Chapter 118: Return

Chapter 118: Return

"Thank you!" Jerry said to Ye Tian, who was still busy. Jerry mentioned he wanted to dig a grave for Mao Wen, and Ye Tian agreed without hesitation. He helped with the task, then cleaned the man's face before placing him in the grave.

"May the God of Light above forgive him!" Jerry bowed his head in sincere prayer. "What do you plan to do next? Have you decided?" Ye Tian asked.

"I don't know, we'll take it one step at a time," Jerry replied with a smile. "Is Eve really going to be okay like this?"

"Yes, I promise. Also, be sure to take the medicine I gave you on time. I'm not talking about Eve—I'm talking about you," Ye Tian said, pointing to Jerry. "Your shoulder and leg injuries haven't healed yet, and you're using such intense martial arts. If you don't take care, you might suffer long-term effects."

"So you knew everything all along!" Jerry laughed.

"What do I know? I know nothing!" Ye Tian smiled. "I only know your name is Jerry, she's Eve, we once mined together, and we're just friends."

"Thank you!" Jerry was moved.

"Tsk tsk," Ye Tian shook his finger. "Eve, come here." He called to the girl playing nearby.

"What's up? Gray, do you have something tasty?" Eve ran over happily.

"Not this time," Ye Tian gently pinched the girl's nose. "You have to be obedient and good. Also, I hope you won't hate me." He patted her head, but she tilted it in confusion.

"Alright, let's part ways." Ye Tian mounted the horse he had ridden in on—he still had to return it to its owner. Jerry took two horses to pull a cart, and the rest were set free since they couldn't be taken along.

"Gray, I'll always remember you!" Jerry said.

"Heh, I forgot to tell you something—my name isn't Gray!" Ye Tian laughed.

"Then what is it?" Jerry asked.

"Heh, friend!" Ye Tian said, pulling the reins. "Safe travels!"

Galloping swiftly, Ye Tian made quick time and returned to the small town before nightfall.

"Hello, I'm here to exchange horses," Ye Tian told the attendant at the entrance.

"Oh, Mr. Gray!" the attendant greeted warmly. "Please come in. Our manager told us to notify him as soon as you arrived. This way, please."

Another attendant immediately took the reins from Ye Tian and led the horse to the back for examination. "This way, please!" he said enthusiastically.

"Can I see my horse first?" Ye Tian asked.

"Don't worry, sir. Your horse is already well and under excellent care. No need to fret," the attendant replied respectfully.

Just then, a stout middle-aged man appeared. "Ah, dear Mr. Gray, glad you're back!" President Perkins extended his hand warmly.

"Nice to see you, President Perkins," Ye Tian said. "You look radiant. Something good must have happened."

"Indeed! Seeing you makes me happy. Mr. Gray, you don't know—thanks to your technique, over a hundred horses in our branch have survived. This method has been widely promoted in our guild, all thanks to you!"

"Oh, it's nothing. I just shared what I knew. Not that grand," Ye Tian said modestly. "May I see my horse?"

"Of course!" Perkins smiled. "This way, please."

In the stable at the back, Ye Tian saw the skinny horse. Though many days had passed, it had not gained much weight but looked much more spirited.

"I'm sorry, the time was short, so it didn't turn out as well as expected. If you'd like, Mr. Gray, you can keep it here for boarding, and I promise we'll fatten it up!" Perkins apologized.

"No need, it's just right now!" Ye Tian reached out to touch the horse's lips. The horse stood quietly, letting him stroke it, neither happy nor displeased.

"Alright, shall we go?" Ye Tian patted the horse.

"Wait a moment, I'll have someone prepare a fine saddle for you!" Perkins snapped his fingers, and a servant hurried off.

"President, Mr. Gray's horse has been checked and is healthy. Should we bring it over as well?" a servant respectfully asked Perkins.

"Oh, right. I don't want the other horse. I only want this one!" Ye Tian said, beckoning the horse, which immediately came out.

"Seriously?!" Everyone present was stunned.

"Saddle, saddle!" Perkins shouted. Soon, a servant rushed over holding a finely crafted saddle.

"Thank you!" Ye Tian took it and placed it on the horse. "Perfect."

"Thank you, President Perkins," Ye Tian expressed gratitude again.

"Hey, it's I who should thank you. Without Mr. Gray, we would have lost countless horses by now." Perkins handed Ye Tian an exquisite card. "If you need anything, please come find me!"

"Thanks!" Ye Tian pocketed the card. "Well, I must be going." He beckoned, and the horse followed him out the back.

"Oh, God of Light, what have I witnessed!" a servant muttered.

"President!" an attendant glanced at the middle-aged man. "This person is no ordinary man. What he does is always baffling. Recruiting him was the right decision."

The man whispered, "Find out everything about him. Get the most detailed information."

"Hey, Gray, you're back! Why did you bring a horse?" The guards looked closely and their eyes nearly popped out. "Gray, you forgot the reins!"

"No problem," Ye Tian smiled, stroking the horse's muzzle. "It's well-behaved."

The guards looked at Ye Tian in disbelief—a strange man with a strange horse who didn't even need reins, and the horse followed on its own. They all wanted one like that.

"Gray, you're back!" Inside Ye Tian's room, the girls were cleaning. When they saw him, Michelle jumped into his arms. "Welcome back!"

Layla almost followed but stopped when she saw Michelle's expression.

"Welcome back!" Layla smiled.

"Yeah, I'm back. I need a good rest tomorrow," Ye Tian grinned. "By the way, I brought back a horse. Layla, want to come to the stable with me?"

"Okay," Layla nodded softly. "Michelle, I'll take Gray to the stable. You pack up and go home."

"Okay." Michelle blushed, climbing out of Ye Tian's arms. She was too excited and forgot Layla was there, so she hurried away with her tools, cheeks red. Ye Tian chuckled. "How have you been lately?"

"Everything's fine," Layla smiled. "Are you done with your business?"

"Yes, I won't be going out for now," Ye Tian said. "Come with me."

"Gray, where did you get that?" Horses are high-end commodities on the continent, rarely affordable for most. Ye Tian brought back one, thin but spirited and seemingly very intelligent.

"Is it alright like this?" Layla was a bit worried.

"It's fine, very obedient!" Ye Tian patted the horse. "This is Layla." The skinny horse neighed softly, trotted a few steps, then nuzzled Layla's face.

"Ticklish!" The girl giggled.

"They seem quite close. You'll have to take care of it now!" Ye Tian shamelessly grinned.

"Okay, I got it." Layla gently stroked the horse's muzzle. "By the way, what about the bird?"

"Oh, it's asleep in my backpack."

"What's its name?" Layla asked as she led the horse into the stable.

"No name yet. I haven't named it," Ye Tian shrugged.

"Hmm, how about Dolly? Carbine?" Layla thought aloud.

"No, those sound awful," Ye Tian pouted.

"Then pick a good name!" Layla complained.

"Alright, how about Old Black? Sounds affectionate," Ye Tian said, stroking his chin.

"Ha!" Layla paused, then burst into laughter. "You idiot, there's an idiot here!"

"Hmph, let's ask it what name it likes," Ye Tian smiled.

"Okay, it must like me!" Layla was sure. "Dolly? Carbine!" She petted the horse again.

The horse showed no reaction, letting her stroke it before suddenly turning its large face away.

"Haha, I told you it doesn't like those!" Ye Tian laughed. "Old Black! Old Black!" The horse turned its face to look at Ye Tian, snorted, then turned away again.

"No, no, it doesn't like that name!" Layla shouted.

"Hehe, who said? It turned its head!" Ye Tian chuckled. "I've decided, it's Old Black."

"Hmph." Layla turned her head in dissatisfaction. Ye Tian grinned. "By the way, how's the roast meat?"

Layla brightened. "It moved a few times. Looks like it's waking up!"

"Really?" Ye Tian hugged her suddenly.

"Ouch, ouch, Gray!" Layla's face changed. His fingers felt like iron bars, poking painfully.

"Oh, sorry," Ye Tian quickly let go. "Are you okay?"

"A little sore," Layla complained, moving her arm.

"Come here, let me massage you." Ye Tian gently turned her and began kneading.

"Ah, so sore!" Layla giggled. "And a bit ticklish."

"Mostly because you work too hard. Look, your shoulders are as stiff as a man's. Who would want you like this?" Ye Tian applied a little more pressure.

"Ouch, Gray, that hurts!" Layla turned her head, looking pitiful.

"Bear with it!" Ye Tian laughed. The girl looked adorable now, nothing like her usual serious self—somewhat like Isabella.

"Gray, how long will you stay here?" Layla asked softly.

"Don’t know, we'll see," Ye Tian smiled. "Don't worry, if I leave, I'll say goodbye! " He gently infused some inner energy into Layla's body.

"Ah, Gray, so warm!"

"It's okay, don't resist!" Ye Tian urged.

"But I feel weak!" Layla blushed, her face growing hotter.

"Gray, it'll be troublesome if someone sees us!" Layla suddenly said. "Not here."

"Almost done," Ye Tian circled his inner energy inside her, ensuring no hidden ailments, then slowly withdrew.

"All right, no problem!" Ye Tian pulled back the energy, and Layla immediately relaxed.

"Are you okay?" Ye Tian quickly supported her.

"I'm fine, just need to rest a bit," Layla said, clutching Ye Tian. "Who's there?" Suddenly, a light shone.

"It's me, Old Man Locke!" Ye Tian recognized the stable manager and greeted him.

"Oh, what are you busy with?" The light approached. Layla, finding some strength, hid behind Ye Tian, clutching his clothes.

"I bought a horse and brought it here," Ye Tian said. "I'll be leaving soon."

"No problem, leave it there. I'll watch over it. Don't worry! I'll head off now." The light receded.

"All good now," Ye Tian whispered, looking at Layla, whose head emitted faint wisps of steam. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine, don't look at me!" Layla pressed close to Ye Tian. "Don't look, I look terrible."

"How could that be? Ask anyone—who would say you’re not beautiful?" Ye Tian turned to her. Her cheeks flushed, enchanting.

"Truly beautiful!" Ye Tian stroked her head. "Let's go back." Layla nodded, then turned Ye Tian around. "No peeking!"

"Yes, yes!" Ye Tian laughed, heading forward while Layla tugged his sleeve.

"Right, I'll see you off. Remember to give me back the roast meat later; I haven't seen it in ages," Ye Tian said.

"Okay," Layla's voice was barely audible. They slowly returned to the girls’ dorm courtyard.

"You go on, I can't get in," Ye Tian sighed.

"Wait for me!" Layla hurried back inside. Ye Tian leaned against a tree, waiting quietly.

"Hey, Gray, you're back?" Suddenly, a handsome middle-aged man ran over grinning. "Gray, I've missed you!"

"No, no, I'm not into guys!" Ye Tian quickly hid behind the tree as the man collided with it in an intimate embrace.

"Gray, don't do that!" The man slowly slid down.

"Ah, Charles, long time no see!" Ye Tian squatted, greeting warmly.

"I wish I could see you every day, but who knows where you've run off to," Charles grumbled, climbing up. "Gray, I want to eat your cooking!"

"Sure, come over for lunch tomorrow," Ye Tian smiled. "Yeah, I’ll bring some friends to support you."

Ye Tian was speechless. "Charles, if you have a girlfriend, go spoil her yourself. Don't drag me into this, okay?"

"Who said I have a girlfriend? I'm a happy bachelor!" Charles twirled flamboyantly. "By the way, what are you doing in the girls' dorm? Peeping?"

"Get lost! No more meals for you tomorrow!" Ye Tian was furious at Charles' lecherous grin. "I'm waiting for Layla to bring my friend."

"Friend? You mean that eagle-like animal?" Charles laughed. "Such a strange creature, not even a magical beast."

"No, it's a squirrel," Ye Tian said, just as Layla ran over.

"Charles, Charles!" The girl startled, and her blush returned instantly.

"Oh, oh, I have something to do!" Charles winked at Ye Tian creepily. "I'm off!"

"Take care, Charles!" Seeing him leave, Layla exhaled deeply. "What happened? You look so scared."

"Nothing," Layla said, pulling the roast meat from her arms.

"Hmm, looks like it's grown a bit," Ye Tian examined the little creature seriously.

"Yeah, I feel the same," Layla said, then blushed harder as Ye Tian sniffed the roast meat. "Don't smell it!"

"Smells delicious!" Ye Tian laughed. "Thanks for taking care of it so long." He tucked the roast meat back into his arms. "Get some rest; I’m heading out."

"Okay, I’m going too!" Layla glanced at Ye Tian, then blushed as she hurried away.