Sword Heart Martial Arts Hall.

In the Jiangnan-style detached courtyard prepared specially to settle his parents, there was a Little Bridge and Flowing Water, the corridor was deep and winding, elegant and tranquil.

In the dining room, Yang Chuxue was already busy in the kitchen. For cultivators who had reached their Realm, they had long since no need to eat grains. Even when Lin Guang got greedy and wanted his wife to cook, Yang Chuxue normally wouldn’t make him any dishes. But now that their son was back after leaving Earth for thirty years, she was naturally happily bustling about.

"Looks like in my wife’s eyes, this old fellow will never compare to our son." Lin Guang walked into the kitchen, looked at the busy Yang Chuxue, and said with a hint of sourness.

"Wash your hands and come help." Yang Chuxue rolled her eyes at him and said.

Lin Guang really did roll up his sleeves and started helping wash and cut vegetables, doing some odd jobs.

This man who once held the vast Lin Family industries in his palm, the helmsman of it all, now really looked like a small family’s househusband.

"Don’t mention that matter to our son." Lin Guang busied himself plucking off some withered yellow leaves from the vegetables and said lightly.

Yang Chuxue, who was in the middle of chopping vegetables, paused for a moment, sighed, and said, "I know. Don’t always think we women have long hair and short insight. Xiao Mo left Earth for thirty years, and this time he came back without Meng Die. There’s still a knot in his heart. How would I dare bring up letting him get married and giving me a grandchild?"

"Mm." Lin Guang nodded, a trace of dimness flashing through his eyes. If this time Xia Mengdie had returned together with Lin Mo, that would truly have been perfect for everyone.

After busying herself for an entire morning, Yang Chuxue brought out a whole table of fragrant, colorful, and tasty home-cooked dishes.

Lin Mo, who had been strolling and chatting with Sima Zining in the small courtyard, also returned.

This time, there were only a few close people at home: Sima Zining, Yingzi, and Lin Guang and Yang Chuxue. People like Fang Tangjing did not come to disturb Lin Mo’s enjoyment of family time.

"Son, look, your mom’s skills haven’t gotten rusty. Your favorite stir-fry from the lotus pond, sweet and sour pork, all your favorites. Eat more." Yang Chuxue smiled very happily.

"Mm, Mom, the food you make is the best." Lin Mo also smiled.

After thirty years climbing and cultivating in the universe, never had he been as relaxed as he was now. Only when he was at home, facing his own family, could he truly let go and relax.

"Eat more." Yang Chuxue helped him pick up food.

"Mom, I know, you eat too." Lin Mo said quickly.

He hadn’t eaten food personally cooked by his mother for many years. Even someone as tough-minded as he was felt his eyes sting a little at this moment.

During the meal, the family ate while chatting. Lin Mo also talked about various interesting things and sights in the universe, leaving the others stunned again and again, unable to help but sigh over the boundless vastness of the cosmos.

As for when he had been in danger or taken risks, Lin Mo only brushed over it lightly.

After the meal, Yang Chuxue told Lin Mo and Sima Zining to go out for a walk, to stroll around. She knew the two of them hadn’t seen each other for many years and would surely want to pour out their hearts.

After Lin Mo and Sima Zining left, Yang Chuxue’s eyes reddened and she secretly wiped away her tears.

"Auntie, why are you crying?" Yingzi, who was helping Yang Chuxue clean up the dishes, exclaimed in surprise.

Yang Chuxue shook her head and said, "I know my own son. During the meal he talked about so many things, but the one thing he didn’t mention was when he was in danger. I know he doesn’t want us to worry about him. But the more he is like this, the more I know that all these years out there, he must have suffered a lot."

Yingzi pressed her lips together and nodded as well. Lin Mo was both her Master and her friend; naturally she knew what kind of person Lin Mo was.

...

Sima Zining took Lin Mo with a flicker of movement, flying out of the Nine Continents Secret Realm and arriving at a high-end villa district with elegant scenery.

"Why did you bring me here?" Lin Mo asked in puzzlement.

This was the place he used to live. It was also here that he first met Sima Zining.

"Just wandering around, chatting with you." Sima Zining said with a mischievous smile.

The two of them strolled together along the shore of a vast, misty lake in the villa district, walking shoulder to shoulder, unhurriedly, time as peaceful as water.

"After coming back this time, are you going to leave again?" Sima Zining stopped, lifted her head, and looked at Lin Mo as she asked.

Lin Mo nodded, but did not speak.

"I know. Since Sister Mengdie hasn’t come back yet, you definitely won’t stay on Earth. Although everyone avoided mentioning it during the meal, in our hearts we all understand that you feel guilty toward Sister Mengdie." Sima Zining said.

Lin Mo’s expression dimmed.

Guilt.

He did indeed feel a great deal of guilt. Back then, if Xia Mengdie hadn’t begged for medicine on his behalf, how would she have ended up leaving Earth, even becoming the Holy Daughter of the Demon Clan.

Lin Mo swore he would find her, no matter what.

"I’m guilty toward Meng Die, and I’m guilty toward you as well." Lin Mo took a deep breath, then let out a long sigh.

"You don’t need to worry about me. I won’t follow you to that so-called ’Star Sky Alliance’. I’ll stay on Earth and take care of your parents." Sima Zining said.

Lin Mo was stunned. He looked at Sima Zining and stayed silent for a long time. "Thank you."

"When you’ve brought Sister Mengdie back, all of us will live together and be reunited. If you want to be Xue Pinggui, then I’ll be Wang Baocuan, waiting for you to come home." A gentle curve appeared at the corners of Sima Zining’s lips.

The two of them held each other, the breeze light around them.

"But once I leave this time, I don’t know when I’ll be able to come back." Lin Mo said.

"I know your personality. If you were confident you could bring Sister Mengdie back, you wouldn’t return early. You came back this time because you yourself don’t know how long it will take, right? Maybe a hundred years, maybe a thousand, maybe even longer?" Sima Zining tilted her head up, her bright, spirit-filled eyes looking at him, as if she could see straight through his heart.

Lin Mo nodded. "Mm. I don’t know how long I’ll be gone this time. I might even die out there..."

"No matter how long it is, we’ll wait for you to come back. You’re a cockroach that just won’t die. Without this young lady’s permission, who allowed you to die?" Sima Zining’s willow brows arched upward as she put on an angry expression. The look made her even more adorable, as if she could melt the hardest iceberg in Lin Mo’s heart.

"Mm, I’ll come back as soon as I can. I only hope that in this life I won’t fail you." Lin Mo cupped Sima Zining’s face in his hands. Her cheek felt a little cool against his palm, and that coolness was soon dispelled by the warmth of his hands.

Their gazes met.

Lin Mo lightly touched his lips to Sima Zining’s pale forehead, like a dragonfly skimming the water.

In an instant, Sima Zining’s face flushed red, shy as a flower, her eyes full of honeyed tenderness.

"In my past life, I failed Xia Mengdie. In this life, I never want to fail anyone ever again." Lin Mo held Sima Zining in his arms and said softly.

...

After three days of reunion with his family, Lin Mo sat down together with several Masters of the Nine Continents Secret Realm.

Master Liang of the Green Dragon Martial Arts School, cultivation at High-level Star Lake.

Master Fang of the Vermilion Bird Martial Arts Hall, cultivation at Star Sea Level Early Stage.

The two Masters of the Qilin Martial Arts School, Wu Yingxi and Wu Jinfeng, both with cultivation at High-level Star Lake.