Chapter 78

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Chapter 78: Alone in a Strange Land as a Stranger

On New Year’s Eve, heavy snow fell.

When the clock struck the hour of the monkey, Wang Chen entered the kitchen to start preparing the New Year’s Eve dinner.

He first steamed half a pot of white rice, then stir-fried a dish of cured meat with dried tofu and braised winter bamboo shoots. Next, he prepared a large bowl of egg drop soup, and finally, he brought to the table a jar of stewed magical beast meat that had been simmering for hours.

Three dishes, one soup, and a bowl of rice.

It wasn’t a lavish feast, but it provided some comfort to Wang Chen’s lonely heart.

He had been in this world for less than a year, yet it felt as though a century had passed.

Memories of his past life were fading, buried deep within his heart.

But today was a special day.

In his previous life, during every Spring Festival, no matter where he was, Wang Chen would return to his parents’ side to celebrate the New Year with his family.

On New Year’s Eve, his mother would always showcase her culinary skills, preparing a table full of mouthwatering dishes that made one’s mouth water.

There were big yellow fish, braised big bone ribs, steamed lobsters, and salt-baked three-yellow chicken…

And, of course, the indispensable pork and cabbage dumplings!

The family would gather around the dining table, enjoying the sounds of firecrackers popping outside, feasting together.

At this time, his father would bring out his treasured Moutai liquor and share a toast with Wang Chen.

His younger sister, who usually loved to argue with him, would become unusually sweet—

Provided that the red envelope Wang Chen gave her was thick enough.

As for his younger brother…

Hmm, he couldn’t quite recall.

Now, Wang Chen could only eat alone, accompanied by solitude.

If loneliness were measured on a scale from one to ten,

Eating a New Year’s Eve dinner alone in a different world would surely rank near the top.

He finished every last morsel of the meal, not wasting a single grain of rice.

After finishing this quiet New Year’s Eve dinner, the snow outside had stopped.

Wang Chen cleaned up the dishes and took a broom to sweep away all the accumulated snow in the yard and on the roof.

That night, he had no thoughts of practicing at all.

Sitting on the roof, Wang Chen gazed at the fireworks blooming in the distant sky.

They were the magical fireworks set off by wealthy families in Yunshan City to celebrate the New Year, visible even from miles away.

So beautiful.

Yet, Wang Chen only felt an even deeper loneliness.

Alone in a foreign land, a stranger among strangers.

Without profound personal experiences, one cannot truly grasp the essence of this verse.

Suddenly, a Paper Crane fluttered into his view.

Wang Chen was momentarily stunned, then reached out to catch the Paper Crane and unfolded it.

To his surprise, the letter was written by Wei Lian.

In the letter, the young girl mentioned that she and Wei Xiong were doing well at the Xie residence.

The siblings had originally planned to visit Wang Chen before the New Year.

However, due to the strict rules of the residence and their status as newcomers who couldn’t easily leave, they asked for the Immortal Master’s understanding.

Wei Lian had entrusted a fellow cultivator she met at the residence to deliver this letter.

She wished Wang Chen a prosperous New Year and hoped he would advance his cultivation level in the coming year!

After reading the letter, a warm feeling spread through Wang Chen’s heart.

Knowing that someone was thinking of him, the sense of loneliness was instantly dispelled, and his mood brightened.

He carefully folded the letter, gazed at the fireworks for a while longer,

Then prepared to head down and rest.

Just then, bursts of laughter reached Wang Chen’s ears.

He couldn’t help but turn toward the sound.

There, in Old Sun’s spirit fields, a group of children were running and playing.

Wandering child spirits, and gray-eyed thieves!

This wasn’t Wang Chen’s first encounter with wandering child spirits.

The last time, when he joined the night watchers team, he had been ambushed by gray-eyed thieves during a patrol. After a fierce battle, while retreating, he had come across several wandering child spirits.

Among all the Evil Spirits, wandering child spirits were considered the least harmful.

As long as one didn’t deliberately provoke them, they usually wouldn’t harm anyone.

But the appearance of wandering child spirits often hinted at a greater danger lurking nearby!

Wang Chen remembered that after seeing the wandering child spirits last time, he had been ambushed by a Scarecrow possessed by an Evil Spirit.

He had nearly fallen into an irreversible situation.

And this time, there were more than a dozen wandering child spirits!

Wang Chen instinctively reached for an Exorcism Talisman and gripped it tightly in his hand.

Most of his Exorcism Talismans were spoils from battles, and he currently had about twenty or thirty of them.

Yet, faced with strange Evil Spirits, no matter how many talismans he had, it didn’t provide much sense of security.

Fortunately, these wandering child spirits were merely chasing and playing, and they soon left Old Sun’s spirit fields.

Disappearing into the vast wilderness,

The sense of crisis in Wang Chen’s heart also dissipated.

He exhaled deeply.

Upon returning to the hidden chamber to rest, Wang Chen sealed all the tunnels, including the vent.

The underground space he had excavated was sufficiently large.

Even if sealed for several days and nights, there would still be enough air to breathe.

That night, Wang Chen’s sleep was restless.

He was plagued by dreams.

He dreamt of his Family.

Strangely, Wang Chen also dreamt of Wang Shaoyuan.

The original owner’s father stood amidst the clouds and mist, casting a profoundly complex gaze towards him.

Then, he silently faded away.

When Wang Chen awoke from the dream, it was already the next morning.

He remembered the dreams vividly.

It is said that cultivators rarely dream, and the higher their cultivation level, the less likely they are to dream.

If they do dream, it must be a sign that their heart senses something!

But Wang Chen was different; he often dreamed.

He even dreamt multiple times of still playing mobile games.

What a lingering resentment.

Opening the passage back to the surface, after washing up and having breakfast, Wang Chen took the spiritual tea gift set he had bought in Yunshan City and went to Old Master Sun’s house to pay a New Year’s visit.

The old man had a very amiable character and was always generous in guiding the younger generation.

Wang Chen had benefited greatly from him, so it was only proper to pay a visit for the New Year.

Seeing Wang Chen come to visit, Old Master Sun was very pleased and instructed his Family to bring out a platter of fruits and snacks to treat him.

Wang Chen took out the spirit fragment red envelopes he had prepared in advance and distributed them to the little ones in Old Master Sun’s family.

After the cheerful exchange, Old Master Sun said to Wang Chen, “After this New Year, I will no longer be the local head.”

Wang Chen was taken aback: “Then who will take over?”

Old Master Sun pointed upward: “Not just me, most of the Wei Hall will need to change to new local heads.”

He sighed, “I don’t know what the higher-ups are thinking. Starting this year, they want to increase the rent for the fields by half a portion!”

Wang Chen spoke in a deep voice: “Is the rumor true?”

“It’s true.”

Old Master Sun said with a bitter smile: “Not only is the rent increasing, but now the rice seeds also have to be bought with spirit stones.”

Damn it!

Wang Chen nearly cursed out loud.

The white jade spiritual rice planted by the outer sect spiritual plant farmers had always been under the control of the Spirit Plant Hall.

Farmers couldn’t use their reserved grain as seeds.

In the past, these rice seeds were distributed free of charge by the Spirit Plant Hall according to the acreage.

Now, not only did the rent increase, but they also had to spend spirit stones to buy seeds. This was simply ruthless exploitation, squeezing the blood and flesh of the low-level cultivators little by little!

Wang Chen couldn’t help but have serious doubts about the sect’s actions.

Such fishing in a dried-up pond.

What benefit does it bring to the Yunyang Sect?

It felt like the upper class was impatiently preparing for something!

Perhaps he really needed to consider.

Preparing a way out for himself.