Old Jack, upon hearing the news, leaned on his cane and made his way to the village center.
Yun Feng, seeing these familiar faces, felt his eyes well up, his lips trembling as he spoke to one of the elderly women:
"Aunt Zhang, don't you remember me?"
Aunt Zhang, hearing this unfamiliar yet familiar voice, and seeing Yun Feng's drastically changed appearance, hesitated for a moment before tentatively and cautiously said:
"Are you Xiao Feng?"
Clearly, she was still confirming Yun Feng's identity!
Hearing Aunt Zhang's words, the familiar faces around them began to murmur.
"It does look a bit like Xiao Feng!"
"I think it does!"
"Shh, keep it down. If we get it wrong and upset the Soul Master, what will we do!"
Listening to these familiar voices, Yun Feng controlled his emotions and smiled at the people speaking.
"Uncle Wang, Uncle Qiu, Grandpa Li, it's me!"
"I, Xiao Feng, am back!"
"Everyone, I'm back!"
As the crowd heard Yun Feng's voice growing louder, they finally realized that the Soul Master before them was indeed their village child.
Without hesitation, they quickly gathered around, chattering excitedly.
Yun Feng felt this noisy environment for the first time, finding it so comfortable and heartwarming.
There was no distance or formality because of his Soul Master status!
The few women, witnessing this scene, exchanged glances and tactfully moved to the back, leaving the space for everyone and Yun Feng.
Some places are a lifelong haven for the soul, irreplaceable!
"I told you! Besides Xiao Feng, who else could be so handsome!"
"Right, right! A few years haven't seen him, and he's grown so tall, even taller than me!"
"Xiao Feng, are you back to marry my daughter?"
As soon as this aunt spoke, everyone burst into laughter.
"Alright, Aunt Chen, I think Xiao Feng is running away from you!"
Seeing Aunt Chen's appearance, Yun Feng recalled the little girl who was a few years older than him and always had a runny nose.
He felt a bit awkward but didn't know how to respond, stammering for a while.
"Aunt Chen, I—"
Before he could finish, the people around him noticed Yun Feng's discomfort and burst into laughter.
"Ha ha ha!!!"
After a while, someone in the crowd said:
"Quick, go get Old Jack! His grandson is back!"
The crowd realized this and stopped surrounding Yun Feng to talk about other things.
"Alright, we neighbors shouldn't block Xiao Feng from seeing his grandfather!"
Hearing this, the crowd parted to make a path.
The path led to home.
Yun Feng, after answering the neighbors' words, looked at the small path he had walked for years, and the stooped figure leaning on a cane, and ran over quickly.
The old and stooped figure saw a familiar figure approaching and his lips trembled involuntarily.
In a moment, he was in front of Old Jack.
"Xiao Feng!"
Hearing these words, Yun Feng's heart ached.
"Grandpa, I'm back!"
A thousand thoughts condensed into one sentence.
"Good, good! It's good that you're back!"
Seeing the no longer robust figure, Yun Feng came to his side and gently supported his arm.
"Grandpa, let's go home!"
"Good, good! Let's go home!"
After Old Jack spoke, Yun Feng prepared to help him back.
But just as Old Jack turned, he said again:
"Xiao Feng, where's Xiao Wu? Didn't she come back with you?"
Yun Feng was taken aback, patted his head, and was about to turn to call Xiao Wu and the others.
But a voice from behind instantly sounded.
"Grandpa! I'm back!!"
Xiao Wu, along with the four women, came to Old Jack's side.
Seeing the four women with different styles, Old Jack was taken aback, wiping his eyes.
Then he smiled at Xiao Wu.
"Xiao Wu, come let Grandpa see you!"
Xiao Wu, bouncing happily, came to Old Jack's side.
"Sure!"
Old Jack, looking at Xiao Wu, smiled so much that the wrinkles on his face deepened.
"You've grown up, and you've become so beautiful! Ha ha ha!"
Xiao Wu pouted and said slowly:
"Grandpa, wasn't I pretty before?!"
Old Jack, hearing Xiao Wu's words, shook his head.
"Xiao Wu was always pretty, but Grandpa is old and doesn't speak well!"
Xiao Wu, taken aback, returned to her usual self and said coquettishly:
"Grandpa, you're not old!"
Old Jack didn't continue, but looked at the women behind Xiao Wu and said slowly:
"Xiao Wu, Xiao Feng, are these your friends?"
To his surprise, Yun Feng and Xiao Wu both shook their heads.
"Then who are they?"
Yun Feng, hearing Old Jack's words, awkwardly scratched his head.
Xiao Wu rolled her eyes at Yun Feng and then said to Old Jack:
"These are your granddaughters-in-law, Grandpa Jack. I've completed your task!"
Old Jack naturally knew what Xiao Wu's task was.
He had said it to her himself.
He wanted Xiao Wu to keep an eye on Yun Feng and help him find more girlfriends.
So, seeing the four women, Jack couldn't help but laugh heartily.
Ning Rongrong and the others also greeted Old Jack respectfully.
"Hello, Grandpa, I'm Ning Rongrong!"
"Grandpa Jack, I'm Dugu Yan!"
"Um, Grandpa, I'm Zhu Zhuqing!"
Seeing Yun Feng's capability, Old Jack smiled with satisfaction.
"All good, all good! They're all good children! Come, come, let's go home and talk, go home and talk!"
As they walked and laughed, Old Jack learned that Yun Feng's four new girlfriends were all Soul Masters.
He was overjoyed; one left, and four returned.
However, Yun Feng didn't reveal their family backgrounds all at once, fearing that Old Jack might get too excited, especially since one of them was Ning Rongrong, the young lady of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School!
Seeing the house just a short distance away, Yun Feng smiled and said to Old Jack:
"Grandpa, I bet your key is still under the flower pot, right?"
Saying this, Yun Feng went to the flower pot by the door, bent down, moved the pot, and saw the familiar key lying underneath.
Old Jack then said slowly:
"Wasn't it to make sure you could get in if you came back?"
"So I always kept it there!"
Yun Feng was taken aback for a moment, then said nothing, just silently picked up the key and opened the door.
Seeing the familiar furnishings, still filled with the warmth of home, he took a deep breath and turned to the four women.
"Welcome home!"
The four women smiled and helped Old Jack step over the threshold and into the house.
As soon as they entered, Old Jack hurriedly invited the women to sit down and started preparing food and snacks.
He brought out all the snacks and placed them on the table.
(End of Chapter)