156: Chapter 156 A New Journey Begins, A Bright Future Awaits

The midday sun illuminated the Chen Family Compound brightly, and the residual blood from last night turned a deep brown in the stone crevices, like marks etched into the rock.

As the wind blew, a few fallen leaves swirled past the feet of the mechas, only to be swept up by the patrolling air currents, fluttering in the air before finally landing.

Five dark red "po xu type-1" stood silently in the center of the plaza, the green patterns on their armor reflecting slightly in the sunlight, like the veins of a living creature breathing.

A seven or eight-year-old child stood on tiptoe, reaching out to touch the calf joint of a mecha, but was pulled back by his older brother.

"Don't touch it! That's a War God!"

"But last night I dreamed it took me to fight bugs..."

"Then learn to recognize three hundred characters first. The Family Head said only those who are literate can enter the training grounds."

The sound of their bickering didn't travel far before being drowned out by a rhythmic thud of footsteps.

About a dozen young soldiers marched from the east, carrying newly issued Talisman Rifles on their shoulders; their steps were much steadier than a few days ago.

As they passed the mechas, they all slowed down in unison, some stealing glances at the cockpit with eyes shining.

Over by the Medicinal Field, several women walked past carrying freshly harvested Spiritual Plants, chatting as they went.

"I heard people from the Qingyan Sect came to plead for an alliance yesterday, even bowing their heads."

"Exactly. Before, they used to suppress the prices of our herbs, but now they want to trade maps for cooperation."

"My A He finished reciting the first chapter of the Cultivation Technique this morning and ran to the stone steps to carve the words 'Strong Root' by herself. She wouldn't stop even when she cut her hand."

They shook their heads with smiles, but their words couldn't hide a sense of newfound pride.

On the high platform, Chen Wuwang finally moved.

He turned from his position facing away from the crowd to face the entire compound.

His long silver-white hair was tossed by the wind, and the three claw marks on his right cheek were clearly visible in the sunlight.

He raised his right hand, removed the Mechanical Prosthetic Eye from his left eye, and gently wiped the lens with the corner of his clothes. When he put it back on, a blue light flashed steadily, like a heartbeat returning to its place.

Someone below noticed this movement and called out in a low voice: "The Family Head is back."

The voice wasn't loud, but like a pebble dropped into the center of a lake, it rippled outward. Those speaking fell silent, those walking stood still, and even the frolicking children quieted down, all looking toward the high platform in unison.

Chen Wuwang didn't speak immediately. His gaze swept over the crowd—there were old craftsmen standing in corners leaning on hammers, young soldiers standing tall in formation, a little girl squatting by the stone steps writing with a charcoal pencil, and workers from the Artifact Refining Workshop hurrying along with toolboxes.

His gaze finally landed on the ridgeline in the far east. Clouds billowed there, and as the sunlight pierced through, it refracted into strange arcs of light, as if something between heaven and earth was awakening.

He spoke, his voice not loud, yet clearly reaching everyone's ears:

"A new journey has begun, and the future of the Chen family will surely be even brighter!"

The moment his voice fell, the five mechas started up simultaneously. The engines roared, energy cores lit up one by one, and the "eyes" of the cockpits opened in synchronization, glowing deep blue like stars.

Immediately after, they took to the sky, not flying haphazardly but quickly forming a formation, tracing smooth trajectories in the air. After three breaths, the five mechas hovered high above, arranged into a massive "Chen" character, its outline traced by flowing spiritual energy, dazzling and eye-catching.

"Wow—!"

"That's our surname!"

"Look! Our family's name is written in the sky!"

Cheers rose like a tide; children jumped and clapped, women wiped away tears, old craftsmen gripped their hammers tightly, and young soldiers raised their Talisman Rifles toward the sky in unison.

A thin figure squeezed out from behind the crowd—it was A Qi, who just a few days ago couldn't even match with a Simulation Pod. He looked up, mouth agape, and suddenly turned to shout at his father: "Dad! I want to join the Artifact Refining Workshop! I want to build even bigger mechas!"

His father was stunned for a moment, then grinned and rubbed his head vigorously.

On the other side, the young girl Xiao He ran across the plaza clutching a booklet filled with transcribed Cultivation Techniques. Seeing someone had written "I want to become strong too" on the stone steps with charcoal, she stopped, bit her lip, took out her own pencil, and neatly wrote a line next to it: "I want to be the first female Mecha Commander."

After writing, she let out a breath and looked up at the high platform.

Chen Wuwang remained standing, unmoved by the cheers. He looked at the billowing clouds with a profound gaze. That declaration just now wasn't just for his clansmen; it was for himself as well.

He knew that awe had been established and respect had been earned, but a truly strong person would not stop to celebrate on the spot.

He thought of the child squatting by the stone steps writing last night, the words of the women in the Medicinal Field this morning, the trembling hammer of the old craftsman, and the straight backs of the young soldiers. These people were the roots of the Chen family; their conviction was harder than any mecha.

He slowly raised his hand and gave a light wave.

The "Chen" character light array in the sky instantly disbanded, and the five mechas tightened their formation, landing back on the training ground one by one. The engine noise faded, and the ground returned to peace, with only the patrolling hum still echoing in their ears.

The crowd's cheering also gradually subsided. They didn't feel disappointed; instead, they felt more grounded—the Family Head wasn't lost in victory; he knew what needed to be done next.

A little girl pulled her mother's hand and asked, "Mom, what is a 'new journey'?"

Her mother looked down at her and said softly, "It means that from today on, we no longer have to walk with our heads bowed."

Chen Wuwang heard these words, and the corner of his mouth twitched imperceptibly.

He stepped down from the high platform, his boots making a steady sound on the bluestone. Passing the stone steps, he saw the words carved with blood, charcoal, and fingernails—"Strong Root," "Expand Territory," "Build Momentum." Some were crooked, some were childish, but every stroke was carved with deep effort.

He knew these words would never be erased again. They had grown into this land and become a part of the Chen family.

He walked to the center of the plaza, stood before a mecha, and reached out to stroke the green patterns on the armor. Warmth traveled through his palm, and a slight vibration felt like a response.

"You're ready too, aren't you?" he whispered.

No one heard these words, and no one needed to.

He turned around and looked toward the east again. The clouds were still billowing, and that arc of light seemed a bit brighter. He didn't move, nor did he give any orders; he just stood there quietly, like a mountain about to set out.

At the distant mountain gate, two more Hovercars slowly approached. There were no logos on the vehicles, and they moved very slowly, clearly observing.

Inside the car, someone asked in a low voice, "What's the situation inside?"

An attendant replied, "Mechas ascended to form a formation, the Family Head personally declared the start of a new journey, and the whole clan is ecstatic."

The person was silent for a moment, tore up the note in his hand that said "Wait and see," and replaced it with a new one: "Prepare a generous gift; visit tomorrow. I am willing to sign a ten-year mutual protection pact."

He closed the box and looked toward the Chen Family Compound.

Sunlight covered the entire plaza, shining on the mechas, the stone steps, and the faces of everyone looking up at the sky.

The wind blew, picking up a fallen leaf, swirling it around, and dropping it between the two words "Strong Root."

Chen Wuwang still stood in place, motionless.

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