide us... It was a mistake." Wei frowned, processing the information. "I also thought you were well hidden precisely because Ren has a very obscure origin with a very uncommon surname in the records. But this..." he gestured toward the knocked guards, "this seems as if they were waiting for Ren to arrive." "Kassian must have remained interested," Lin murmured, her eyes narrowing. "He still wants information about the purifying ray... He must have put people to search for them and wait for Ren to appear, perhaps to use them and facilitate capture... Though again, he underestimated my student." Her last words carried a hint of pride despite the grim circumstances. "It makes sense," Yang nodded. "Wait until you visited your parents, perhaps he was already watching them for some time, to prevent them from escaping and to use them as bait..." "We should take your family to the city," Wei suggested, finishing concealing the last evidence. "They'll be safer there." Elder Chen shook his head, pointing to the column of smoke still rising into the sky. "With all due respect, that smoke has alerted every patrol for kilometers. Although I don't doubt your group's strength... Trying to cross the border now would be obvious and much more dangerous. There would be dozens of alert guards reinforcing the highly probable fight." "What do you suggest then?" asked Yang. "Wait," Chen responded with the wisdom of someone who has survived decades on the margins. "In the morning, when workers cross en masse to their jobs, the guards will be busy processing hundreds of people. A small group could go unnoticed among the crowd until the end." "Besides," he added with a shrewd smile that transformed his aged face, "an elite group like yours wouldn't have problems with the few guards who would remain attentive tomorrow. Especially if they're distracted with the morning flow." Reed leaned heavily against Fern, the pain from the lashes finally overcoming his adrenaline. "Perhaps Mr. Chen is right," Ren said, concern evident in his voice as he watched his father struggle to remain standing. "Then it's decided," Lin declared. "We'll rest at Mr. Chen's house, tend to the wounds, and cross with the workers at dawn." "The carriage is very conspicuous. We can't simply leave it here," Wei observed. Ren looked toward the vehicle that had brought them, where the Pegasus driver waited nervously, his eyes scanning the horizon for signs of patrols. The carriage's ornate design and official insignia made it stand out starkly against the humble surroundings. "He's right," Wei agreed. "We must take our belongings and send the carriage back. An official vehicle with the Pegasus emblem should be able to leave the border easily after its business is completed." They headed toward the carriage at a quick pace. The driver startled upon seeing them approach, his hands tightening reflexively on the reins. "Is... everything alright?" he asked, though the answer was evident in their blood-spattered appearances. "We need you to return to the city. I know you were supposed to be on a round trip but you won't be able to wait for us... go," Lin ordered. "It's not safe to remain here." "But Miss Alicia ordered me to wait and take you back," the driver protested weakly. Wei produced a small paper and signed it. "This certifies that we released you from your obligation for security reasons. Your boss will understand." While they discussed the details, Ren hurried to unload his belongings. His backpack, notably large and bulky as always. Then, with Yang's help, they unloaded a long case containing a bow and a quiver of finely crafted arrows. "Did you bring your entire arsenal?" asked the professor with a raised eyebrow as he watched Ren unsheathe a spear and a silver-rank dissection dagger. The weapons gleamed with the unmistakable quality of master craftsmanship. "I wanted to show some things to my parents," Ren replied, a slight blush coloring his cheeks. "So they could see my progress." "I see..." Yang said quietly, his expression softening with understanding. The last pieces they unloaded were two medium-sized chests, sealed with complex symbols that glowed faintly in the darkness. When Fern asked about their contents, Ren simply replied: "Materials. For cultivation." "Materials?" "And crystals," he added with a smile. "Many crystals.". As half the group moved away from the scene, preparing to follow Elder Chen, Ren looked back one last time at what remained of his childhood home. "Ready," said Yang when the carriage was empty. The driver nodded. With a snap of reins, the carriage began to move away, taking with it the last obvious connection to their presence. The sound of hooves faded gradually into the night. "Now then," murmured old Chen. "Let's go before the patrols reach here." ♢♢♢♢ As the group moved away from the scene, Ren walked between his parents, still processing everything that had occurred. The recovered crystals clinked softly in the bag his father now carried, a small consolation against the loss of what was once their home... Now they would have to pay for damages to the new owner. Elder Chen guided them through narrow paths between the vegetation, avoiding main routes. Other neighbors watched them from the shadows, some nodding in silent solidarity. The community's invisible network of support became tangible in these small gestures. "This way," Chen whispered, pointing to a modest house that seemed to blend into the landscape. Chen's house turned out to be more spacious than its modest facade suggested. Built partially against a gentle hill, it extended backward with several annexes added over decades. The architecture spoke of pragmatic expansion rather than aesthetic design. "My son expanded the house when he married," Chen explained as he guided them through a narrow hallway. "And then again when the grandchildren were born." Pride warmed his voice as he spoke of his family's growth. Turning a corner, they encountered a middle-aged man cutting vegetables in a rustic kitchen. Upon seeing them, especially noticing the injuries and blood, he dropped his knife with a clatter that seemed unnaturally loud in the quiet house. "Father? What does this mean?" "They're my guests, Liang," Chen responded calmly. "The Patinders need temporary shelter." Before Liang could protest, two children burst into the kitchen, stopping abruptly at the sight of strangers. But their eyes widened enormously upon recognizing Ren, surprise replacing their initial wariness. "Ren!" exclaimed the elder, a boy of about twelve. "What are you doing here? We thought you were at that rich school!" His excitement cut through the tension like sunlight through storm clouds. Ren blinked, surprised at being recognized. "Tao? Li?" The familiar faces seemed to momentarily transport him back to simpler times. "You know them?" asked Lin, looking alternately at her pupil and the children. "We played together when there was no work in the fields," Ren explained. "Before the Academy." The memory of those carefree days felt impossibly distant now. Chen smiled. "Kids have fun, even here in the outskirts. Now, Liang, we need the storehouse for our guests. And hot water to clean those wounds before Ma's healing." Liang's initial concern dissipated upon recognizing that the strangers accompanying their neighbors wore official school uniforms. "The storehouse is somewhat cluttered, but it has space," he conceded. While Liang prepared hot water, his mother washed her hands, and his wife searched for bandages and medicinal herbs, news of the visitors spread quickly among the relatively close neighboring children. "Did you hear about the patrollers?" asked an elderly woman from among the neighbors who had witnessed the confrontation. Her voice carried both fear and vindication. "What happened?" added a man, appearing behind her, his work clothes still dusty from the day's labor. Soon, the Chen household was filled with curious neighbors, each learning of the incident and promising not to betray their old neighbor. But almost all neighbors in the surrounding area were already informed. In the relative isolation of the outskirts, any out-of-the-ordinary event was cause for gathering and debate. "Please!" Chen finally intervened, raising his hands. "Let our guests rest. Tomorrow there will be time for stories." With murmurs of disappointment but accepting the old man's logic, the neighbors began to disperse, not without first offering food, additional blankets, and in one case, homemade liquor "to calm the nerves." Each gift, however modest, represented a defiant gesture against the oppressive system that had divided their city. ♢♢♢♢ The storehouse turned out to be a spacious and relatively clean area. Orderly piles of wood occupied one wall, alongside sacks of grain and other basic supplies. Chen and Liang quickly cleared a section, while Liang's wife and her eldest daughter improvised beds with fresh straw covered by thick blankets. "It's not a grand city hotel," Chen joked, "but it's warm and dry." His attempt at humor eased some of the lingering tension. Chen's wife applied basic healing with her water elemental frog. The small creature's soft blue glow illuminated Reed's wounds as she worked, its gentle magic soothing the worst of the damage. Though not as effective as silver rank healing, it provided immediate relief from the searing pain. Once settled and first aid applied, the Chen family discreetly withdrew, leaving the visitors with enough privacy to rest. Fern, seated beside her husband, watched Ren arrange several of his things. The initial adrenaline had subsided, leaving behind a profound weariness that marked her face. Yet beneath the exhaustion, a spark of curiosity ignited as she observed her son's methodical organization. Lin and Yang took positions near the entrances, establishing a silent surveillance system. Their professional demeanor provided a sense of security that allowed the Patinders to momentarily lower their guard. Amidst all this, Ren unpacked part of his backpack, and carefully extracting several objects from the boxes... placed them before his parents. "What is all this?" asked Reed, his curiosity momentarily overcoming the pain. "Things I wanted to give you," Ren responded. "Drinks for the nerves, you could say."

React

พูดคุย