Chapter Fifty: The Heart of Returning Home

  The sun was already high in the sky, and Guo Fei slowly woke up. He opened his eyes to see Yang Zhi sitting beside him wiping his gun, while he himself was lying on a soft couch next to him with a thin blanket still covering his body.

  "Brother Guo, you're awake!" Yang Zhi raised his head and took a glance at Guo Fei.

  "Brother Yang, good morning!" Guo Fei rubbed his temples and chuckled lightly. It had been a long time since he'd gotten so thoroughly drunk. Yang Zhi's straightforwardness had completely put Guo Fei at ease. Guo Fei thought back to the assassination attempt a while ago, and his heart couldn't help but feel anxious. If someone had come to assassinate him last night, they would have dragged him away like a dead dog.

  "Brother Guo, you and I are like passing ships in the night. I've fallen on hard times, with not a penny to my name. But I'm a man who repays kindness. The only thing I have by my side is this rifle, which is as precious to me as my life. I had wanted to give it to you, Brother Guo, but I still have many ties in the Western Regions and cannot stay here. This rifle is my only guarantee for returning to the Western Regions, so I dare not give it away. The only thing of value I can offer is a set of gun techniques passed down through my family. I see that the four men under your command wield their guns without any skill or method; I'd like to teach them this technique, but I don't know if they'll be able to master it."

  "Yang……." Guo Fei was about to make an excuse, if he said that there was no crazy drinking last night, the true feelings and heroic spirit before, Guo Fei's goal was to "trap" Yang Zhi. Guo Fei's target was not a set of gun skills, but when he got close to Yang Zhi, the light in one grid of his military symbol space was exceptionally bright, indicating that Yang Zhi could transform into an axe cavalryman and was an excellent candidate.

  Guo Fei invested so much, getting close to them was to observe their actions and words, to see if he could bring them under his control. But last night's drunkenness made Guo Fei discover that Yang Zhi is a straightforward and honest man, with a heart tied to a woman, unknown whether she was his wife or not. His behavior and temperament were truly admirable to Guo Fei. He suddenly wanted to befriend this person, but having ulterior motives made him look down on himself.

  This is Guo Fei's principle of doing things. When friends come, there is fine wine, trust and true feelings. When jackals and wolves come, I have steel knives and poison, let you have no return.

  "Guo brothers, if you refuse again, we'll pretend we don't know each other!" Yang Zhi said with some annoyance.

  "Since Brother Yang has put it that way, I'd be a bit too reserved if I declined again. Thank you, Brother Yang. They can learn some shooting skills. However, they're a bit dull-witted and might not pick it up quickly, so perhaps it's better to teach my younger brother first, and I'll gradually instruct them later." Guo Fei no longer refused. But seeing the anxious look on Yang Zhi's face, he knew that Yang had something weighing on his mind and was eager to return.

  "Brother Guo thought of everything. Don't be modest, brother, my heart is racing like an arrow, I'm eager to fly back immediately. Haha, it's laughable!" Yang Zhi said with a embarrassed expression.

  Time was not long, Xiao Hei sleepily walked out. Seeing the two sitting at the table drinking tea and laughing, he suddenly smiled and greeted them with a smile.

  Guo Fei found it strange that this little black face with thick skin, like a city wall, was actually mixed together with Yang Zhi, a straightforward and honest person. Perhaps they complemented each other.

  Guo Fei brought the two of them out and arrived at his hotel. As soon as they reached the entrance, the hotel owner hastily rushed out to tell Guo Fei that the princess had sent someone with a message three days ago, asking him to set off immediately to Blackstone City to find her, saying there was something important and not to delay.

  "Brother Guo, since you're going to Blackstone Town, let's travel together. On the way, I'll teach you some shooting skills! Then we can head east from Baili Fork." Yang Zhi said in a low voice.

  "Captain, you insist on going back to the Western Regions?" Xiao Hei asked in surprise.

  "What's wrong? We originally came from the Western Regions, how can we not go back?"

  "Captain, to be honest with you, it's not that I'm underestimating you, but rather I don't have confidence in myself. The road back to the Western Regions is fraught with difficulties and dangers, and relying on our current abilities, even if we struggle for ten years, we won't be able to return to the Western Regions. Moreover, the Western Regions are filled with endless yellow sand, life is harsh, and all the oases have been occupied by large families and sects, where can we find a place as comfortable as the Northern Plains?" Little Hei said anxiously.

  "I must go back, even if there are thousands of mountains and rivers blocking my way!" Yang Zhi said in a deep voice.

  "Captain, I'm not speaking nonsense. Even if Miss Xiao has feelings for you, with our identities and positions, would her sect agree? Moreover, we've been away for nearly six years now, can Miss Xiao still wait for you?"

  "Shut up! Han Ying is not that kind of person. And even if she's married, I still want to go back and see her one last time, so this life will have no regrets!" Yang Zhi suddenly raised his head, his face showing a pained expression, as if his heart was bleeding.

  Guo Fei was infected by his emotions and felt a suffocating and uncomfortable feeling.

  "Master Guo, you persuade Captain, it's not that I don't want to go back, but we can't go back!" Xiao Hei said with a look of anxiety.

  "Why?" Guo Fei was astonished, according to his way of thinking. The Western Regions? Just keep going west then?

  Xiao Hei seemed to understand Guo Fei's thoughts and said in a low voice, "Young Master Guo, you're young and may not know. Going back to the Western Regions isn't as simple as just walking back. You need spiritual stones to do so. Sha Wu Zhou that old ghost dug up a tomb treasure, got quite a few treasures, from the Western Regions to Bei Yuan, almost exhausting all his financial resources. We're now penniless, how can we go back?"

  Guo Fei didn't understand and shook his head in confusion.

  "Master Guo. From the mainland's location, the southwest of Beiyuan is already considered Xiyu, but from here to Xiyu, I don't know how far it is. I've heard that even if a strong martial artist were to fly, it would take three to five years, and even then, they wouldn't be able to make it through because a massive volcanic lava zone separates Xiyu from the rest of the mainland. They say that even at its narrowest point, it's still 50,000 kilometers wide, with mountains everywhere and toxic smoke spreading all around. Only those fire-attribute demons dare to roam within; without an Emperor's cultivation, one wouldn't dare to venture in." Little Hei explained.

  "How did you come from Xiyu to Beiyuan?"

  "Master Guo, we came from the Xuanwu Empire via a detour. I reckon you didn't know that in Beiyuan, Gui Mie isn't the northernmost land, there's another demonic country beyond it, which is the Xuanwu Empire. Gui Mie has separated the Xuanwu Empire and the Beiyuan human tribe. In the Western Regions, there's an inland sea connected to the Xuanwu Empire; we traversed the Xuanwu Empire, entered the Eastern Sea, and crossed the eastern coast of the Qinglong Empire, arriving in Beiyuan."

  We traversed the Xuanwu Empire's millions of miles of snowy plains, taking a mode of transportation called 'Jianbing Boat', speeding across the snowy plains like lightning, at a cost of 100 spirit stones per person. After a year, we arrived at the East Sea; then took the Qinglong Empire's 'Flying Whale Ship', which was pulled by an extremely large and fast whale from the sea. Moreover, the Qinglong Empire had set up stations on the sea, where they would change whales without delay, making it extremely fast, at a cost of 500 spirit stones per person. After another year, we arrived at the border between the North Plains and the East Sea, and entered the North Plains from there. Including delays along the way, it took a total of five years and 1800 spirit stones. However, there is another method, which is the fastest." Little Hei looked at Guo Fei with a flicker in his eyes.

  "What's going on?" Guo Fei looked at him and knew he was probing to see if Guo could provide financial assistance.

  "Take the Lingshu's Thundercloud Airship, this airship flies through the sky with the power of lightning, extremely fast, and can reach its destination in less than a month. Higher-level ones may be even faster. Only the Lingshu in the Western Region and Northern Plains can manufacture it, and only those who master the power of thunder and lightning can control it. I heard from Shamo Wujiao that if you want to take it, you need to register with the Lingshu, and when there are enough people, the airship will take off."

  "How many spirit stones are needed?" Guo Fei asked in a low voice.

  "One thousand mid-grade spirit stones per person!"

  "Damn it, the Ling family really knows how to make money! One thousand mid-grade spirit stones can support an entire battalion for ten years!" Guo Fei couldn't help but curse.

  "Yes. Master Guo, please advise our captain, with our financial resources, it's hopeless to return to the Western Regions!" Xiaohai said with a bitter face.

  "Brother Yang!" Guo Fei looked at Yang Zhi's face which was even more unsightly and didn't know what to say.

  "Brother Guo, don't try to persuade me. I'll make money all the way to Donghai and then think of a way back step by step." Yang's face showed determination.

  "Brother Yang, it's not that I don't want to help you, but even if I gave you all my possessions, it would be just a drop in the bucket. Guo Fei, although he got along well with Yang Zhi, also knew his limits on this matter. Moreover, Guo Fei thought Yang Zhi was being a bit too obstinate."

  "Brother Guo saved our lives, I'm already grateful, can't trouble you again." Yang Zhi said with a firm wave of his hand.