Chapter 142 The Place Where Bloodlines Return On the morning of the third day, the sun had just begun to rise...

On the morning of the third day, the sun had just climbed to the treetops.

Lin Yue was sitting in front of the wooden house, watching Xiao Fen and the young beastmen playing in the open space. Over the past few days, he had gradually grown accustomed to this leisurely life.

Although he didn't know when the person he was waiting for would arrive, seeing Xiaofen so happy made him feel less bored.

"Lin Yue," Gray walked over and handed him a bowl of hot porridge, "Have something to eat."

"Thank you," Lin Yue said, taking the bowl. "How much longer do you think we have to wait?"

“I don’t know,” Gray shook his head, “but it should be soon. The person with the golden eyes has been looking north these past few days, as if waiting for something.”

As they were talking, the man with golden eyes suddenly stood up and turned to look into the depths of the forest.

The children who were playing stopped and all looked in the same direction.

"What's wrong?" Shi Quan became alert.

“Someone’s coming,” said Fei Ye, “and more than one.”

Xiao Fen suddenly stopped playing. She stood still, her ears perked up, and her nose twitching.

"Awoo..." It let out a low whimper, its body trembling slightly.

"Xiaofen?" Lin Yue walked over. "What's wrong?"

Xiao Fen ignored him and stared intently into the depths of the forest, her whole body tense.

That feeling... was like sensing something extremely important.

"Awooo—!"

Xiao Fen suddenly looked up at the sky and let out a long howl, her voice filled with excitement and uncertainty.

Just then, heavy footsteps echoed through the forest.

Two tall figures emerged from the woods.

They were two orcs, a man and a woman.

The male orc was over two meters tall, with bulging muscles. He wore a cloak made of wild beast hides and had a huge bone knife hanging at his waist. His hair was silver-gray, and his eyes were deep gold, filled with the weight of time and the majesty of a leader.

The female orc was also tall, nearly 1.9 meters, with a slender and athletic figure. She wore exquisite animal hide armor, and her long hair was braided into intricate plaits that hung down her back. Her eyes were bright gold, but with a gentler quality than those of the male orcs.

The two stood there, their aura so powerful that everyone held their breath.

"Leader!" The man with golden eyes immediately knelt on one knee, and the other youths followed suit.

leader?

Lin Yue was startled. Were these two the leaders of the orc tribe?

The female orc's gaze swept across the camp, finally settling on Xiaofen.

Her body jolted violently.

“It’s…it’s it…” her voice trembled.

The male orc also looked at Xiaofen, a strong emotion flashing in his golden eyes.

“Child…” he said softly.

Xiao Fen stood there, looking at the two strange yet familiar orcs. Her body trembled, and tears welled in her eyes.

There's a feeling... a feeling of blood connection, calling to it.

"Awoo..." Xiao Fen let out a low whimper, took a step, and then stopped.

It wasn't sure. Although the two orcs gave it a strong sense of familiarity, it ultimately had no memory of them.

The female orc could no longer restrain herself. She strode forward, but stopped a few steps away from Xiao Fen, afraid of frightening her.

“Child,” her voice was gentle and trembling, “do you…remember me?”

Xiao Fen tilted her head, her eyes looking confused.

“I don’t remember… Yes, you were too young then…” Tears streamed down the female orc’s face.

The male orc stepped forward, knelt down, and looked Xiaofen in the eye: "Child, I am your father. She is your mother."

"Awoo?" Xiao Fen looked at them in confusion.

“The mark on your forehead,” the male orc pointed to the crescent-shaped white mark on Xiao Fen’s forehead, “is the mark of our tribe’s chief’s bloodline. You are our child, our… Little Crescent.”

Little crescent moon...

Something stirred in Xiao Fen's mind with that name. Her body trembled violently.

The female orc could no longer hold back; she rushed forward and hugged Xiaofen tightly.

“My child…my child…I’ve finally found you…” she sobbed uncontrollably.

The male orc also stepped forward and embraced his wife and child.

"I'm sorry...it's all our fault...we left you stranded out here for so long..."

Xiao Fen was held by her parents, tears streaming down her face. Although she didn't remember the past, the call of blood was irresistible.

"Awoo...woowoo..." it whimpered softly, nuzzling its parents with its head.

Looking at this heartwarming scene, Lin Yue felt a mix of emotions welling up inside him.

I felt happy, touched, and... a touch of indescribable disappointment.

After a long while, Xiaofen's mother finally let go of her embrace. She looked Xiaofen over carefully, tears still streaming down her face.

"Let me see...let me take a good look at you..." She gently stroked Xiaofen's head, "You left your mother at such a young age and wandered outside. You must have been eating and sleeping poorly, and you've become so thin..."

She was talking when she suddenly stopped.

"How thin you've become..." The voice trailed off.

Because she discovered that Xiaofen wasn't thin at all.

On the contrary, Xiao Fen was very robust, with shiny fur and strong muscles. She looked well-nourished and even stronger than the wolf cubs in the tribe who were a few years older than her.

“This…” Xiaofen’s mother was stunned.

Xiao Fen's father also noticed this. He carefully examined Xiao Fen's body and found that she was not only healthy but also developing very well.

“This child… is doing well…” he murmured to himself.

"Didn't you say they were living away from home?" the mother asked in confusion. "How come they're being raised so well?"

The man with golden eyes stood up and said, "Chief, Madam, Little Crescent Moon has been cared for all these years."

He pointed at Lin Yue.

Only then did the two leaders notice Lin Yue and his group.

"Who are you?" the father asked, speaking fluent Mandarin, much better than the golden-eyed people.

Lin Yue stepped forward and said respectfully, "My name is Lin Yue, and I come from Hope Town on the edge of the Cursed Land. Xiao Fen... oh no, Little Crescent, I found her in the forest a year ago. At that time, she was just a very small wolf cub, and she was injured, so I took her back to raise her."

“I see,” the father nodded, then bowed deeply. “Thank you for taking care of our child.”

“No, no, no, you don’t need to be so polite,” Lin Yue quickly helped him up. “Xiao Fen… Xiao Yueya is also very important to me. She is my family.”

The mother came over and took Lin Yue's hand: "Thank you. Really, thank you so much. Judging from Xiao Yueya's condition, you must have taken very good care of her."

"That's only right," Lin Yue smiled, though he felt a pang of sadness in his heart.

“My name is Silvermoon,” the mother introduced herself, “and I am the leader of the Windseeker tribe. This is my husband, Nightwind.”

“The Wind Chaser tribe…” Stone Fist exclaimed in surprise, “That’s one of the most powerful tribes of the orcs.”

"You know Uncle Stone Fist too?" Lin Yue asked.

“Of course,” Stonefist said. “The Wind Chaser tribe is known for its speed and agility, and their warriors are the most formidable hunters on the plains.”

Night Wind looked at Stone Fist, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes: "You're a dwarf?"

“Yes,” Stonefist patted his chest, “Stonefist of the Forge Court.”

"I've long admired your name," Nightwind nodded, "I never expected to meet a dwarf here."

"Ahem," Yin Yue cleared her throat, "Let's not talk about that for now. Lin Yue, I want to know, how has Xiao Yueya lived all these years?"

So Lin Yue began to tell his story.

From finding Xiao Fen in the forest a year ago, to bringing her back to Hope Town, to all the adventures they went through together...

He recounted it in great detail, including how Xiao Fen grew from a wolf cub into a mighty wolf, how she protected Hope Town, and how she came to the Dwarf Kingdom to find him...

Yinyue and Yefeng listened intently. When they heard that Xiaofen was found barely alive, Yinyue's eyes reddened again. When they heard that Xiaofen had run away alone to find Lin Yue, Yefeng's gaze softened.

“I see,” Yinyue gently stroked Xiaofen, “You child, you’ve been through so much all these years…”

“But it also helped it grow a lot,” Nightwind said. “If it had stayed in the tribe, it probably wouldn’t have had these experiences.”

He looked at Lin Yue and said solemnly, "Lin Yue, on behalf of the leader of the Wind Chaser tribe, I express my sincerest gratitude to you. You not only saved our child, but also raised it so well and nurtured its courage and loyalty. We will never forget this kindness."

“In the future, if you need any help,” Yin Yue also said, “my husband and I will do our best to help you in our personal capacity.”

“Thank you,” Lin Yue said, “but I really just did what I should do. Xiao Fen is family to me too.”

“We understand,” Night Wind said. “We can tell from the way Little Crescent Moon looks at you that it likes you very much.”

Xiao Fen walked to Lin Yue's side, nuzzled him with her head, and let out a soft whimper.

Lin Yue felt a pang of sadness and stroked its head, saying, "I love you too, Xiao Fen."

The atmosphere was somewhat silent.

***

Around noon, Lin Yue suggested preparing a sumptuous lunch for the guests who had come from afar. Shi Quan and Gray immediately sprang into action, taking out various ingredients from their bags. Fei Ye, meanwhile, led several people in blue vests to gather fresh wild vegetables and fruits from the vicinity.

"What kind of cooking method is this?" Silver Moon watched curiously as Stone Fist skewered pieces of beast meat onto tree branches and roasted them over a fire.

“This is traditional dwarven roast meat,” Stonefist said proudly, “with our special spices, I guarantee you’ve never tasted anything like it.”

On the other side, Lin Yue personally cooked several specialty dishes from Hope Town, including a thick soup made with potatoes and meat, and flatbreads baked with wild grains.

Soon, the makeshift wooden table was covered with fragrant food. Xiao Fen excitedly circled around the table, recognizing these as her favorite foods.

"Please have a taste," Lin Yue invited the two leaders to sit down.

Night Breeze cautiously tasted a bite of the dwarf roasted meat, and his eyes immediately lit up: "The flavor of this spice... is very unique."

“These are rock salt and volcanic peppers collected from deep in the mountains,” Stone Fist explained proudly. “Slow roasting them makes the meat even more delicious.”

Yinyue praised the wild vegetable soup: "This sweet taste reminds me of the tender shoots growing after the spring rain on the grassland."

Fei Ye smiled and nodded: "The flavors obtained from nature are the purest."

Both leaders showed expressions of surprise when they tasted the stew and pancakes made by Lin Yue.

“These ingredients are very ordinary, but the flavors are so rich,” Silver Moon exclaimed. “Human creativity in cooking is truly admirable.”

Lin Yue smiled sheepishly: "In Hope Town, we learned to make the most of limited resources."

The lunch proceeded in a pleasant atmosphere. The delicious food broke down the initial awkwardness of their first meeting, and the two became much closer. Night Breeze and Silver Moon savored the various dishes, occasionally asking about the cooking methods, which Stone Fist and Flying Leaf enthusiastically answered.

“Perhaps our tribe should also learn this cooking method,” Silvermoon said to Nightwind. “Our warriors are often out hunting, and these methods are very useful.”

Night Breeze nodded in agreement: "There are indeed many things that different races can learn from each other."

***

After lunch, Yin Yue and Ye Feng asked to see Xiao Fen's daily training. Lin Yue then had Gray and Xiao Fen demonstrate their usual teamwork drills.

Watching Xiao Fen skillfully execute various commands and cooperate seamlessly with Gray, Ye Feng couldn't help but exclaim, "This training method is very effective; it cultivates its obedience and improves its reaction ability."

“We hope to make it the guardian of Hope Town,” Lin Yue explained, “so we pay a lot of attention to training it in this area.”

Yinyue noticed that the mark on Xiaofen's forehead would occasionally glow slightly during training, and she said thoughtfully, "Xiaoyue's bloodline has begun to awaken."

After training, everyone sat together to rest. Lin Yue, recalling Yin Yue's earlier words, couldn't help but ask, "You mentioned Xiao Fen's bloodline... what's that about?"

Silver Moon and Night Wind exchanged a glance, seemingly communicating in silence. Finally, Night Wind spoke: "Lin Yue, you saved Little Crescent Moon and raised it so well, we trust you. But please understand that we cannot explain in detail about the secrets of the tribe's bloodline."

Silvermoon added, "All you need to know is that Little Crescent is not an ordinary wolf-beastman. It inherited a special bloodline, and this power needs to be properly guided."

Lin Yue nodded in understanding: "I understand that every race has its own secrets."

At this moment, Lin Yue suddenly remembered something: "Speaking of the mark on Xiao Fen's forehead, I did notice that it occasionally glows. Especially in the Cursed Land, whenever there was a full moon, the mark would emit a soft white light."

Silver Moon and Night Wind's expressions immediately turned serious.

"In the Cursed Land?" Nightwind pressed. "Could you describe the situation in detail?"

Lin Yue recalled, "About half a year ago, we encountered a pack of mutated wolves while exploring the edge of the Cursed Land. That night happened to be a full moon, and Xiao Fen's mark suddenly glowed. The mutated wolves actually stopped attacking and slowly retreated. At the time, I found it very strange, but now I think it might be related to Xiao Fen's bloodline."

Silver Moon excitedly grasped Night Wind's hand: "Did you hear that? Even when it was so small, its bloodline power had already begun to manifest!"

Night Breeze took a deep breath and said to Lin Yue, "Thank you for telling us this information. It's very important. It confirms that Little Crescent Moon has indeed inherited the ancient bloodline, and its power is awakening naturally even without guidance."

"Is this power dangerous?" Lin Yue asked worriedly.

“Not entirely,” Silvermoon explained gently, “but it needs proper guidance. Like a raging river, if left to overflow, it will cause disaster, but if canals are built to guide it, it can irrigate fields and benefit all living beings.”

Lin Yue said thoughtfully, "So Xiao Fen needs to learn how to control this power."

“Yes,” Nightwind nodded, “that’s why we want to take it back to the tribe. There, there are elders who will teach it how to control this innate power.”

***

As evening fell and the sun set, the campsite was bathed in golden light. The moment of parting was approaching.

“Lin Yue,” Yin Yue said finally, “I am truly grateful to you. It is Little Crescent’s good fortune to have met you.”

“It’s my good fortune,” Lin Yue said.

“Our tribe is in the Wind Howling Plains in the north,” said Night Wind. “If you have the chance to go there, you must come and visit us. We will treat you to a very warm welcome.”

“Okay,” Lin Yue nodded, “Definitely.”

Night Breeze looked at the man with golden eyes and the other teenagers: "Let's go, it's time to go back."

"Yes, Chief!"

Silver Moon transformed into a wolf, a gigantic, silver-white giant wolf, much larger than Little Fen, elegant and majestic.

Night Wind transformed into a giant, dark gray wolf, much larger and more powerful.

The boys also transformed into wolf forms, becoming adorable little wolf cubs.

Xiao Fen looked at her parents' wolf forms, a longing flashing in her eyes. She wanted to become like them too…

“Let’s go, child,” Silvermoon said gently, “Let’s go home.”

Xiao Fen looked back at Lin Yue one last time, then followed her parents into the forest.

Lin Yue stood there, watching their backs as they walked away, and tears finally streamed down her face.

“Mayor…” Fei Ye patted him on the shoulder.

"I'm fine," Lin Yue wiped away her tears, "It's just... a little reluctant to part with it."

“We’ll meet again,” Stone Fist said. “That kid is smart, he’ll definitely come back to find you.”

“Yes,” Lin Yue nodded.

Just as Xiaofen and the others were about to disappear into the woods, Xiaofen suddenly stopped, turned around, and cried out, "Awooo—!"

It let out a loud howl that echoed through the forest. "I will be back!"

Lin Yue smiled and shouted, "I'll be waiting for you!"

Xiao Fen wagged her tail and then caught up with the group.

Soon, they disappeared into the depths of the forest.

***

Lin Yue sat in front of the wooden house, looking in the direction where Xiao Fen disappeared, remaining silent for a long time.

Xiao Hei jumped onto his shoulder and, unusually, didn't say anything harsh; it simply stayed quietly by his side.

"Lin Yue," Gray finally spoke after a long pause, "we...should set off."

“Okay,” Lin Yue stood up, “Let’s pack our things.”

"Where to?" Fei Ye asked.

“Go back to Hope Town,” Lin Yue said, then paused, “but… we can take a detour.”

"What's the meaning?"

“Didn’t we say we were going to inspect the location of the three trading posts?” Lin Yue said. “Perfect, we can walk along the ancient trade routes opened by the elves and see where would be suitable to build a trading post.”

“Good idea,” Gray nodded. “That will help you relax.”

“Yes,” Shi Quan said, “Change your environment and stop thinking about Xiao Fen all the time.”

"I wasn't always thinking about it," Lin Yue said stubbornly, but he was still very grateful for his friends' concern.

Everyone began packing their things.

Lin Yue had the dry grass left behind by the boys in the wooden house carefully sorted out and placed aside.

“Maybe someone will need it in the future,” he said.

After packing up, the team was ready to depart.

Lin Yue took one last look at the little wooden house, the place that witnessed his brief reunion with Xiao Fen.

“Let’s go,” he took a deep breath, “it’s time to go back.”

The group began to head back, towards the Elf Forest.

On the way, Shi Quan suddenly said, "Lin Yue, do you know, Xiao Fen's parents are really amazing."

“Yes, I can see that,” Lin Yue said.

“It’s not just about strength,” Shi Quan said, “but more importantly, it’s about their genuine love for Xiao Fen. You can feel that deep love in their eyes and the tone of their voices.”

“Yes,” Lin Yue said softly, “that’s why I’m relieved.”

“And,” Fei Ye added, “they’re right. Xiao Fen will be safer with them and will learn a lot.”

“I know,” Lin Yue said, “I just… need some time to adjust.”

“It will be alright,” Gray said. “Besides, Little Finn promised to come back to you. That girl keeps her word.”

Lin Yue smiled: "Yes, it will come back."

Little Black perched on Lin Yue's shoulder. [Silly boy, don't be sad. That stupid wolf will get even stronger.]

“I know,” Lin Yue replied in his mind, “I just…feel like there’s one less member in the family.”

There will be new members; haven't you always been collecting all sorts of strange and unusual people?

"What do you mean by a weird person..." Lin Yue was speechless.

"Dwarves, elves, orcs...you've collected quite a few," Little Black said. "You'll be all set with just a dragon."

"I'm not collecting cards..."

"Meow~" Little Black wagged its tail proudly.

Although he said that, Lin Yue did feel much better.

Yes, Xiaofen is only away temporarily; she will come back.

Moreover, it found its family and a place of its own. This is a good thing.

“Oh, right,” Lin Yue suddenly remembered something, “we’re going to investigate business practices, so we need to be prepared.”

“What preparations are needed?” Gray asked.

“Maps, parchment, surveying tools,” Lin Yue counted, “and enough food and water. In addition, we need to find a suitable location to establish a trading post.”

"Where should the trading post be built?" Shi Quan asked.

“Several factors need to be considered,” Lin Yue said. “Convenient transportation, abundant water resources, flat terrain, easy to defend and difficult to attack. It would also be best if it were close to the borders of the three parties to facilitate travel between them.”

“It sounds like it won’t be easy to find,” Feiye said.

"Take your time searching," Lin Yue said. "Treat this as a reconnaissance mission, and figure out the route first."

"How long will it take us?" Fei Ye asked.

"It depends. If all goes well, it might take a week or two. If a detailed survey is needed, it might take a month."

“No problem,” Gray said. “There’s no rush.”

The procession continued forward.

Sunlight filters through the leaves, casting dappled shadows on the ground.

Lin Yue walked in the middle of the group, his mood gradually calming down.

Yes, life goes on.

Xiaofen now has her own home and her own career.

Hope Town is still waiting for him, the trade route still needs to be built, and peace still needs to be maintained...

There is still so much to do.

"Lin Yue, what are you laughing at?"

"It's nothing," Lin Yue said, "I just suddenly felt... there are still many interesting things to come in the future."

“Of course,” Stonefist laughed, “we’ve only just begun!”

“Yes,” Fei Ye smiled as well, “Peace in the North has only just been established, and there is still so much to be done.”

"Moreover, we are going to travel along the Elven trade route. I heard that the scenery there is particularly beautiful."

The group chatted and laughed as they headed south.

Little Black perched on Lin Yue's shoulder, gazing at the distant forest, its golden eyes slightly narrowed.

"Fool," it said telepathically, "there's a suitable place to build a trading post up ahead, about ten kilometers from here."

"Oh?" Lin Yue's eyes lit up. "Where?"

[A three-way intersection with a small river flowing through it; the terrain is flat, surrounded by natural stone walls for defense, and it is located precisely at the border of the territories of humans, dwarves, and elves.]

"Perfect!" Lin Yue exclaimed excitedly. "Let's go take a look."

Hey, can you not be so obvious? People will get suspicious.

“Oh right,” Lin Yue cleared his throat, “um… shall we walk in that direction and see? I have a feeling there might be a suitable place over there.”

“The mayor’s intuition is always very accurate, so let’s go take a look.”

The group changed direction and headed towards the place indicated by Xiao Hei.

Lin Yue's mood improved completely.

Yes, life goes on, and many wonderful things await him.

Xiaofen, you must grow up well.

For the rest of their journey, Lin Yue and his companions traveled south along the ancient elven trade route. This route had been unused for many years, but its former glory was still evident. The wide stone path, though covered in moss and weeds, remained structurally intact; occasionally, broken road signs and abandoned inns could be seen along the way.

During their journey, Lin Yue meticulously recorded the road conditions, the surrounding terrain, and potential locations suitable for establishing trading posts. Gray was responsible for drawing maps, Stone Fist assessed the geological conditions, and Flying Leaf recorded the surrounding vegetation and ecology.

On the third day, they arrived at the three-way intersection that Xiao Hei had described. Just as Xiao Hei had described, the location was excellent. Three roads converged here, a clear stream flowed by, forming a small waterfall; the terrain was flat and open, surrounded by natural rock walls, making it easy to defend and difficult to attack.

"This place is perfect!" Stone Fist excitedly patted the rock wall. "These rocks are very sturdy; we can build fortifications on them."

“The water supply is plentiful,” Gray said, after testing the river’s water quality. “It’s clear and sweet, perfectly suited to the needs of a large settlement.”

Flying Leaf circled around and said, "The vegetation here indicates that the soil is fertile and suitable for growing grains and herbs."

Standing on high ground, Lin Yue surveyed the entire terrain and had already made a plan in mind: "This place can be used to build a large trading post, including a market area, a warehouse area, a residential area, and defensive fortifications. The three roads lead to the territories of humans, dwarves, and elves respectively. The location couldn't be more suitable."

The group began a detailed survey, measuring the land and recording data in preparation for future construction.

That night, they set up camp at the crossroads. Sitting around the campfire, they discussed the plans for the trading post.

“It’s not just a trading post,” Lin Yue said, his eyes shining. “This place can be developed into a new town, a peaceful land that truly belongs to all races.”

"Like Hope Town?" Fei Ye asked.

“It’s bigger and more open than Hope Town,” Lin Yue said. “It will be more than just a refuge; it will be a center for exchange and integration among different races.”

Stonefist took a big gulp of ale: "That's a great idea. The dwarves will love this place."

Looking at the excited crowd, Gray reminded them, "However, building such a place will not be easy. We need support from all sides, as well as a lot of resources and manpower."

“Take it one step at a time,” Lin Yue said. “First, establish a small trading post and let it develop naturally. As long as the location is good and the demand exists, it will grow on its own.”

As night deepened, everyone went to rest, but Lin Yue sat alone by the campfire, gazing at the starry sky.

Little Black jumped onto his lap. [Thinking about that stupid wolf again?]

Lin Yue gently stroked Xiao Hei's fur: "What do you think Xiao Fen is doing right now?"

"It must be the king of the wolf pack by now," Little Black swished its tail dismissively. "With its temperament, it'd be a miracle if it didn't cause chaos in a new place."

Lin Yue smiled: "I hope it won't cause my parents too much trouble."

Don't worry, those wolf parents seem to know how to discipline their children.

[But you, stop looking so gloomy. That stupid wolf has found a good home; you should be happy.]

“I’m happy,” Lin Yue said softly, “I’m just used to having it around.”

"Habits can be changed," Xiao Hei jumped onto Lin Yue's shoulder. "Besides, don't you still have me, this omnipotent system?"

Lin Yue was amused: "Yes, yes, it's so good to have you here."

"Go to sleep," Little Black gently patted Lin Yue's face with its paw. "We still have a long journey ahead tomorrow."