PCJ – Chapter 783 Return (Part 2)

“This rice should be just about ready for storage after drying for one more day,” Liu Qiaoye said. She picked up a grain of rice, bit down, and it gave a crisp crack.

“Mm. We could already run it through the windmill today to separate the empty grains and store it. But one more day in the sun helps it keep better,” Zhang Youping replied, using a wooden rake to spread the rice evenly so that every grain could receive sunlight.

“This year’s yield is good. Just this season’s crop is enough for a year or two. We should raise more chickens, ducks, and livestock,” Liu Qiaoye said with a smile.

“Qiaoye, our boy will definitely come back someday. Don’t worry. That rascal is out there enjoying himself. But one day he’ll grow tired and come home.” As Zhang Youping spoke, his eyes were already turning wet.

Liu Qiaoye’s eyes filled with tears. She stared blankly at the doorway. “Youping… Youping, look—am I seeing things? Is that Jiaohua? Is he… back?”

Zhang Youping turned to look. Standing at the door—who else could it be? Though he had changed since he left, to parents, no matter how their child changes, there is no mistaking them.

“Dad, Mom—I’m back!” Zhang Jiaohua, even as a cultivator in the later stage of Returning-to-Void, could never forget the bond of flesh and blood. The tears rolling from his eyes were real.

“You damned child!” Liu Qiaoye cried out and rushed forward, wrapping her arms tightly around him.

Zhang Youping also stepped forward, trembling with emotion. The three of them held each other tightly.

The news of Zhang Jiaohua’s return spread quickly through the village, and soon everyone gathered at his family’s courtyard. But before long, Chen Dianzi drove them all away. After all, the boy had been gone for so many years—his family deserved quiet time to reunite.

“Jiaohua, you should hurry to Bijiang. Jiaxin, Meiqing, and Xiaoting are all good girls. You need to make a decision. You can’t keep delaying their lives.” Liu Qiaoye scolded him as she brought up the matter.

Such good girls—she couldn’t bear to give up any of them. But she only had one son. Since it was his mess, he could deal with it.

“No hurry. I’m already back. I’ll stay with you two for a couple of days before going.” Zhang Jiaohua said, smiling.

“You still plan to go over there?” Liu Qiaoye asked, worried.

“Not right away. But don’t worry. Since I was able to return this time, even if I go back, I’ll be able to return again. Let me understand the situation on Biyun’s side first. After that, I’ll decide,” Zhang Jiaohua said.

Zhang Jiaohua spent several peaceful days with his parents in Meizi’ao before heading to Biyun City.

Inside Meishan Blessed Land

In Meiqing’s laboratory, Meiqing and Xu Xiaoting continued researching the spiritual energy generator. Though efficiency was increasing, it was getting close to its limit. Even so, the results still weren’t entirely satisfying.

“Maybe we should be content. At the very least, we solved the major crisis the Meishan Sect was facing,” Meiqing said.

“I think we don’t need to keep pushing this project either. Increasing efficiency another ten-thousandth of a percent is meaningless. Now that the crisis is resolved, this task is complete. The problem of spiritual energy ultimately depends on reconnecting the Immortal Realm. We should wait for the Gate Master to return and let him deal with this headache,” Xu Xiaoting said.

“Mhm. That guy has been gone so long… he should be back by now, right?” Meiqing murmured.

Ji Jiaxin walked in. “Elder Wei said that if the Gate Master doesn’t return within a year, we’ll have no choice but to force open the passage to the Immortal Realm.”

“Force open the passage? What if something goes wrong?” Meiqing’s expression turned serious.

“But we have no other choice now. If the Gate Master doesn’t return, morale will collapse,” Ji Jiaxin said.

“What about the thunder in the Taklamakan Desert—have we figured it out?” Meiqing asked.

Ji Jiaxin shook her head. “Not yet. Witnesses said a crack appeared in the sky, and through it they saw strange mountains—not from Earth. A bolt of lightning shot out, but disappeared instantly. Nobody saw clearly what it was.”

“Could it have been Zhang Jiaohua returning?” Xu Xiaoting asked.

“If he returned, why hasn’t he appeared?” Ji Jiaxin countered.

“If he came back, he would go to Meizi’ao first. And Meizi’ao has cut contact with us to avoid danger. If he has returned, we may not get any news. Chen Dianzi is very cautious of Meishan Sect members,” Meiqing said.

“We can’t blame Chen Dianzi. Things here are unstable. If they keep close contact with us, it may cause trouble. His caution is justified,” Ji Jiaxin said.

“Even if he is back, why hasn’t he contacted us?” Xu Xiaoting asked.

“He may want to understand the situation here first,” Meiqing answered.

“We still don’t know whether he’s back at all,” Ji Jiaxin said with a small laugh.

Bang!

Wei Chenguang slammed his palm onto the table. “Traitors! Eating inside, chewing outside!”

Signs of disunity had begun appearing among the elders of Meishan Sect. If he hadn’t been suppressing it, the sect would already have splintered. He once believed that as long as the core remained united, Meishan could withstand any threat. But now, he felt exhausted.

When Meishan was founded, many families and sects were merged into it. They never disappeared; they simply hid within. Now that the Gate Master was gone for so long, these forces had begun to build their own power bases, secretly seeking to control Meishan’s industries. Many of the core personnel originally cultivated by Zhang Jiaohua had been bought off. Only the research division remained loyal—Meiqing, Xu Xiaoting, and the researchers Zhang Jiaohua personally trained were unshakable. But most others had already chosen sides.

“Gate Master… if you don’t come back soon, I won’t be able to hold on…” Wei Chenguang whispered bitterly.

“Is that so? Just this little difficulty and you can’t hold on?” A calm voice came from the doorway. “I told you before. Even if Meishan splits apart completely, I can easily build a new one—stronger than before.”

Zhang Jiaohua walked into the room.

Wei Chenguang’s face burst into joy. “Gate Master! You’ve finally returned!”