Chapter 293

Chapter 293: Returning Home

Nowadays, Maple Leaf City was filled with a sense of imminent danger; essentially all shops were closed, and a murderous atmosphere pervaded the streets.

Almost all cultivators in the city who could fight had been drafted.

He, in a calm and composed manner, arrived at the Lin Family mansion.

The one in charge of guarding was a new face; upon seeing him, that person’s expression darkened, and holding a magical artifact, he stepped forward to question him.

Zhou Luo produced the identity token of the Sixth Elder.

Seeing that identity token, that person showed a look of shock, then hastily bowed respectfully: “Sixth Elder!”

Zhou Luo nodded and walked into the mansion.

Inside the Lin Family mansion, it was emptier than three years prior; besides patrol guards, almost no men were visible.

After a short while, he arrived outside Zhou Garden.

At this time, Zhou Garden still showed little change; the only possible change was that the guards at the entrance had vanished.

He reached the entrance and was about to push the door open to enter.

Kreee—

Right at that moment, a clear, crisp bird call rang out.

He lifted his head and saw that a small blue-green bird was actually perched on the eaves nearby.

This little bird had entirely blue-green feathers; a pair of sharp eyes were fixed on him, and its wispy, willow-like tail feathers shimmered with a trace of colored light.

Zhou Luo’s eyes flashed.

Qing Luan?

He released his mental strength, enveloping that blue-green little bird, and instantly sensed a vast power surging within its body.

That power was pure and flawless, carrying a hint of robust energy.

Sure enough, this was that Qing Luan egg he had placed beside Little Changqing before.

Unexpectedly, after three years, this little one had already hatched.

He smiled and pushed open the courtyard gate; a little fellow was standing at the entrance.

The little fellow tilted his head up, grinning at that bird, and continuously waved his small arms.

Beside him, a Maid was watching cautiously.

Zhou Luo suddenly appeared, instantly drawing the attention of both.

The Maid looked puzzled, apparently not recognizing Zhou Luo.

The little fellow also pouted, gazing at him in confusion.

“Who… are you?”

A childlike, milky voice came from the little fellow’s mouth, showing no sign of fear whatsoever.

Zhou Luo smiled lightly and picked him up.

“I am your father.”

Zhou Luo looked at Little Changqing in his arms and smiled joyfully.

Under his perception, spiritual energy had actually manifested inside this little guy’s body, which meant he had already started cultivation.

Little Changqing was just over three years old now, having only just entered cultivation, but he seemed to be doing quite well.

Truly worthy of his Second Grade Spiritual Roots, as his absorption of spiritual energy was much faster than usual.

Little Changqing looked up at the man before him, feeling a bit unfamiliar, yet instinctively wanting to get close.

He didn’t say a word, just watched him curiously like this.

The Maid beside them shuddered, quickly bowed and said, "Master, you have returned."

Zhou Luo smiled slightly, holding Little Changqing, and walked towards the inside.

"Little Green."

At that moment, Little Changqing called out.

The green-blue bird behind him flapped its wings and steadily landed on Zhou Luo’s shoulder, twisting its head.

Zhou Luo didn’t mind, holding the little fellow as he walked all the way to the main building.

During this time, he could also see other little children running around in the courtyard, bringing bursts of joyful laughter.

These were all the offspring he had after going to the Immortal City, and the eldest was almost ten years old now.

"Husband!"

Just then, a somewhat excited voice suddenly rang out.

Lin Yi Yi hurried over with delight from afar, and right after that, other women emerged one after another from home, coming before him.

After many years apart, Lin Yi Yi had grown from the twenty-year-old youthful maiden into a middle-aged young woman, and time had made that once lively and restless girl become more dignified and virtuous, showing a unique charm.

With the help of the beauty potion, although a trace of wrinkles appeared on the faces of these women, compared to others their age, they remained radiant and beautiful.

Before long, Lin Xi and Yao Wu, along with others, had all appeared.

Especially Yao Wu—upon seeing Zhou Luo, her eyes reddened, and she almost wished to rush over and hug him directly.

But in front of all these sisters, she could only stand to the side, silently watching him, her eyes full of affection.

"Back?"

Lin Xi, in her white long dress, looked at him with a smile.

"Stepmother," Little Changqing called out timidly.

He was not a son by direct line, and by custom, he had to respectfully address Madam Lin Xi as the official birth mother.

"Have you called Daddy?" Lin Xi looked at him gently and asked with a smile.

Little Changqing shrank his little head, then looked up at Zhou Luo and called out weakly, "Daddy."

Zhou Luo smiled, rubbing his head, and looked up at these women.

"It seems everyone has been doing well."

All the women revealed joyful smiles.

After the reunion, greetings were exchanged.

Zhou Luo led everyone to the main hall of the building and talked with them about matters outside.

Some time ago, Maple Leaf City was besieged, and these people were very uneasy.

But now Zhou Luo had returned, and they felt an inexplicable sense of assurance.

It was as if, as long as this man was present, even if the sky fell, it wouldn’t matter.

Through the account of the women, Zhou Luo also learned roughly about the current state of the Lin Family.

Summing it up in a few words: the situation was worrisome.

"What about Chang An and the others?"

At that moment, Zhou Luo suddenly realized that Xu Changsheng and the others hadn’t returned yet.

Lin Xi said worriedly, "Ever since Maple Leaf City was besieged, we haven’t received any news from them."

Zhou Luo’s gaze darkened as he said, "Have they not pulled away?"

Given how critical the war situation was presently, according to his arrangements, they should have long ago left the spiritual mine and returned to the family.

Yet that was not the case.

Lin Xi pursed her lips and spoke in a lowered voice, "The family considered that spiritual mine to be critically important, so they ordered them to continue holding their ground."

The Lin Family valued that spiritual mine so much naturally because it contained a small vein, and it was at the Second Level.

"Foolish!" Zhou Luo said with an unhappy expression.

The family was on the verge of destruction, so why guard that spiritual mine?

Lin Tian Xiong clearly intended to rely on his children’s identity as Immortal Sect disciples, gambling that the Lu Family wouldn’t intervene, or even if they did, he could seize the chance to weaken his own forces.

This scheme was too obvious, yet Xu Changsheng and the others had actually remained behind.

Zhou Luo could already imagine their difficult predicament at that moment, and it deepened his resentment toward Lin Tian Xiong.

His decision long ago had led to Lin Zhi Shou’s death, and now he was exploiting his own children again.

Once this war was over, he would make sure they paid the price.

"I will go see."

To prevent his children from coming to harm, he decided to personally head to that spiritual mine and check.

He had only stayed back for about an hour after his return before he hurriedly set off, planning to fetch his children back.

No sooner had he left than the family head Lin Tian Xiong sent someone to deliver the message asking him to come.

…

At the city gate, Zhou Luo produced his token and requested they open a gap in the spell array, intending to depart.

Seeing he was the Sixth Elder of the family, they did not obstruct him.

Meanwhile, on the city wall, the Lin Family Ancestor, who had been resting with closed eyes, looked deeply at him.

"Is he Zhou Luo?"

Watching his retreating figure fading into the distance, he asked calmly.

This Lin Family Ancestor had heard much about Zhou Luo.

Especially since he had brought honor to the Lin Family multiple times and demonstrated considerable talent in alchemy.

So when they allowed an outsider to become a family elder, he raised no objection.

To him, as long as it could strengthen the family, giving up an elder position mattered little.

If he could rescue the Lin Family, he would not even mind handing over the position of family head.

After all, the current family head had been a great disappointment.

If not for his decisions, the Lin Family wouldn’t have ended up in such dire straits.

Beside him, the respectful Lin Xuanfeng bowed his head and answered dutifully, "Yes, Ancestor."

"Wasn’t he supposed to be not in Maple Leaf City?" the Lin Family Ancestor asked.

"It is peculiar; he ought to be in the Immortal City right now," Lin Xuanfeng appeared equally baffled.

But the Lin Family Ancestor suddenly recalled that abrupt aura from earlier.

He initially thought it was a mirage, yet now it seemed likely that aura was him.

But how did he manage to enter the city with so many watchful eyes? He nearly tricked even himself.

He observed the distant figure that had slipped past the enemy’s detection, a trace of confusion forming on his aged face.