The demonic soldiers outside Sunlight City were completely wiped out, and the battlefield debris was gradually cleared away. Lin Zhen stood on the city wall, watching the busy cultivators below.
Just as he was about to instruct people to prepare a celebration banquet, he realized that the Xuanqiong Realm had survived this catastrophic disaster and deserved a proper celebration, and he also wanted to express his gratitude to Xiao Chen and the other three.
But when he turned to look around, he found that Xiao Chen, Jiang Li, Su She, and Shi Tou had already disappeared on the city wall, leaving not even a trace of their presence.
Lin Zhen was stunned for a moment, then shook his head with a wry smile. These four greatest contributors were so low-key that they didn't even want to attend the victory celebration banquet.
"Well, if they don't want to make a fuss, then we won't force them."
Lin Zhen said to Lin Jingxing beside him, "But everyone in the Xuanqiong Realm must remember this kindness. If it weren't for Xiao Xiao and his sect, we would have already become prisoners or even vanished into nothingness."
Lin Jingxing nodded, his eyes full of admiration: "Father, rest assured, I will make sure that every force in the Xuanqiong Realm remembers Brother Xiao and the others' names. If anyone from the Qingyun Sect comes in the future, we will do our best to help them no matter what their needs are."
When the cultivators on the city wall learned of Xiao Chen and his companions' departure, they felt regret, but even more so, gratitude.
Everyone knows that if Xiao Chen's master hadn't sent Ah Huang, and if Xiao Chen and the other three hadn't fought side by side all the time, the Xuanqiong Realm would have ceased to exist long ago.
They will remember this kindness forever.
Meanwhile, Xiao Chen and his companions had already embarked on their journey back to the Qingyun Sect.
They chose not to alert anyone, but quietly tore open a spatial rift and stepped inside.
As she traversed the space, Jiang Li looked at her familiar senior and junior brothers and couldn't help but laugh, "After being away for so long, I really miss the sect's food."
Stone immediately chimed in, "Yes, yes! I still miss the spiritual fruits in Master's courtyard. I wonder if Ah Huang left a few for me!"
Su She smiled gently, turning the pages of the book in his hand: "The tranquility of the sect is much more comfortable than the noise and chaos of the battlefield."
Xiao Chen looked at the three of them and smiled. After experiencing the bloody battle in the Xuanqiong Realm, he felt comforted to be able to return to his sect.
Soon, the four of them emerged from the spatial rift and stepped into the Cangxuan Realm.
Although the spiritual energy here is not as violent as that in the Xuanqiong Realm, it has a familiar warmth that instantly relaxes their tense nerves.
They avoided the forces along the way and flew silently toward the Qingyun Sect.
When the outline of the Qingyun Sect came into view, the four of them couldn't help but slow down.
It was still that seemingly dilapidated mountain gate, with a few scratches still remaining on the vermilion door panel, and moss growing all over the stone steps in front of the gate, yet it stirred a strong sense of belonging in their hearts.
"Finally back!" Stone rushed over first, pushed open the mountain gate, and shouted excitedly.
Xiao Chen, Jiang Li, and Su She followed behind and entered the sect.
The courtyard was covered with a thick layer of fallen leaves, which rustled underfoot.
The spider webs in the corners were layered upon layered, and even the eaves were covered with tiny spider silks; the doors and windows of several wooden houses were loose, clearly indicating that they had not been maintained for a long time.
"It seems Master hasn't cleaned the sect again lately." Xiao Chen shook his head helplessly, but his eyes were full of smiles.
"It's okay, I'll sweep!" Shi Tou rolled up his sleeves and went to get the broom.
Jiang Li smiled and said, "Let's go see Master first. Maybe he's still taking a nap under the old locust tree."
The four of them talked and then walked towards the old locust tree. In the distance, they could see the reclining chair under the old locust tree.
Lin Zhou was sleeping peacefully under a thin blanket, with a slight smile on his lips, as if he were having a sweet dream.
Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the locust tree leaves, bathing him in its warmth, making him appear exceptionally comfortable.
Xiao Chen and his three companions tiptoed over, not wanting to wake him.
But as soon as Lin Zhou reached the recliner, he slowly opened his eyes, stretched, and yawned.
His tone was somewhat languid, yet carried a barely perceptible hint of amusement: "You bunch of little bastards, you've finally decided to come back?"
Xiao Chen and the other three felt a warmth in their hearts. It turned out that their master had known they were back all along and might have been waiting for them.
Jiang Li's eyes reddened slightly, Shi Tou scratched his head, and Su She also showed a gentle smile. Xiao Chen was about to say something when he was interrupted by Lin Zhou's next words.
"Don't just stand there, hurry up!"
Lin Zhou sat up, pointed around, and urged, "Xiao Chen, go and fix that leaky house on the east side. It's been raining a lot lately, and the leak is really bad."
"Stone, go sweep the fallen leaves in the yard and clean up the cobwebs; they're an eyesore. Su She, go chop some firewood; we're almost out of firewood in the kitchen."
"Jiang Li, hurry up and cook! I'm starving! I've been eating spirit fruits every day since you guys were gone, and I'm getting tired of them!"
After a series of instructions, Xiao Chen and the other three were stunned. The emotion they had felt earlier vanished instantly, leaving them speechless.
"Master, we just got back..." Stone said aggrievedly.
"You can't do housework now that you've just gotten back?" Lin Zhou raised an eyebrow. "You guys have become so capable fighting demons and beating up those Boundless Realm cultivators that you don't even want to do housework anymore?"
Xiao Chen sighed helplessly and shook his head. This was so typical of his master; always so pragmatic, never giving him a chance to be sentimental.
He picked up the tools from the corner and walked towards the wooden house to the east: "I'm going to fix the house."
Jiang Li smiled and shook her head, then turned and walked towards the kitchen: "I'll cook something delicious for you."
Sushe picked up the axe and walked towards the woodshed: "I'll go chop wood."
Seeing that the three of them had started moving, Shi Tou could only resign himself to his fate and picked up the broom to start sweeping the fallen leaves: "I know, I'll sweep right now!"
Lin Zhou watched the four people bustling about, a faint smile playing on his lips. He lay back down on the recliner, closed his eyes, and felt the sunlight bathing him in a peaceful moment.
In the courtyard of the Qingyun Sect, the sounds of sweeping, chopping wood, hammering during repairs, and the occasional laughter blended together to create a warm and cozy everyday melody.
This is what the Qingyun Sect should be like.
The aroma of food wafting from the kitchen had not yet dissipated, and on the stone table in the courtyard, bowls and chopsticks were scattered haphazardly.
Lin Zhou leaned back in his chair, rubbing his round belly with one hand and picking his teeth with the other.
His face was full of satisfaction: "Jiang Li's cooking is still the best to my liking. No matter how much fruit I eat outside, it's not as comforting as a hot meal."
Jiang Li blushed slightly and handed over a cup of tea: "I'm glad you like it, Master. I'll make it for you often in the future."
Stone patted his bulging belly and let out a burp: "I'm stuffed too! It tastes even better than the spiritual meat from the Xuanqiong Realm!"
Xiao Chen and Su She exchanged a smile and were about to clear the dishes when they heard a faint commotion coming from outside the sect.
It sounded like many people were talking, mixed with footsteps; although they were far away, the sound was clearly audible.
Clearly, the people who came were all highly skilled.
"What happened?"
Xiao Chen frowned. They had deliberately concealed their presence when they returned, without alerting anyone. How could someone have found the Qingyun Sect?
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