Otherworld Advance Team
Chapter 1723 - 1716: Returning to Normal

Chapter 1723: Chapter 1716: Returning to Normal

The surname Dongliang was one that Cheng Ziang was very familiar with. When they decided to advance north, the first prominent Kyushu native they encountered was Dongliang Yu.

At that time, Dongliang Yu warmly welcomed Cheng Ziang and Feng, so Cheng Ziang had a favorable impression of the Dongliang surname.

Thus, Cheng Ziang jumped off the carriage, approached, and clasped his fists, saying, "I am the Azure Dragon under the Saint’s seat, and those traveling on the carriage are the Saints."

"Having heard of the Saint’s passage, I was ordered by the Patriarch to come and protect the Saints on their journey northwards to avoid disturbance by petty foes," Dongliang Hu respectfully said.

"You’re too kind."

"No, no, it’s my duty," Dongliang Hu waved dismissively.

"Thus, we have no choice but to respectfully accept your favor," Cheng Ziang smiled and said.

"Please, Manor Lord, do not decline," Dongliang Hu said.

Dongliang Hu’s response surprised Cheng Ziang somewhat, as he did not invite the Advance Team to stay at his manor for a while, but rather offered to escort the Advance Team north.

Clearly, they had received certain orders. The Wen Family had always hoped the Advance Team would reach Shengjing as soon as possible, and the Dongliang family following the Wen Family meant this order’s origin was self-explanatory.

"I have prepared accommodations for the Saints; please follow me to the village," Dongliang Hu continued.

"No, we’ll camp here and won’t enter the village," Cheng Ziang’s response left Dongliang Hu a bit at a loss.

"Well, then, please do not decline," Dongliang Hu hesitated after pausing for a moment.

"You would take over homes and drive out innocents upon entering the village. Though only for a night, it would still create unnecessary grievance. Saints are people of Heaven’s question, bearing Heaven’s will, and should not act contrary to the people’s wishes," Cheng Ziang explained.

"They’re willing," Dongliang Hu anxiously explained.

"Whether they are willing, the Saints see clearly. Please, Manor Lord, do not disturb the common folk. If you truly have intentions, then defend us where we are," Cheng Ziang earnestly said.

"Uh..." Dongliang Hu lowered his head, thought for a long time, and finally nodded with difficulty, his expression somewhat unsightly, "Alright, let’s go with Manor Lord’s intent."

Thus, at Cheng Ziang’s insistence, the convoy camped in place, knights dismounted, keeping watch around the convoy in twos and threes, lighting campfires to protect the Saints in the center.

Cheng Ziang sent Hu Daoke and Baiyue to the village to buy some food for preparation. Not long after, they returned with some grains and prepared poultry.

"Why are you being pretentious? Wouldn’t it be nice to stay in big houses in the village? Why insist on camping outdoors?" Hu Daoke grumbled to Cheng Ziang.

"You’re bold enough to argue with me, so why don’t you go report to Luo’er?" Cheng Ziang glanced at him and said irritably.

Hu Daoke was immediately shut down by his words.

He wouldn’t dare say such words to Luo’er, and despite the complaints, he knew Luo’er wouldn’t agree to such troublesome actions.

Being modern people, even in backward civilizations, they should not lower their moral standards, a principle Luo’er had always adhered to.

Actually, they quite enjoyed this camping life, as it had been their norm since entering the Otherworld.

The group was accustomed to lighting fires for cooking, traveling by day, and keeping watch at night. When it came time to enjoy, they felt comfortable yet somewhat lost.

The carriage carried a full set of cooking utensils, and Cheng Ziang’s group set up a large pot, dividing tasks to prepare ingredients. They cooked the bought grains into fragrant, dry rice and chopped poultry, stewed together with foraged wild herbs and mushrooms.

They liked to call this method local stew, with basic cooking remaining unchanged; at each new place, they gathered local spices for a chaotic stew. Though the taste could hardly match Luo’er’s, it had a unique flavor.

By the campfire, Feng and Tang Guo watched the stew pot eagerly, unaware of the drool running down, Tang Guo’s fluffy big ears continuously twitching, showing excitement.

Hu Daoke stirred the stew with a wooden spoon, confidently looking at the drooling pair, feeling a sense of satisfaction.

Since Luo’er became a Saint, cooking was naturally out of the question, so the team members were wildly imaginative, creating numerous strange dishes as if proving to Luo’er they could repay and not rely solely on his care.

"Enough, enough, are you cooking slop? Stop stirring," Cheng Ziang frowned and stopped Hu Daoke.

"What do you know, it has to be stirred into a mush; that’s the best way," Hu Daoke said nonchalantly.

"That’s just your opinion, I’ve always wanted to criticize; you mess up every dish," Cheng Ziang said, justified.

"Like you’re a cooking expert; who didn’t cook through last time causing the whole team to get diarrhea?" Hu Daoke retorted mercilessly.

"It was an accident..." Cheng Ziang, embarrassed, his face turning red and white.

"I’ve never had accidents, only misplaced salt, but never made anyone sick," Hu Daoke said smugly.

"Alright, alright, both of you stop arguing," Baiyue interrupted their conversation, frowning, "If you’re free, join me in roasting meat."

"Old Cheng, what are you idle for? Hurry up, do you think you’re really the Captain?" Hu Daoke shouted.

"You..." Cheng Ziang angrily raised a middle finger at him and turned to walk towards Baiyue.

The outside fragrance reached inside the carriage, causing Luo’er to feel restless and say, "Is it okay for them to be outside?"

"Don’t wander around; you’re the Saint, cannot engage in kitchen work," Tangmo tightly held his arm.

"Let me at least take a look, surely that’s fine?" Luo’er nudged her.

"No, you’re a Saint, shouldn’t randomly reveal yourself," Tangmo firmly refused.

Pausing, she thoughtfully said, "It’s time for you to enjoy; you shouldn’t always care for them without return. Eventually, they’d feel guilty and never repay your kindness in this life."

"I didn’t think that way," Luo’er explained.

"Some materials and thoughts inevitably arise once exchanged and won’t disappear by any party’s will. Although you don’t think so, they objectively owe you favors. It’s not something you deny and it vanishes," Tangmo said seriously.

"But..." Luo’er still felt troubled.

"Well, when back on Earth, let them pay you according to the time you served. I reckon ten thousand per person shouldn’t be excessive?" Tangmo thought.

"That’s impossible!" Luo’er immediately rejected.

"Then it’s settled," Tangmo smiled sweetly, leaning softly against his shoulder, "Let them repay in favors; once paid back enough, care for them again so they owe more favors."

"I’ve never thought about it like that; I don’t consider this owing favors..." Luo’er pursed his lips, frowning.

"That’s just you thinking, Luo’er, respect others’ ideas," Tangmo tilted her head.

"Alright, as long as you’re happy," Luo’er sighed deeply.

After some chaos, by nightfall, they finally finished dinner. Although without curry, Hu Daoke still cooked the stew into a paste, poured it over coarse rice to make a rice bowl.

As soon as the food was served, Feng and Tang Guo couldn’t wait to start devouring large mouthfuls. Cheng Ziang speechlessly watched Feng; despite knowing each other so long, she remained greedy, the most excited at meal times.

Baiyue oversaw Tang Guo’s eating; if she reached to grab food, she’d promptly stop her, forcing her to eat with a wooden spoon.

For Tang Guo, since taken in by the Advance Team, she lived unimaginable luxurious days.

Although this was her first time having camping food, despite Hu Daoke’s average skills, she savored it, nearly choking a few times, but Baiyue timely helped keep her from gasping.

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