The thought of Feng Yan’s departure lit a fire under their buttocks. It splashed a bucket of cold water in their faces.

In all these years, the one person they had relied on and then mooched off of was now leaving. How would these people right their ships without the anchor named Feng Yan?

So, they started to do their best to hold Feng Yan back. To keep him with them, so they could continue to laze around.

“Uncle Feng, how can you leave us behind? When my brother passed away, you promised him you would take care of me.”

The same woman, who had mocked Feng Yan using her brother’s name yesterday, was now crying out his name to gain sympathy.

Even though she might look good after a clean-up, Ikasa put her on his blacklist. She was of the ideal age to be working, yet her only skill was throwing her dead brother’s name around for her benefit.

He hated people like her the most.

After her, many in the anti-migration group started to cry foul or acted pitiful to prevent Feng Yan from leaving. When he didn’t retract his statement, people began to curse him for abandoning them.

Feng Yan began to see the true face of the people he had considered his family for all these years. Their curses hurt but realizing that he was the one who made them this way hurt even more.

Chu Kuang saw the range of emotions on Feng Yan’s face. He saw him frown with disappointment. Then his face contorted in agony after listening to curses from those he considered his family.

He turned to Ikasa, looking at him as if he was looking at a miracle worker.

After spending years with these people, he had only seen their true faces yesterday. Last night, these people called him a fool for even considering following this man to a new city instead of living a life of stability and comfort with them.

And now, the same people were in a panic because of him. Ikasa had done in a few minutes what he and many of his brothers who had left failed to do in the last few years:

Make Feng Yan realize his idea of altruism was toxic. He was being treated like a sucker.

Once the commotion died, Ikasa went to Feng Yan and patted his shoulder.

“The brothers you did this for, they were all good people. Even the people in front of you were good in the past. However, the time has changed them. They are no longer the brothers you knew.”

He turned to look at both the groups.

“If any of you are still thinking of leeching off him, you can forget that. I have no sympathy for you. Nonetheless, as his former comrades-in-arms, I am willing to offer you a fair chance to start again. Come to Birch City and work for me.”

“However, be warned. Your conditions will not be the same as those who signed up with Chu Kuang. I will provide shelter, but you have to buy food. Any loafers will not be tolerated, and they will be on the streets before they could explain their complacence.”

Ikasa sternly warned those freeloaders who thought they had another chance to mooch on another sucker. Then he brought Feng Yan and Chu Kuang with him to the carriage.

“Uncle Chu, make another list of latecomers. And let everyone be ready to depart at noon. Later, distribute the clothes I have brought for everyone, prioritizing those on the list.”

After issuing the set of instructions, he saw Chu Kuang hesitating to ask a question.

“Speak up, Uncle Chu. Don’t hesitate to ask if you have questions about anything.”

“How did you know they were freeloading off his goodwill?”

Chu Kuang asked hesitantly while looking at Feng Yan. Ikasa smiled and gave a sidelong glance to Feng Yan. He was maintaining a stoic face.

Ikasa thought back to the times in the Ruins when he had first heard of these brothers from Feng Yan.

“When I first heard from my Father-in-law that he was providing for these people for the past 18 years, I admired him. But I didn’t think he was feeding them with a spoon.”

“I offered to bring them with us to Birch City; there was a mixed reaction. And it was understandable as the fear of the unknown.”

“However, when I arrived here, I saw two very different types of people. Some people had a fire in their eyes, wanting to improve their situation. While others had lost their drive. They had given up and solely intended to live off the ones who were earning.”

“And these people were leeches. I recognized them at a glance.”

His eyes became cloudy as he reminisced about the situations he had seen on Earth.

‘Because I had seen them in my orphanage, company, and many homeless shelters back then.’

Chu Kuang looked at Ikasa with respect. Astonished by his eye for people, he admired him.

His next question was prompted by his act of giving them a second chance.

“Why did you offer to bring them with you even after knowing their past deeds?”

Ikasa smiled. He looked at Feng Yan. He looked straight ahead, but his ears were taking in every word.

“It’s simple. As I said, these people were not always like they are now. They deserved a second chance to make amends. If I did not give them a chance, he would not blame me, but he will always have regret in his heart.”

Ikasa said, pointing to the man walking beside him.

Chu Kuang looked at Feng Yan, who had suddenly increased his walking pace and left both of them behind. He knew Feng Yan didn’t want to show either of them his weak side.

‘If there was an affinity bar, it would show affinity with Chu Kuang and Feng Yan at maximum.’

Ikasa mused as he looked at the adoration in his new subordinate’s eyes. He enjoyed it for a few moments. Remembering his time constraints, he left Chu Kuang with one last reminder.

“Uncle Chu, make sure to meet us at the docks at noon.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep