72: Chapter 68: Deviating in Mind, Grasping What Thought?_1 72: Chapter 68: Deviating in Mind, Grasping What Thought?_1 Two muscular, bare-chested strongmen stood guard at the entrance to the City Lord’s mansion, striking fear in those who looked upon them.

A group of people followed Li Jianqiu as they made a turn to the right.

Suddenly, a crisp voice called out from behind, “Jiang Wang!”

Jiang Wang turned toward the voice and saw Sun Xiaoman, who looked petite and adorable, bouncing high in the crowd and waving at him.

By her side was a rotund figure, none other than Sun Xiaoyan.

“Miss Sun!” Jiang Wang greeted her with a smile.

“Why so formal, just call me Xiaoman,” Sun Xiaoman approached with a swagger and gave him a punch in the stomach.

Jiang Wang sucked in a breath of cold air, trying to maintain his radiant smile so as not to lose face, “Okay, okay, Xiaoman.

Xiaoyan, you’re doing well too, yeah!”

It seemed that Sun Xiaoman’s group had just returned from outside the city, still bearing traces of battle on them.

Yang Xingyong, Zhao Tiehe and the others were not with them, probably because they usually didn’t go on missions together.

Sun Xiaoman signaled for the people behind her to go ahead and turned back to ask, “So, are you here to visit us, or…”

Jiang Wang introduced Li Jianqiu and Zhao Rucheng, smiling, “We’ve taken on a mission to eliminate Fierce Beasts.”

“Nice!

That’s the spirit!” Sun Xiaoman said boisterously, “You haven’t settled on a place to stay yet, right?

Come stay at my place, all of you!”

“Sis,” Sun Xiaoyan pulled at her clothes from behind, whispering, “It’s not appropriate for a girl to bring people home to stay…”

“What’s inappropriate about it?

Our house is so big; you just need to arrange it, right?”

“My bed is so small, not big enough for even just me!”

“When did I ever say they were going to sleep in the same bed as you???”

“And it’s even more out of the question to sleep with you, isn’t it?”

“What exactly are you filling that fat head of yours with every day?”

Just as the brother and sister were about to burst into a full-blown fight, Li Jianqiu stepped in, “Miss Sun, we’ve already booked rooms.

Moreover, we’re about to set out to hunt Fierce Beasts soon, so it wouldn’t be convenient to stay at your place.”

Jiang Wang added, “We’re all here following Brother Li Jianqiu this time; he’s arranged everything for us.

Xiaoman, Xiaoyan, please don’t trouble yourselves.

After we complete the mission, let’s all get together for a drink!”

“Ah, okay, okay,” Sun Xiaoman instantly softened, turning back with a smile, “I’ll invite Tiehe and the others then.”

With that, the two groups said their farewells.

No sooner had Jiang Wang and his companions walked a distance away than Sun Xiaoman’s face darkened, “Playing spoilsport, fatty?

Stingy and miserly, how are our friends from Maple Forest City supposed to think of us?”

But Sun Xiaoyan knew her all too well and wouldn’t stick around to be punched.

He had already dashed into the City Lord’s mansion.

Sun Xiaoman chased him all the way, causing chaos along her path, but the mansion guards were accustomed to the scene and remained unflinchingly focused.

The sibling duo dashed into the study one after the other.

A middle-aged beauty sat behind the desk, engrossed in reviewing some documents.

That person was Dou Yuemei, the current City Lord of Maple Forest City Region, and also the mother of Sun Xiaoman and Sun Xiaoyan.

Sun Xiaoyan dove into her arms and pointed accusingly, “Look at sister!”

Dou Yuemei set her writing brush down, embracing the chubby Sun Xiaoyan without minding the awkward scene.

Her phoenix eyes then settled on the charging Sun Xiaoman.

“Sun Xiaoman!

What are you up to this time?”

Though her name conveyed gentleness, her demeanor could be described as spirited.

Sun Xiaoman stopped at the doorway, hardly convinced, “What’s wrong with disciplining him a bit as the eldest sister?”

“He already has a mother; he doesn’t need so many!”

Sun Xiaoman was at a loss for words for a moment and stomped her foot forcefully on the tiled floor, producing a loud thud, “Mother!

You’re too biased!”

Dou Yuemei affectionately held Sun Xiaoyan and said matter-of-factly, “I certainly am.

A daughter is like water that’s been poured out once married!”

“I’m not married yet!”

“Isn’t that just a matter of time?”

Feeling secure in his mother’s embrace, Sun Xiaoyan chimed in, “Exactly, and she’s been exchanging glances with a guy surnamed Jiang today!”

“You itchy-skinned fatty!” an enraged Sun Xiaoman lunged forward, fists at the ready.

Dou Yuemei raised a hand, and a gentle surge of energy supported Sun Xiaoman, preventing her from advancing any further.

“Girls should not be so rough,” she raised an elegant eyebrow, her curiosity piqued.

“What’s the deal with that Jiang fellow?”

“You’re listening to his nonsense!” Sun Xiaoman couldn’t push through, her rage boiling as she tried to move forward.

“Jiang Wang is the one who transferred fifty dao merits to us unconditionally last time, and now he’s here again to help us exterminate the fierce beasts.

What’s wrong with me greeting him?

Your son here, heartless and stingy, fears that others are impinging upon him!”

“Oh, we should indeed extend our hospitality,” Dou Yuemei nodded and then asked, “Is he good-looking?”

Sun Xiaoman felt the conversation was hopeless, “Mom!”

Sun Xiaoyan asserted his presence.

“He looks alright, but not as handsome as that Zhao fellow.”

“You don’t understand, my foolish son.

Men who are too delicate are useless; they need some flesh on them.” Dou Yuemei reached out to pinch Sun Xiaoyan’s chubby face.

“Look at your plump face, how adorable.”

Sun Xiaoyan’s expression turned awkward, and he suddenly felt shy.

Sun Xiaoman took a deep breath, calmed her emotions, and suppressed her anger.

She spoke evenly, “Mom, aren’t you being a bit biased towards sons?”

Dou Yuemei nodded emphatically and without apology.

“Yes, what about it?”

Sun Xiaoman roared, “You’re a woman too, Dou!”

“Right!

Look at me, aren’t I the classic example?

My heart wholly devoted to your deceased father, when have I ever cared for my own family?

On his deathbed, my father must have regretted not loving his precious son more.

When your father was alive, I served him; after his death, I still had to support the Sun family and raise the two of you.

From a dainty young girl, I turned into this broad-waisted, loud-voiced ruined City Lord!

Tell me, what’s the use of doting on a daughter?”

Sun Xiaoman: …

Left speechless.

Fuming, she kicked open the door to the study and stormed off.

…

Meanwhile, Jiang Wang and the others parted ways with Sun Xiaoman and went to look for a place to stay.

Huang Azhan laughed in a sleazy manner, “Jiang Wang, not bad, the daughter of the City Lord of Three Mountains, eh.”

Jiang Wang resignedly replied, “We’re just ordinary friends.”

“Hehehe, I understand, I get it.”

From the side, Zhao Rucheng spoke up with a haunting tone, “Huang Azhan, if you’re not afraid of being smashed into meat paste by the Shock Mountain Hammer, keep making that lewd laugh.”

Huang Azhan instantly remembered the roaring Shock Mountain Hammer from the Three City Discourse, shuddered, and shut his mouth.

Li Jianqiu seemed to know the place well, leading the group nonchalantly to an inn.

The inn was small, but not dilapidated.

Several tables and chairs were arranged in the main hall, all clean and tidy.

The innkeeper was an old man with failing eyesight, who squinted at Li Jianqiu for a while before smiling broadly.

“You’re here, young Li?”

Li Jianqiu greeted him familiarly, “Yes, Uncle Zhang.

Can we trouble you for four rooms?”

“Just two, no need to waste money even if you have it.

Can’t four grown men share?” responded the innkeeper.

“Alright, as you wish.”

“How have you been lately?”

“Quite well.

And you, Uncle?”

“Everything’s good.”

Jiang Wang watched quietly, feeling as if Li Jianqiu was so harmonious with everything here, as though he had lived here for a long time.

“His son and daughter-in-law were eaten by a fierce beast on the way back to the city, right on the official road.” As they ascended the stairs, Li Jianqiu continued, “By the time the City Guard Army arrived, not even a bone could be found.”

Jiang Wang fell silent.

The number of fierce beasts in the Maple Forest City Region was usually small; it was rare for fierce beasts to charge onto an official road.

He found it hard to imagine, if even the official roads were unsafe, what kind of pressure must the ordinary citizens of Fenglin City live under?

And what was it that still allowed them to cling to such stubborn hope?

“He always feels his son is still alive and will one day return.

Thus, he stands guard at the entrance of the inn every day.”

Li Jianqiu sighed and said no more.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep