Chapter 85: Home

The door opened, and a man in his early fifties walked in. He wasn't old; only a few strands of white graced his temples, while most of his hair remained black. He carried a gentle, refined air.

Behind him was a woman nearing fifty. Her kind eyes and gentle demeanor immediately suggested a very amiable person, but at the moment, she wore a worried expression.

They were Chu Feng's parents, Chu Zhiyuan and Wang Jing.

"I wonder where Xiaofeng is; I'm really worried," Wang Jing said. As soon as she returned home, she pulled out her communicator, ready to contact him. Over the past two days, various regions had suddenly become restless. Mutated beasts had begun to invade villages, causing numerous bloody incidents, which had truly frightened her.

"Xiaofeng said he's returning by car with others, and there are superhumans on board, so he should be fine. Don't worry," Chu Zhiyuan reassured his wife, maintaining a calmer demeanor.

"Mom, Dad!" Wang Jing startled and looked towards the living room, just in time to see Chu Feng walking towards the entrance. The worry on her face vanished instantly, replaced by immense joy.

"Xiaofeng, you're back!" Even though Chu Feng was grown, he was still her child in her eyes. She quickly went to him, grasping his arm and looking him over from side to side, her face beaming with smiles. She had been incredibly anxious these past days, fearing Chu Feng might be in danger.

"It's good that you're back!" Chu Zhiyuan was also delighted.

"You child, why didn't you tell us you were back?" Wang Jing chided him.

"Didn't I want to surprise you?" Chu Feng said with a smile.

Too much had happened recently. Many families couldn't reunite because the world's changes had disrupted roads in numerous areas. Now that their family could reunite, they were naturally overjoyed.

"Tell Mom what you want to eat, and I'll make it for you," Wang Jing said. Her smile hadn't faded since she saw Chu Feng return.

"I want to eat... beef!" Chu Feng said, having been thinking about it. Finally back in Shuntian, he no longer had to feel any reservations after his recent experiences.

"It's not easy to buy, but it's okay; I'll ask your dad to check with his contacts," Wang Jing said.

Chu Zhiyuan nodded, about to leave.

"Dad, Mom, there's no need; I've already bought some," Chu Feng quickly interjected. He had been concerned about this very issue. After the world changed, normal food supplies were fine, but some items, like beef, were slightly scarce. The roads to the northern grasslands were cut off, making transportation difficult.

Chu Feng opened the refrigerator and took out several large cuts of fresh meat.

"So much! How did you get it?" His parents asked, surprised. Such goods were extremely scarce; even with money, it wasn't easy to buy them.

"I bought it on the way back, as I was worried about the supply shortage in Shuntian," Chu Feng smiled.

"They sold beef on the road?"

"A cow mutated and was injuring people everywhere," Chu Feng explained. "It was killed by a passing superhuman and processed and sold on the spot." It was indeed a troublesome cow; after mutating, it didn't eat human flesh but wildly attacked people. When Chu Feng found it on the road, it was in a frenzy, almost destroying an entire village. Chu Feng couldn't tell them the whole truth, fearing it would cause them more worry.

This meal was a true beef feast: braised beef, boiled beef, stir-fried beef, stewed beef...

"Son, did something happen to you?" Wang Jing asked. "Why are you suddenly so fond of beef? Even though there's a table full of dishes, they're all basically the same kind."

"You weren't kicked by a mutated cow on your way back, were you?" Knowing his son well, Chu Zhiyuan eyed him suspiciously, wondering if Chu Feng had perhaps suffered at the hands of a mutated cow.

"You hit the nail on the head!" Chu Feng said. "I've had a real run-in with a bull recently. That big black one had hooves this big—yes, about the size of a washbasin—it nearly kicked me and even threatened me, so I had to make sure I ate well to get even."

"What? You actually had a close encounter with a mutated cow? Are you hurt anywhere? Let me see," Wang Jing asked, very worried.

"It's nothing, how could I be bullied by a cow? It didn't kick me. Mom, these dishes you made are amazing, so delicious!" Chu Feng quickly changed the subject.

"Come, have a couple of drinks with your dad; it's rare to have so many dishes today," Chu Zhiyuan said, very pleased.

"Okay!" Chu Feng quickly went to pour the wine.

"This world is truly baffling," Chu Zhiyuan said, his face flushed after a few drinks, beginning to talk about things he'd seen in the news. "Even a monkey has become a king, running wild and lawless, establishing a sect in Mount Song. It's like something out of *One Thousand and One Nights*."

"That ape isn't too bad," Wang Jing said. "At least it didn't destroy a city like that white snake did. Staying in a temple, it should be quite benign, right?"

"You don't understand," Chu Zhiyuan said. "That old monkey is very cunning and likely extremely powerful. If you really provoke it, it could probably turn the world upside down."

"How is that possible?" Wang Jing argued, believing the ape at Mount Song's Dalin Temple wasn't a malicious sort. "That ape looks so kind, with such a benevolent face; it's not a vicious creature."

"What can you tell from that?" Chu Zhiyuan said. "Creatures like monkeys can turn hostile in an instant; you can never be too careful."

"You're prejudiced," Wang Jing exposed him. "Didn't a monkey grab you when you visited Mount Song in your youth? You're still holding a grudge!"

"You're wronging me!" Chu Zhiyuan's face turned red.

Chu Feng chuckled heartily from the side.

"See, even our son is laughing at you," Wang Jing said, amused.

***

The meal lasted a long time, and the family was joyful and very happy.

"Dad, Mom, would you find it strange if you suddenly grew horns or could breathe fire someday?" Chu Feng asked naturally as the family watched TV and ate fruit.

"Wouldn't that make us monsters?"

"Exactly, I think it's more fitting to call today's superhumans 'demonic humans.'"

When Chu Feng heard this, he nearly spat out a mouthful of apple. He didn't bring up the matter of the purple-gold pine nuts afterward. He hadn't expected his parents to have such ideas and decided to research online what happens when people mutate. For example, Zhou Quan's changes were truly jaw-dropping. While others could hide their characteristics, his were impossible to conceal, becoming more startling with each occurrence, as if he feared people wouldn't know how 'overbearing' his appearance was.

"Oh, by the way, Xiaofeng, it's so good you're back," Wang Jing said, smiling as she watched TV.

"What is it?" Chu Feng asked, puzzled.

"I have a good friend whose niece is especially beautiful," Wang Jing said happily. "I saw her with my own eyes last time; she's even prettier than those celebrities. I specifically asked my friend to introduce her niece to you."

Chu Feng felt a headache coming on and quickly retreated to his room.

"Xiaofeng, I'm telling you, you can't miss this one! That girl has incredible charm," she called out. "Apparently, she's even classmates with the national goddess Jiang Luoshen and is just as good as her."

Chu Feng wiped sweat from his brow. On his first day home, he was already being set up for a blind date—he truly hadn't expected that. He knew his parents had married and had him late, nearing thirty, and were now determined to ensure he didn't follow in their footsteps, preparing everything in advance.

A moment later, Chu Feng calmed down, a smile appearing on his face. Perhaps this was what a normal person's life was like. He had felt a bit unaccustomed to it just now, but upon reflection, weren't most parents like this? What had he been experiencing lately? Learning cultivation from the Yellow Ox, battling at White Snake Ridge, killing Chen Hai, venturing into the desolate mountains, and fighting mutated beasts. Perhaps these were the things that weren't normal.

"Such a short time, yet it has completely changed my perception of the world," Chu Feng sighed softly. In the past, he hadn't believed in myths and legends, but his recent personal encounters with so many bizarre events were truly groundbreaking.

Chu Feng connected his communicator to the internet and carefully browsed various reports, wanting to understand the different symptoms after consuming exotic fruits. In general, it varied from person to person; different individuals showed different reactions.

That night, the sky was filled with brilliant stars. Chu Feng stood before the open window, practicing his special breathing technique, morning and night without fail. Tonight, he felt something special, different from before. Since his evolution, his physique had significantly improved, and his special breathing technique was gradually changing. In the mornings, it was already evident: he would be enveloped in golden light. Now, it had changed at night too. Previously, a soft glow would fall upon him, but now there were wisps of black mist, very faint, yet he could perceive them.

These black misty threads, one after another, were incredibly cold, seeping into his body.

"Oh, the effect is even better!" he exclaimed, surprised. His body felt as if it was being cleansed, chilling to the bone yet incredibly effective. His flesh became more transparent, his organs gained a luster, and his physique was slightly evolving! After finishing the breathing technique, Chu Feng found himself invigorated and incredibly comfortable. The speed of his evolution had increased! He knew this was a good sign.

"Yellow Ox, there's a big problem with the breathing technique!" Chu Feng immediately called the Yellow Ox.

The Yellow Ox was startled and used text to ask him what had happened.

"When I'm doing the special breathing technique, evil spirits are invading me, descending from the sky with black mist and burrowing into my body!"

"Moo!" The Yellow Ox's eyes widened, its expression so bizarre it looked like it had seen a ghost. Then, filled with envy and resentment, it glared at Chu Feng, grinding its teeth, almost spitting. Clearly, it was very displeased.

"Is it really evil spirits invading, or have I just broken through and surpassed you by a large margin?" Chu Feng asked, chuckling.

"Bullshit!" The Yellow Ox furiously typed out these words. After that, it ignored Chu Feng. Chu Feng tried to contact it, but the Yellow Ox decisively shut off its communicator, leaving him hanging.

"Damn ox!"