Not long after Luo Chen left the Far North Ice Plains, a figure appeared at the place where he had refined his Second Martial Soul.
"Is this... the power of time?" The voice was cool and elegant, carrying an unquestionable air of pride.
Of course, Luo Chen knew nothing of this. By then, he had already left the Far North and was heading toward Hailun City.
As the sun rose, Luo Chen spotted the coastline. Hailun City was just ahead!
Sitting astride the carved beast's back, Luo Chen looked down at the familiar yet strange scenery below. Ten years had passed. Many new houses had sprung up beside the main road, and the formerly scattered villages outside the city had grown together into one. Twice as many fishing boats as before were moored at the docks, several new watchtowers stood atop the city walls, and Hailun City's flag fluttered from the flagpoles.
It seemed Hailun City had prospered over the past ten years. At a glance, he spotted the neighborhood where his home stood.
He landed outside the city, entered discreetly, and headed straight home.
The old streets of the eastern district.
Everything had changed so much! Luo Chen couldn't help exclaiming. In his memory, only ten short days had passed, yet the low, single-story houses had become two-story buildings, and several new shops had appeared along the street.
Most eye-catching was the "Old Luo's Fish Stew" at the street corner. It had a brand-new sign, red with gold lettering, and a long line stretched outside.
Luo Chen froze. Was this his family's shop?
Silver-white hair fell to his waist, and he hadn't yet had a chance to shave the thick silver-white beard on his chin. His left eye was a purple slit pupil, while his right was silver. Walking down the street looking like this, he drew plenty of stares.
He went to the entrance of Old Luo's Fish Stew. Several servers bustled in and out carrying dishes. Looking inside through the doorway, he didn't see the person he had hoped to find.
But he did spot someone: A-Tian, the young server who had once worked in the shop.
Could his parents have handed the shop over to A-Tian?
"Sir, here for some fish? Come on in!" A server greeted Luo Chen warmly.
Luo Chen nodded and entered the shop.
A-Tian was watching the steady stream of customers. He had worked for the Luo family for ten years. After the young master went missing, the boss had handed the shop over to him to manage several years ago, while he himself went out regularly to search for the young master.
Suddenly, he noticed an exceptionally unusual customer enter the shop. But experience told him that people who looked this strange were usually powerful Soul Masters, so he greeted him with a smile.
"Sir, what would you like to eat? Our specialty, Old Luo's Fish Stew, is an original recipe created by our boss."
Luo Chen looked at him with a smile. A-Tian, too, felt puzzled. There was something strangely familiar about the person before him.
Just then, a road-weary, middle-aged man entered the shop. Seeing him, A-Tian told a server to look after Luo Chen, then went over to help the man take off his backpack.
"Boss, you're back. I'll go tell Madam right away."
"Hey, no need. I'll have some water first. Go take care of the customers—don't keep them waiting."
Luo Chen turned around. The newcomer was none other than his father, Luo Dashan.
"Boss, still no news of the young master?" A-Tian asked.
"Alas, it's been ten years. The boy left without saying a word, and we haven't heard from him since. Alas!" Luo Dashan furrowed his brow. His hair had already turned gray. He was not yet forty, but looked like an old man.
Luo Chen's heart clenched. Yes—in his eyes, he had only been gone for ten days. Even with the journey, it had been less than a month. But to his family, it had been ten years!
Unable to hold back any longer, Luo Chen spoke. "Dad, I'm home."
Those five words rang like thunder! Luo Dashan abruptly lifted his head and looked at the strange-looking young man. With his silver hair, scruffy beard, and mismatched eyes, it was hard to connect him with his adorable youngest son.
"Dad, it's me, Luo Chen. I'm home," Luo Chen continued.
A-Tian and the young server beside them were stunned, at a loss for words.
"You're Xiao Chen? You're really Xiao Chen?" Luo Dashan stumbled over to him and studied him closely.
"Of course it's me, Dad. You might not recognize anything else, but surely you recognize my Martial Soul?" As he spoke, Luo Chen brought out his Gulu Ball.
The moment he saw the unusual Martial Soul, Luo Dashan leaped up and clapped Luo Chen on the shoulder. "Oh! It really is my son! My son is back!"
His shout drew the attention of everyone in the shop. They all knew the owners' seven-year-old son had gone missing. The couple often asked them to help search, but they had never found a trace. Now that the boy had returned, everyone was overjoyed.
Luo Dashan waved his hand grandly. "A-Tian, our young master is back! Everything is on the house for everyone here! And everyone's monthly pay goes up by one Silver Soul Coin this month!"
"Wonderful!" The whole shop erupted in cheers.
Luo Dashan looked at Luo Chen. "Come on, home. We have to tell your mother! Let's go home."
With that, Luo Dashan led Luo Chen outside.
"Dad, isn't our house in the back courtyard?"
"The shop got bigger, and it wasn't convenient for your mother and me to live here, so we moved. Come on, our new home is spacious!"
Luo Dashan led Luo Chen to a two-story duplex and went inside.
"Our family lives somewhere this nice now?" Luo Chen couldn't help saying.
"It's spacious. Come on in." Then he called loudly into the house, "Xiaomei! Come out quick and see who's back!"
A familiar voice came from inside. "Who is it? Who is it? Why are you so happy to be back this time?"
Lin Xiaomei came out of the room and saw her husband excitedly leading in a silver-haired "old man."
But in the next instant, something felt off. There was something familiar about the person before her!
Could it be...?
"Mom! I'm home!" Luo Chen said with a smile.
Lin Xiaomei's legs gave way, and she sank to the floor. Luo Chen and his father immediately rushed over, and Luo Chen caught Lin Xiaomei before she fell.
Lin Xiaomei's eyes were already brimming with tears. She reached out and touched Luo Chen's face.
She wanted to make sure this was real. It had been ten years since she learned Luo Chen had gone missing, and every day she had hoped for a moment like this.
"Xiao Chen... my Xiao Chen is home!" She could no longer hold back her tears.
Just then, a soft, childish voice called out, "Who are you? Don't you dare bully my mom!"
A tiny little girl charged straight at Luo Chen and sank her teeth into his arm.
Luo Chen froze! Mom?
He looked at the adorable little girl biting his arm with her eyes squeezed shut, then at his father standing nearby and his mother sitting on the floor.
"An'an, let go! Don't you remember Mom telling you that you have a very amazing older brother?" Lin Xiaomei said as she picked up Luo An'an, who had just released her bite.
"Older brother?" Luo Chen blinked. "Me?"
Luo Dashan stood nearby, his head bowed, not daring to look at Luo Chen. He seemed to be counting his toes. Lin Xiaomei, holding Luo An'an, looked a little embarrassed too, and tapped Luo An'an on the forehead.
"Dad, Mom, you didn't have a little sister while I was gone, did you?" Luo Chen asked, eyes wide.
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