Where Are You Going So Late at Night?

The train from Demon Capital to Huai City slowly pulled out of the station at half past five in the evening.

"This is really it... I'm actually a little reluctant to leave..." Chu Xiongtian sat by the window, watching the scenery continuously slip backward outside. Then he looked at Lin Shuguang with some emotion and gave an embarrassed laugh, as if he also felt he was being a little too sentimental.

Lin Shuguang laughed when he heard that. "It's only a twenty-day extended holiday. You'll be back again soon enough. When the time comes, you won't be able to run even if you want to."

Chu Xiongtian's face fell on the spot. "Just like that, the feeling of parting is gone."

Lin Shuguang's phone happened to chime with a notification. He lowered his head and glanced at it: 3.9 million had been deposited into his account.

Cao Chao had also sent him a message. He and Han Yi had both paid the remaining balances.

Lin Shuguang put away his phone just as Chu Xiongtian spoke again. "Brother Lin, when are you going to report to the bureau?"

"Tomorrow, I guess. It'll already be eight or nine by the time I get back tonight." As Lin Shuguang spoke, he thought of the matter concerning the Blood Desolate Land. Si Qianjun had avoided saying much over the phone for fear of being wiretapped, so Lin Shuguang had no idea how far things had progressed.

Chu Xiongtian still knew nothing about the inside story of the Blood Desolate Land, so he did not think much of it. He grinned cheerfully. "Then I'll go tomorrow too. I'll get a good night's rest tonight. I nearly threw my life away trying to catch up with you guys before. Talent really is too important!

"I might have to struggle for twelve hours a day just to match one hour of your cultivation. It's absolute torture.

"Oh, right, Boss Lin, has Young Master Meng mentioned that he's also going to Huai City...?"

"Him?" Lin Shuguang froze for a moment. He looked around but saw no sign of Meng Shenzhou, then raised an eyebrow. "Did he say when?"

Chu Xiongtian shook his head. "He didn't say. He's probably waiting for his family to give him the go-ahead too. Young masters from families like theirs are afraid of being watched even when they go out. Especially with the Divine Temple suddenly arresting people everywhere—it's thrown everyone into a panic."

Lin Shuguang's gaze flickered.

Both Fulong Cave and the Blood Desolate Land had caused a stir one after another, and they might even have something to do with the legendary gods.

One incident had barely happened before the Divine Temple stirred up trouble by arresting young martial artists. There was definitely some inevitable connection between the two.

Lin Shuguang did not believe for a second that the Divine Temple was arresting people without a purpose.

Chu Xiongtian brought up a few more trivial matters. When he saw that Lin Shuguang had lost interest in chatting, he took the initiative to end the conversation.

Lin Shuguang then closed his eyes to rest.

With a thought, he pulled up the Attribute Panel.

His Blood Energy Value had already broken through to 38,240 cal. When he had first left Huai City, what had his Blood Energy Value been...? Lin Shuguang had long forgotten the exact figure, but who else could have rapidly increased their Blood Energy Value by 20,000 cal in barely a hundred days?

His cultivation had even advanced in one fell swoop to Bone Forging Thirty-Seven Rings.

The current him was truly a far cry from his former self.

"I suppose this counts as returning home in glory." Lin Shuguang could not help but chuckle.

Beside him, Chu Xiongtian noticed the smile at the corner of Lin Shuguang's mouth. He was inevitably curious, but wisely did not ask.

A little after eight that evening.

The two got off the train. Lin Haiyang, Mother Lin, and Lin Xiaoxi were all waiting outside the platform to welcome them.

"Brother!!!" Lin Xiaoxi was still the sharpest-eyed of them all. The moment she saw Lin Shuguang walking out with Chu Xiongtian, she immediately shouted and waved vigorously.

Seeing this, Lin Shuguang finally showed more of a smile and waved back.

Chu Xiongtian laughed. "Boss Lin, I'll be heading off first."

"Sure. Take care."

"See you tomorrow."

After saying goodbye to Chu Xiongtian, Lin Shuguang carried his luggage toward his family.

"Your mother kept saying you wouldn't know how to take care of yourself out there and kept nagging that you'd gotten thinner. But you look fine to me—quite a bit sturdier, actually." Lin Haiyang walked up with a smile and squeezed Lin Shuguang's shoulder, unable to hide his delight.

He reached out to take Lin Shuguang's luggage, but Lin Shuguang smiled. "It's fine. It isn't heavy. I can carry it myself."

Then he turned to Mother Lin. "Mom."

Mother Lin was also beaming. "You haven't eaten dinner, have you? Come on, let's hurry home."

"Brother, Mom heard you were coming back tonight, so she went to the market first thing this morning. She said she was going to make you something delicious." Lin Xiaoxi cut in to make her presence known.

Lin Shuguang smiled and reached out to tousle the little girl's hair. "Then let's go home and eat."

"Brother, can I have Big Red Porridge tonight?" Lin Xiaoxi asked with eager anticipation.

She had been thinking about it day and night for a full hundred days. Heaven only knew where she had found the willpower to hold out until now.

Unexpectedly, Lin Shuguang smiled innocently, rubbed her head, and acted as if he had heard nothing. He picked up his luggage and strode ahead.

Lin Xiaoxi stood there, dumbfounded.

Did Brother not hear me clearly?

"Brother, wait for me!"

After more than three months, Lin Shuguang finally returned to the familiar home. Sitting on the sofa, with the television not far away paused on the news channel, he did not pay attention to what was being broadcast. Instead, he looked around the warm little home, filled with emotion.

He suddenly realized that he seemed to have become somewhat out of place here.

"Brother!"

Just as he was thinking this, a figure suddenly threw herself into his arms. Lin Xiaoxi's face was full of anticipation. "Brother, Big Red Porridge—"

"What Big Red Porridge?" Lin Shuguang asked with an utterly innocent look of confusion.

"The really, really red Big Red Porridge you made for me before." Lin Xiaoxi racked her brains to explain it clearly, but everything she said remained far too abstract.

Lin Shuguang shook his head and patted her head. "You must be remembering it wrong. I never made that for you."

"You did! You definitely did! I remember it very clearly..."

"Then describe it to me."

"It was, it was..."

Before his sister could finish, Lin Shuguang pulled a pile of snacks from his bag. "I brought all these snacks for you from Demon Capital. Take a look."

Lin Xiaoxi immediately tossed Big Red Porridge to the back of her mind and rushed over with shining eyes.

Lin Shuguang concealed his achievement and quietly slipped away to the kitchen. "Mom, don't make too much. I'm not that hungry after sitting on the train all the way here."

"All right, all right. Go rest for a while."

Before long.

The family sat around the table together.

To Lin Haiyang and the others, this was Lin Shuguang's first time traveling far from home, and their voices held much more worry and relief.

But to Lin Shuguang, this was the fastest he had ever returned home.

In the past, he had always needed to stay away for several years at a time.

The family ate and drank together amid laughter and cheerful conversation.

Lin Shuguang relaxed and enjoyed it all.

Perhaps only when he was home, basking in this warmth, would he put away every sharp edge he possessed.

After dinner.

Lin Xiaoxi played around in the living room, occasionally throwing a cushion at Lin Shuguang and inviting him to join the battle with meaningful looks.

Lin Shuguang's attention, however, was drawn to the news playing on the television.

"A vicious beast killing has occurred on Longhu Road. The police have currently sealed off the scene... Exclusive report."

Lin Shuguang stood up. "Dad, Mom, I'm going out for a while. I'll be right back."

"Brother, play with me?"

"Wait until your brother comes back."

Mother Lin poked her head out of the kitchen and looked over in confusion. "Where are you going so late at night?"

"Something happened to a friend. I'm going to take a look."

"Did you bring any money?"

"I won't need it. It won't take long..."

Not long after entering the house, Lin Shuguang changed his shoes and went back out. On the way, he called Si Qianjun. "I'm back in Huai City. I'm heading to Longhu Road now. I'll handle it."

At home.

Lin Haiyang came out of the bathroom, his face full of bewilderment. "Where's Shuguang?"

"He said he was going to check on a friend."

"This late at night..." Lin Haiyang frowned and muttered. His attention was soon drawn to the news on the television as well. His brows furrowed even deeper, and he murmured, "Has the situation become this serious already?"