"Oh, Luo De, you're up early today?" While Zhang Yao was using the Concealment Technique and battle aura to expend his true qi, he suddenly noticed that Luo De had woken up and was looking around for him. He immediately stopped cultivating, revealed himself beside Luo De, and gave him a gentle pat.
"Ah! Zhang Yao, if you keep appearing and disappearing like a ghost, you're going to scare me into a nervous breakdown one of these days!" Clearly startled by Zhang Yao's sudden appearance, Luo De patted his chest and complained.
"It's been a whole month. I thought you'd be used to it by now!" Zhang Yao shrugged innocently. Over the past month, he had played plenty of these pranks on Luo De. Watching Luo De's startled reactions seemed to have become one of his hobbies.
"How could anyone get used to something like that?!" Seeing Zhang Yao feign innocence, Luo De sprang up in anger. If he hadn't known he was no match for Zhang Yao, he probably would have lunged at him and fought him for all he was worth.
"Heh, all right, stop glaring. Since you're awake, I'll get ready to leave!" Zhang Yao smiled faintly, completely ignoring Luo De's furious glare.
"Uh, won't you have breakfast before you go?" Hearing that Zhang Yao was about to leave, Luo De was visibly reluctant to part with him.
"No need. It's only just dawn. Waiting for the cook to finish making breakfast would delay me quite a bit!" Zhang Yao shook his head, declining Luo De's suggestion. Since he had no luggage at all, there was nothing to pack. He simply put on his coat, tidied himself up, and was ready to set out.
"All right, I'm off. I'll be back in a few days!" Zhang Yao opened the door and waved to Luo De, then strode away without waiting for a reply.
After leaving the inn, Zhang Yao walked into a quiet, deserted alley, summoned the Attribute Panel, and tapped a door-shaped icon near the bottom. This door was the icon for returning from Rodos to the Original World, and it could only be used outside combat.
Zhang Yao instantly vanished from the alley and appeared somewhere extremely similar to the Chosen One Hall. Apart from the absence of those statues that sent chills down one's spine, the place was identical to the Chosen One Hall.
Since this was his first time returning to his own world from Rodos, Zhang Yao had no idea how the process worked. He could only stand there blankly and wait.
Fortunately, he did not have to wait long before a mechanical voice sounded in his mind. "Would you like to return to the Original World?"
Yes, Zhang Yao answered silently.
Please select the number of days.
Six days!
Please pay six hundred gold coins. Teleportation commencing.
A dazzling white light made it impossible for Zhang Yao to open his eyes. At the same time, an intense wave of dizziness swept through his mind, leaving him feeling as though he were drunk and walking on cotton. He struggled to keep himself from falling, but the dizziness was simply too strong. In the end, he tumbled to the ground.
When Zhang Yao came to his senses again, he was already in his bedroom. He stood up and looked around, then lowered his head to examine his missing equipment and the clothes he had previously worn, which had reappeared on his body. At last, he confirmed that he had truly returned to his original world. If the Spatial Ring hadn't still been there, he might almost have believed that he had merely dreamed a very long dream.
When returning from Rodos to his original world, his equipment would lose its effects and be forcibly returned to the Spatial Ring. However, the skills he had learned and the abilities he had strengthened in Rodos could still be used in his original world. As for items from his original world, those could not be brought into the Rodos World.
Opening his bedroom door, Zhang Yao once again saw his grandfather's familiar figure. And it wasn't just his grandfather-his parents were there too.
"Yao, why are you up so soon? You've only just gotten off the train. You should rest a little longer!" Seeing Zhang Yao come out, his mother couldn't help speaking with concern.
"That's right, Yao. Go and get some more rest! Grandpa will call you when it's time to eat!" His grandfather was just as concerned about his grandson.
"Heh, no need. A little sleep was enough! Mom, let me help you!" Zhang Yao smiled and shook his head, then walked over to his mother and crouched beside her to help trim the vegetables.
"Mm, good, very good. Sending you to study with Teacher Luo really was the right decision. Not only have you come back looking much more energetic, you're more thoughtful too!" Watching Zhang Yao help his mother, his father nodded in satisfaction.
Teacher Luo? Rodos! Uh, just what explanation did the Rodos World give them about me?! At his father's words, Zhang Yao's hand shook, and he nearly dropped the chives onto the floor. The corners of his mouth twitched, and he became even more puzzled about how Rodos had explained his absence.
"That's right. Yao has really changed this time. Look how much sturdier he's getting, and his face seems to be getting more handsome too! He'll definitely find me a fine granddaughter-in-law someday! Mm, once I have a granddaughter-in-law, I'll get to hold a great-grandson! No, just a great-grandson won't do. They'll have to be dragon-and-phoenix twins-a great-grandson and a great-granddaughter together." Looking at Zhang Yao crouched there trimming vegetables, his grandfather's thoughts stretched endlessly into the future. To top it off, Zhang Yao's mother was nodding along beside him, clearly agreeing wholeheartedly.
Zhang Yao's face immediately turned red. "Grandpa, Mom, I'm still so young," he mumbled. "It's far too early for all that!"
"What do you mean, young? When I was your age, I was already married to your grandmother!" His grandfather immediately countered with an example from his own youth.
"Exactly! Son, you have to make your move early! Otherwise, by the time you come to your senses, all the good girls will be taken! Just a few days ago, Old Li's boy brought a girl home. You have no idea how lovely she was..." His mother drew on a more immediate, everyday example.
"Uh..." Zhang Yao rolled his eyes helplessly, not daring to say another word. He lowered his head and focused entirely on trimming the vegetables.
The day Zhang Yao returned happened to be Lunar New Year's Eve, so his parents had both come back from North City. His aunt and her family would also be coming over that evening for the New Year's Eve dinner. It was therefore a busy day. Besides preparing the evening feast, they had to put up couplets and hang lanterns.
Zhang Yao's family ate only a hastily thrown-together lunch. After bustling about all day, they finally finished everything as the sky began to darken.
"Yao, come here! Help your dad move the table so we'll have more room to sit later!" Zhang Yao's father beckoned him over to help.
"Oh, got it! Dad, take a rest. I can manage on my own!" With that, Zhang Yao lifted the large square table by himself and carried it toward the middle of the main room.
Just as Zhang Yao set the table down, a clear voice suddenly rang out. "Grandpa, we're here!" A series of knocks followed. His aunt and her family had arrived.
(P.S. It's Lunar New Year's Eve~~~ Tuifei wishes everyone a Happy New Year once again~~~~~~~~~~)
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