Chapter 389: The Road Home (1/2)

Chapter 389: The Road Home

“Jian Chen, your… your body, just how is it so strong? Are you made of iron or something?” Little Fatty’s eyes grew wide as he looked at the small mark on Jian Chen’s body.

Taking out a new robe from his Space Ring, Jian Chen laughed, “Being made of iron would be a stretch, but my body is definitely stronger than an ordinary person.”

There was some fascination to Little Fatty’s eyes as he spoke, “How did you strengthen it, it’s like you transformed your body.”

Laughing, Jian Chen didn’t give an answer. Looking at the still unfinished field, Jian Chen asked, “Little Fatty, do you need my help?”

“Yes, of course! My dad and grandfather went to plant corn and I’m left with all the vegetables here. You came here just in time, with two people, it’ll take no time at all to finish the rest of the planting.” Little Fatty spoke very casually with Jian Chen and handed several seeds to him. “I’ll plant on this side, you go to that side, with the two of us working, we’ll be able to finish this before dinner!”

Planting the seeds with Little Fatty, Jian Chen spoke, “Little Fatty, it is very possible that I will be leaving this place soon.”

Little Fatty’s hand shook for a brief moment before he continued to silently work in the fields. Not too long after, he finally uttered a single sentence, “I knew that life here wouldn’t work out for you. Sooner or later, you would have left for the outside world.”

Letting out a long breath of air, Jian Chen spoke, “Little Fatty, I will talk to your grandfather tonight and have him consent to you being able to explore the outside world. You staying here forever is no suitable way of living, with your talent, staying here would just bury it.”

“Jian Chen, just what is the outside world like?” Little Fatty stared at Jian Chen with a fixated gaze as he waited for an answer. He had grown up in this secluded village without ever leaving the valley. Any information he knew from the outside world had been learned from word of mouth. He had never once seen it for himself, not knowing just how large it was.

“The outside world is huge—tremendous even. There are many people with many wondrous things. At the same time, the world is also very cruel and complex. Little Fatty, when you see the outside world for yourself, you will come to understand.” Jian Chen spoke.

“But, my grandfather would never let me leave.” Little Fatty’s face grew a little sad at that.

“I will talk with your grandfather tonight and try to convince him.” Other than talking to his grandfather, Jian Chen had no other solution. Elder Xiu was a person with an immeasurable amount of power, Jian Chen had no wish to offend him.

In a flash, the sun had begun to set to the west and the night began to overtake the skies. The bright red rays from the sunset could still be seen splashing across the sky as the chimneys in the village bellowed smoke into the air and danced in the wind.

In a hurry, the two men quickly walked back home. After walking to their own rooms, Jian Chen quickly went into his room to check up on the tiger cub. Right now, the tiger cub was sleeping, as the heavenly resources it ate earlier had not yet finished being absorbed.

Seeing how the tiger was safe and sound, Jian Chen left the room in relief before eating dinner with the rest of the family. However, there was one less pair of plates and chopsticks.

Seeing this empty space, Little Fatty asked, “Grandfather, where is father?”

“Little Fatty, your father has some matters to take care of, eat your meal.” Elder Xiu smiled kindly with an affectionate gaze toward the fatty.

“Got it!” Little Fatty replied before growing slightly dark. He knew that with his father had gone to the outside world, the world that he himself yearned to go to.

Jian Chen’s eyes flickered over to elder Xiu for a moment as he hesitated. Then, he finally opened his mouth and spoke, “Elder Xiu, have you never thought about Little Fatty going out to gain some experience?” As he spoke, Jian Chen’s eyes stared heavily at elder Xiu.

As expected, the elder’s face began to change in color but Jian Chen quickly spoke up before elder Xiu could reply, “Elder Xiu, allowing Little Fatty to live in this village his entire life would be detrimental to him. If he lives here for his entire life, Little Fatty will miss out on the many pleasures in life. Living here would not truly be growing up; if he doesn’t experience the wind and rain of the outside world, he won’t experience a true growth. I’m also sure you know of Little Fatty’s dislike for this life; if you care for Little Fatty’s growth, you shouldn’t keep him forever locked up in this village. This is no way to become an adult, in the end, this would only serve to harm him instead of helping.”

Hearing this, the elder went quiet for a moment. He had traveled the continent himself for many years and experienced many things so he could understand Little Fatty’s desire perfectly clear. The problem was that he truly did not wish for Little Fatty to venture out into the outside world. With his countless experiences, he had seen straight through the very essence of the world and now he only desired for Little Fatty to live safely within the valley. If he stayed in this valley, then Little Fatty would stay as pure and innocent as snow without being polluted by the mortal world.

Jian Chen continued to fire off reason after reason for the elder to hear for the sake of allowing Little Fatty to leave the valley. Wracking his mind for any reason imaginable, Jian Chen tried his best to use them all as an argument.

As if Jian Chen had addressed each of elder Xiu’s worries, he was completely silent throughout the meal and ate in a stiff like movement.