Homecoming Reunion

Yan Hongchen opened his eyes to find Liu Yueming's lowered face before him. She was looking down at him, her gaze as gentle as water, carrying the peace of mind of seeing a child sleeping soundly.

"Little Yan, wake up." Her voice was very soft. "We're almost there."

Only then did Yan Hongchen realize that, at some point, his head had ended up resting on Liu Yueming's lap. He had probably slept too deeply and been quietly moved afterward. Before falling asleep, he remembered leaning against Yi Hongchen's shoulder.

A little embarrassed, Yan Hongchen sat up and rubbed his eyes, his movements still carrying the grogginess of someone not fully awake.

Liu Yueming said nothing. She merely raised a hand and smoothed down his rumpled hair, the gesture natural, as though it was something she had done countless times before.

Yi Hongchen watched from the side without speaking, only the corners of his lips lifting slightly, a faint light in his eyes.

Jing Hongchen moved at incredible speed. In mere moments, the familiar outline of Bright Capital appeared on the horizon.

After entering Sun Moon Empire territory, aerial control became much stricter. Invisible waves of detection swept up from below, only to quietly withdraw after touching Jing Hongchen's aura.

With his status, they encountered no obstruction along the way, not even a single inquiry. He directly controlled their descent onto the open ground in the rear garden of Hongchen Duke's Estate.

That landing site had been reserved ever since the estate was built, exclusively for use by family members.

A circular platform paved with bluestone stood there, surrounded by several evergreen pines and cypresses that stood like silent guards, year after year.

Jing Hongchen landed first. His boots struck the bluestone with a steady, soft sound. Standing there, he slightly raised his head to look at the outline of the duke's estate. He was home.

Liu Yueming and Yi Hongchen landed together. Yi Hongchen reached out to steady Liu Yueming, his palm firmly supporting her arm before releasing her only after she had found her footing.

Yan Hongchen landed last. He stretched his slightly stiff limbs, his joints giving a faint crack as though his whole body had been taken apart and put back together.

He took a deep breath of the familiar air, letting that warm, gentle scent fill his chest. He was finally home.

In a pavilion in the rear garden, two figures sat listlessly. Xiao Hongchen had one leg crossed over the other, his entire body slouched against the stone bench in a careless posture.

He toyed with a metal ball in his hand, tossing it up and catching it from time to time. Yet his gaze was somewhat vacant, and it was clear his mind was elsewhere.

Meng Hongchen sat across from him, holding a cup of tea that had long gone cold. She neither drank it nor put it down, simply holding it in her hands.

Her fingertips rested against the cool cup, while her gaze was fixed on the depths of the garden, as though lost in thought.

Suddenly, Xiao Hongchen's hand froze. He tossed the metal ball into the air but failed to catch it. It rolled across the stone table with a rumble, bounced once, then rolled to the edge. He did not move to pick it up.

"Sis..." His voice was slightly tight, carrying a trace of uncertainty, as though confirming something—or afraid of disturbing something. "Did you hear that?"

Meng Hongchen stood as well. She set down her teacup, which made a light sound against the stone table. She listened intently for a moment, then her eyes suddenly lit up.

"It's Grandpa and the others!" Her voice trembled slightly, yet she was utterly certain, like a heart that had been hanging in suspense for too long had finally settled back into place.

The two exchanged a glance, then hurried in that direction without another word. Xiao Hongchen ran ahead, his strides long and urgent, his clothes fluttering in the wind and stirring up a rush of air.

Meng Hongchen followed closely behind. Her skirt lifted faintly in the wind. She was not much slower than Xiao Hongchen, though she always remained half a step behind him.

In the open space of the rear garden, four figures were walking toward them.

Yan Hongchen saw them and raised a hand, waving hard. His smile shone especially brightly in the twilight. "Brother! Sister!"

His clear voice rang with laughter through the rear garden. "We're back!"

Meng Hongchen's steps paused for an instant. Then she practically ran forward in a rush. "Mom!"

She threw herself into Liu Yueming's arms, wrapping her arms tightly around her and burying her face in the crook of Liu Yueming's shoulder. Her entire body trembled faintly.

She could feel that her mother had grown thinner. Even through her clothes, she could sense the slenderness of her frame.

"Mom, I missed you so much..." Her voice was muffled, thick with tears, like a child who had waited too long and had finally seen her loved one return.

Liu Yueming tightened her arms around Meng Hongchen, holding her close. She lowered her head, gently resting her chin atop her daughter's head. "Mom missed you too."

She paused, her palm resting atop Meng Hongchen's hair. "How have you been lately? Have you been taking care of yourselves?"

Meng Hongchen did not lift her head, only nodded hard. Her muffled voice came from the crook of Liu Yueming's shoulder. "Pretty good. While you were away these past two months, Brother and I trained properly and took good care of ourselves."

She sniffed, and her voice gained a few traces of pride. "Brother and I both advanced by one rank."

Liu Yueming's hand moved again, gently patting Meng Hongchen's back as though praising and comforting her at the same time.

Xiao Hongchen stood to one side. Unlike Meng Hongchen, he did not rush forward to embrace them. He merely stood there with his hands hanging at his sides, his fingertips curling slightly.

His gaze shifted from Jing Hongchen to Liu Yueming, then to Yan Hongchen, before finally landing on Yi Hongchen's face. His lips moved, but no sound came out.

Yi Hongchen looked at him, then stepped forward and pulled Xiao Hongchen into his arms. The embrace came suddenly, yet it was incredibly firm.

His arms tightened, locking Xiao Hongchen securely in his embrace. His palm heavily patted Xiao Hongchen's back twice.

Xiao Hongchen froze for a moment, his body slightly stiff, before relaxing again. He said nothing, merely raising a hand to gently pat Yi Hongchen's back.

Neither father nor son spoke, but that embrace held too many things that could not be put into words.

They had gone through too much on this journey to the Extreme North. Their safe return was already the greatest blessing.

Surely, what came next... would not be so difficult anymore.

Jing Hongchen and Yan Hongchen stood nearby, watching the scene.

Jing Hongchen's gaze moved from the embracing mother and daughter to the embracing father and son, then back again. In his eyes was a faint softness, so subtle it was difficult to notice.

He said nothing, merely turning his head slightly to murmur to Yan Hongchen, "Let's eat first. We can talk slowly after we're done."

Yan Hongchen nodded. The group left the rear garden and headed toward the dining room.

They had contacted Steward Lin in advance through a communication soul tool. By the time the six of them entered the dining room, the meal was already prepared.

Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen had not carried their communication soul tools these past two days. Otherwise, they would have received the message long ago.

Jing Hongchen took his seat at the head of the table, picked up his chopsticks, and swept his gaze over the dishes before looking at everyone present.

"Eat." His voice was calm, yet it carried a reassuring strength. "Whatever you want to ask or say, wait until you've eaten your fill."

No matter what situation they faced, one needed composure when great matters arose. Too much worry and too little food were not signs of a long life. Only after eating one's fill would one have the strength to speak, and the strength to act.

Everyone picked up their chopsticks. The moment the food entered their mouths, that familiar taste of home blossomed across their tongues.

The wind and snow of the Extreme North, the ten-thousand-year black ice, the peril of standing on the line between life and death—at that moment, all of it receded far, far away, as distant as a dream from which they had already awakened.

The meal was quiet, but not oppressive. Chopsticks lightly tapped against bowls and plates, brief conversations occasionally passed between them, and warm tea was poured and drained from cup after cup.

By the time the last dish had been cleared away, everyone had relaxed. What came next was the real priority.