694: Homecoming

Three hours later.

Once a sufficient number of Machina had entered the Emerald Dragon Star, Yang Dian closed the spatial gate connecting Earth and the Emerald Dragon Star.

Before clarifying the situation of the 'Angel's Feather,' it was better for the two planets to maintain relative independence.

Development, however, was not an issue.

After all, the ones doing the work were all robots.

Even if something unexpected happened later, the only loss would be a few batches of Machina that could be produced at any time.

Earth.

Upon returning to Earth, Yang Dian did not immediately go to Kunlun.

The mirage in Kunlun had appeared a long time ago, so there was no rush.

Fuzhou, Taoyuan Village.

As soon as Yang Dian appeared in the courtyard, Big Black Cat, who was lying on the mat by the door, raised its head.

After clearly seeing Yang Dian's figure, it rubbed its eyes with its paw, as if in disbelief.

Only after repeatedly confirming that it wasn't hallucinating did it pounce up from the ground and into Yang Dian's arms.

"Meow meow meow meow meow~~~"

Yang Dian couldn't help but laugh a little as he stroked Big Black Cat, which was pressing its head against his chest, wriggling around, and meowing meaninglessly:

"You're so big, yet still so clingy?"

"Meow meow meow~"

Big Black Cat continued to meow meaninglessly, and it clung tightly to Yang Dian, seemingly with no intention of getting down from him.

Yang Dian stroked Big Black Cat twice more, then with a thought, a bright silver light enveloped Big Black Cat.

Two seconds later, Big Black Cat was shrunk by Yang Dian into a palm-sized Little Black Cat.

The Little Black Cat then rubbed against Yang Dian's neck and uttered its first meaningful meow:

"Human, where did you go? Why haven't you come home for so long?"

"Human, I thought you didn't want me anymore."

Yang Dian embraced the Little Black Cat, which was clinging to his neck, and while stroking it, he replied:

"Human had a bit of an accident and only just woke up a while ago."

"After waking up, Human was busy for a bit, and then immediately came home."

The Little Black Cat rubbed against Yang Dian's index finger:

"Human, then don't have any more accidents in the future. Cat missed you very much."

Looking at the Little Black Cat's bright, round eyes, Yang Dian subconsciously nodded:

"Okay, Human promises not to have any more accidents in the future."

Yang Dian agreed, but the Little Black Cat felt it wasn't enough:

"Human, can you take Cat with you when you go out in the future?"

"Human, Cat is so bored being home alone."

"Aren't there other people and other little friends at home? How can you be bored?"

The Little Black Cat, with its round eyes, held Yang Dian's finger and said earnestly:

"Human, because Cat likes being with Human the most."

A smile subconsciously curved at the corner of Yang Dian's mouth, and he nodded with a contented squint:

"Alright, then Human will take you whenever Human goes out in the future."

While stroking the Little Black Cat, Yang Dian also wandered around the house.

No one was home, and the other Awakened individuals were also not home.

However, the plum blossom in the backyard bloomed more vividly and deeply.

If Yang Dian's perception was correct, the energy contained within the plum blossom had also increased dozens of times.

"Indeed, as time passes, the energy contained in heaven and earth treasures also increases."

"I just don't know if there's an upper limit to this increase."

He reached out and picked a green plum blossom, offering it to the Little Black Cat, who was drooling furiously, but the Little Black Cat raised its two paws and pushed the green plum blossom towards Yang Dian's mouth:

"Human, Cat's not hungry, you eat it."

Yang Dian smiled wryly:

"Green plum blossom has the best effect when Cat eats it."

"Besides, there are so many plum blossom on the Plum Tree. If Human is hungry, Human will pick them to eat myself."

No sooner had Yang Dian finished speaking than the Little Black Cat opened its mouth and, with one bite, devoured the plum blossom in his palm.

"Woo woo woo~"

After a series of comfortable purrs, the Little Black Cat nestled into Yang Dian's arm, hiding one eye and peeking at the plum blossom on the Plum Tree with the other round eye.

"Human, the flowers are so delicious, cool and refreshing."

Knowing its little thoughts, Yang Dian turned without hesitation and carried it out of the sunroom.

Once the scent of plum blossom was blocked by the sunroom door, the Little Black Cat slumped:

"Human, Cat still wants to eat."

After counting the little ones close to him, Yang Dian pondered for a moment and then said:

"We'll eat again next time that patch of plum blossom grows out."

"Human wants to see what effect the plum blossom will have if they stay on the Plum Tree for a long time, or if they will bear green plums."

The Little Black Cat swallowed its saliva, forcing its eyes away from the Plum Tree:

"Human, Cat will listen to you."

Only two seconds after its words fell, it continued:

"Human, when will the flowers grow out again?"

Yang Dian couldn't help but chuckle:

"Human doesn't know either."

Thinking that the current Spiritual Qi concentration was immeasurably stronger than before, and that Spiritual Qi feedback would appear soon, Yang Dian continued:

"But it should be very soon."

"When the plum blossom grows out next time, we'll go home and eat the petals."

The Little Black Cat blinked twice, then completely nestled in Yang Dian's arm:

"Human, are we going on a long journey?"

"Yes."

Thinking of the mirage on Kunlun and the invaded Niu Ru Star, Yang Dian slowly exhaled:

"We're going on a very, very long journey."

Standing in the courtyard, he looked back at the somewhat old-fashioned house, then rubbed the Little Black Cat's head with his index finger and asked:

"Do you know where my mom and dad, and Da Huang (Big Yellow Dog), Little Yellow, and Big Old Black went?"

"Human, Cat doesn't know," the Little Black Cat said righteously, "Cat is a 'waiting-for-husband stone,' just waiting for Human to come home."

Yang Dian was speechless for a moment:

"Where did you learn the term 'waiting-for-husband stone'?"

"Human, Lele told me. Did Lele say it wrong?"

"Of course she said it wrong, you're a cat, not some 'waiting-for-husband stone'..."

After chatting idly with the Little Black Cat for a while, Yang Dian tapped his wristband twice:

"Zero, where are my parents and those little ones, Da Huang (Big Yellow Dog) and Little Yellow?"

The wristband glowed, and then an image was projected in front of Yang Dian:

"Commander, your parents are currently by the sea, practicing martial arts under the guidance of Wang Wu, the director of the Fuzhou Paranormal Management Bureau."

"Big Yellow Dog and Little Yellow are with them."

"The mutated rooster your mother raised is in Luan Shui Bay."

"Luan Shui Bay is a coastal area, a newly emerged deep-water bay after Earth expanded and grew larger."

"The bay is filled with hundreds of irregular undercurrents, and the mutated rooster is currently fighting the undercurrents in the sea to improve its strength."

"Your sister, Yang Lele, went deep into the Arctic to Cultivate in seclusion in the Arctic's extreme cold region after the Martial Arts Competition ended."

"The mutated Moose you rescued from Norway is also in the Arctic, accompanying Yang Lele in her Cultivation."

"Hujiu is leading the killer whale pod to patrol the ocean. According to location information, it is currently in the central Pacific Ocean, chasing a sea turtle with a diameter of 300 meters and playing."

His family's information was revealed one by one by Zero.

Looking at the videos and photos projected by Zero, Yang Dian stretched, then tapped his toes and rose into the air:

"Leave a message for my parents: I'm taking the Little Black Cat with me."

"After dealing with the mirage on Kunlun, I'll come home and stay for a few days."

"Oh, and send the message to them only after they return home."

With that, Yang Dian no longer lingered. After ascending into the air, guided by Zero, he flew towards Kunlun.

As for why he didn't just open a spatial gate to teleport there?

Firstly, flying there wouldn't take much time.

And secondly, of course, it was to see if he could discover any 'unexpected surprises' along the way...