The Path to Another World

After their playful banter, the two lay on their beds and began recounting their experiences over the years. Although Li Jun seemed successful, he had embarked on a solitary journey since his teens, when most children his age were still in school. He had found and excavated numerous ancient tombs, including those of high-ranking officials and nobles, earning a considerable sum thanks to his skills. However, according to ancestral tradition, the vast majority of this money was donated to charitable organizations to help children in impoverished areas or orphans. This profession was inherently dangerous, though not in the sense of the various traps and mechanisms within the tombs, which were child's play for Tian Jun. The real danger lay with his own companions. Several times, they had abandoned him, leaving him alone in ancient tombs while they ran away with the treasures. On several other occasions, others saw Tian Jun alone and vulnerable and tried to rob him for some extra money. However, Tian Jun was no ordinary person. Those who tried to rob him ended up losing more than they gained, with Tian Jun stealing their treasures instead. As for his companions who abandoned him, all their money disappeared one night after selling the treasures, leaving only a note from Tian Jun. Even those who fled abroad could not escape being robbed of everything.

Ye Fan recounted everything he had experienced over the past few years, including being embezzled in business and his complicated and betrayed relationship with Lin Xue. Ye Fan remained calm, while Tian Jun gritted his teeth, seemingly wanting to find everyone who had offended Ye Fan and beat them up. "Should I step in and steal everything from your friend and that so-called successful person, so they can taste what it's like?"

"No need! I've already seen through them. The fault isn't theirs, it's this greedy society's fault. What goes around comes around; Heaven will deal with them." Ye Fan said calmly, seemingly having seen through everything in the world. He had come to understand many things in the past few days, and these worldly concerns had been cast aside. The two hadn't seen each other for many years, and they always had endless topics to discuss, whether joyful or sorrowful, talking until midnight before finally falling into a deep sleep.

The next day, the two got up early and tidied up the small shop. There was nothing of value in it. They took some changes of clothes and bank cards and drove off in Tian Jun's car towards their hometown.

Looking at the city receding into the distance, I think of the years I spent in this city and the person I once thought I could walk down the aisle with. I've cried, laughed, succeeded, and failed. I can't help but feel a little sad about parting. Although there are no familiar faces here anymore, I wave goodbye. I'll come back someday.

I drove at breakneck speed, arriving at my hometown, hundreds of miles away, in just seven or eight hours. Looking at the streets, unchanged after several years, and the even more weathered old locust tree at the village entrance, I couldn't help but recall playing hide-and-seek with my friends when I was a child. Seeing the familiar yet aged faces, I thought of my own parents. For so many years, I've been so busy with my studies and career that I haven't had time to come back and see them. I wondered if they were doing well, if they were also getting old and frail. A sense of unease filled my heart, but I still smiled and warmly greeted everyone I knew. I finally understood the meaning of the ancient saying, "The closer one gets to home, the more timid one becomes."

Tian Jun also needed to go back to reunite with his family; he hadn't been home for a year or two, so he left first. Since Ye Fan's grandfather was practically a living deity in the area, performing healing, exorcisms, and rituals, Ye Fan's family wasn't exactly poor. From afar, they could see their home nestled halfway up the mountain—a two-story villa surrounded by a bamboo forest, exuding tranquility. Not far away was another small building entirely of bamboo, Ye Fan's grandfather's solitary retreat, surrounded by various varieties of chrysanthemums in full bloom, a beautiful sight, evoking a sense of idyllic seclusion.

Gently pushing open the door, he saw his parents, still busy preparing dinner, their hair already turning gray and their bodies slightly hunched. His eyes welled up with tears, his nose stung, and he choked out, "Dad, Mom, I'm back. I've come back to see you." The two, who were about to eat, were startled by his sudden voice. Seeing Ye Fan suddenly appear before them—he hadn't even returned for the New Year—they seemed unable to believe their eyes. Ye's mother's eyes reddened, and she hugged Ye Fan tightly. Ye's father, whose physique wasn't suited for cultivation, was already showing signs of aging. He stood there, unsure what to say. "It's good you're back. Haven't eaten yet? Hurry up, there's your favorite braised fish. I'll get you some rice."

"Dad, let me do it myself. I'm sorry for all these years." Ye Fan called out to his father. He had been exceptionally talented since childhood and had been cultivating Taoist arts with his grandfather. If nothing unexpected happened, he would live for at least several hundred years. However, his father had poor physique and could only be an ordinary person. One day, he would leave before him. This was the tragedy of cultivators. They would watch their loved ones leave one by one, but they were powerless to do anything about it. Thinking of this, he felt even more sorry for his parents.

"Good, good. Fan'er has finally grown up." Father Ye said with relief, wiping away his tears. For the first time in years, the family of three had a reunion dinner. Although it was just simple food, without any delicacies like abalone or bird's nest, the family ate happily and joyfully, even more excited than during the New Year.

After lunch, he sat outside with his parents and recounted everything that had happened to him over the past few years. Before, he had only vaguely glossed over everything over the phone, but now he explained it all clearly. Looking at his aging parents, he couldn't bear to lie to them. Hearing Ye Fan's story, knowing how much hardship and injustice he had suffered over the years, they felt even worse. "It's all our fault for being useless. If we were any more useful, you wouldn't have had to suffer so much," they said, blaming themselves repeatedly, which made Ye Fan feel even more distressed.

"Oh, right, Mom and Dad, I have some savings here. You can use it to buy some health supplements or something. Look how old you've gotten. I've been too careless these past few years." Ye Fan took out 20,000 yuan from his bag and handed it to his father.

“Son, what do we need your money for? Keep it for yourself. We’re getting old, and you’ll have many expenses in the future.” Mr. Ye resolutely refused to accept it. Mrs. Ye, however, snatched the 20,000 yuan from the side and complained to Mr. Ye, “What do you know? Fan’er is already quite grown up. We’ll save this money for him to find a wife later. It’s rare for him to come back this time. Tomorrow I’ll ask the matchmaker Wu next door to help Fan’er find a good girl nearby so they can meet her.”

Hearing Ye's mother's words, Ye's father slapped his thigh and said "good" repeatedly. Ye Fan was in a real bind. He had just made trouble for himself. Fortunately, he wouldn't be staying at home for long. He would have to set off to search for the ancient tomb in a few days at most.

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