On the outskirts of Lin city, behind the Li family village, a tempestuous storm raged through the night, accompanied by flashes of lightning and roaring thunder.
The sky seemed torn apart by the thunder, as a heavily injured man descended from the heavens.
The man’s countenance seemed forged by axe and chisel, as exquisite as a celestial being, with a dragon pattern located at the center of his brows.
In that moment, the dragon pattern seemed alive, slithering gradually across his face before disappearing into his neck.
As the dragon pattern vanished, his injuries began to heal.
This eerie sight was surreal to the extreme. Fortunately, the night sky offered cover, with no one around to witness this.
By dawn the next day, the man’s injuries had completely healed, though his clothes had long since turned into ash.
He sat naked in the grass, looking everywhere in confusion, asking, "Where am I?"
Bewildered, he gradually stood up and flexed his musculature, and accompanying his movements was a crackling sound. Each of the muscles on his body started operating systematically, exuding a sense of violent aesthetics.
A moment later, he bent down to pick a handful of soil to hold it up and sniff, a surge of excitement flashed in his eyes, he exclaimed, “So familiar, this is Earth, I have succeeded!”
“The legend of the Time-Wheel is true, but I didn't expect the cost of reversing eight thousand years to be so high, my Prime Gold Robe was destroyed and the Huanglong meridians depleted.”
“However, everything is worth it!”
“The Supreme Calamity was a failure all because of the Tribulation of the Heart. Now that I have successfully reversed time, it’s the perfect solution to my Heart Tribulations!”
Excitedly, he pointed a finger at his brow and with a flicker of light, a grey shirt appeared on his body.
Zhao Qian gently stroked the shirt on his body and said nostalgically, "I've kept this set of clothes for eight thousand years." After saying these words, a tear slid down the corner of Zhao Qian's eye.
He had been framed years ago and ended up alone in this desolate place, only to accidentally cross into the realm of cultivation.
In that world where survival of the fittest was taken to the extreme, he struggled for a full eight thousand years.
In the brutal and chaotic fight, he dared not trust others, nor dare to experience love. He was always alone, even when he ranked supremely.
When he was alone, the only thing he missed was this piece of clothing; it was his connection to his parents.
For this reason, he was able to keep a trace of his kinship from being completely lost.
After putting on his clothes, Zhao Qian descended the mountain road, "Mom, Dad, your son has come back."
...
In Zhao Qian's home, his parents were leaning against the door, their eyes vacant.
Today marked the tenth day since Zhao Qian's disappearance, which was equivalent to the time Zhao Qian traveled back in time. He did not precisely correspond to the original time he had crossed, a gap of ten days.
Zhao Qian's mother tearfully murmured to herself, "Qian, where are you?"
Parent's love for their children in this world is the most selfless.
Like his wife, Zhao Qian's father was weeping, yet he was filled with disappointment.
Looking at the ground, he mournfully said: "Since you were a child, I've taught you to be a man who dares to take responsibility. Are you telling me you dare not even face it?"
"How should I, as a father, go on?"
Upon hearing this, Zhao Qian's mother glared at Zhao Qian's father, nursed her anger.
"Isn't it all because you're useless? If you hadn't voluntarily given up your inheritance back then, would our son have to go through this hardship now?"
"He should be in the capital right now, enjoying the best education, living a carefree life, instead of being humiliated here."
Zhao Qian's father let out a sigh after hearing these words.
"I chose this willingly back then, that was my promise to my father."
Zhao Qian's father didn't want to bring up the past, he could only say that it was fate.
Just then, a commotion was heard outside.
A group of people barged in.
Zhao Qian's parents looked on with a bitter look on their faces.
After this group of people burst in, many spectators appear, observing with cold eyes and occasionally laughing mockingly.
"Look, Wang Dabiao has come looking for trouble."
"I've suspected that Zhao Qian's parents have been hiding Zhao Qian. Seems I was right!"
"That Zhao Qian is a worthless piece of trash who can't stand up for himself, causing such a big disaster, and not even showing his face."
The cold and warmth of human relationships were clearly demonstrated at this moment.
Their mocking laughter was loud, as if they were using a megaphone.
As Zhao Qian's parents listened to these words, their faces turned ashen, and they had no counterarguments.
When Zhao Qian handled this kind of issue, they had already lost all their dignity.
As soon as Wang Dabiao broke into the place with his men, without uttering a word, he started smashing everything inside the room!
In an instant, pots, dishes, and utensils were shattered. Zhao Qian's parents were incredibly infuriated but were powerless as those under Wang Dabiao's command deterred them.
Upon finishing the destruction, Wang Dabiao sneered, "This is just a little interest, Zhao Qingshan, do keep in mind, if you don't hand over Zhao Qian to me, I won't let this rest for a single day!"
"But you have a daughter too, right?"
As soon as Zhao Qingshan heard these words, his facial expression drastically changed!
"Wang Dabiao, do not cross the line, this is breaking the law!"
The more desperate Zhao Qingshan became, the happier Wang Dabiao felt.
He threw his head back and laughed, "Breaking the law? In this place, Lincheng, I am the law!"
"I give you three days time, or else you can guess what will happen to your daughter!"
Upon hearing this, Zhao Qingshan's fists clenched furiously. He went into the kitchen to grab a kitchen knife, glaring fiercely at Wang Dabiao, "Wang Dabiao, don't push people too far!"
Unfortunately, this warning did not scare Wang Dabiao at all, as he directly ordered his men to seize Zhao Qingshan.
"Humph, pulling this stunt in front of me, who do you think you are?"
"Beat him until he's half-dead!"
At Wang Dabiao's command, his thugs immediately took action!
After a series of punches and kicks, Zhao Qingshan found himself on the ground, unable to rise.
Seeing that he had dealt enough damage, Wang Da Biao let out a cold laugh, “Remember this, I am giving you only three days!”
With that, Wang Da Biao turned and walked away.
No one in the crowd of onlookers, who were aloof and indifferent throughout the beating, tried to stop Wang Da Biao as if it was none of their business.
After Wang Da Biao had gone, Zhao Qian’s mother helped Zhao Qingshan to his feet. They both looked at their wrecked home, their despair was so profound that they couldn’t even find the tears to cry.
Upon returning home, Zhao Qian saw a crowd gathered at the front gate which piqued his curiosity.
Eight thousand years had passed since he left this world. Although time had left no marks on his face, his heart was worn and weary.
Seeing these familiar yet unfamiliar faces, and thinking of his parents, his joy was indescribable.
“Mom, Dad, I’m back!”
Unable to contain his excitement, Zhao Qian shouted.
His shout immediately grabbed everyone’s attention.
In the blink of an eye, the crowd's faces showed a range of reactions; some were surprised, others disgusted.
In the house, Zhao Qian’s parents were shocked as his mother said in bewilderment, “I think I heard our son’s voice!”
Zhao Qingshan, after a moment's confusion, echoed, “I think I heard it too!”
At this moment, Zhao Qian walked into the courtyard.
When they saw Zhao Qian appear alive, their faces were instantly frozen, tears couldn't stop flowing down.
They stepped forward and clung to Zhao Qian's hand. "Qian, is that really you? You're back?"
"Am I dreaming?"
At the sight of their parents' current expression, Zhao Qian recalled this longing of 8000 years, tears welled up in his eyes.
With tears streaming down his face, Zhao Qian plunged into his parents' arms and called out, "Mom and Dad!"
