The city wall in front of him was unfamiliar, but the farmland outside was not. As the wall slowly retracted into the ground, revealing a path, Wang Kui wiped the rain from his face, and the exhaustion from the journey began to fade. He glanced back and grinned.
"Let's go home!"
He had never gambled before, settling into his life without complaints. He kept reminding himself that he hadn't awakened to become a special cultivator, with no extraordinary talent. Over his 13 years' worth of toil for the Wang Clan, he indeed had embezzled small amounts from time to time, but never stepped out of line.
Not that he was a man of integrity, but he didn't have the guts. Even his investment in Chen Fan was tentative. If not for the external factors, he wouldn't have been decisive enough to leave the Wang Clan and join up with Chen Fan. But now, it seemed he might have chosen the right person.
As long as he survived this rainy season, as the first to join, becoming a "lieutenant" wouldn't be a problem. His future prospects would far surpass what the Wang Clan could offer.
...
The Perpetual Night would fall in about half a shichen(1 shichen equals 2 hours).
Heavy rain poured, and fog shrouded the world. A chilling cold flooded every nook and cranny of the wasteland.
At Rivernorth Chen Clan Station 37, inside the newly built cabin, Chen Fan and a few others were seated around a stove. Everyone had changed into dry clothes, while their soaked garments hung on a rack inside. Crippled Monkey was distributing food to the group.
Each Station stored ample provisions. For now, they had enough to last two or three months, though it was mostly coarse grains, certainly not enough to see them through the entire winter. But future problems could be dealt with later.
"Wang Kui," Chen Fan looked at him, seated among the others. "Resources are limited. The space inside the city wall is small, only enough for one hut. The rest must be allocated for other structures. Tomorrow, lead the others to partition the hut. Crippled Monkey and I will take the left side; the rest of you can share the right side."
"No problem," Wang Kui quickly stood and nodded.
A chill seeped through the door crack, bringing a cool sensation, but the warmth from the stove soon drove it away.
"Sit down."
His face calm, Chen Fan addressed the others in a soft voice. "No one knows if we'll make it through tonight. Since we've met here, it's fate. Let's chat casually, share your wishes or dreams. If someone doesn't survive, the rest of us can fulfill the wishes on his behalf after the rainy season. This way, this meeting won't be in vain."
"Wang Kui, you go first."
"Me..." Wang Kui sat in front of the stove, stiff and cold hands hovering near the warmth. After a moment of thought, he rasped, "Actually, I don't have any grand wishes. I worked for the Wang Clan for 13 years, and I'd say I've put in my share of hard work. But I never got promoted or a raise. I feel a bit resentful. I just want to save up some Eerie Stones, look for a wife, and have a healthy son. But don't take this wish too seriously. This is something I have to do myself. You all can't help with that."
His words elicited laughter from the others, easing the tense atmosphere.
"Come on..." another man, who never let go of his long blade, joked with a wink. "If you die, I'll make sure my kid takes your surname, Wang, to carry on your family line." Then, turning serious, he looked at Chen Fan.
"Station Master, like Wang Kui, I was also a station master under the Wang Clan. I haven't worked as long as he has, just three years. No promotion, no raise either. But I don't hold a grudge against the Wang Clan. There are only so many positions available, after all. But the Wang Clan only gave me a living. Yet you saved my life. My name is Zhou Mo, a Level 2 cultivator. From now on, I'll do whatever you say!"
"Zhou Mo..." Chen Fan repeated the name, his eyes lingering on the long blade in the man's arms. "A bladesman? A Level 2 cultivator. The Wang Clan had no interest in training you?" This was the first Level 2 cultivator he'd encountered.
"Ha," Zhou Mo shook his head self-deprecatingly. "A Level 2 cultivator's physical abilities aren't much different from an ordinary person's. Not much stronger. In this world, no cultivator, no matter how strong, can confront Eerie Creatures. At best, we have a bit of self-defense capability. There's no point in training all but special cultivators. When I was young and foolish, I absorbed a lot of Eerie Stones, dreaming of becoming a powerful wanderer. Later, I realized it was impossible. But I've always loved swordsmanship. Even though I gave up on improving my cultivation, I've honed my skills with the blade in my spare time."
Next, Pockmark Wang scratched the back of his head and introduced himself. "Station Master, as you know, I used to be the station master at Chen Clan Station 36. Before joining the Chen Clan, I was a traveling merchant. I love wandering around. My wish is to live a long life and see more distant places when I get the chance, to see what the world is like farther away."
"You'll get the chance," Chen Fan nodded slightly.
Then Station Master Qi, looking a bit nervous, spoke up. "My name is Qi Chong. I used to be a stationmaster for the Wild Wolf Gang. I don't have any grand wishes. My old mother died early, taken by Eerie Creatures, with no body to bury. If I ever make it big, I'd like to build a cenotaph for her. Space in the city is limited, and building a cenotaph is expensive."
"Mm," Chen Fan acknowledged with a light nod.
Outside, the cold wind howled, and rain pounded against the wooden hut. The warmth from the stove not only drove away the chill but also helped everyone relax.
The Perpetual Night was approaching. Through casual conversation, the group gradually grew closer. Even Crippled Monkey couldn't resist chiming in a few times.
Topics among men tended to revolve around the same few things: which brothel in the city had the most exciting women, what new scandals had arisen in which families, and embarrassing stories from the past. Though a bit crude, these topics were great for breaking the ice.
"..."
After initiating the conversation, Chen Fan rarely participated further. He sat quietly by the stove, warming his hands. He intended to build his own force on the wasteland, and these people would be his first foundation. He needed to understand each person's character and abilities.
For instance, Zhou Mo, with his blade always in hand and the demeanor of a blade master, could be trained for individual combat and become part of a patrol and guard unit for the camp.
Qi Chong, lacking ambition but steady and filial, could be tasked with farming in the future.
Wang Kui, clever and with considerable management experience, could be trained as a deputy.
Pockmark Wang, with his experience as a traveling merchant and love for wandering, could handle trade for the camp, exchanging their products for Eerie Stones in the market.
Crippled Monkey, loyal and efficient, was naturally a trusted confidant.