Saving System: Calm Down, My Fleeing Host!

Chapter 337 - 329: Midnight Storm

The bustling camp seemed deserted as everyone had moved into the Underground City. The small patrol team outside rubbed their hands and breathed into them, waiting for the last group to migrate, the Han Family.

"Deputy, look, they’re coming."

An eagle-eyed team member spotted a small black shadow a few hundred meters away.

Cheng Dawei squinted his small sheep-like eyes and scrutinized it for a while. Unable to see clearly, he stood up decisively, "Let’s go have a look!"

"All right!"

As they approached, sure enough, it was the Han Family Master leading his family, arriving through the dust and wind.

When the two groups met, they exchanged a few pleasantries and returned to the Underground City together.

At this time, the Underground City was bustling. Cheng Xiaoxiao had organized a simple celebration banquet to celebrate the foundation of Phoenix City. That’s right; from today, the famed Phoenix City was established deep in Daxing Mountain.

The phoenix rises from the ashes, symbolizing the arrival of a new era. Cheng Xiaoxiao was determined to create a burgeoning city here that combined ancient and modern cultures.

For this, she shamelessly asked Zhou Yanlan to inscribe words. The grand characters, dragon-like and vigorous, were magnificent. The production department’s craftsmanship was impeccable, replicating the characters on a jet-black stone slab and mounting it high above the city gate. Under the baptism of snow and cold wind, it appeared even more solemn and mysterious.

After the lively cheers, everyone couldn’t wait to go down to the Underground City.

Not for anything else but tempted by Mr. Cheng’s hearty invitation to dine tonight.

Indeed, this sumptuous dinner left everyone with lingering taste and endless aftertaste.

They not only ate the legendary fresh stir-fried vegetables with bean sprouts but also the especially spicy pickled fish; smooth and tender steamed egg custard; spicy and refreshing fresh tofu; crispy, salty fried meatballs; slightly sweet white bread rolls; thick and fragrant sweet potato porridge paired with a dish of red oil pickles, a feast for the eyes and palate.

Each table also had a small jug of high-proof wine of unknown name, indulging the men in drinking rounds to their heart’s content, and lower-proof fruit wine for women that tasted sweet and heartwarming.

Mr. Cheng’s frankness and wealth surprised them again. With nearly ten thousand people gathered in the Underground City, how much foodstuff would that take? Yet everyone ate well and enough, with their stomachs full, it was truly impressive and admirable.

The Han Family had the most feelings. They didn’t expect to be warmly welcomed and treated to such a feast on their first day integrating into this big family.

The bitterness of emotions welled up, bringing tears to their eyes.

As they say, sometimes you must break to stand firm.

Sticking to outdated ideas, bearing the heavy shackles of responsibility, with clan elders constantly intervening, they truly regretted not joining the 132th Regiment sooner.

Tonight, rare relaxation and ease permeated, with everyone immersed in joy and cheer. After three rounds of drinks, they frequently exposed their true characters, doing things they normally wouldn’t or dared not do, creating jokes that caused bouts of laughter among the crowd.

Cheng Xiaoxiao sat in the main seat, laughing along, holding a little one who kicked and flailed their small limbs, occasionally making incoherent sounds, which amused the person next to them. The latter waved their small hands frequently, trying to overthrow the other and take their place but lacked the strength, almost crying out of urgency.

The expression seemed to say: Hey! Buddy, get off, that’s my special seat, who allowed you to usurp my place.

The accused little one had no clue about their older brother’s anger, babbling away. Seeing so many people and such a lively scene, they giggled along.

Occasionally fed a spoon of egg custard, the little toothless mouth smacked in satisfaction.

Of course, it was our Little Crown Prince in Cheng Xiaoxiao’s arms.

Now called Cheng Hongyi, he had grown rosy and lovely over time, quickly gaining popularity and surpassing Yi, adored by all.

The proud Cheng Hongyi had his troubles, often kissed randomly by someone, much to his frustration. His keeper was overly enthusiastic, which he found hard to handle. He often dodged left and right as the other tried to kiss him, causing laughter that made the other even more pleased, insisting on a kiss for satisfaction.

Sitting at Cheng Xiaoxiao’s right, Yanlan handled the enthusiastic toasts from men, somewhat uncomfortable, given his usual aloofness unaccustomed to the current warmth and closeness of others.

Seeing everyone basking in warm smiles yet unwilling to disturb the momentarily beautiful atmosphere, he managed to cope.

While internally resisting, there was also a bit of heartache and envy.

Part of his mind lingered on a certain person with a brilliant smile on his left side.

His heartache grew more rampant, with bitter emotions growing within yet having nowhere to vent, so he tightly gripped his cup, drinking away his bitterness mixed with the fiery liquor.

The reason the other was so happy was probably the harmonious family seated together, teasing and bantering each other, the atmosphere joyful, fulfilling, and ample.

Though sitting together, he felt out of place, detached from the laughter and warmth. Such heartfelt warmth was something he could no longer feel, or perhaps had never felt.

Though his mother protected him as a child, being very young, there weren’t many memories, but that care and affection were enough to warm his repeatedly scarred heart.

Fatherly love was seemingly absent in his life, even though the man awakened near his end, not making up for the years of indulgence and neglect.

The past, like fleeting smoke, faded slightly after vendetta was achieved, or perhaps unwilling to recall the past, his subconscious closed off all emotions, leaving no sorrow or joy.

Until arriving here, the warmth flooded with the scent of human life which lavishly spread, compelling him to be moved and yearn for more.

Knowing this warm sensation didn’t belong in his life, he should leave once he settled here but found excuses to stay.

Though persuaded by others to stay, if he wanted to leave, who could stop him? Oh well! Wait until Han Yi returns, and then it’s time to depart.

After six rounds of drinks, the crowd gradually dispersed.

The drunk and those not drunk supported each other back to their allocated little homes, almost collapsing into bed immediately to sleep.

No one noticed above the sky at the moment, within the dim air, fog was condensing, and clouds were swirling, consuming one another.

Above the clouds, raindrops seemed to fall but were whisked away by the strong wind into the condensing fog.

At the end of the midnight hour, after brewing for long, a sky storm suddenly descended. Dark clouds gathered densely, strong winds rose ferociously, temperatures rapidly dropped, and within moments it felt like falling into an ice cellar. People in their dreams couldn’t act in time before their breath weakened and eventually ceased.

Following closely came hail the size of a baby’s fist, chasing down from the sky, pounding on the ground and slowly integrating into the mountain’s ice rivers.