Chapter 120: Returning Home

Qingshan Village, before her eyes, was the place that had haunted her dreams for so long.

Over three years had passed, yet everything seemed exactly as she remembered: the faint mist still draped over the base of the verdant mountains, the stone houses still stood in orderly rows, and the villagers remained as simple and honest as ever. Gu Weiyu stood atop the Qing Tuan, gazing down, unable to collect her thoughts for a long time.

After a while, she parted her red lips, her voice trembling slightly. "Qing Tuan, let's go down!"

It was the moment of sunrise. The warm light cast scattered radiance upon the world, bathing all things in its glow. The thin, smoke-like mist gradually dispersed, as if lifting a mysterious veil from Qingshan Village and revealing its true countenance.

Among the stone houses, early-rising villagers were already active. The strong young men were diligently exercising, while the young wives, maidens, and elderly women had already begun cooking and washing clothes. Inside the stone dwellings, more and more people rubbed their sleepy eyes, climbed out of bed, and started their daily chores. Thin wisps of cooking smoke rose from the rooftops, and by the murmuring stream outside the village, groups of women stood with wooden basins, each finding their preferred stone to wash their garments.

Everything was so vivid and beautiful, so peaceful and serene.

She drifted down quietly to the village gate, restraining her surging emotions as she walked inside.

"This young lady..."

She had only taken a few steps when she encountered a villager, who couldn't help but ask upon seeing her. Though only three years had passed, a girl changes with every passing year, and Gu Weiyu had transformed from a little girl into an elegant and charming young maiden.

"Auntie Ah Hua, it's me, Ah Yu!" Gu Weiyu greeted the young woman with a beaming smile.

Ah Hua was startled. She scrutinized Gu Weiyu carefully, then suddenly slapped her thigh. "Oh my! It’s Ah Yu! So, Ah Yu has returned!"

Though Gu Weiyu had grown taller and more slender, her face retained much of her childhood appearance, and Auntie Ah Hua recognized her quickly. Moreover, Ah Hua had a remarkably loud voice; once she realized who it was, she began to shout with irrepressible excitement.

Qingshan Village was not large, and the early morning was a quiet time. Ah Hua's voice echoed across the village, and most of the awakened villagers heard it. Gu Weiyu’s mouth twitched—Auntie Ah Hua was still as amusing as ever. Villagers from all around came rushing over, and soon, Gu Weiyu was surrounded by the warm and enthusiastic crowd. Having been away for so long, they were all deeply concerned about her life abroad.

"Ah Yu, why have you been away for so long?"

"Indeed, it’s been so long, Ah Yu has grown into such a fine young lady..."

"Ah Yu..."

As questions and expressions of concern filled her ears, and she looked at the familiar faces before her, the joy in Gu Weiyu’s heart overflowed. She patiently answered them one by one. Finally, she saw her father, mother, and little brother, Stone, approaching. The villagers were very considerate; seeing this, they gradually dispersed to let the family reunite.

"Father, Mother, Little Stone—" Gu Weiyu’s gaze fell upon them, filled with longing.

"Ah Yu, my Ah Yu has finally returned!" Madam Qin stepped forward, taking Gu Weiyu’s hands in hers. Her voice was choked with emotion, and her eyes shimmered with tears as she looked her over, as if she could never see enough of her.

"It’s good that you’re back, it’s good that you’re back..." Gu Yun stood there with a simple, honest expression, his eyes full of concern.

Little Stone squeezed between Gu Weiyu and Madam Qin, tilting his head up. "Sister, you’re finally back! I missed you so much!"

Gu Weiyu looked at her young brother and beamed, reaching out to pat his head. "Sister missed Little Stone too!"

"Let’s go! Let’s go home!" her father, Gu Yun, finally spoke as the head of the household. The family of four walked home together.

They had been separated for so long that they seemed to have an endless stream of words and feelings to share. They sat in the house for a long time, and Gu Weiyu told them a selection of stories from her years away—focusing, of course, on the interesting and happy events. Reporting the good news but keeping the worries to oneself—is this not the common choice of the wanderer returning home?

Gu Weiyu was so happy. For three years, how long had it been since she felt such joy? With her loved ones by her side and the familiar voices she had yearned for ringing in her ears, her heart was filled with happiness. Her lips curled upward uncontrollably.

After sharing their news, Gu Weiyu took a bottle of pills from her storage ring. "Father, look at this. Do you know what this is?"

Gu Yun looked at the pills with confusion, then suddenly realized something. "Could this pill be..." Before he could finish, he grew agitated. "Ah Yu—"

"Father, take this Dragon Scale Pill, and your arm will be fine!"

Gu Weiyu nodded slightly, opened the jade bottle, and took out a round, pale green pill. Ever since she had obtained the Dragon Scale Fruit in the Wukong Secret Realm, she had spent a great deal of time refining these pills. In the end, she had successfully produced six bottles, two of which were of the highest grade. The one she held now was one of these supreme-grade pills.

Gu Yun’s lips trembled as he carefully extended his remaining right hand to take the pill. It was exquisite and translucent, marked with patterns resembling flying dragons, making it clearly distinct from ordinary pills.

"Father, hurry and take it!" Gu Weiyu urged him, seeing him stare in a daze. Madam Qin and Little Stone watched with anticipation.

Gu Yun nodded and swallowed the pill. As it entered his stomach, the medicinal power quickly dissolved and spread throughout his body. He suddenly felt a strange sensation in his left arm, which had long been devoid of feeling: first, a tingling, itchy sensation as if bitten by insects, followed by an indescribable feeling of swelling.

"Look! Father’s arm is growing back!" Little Stone clapped his hands joyfully, his eyes sparkling.

Visible to the naked eye, the empty sleeve of Gu Yun’s left arm began to fill out. Soon, the arm grew, followed by the forearm, the palm, and the fingertips. Gu Weiyu smiled faintly, while Madam Qin wept with joy, murmuring to herself, "It’s truly wonderful..."

Gu Yun stared down in a daze, as if petrified. He subconsciously clenched his fist, and the newly grown hand curled into a fist with perfect dexterity. "Haha..." Suddenly, he threw his head back and laughed like a madman. After all these years, the regret in his heart had finally been filled.

Just then, she suddenly heard a discordant voice ring out in her consciousness:

"You fool, wake up!"