Reunion After a Long Separation, Luo An'an

Not long after Luo Chen left the Far North Ice Plains, a figure appeared at the spot where he had finished refining his second martial soul.

"This is... the power of time?" The voice was cold and elegant, carrying an unquestionable sense of arrogance.

Of course, Luo Chen knew nothing of this. By now, he had already left the Far North and was heading in the direction of Hailun City.

As the morning sun rose, Luo Chen caught sight of the coastline. Hailun City had arrived!

Luo Chen sat on the eagle's back, looking down at the scenery that was both familiar and strange. Ten years had passed; many new houses had sprung up along the main road, and the sparse villages outside the city had merged into a continuous expanse. The docks held twice as many fishing boats as they had a decade ago, several new watchtowers stood upon the city walls, and the flag of Hailun City fluttered from the flagpoles.

It seemed Hailun City had developed quite well over the last ten years. He spotted the area where his home was located at a single glance.

He landed outside the city, entered with a low profile, and walked straight toward his home.

The old street in the East District.

The changes were immense! Luo Chen couldn't help but sigh. In his memory, only ten short days had passed, yet the low, flat houses he remembered had been replaced by two-story buildings, and several new shops had appeared along the street.

The most eye-catching was "Old Luo's Fish Stew" at the corner—the sign was newly replaced with gold characters on a red background, and a long line of people stood at the entrance.

Luo Chen paused. Was this his family's shop?

With silver-white hair cascading to his waist, a thick, unkempt silver-white beard on his chin, a purple slit pupil in his left eye, and a silver iris in his right, his appearance drew stares from many passersby as he walked down the street.

He reached the entrance of Old Luo's Fish Stew. Several waiters were bustling in and out with dishes. He peered inside through the doorway, but he didn't see the figures he was hoping to find.

However, he did spot someone: A-Tian! The young waiter who used to work at the shop.

Could his parents have sold the shop to A-Tian?

"Customer, looking for some fish? Please, come on in!" a waiter greeted Luo Chen enthusiastically.

Luo Chen nodded and entered the shop.

A-Tian was watching the flow of customers. He had worked for the Luo family for ten years. Ever since the young master went missing, the boss had handed the management of the shop over to him a few years ago so that he and his wife could periodically go out to search for their son's whereabouts.

Suddenly, he noticed a very strange-looking guest enter the shop. Experience told him that people with such bizarre appearances were usually powerful spirit masters, so he walked up with a welcoming smile.

"This customer, what would you like to eat? Our signature Old Luo's Fish Stew was created by our boss himself."

Luo Chen looked at him with a smile. A-Tian felt a strange sense of familiarity with the man before him.

Just then, a travel-worn middle-aged man entered the shop. Seeing this, A-Tian instructed the waiter to attend to Luo Chen before walking over to the man to help him take off his pack.

"Boss, you're back. I'll go tell the mistress right away."

"No, no need. Let me have some water first. You go back to attending to the customers; don't neglect them."

Luo Chen turned around and saw that the man was none other than his father, Luo Dashan.

"Boss, is there still no news of the young master?" A-Tian asked.

"Sigh, it's been ten years. The child left without a word, and there hasn't been a trace of him since. Sigh!" Luo Dashan frowned. His hair had turned gray; despite being less than forty years old, he looked like an old man.

Luo Chen felt a pang in his heart. It was true—to him, he had only been gone for ten days, less than a month including travel time, but to his family, it had been ten years!

Luo Chen couldn't help but speak up: "Dad, I'm home."

The five words were deafening! Luo Dashan jerked his head up to look at the strange-looking young man—the silver hair, the scruffy beard, the mismatched eyes. He found it hard to associate this person with his cute little son.

"Dad, it's me, Luo Chen. I'm back," Luo Chen continued.

A-Tian and the young waiter nearby were stunned, not knowing what to say.

"Is it you, Little Chen? Are you really Little Chen?" Luo Dashan stumbled over to Luo Chen's side, examining him closely.

Luo Chen said, "Of course it's me, Dad. Even if you can't tell by my looks, surely you recognize my martial soul?" As he spoke, Luo Chen brought out his Gulu Ball.

Seeing the unique martial soul, Luo Dashan jumped up and grabbed Luo Chen's shoulders. "Oh! It really is my son! My son is back!"

His shout drew the attention of everyone in the shop. They all knew that the owner's seven-year-old son had gone missing, and the couple had often asked them to help look for him, though to no avail. Now that the child had returned, everyone was overjoyed.

Luo Dashan waved his hand grandly. "A-Tian! The young master is back! Everything for everyone here is on the house! And everyone gets a one-silver-spirit-coin raise on their monthly salary!"

"Hurrah!" the whole room cheered.

Luo Dashan looked at Luo Chen and said, "Let's go, let's go home. We have to tell your mother! Come on, let's go home."

With that, Luo Dashan led Luo Chen outside.

"Dad, isn't our home in the back?"

"The shop has expanded, and it's not convenient for your mother and me to live there anymore, so we moved. Come on, our new home is very spacious!"

Luo Dashan led Luo Chen to a two-story duplex and walked inside.

"We live in such a nice place now?" Luo Chen couldn't help but remark.

"It's very spacious. Come, come in." He then shouted toward the interior, "Xiaomei! Come out quickly, look who's back!"

A familiar voice drifted from inside the house: "Who is it? Who is it? Why are you so happy coming back this time?"

Lin Xiaomei walked out of the room and saw her husband excitedly leading a silver-haired "old man" toward her.

But the next moment, she felt something was off. The person before her felt strangely familiar!

Could it be...?

"Mom! I'm home!" Luo Chen said with a smile.

Lin Xiaomei's legs went weak, and she collapsed onto the floor. Seeing this, Luo Chen and his father rushed forward, and Luo Chen caught Lin Xiaomei before she could hit the ground.

By now, Lin Xiaomei's eyes were brimming with tears as she reached out to touch Luo Chen's face.

She wanted to confirm if this was real; it had been ten years. Ever since she learned Luo Chen had gone missing, she had spent every day longing for this very moment.

"Xiao Chen... it's my Xiao Chen who has returned!" She was already sobbing uncontrollably.

Just then, a soft, milky voice rang out: "Who are you! You aren't allowed to bully my mommy!"

Immediately after, a tiny, adorable ball of a girl charged straight at Luo Chen and bit down hard on his arm.

Luo Chen was stunned! Mommy?

He looked at the cute little girl who was currently biting his arm with her eyes squeezed shut, then glanced at his father standing to the side and his mother sitting on the floor.

"Xiao An, let go quickly. Have you forgotten what Mommy told you about having a very impressive big brother?" Lin Xiaomei said as she picked up Luo An'an, who had finally released her grip.

"Big brother?" Luo Chen blinked. "Me?"

Luo Dashan stood to the side with his head bowed, not daring to look at Luo Chen, as if he were busy counting his own toes. Lin Xiaomei, holding Luo An'an, also looked a bit embarrassed as she tapped the little girl on the forehead.

"Dad, Mom, you didn't go and have a little sister for me, did you?" Luo Chen's eyes widened in shock.