Chapter 351: Homecoming
Chapter 351: Homecoming
After leaving the Mystic Palace Tower, Chen Chuan drove directly onto the overpass and traveled for over an hour before reaching the city exit checkpoint.
His Boundary Token flashed, and he passed through the checkpoint without stopping, heading out of the city, leaving the shimmering lights of Central City behind.
The road ahead was pitch-black, illuminated only by the streetlights. He had chosen to depart at midnight, ensuring he would arrive in Yangzhi early the next morning.
About ten minutes later, his Boundary Token made a rustling sound, and then all was quiet. He removed it and placed it in a prepared box beside him, then reached over to turn on the radio.
At this hour, aside from some midnight programs from Central City, there were also self-made channels from armed groups in the wilderness, almost exclusively heavy metal music, occasionally mixed with howls and wails.
Finding it too noisy, he quickly changed the channel, but for some reason, the radio only produced static, and no clear sounds emerged.
Just then, he suddenly felt as if someone had appeared on the seat behind him.
His expression remained calm, and he didn't glance at the rearview mirror, continuing to change the channels. After a while, a normal, upbeat tune began to play—the channel of the National Highway Checkpoint, which played such music and safety reminders.
As the music filled the car, that strange sensation dissipated.
He looked up at the rearview mirror again, and the backseat was empty.
He had been alone when he left, so there couldn't have been anyone there. It must have been an illusion he perceived upon entering the Third Limit.
According to the Anomaly Exam, these illusions might appear from time to time, often unexpectedly, infiltrating the lives of fighters. It's no wonder some fighters become disturbed by these experiences.
Fighters are inherently a highly sensitive and vigilant group, and such occurrences can easily lead to issues.
The Anomaly Exam mentions that the more one focuses on these illusions, the more detailed they become. Thus, one should "guard one's mind and ignore them; over time, the illusions will fade away."
In Chen Chuan's opinion, this stage is the most fragile period. Fighters who have just achieved the Third Limit are highly sensitive and may perceive more than ordinary people, but with insufficient spiritual energy, they are more susceptible to these illusions. As they gradually cultivate and strengthen their spiritual energy, these illusions will become less influential.
Fighters who solely focus on Essence Blood cultivation are less likely to experience these concerns. Only those who train their spiritual energy or encounter these illusions frequently will face this issue.
To progress further, one must eventually take this step.
Waiting until Essence Blood is consolidated before advancing seems like a similar path, but this road is equally challenging.
Chen Chuan glanced at the passenger seat and noticed Chao Ming, who had been excitedly curled up in the driver's seat, was now asleep in the passenger seat.
He smiled, lowered the music volume slightly, and continued driving along the road, enjoying the soothing music.
After five hours, the sun rose on the horizon, its bright rays shining on the car. It was around 6 a.m., and the entire wide and endless road seemed to have only their car in motion, like a solitary moving object in a still image.
Chao Ming woke up with a chirp, and seeing the distant sun, he let out a melodious call. Then, he excitedly perched on the passenger seat's armrest, eagerly looking around.
Over an hour later, the Gader car reached the final checkpoint and slowly approached Yangzhi City. Beyond this point, there was less scrutiny compared to entering Central City.
A checkpoint officer approached, and Chen Chuan presented his identification card. The officer, seeing Chen Chuan in the uniform of the Central City Enforcement Agency, took the card, examined it, and returned it with a salute, saying, "Executive Chen, Yangzhi City is just ahead. Have a smooth journey."
Chen Chuan took the card and nodded, replying, "Thank you."
He restarted the car and drove past the checkpoint, continuing along the road. By 7 a.m., they had entered the boundaries of Yangzhi City.
Familiar trees and buildings, along with the sparse morning pedestrians, greeted Chen Chuan. Despite not being as bustling as Central City, Yangzhi City gave him a sense of closeness and familiarity.
Being back here, Chen Chuan felt a strong desire to revisit places he had been to and see people he hadn't seen in a long time.
He slightly increased his speed, and after half an hour, the car arrived at the patrol area of the Patrol Bureau. He slowly lowered the car window and came to a stop.
Before arriving, he had already informed them of his visit, and today being a day off, they should all be available.
Chen Chuan stepped out of the car, straightened his uniform, and took a deep breath, gazing at the familiar surroundings.
Walking towards the back of the car, Chen Chuan retrieved his suitcase and called out to Chao Ming. The latter chirped in response and hopped onto his shoulder, looking around curiously.
Just then, a patrol team responsible for security passed by, and one of them, recognizing Chen Chuan, spoke with uncertainty, "Chen... Brother Chen?"
Chen Chuan glanced at them and identified the patrol officer who often patrolled this area. He nodded, "It's me, Brother Wang."
"It's really you!" Brother Wang's face lit up with surprise. "Your clothes... Wow, I almost didn't recognize you. Are you back from Central City?"
"Yes," Chen Chuan confirmed. "The academy is on vacation, so I came to visit my aunt and uncle."
Brother Wang said, "You're back to visit Uncle Nian's family. Take good care of them..."
Chen Chuan pulled his suitcase and walked towards the house, while behind him, the patrol officers whispered amongst themselves.
"Let me tell you, that's Brother Chen who passed the exam for the Central City Wu Yi Academy last year. He's Uncle Nian's nephew."
"So that's Brother Chen! He's amazing, so full of energy. When he walked by, I felt breathless. Even the Director of the Bureau doesn't have such an imposing presence."
"Of course. It's not easy to get into the Central City Wu Yi Academy. Last year, Brother Chen made our Patrol Bureau Chief proud. Look at him now; he must have gotten a job at the Central City Handling Bureau."
"Isn't he there to study?"
"Are you kidding? Even teachers from Wu Yi School can hold positions in the Handling Bureau. Why can't a student from the Academy?"
"A job in Central City..."
The patrol officers were filled with envy. Although they had never been to Central City, they yearned to go there. However, they knew that without an official identity, going there would only bring trouble.
As Chen Chuan walked through the alley, many neighbors spotted him.
"Xiao Chuan? Is that you, Xiao Chuan?"
Chen Chuan smiled in response.
In a 6-9-1 book, there's a version without a single error!
Someone said, "Don't call him Xiao Chuan. Look at his attire and demeanor. He must have an official position in Central City. From now on, we should call him 'Mister' or 'Sir'."
"Even if he's an official now, he grew up with us. We'll still call him the same way..."
This comment prompted a playful response, "So that's why you always call him 'Big Head' behind his back?"
The person panicked, "Don't talk nonsense. When did I ever say that..."
Just then, a quick-witted child, instructed by his parents, ran to Uncle Nian's house and announced, "Uncle Nian, Xiao Chuan is back from Central City!"
The door creaked open, and immediately, Uncle Nian and Aunt Yu Wan emerged, holding Nian Mo and Nian Lu by the hand. It was clear that the family had been eagerly awaiting his arrival, and upon hearing the news, they hurried outside.
Chen Chuan approached them, and after half a year apart, Uncle Nian seemed a little plumper, while Aunt Yu Wan looked the same as always. The two little ones had noticeably grown taller, and the whole family was dressed in new clothes.
Chen Chuan released his suitcase and walked up to them. Looking at Uncle Nian and Aunt Yu Wan, he said, "Aunt, Uncle, I'm back."
Aunt Yu Wan came forward and grabbed his hand, examining him closely. She then smoothed out the creases on his clothes, and her eyes slightly reddened.
Chen Chuan placed his hand on Aunt Yu Wan's shoulder and said, "Aunt, I'm back."
Aunt Yu Wan wiped the corner of her eye with the back of her hand and nodded repeatedly.
Uncle Nian said, "We received your call yesterday. Your aunt couldn't sleep all night, wondering when you'd arrive. I told her not to worry; after spending so much time in Central City, you'll be here soon."
Aunt Yu Wan added, "I wasn't worried; I just missed you." She looked him up and down, "You seem taller and a bit thinner, but you look more energetic than before."
"Hello, Cousin!"
Nian Mo and Nian Lu surrounded Chen Chuan, greeting him, but their attention was mostly on Chao Ming. Their eyes sparkled, and Chao Ming, unafraid, chirped at them. The two children exclaimed in delight.
Nian Lu tilted her face upwards and asked, "Cousin, can I touch it?"
Chen Chuan smiled and said to Chao Ming, "Go play with them." Chao Ming was intelligent and immediately understood, jumping from Chen Chuan's shoulder to the little one. The children caught him with a 'wow' of excitement.
Uncle Nian looked on curiously and asked, "Xiao Chuan, what is this you've brought back?"
"It's a lizard bird, a creature bred in Central City. It's very smart and can guard the house, but it's still young."
Uncle Nian nodded, "It's good to have a guard. You should be careful living alone in Central City. No matter how skilled you are, always stay vigilant."
Chen Chuan agreed, "Uncle is right."
At that moment, Aunt Yu Wan gently pushed them, saying, "It's hot outside. Let's go inside and talk."
Chen Chuan said okay and walked closely with his aunt's family towards the house. His cousins, holding Chao Ming, jumped and skipped inside, their mouths full of cheerful chatter, "Cousin is back... Cousin is back..."
...
(End of Chapter)
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