"So insidious, the game of imperial stratagems is played so well." Xu Jiacan was incredibly grateful now that Xin Ci had settled them in territories outside of Da Ming.
"We can't guess, nor do we deign to guess, the thoughts of feudal emperors. Therefore, we should just focus on our own affairs."
Truthfully, the Captain wanted to say: it's best if that emperor can't control us; being free as we are is better than anything.
However, apart from them, everyone else here was purely ancient people. Some things were best not said too clearly, lest he scare Grandpa Meng and the others.
The teammates naturally agreed completely. Whatever the Captain did, they would do. The Captain was their guiding star, and that would never change.
The next day, the teammates, along with gifts from Grandpa Meng, Uncle Qi, and Uncle Jin, were sent back to Dragon City by Fu Xin Ci.
Standing on a hilltop, looking at the houses and farmland in the valley that had already taken shape. Pang Dun'er shouted loudly, "It's so much better on our own territory!"
"Exactly. Even if that old geezer offered us official positions, we wouldn't take them."
"Of course not. Serving a ruler is like walking with a tiger. Only a fool would become an official. We're great like this, free and unfettered. However, if possible, I'd like to be a swordsman traveling the world."
"Well, we strongly suspect that your 'traveling the world' would start from one side of the valley and end after reaching the other."
"I think Xiao Ai at least has to circle the valley before returning, like our previous patrols."
"Haha, you're so mean! You understand me so well, how could I bear to travel far alone?"
"Stop, don't even think about involving me. After going out just once, I don't want to go out a second time. Home is best." Yang Xin Jie quickly stated her position.
Pang Dun'er immediately followed suit, shaking his head, "Don't think about involving me either. If you want me to go with you, forget it."
The others were smart enough to remain silent.
Xiao Ai: "I thought it would resonate."
"Xiao Ai, do you still want to live the life of leveling up and fighting monsters?"
"I'd have to be crazy to want that life again."
"Since you don't, then let's honestly live out our retirement here with us."
As soon as Yang Xin Jie finished speaking, they heard someone calling their names: "Captain, Jia Can, Xin Jie, Xiao Ai, Ru Yi, Pang Dun'er, you're back."
"I knew it, only Uncle Xu and Uncle Sun would miss us this much."
Having been out for these days, Pang Dun'er felt that although his body wasn't exactly light as a swallow, it was much more agile than before.
He confidently wiggled his old, fat waist, a look of expecting praise on his face as he showed off, "Look at my little steps, are they even a tiny bit lighter?"
Uncle Xu and Uncle Sun were always the most understanding, and they praised in unison, "Yes, our Pang Dun'er is the most agile fatty."
Pang Dun'er: Alas, he knew it would be this.
However, he was good at comforting himself, "I knew it, Uncle Xu and Uncle Sun have the best judgment."
The teammates: They knew Pang Dun'er's words by heart.
Uncle Xu and Uncle Sun carefully examined the children. Seeing that they were all in good condition, they began to ask about the topic they cared about most.
When the people of Dragon Teng returned, Xiang Tong received the news immediately. He dropped his work and rushed over.
From afar, he began to inquire, "Dragon Teng, how are you? Are you injured?"
Before the Captain could speak, the teammates were already unhappy. The girls were too shy to interject, so Xu Jiacan and Pang Dun'er immediately took charge.
"Town Mayor Xiang, you think too highly of those death warriors."
"What? You encountered death warriors on this trip?"
Uncle Xu and Uncle Sun's minds were filled with the legends of how cold-blooded and troublesome the death warriors nurtured by ancient dignitaries were.
However, the teammates all replied:
"Well, they were nothing special."
Uncle Xu: ...?
Uncle Sun: ...?
Pang Dun'er felt he had an opportunity to shine again, and his eyes were about to pop out of his eyelids.
"Don't be fooled by their fierce approach. The Captain saw through their identities at a glance, and then we divided the labor."
"Ru Yi first summoned a heavy rain for them. In an instant, those people became drowned rats. Heh heh, they were quite smart; when they sensed something was wrong, they tried to escape. But that was no good! The Captain was ruthless and froze them with a single move. Jia Can took them down one by one, leaving no survivors."
Admittedly, Pang Dun'er truly had the potential of a storyteller. Uncle Sun and the others listened as if they were there, and Xiang Tong was even more eager, "If I had been there, perhaps it would have been even more spectacular."
"We mentioned you at the time too. We all said that if you partnered with Ru Yi, the effect might have been even better."
"I thought so too. Ru Yi drenches them like drowned rats, and then I'd directly unleash a clap of thunder."
"Those death warriors would be completely finished, and I wouldn't have anything to do. Pang Dun'er could just clean up the battlefield."
Speaking of Pang Dun'er cleaning up the battlefield, Xu Jiacan's spirits rose again.
"In this one trip, we experienced three battles. Pang Dun'er performed the most outstandingly."
Pang Dun'er, not expecting to be praised first, was surprised and hastily straightened his broad waist.
Xu Jiacan did not hold back his words at all, praising Pang Dun'er to the skies.
Pang Dun'er was a little dazed. His eyes, which looked somewhat small due to his plump face, kept darting towards Xu Jiacan.
His gaze seemed to be asking with a hint of uncertainty: Is that me?
After Xu Jiacan finished, the Captain added, "On this trip, Pang Dun'er's performance was indeed excellent. It truly astonished our minds."
Only after the Captain praised him did Pang Dun'er believe he hadn't misheard. He nonchalantly revealed a mouthful of pearly white teeth.
Xiang Tong also hadn't expected that earth elemental abilities would give him a new perspective. After carefully observing Pang Dun'er, he drew a conclusion.
"Pang Dun'er has lost weight."
"Really?" This news made Pang Dun'er's spirits soar again. If he hadn't known he was a bit heavy, he would have jumped up and shouted: "This is the most heartwarming thing I've heard today."
With Xiang Tong leading the way, Uncle Xu and Uncle Sun also belatedly discovered that Pang Dun'er had indeed lost weight.
Uncle Sun immediately said, "It seems we need to cook some delicious food to replenish Pang Dun'er."
Fu Xin Ci, after hearing Uncle Sun finish, took out various meats and seafood from her space without asking.
Pang Dun'er's gaze swept over the various ribs, and he bit his lip, making a difficult choice.
"Uncle Sun, Uncle Xu, let's make just a little, no need to make too much. I'm on a diet recently."
Hearing the word "diet" come out of Pang Dun'er's mouth, everyone thought the sun had risen in the west.