Chapter 10: Returning Home

The wooden cabin came equipped with defensive capabilities, capable of withstanding attacks from cultivators no stronger than the Nascent Soul stage. It also featured various functions like invisibility and scent concealment, making it an essential magical item for cultivators lodging in the wild.

In truth, there were even finer spirit artifacts, treasures, immortality artifacts, and divine relics available, but given Mu Tong’s level of cultivation, the highest-grade item she could refine was only a top-tier magical tool. Other spirit artifacts were beyond her ability to refine, not to mention the prohibitive cost, which she simply could not afford.

This very cabin had nearly drained all her celestial crystals. Even her supply of spirit stones was running low.

Mu Tong had coveted this cabin for quite some time, and as soon as she had saved enough celestial crystals, she immediately purchased it. Two days would be sufficient for her to refine this relatively simple immortal residence, by cultivation world standards.

Mu Tong was quite pleased with this modest immortal abode. It was vastly superior to the tents and other makeshift shelters she had crafted herself. Heh, if other immortals hadn’t looked down on it, would this cabin have waited for Mu Tong to save enough money?

Having spent all her celestial crystals, Mu Tong stopped shopping and returned home. She needed to take advantage of the remaining time and refine the cabin first.

A day later, Mu Tong had finished refining the cabin. She then spent another day tending to her backyard garden, planting and harvesting various grains, vegetables, and fruits. Only when the small round light symbolizing Earth illuminated within her storage space did she finish organizing all her belongings and retire to her bedroom, entering her storage space.

With a touch on the shining small round light on the ceiling, and a blink of her eyes, Mu Tong returned to her home in the Happy Community.

Stepping out of her bedroom and glancing up at the large wall clock in the living room, she confirmed that the time was indeed as it had been when she left. Picking up her phone from the table, she saw that the date remained the same as when she had departed.

Finally, she was back!

Though time on Earth had not changed, after having lived in Hidden Immortal Town for a whole year, Mu Tong still deeply missed her parents.

The first thought that came to her mind was to call her parents. Every time she returned from Hidden Immortal Town, the first thing she did was to call her family back home.

“Tong Tong, are you well?” her mother’s warm greeting made Mu Tong feel deeply comforted and cared for. “Yes, I’m fine. How is everything at home? Are you and Dad both in good health? How are my brother, sister-in-law, and little Han?”

As she quickly asked after all her loved ones, Mu Tong smiled inwardly. In terms of Earth time, she had actually just called home yesterday, hadn’t she?

“They’re all doing well. Your brother just bought a freight truck for transportation work. He’s constantly busy hauling loads, but the profits are good, and he gets paid on time, so yes, everything is fine. Your father and I are healthy, and little Han is doing well too. Don’t worry about us too much. You shouldn’t be thinking about writing all the time—you must take care of your health…” Her mother rambled on, every word filled with genuine concern for Mu Tong.

Her daughter was quite capable. Ever since high school, she had earned her own tuition and living expenses by writing novels. Later, when she went to university in Yanjing, not only did she cover her tuition and living costs herself, but she also earned enough from the film and television rights of her novels to purchase a three-bedroom apartment.

That was Yanjing, where housing prices were exorbitant—something unimaginable to Mu Tong’s mother, who lived in a small city. Yet her admirable daughter had managed to buy a home all on her own. Whenever they had free time, the elderly couple would visit Yanjing to see her.

Moreover, a large portion of the money used for her brother’s new freight truck had been generously supported by their daughter.

Every month, Mu Tong would also send a considerable amount of living expenses back home for her parents. Such a dutiful and filial child was rare indeed. In contrast, her son, Mu Chang, was not as obedient—he ignored their advice on choosing a wife and on finding work. Ah, if only their son could be as sensible and obedient as their daughter.

Fortunately, their grandson, their dear little Sheng Han, was well-behaved. Now six years old and just starting first grade, he was not only cute but also clever. Both his teachers and neighbors adored the little fellow.

Mu Tong’s mother chattered on for quite a while, covering all the household matters before finally hanging up contentedly.

A daughter is truly a blessing! If she had spoken to her son instead, would he have had the patience to listen?

After ending the call, Mu Tong savored her mother’s words. How wonderful it was to have a home and parents to return to. She had wanted to chat with her father as well, but he had gone for a stroll in the park and hadn’t brought his phone along.

Looking around her clean and tidy room, Mu Tong couldn’t help but cast a cleaning spell, whisking away the few specks of dust into the trash bin.

She cleaned every day, after all—there was hardly any dirt.

Entering the bathroom, Mu Tong turned on the water and began to bathe. In Hidden Immortal Town, she had been too busy to shower often, usually just casting a dust-removal spell on herself. But the habit ingrained in her mind was that bathing meant soaking in water.

Thus, when on Earth, she soaked in the tub every day.

She added some dried chrysanthemum flowers to the water and lay back in the bathtub. She loved the gentle fragrance of chrysanthemums and the auspicious symbolism of longevity and good fortune they carried. Of course, she had many other dried flowers and essential oils suitable for bathing, all cultivated and prepared in Hidden Immortal Town, stored separately in various pouches. Each bath, she would choose different flowers or oils according to her mood.

After a relaxing soak, Mu Tong wrapped herself in a towel and used a spell to dry her hair and body, feeling thoroughly refreshed.

Back in her bedroom, having changed clothes, Mu Tong prepared to go out. It was only nine in the morning—she still had many tasks to attend to.

Driving out in her car, she headed to a remote location she knew well, slipping into a blind spot free of people and cameras, where she parked.

Stepping out, Mu Tong no longer appeared as the sweet young woman she usually was. Thanks to makeup and a spell, she now looked like a moderately stout, solidly built middle-aged woman.

She scanned the surroundings with her divine sense—perfect, no one was around.

Quickly storing her car into her storage ring, Mu Tong then took out a fully enclosed double-cabin truck. This three-ton capacity truck was ideal for loading her goods.

Indeed, these were various products she had processed at her private workshops scattered around the outskirts—essential seasonings she used in Hidden Immortal Town, such as bean paste, vegetable oil, soy sauce, vinegar, vermicelli, starch, and bean products.

Though she could make these items herself, if she had to personally handle every production, where would she find the time?