Chapter 1522: A Family of Three

Chapter 1522: Chapter 1522: A Family of Three

After a month away, when Lin Tian and Xu Xianrong returned to Xu Family Stream, it still looked the same as before, as if nothing had changed due to their departure.

As they walked on the pebble road of Xu Family Stream, Lin Tian asked, "You say, with the Dragon Transformation Pool so close to that tree, how come in a month’s time, no one found us?"

Xu Xianrong glanced at Lin Tian and said, "I have no idea, but let’s hurry up. My big brother and Miaoqiu must be worried sick."

Lin Tian, who had been eager to return, was not in such a hurry now. He squinted his eyes with a smile and said, "A little more time won’t matter. After all, we’re already at the doorstep."

At this moment, Lin Tian was still holding two snake eggs as big as basketballs in his arms. As they traveled, the snake eggs grew heavier in his hands, almost as if they were filled with iron, though such weight could be easily ignored by someone at the Middle Stage of Golden Elixir.

The giant serpent’s corpse had been left by the two at the Dragon Transformation Pool, since it was too large to handle without summoning the people of Xu Family Stream.

Xu Family Stream is a large household, with a hundred or so families, and everyone is close as if they were their own family.

Xu Xianrong was naturally a part of this big family, so as soon as she walked into Xu Family Stream, someone spotted her. It was an old man, looking about seventy years old, but he moved swiftly.

"Xianrong! You’re finally back! It’s been a month, everyone’s been frantically looking for you two. And Mr. Lin, if you’re going to travel far, at least inform the family, leaving so quietly for so long makes everyone worry," the old man nagged nonstop.

Xu Xianrong gave a bitter smile and said to the old man, "Mr. Su, please stop nagging. We left in a hurry and didn’t have the time to tell anyone."

"I guessed so. With so many things happening in our valley recently, everybody’s spirits have been low, and you disappearing just added to the worries!"

With that, Mr. Su said, "Alright, hurry to your big brother’s, I’ll tell everyone you’re back, so they won’t worry about you two."

Lin Tian also made a gesture of thanks to Mr. Su and said, "Thank you for your trouble."

Mr. Su walked away without looking back. Watching his hurried figure, Lin Tian said, "I’m growing more fond of this place. It’s like a peaceful paradise with fertile farmland, beautiful ponds, mulberry trees, and bamboo. Much quieter than the outside world."

Xu Xianrong also smiled and said, "I like it here too. I only need to focus on cultivating."

The two continued towards home, greeting people along the way, receiving sincere concerns from young and old. Even a little girl jumped onto Lin Tian’s back, bringing warmth to him after spending a month in the cold Dragon Transformation Pool.

When they finally arrived home, a large crowd had gathered, about fifty people, both standing and seated. The seated ones were generally older, very reputable Xu Family members, with Xu Shaohui seated prominently as the Patriarch of the family.

Along with those who followed them, the crowd totaled over a hundred people.

Lin Tian and Xu Xianrong were surrounded by them as if in a three-pronged trial.

Suddenly, two figures rushed forward. Upon a closer look, it was Lin Tian’s parents.

Zhang Nianping, shorter than Lin Tian, rushed up with teary eyes and embraced him tightly, as if to melt him into her own body, fearing he might disappear again at any moment.

Lin Hao, being a man, didn’t easily express his emotions like Zhang Nianping, but he stood by Lin Tian’s side, gently patting his shoulder without saying a word. Yet Lin Tian could see his moist eyes, the extra white hairs, and the wrinkles around his eyes.

In an instant, Lin Tian dropped the two snake eggs he had been holding and wrapped his arms around his parents, whispering softly in their ears, "It’s all right now, I’m back."

Zhang Nianping, just an ordinary rural woman, cherished her son the most in her life. She knew the pressure her son bore, which led him to bring the whole family to this idyllic place. But over the past year, their time together had been scarce, and she hadn’t expected that even in such a place, her son could be missing for over a month.

This made Zhang Nianping lose quite a bit of weight, with dark circles and pale lips that foretold her falling ill if Lin Tian hadn’t returned soon.

Zhang Nianping, clinging to Lin Tian with tears streaming down her face, replied as she heard him say he was back, "It’s good you’re back. I don’t want anything else, just for you to be safe and sound."

Over a hundred people in Xu Family Stream watched the family reunion, no one spoke, and some found their eyes moist as they watched.

In recent months, not a single cheerful event had occurred in Xu Family Stream, with everyone submerged in sadness. Witnessing the reunion touched a chord in their hearts again.

"Alright, alright, son still has important matters. Let this suffice," Lin Hao said, feeling slightly embarrassed as so many eyes were on him.

Zhang Nianping wasn’t happy to hear this and said with a rasping voice, "What do I care about important matters, my son’s been gone so long, what’s wrong with talking more with him? Look how thin he’s become, his clothes are all wrinkled and torn, and he smells, he must have suffered a lot."

Lin Hao, getting anxious, whispered in Zhang Nianping’s ear, "Everyone’s watching us, you know."

Only then did Zhang Nianping realize she’d been carried away by her joy over her son’s return.

"Son, if you have things to say, go ahead, and after, go see Shishi and the others, they’ve had a tough time with you gone so long," Zhang Nianping said softly.

"Don’t worry, Mom."

Lin Tian actually looked around, but didn’t spot Bai Shishi and the others, they were likely inside waiting. With so many people in the courtyard, they couldn’t just rush over and embrace him like his parents.

After exchanging a few more words with Lin Tian, Zhang Nianping and Lin Hao went to sit in chairs aside. They too wanted to hear what their son had been up to during this month-long disappearance.

Especially Zhang Nianping, who had just smelled a unique fragrance on her son, the same as on Xu Xianrong. This man and woman disappearing for so long, could it be...