"Brother Wu, you should go back. We'll see each other tomorrow. Be careful on your way back," Yi Zhiye suddenly said.
Upon hearing this, Wu Shuai shook his head. "How can I leave you here alone? Since Brother Zheng and the others will be here soon, I'll wait with you."
Yi Zhiye felt like crying and laughing. He really wanted to say that if Wu Shuai stayed, they would never be able to wait for them.
However, he couldn't say such a thing. Thus, for a moment, Yi Zhiye didn't know what to say.
Just then, a rustling sound came from the woods. Yi Zhiye and Wu Shuai instinctively took defensive stances and looked towards the woods together.
After all, Long Xuan and the black-clad steward had just left. They didn't know if they would return.
If they brought more people back, it wouldn't be a good thing.
As they were in the midst of various speculations, the sound of footsteps in the woods grew closer.
When they saw the figure emerging, Yi Zhiye and Wu Shuai finally relaxed.
"Haha, you just told me to leave. Look, aren't they here?"
The person who arrived was none other than Zheng Wei, Shen Xiaoyan, and the others, walking gracefully.
"Yi Zhiye, you walked so fast, you didn't even wait for us," Na Muzhong chided as she walked.
Yi Zhiye chuckled, "Who told me my legs were long? Don't you think I'd walk faster?"
As soon as Yi Zhiye said this, everyone burst into laughter.
Wu Shuai smiled as he observed Shen Xiaoming.
Shen Xiaoyan, Zheng Wei, and Shen Xiaoming were each holding a child in their arms, the San Sheng Zi.
And Shen Xiaoming was someone he had never seen before.
It was evident that Shen Xiaoyan and the others had a close relationship, and it wasn't easy for just anyone to integrate into their group.
Therefore, Shen Xiaoming's appearance greatly surprised him.
Moreover, he always felt a sense of familiarity with Shen Xiaoming.
After looking carefully for a while, he suddenly realized, "This..."
"This is my younger brother, Shen Xiaoming."
Shen Xiaoyan's gentle laugh interrupted Wu Shuai.
"Your younger brother? Shen Xiaoming?"
Wu Shuai was shocked.
When did Shen Xiaoyan get a younger brother?
Furthermore, this Shen Xiaoming looked exactly like the half-human he had seen that day.
The reason he hesitated to recognize him earlier was that Shen Xiaoming's cat ears and tail were missing.
Could half-humans transform into humans? This thought quickly crossed Wu Shuai's mind, and he denied it.
If half-humans could transform into humans, then it was believed that all half-humans would strive to become human.
However, even his father had never heard of half-humans being able to transform into humans.
It wasn't surprising that Wu Shuai didn't believe it, as the method Yi Zhiye had used was found in the treasure pavilion of the Sun Heat Sect.
Ordinary people would not be able to access such things.
In fact, it was also to prevent the spread of information that half-humans might resort to any means to become human.
After all, not everyone was like Shen Xiaoming, who persevered for a full year without yielding, just to prevent Shen Xiaoyan from suffering.
Most people were selfish; they would sacrifice anything for their own benefit.
Shen Xiaoyan was also secretly observing Wu Shuai's expression. Seeing the confusion on Wu Shuai's face, she knew that Wu Shuai had definitely noticed something.
However, Wu Shuai was a smart person. Even if he had noticed, she had already said that Shen Xiaoming was her younger brother, and she believed Wu Shuai wouldn't voice his suspicions.
As it turned out, it was just as Shen Xiaoyan had thought. Wu Shuai simply smiled politely at Shen Xiaoming, then said to Zheng Wei, "Brother Zheng, this is not fair. You left without a word to me."
Zheng Wei chuckled, "We are homeless now. Brother Wu, won't you invite us to stay at the Fortress Master's mansion? If it's inconvenient, we can stay at an inn."
"How can that be!"
Wu Shuai no longer dwelled on the question Yi Zhiye hadn't answered. Although he knew Zheng Wei was changing the subject, he could only follow along.
After all, he really wanted Zheng Wei and the others to stay at the Fortress Master's mansion.
Ever since he learned that the immortal vegetables had the effect of cleansing the marrow, he had been eating them continuously.
However, after Shen Xiaoyan and the others disappeared for more than ten days, his home had been without spiritual vegetables for several days.
Now that Shen Xiaoyan and the others had finally returned, he naturally had to find a way to buy more spiritual vegetables quickly.
Wu Shuai secretly decided to buy a lot, and a smile involuntarily appeared on his face.
"Let's go. Setting aside other matters, let's go to the Fortress Master's mansion first. The three of them must be tired, so let's not waste time here."
Saying this, Wu Shuai led the way.
Zheng Wei and the others exchanged glances and followed.
After entering the city gates, they felt as if they had returned from a different world.
Although they had only been away for a few dozen days, they hadn't seen such a lively scene for over ten years.
Although Wu Shuai found the expressions of Shen Xiaoyan and the others a bit strange, he didn't think much of it.
The group followed Wu Shuai, weaving through alleys, and soon saw the entrance to the Fortress Master's mansion.
From a distance, the Fortress Master's mansion looked magnificent.
Shen Xiaoyan observed carefully; the main gate of the Fortress Master's mansion appeared to be made of some unknown material, like steel.
Although it wasn't open, it gave a very solid and textured impression.
When they reached the gate, Wu Shuai gently knocked. The gate was immediately opened from the inside.
Guards stood in two rows inside the gate. Each one was tall and straight, a pleasing sight.
This wasn't to say that each one was exceptionally handsome, but rather that they exuded an aura of being elites.
Zheng Wei also nodded and said to Wu Shuai, "Your guards are quite good."
Wu Shuai raised his chin slightly and said, "Naturally. You don't know, my father is most proud of the fact that every single guard in our Fortress Master's mansion is an elite among elites."
Shen Xiaoyan nodded, which was exactly as she had thought.
It seemed that Wu Yihao was indeed a very capable Fortress Master.
It made sense; if he weren't so capable, how could Yingcheng have become the most powerful city in the vicinity?
The group entered the gate and followed Wu Shuai directly to the front hall.
As guests, they would naturally have to meet Wu Yihao first.
Wu Shuai had just gestured for Shen Xiaoyan and the others to sit when Wu Yihao strode in.
Before he even entered the room, his hearty laughter could be heard.
"Haha, Little Wu, Father never realized you were so capable. I only asked you to go out and try, and I never expected you to actually bring people back."
As he spoke, Wu Yihao entered the room.
Upon seeing him enter, Shen Xiaoyan and the others stood up and greeted him:
"Greetings, Fortress Master."
Wu Yihao waved his hand. "Why be so formal? Everyone sit down, sit down."
Saying this, he sat down himself.
Seeing this, Shen Xiaoyan and the others also sat down.
Zheng Wei said, "We've really troubled you this time."
Wu Yihao's face sank slightly. "What are you saying? You get along well with Little Wu. To be frank, in my heart, you are all like my own children. If you don't stay at home, where else would you stay?"
After saying this, Wu Yihao himself started to laugh.
Upon hearing this, Wu Shuai instinctively looked at Na Muzhong and Yi Zhiye.
He didn't know about Shen Xiaoyan and Zheng Wei, but Yi Zhiye and Na Muzhong were genuine; they were both over 800 years old.
Their age was much greater than his father's.
His father actually said he regarded them as children, and he felt completely disoriented.
"Uh, Father, Brother Zheng and the others are tired from their journey. Why don't we let them go rest first?"
Wu Yihao came to his senses, "Right, old people forget. Look, I should have had you go rest first."
Saying this, Wu Yihao looked at Wu Shuai. "Little Wu, you take them to rest first, and then come find me. I have something to discuss with you."
Shen Xiaoyan and the others knew that they would definitely be asked about their matters, but they kept their faces impassive. After bidding farewell to Wu Yihao, they followed Wu Shuai to their accommodations.
The Fortress Master's mansion was vast, beyond imagination.