Huang Wen was received kindly by Zhang Xuan's mother, Zhang Xuan, Chen Yao and Xia Yue waited for him too. Zhang Xuan was less talkative during their meeting. Her mother asked various questions about Huang Wen's family and his background.

He was a bit overwhelmed, but compared to his conversation with Zhang Hu, it could be considered as easy.

It seemed Zhang Xuan's mother had heard a lot from Zhang Xuan about Huang Wen's positive traits. She was truly grateful that Huang Wen saved her daughter and brought her home. Comparing Zhang Xuan's mother and father, was like comparing heaven and earth. They both truly stood at the different end of the spectrum. Zhang Xuan's father have big and heavy build, while her mother was slim and petite. Zhang Xuan's father had booming, deep, rumbled voice, while listening to her mother was like listening to the gentle rustling wind of spring.

If meeting Zhang Xuan's father for about fifteen minutes felt like years, then when Huang Wen met with Zhang Xuan's mother, hours flew by, he barely noticed the time. Zhang Xuan's mother certainly knew how to make her guest felt at home.

Huang Wen also met with Zhang Xuan's little brother, there was a big gap of age difference between them two. No wonder Zhang Xuan loved her little brother so much.

If there was something that made him sad, it was that the warmth he felt, reminded him of his own family. For a moment Huang Wen was lost in his own world, he was thinking about his family. Now, that he already made up his mind to make the journey to find them, he could think of them without feeling guilty.

"Are you thinking about your family?", suddenly Madam Zhang Hu gently patted his hand.

"Uh... yes... sorry.", Huang Wen surprised.

"You don't need to apologize. We understand how you feel...", there was a pause, they knew words meant little in this situation, "Let's hope that they're alright. Your parents too, Chen Yao, Xia Yue..."

"Now you kids go outside, leave the dishes, I'll take care of it.", Madam Zhang Hu stood and waved her hand, asking them to go outside.

"Wait Aunty. Let me help you..", Huang Wen hastily tried to help.

Madam Zhang Hu laughed and slapped his hand, "No, no, no. You're all my guests here and I forbid guests from doing any works in my house. It's my rule and you're not going to be the first to break it. Zhang Xuan, take them outside will you?"

Laughing Zhang Xuan who knew her mother dearly, took Huang Wen and her friends outside.

"So what do you think about my mother?", she asked Huang Wen when they were strolling around the house.

"She's the nicest mother I ever know.", Huang Wen answered without any hesitation.

"My mother probably would rap my head if she hears me saying it, but that's what I think. No wonder your father was head over heels for your mother.", he added.

Zhang Xuan chuckled, secretly she said to herself, 'If only you know my mother...'

Zhang Xuan remembered a few nights ago when she had a conversation with her mother, she told her mother everything about Huang Wen, including her decision to marry him, before she told her father.

-------- o ---------

Back then her mother asked her seriously, "My daughter Xuan... Are you sure of this? Choosing a husband is an important matter for us women. Make a wrong choice and you're bound to suffer. Even if you manage to free yourself by then, it will be hard to recover your loss. Make the right choice and you might benefit for years till the day you die."

"I'm quite sure of his character mother, he might not be as good as father, but I think he's quite reliable.", Zhang Xuan answered.

"Hmm..., it's not easy to get someone as good as your father. If he's half of your father, that's good enough.", said Madam Zhang Hu, she couldn't hide her pride for Zhang Hu.

Zhang Xuan chuckled, "Probably he's half of a father by now, but with my support he might be able to be as good as father."

"Ah... we'll see about that later, but the most important thing, Xuan my daughter, more than how reliable he is. Is your confidence at putting a rein on him. Have you think about that?", Zhang Xuan's mother laughed softly.

"Mother, you said that for a powerful man to stay with one woman, is a rare case. All men tend to want more than one woman, some don't have the means to do so, some of them will choose lowly tricks to satisfy their desire while the other chooses to suppress their desire instead. Then some will have the means to do so, wither by their wealth, fame, strength, etc. If those who have the means to do so but choose to stay faithful then he is man among men, but the more extraordinaire they're the harder it is for them to stay faithful."

"This Huang Wen, like I said, he has the potential to be a man with extraordinaire power, as such, I don't have the confidence of making him stay faithful to me and only me.", said Zhang Xuan.

"Hmm... good, know yourself and know your enemy, then you will always win the battle. I always taught you how to judge yourself well and from both of your parents, you learn how to judge other people. I don't think your judgment would be far from the mark. Then you have no choice but to use your sisters, with the three of you. I suppose it won't be hard to tame him. You have thought about it, but are you sure you're ready to share him with your sisters?", replied Madam Zhang Hu.

Zhang Xuan blushed a bit, "Of course I'm ready... It's not like I'm head over heels for him. Indeed there are part of me who was attracted to him but I decide to marry him with our family in mind."

Madam Zhang Hu gently brushed her daughter's hair and laughed softly, "Hahaha, it's good to know not to love blindly but it won't be easy. Even now I could see. Your mind knows what to expect but your heart still falling in love to him. Don't ever think that it would be easy and it's not a bad thing either. For now, why don't you just enjoy it. I do wish that it would last for a long time."

Zhang Xuan was blushing to hear that from her mother but she never hid anything from her, "Ai... mother... what should I do with my heart? It gives me suffering but at times of joy...If I think that one day I had to share him with my sisters I'm filled with jealousy."

Her mother hugged her, "We women, jealousy are part of our nature, but as long as you keep it in your mind and make sure that you're the one who pull the string behind the curtain, then it would be easy to control your jealousy. Remember, it is better to share him with people you can trust, rather than trying to have him all by yourself only to lose him to someone who has no good intention toward you"

"I know... but how do you think I can make Xia Yue and Chen Yao agree to this plan?", Zhang Xuan asked her mother.

"Well, Xia Yue is easier I think. She's still naive and she believes she is the most attractive one among you three. As long as she thinks that Huang Wen loved her most, I think she wouldn't mind sharing. You tell Huang Wen that and help him get Xia Yue, then he will love you more.", Madam Zhang Hu smirked.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

Zhang Xuan sighed.

"You don't like it? Well, Xuan my daughter, it's better if Huang Wen love you the most, because then it's easier to gently control him. You do your sister a favor by doing that. As long as you're careful, no one will hurt.", Zhang Xuan's mother chided her.

"Mother... sometimes I wonder if all you taught me is true...", Zhang Xuan asked while looking at her mother tenderly.

Madam Zhang Hu laughed, "I won't say that everything I told you is the absolute truth but in this world, from my experience, it's better to fool other than be the fool. As long as you not abuse your power, it's better to be the one who pulls the string rather than the opposite."

Zhang Xuan gave up and sighed once more, "How about Chen Yao then?"

"She won't be easy. Huang Wen must be patiently dealing with her. Chen Yao idolize men with power, Huang Wen have it, as long as he allows things go naturally, he will have Chen Yao. In fact, I believe it's a good thing, it would occupy his mind for a while. The more effort it takes, the more precious it is and more the value of you who help him to get it.", said Madam Zhang Hu.

"Now, what about Huang Wen himself? How should I win him?", Zhang Xuan asked.

"Since he isn't a player and the way you describe him is inexperienced with a bit low self esteem. You shouldn't play too hard to catch. Otherwise he will give up but don't give in to easily too. Make him know that he can have you. It just that he needs to work for it."

Madam Zhang Hu paused for a while before added with a twinkling eyes, "...And I think there is nothing wrong with giving him a bit teasing. You know to keep him motivated."

"Mother... ", Zhang Xuan flustered.

"What?", her mother asked innocently.

-------- o -----------

"What about your parents, you never told me about them.", Chen Yao suddenly asked and brought back Zhang Xuan to reality.

"Yes, we want to know too", Xia Yue added.

"Well, they're kind of ordinary but one thing I proud of them is that they loved their kids dearly. They're not educated people nor they have any special traits compared to other but they love us, their children sincerely. My father though, he's a bit special. He always had this idea that at least one of his sons should be someone who is educated and pursue knowledge.", Huang Wen answered after thinking about it for a while.

"Heh... any other parents would like ordinary when you compared them with Zhang Xuan's", Chen Yao snorted.

She seriously added, "...But I agree with you. All that matter is that they love us sincerely and unconditionally."

"En...", Xia Yue nodded her head in agreement.

For a moment there was silence and their conversation reminded Huang Wen of Zhang Hu's three requests.

"Your father asked me to help Chen Yao and Xia Yue to find their parents and bring them here. My parents too.", he broke the silence.

"En... I'm not surprised to hear that. He promised to me, that he would help Chen Yao and Xia Yue to find their parents but I knew him well. He isn't the kind of adult who would break their promise, but at the same time he would not abandon his duty to many too. Which means it might take times before he could go to do it. I suspect that's why he asked you to do it.", Zhang Xuan said.

"Big Brother Huang... you will accept his request, will you?", Xia Yue took Huang Wen's hand in hers and pleaded.

"Don't worry. I already said yes...", Huang Wen nodded.

"I'll come with you then", Chen Yao said with determination.

"Me too, I want to come too", Xia Yue said.

"If it's possible then I would like to go with you too", Zhang Xuan said.

A bit hesitant she added, "... but I don't think my father would allow us to go with Huang Wen."

"But why?", Chen Yao and Xia Yue asked at the same time.

"It's not safe out there. My father would not agree to put us at unnecessary risk. We have pictures of your parents, you two can give informations that could help Huang Wen to find them and that's all he needed from us.", Zhang Xuan answered.

"How could we stay idle here, while Huang Wen looked for our parents? We're not afraid of zombies or even demons! We could easily kill tens or even hundreds of them!", Chen Yao protested.

"No, Zhang Xuan is right and the greatest danger isn't coming from zombies or demons but from thugs and criminals.", Huang Wen agreed with Zhang Xuan.

"But just a few days ago we traveled alone, just the three of us.", Chen Yao tried to argue.

"Not really, when we traveled alone, we're traveling along the perimeters. My father and his men already cleared and secured most of the area. If anything happened, I assure him that we will retreat immediately. He told me posts of his men. Around this area, at least we have some sort of law and order.", Zhang Xuan calmly explained.

"Your father's law, you mean.", Chen Yao snorted, she was frustrated being unable to argue.

"Yes... but he means well you know...", Zhang Xuan quietly answered.

Chen Yao sighed, "Sorry Zhang Xuan... I know your father means well... it's just..."

"Chen Yao, Xia Yue, trusts me. I won't disappoint you. If there is any clues, I will not hesitate to check on it. Even if the possibility is small, I wouldn't neglect it. I swear, I swear on my parents.", Huang Wen sincerely swore.

Chen Yao's eyes suddenly moist, she stared at Huang Wen and saw his sincerity, "... thanks.."

"No problem...", Huang Wen said shortly.

"When are you going to go?", Zhang Xuan asked.

"I think the sooner I go is the better.", Huang Wen said.

"So soon...", Zhang Xuan felt sad that they must separate again.

Chen Yao and Xia Yue who could imagine how it felt for Zhang Xuan, but at the same time worried about their parents, decided not to say anything.

"Hmm... ", he nodded.

"You're right, the sooner the better... but don't go without proper preparation.", said after a while Zhang Xuan.

"Hey... in those three days, what were you doing? Have you reach another level by now?", Chen Yao asked to change the topic.

In the next hour, Huang Wen told them over and over, how he gained the passive skill of Martial Art. How he spent the last 24 hours to level up non stop and many other things. Sometimes he needed to explain the same thing twice or more, because each of them asked it in the different manner. After that, it was their turn to tell their stories and Huang Wen to listen.

When they were running out of topics, Chen Yao and Xia Yue suddenly stood.

"We're going to leave you two here now. I think you two have something to talk about.", Chen Yao smiled and winked.

"Eh wait...", Zhang Xuan tried to prevent them from leaving.

"No... no, no. You can't avoid it for ever. Okay then, bye...", Chen Yao pulled Xia Yue, they walked away fast leaving Zhang Xuan and Huang Wen alone.