Otherworld Advance Team
Chapter 227 - 220: Returning to the Old Place

Chapter 227: Chapter 220: Returning to the Old Place

After two days of traveling, the group finally arrived at the mansion situated within the deep mountains. It was the busy farming season, and they could see farmers bustling about everywhere on the mountain.

The mansion was still managed by a housekeeper and two maids, but compared to before, it was more lively since lively Yaning was also placed here.

The group alighted from the carriage, the ringing bell from the carriage had already attracted the people from the mansion. The one in charge of managing the mansion was an old housekeeper with gray temples. By his appearance, he seemed to be an Aud, but probably from further north.

One of the maids was about fifty or sixty years old, mainly responsible for cleaning and laundry. The other looked about twenty years old, her face sprinkled with a few freckles, she was mainly responsible for cooking within the mansion. Her appearance revealed that she was Marsyan.

Seeing the arrival of the advance team, the housekeeper and maids came out to greet them respectfully. For them, these young people were also their masters.

"Ee!" A childish voice came from the door and a tiny figure ran out. Upon seeing the group, she immediately ran over excitedly.

"Little Yaning, come to sister!" Seeing Yaning, Tangmo immediately smiled and squatted down, opening her arms to say.

But the awkward thing was, Yaning completely ignored her. Yaning ran straight to Luo’er, clung to his leg, and shouted in a babbling, incomprehensible voice, "Daddy!"

Luo’er was moving his luggage. Seeing her clinging to his leg, he gave a wry smile, bent down to pick her up, and smiled, "I’m not your dad!"

Yaning stared at him, and after a long time, she hesitated and said, "Dad?"

Luo’er sighed with a hand on his forehead, her call was problematic, but at least she recognized people now, which was certainly good news for him.

Tangmo pouted and walked up to him with an unhappy face. Luo’er shrugged helplessly, "I can’t help it, she pounced on me herself."

"Luo’er is a real girl killer!" Hu Daoke shook his head and said.

"If you call Luo’er ’Daddy’, then you should call me ’Mommy’!" Tangmo seriously said to Yaning.

"Enough, don’t teach her these strange things!" Luo’er said while holding Yaning and backing away from Tangmo.

"I apologize for not being able to come out to greet you after your long journey." The housekeeper bowed down, apologizing. He was gray at the temples but looked quite spirited.

"It’s fine, don’t be so formal." Luo’er shook his head.

"Yaning, come here!" The young maid opened her arms to ask Yaning to come back to her. Yaning glanced at her and then hid in Luo’er’s arms.

"Sulina, this is impolite!" The housekeeper turned around and sternly reprimanded.

"It’s fine!" Luo’er waved his hand, he looked at the young maid named Sulina, she seemed to have a deep hostility towards the advance team members, clearly afraid that they would snatch Yaning from her.

"Come down, you’re too heavy." Luo’er bent down and put Yaning down. Yaning looked up at him and then ran back to Sulina’s side, who held Yaning’s hand, eyeing everyone vigilantly.

"Seems like your daughter has been abducted." Cheng Ziang teased.

"What daughter, nonsense," Luo’er glared at him, shaking his head, "She’s probably just afraid we’ll snatch Yaning away from her."

After this unpleasant little episode, the group once again welcomed their holiday. Although the headquarters expected them to be on standby at the mansion at all times and maintain their daily training to ensure their condition, Luo’er clearly couldn’t control these slackers. They were supposed to go jogging early in the morning, but they ended up sleeping late. Seeing this, Luo’er naturally let it pass.

Once it came to this kind of leisure holiday, Luo’er’s role became quite obvious. He was the kind of person who would give, basically being busy every day. Thanks to him, the team members’ daily work was to eat, sleep and get some sun. Furthermore, with Luo’er cooking, the food started to become delicious, making them feel as if they were living in a wonderland.

"Oh, Luo’er is really a team treasure, with him here, we can live like gods every day." On the lawn, Hu Daoke and Cheng Ziang set up beach chairs, sunbathing while wearing sunglasses. Looking at Luo’er playing with Yaning in the distance, Hu Daoke couldn’t help but sigh.

"Why don’t you marry him." Cheng Ziang said.

"I’d love to, but Luo’er likes girls." Hu Daoke shook his head.

"Who cares if he likes them or not, just take him into your harem directly." Cheng Ziang teased.

"That’s great, I wouldn’t refuse." Hu Daoke said contentedly.

"Lazy people like you, who enjoy a life of comfort, don’t deserve love. You’re just counting on Luo’er to serve you." Cheng Ziang scornfully said.

"It’s funny that you say that, as if you’re not the same. These past few days, I haven’t seen you busy at all, it’s Luo’er serving you." Hu Daoke couldn’t help but retort.

"Hmph!" Cheng Ziang grunted, not inclined to continue the conversation.

As the pair continued to lounge leisurely, Hu Daoke suddenly voiced a whimsical thought: "Tell me what you think Luo’er would look like in a maid’s outfit?"

"Hmm, good idea!" Cheng Ziang nodded, surprisingly not offering any objection.

"Shall we have him try it on, then?" Hu Daoke proposed, evidently eager to see it happen.

"You go ahead!" egged on Cheng Ziang.

"Why me? He’ll definitely listen to you," Hu Daoke retorted.

"I’m not going to make such a bizarre request!" Cheng Ziang said resolutely.

"Oh, please, acting all high and mighty now. Too chicken to make the move, huh?" Hu Daoke scoffed disdainfully.

Despite their petty bickering, it was merely their way of further heating their already close bond. After all they’d been through together, their friendship had been cemented irrevocably.

From afar, two girls no longer found the strength to continue playing with Yaning. Baiyue sat on the grass, reading through her diary, while Tangmo lay on her lap, enjoying the comfort of her knee pillow. The lively Yaning ran towards the nearby forest, with Luo’er weakly trailing behind.

They ran to the edge of the field, away from everyone else. The moment Yaning dashed into the woods, she tripped over a vine and collapsed, bursting into tears.

Scrambling over to her side, Luo’er helped her up and realized that she had scraped her knee and was bleeding. As he comforted Yaning and blew on her wound, he pondered over a solution.

An idea popped into his mind – the magic wand he had on him. He took it out, preparing to cast healing magic on Yaning’s scraped knee to mend the wound. A small injury of this sort would heal in just a minute with magic.

He silently recited the spell and the surrounding magic energy flowed into him. However, when the magic passed through his heart, he was suddenly stricken with unbearable pain. His face turned pale, and he spat out a mouthful of blood.

Yaning watched him, wide-eyed, and the sight of blood brought back suppressed memories. She reeled back in shock, couldn’t stand her ground, and collapsed. The sight of Luo’er spitting blood terrified her and she screamed uncontrollably.

"Yaning..." Luo’er managed to utter her name weakly, struggling to form the words, but Yaning paid no heed to his call. She scrambled to her feet, distanced herself from Luo’er, and ran off crying, leaving a faint Luo’er behind.

Resting on the lounge chair, Cheng Ziang suddenly felt an uncomfortable tightness in his chest, accompanied by an overwhelming sense of loss. Seeing his odd expression, Hu Daoke asked with concern, "What’s wrong?"

"Nothing, I’m just going for a walk," Cheng Ziang shook his head, standing up with a heavy heart to leave.

"Mumbling to himself again," Hu Daoke muttered before closing his eyes again.

Cheng Ziang wandered towards the direction of the girls. His hand trembled ever so slightly, for no apparent reason. The two girls were huddled closely together, but there was no sign of Luo’er and Yaning. He frowned in deep thought, before instinctively heading towards the woods.

As he arrived at the edge of the forest, he heard sobs. Soon after, Yaning emerged from the forest, crying. Seeing Cheng Ziang, she ran towards him.

Yaning came at him with such speed that he almost toppled over when she struck him. Cheng Ziang knelt down to catch her. Seeing her frightened face, he frowned and asked, "Why are you crying?"

"Blood, blood..." Yaning mumbled through her sobs.

"What blood?" Cheng Ziang asked, just as he noticed the scraped knee. Just as he thought it wasn’t a big deal, he saw fresh droplets of blood scattered on Yaning’s pristine face. He quickly wiped it and found the blood to be wet, instantly heightening his alarm.

Yaning’s knee was the one bruised and it was just a small scrape. There was no plausible reason for her face to be splattered with blood. Holding Yaning, he urgently asked, "Yaning, where did the blood on your face come from?"

"Blood, blood..." Yaning kept repeating.

"Where did the blood on your face come from?" Cheng Ziang’s tone heightened.

Seeing him angry, Yaning stopped crying. She looked at him timidly and hesitated for a considerable time before she weakly said, "Dad, dad, blood..."

"Where’s your dad?" Cheng Ziang, knowing full well who she was referring to as ’dad’, asked anxiously.

"He’s over there..." Yaning said, pointing towards the direction of the forest.

"Quick, take me to him!" Cheng Ziang blurted, grabbing her hand and running towards the forest.

Soon after entering the forest, he found Luo’er leaning against a tree. He was still conscious, resting with his head bowed. Upon hearing their footsteps, he managed to look up and give a feeble smile, despite his alarmingly pale complexion.