Chapter 435: Chapter 327: Letter from Yuan Province, Changsheng Blood! (Double-Length Chapter)

Besides this big catch, the quality of recruitment this month has not differed much from usual.

In total, about forty or fifty people have joined his force.

The thousand-man recruit team he began assembling from scratch over a year ago now has over six hundred soldiers awaiting his orders.

Among them, a select few dozen have potential but are yet to meet Song Changming’s standards.

The majority, however, are battle-ready elite soldiers.

Song Changming is quite pleased with this outcome.

His Twelfth Recruit Team has now gained initial combat capabilities against the Demon Race and achieved Wang Tianshuang’s task of forming a new recruit team.

"Now that recruitment is over, we won’t have the privilege of picking the best anymore. The remaining vacancies can be filled gradually, without lowering our standards," Song Changming instructed Feng Xingzhuo, who had returned.

"Alright." Feng Xingzhuo nodded in agreement.

"Xia Mu is quite strong. Has the General considered directly appointing him as Deputy General?" Feng Xingzhuo asked.

"No rush. Once he’s out of the Recruit Training Camp, let’s start him as a Centurion and observe for a while," Song Changming waved his hand.

Currently, he only has two Deputy Generals.

For selecting a Deputy General, he looks not only at strength and capabilities but also whether the person can be trusted.

Anyone of poor character or with ulterior motives will certainly not be favored by him.

Leaving the rest to Feng Xingzhuo, Song Changming returned to his residence.

"Thank you for your hard work, head back," Song Changming said to Rongjiang, who was holding his horse.

"Yes," Rongjiang replied respectfully, looking at the modest courtyard before him, wanting to say something but holding back.

Given Song Changming’s current status in the military, he could easily move to the Second District and enjoy a more luxurious life.

For someone like him, a plain residence in the Third District seemed unworthy of Song Changming’s status.

Nevertheless, this was a private matter of the General. As a newly appointed Personal Guard, Rongjiang dared not speak out in front of Song Changming.

Once Song Changming entered the courtyard gate, Rongjiang led the horse away.

He would be back early the next day to continue his duty.

Guarding Song Changming, before and after tasks—this was his day’s work.

In the courtyard, the Little Yellow Chicken stood beside a potted plant, wings folded, eyeing the ants crawling in the soil.

Dahuang approached curiously, sniffing the chick, only to be shooed away by the displeased Little Yellow Chicken.

On the wall, the Little White Bird, having found its way here, quietly watched the Little Yellow Chicken, its length of stay unknown.

Nearby, A Da was diligently tilling the soil, caring for plants under the courtyard wall, while A Er was watering them.

Seeing Song Changming return, A Da promptly stood up to greet him, while A Er was slower to react.

"Young Master, you’ve returned; I’ll prepare your bathwater immediately," A Da said, aware of Song Changming’s daily routine.

First, bath and change, then cultivation and drink.

"Okay." Song Changming nodded, beckoning to the Little White Bird on the wall.

The Little White Bird fluttered its wings and landed on Song Changming’s finger.

After a while, this bird that frequently sought out the Little Yellow Chicken seemed to have become acquainted with Song Changming as well.

Song Changming occasionally fed it.

Unlike the Little Yellow Chicken, the White Bird ate rice, vegetables, meat—all sorts of food.

Fetching some meat strips, the White Bird readily devoured and swallowed them.

If possible, Song Changming planned to train this bird. With its intelligence, it could be quite useful, whether as a messenger bird or for wilderness scouting tasks.

While Song Changming bathed, A Da was already in the kitchen starting to prepare Song Changming’s dinner, skilled and efficient.

The two young helpers were deeply adapted to working by Song Changming’s side.

In the evening, Song Ping’an hurried over.

"Oh, I thought you weren’t coming back," Song Changming said in the courtyard, putting a large, steaming, oily piece of Demon Beast Flesh in his mouth.

"Qingqing has written," Song Ping’an announced, holding a letter envelope.

Song Changming raised his eyebrows at the news, accepting the envelope from Song Ping’an.

It’s been over two years since Su Qingqing left; claiming he wasn’t worried would be untrue.

Now, receiving a letter reestablishes the broken connection.

Song Changming put down his chopsticks and opened the envelope to read.

The letter contained quite a lot, filling several pages.

Song Changming immediately recognized Su Qingqing’s handwriting.

"Young Master, how is the situation with Qingqing?" Song Ping’an couldn’t help asking, seeing Song Changming peruse the letters without speaking.

"She’s recognized her biological mother, is doing well, and asks us not to worry. She’ll come looking for us later," Song Changming replied simply.

"That’s good," Song Ping’an sighed in relief, showing a smile.

"This girl only contacts us now, making us worry for nothing."

"It’s fine," Song Changming said after reading the letter.

"As long as she’s okay."

Confirming Su Qingqing’s well-being, Song Ping’an relaxed and went back to the tavern.

Song Changming put away the letter, feeling somewhat happier.

Though lengthy, the content covered her adventures with Liu Xiangnan and Jiang River of the Changsheng Clan into Yuan Province, ending with the arduous reunion with her biological mother.

From her words, Song Changming sensed the joy of their reunion, which she seemed eager to share with him.