Chapter 487: Regrets After a Long-Awaited Reunion

On a donkey cart loaded with hay, Adao lay comfortably, chewing on a stalk of thatch with his legs crossed, his small feet swaying along with the cart from time to time, looking quite content.

Upon nearing the city gate, the driver shouted, "We're here, we're here," and Adao flipped off the cart in one motion, bowed solemnly to thank the driver, and walked into the city.

Gazing at the large plaque above the city gate, Adao tightened the pack on his back and let out a long sigh of relief.

After a year, he had finally returned to Guyang City; he wondered how everyone was doing, whether Zhanli had taken good care of Master, and if Grandma was still in good health.

A year ago, to ask for the help of Yue Niang of Liuyunxuan, Adao had signed a hundred-year indenture, under the fine-sounding pretext: to see what was so different about a demon chosen by an ancient god.

Although he did not understand what that old demon meant, fortunately, she was quite honorable and granted Adao one month of time each year to return home for a visit.

Moreover, besides ordering Adao to help with chores, Yue Niang would also guide his cultivation when she was free; over this past year, Adao's cultivation had improved greatly, and he was still quite grateful to Yue Niang.

At the thought of seeing Master and Zhanli immediately, and being able to visit Grandma, Adao could not have been happier, his short little legs running so fast they were almost flying.

The Guyang City of the past had streets and alleys bustling with noise, but three years of hardship had left this city much colder.

Fortunately, the City Lord governed well, so Guyang City was much better off than the jurisdictions of those muddled officials outside, and it had even received commendations from the Imperial Court.

After a year of recuperation, although the people's wounds had not been entirely healed, smiles could be seen on their faces.

Adao hopped and skipped all the way until he finally reached the familiar street corner; the businesses on both sides were still there, and the familiar hawking sounds made him feel deeply attached.

The three gold characters "Youran Abode" on the newly painted door plaque made Adao's heart surge with excitement.

Master had said that gold brings wealth, so the gold characters on the newly made plaque were exceptionally large.

Just as Adao was about to shout loudly, preparing to give everyone in the house a surprise, a chaotic clattering sound suddenly erupted from inside.

Before Adao could react, a large black rat darted out of the house, followed by a broom that flew out and smashed the bluestone slab at the entrance to pieces.

That "surprise" got stuck in his throat; looking at the fear in the rat's darting little eyes, Adao's stomach actually began to growl.

He hurriedly tapped his own head—Yue Niang had said that to become a great demon, the first thing to learn was to restrain one's bestial instincts.

A mere rat actually wanted to break his cultivation; it was truly detestable!

Just as he was about to take action to deal with it, Lingxiang's resonant roar came from inside the house:

"Zhanli! How many times have I told you! You don't need to use force to catch a rat!"

The roof tiles instantly rattled with a clinking sound, and Zhanli was seen jumping out while covering his ears, his expressionless face suggesting that everything was just a daily occurrence.

Sutong also walked out from the house, tugged at Zhanli's sleeve, and was about to speak to persuade him when she turned her head and discovered the dumbstruck Adao, instantly overjoyed.

"Junior Sister, look who's here!"

Lingxiang did not seem to buy it, shouting at the top of her lungs: "Senior Sister, stop indulging him! The month has only just begun, and this kid has already smashed so many of my medicine bottles!"

As soon as she finished speaking, Lingxiang was seen walking out with a feather duster, hands on her hips, looking fierce and aggressive.

"It doesn't matter who comes today!"

Adao's eyes grew a bit moist; Lingxiang had not yet awakened when he left, and seeing her so spirited now, he could not help his emotions.

"Master!"

A little meatball sobbed and threw himself into Lingxiang's arms; Lingxiang was stunned for a moment, then happily began rubbing Adao, casting the matter of Zhanli breaking the medicine bottles to the back of her mind.

Sutong's heart finally settled, and Zhanli also let out a sigh of relief; despite his seemingly indifferent appearance, he was actually terrified.

Zhanli found it truly hard to understand why his Master, who had always been gentle before, had become like a tigress upon arriving in the mortal world.

The human world was truly not a good place...

After a long separation, there was naturally a session of warm, affectionate inquiries.

In the dead of night, while everyone was still asleep, Zhanli sat on the roof again.

A year had passed, and Zhanli still could not get used to deep sleep; every time he entered a dream, the various encounters from his childhood in the Demon Realm would turn into nightmares, choking him until he could not breathe.