More than ten days later, in front of the eastern mountain path.
The two hundred cavalry from Yu Village, accompanied by over a thousand young adults, returned to the territory of Yu Village.
"Finally back." Yu Meng stretched lazily on his horse. In these more than ten days, for the sake of those walking on foot, his horse couldn't run, and he felt like mushrooms were growing on his back.
The people from the patrol camp in front of the mountain path saw them returning and happily greeted them.
For those like Xia Bai, who had never been to Yu Village, they looked in astonishment at a flat road leading into the deep mountains. On both sides of the mountain path, the walls of the mountains showed traces of being cut and chiseled, revealing the marks of carving a path through the mountains.
They had heard rumors about Yu Village opening a mountain path, but only seeing it with their own eyes made them realize how awe-inspiring it was.
"Let's go. Crossing this mountain path will take us to the village." After exchanging greetings with the patrol camp, Yu Meng signaled for Xia Bai and others to continue forward.
Still marveling at this extraordinary craftsmanship, Xia Bai and the others quickly caught up with Yu Meng's pace, full of anticipation for the impending arrival at Yu Village.
...
In Yu Village.
Several waves of outsiders seeking refuge from the east have already been settled.
Most of them were assigned to cultivate the wilderness to the west.
Among them were several people from Xia Village.
They worked together with everyone, working from sunrise to sunset. They not only had three meals a day but also wore lightweight hemp clothes. At night, they could sleep in sturdy wooden houses without worrying about surprise attacks.
These were good days that, after the destruction of Xia Village, they didn't dare to imagine.
"If only my brother were here." A young girl sighed with a girl from the same village.
She had escaped with the people from the village, but unfortunately, only eight people had made it to Yu Village. Her brother, Xia Bai, had been captured as a slave soldier by the people from Mang Village right from the beginning.
Her brother was one of the bravest hunters in the village. If it weren't for protecting her from being captured, he wouldn't have been caught by the people from Mang Village.
She had heard that slave soldiers die the fastest on the battlefield.
She was very worried about her brother.
"Xia Bai will be fine." The girl from the same village comforted her, although she also knew that the hope of Xia Bai surviving was slim, and Xia Zhi might never have a chance to see him again.
"Yeah." The young girl tightened her grip on the hand of the girl from the same village.
At the same time, on the east bank of the big river in Yu Village.
Over a thousand young adults, following the cavalry from Yu Village, arrived at Yu Village. They set foot on this mysterious land, and the first thing that caught their eyes was a large expanse of lush rice fields. Many people wearing straw hats were working in the fields. In the lower water fields, there were rice fish swimming around.
In the distance, there was a very tall and large building, taller than any buildings they had seen, looking very special.
Almost everyone thought that it was where the people of Yu Village lived, and their eyes were full of curiosity, constantly looking over there.
"That's our village's trading market." A soldier from the cavalry team, seeing their curious eyes, explained to them.
Trading market?
Xia Bai and his companions were very surprised. After all, the trading market they knew was not like this at all. People were exchanging grain, herbs, game, daily utensils, and slaves in makeshift grass sheds outside a large village, creating a noisy atmosphere. In rainy weather, the ground would accumulate rainwater, making it damp, dirty, and muddy.
This was already quite good; how could there be such spacious houses for shelter from wind and rain?
Entering the main road of Yu Village, one had to pass through the trading market.
It wasn't just Xia Bai and his group who were curious about the trading market.
People in the market were also curious about them, coming out to watch.
Last month, Yu Village restarted the trading market, attracting many villages in urgent need of food, salt, and other necessities.
They already knew that Yu Village had prevented the conflict between Mang Village and Da Ji Village. They were also aware of the arrival of many outsiders from the east in Yu Village. However, the sudden arrival of so many young adults from other villages was surprising.
"So many people, are they all coming to seek refuge in Yu Village?"
"They are probably brought back by Yu Village's cavalry, maybe as slave soldiers."
"Did Yu Village bring them back to be slaves?"
Most people witnessing this scene thought that the over a thousand young adults were brought back to be slaves, expressing some sympathy in their curious gazes.
After all, being a slave meant no freedom, just the property of the master, tradable and exchangeable, with no dignity of their own.
However, as the thousand young adults approached, they did not show despair and numbness. Instead, each of them had faces full of curiosity and excitement, perplexing the onlookers.
"Is the east plain so poor that they're happy to be slaves?"
"People from the east are really strange."
Xia Bai and his group noticed that those people were pointing at them, making them nervous, fearing rejection upon arriving in Yu Village.
However, Xia Bai quickly realized that he might have misunderstood something.
These people were likely not from Yu Village.
He soon confirmed his suspicion because some other people, dressed more elegantly, happily waved towards them. Among them were members of a leather-clad patrol and ordinary people in soft clothing.
"Liu Leader."
"Liu Leader is back."
These people looked at Lu Yan with admiration and enthusiasm, showing no fear at all.
They seemed more like villagers of Yu Village.
These villagers watched Xia Bai and his group with curiosity. Though they whispered among themselves, their eyes were calm, lacking the sympathetic gaze seen earlier.
"Liu Leader is back; quickly inform Lord Yu Su!" someone shouted.
A robust eagle soared in the sky, screeching to attract attention.
Having seen Lu Yan sending messages with messenger eagles every day, Xia Bai and his group were not unfamiliar with these birds. However, upon hearing the villagers shouting "Lord Yu Su," they suddenly felt nervous.
They were about to meet the rumored Lord Yu Su, the witch doctor of Yu Village.
They walked along the flat road, heading west.
Along the way, they witnessed various workshops in Yu Village and saw things they had never seen before, such as crisscrossing channels, novel labor tools, tall and magical waterwheels, and more. In the distance, they saw a large area of neatly arranged and exquisite houses on the west bank of the river, extending from the foot of the mountain to the slope. Even though they could only see the houses on the slope, it was impressive enough.
Approaching, they could clearly see the robust and tall walls and the towering watchtowers, guarding Yu Village like city walls.
This was a powerful and prosperous village beyond the expectations of Xia Bai and his companions.
Even Mang Village, with a population of tens of thousands, couldn't compare.
As they walked over the spacious and sturdy bridge, arriving at the entrance of Yu Village, they saw a person standing on the tall city wall of Yu Village.
This person was dressed in exquisite and gorgeous clothes they had never seen before. Gems on the lapels refracted dazzling light in the sunlight, but all of this was overshadowed by the person's dazzling appearance, like a celestial being descended from the heavens, both noble and sacred.
He was smiling at them with gentle eyes.
Xia Bai and his companions stood still, dumbfounded, staring at the person on the wall.
At this moment, Lu Yan and the others ahead dismounted.
Lu Yan bowed towards the person on the wall, and the others excitedly knelt on one knee.
Xia Bai heard them calling that person Lord Yu Su.
"Lord Yu Su, we are back."
"We have completed the task you entrusted us with, preventing the conflict between Mang Village and Da Ji Village, and rescuing the innocent outsiders they captured as slave soldiers."
"Now they willingly follow us back to Yu Village to serve Yu Village under your command."
When Xia Bai finally reacted, he found himself, like the others, involuntarily kneeling and gazing up at the person on the wall.
"So, Lord Yu Su, the witch doctor, is so young..."
Someone couldn't help but whisper.
In fact, he was equally amazed. The rumored witch doctor of Yu Village was younger than everyone had imagined.
But no one in their hearts could muster any sense of disdain.
Yu Su stood on the wall, smiling at them, satisfied to see the astonishment in the eyes of the over a thousand young adults. It was worth it for him to specially stand on the wall with such an imposing presence.
"Get up, all of you. You've worked hard, and this time you have achieved great merit."
Lu Yan straightened up and looked up at Yu Su.
Yu Meng and the others also stood up, happily looking at Yu Su.
Yu Su's gaze turned to the over a thousand young adults. "I already know your willingness to join Yu Village. Thank you for your willingness to serve Yu Village. Now, please settle down in Yu Village. You've traveled a long way and must be tired. We'll discuss everything after you've rested."
"Yu Feng."
"Here."
"Take care of these over a thousand warriors."
"Yes."
Yu Feng walked out and approached the over a thousand young adults. He came to Xia Bai, looked him up and down.
Xia Bai couldn't help but feel nervous, as did the others.
Yu Feng: "Follow me later."
After glancing at Yu Su on the wall, Xia Bai seemed to have something to say.
Yu Feng seemed to know what he was thinking and said, "After you rest, Leader Lu and Lord Yu Su will meet you again."
Taking a deep breath, Xia Bai suppressed the surging tension in his heart and nodded, "Yes."
The others quickly echoed the response.
On the other side, as Yu Su felt the "presence" was well displayed, he spoke a few words and exited with a timely smile. Before leaving, he exchanged a glance with Lu Yan, taking advantage of others not seeing, Lu Yan's eyes were full of fiery longing as he stared at Yu Su.
Yu Su discreetly cleared his throat, withdrew his gaze, and left the wall.
Seeing him leave, Lu Yan couldn't wait to enter the village.