Chapter 846 - 281: Father, I’m Back! (Three Updates)
"Liancheng, you finally woke up. Do you know how long you’ve slept?" The familiar voice made Mu Liancheng somewhat uncomfortable as he turned his still somewhat stiff neck.
With his movement, a figure came into his view.
However, when he clearly saw that person, his eyes suddenly contracted and he asked, "Lan Ruo, your hair..." His voice was extremely hoarse, and after speaking, he realized his throat felt like it was burning with pain.
He gasped for air, his eyes filled with shock.
He only remembered that it felt like he had taken a nap. Why was it that when he woke up, he found himself lying in an unfamiliar place, and his wife’s black hair had turned into silver strands?
Mu Liancheng’s discomfort prompted Sang Lanruo to quickly pour a cup of warm water for him.
As she gave it to him, she didn’t forget to add a Warming Supplement Pill given by Mu Qingge into the water.
The elixir melted immediately in the water, leaving no trace.
She brought the water to Mu Liancheng’s side, helped him up, and leaned him against the bedpost, "Here, drink some water first."
Mu Liancheng reached out his hand, wanting to take the cup. However, he found that his fingers were trembling uncontrollably.
Sang Lanruo felt a pang in her heart and smiled, "Let me." She carefully brought the cup to his lips, gently feeding him the water.
After drinking the cup of water, Mu Liancheng felt somewhat better, and the burning sensation in his throat gradually disappeared.
He used his trembling hand to hold Sang Lanruo’s hand, excitedly asking, "Lan Ruo, what happened? Why has your hair turned like this? I just took a nap..."
"Liancheng, you indeed just took a nap, and now that you’ve woken up, everything is fine." Sang Lanruo held Mu Liancheng’s hand tightly, restraining her tears as she spoke.
However, her answer was not enough to satisfy Mu Liancheng.
He exerted effort to recall the past, furrowing his brows. "No, that’s not right! I was clearly on the battlefield... I still remember... I fell into an ambush..."
Suddenly, his eyes widened as the scenes before his death all returned to his memory.
He was stunned and muttered in shock, "I was already dead..."
"No! You’re not dead! You’re alive now!" Sang Lanruo raised her head, looking at him, loudly declaring.
A trace of pain appeared on Mu Liancheng’s handsome features. He slowly turned his head to look at Sang Lanruo, asking in a trembling voice, "Lan Ruo, tell me, tell me what exactly happened? Why am I alive when I was clearly dead? Why has your hair turned like this? Where are we? What about the Mu Family Army? And father? Lianrong? And our Ge’er, our child, where is she now?"
A great dream upon awakening, life and death inverted.
He had too many questions in his heart.
"Liancheng, don’t worry, whatever you want to know, I’ll tell you." Sang Lanruo looked at him worriedly, afraid that he might be too agitated.
Mu Liancheng nodded, "I’m not in a hurry, I’m not in a hurry, you speak, I’ll listen."
Outside the room, the sky had already darkened, stars hung in the air, dazzling and magnificent. Mu Qingge had been standing in the courtyard, her enchanting red figure still attracting attention even in the night.
She gazed at the starry sky, silently calculating in her heart.
Now that Mu Liancheng had awakened, he would still need a few days to recover before he could withstand the pressure of the teleportation array. During this time, Mei Zizhong and the others should have arrived from the Alchemy Institute.
As promised before, they would take this opportunity to return to Linchuan for a visit, and they couldn’t go back on their word.
Mu Xuewu walked over and said to her, "Boss, you should rest for a bit, I’ll stay here and watch."
Mu Qingge shook her head, "No need, I’m not tired."
"But you should eat something." Mu Xuewu frowned.
Mu Qingge still shook her head.
After a while, she said to Mu Xuewu, "Mother hasn’t come out yet, she must be explaining everything to father. It’s been over twenty years, explaining it all could take a day and a night. Once father hears everything, he probably won’t have any energy left. So, there should be nothing else today, let’s go back and rest for now and not disturb them. Tomorrow I will come to check father’s pulse."
"Alright, we’ll follow your lead." Mu Xuewu obediently replied.
The two sisters left the courtyard together, and at that moment, in the room, Mu Liancheng listened to Sang Lanruo’s narration, and he had already fallen into a daze.
More than twenty years...
What has happened to the Mu Family because of him alone?
Old father, lonely daughter, widow!
He had no right to blame Sang Lanruo for her actions, because he could understand Sang Lanruo’s choices. None of this was her wish back then; it was all due to unforeseen circumstances.
Sang Lanruo raised her hand, touching her temple, and spoke slowly, "I owe Ge’er too much, now it’s just my hair turning white, what does it matter?"
Ge’er, his Ge’er, his flesh and blood!
Mu Liancheng’s hands, resting on the bedding, clenched slowly, his knuckles turning white from the exertion.
His posture made Sang Lanruo’s heart ache intensely, she covered Mu Liancheng’s large hands with her own, tears falling from her eyes. "Liancheng, don’t be like this. If you want to blame me, resent me, just go ahead and yell at me, alright? Your restraint is causing me great pain."
Mu Liancheng’s gaze slowly shifted.
Finally, the view from his reddened eyes landed on Sang Lanruo, "I don’t blame you, nor do I resent you. I only hate myself for falling into a trap and losing my life, which caused all these later troubles, pained my Ge’er, pained you, pained father, pained Lianrong, and pained those two children of mine I never met."
"Liancheng!" Sang Lanruo held Mu Liancheng tightly in her arms, crying, "It’s all in the past now. Can you let it go too?"
Tears flowed from Mu Liancheng’s eyes.
He is a soldier, always bleeding but never crying. But now, having come back to life, being held in his wife’s embrace, he could no longer hold it in, letting his tears fall silently.
...
The next day, morning.
Mu Qingge and Mu Xuewu came to Sang Lanruo’s courtyard together, and as they walked in, they saw Sang Lanruo coming out with reddened eyes.
Mu Qingge frowned, asking, "Did you cry all night?"
Her daughter’s tone, carrying discontent, warmed Sang Lanruo’s heart. She wasn’t foolish, she could hear her daughter’s concern. She smiled and said, "No, I just talked with your father this morning, and couldn’t help being overwhelmed by emotions."
Mu Qingge nodded slightly, the displeasure on her face dissipating somewhat.
"Mother, how is father? Can we... can we go see him?" Mu Xuewu asked worriedly.
Although she had essentially grown up beside her father over these past twenty years, her father never knew she existed as his daughter.
Sang Lanruo nodded, "He wants to see you both."
Mu Qingge and Mu Xuewu exchanged a glance and headed into the room together.
Entering the room, Mu Qingge and Mu Xuewu immediately saw Mu Liancheng sitting against the bedpost. He was dressed in a simple white robe.
Yet, even such a plain garment could highlight his fierce and gallant demeanor. His eyebrows were thick, and combined with those deep eyes, made him appear exceptionally handsome and spirited.
The two daughters examined Mu Liancheng, and Mu Liancheng was also looking at his two children.
He leaned on the bedpost to stand up, and with effort, took a step forward. After taking the first step, his handsome face was filled with excitement. He quickened his pace, arriving in front of Mu Qingge and Mu Xuewu.
"You are Ge’er, my Ge’er." Mu Liancheng looked at Mu Qingge, saying with a trembling voice.
After Mu Qingge slightly nodded her head, he gently shifted his gaze to Mu Xuewu, and choked up as he spoke: "You are... Xuewu."
"Father!" Mu Xuewu exclaimed with joy.
The call struck at Mu Liancheng’s heart. He lifted his arms and pulled his two daughters into his embrace.
This hug was fine for Mu Xuewu, but Mu Qingge felt a bit uncomfortable.
However, just in the next moment, her somewhat stiff back softened upon hearing Mu Liancheng whisper in her ear, "My Ge’er, father has let you down."
Mu Qingge felt a warm sensation rise from her chest, spreading instantly throughout her entire body. "Father!" she called, willing and without any awkwardness.
Upon hearing his children’s calls, Mu Liancheng tightened his embrace around them.
He looked towards Sang Lanruo and said to her, "Lanruo, come here."
Sang Lanruo held back her tears and walked over, joining the father and daughters in a hug.
Family reunions naturally bring joy. The joys, sorrows, hardships, wounds, and pains of the past have all gone by.
By noon, King Sang Shun arrived, and Mu Liancheng, following the protocols, knelt and offered tea to this father-in-law.
"Ge’er, how is your father’s health?" After receiving the son-in-law’s bow, King Sang Shun asked Mu Qingge.
Mu Qingge smiled faintly, "Grandfather, rest assured, my father’s health is no longer a concern. It’s just that he has only just awakened and needs to be carefully nourished."
"Good." King Sang Shun nodded and sighed, "Now that your father has awakened, shouldn’t you return to Linchuan to visit your grandfather?"
"Father..." Sang Lanruo approached King Sang Shun, hesitating to speak.
King Sang Shun, however, laughed and said, "The daughter who marries is like water that’s been poured out. I’ve taken care of you for so many years; you should return to your husband’s family."
"Father." Mu Liancheng also felt a bit ashamed, yet didn’t know what to say.
King Sang Shun waved his hand and said, "There’s no need to worry about me. If I weren’t the head of the Sang Family, I would also want to go back with you to meet my in-laws. Go on, go back."
...
Over half a month later, Mu Liancheng’s health recovery exceeded Mu Qingge’s expectations.
Because of Mu Liancheng’s eagerness to return to his homeland, Mu Qingge couldn’t wait for Mei Zizhong and the others. She had to leave enough Spirit Stones at the Sang Family, so they could take them when they came and returned to Linchuan. At the same time, she left a message, telling them to meet again in Linchuan.
Through the teleportation array of the Ancient Witch Country, Mu Qingge and her family of four returned to Linchuan.
Without delay, Mu Qingge summoned the colorful bird and directly flew with her family back to Qin Country.
When the city walls of Luodu appeared before Mu Liancheng and Sang Lanruo’s eyes, a feeling of being apart for a lifetime emerged in their hearts.
"We’re home! I never thought I, Mu Liancheng, would ever return here in my lifetime." Mu Liancheng lamented, holding Sang Lanruo’s hand tightly.
The husband and wife stood shoulder to shoulder.
After retracting the colorful bird, Mu Qingge stood beside them with Mu Xuewu.
Removing her earrings, Mu Qingge restored her female form.
She said to her parents, "Let’s go."
Mu Liancheng nodded almost imperceptibly and took a step toward the city walls of Luodu.
Every step he took was steady, and he did not want to miss any of the scenery around him. Some of these scenes overlapped with his memories, but some were completely unfamiliar, evidently added later.
Qin Country had already become a second-class country.
In recent years, Luodu had expanded in size, and the markets were more prosperous.
As soon as Mu Qingge and her group reached the foot of the city, the soldiers guarding the city recognized her instantly, shouting excitedly, "It’s the Little Lord! The Little Lord has returned!"
Immediately, the soldiers who heard the news lined up in two rows to clear a path for Mu Qingge.
Together with the townspeople entering and leaving the city, they chanted, "Welcome the Little Lord back to the capital—!"
"Welcome the Little Lord back to the capital—!"
This scene, Mu Xuewu had seen once before and was naturally not surprised. However, it stunned Mu Liancheng and Sang Lanruo. They did not know that Mu Qingge held such status and had such strong popular support in the hearts of Qin Country’s soldiers and people.
"Ge’er, isn’t this too ostentatious?" Past experiences still vividly lingered in his mind. Mu Liancheng looked at Mu Qingge with concern.
Mu Qingge, however, smiled unconcernedly and said to him, "Father, rest assured, times have changed. Now, no one in Qin Country, or all of Linchuan, dares to have any designs on our Mu Family."
Because the Mu Mansion had this Mu Little Lord!
Mu Qingge’s response surprised Mu Liancheng. Sang Lanruo had heard a little from Mu Xuewu, but because of Mu Qingge’s experiences in Linchuan, she didn’t explain in detail to Mu Liancheng.
Mu Qingge did not elaborate further, but merely said, "However, to avoid trouble, we should go directly to the Mu Mansion."
With that, a golden light rose around her, enveloping the three of them, and they instantly disappeared, leaving the people and soldiers on the ground shocked.
When they reappeared, the four of them were already standing inside the Mu Mansion.
In front of them was the courtyard where Mu Xiong now resided.
Mu Qingge explained, "I know Father is eager to see Grandpa, so we came straight here."
As soon as she finished speaking, they heard the conversation between grandfather and grandson behind the moon gate.
"Grandpa, did you overwater this? The leaves are all drooping and listless," said Mu Yichen, who had voluntarily stayed in Linchuan to accompany Mu Xiong.
"You brat, it’s obviously because it’s lacking water that it’s drooping," came Mu Xiong’s voice in response.
Hearing this deeply familiar voice, Mu Liancheng trembled, suddenly knelt to the ground, and shouted toward the moon gate, "Father, your unfilial son Liancheng is back!"
Inside the door, Mu Xiong froze, the small trowel in his hand slipping to the ground, his eyes widening with disbelief...