Chapter 15: Return

Night falls, yet Dragon Head Town remains brightly illuminated because the houses set ablaze are still burning. Each house is like a giant torch.

The survivors of Dragon Head Town silently gaze at their homeland turned into a sea of fire.

Crying, that is already in the past.

Sorrow prevails.

The bodies at Dragon Head Town and the dock have been cleared, each carried away by their families.

Of course, many people have been declared missing.

Missing, in some sense, is another way to say died but the body was never found.

After all, if a body falls into the water, it either sinks below or drifts downstream with the current.

Yet even so, those families who haven't found their loved ones' bodies still hold onto a shred of hope.

The Yuan Family naturally haven't found Yuan Zhaodi's body, though many believe the chances of Yuan Zhaodi surviving are slim. But the Yuan Family do not believe Yuan Zhaodi could be so ill-fated.

After all, the Yuan Family's first daughter is Yuan Zhaodi's child.

...

A tormented night, Old Yuan didn't sleep.

Mrs. Zeng also stayed awake, unable to sleep at all.

As for Mrs. Xiao Li, she held Yuan Bao in her arms, constantly praying to heaven.

Yuan Bao naturally heard what had happened.

She cannot speak now, so she can only remain silent.

However, she thinks her father shouldn't meet such a short life. After all, she is a transmigrator, blessed with great fortune, those around her are more or less blessed too.

When dawn breaks and the sun rises in the east, Old Yuan pushes open the door, calling his sons to get on with what they should do, after all, life must go on.

And just as the family, all heavy-hearted, gathers together and prepares to snatch a quick breakfast, the Yuan Family's courtyard gate is knocked.

Yuan Zhaodi has finally returned!

When the family sees Yuan Zhaodi come back all wet, they are taken aback.

"Father, Mother, Big Brother... I've returned!"

Seeing his family stunned, Yuan Zhaodi promptly speaks up.

With his words, everyone snaps out of their daze.

"Are you a person or a ghost?"

Facing Yuan Zhaodi standing at the door, Yuan Pandi suddenly asks.

Originally, the family had snapped out of shock and were overjoyed, but following Yuan Pandi's question, everyone shivers.

However, after the shiver, Yuan Pandi receives a slap on the head from his father, Old Yuan.

"What nonsense are you saying?"

"Didn't you see the shadow on the ground?"

Old Yuan gives his eldest son a slap, offering an explanation.

Shadow!

Ghosts have no shadow, but humans do.

"Fourth, you made it back!"

"Where did you go yesterday? When the Water Thieves came, where did you hide?"

"Exactly, Fourth, we went crazy looking for you yesterday!"

Confirming Yuan Zhaodi as a living person, the family all started talking, questions one after another.

Yuan Zhaodi rolled his eyes, saying: "Do you have food? I'm starving!"

Wouldn't he be hungry?

Yesterday, he escaped by diving underwater, then tracked the Water Thieves' ship, discovering they were actually imperial naval soldiers—this realization frightened Yuan Zhaodi, draining all his energy.

Then, on his way back, he truly was terrified, his energy doubly consumed.

Finally, swimming across the river, hurrying home, he was utterly exhausted.

"Yes, yes, hurry up!"

Mrs. Zeng responded anxiously.

"Husband!"

Mrs. Xiao Li now hears the commotion, emerges from inside, and upon seeing Yuan Zhaodi at the door, calls out excitedly.