Chapter 170 Warmth

While staying in the Capital City, Qiao Suluo had someone ask around for news of Que Hongjin.

Word had it that he was still in secluded cultivation. She knew how crucial this process was; even if she rashly visited the Peacock Family, she wouldn’t be able to see him.

She could only wait until he came out.

Deep down, she missed him and Tushan Feishang dearly.

Tushan Feishang was currently with the Qingqiu Clan, and she had no idea how he was doing.

***

Several days later, the group arrived at Xinghua County, which fell under the jurisdiction of Linning City in Lin State.

Thanks to a series of measures promulgated by the new Emperor, the local County Magistrate quickly registered their information. After ensuring everything was in order, the magistrate issued them household registers and arranged a valley for them to build a new village.

Since the area was abundant with apricot trees, they gave their new home a name: Xinghua Village.

It was no longer just a simple Cat Clan Village like before.

Throughout their journey, Qiao Suluo’s abilities had ensured that everyone in the village survived unscathed.

Once settled, they headed into the mountains to chop down trees and build houses.

Qiao Suluo discovered yellow clay and taught everyone how to fire bricks, which they then used to construct new residences. She even taught them how to build heated brick beds. This way, they wouldn’t be cold in the winter.

By now, everyone firmly believed in Qiao Suluo. Whatever she told them to do, they did without question.

Once the bricks were fired and the houses built, Xinghua Village became the most pristine, newly built settlement in Lin State.

Passersby couldn’t help but marvel at the sight, often stopping to take a closer look.

Upon learning that the houses were constructed from fired bricks, many flocked to buy them to rebuild their own homes. Even the heated brick beds were a source of endless fascination for the visitors.

When the County Magistrate heard the news, he was equally thrilled. After seeking Qiao Suluo’s permission, he detailed the brick-firing and bed-heating methods in a memorial and dispatched it to the Capital City.

***

In the Imperial Study Room, Cang Jiu Xuan shot to his feet the moment he read the memorial.

Since taking the throne, his temperament had grown increasingly steady; none of the court officials could easily parse his thoughts anymore. But now, gripping the memorial tightly, he was overwhelmed with excitement.

“Miss Qiao, is it you?” Cang Jiu Xuan murmured, his eyes reddening slightly.

When his royal brothers and sisters had waged war over the throne, he had been dragged into the fray, barely able to fend for himself. By the time he received word from the outside, he learned that a massive flood had struck Nanhe County in the Southern region, claiming the lives of countless Beastmen.

He had sent people to search for her, but they found absolutely nothing.

He had assumed she was already…

He never expected her to be alive and well, having relocated all the way to Lin State. He always knew she was brilliant and would surely find a way to survive.

Cang Jiu Xuan wanted nothing more than to drop everything and rush to Lin State to see her. However, he knew his presence was required in the Capital City to oversee a smooth transition of power. Forcing down his excitement, he immediately drafted a secret edict and had a trusted confidant deliver it.

Back in Xinghua County, the County Magistrate was terrified upon receiving the secret edict. It was only when he realized the Emperor was instructing him to protect and care for Miss Qiao’s group that he finally breathed a sigh of relief.

At the same time, the County Magistrate could guess there was more to the story. He didn’t dare neglect Qiao Suluo and her people in the slightest. He frequently brought staff from the county government to Xinghua Village to check if they needed any assistance.

***

When winter arrived, Xinghua Village had stockpiled enough food and firewood. Sleeping on their heated brick beds, everyone felt deeply contented.

They often chatted among themselves, marveling at their new lives.

“I used to think the north was terrible because of the cold, but now I think it’s actually quite nice,” someone remarked.

“Exactly! The northern mountains and forests are full of food and wild beasts. Most importantly, we have heated brick beds now. As long as we keep the fire going in the winter, we won’t be cold at all.”

“Right, the winters in the south can get pretty cold too—a bone-chilling damp cold.”

“That’s why listening to Miss Qiao is never wrong. From now on, I’ll only follow her lead.”

“I wonder what’s up with the County Magistrate. He visits our village so often—does he really have that much free time?”

“Who knows? But this northern County Magistrate is much better than our old one.”

“Maybe it’s because the new Emperor is good. Everyone feels that with him on the throne, we can live good lives.”

“Isn’t that the truth? Not only did he reduce taxes, but he also encouraged everyone to plant more crops.”

“Miss Qiao mentioned she has high-yield crop seeds. A single acre of land can produce at least a thousand pounds of grain. When spring comes, we’ll all clear a plot of land and plant them.”

“Naturally…”

As they spoke, their eyes sparkled with hope.

Furthermore, when it snowed in the north, everyone found it incredibly novel and rushed outside to watch. Qiao Suluo led them in having snowball fights.

Da Bao and Second Treasure had grown a bit older and could now run and jump. They joined the village children in playing in the snow.

Laughter and cheerful voices echoed endlessly throughout Xinghua Village.

Bai Qianluo and Chu Moyuan were cooking at home, Yue Hanzheng was helping oversee the brick-firing workshop, while Qiao Suluo took Da Bao and Second Treasure out to play on the street.

Snowflakes drifted down gently.

Reaching out to catch the falling flakes, Qiao Suluo felt a rush of excitement. Just as she was building a snowman with Da Bao and Second Treasure, she suddenly heard the cry of a peacock echoing from the sky.

At first, she thought she was hallucinating, but when she looked up, she immediately spotted the silhouette of a peacock. Even from a distance, Qiao Suluo instantly recognized that it was Que Hongjin.

Her eyes reddened in an instant. To say she hadn’t missed him would be a complete lie.

Sensing Qiao Suluo’s emotions, Da Bao and Second Treasure also looked up.

“Daddy! It’s Daddy!” they cried out excitedly.

Da Bao and Second Treasure possessed extraordinary talents, granting them an innate ability to sense their blood relatives. They could instantly tell that the approaching figure was their father.

After emerging from seclusion, Que Hongjin had inherited his ancestors’ power, fully awakening his abilities and experiencing a massive surge in strength. Letting his power do the talking, he swiftly seized control of the Peacock Family and abolished many of their old rules.

With this newfound strength, he could finally protect his wife and children. He could now set off to find them with complete peace of mind; no one could stand in their way anymore.

During his secluded cultivation, Que Hongjin had naturally sealed off his senses. The moment he emerged, he immediately felt the pull of his bloodline. When he visited the family’s ancestral shrine, he sensed their bloodline aura even more clearly.

He was thrilled and ecstatic, yet consumed by overwhelming guilt. He hadn’t been by his wife’s side when she needed him the most. Forgoing rest, he worked through the night to settle his affairs before immediately setting off to search for his family.

Since she was his wife, the mark in his body allowed him to sense her general direction. Moreover, having fully awakened his powers, his current strength enabled him to pinpoint her exact location.

Looking down and seeing Qiao Suluo, Que Hongjin finally realized just how desperately he had missed her.

He descended from the sky and pulled her into a tight embrace. “Wife, I’m back.”

The moment Que Hong held her, a profound sense of peace and security settled over Qiao Suluo’s heart.

“I’m just glad you’re back.”

Que Hongjin held her tightly, his arms slowly tightening around her. “I missed you so much. So, so much.” His arms were trembling.

Qiao Suluo slowly closed her eyes and said softly, “I missed you too.”

“Will you have to leave again after this?”

“No, I won’t leave. I’ll stay by your side from now on.”

“What about the Peacock Family?”

“I am the Family Head now. I’ve arranged for the Stewards to manage everything. If anything comes up, they will report to me via carrier pigeon or come here in person. There won’t be any issues.” As the Family Head, he wielded absolute authority.

“And your enemies?”

“They’ve all been dealt with.” With his overwhelming strength, eliminating his foes had been a simple matter.

The two of them wished they could pour out everything they had wanted to say to each other during their time apart. But Da Bao and Second Treasure were staring up at Que Hongjin with wide, eager eyes.

Snapping back to reality, Qiao Suluo quickly nudged him. “Look at our two children. They’ve been so good.”

As Que Hongjin looked down at the two little ones, his fingers trembled slightly, and his heart melted into a puddle. Their facial features looked so much like his and Qiao Suluo’s.

He crouched down. “I am your Daddy.”

The two children obediently called him Daddy, and Que Hongjin reached out to scoop them up. They each planted a kiss on his cheeks.

Que Hongjin’s eyes grew even redder. Barely able to control his emotions, tears of joy spilled over.

“Wife, thank you.”

She was the one who had given him all of this.

This was the first time Qiao Suluo had ever seen him so emotional. She watched them with a gentle smile.

He had returned; now, only Tushan Feishang was left. Once he came back, their family would finally be complete.

***

A month later, on a snowy, blustery night, Tushan Feishang returned.

He woke Qiao Suluo up in the middle of the night, tangling himself around her and tossing her about passionately.

Wrapping his nine tails around her, Tushan Feishang murmured, “Only through this can my wife truly feel my longing and affection.”

He had no desire for words right now; he only wanted to express himself through action.

After that night, Qiao Suluo became pregnant once again.

Later, she gave birth to an incredibly talented Nine-tailed fox cub. It was a male, which sent Tushan Feishang into a frenzy of excitement.

Chu Moyuan and the others could only watch with eyes full of envy.

Of course, after spring arrived, Qiao Suluo became pregnant again in succession, giving birth to a snake cub, a White Whale cub, and a dog cub.

Their home grew warmer and livelier by the day.

Fortunately, the house they built initially was large enough. Qiao Suluo even constructed a dedicated playground and made plenty of toys for them to play with.

Que Hongjin and the others took turns teaching the children knowledge and helping them hone their abilities.

The whole family lived together in perfect, heartwarming harmony.