Chapter 229: Welcome Home, Young Master

Chapter 229: Chapter 246: Welcome Home, Young Master

Upon seeing who had arrived, Hu Lai hurriedly called out with respect, “City Lord, Madam.”

The others all followed suit, calling out, “City Lord, Madam.”

Hearing this, everyone was certain. These two, dressed in magnificent clothing, were none other than the City Lord of Fierce Tiger City and his wife.

The middle-aged female had already strode swiftly before them. Her eyes instantly reddened, a change visible to all. She first hugged Yue Junxiao. “You’re really back. My Xiao’er.”

As she spoke, she clapped Yue Junxiao firmly on the back.

The force was enough to nearly knock his insides out.

Yue Junxiao’s eyes went wide. He twisted his head, pleading for help from Bai Zhi and the others.

Judging by her words alone, she sounded like a delicate mother. But her strength and actions were overwhelmingly powerful, completely devoid of a female’s typical gentleness.

Just then, the City Lord arrived, a step behind schedule. But his face showed even greater excitement than hers.

After all, they had finally found the child who had been lost for over a decade. A decade of searching had come to an end. Anyone would be thrilled.

But he was the lord of a city, a Beastman. Normally, he wouldn’t display his emotions so openly. This City Lord, however, completely defied expectations. He stood two point two or three meters tall, his chest muscles bulging so much they were obvious even through his clothes. His belly looked like a six- or seven-month pregnancy, and it bounced and jiggled as he ran.

But his next move left Bai Zhi and the others utterly stunned. In a complete contradiction to his massive frame, he threw his arms around Yue Junxiao and began to wail.

The City Lord of Fierce Tiger City clung to Yue Junxiao, letting out a torrent of wails. “Xiao’er! Your father has finally found you! You’ve suffered all these years. It’s my fault. I’m the one who lost you, who made you suffer so much.”

Yue Junxiao was completely enveloped in the City Lord of Fierce Tiger City’s embrace. Before the massive City Lord, he seemed incredibly small.

In reality, Yue Junxiao was over 1.9 meters tall, nearly two meters himself. But the City Lord of Fierce Tiger City was simply too colossal.

Even his wife was nearly pushed aside by his protruding belly. But the middle-aged female, clearly accustomed to his behavior, said with a helpless sigh, “Don’t mind him. Your father is just like that. He’s just missed you so much.”

Bai Zhi: “…”

‘So now I know who Yue Junxiao takes after.’

Yue Junxiao was completely baffled by their role reversal. He just stood there, stunned and motionless. After a long moment, he realized that they felt… familiar. Warm. He couldn’t help but feel an urge to be closer to them.

After a moment, he stiffly raised his arms and slowly returned their embrace.

Feeling Yue Junxiao’s response, the City Lord of Fierce Tiger City and his wife grew even more emotional, pouring out all the years of longing they had felt for him.

After some time, the middle-aged female composed herself. She smiled kindly and said, “It’s good you’re back. It’s so good you’re back. I’ve already had the kitchens prepare a meal. You must all be starving, right? We have a special delicacy in Fierce Tiger City that I’m sure you’ve never had. Come, I’ll take you to try it. You’re going to love it!”

A moment later, the City Lord also wiped away his tears, instantly reverting to his usual self. He said heartily, “Sorry for the spectacle. Please, come in. We’ve prepared a feast. Welcome to Fierce Tiger City.”

Hu Yan inclined his head, a slight smile on his lips. “It’s only natural. We understand.”

The City Lord of Fierce Tiger City said, “I am Hu Zhen, the City Lord of Fierce Tiger City. Welcome to our city. I’ve heard a little from Hu Lai. Thank you for taking care of Xiao’er. All these years he was gone… whenever I’d eat meat, I’d think of him out there, maybe cold and hungry, and I’d lose my appetite. I’ve lost over ten pounds since he disappeared.”

He said this while patting his large, protruding belly.

Hu Zhen then said boisterously, “Look at me, getting sidetracked. Come, come, let’s go inside and eat! I’m happy today, so I’ve prepared the best food and wine. No one’s leaving sober tonight!”

The middle-aged female tentatively took Yue Junxiao’s arm. “Xiao’er, let’s go inside.”

Yue Junxiao hesitated for only a moment before accepting.

In their brief interaction, Yue Junxiao could sense their genuine joy at finding him, their genuine affection for him. Emotions like that couldn’t be faked.

The anxiety in Yue Junxiao’s heart began to ease.

Seeing that Yue Junxiao didn’t resist, a sincere smile bloomed on the middle-aged female’s face, which showed few signs of her age.

The City Lord’s Wife walked at the front, her arm linked with Yue Junxiao’s. They were followed by the City Lord with Hu Yan, Bai Zhi, and their companions. Hu Lai and his men brought up the rear.

As they passed through the city gates, Yue Junxiao first saw countless Beastmen in military uniforms holding spears. Beyond them, the entire road was lined with Beastmen and females. While the houses weren’t decorated with lanterns and streamers, the welcome was no less grand.

Upon seeing Yue Junxiao and the others, the crowd erupted in a massive cheer. “Welcome home, Young Master!”

Hearing the roar of the crowd, Yue Junxiao felt his blood begin to sing in his veins for reasons he couldn’t explain.

‘Hu Lai wasn’t lying,’ he thought. ‘They all seem genuinely happy that I’m back.’

Looking out at them, Yue Junxiao broke into a brilliant, sincere smile.

One of the females saw his smile and was instantly smitten. “The Young Master is so handsome! I wonder if he has a female already.”

The female next to her immediately chimed in, “Even if he does, it doesn’t matter. We of the Tiger Clan don’t care about things like that.”

“Are those the Young Master’s friends behind him? They’re handsome, too. If one of them were willing to stay, I’d be willing to be his female.”

The middle-aged Beastmen, however, looked at Yue Junxiao with concern. “The Young Master looks so thin. He must have suffered a great deal. We’ll have to go hunt some more beasts later. He needs to eat more meat to get strong like our City Lord. That’s true might.”

Another middle-aged Beastman nodded in agreement. “Right. We’ll catch plenty more. He’s so skinny, he’ll need to eat like this for a month straight. I just wonder if there’s any hope for him to get any taller. He must have been starved during his growth spurt. Malnourished, that’s why he didn’t develop properly. The poor Young Master! If he were here in Fierce Tiger City, we’d never have let him get so skinny! It’s all the fault of those people back then! Otherwise, our Young Master would never have gotten lost! To take so many years to find him!!”

He clenched his fists in anger as he spoke.

The other Beastmen chimed in. “Our Fierce Tiger City’s Young Master is this skinny… it’s shameful to even say it! People will wonder what’s wrong with Fierce Tiger City! As if we can’t even properly feed our own Young Master!”

One Beastman recalled, “I remember before he was lost, the Young Master was so chubby! He was strong and cute, not like this. Now I’m afraid a strong gust of wind could blow him right over!”

“As soon as the Young Master returns to the City Lord’s Hall, we’ll go! We have to fatten him up! We can’t have the Young Master of Fierce Tiger City looking like a weakling!”