Madmen don't keep diaries

Chapter 349, Parting Instructions
After bidding farewell to Wan Laiqiu, Feng Xiuhu and the others climbed over the ruins of the Broken Wave Bridge, entered the port area, and then walked along the road towards the upper city.

The wide street was deserted, with only the sounds of the brothers chattering away.

The residents who fled to the upper city to avoid the disaster have not yet returned. They are worried that there are still merfolk who have not left, so they dare not leave the upper city easily.

Those brothers who didn't witness the horrific scene firsthand were less afraid. They looked around, occasionally exclaiming in surprise, overwhelmed by the devastation in the port area.

"When I get home, I'll take a hot shower first."

With her slender waist wrapped around Feng Xiuhu's arm, she muttered about meaningless little things: "I wonder if the house has been robbed. Luckily, I listened to the master and exchanged all my money for gold certificates to take with me."

Lingzhi whispered her suggestion: "Let's have another good meal, I'm starving."

Narcissus poked the back of her head from behind: "Who told you not to eat more this morning?"

Xiong Guiyuan retrieved her belongings and tightly hugged the small leather suitcase filled with her family's assets to her chest. She was full of energy again: "I need to go home first. The port area was hit by a disaster, and many of my businesses were affected. But this place urgently needs to be rebuilt. I have the land deeds in hand, and now is a good opportunity to expand my business during this reshuffling."

Gu Zhili casually walked up to Feng Xiuhu and asked coldly, "Are you injured?"

Feng Xiuhu was preoccupied with something and reacted a beat late: "Huh?"

Gu Zhili frowned slightly: "The evil god caused chaos today, and you look obviously tired. Are you injured somewhere?"

Feng Xiuhu patted his chest: "You don't even know who I am! Who does this evil god think he is? I'm not kidding, I scared him away with just one look..."

Gu Zhili rolled her eyes, turned around and walked away.

The woman with the slender waist leaned closer, smiling broadly, and said, "Master, I believe you. I believe whatever you say."

Feng Xiuhu suddenly spoke up: "I'm leaving."

The woman with the slender waist was taken aback: "Go? Where?"

Feng Xiuhu shook his head: "I don't know yet, but it's not in Fancheng."

"Is it urgent?"

Slender Waist answered herself, "I'll pack my bags as soon as I get home. I'm afraid I won't have time to shower; I can't delay Master's important business. I also need to get Old Huang to prepare the car; I don't even know if we'll have one at this crucial moment..."

Feng Xiuhu interrupted her: "You're not leaving."

The slender waist stopped abruptly, and she raised her head, staring blankly at Feng Xiuhu.

Feng Xiuhu said calmly, "It's just me and Shunzi. We're not bringing anyone else, including you."

The woman with the slender waist stopped in her tracks and refused to move forward. The others noticed something was wrong and turned to look at her.

Slender Waist only stared at Feng Xiuhu, biting her lower lip tightly: "...I won't agree."

This was the first time in a long time that she had refused Feng Xiuhu.

Feng Xiuhu replied, "It's not up to you."

“Then I’ll follow you myself.”

With her slender waist and stubborn neck, she declared defiantly, "Wherever Master goes, I will follow."

Feng Xiuhu glared at her fiercely: "You've grown quite the temper. Come along, and I'll sell you off somewhere along the way."

These words reopened her old wounds, and a hint of fear flashed in her eyes. Her lips trembled, and she squatted down and buried her head in her hands, bursting into tears.

Everyone looked at Feng Xiuhu again.

Gu Zhili glared at Feng Xiuhu, then walked over and gently comforted him.

Xiong Guiyuan approached Feng Xiuhu and asked, "What do you mean, 'Where are you going?' Is Fancheng too small for you?"

Feng Xiuhu glanced at her and answered irrelevantly, "The Street of Strangers is gone."

Xiong Guiyuan, puzzled, replied, "I know."

Feng Xiuhu added, "Don't have any more like this in the future."

Xiong Guiyuan raised her eyes and met Feng Xiuhu's gaze. The two stared at each other for a few seconds, and Xiong Guiyuan noticed that Feng Xiuhu was very serious, unlike his usual nonsensical talk.

She couldn't help but smile wryly: "I'm afraid I don't have that much ability."

This is not something she can control. Human sacrifice is a part of this social framework. Even putting aside trade and economics, this kind of business is largely driven by supply and demand, with one party willing to give and the other willing to receive.

Xiong Guiyuan may not have thought of such a profound truth, but she knew that even if she closed the Street of Strangers, another Street of Strangers would soon emerge.

What Xiong Guiyuan couldn't understand, Feng Xiuhu did.

While it's one thing to not understand something and another to be able to do it—it's always the first thing to do is to understand it.

He said to Xiong Guiyuan, "You don't have that ability, but Mike does. If Mike isn't enough, then find Mr. Gray. Change doesn't happen overnight, but we always have to get off to a good start."

Xiong Guiyuan pondered for a moment: "...Who is Mr. Gray?"

"Ask Mike."

Feng Xiuhu abandoned her and walked towards the slender waist.

He squatted down, supporting himself on his knees, and patted the top of the slender waist's head: "Can you cry as you walk? Don't waste the master's time."

The woman with the slender waist didn't answer, but she obediently stood up and walked forward while sobbing.

Feng Xiuhu followed from behind and walked side by side with Xiyao'er.

He began to speak casually to himself, "This trip isn't a vacation; it's an escape from disaster."

"I brought Shunzi along because he can help me with things."

With teary eyes, the girl with the slender waist looked at her and said, "I can do it too."

"you can not."

Feng Xiuhu waved his hand: "You can't lift anything or run, you're not as hardworking as Shuixian Lingzhi, and you're not as skilled in medicine as Ali. You're only good for eating my extra rations."

The girl with the slender waist buried her head and cried even louder.

"But it's different if you stay in Sail City."

Feng Xiuhu changed the subject.

“The master’s house is still here, so there needs to be someone capable of managing it and keeping it safe.”

“I’ve always said I want you to understand some principles, but these principles aren’t something you can understand just by me telling you; you have to experience them for yourself.”

"Actually, you're still far from perfect, but at least..."

Feng Xiuhu paused slightly, and the slender woman, who hadn't heard what came next, looked over.

Feng Xiuhu smiled helplessly: "At least you look like a human being now."

Slender waist wiped away her tears and took Feng Xiuhu's hand: "When will you be back?"

Feng Xiuhu thought for a moment and said, "I don't know for now, but I will definitely come back. Don't worry, I'm also thinking about what happened in Fancheng. I'll write back once I find a place to stay."

After a moment's thought, Feng Xiuhu added, "After I leave, you should move back to Bibo Street. The houses there are big and you'll be comfortable living there."

He actually had his own selfish reasons, feeling that it was closer to the bottom city and Mr. Grey.

“From now on, we don’t need to worry about the church and temple anymore. We can ask the brothers for help with small things and ask Mike for help with big things.”

Slender waist nodded while wiping away tears.

Feng Xiuhu continued, "Shuixian is skilled in needlework and has always wanted to open her own shop. Could you please put in some effort to find a tailor shop and send her there to hone her skills? Once she feels she's ready, have Guiyuan help set up the shop."

"Lingzhi has a sweet tooth but a simple mind, so don't let her be idle. We can find both Eastern and Western chefs in the Upper District. Send her to be an apprentice, and she can cook whatever she wants to eat in the future."

"And Lao Huang and the others, too many people died in this war. Remember to ask them if any of their family members or relatives were hurt. If so, give them some money if necessary..."

(End of this chapter)