PDLP Chapter 2: Returning from Tribulation, but Home Gone?
Chapter 2: Returning from Tribulation, but Home Gone?
A streak of silvery light pierced the sky and crashed straight into the green belt of the old residential area.
The grass blades were tossed about by the strong wind.
Lu Jingchen landed steadily behind the bushes and casually put away the spirit sword at his feet.
He glanced down at the flowing cloud-patterned robe he was wearing.
As her clothes fluttered, the subtle gold thread patterns shimmered with a faint, ethereal light.
The Gecang Yuan Realm is a top-tier defensive treasure that cultivators across the entire realm would fight tooth and nail for.
But in this place, it's definitely a conspicuous bag.
"If I go out in this outfit, won't passersby think I'm a cosplayer and surround me to take pictures?"
He shook his head and muttered to himself.
With a gentle wave of his hand, a flash of inspiration passed through his fingertips.
The long robe on his body instantly emitted a soft white light.
Upon closer inspection, she had changed into a clean casual sweatshirt and jeans.
They were no different from any other young people on the street.
He brushed the grass clippings off his clothes and stepped out of the bushes.
He hadn't walked far when he stopped in front of a familiar residential building.
Much of the paint on the building's walls has peeled off, but it still looks the same as I remember.
He looked up, his gaze fixed on the fourth floor.
That window, etched into our very bones, is right there.
He took a deep breath, suppressing the surging emotions in his heart.
"This is it."
He muttered something under his breath and quickly walked towards the stairwell.
Two steps at a time, and in just a few seconds I was up on the fourth floor.
He stood in front of room 402 and slowly raised his hand.
My fingertips trembled uncontrollably.
It would be a lie to say I'm not worried.
A full ten thousand years.
I wonder if my mom has a full head of white hair.
That little girl who always followed him around calling him "brother," has she grown up to his shoulder height by now?
He composed himself and raised his hand to knock on the door.
dong dong dong.
The three soft sounds were particularly clear in the quiet corridor.
A few seconds later, footsteps could be heard from inside the door.
With a click, the door was pulled open a crack.
A strange woman peeked out, her face full of vigilance.
"Who is it? Who are you looking for?"
The woman's voice was wary as she looked him up and down.
Lu Jingchen froze on the spot, his mind going blank for a moment.
"You... who are you?"
He spoke instinctively, completely stunned.
This face is completely unfamiliar.
It wasn't at all what he remembered from ten thousand years ago.
He instinctively took a step back and stared intently at the house number.
The red background and white lettering of Building B10, Room 402, were clearly visible; I couldn't have misread it.
"Excuse me, I'm asking you something."
"This is indeed apartment 402 in building B10, right?"
He suppressed the panic in his heart and asked.
The woman nodded, still looking wary.
"Yes, that's right. Who are you looking for?"
"This... should be Xiao Mei and Lu Qingyuan's home, right?"
"I am Xiao Mei's son."
He took half a step forward, his voice filled with barely suppressed urgency.
After listening, the woman looked him up and down again before finally realizing what he meant.
"Oh, you mean the previous homeowner?"
Previous homeowner?
These five words struck Lu Jingchen like a thunderbolt.
"The previous homeowner? What do you mean?"
His questioning tone was trembling.
"Her name is indeed Xiao Mei, but she sold this house to me a long time ago."
The woman spoke in a flat tone, as if it were nothing more than a passing breeze.
Sold?
Lu Jingchen froze on the spot, as if struck by lightning.
My mind went blank, and it was buzzing.
He had endured ten thousand years in the Cangyuan Realm, longing for his home.
That's all?
"Yes, it's been sold for quite a while now."
"If there's nothing else, I'll close the shop."
Seeing his distraught appearance, the woman didn't ask any further questions.
No sooner had he finished speaking than the door slammed shut with a bang.
The hallway instantly fell silent.
Only Lu Jingchen remained, frozen in place.
"Home... gone?"
He muttered to himself, looking completely lost.
The immortal venerable one, who had endured nine heavenly tribulations for ten thousand years, did not even flinch.
At this moment, he could barely stand.
He walked aimlessly through the neighborhood, his mind a jumbled mess.
No, absolutely not.
This house was left behind by my father when he passed away.
My mother values this house more than her own life.
Even if the sky were to fall, she would never sell the house.
Something really bad has happened at home!
The more he thought about it, the heavier his heart became, and his brows furrowed into a knot.
Just then, the horn of an electric scooter sounded from behind.
He also has a loud voice that can be heard from a great distance.
"Hey! You young man up ahead! Wait a minute!"
Lu Jingchen was preoccupied with his mother and younger sister and didn't hear a thing.
The electric scooter twisted its throttle and chased after him, screeching to a halt beside him.
The man on the bicycle took off his helmet, looked up at him, and looked surprised.
"Are you Lu Jingchen?"
The man's voice was filled with disbelief.
Lu Jingchen turned his head and looked at the man.
After looking at it for two seconds, a look of surprise appeared on his face.
"You are... Teacher Qin?"
He spoke instinctively, and the corresponding memories instantly surfaced in his mind.
This is his high school homeroom teacher, Ms. Qin.
The man propped up his electric scooter, walked up to him, and circled him once.
He stared at me with a wide, scrutinizing gaze, as if I were a rare animal.
"You're something else, kid. It's only been a few months, but you're like a completely different person."
"His demeanor is completely different; I almost didn't recognize him."
The man said with a smile.
Lu Jingchen's heart skipped a beat.
Several months?
So I've been grinding in the Cangyuan Realm for a full ten thousand years.
On Earth, only a few months have passed?
This time flow is just too outrageous!
"Oh, right, that's exactly what I was going to ask you."
"Where have you been all these past few months?"
"The person suddenly vanished as if they'd evaporated from the face of the earth, without a trace."
"Your mother and sister are frantic. They've called the police multiple times, but they haven't found a single clue."
The man frowned, his voice full of worry.
Lu Jingchen tugged at the corners of his mouth, revealing a bitter smile.
"Something...unexpected happened."
You can't exactly say, "I was struck by lightning and went to cultivate immortality, and I just came back after ten thousand years," can you?
If I said that, wouldn't I be arrested as a mental patient?
"Ugh, you're such a worry."
"What a pity! Your grades were consistently among the top three in the whole school."
"He was definitely a promising candidate for a top-tier university, but then he suddenly disappeared."
The man sighed and patted him on the shoulder.
"But it's good that you're back just in time."
"I can still make it to this year's college entrance exam."
college entrance examination?
Lu Jingchen froze on the spot, pointing at himself with disbelief on his face.
"The college entrance exam? Me?"
isn't it?
I am the only Tribulation Transcending Great Power in the entire Cangyuan Realm.
The entire world must respectfully address him as Supreme Lord Lu.
With a wave of the hand, mountains can crumble and the earth can split; with an open eye, one can see through the stars.
The first thing I'll do when I get back is take the college entrance exam?
If this gets out, all the cultivators in the Cangyuan Realm will laugh their heads off!
"Yes, the college entrance exam."
"Even though you've missed several months of classes, you have a solid foundation."
"It's very quick to pick it up."
The man nodded, speaking as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
Lu Jingchen's lips twitched, his face showing utter despair.
"Teacher Qin, you said... I still have to take the college entrance exam?"
He checked again, hoping he had misheard.
"What else can you do? At your age, what else are you going to do besides take the college entrance exam?"
The man rolled his eyes at him, speaking with an air of self-righteousness.
Lu Jingchen cleared his throat and tentatively asked a question.
"Um, teacher, how long until the college entrance exam?"
The man glanced at his watch and answered casually.
"There aren't many days left, at most half a month."
More than half a month?
Lu Jingchen's lips twitched even more violently.
So, I, a celestial being who has lived for ten thousand years, have to prepare for the college entrance examination in just over half a month?
Who wrote this script? It's outrageous!
But the next second, he instantly came to his senses.
The college entrance exam is a minor matter.
The most important thing now is to find my mom and sister!
He suddenly took half a step forward, his tone full of urgency.
"By the way, teacher! Do you know about my mom and my sister?"
"I just got home, and the house has already been sold!"
After listening, the man frowned and thought about it carefully.
"Well... I'm not entirely clear on the specifics either."
"But isn't your younger sister, Lu Qingyuan, in Class 1, Grade 11 at our school?"
"I have her homeroom teacher's phone number, I'll ask her for you."
As the man spoke, he took out his phone and started scrolling through his contacts.
Lu Jingchen's eyes were fixed on the phone in his hand.
They even held their breath, afraid of missing a single word.
Within seconds, the call was made.
"Hello, Teacher Liu, this is Zhang Weiguo."
"Yes, I wanted to ask you something. How's Lu Qingyuan from your class doing lately?"
"Um... um... okay, I understand, thank you."
The call ended after only a few words.
The man put away his phone and looked up at Lu Jingchen.
"I found out."
"Where are they now?!"
Lu Jingchen stepped forward, his urgency almost overflowing.
"They said there was an emergency at home, and they had to sell the house to make ends meet."
"Your sister is now renting an apartment in the Xueyuan Apartment complex outside the school."
"I'll go to school while taking care of your mother."
The man pointed in the distance and spoke.
Hearing this, Lu Jingchen's heart, which had been hanging in suspense, finally settled down.
Fortunately.
Thankfully, they are all alright.
As long as everyone is safe, everything is negotiable.
He bowed respectfully to the man.
"Thank you so much, teacher. I will remember this kindness."
This gesture of respect carried the unique air of an immortal venerable being.
The man paused for a moment, then quickly waved his hand.
"Don't be so polite with me, it's only right."
Lu Jingchen turned around and started walking towards the Xueyuan Apartment.
"Hey! Wait a minute!"
The man suddenly called out to him.
Lu Jingchen stopped and turned to look at him.
"Hey kid, stop looking for your family."
"Remember to register at school tomorrow!"
The man rode up on his electric scooter and shouted at him.
"I'll have your teachers arrange extra lessons for you!"
Tutoring?
Lu Jingchen froze on the spot, looking utterly hopeless.
The college entrance exam is one thing, but now they have to take extra classes?
I've lived for ten thousand years, and I've seen all sorts of storms and waves.
Unexpectedly, I failed because of the college entrance examination and tutoring.
This is truly a case of overwhelming force.
He shook his head helplessly and looked up in the direction of Xueyuan Apartment.
His gaze instantly sharpened, filled with an undeniable determination.
Mom, little sister.
I am back.
This time, I'm here.
No one will let you suffer even the slightest grievance again.
Even if the sky falls, I'll hold it up.
He took a deep breath and started walking.
He transformed into a blur and sprinted towards the Xueyuan Apartment.