The Warmth of Home

[Check Out My P4treon For +70 Extra Chapters On All My Fanfics!! And get chapters before publishing them here for free on my p4treon][https://p4treon.com/roooaaa]

===

Whoosh…

A thunderous streak of light tore through the dark sky, soaring above the mountain ranges.

"Xiao Ming, we've reached the outskirts of Wurto Town," the Blue Silver Emperor guided Lin Yongming as they flew, her voice filled with excitement.

"Good, good. We're finally home," Lin Yongming replied, his heart swelling with emotion.

As they approached Thunderstorm Village, the two of them could hardly contain their excitement. Having been away for so long, the thought of returning to their true home filled them with an indescribable joy.

After all, home is the harbor where the soul finds solace after enduring the hardships of the world.

As the last glimmer of twilight faded from the horizon, the Blue Silver Emperor kept her eyes fixed ahead.

Soon, she spotted the familiar mountains, rivers, and the flickering candlelight from the village nestled deep within the mountains. It stood there, as if timeless, right before their eyes.

"Xiao Ming, I see Thunderstorm Village!" the Blue Silver Emperor exclaimed, patting Lin Yongming's arm excitedly.

"Really? That's great!" Lin Yongming nodded with a wide smile.

"We don't need to fly so high anymore."

"Right."

A moment later, Lin Yongming's mind's eye also sensed the outline of the village.

Holding the Blue Silver Emperor, he descended smoothly and landed at the village entrance. The ground was darker, and no one was outside.

"A'Yin, we're finally here. Let's go home," Lin Yongming said, taking the Blue Silver Emperor's hand, his face beaming with joy.

"Mm!" the Blue Silver Emperor nodded firmly.

As they walked into the village, they were greeted by the familiar layout—peaceful, with fresh, pure air, completely isolated from the conflicts of the outside world.

Having grown accustomed to the bustling Tian Dou City, this secluded place felt even more refreshing and calming.

With hearts full of excitement, Lin Yongming and the Blue Silver Emperor slowly made their way to their home.

However, they noticed a new, finely built house right next to theirs.

"Whose house is this?" Lin Yongming wondered aloud. The new house was only a meter away from theirs, which was unusual in the village.

Curious, Lin Yongming and the Blue Silver Emperor opened the small gate to their courtyard. The lights inside were still on.

"Xiao Lan, what's wrong? No appetite again? Did you dream of Ming'er?"

As they approached the door, they heard Lin Chong's voice from inside.

"Yes. I've been dreaming of Ming'er coming home these past few days, and he's even taller than you now."

"Chong'ge, Ming'er has been gone for so long. Do you think something's happened to him out there?" Ying Lan's voice followed.

"Don't talk nonsense. Ming'er will be fine. But it's been over a year since he left. He should be coming back soon," Lin Chong sighed.

"Alright, let's eat," Lin Chong added.

Hearing their parents' conversation, Lin Yongming's hand trembled with emotion as he raised it to knock on the door twice.

"Coming!" Ying Lan responded absentmindedly.

"Who is it?" she asked as she opened the door.

"Mom!" Lin Yongming called out excitedly.

"Ming'er!" Ying Lan looked up, stunned, then immediately hugged him tightly. "You're finally back!"

"Yes, I'm back. I'm sorry for making you worry," Lin Yongming said softly, returning her embrace.

A series of hurried footsteps followed as Lin Chong appeared behind Ying Lan.

"Ming'er!"

"Dad," Lin Yongming greeted immediately.

"It's good that you're back. It's good that you're back," Lin Chong nodded with relief, his eyes glistening with tears as if a heavy burden had been lifted.

"Uncle, Auntie, hello!" Shortly after, Ying Lan released Lin Yongming, and the Blue Silver Emperor stepped forward.

"A'Yin is here too! Wonderful, come in, come in," Ying Lan said, pulling Lin Yongming inside and ushering them in.

"Ming'er, let me look at you. My, how have you grown so tall in just a year? I can barely reach your head now," Ying Lan exclaimed as she led Lin Yongming into the house.

"See, I told you! I dreamed that Ming'er would come back, and he'd be so tall," Ying Lan boasted to Lin Chong.

"Yes, he's even a head taller than me now," Lin Chong remarked, equally surprised.

"Uncle, Auntie, I didn't let you down, did I? Look, I've kept Xiao Ming strong and healthy," the Blue Silver Emperor chimed in, presenting Lin Yongming.

Lin Yongming scratched his head awkwardly. What did she mean by "kept him strong"? It sounded like she was talking about raising a pet.

"Yes, yes. A'Yin, you've grown taller too. You've become even more beautiful compared to a year ago," Ying Lan said, smiling warmly at the graceful and poised Blue Silver Emperor.

"It's already dark, and you've just arrived. You must be hungry. Come, let's eat," Lin Chong said to the two of them.

"Right, right. I'll cook a couple more dishes. You two must be exhausted from the journey. Sit down first," Ying Lan said, seating Lin Yongming and the Blue Silver Emperor at the table before heading to the kitchen.

"Dad, how have you and Mom been? Has anything happened in the village?" Lin Yongming asked with concern.

"Your mother and I are fine. You left us with so much money that we'll never spend it all in our lifetime. As for the village, everything's the same as always," Lin Chong replied with a smile.

"Then why is there a new house next to ours? Did some village bully move in?" Lin Yongming asked curiously.

"A village bully? Who would dare come to Thunderstorm Village now? You're a great soul master!" Lin Chong chuckled. "That house? Your mother and I built it for you."

"You're almost grown up now. It's time you had your own house."

"What? My own house?" Lin Yongming was stunned.

"Surprised, aren't you? It was completed three months ago. We did some basic decorating, but I thought you could finish it according to your own taste," Lin Chong explained.

"Dad, thank you."

"As for the rest of the decorating, since I can't see, I'll leave it to A'Yin to decide. She can decorate it however she likes," Lin Yongming said with a nod.

"Huh? Me? I don't know anything about decorating," the Blue Silver Emperor said, flustered.

"It's fine, A'Yin. Just go with what you like. Something fresh and natural, like shades of green," Lin Yongming suggested.

"Well… alright," the Blue Silver Emperor agreed reluctantly.

Lin Chong watched their interaction with amusement, understanding the unspoken dynamics between them.

"Ming'er, where have you been this past year?" Lin Chong asked with interest.

"Dad, A'Yin and I went to Tian Dou City, the capital of the Tian Dou Empire. We stayed there for over a year."

"Oh, and Dad, I brought you and Mom some clothes. A'Yin picked them out," Lin Yongming said, pulling out two sets of new clothes.

"These look expensive. Your mother and I don't need such fancy clothes," Lin Chong said, shaking his head.

"It's fine. They weren't that expensive, just a few gold soul coins," Lin Yongming said with a smile. In truth, the four sets of clothes—two for each parent—had cost over five hundred gold soul coins.

"That's right, Uncle. This is how people dress in the capital. It's the local style," the Blue Silver Emperor added.

"Well, thank you. You've put a lot of thought into this," Lin Chong said, picking up one of the men's outfits.

"A'Yin, you have a good eye. The color and fabric are excellent," Lin Chong praised as he examined the new clothes.

"I also brought some local specialties. Tomorrow, let's share them with the villagers," Lin Yongming said, pulling out dried meats, fruits, and other treats.

"Good, good. It's nice that you've learned to give back to the village. Tomorrow, your mother and I will deliver some to each household. Our village isn't that big, after all," Lin Chong said approvingly.

"Uncle, let us come with you. We have quite a bit of stuff. It's all stored in a spatial soul tool, so we can't take it all out at once. It wouldn't fit in the house," the Blue Silver Emperor explained.

"Alright," Lin Chong agreed.

Before leaving Tian Dou City, Lin Yongming and the Blue Silver Emperor had spent two whole days shopping for local specialties to bring back to the village.

"The food's ready. Eat while it's hot. A'Yin, don't just sit there. Dig in," Ying Lan said, bringing out two dishes.

"Thank you, Auntie!" the Blue Silver Emperor nodded.

"Mom, your cooking still tastes the same. It's delicious," Lin Yongming said as he ate, praising her.

"Mm!" the Blue Silver Emperor agreed enthusiastically.

"If it's good, then eat more," Ying Lan said, beaming. "Oh, what's this? Did you bring these back?"

"Yes, we bought you two sets of clothes and some local snacks," Lin Yongming explained.

"These clothes… I don't know if I can wear them," Ying Lan said hesitantly.

"Auntie, I can teach you how to wear them," the Blue Silver Emperor offered.

"I'll try them on tomorrow," Ying Lan said, examining the clothes closely.

The small house was filled with laughter and warmth as they chatted late into the night.

Ying Lan prepared beds and hot water for the two of them.

By ten o'clock, Lin Yongming was lying in bed, feeling completely at peace. The Blue Silver Emperor slept in the same room, though on a separate bed, as there were no extra bedrooms.

This was why Lin Yongming's parents had built a new house next door—they knew he was growing up and would need his own space.

The next morning, Lin Yongming and the Blue Silver Emperor went to inspect the new house.

It was indeed still mostly unfinished, more like a shell than a home. There was a master bedroom, two smaller bedrooms, and a loft.

"A'Yin, what do you think? Have you decided how to decorate it?" Lin Yongming asked after exploring the house.

"Mm, it's quite spacious. I'll decorate it according to my taste, then. Like you said, we'll paint the walls a fresh green."

"And we'll plant flowers around the yard and the house," the Blue Silver Emperor said happily.

"If you don't like it later, don't blame me."

"How could I? I'll love whatever you choose. Let's go back for breakfast," Lin Yongming said with a smile.

When they returned, breakfast was already on the table, and Lin Chong was seated.

"So, what do you think? Is it too small?" Lin Chong asked.

"Dad, A'Yin helped me look it over. It's not too small," Lin Yongming replied.

"Good. Since you're planning to give out the local specialties, let's do that after breakfast."

"Yes, you bought so much, but your father and I can't possibly eat it all," Ying Lan said, bringing over some dishes.

"No problem," Lin Yongming agreed.

Note: So far this story is published up to chapter 210 on my patreon, go check it out and remember that if we reach the goal of 60 power stones I will publish the next chapter.