Chapter 70 Return to the Capital, the Entire School Welcomes Him

"A warm welcome to the heroes returning in triumph from the Northern Territory!"

A massive red banner nearly obscured the terminal building of the Imperial Capital International Airport. Tens of thousands of students and instructors from the Imperial Capital Martial Arts University, and even ordinary citizens, had already packed the place tightly.

[Act I: The Center of Attention, Yet the Protagonist Is Sleeping]

"They're here! They're here!"

Following an excited shout, the giant transport plane named "Kunpeng" slowly landed on the runway.

The airflow caused the banners to snap loudly, and the atmosphere at the scene reached a boiling point. Countless media reporters shouldered their long lenses and cameras, ready to record this historic moment.

The cabin door opened.

Lei Heng was in full military uniform. Although he only had one eye, that iron-blooded Aura of slaughter still commanded respect. Behind him followed a group of soldiers, covered in blood but with high spirits.

"Salute!"

The whole crowd stood at attention; the solemn military salute looked like a forest of steel.

Next were the student representatives from the Imperial Capital Martial Arts University. Xiao Jian, Little Fatty Chen, and the others walked out with their heads held high. Although they were still carrying injuries, their Faces were filled with pride.

"Where is Jiang Chen? Where is our Sleep God?"

"Yeah! Where is that big shot who crushed the Demonic Ape?"

The crowd began to stir, and everyone craned their necks, searching for that legendary figure.

Just then, several strong soldiers walked out carrying a huge... stretcher (or was it a bed?).

The stretcher was covered with a black-gold animal hide (Demonic Ape skin), and a person was lying on it.

He was wearing those signature spongebob pajamas, holding a starry blue pillow in his arms, and covered by a fluffy white blanket (if you didn't look closely, you might mistake it for nine tails).

"Hoo—hoo—"

The clear sound of snoring, broadcast through the on-site sound system (which Lei Heng deliberately left on), spread throughout the entire airport.

The entire scene fell into dead silence.

The welcome ceremony, which had been boiling with excitement just a moment ago, instantly became somewhat eerie.

"This... is he asleep?"

"On an occasion like this? With tens of thousands of people watching? He's actually asleep?!"

"As expected of the Sleep God! I admire this mental fortitude!"

Reporters frantically pressed their shutters, and the flashes lit up like an ocean.

They had already thought of the headlines: "Northern Territory Hero Returns in Triumph, Sleeping Posture Sparks City-Wide Discussion!" and "On How to Maintain High-Quality Sleep While Being the Center of Attention."

Just when everyone was marveling, an even more jaw-dropping scene appeared.

Beside that moving giant bed, two stunning beauties were following.

Mu Qingxue was still in her professional attire, but she held a folding fan in her hand, carefully fanning Jiang Chen. Although her eyes showed some helplessness, her movements were extremely gentle.

On the other side, a silver-haired girl wearing a hood that covered most of her Face (Iliya) was holding a drink with a straw, occasionally bringing it to Jiang Chen's lips.

Jiang Chen, in his sleep, cooperated extremely well by opening his mouth, taking a sip, and then continuing to sleep.

Is this a triumphant return? This is practically an imperial inspection tour!

"Is that... Goddess Mu? She's fanning someone?!"

"Who is that silver-haired girl? Her figure is amazing! Although I can't see her Face clearly, just that exposed chin is enough for me to dream about for a year!"

"This treatment... I want to go risk my life in the Northern Territory too!"

The boys' eyes turned red with envy; they wished they could rush up, kick Jiang Chen off, and lie there themselves.

Chief Instructor Shen Yan stood at the very front of the welcoming party, watching this scene, his mouth twitching slightly.

But as a veteran of the Jianghu, he immediately adjusted his expression, revealing a "gratified" smile.

He walked to the microphone and cleared his throat:

"Ahem! Everyone, quiet!"

"Student Jiang Chen, in this Northern Territory defense battle, in order to guard the fortress and protect his comrades, he exhausted all of his Mental Energy! He was fighting with his life! His current slumber is a badge of his honor!"

Chief Instructor Shen Yan's voice was impassioned, making many emotional girls tear up.

"So touching... So that's why he was so exhausted!"

"I knew it, how could the Sleep God be so rude? It turns out he was drained of strength!"

"Protect the best Brother Jiang Chen!"

Jiang Chen on the stretcher turned over and muttered, "Keep it down... you're disturbing my dream of eating pork knuckles..."

Chief Instructor Shen Yan: "..."

This kid, can't he give a little Face?

In this ocean of celebration, several cold, sinister gazes were fixed intently on that moving giant bed.

At the edge of the crowd, several men dressed in ordinary casual clothes, but with sharp eyes, were whispering to each other.

"Target confirmed, it's that kid sleeping."

"Hmph, quite a grand display. He killed our Wang family's Old Ancestor, and he still dares to parade around like this?"

"Don't be impatient, there are too many eyes here, it's not easy to make a move. Wait until he returns to the school... even the Imperial Capital Martial Arts University isn't an impenetrable fortress."

One of them pressed his earpiece, his voice venomous: "Notify the 'Dark Web', double the bounty. I want him... to never wake up from this dream."

The convoy drove toward the Imperial Capital Martial Arts University in a grand procession.

Jiang Chen was carried into the school. Along the way, countless girls screamed, wanting to bear his children.

Back at Cloud Top Villa, before Jiang Chen could even get off the stretcher, a red figure pounced on him.

"Little darling, you're finally back! I've missed you to death!"

Su Manyu was wearing a flaming red dress, completely ignoring Mu Qingxue and Iliya nearby, and gave Jiang Chen a big hug (Face-cleansing).

"Mmph... so soft... so fragrant..."

Jiang Chen was woken up by this sudden benefit, opening his eyes in a daze, "Sister Su? Why are you here?"

"I'm here to bring you a 'surprise'."

Su Manyu smiled mysteriously and snapped her fingers.

Behind her, several attendants walked in carrying a few huge chests.

"Open them."

The chests opened, golden light shining brightly, radiating treasure energy.

"These are the Spirit Stones after converting half of the Wang family's assets, totaling fifty billion."

"This is a bed frame made from Millennium Soul-Calming Wood acquired from the black market."

"And this..."

Su Manyu took out a piece of extremely thin, cloud-like pajamas, and her eyes scanned Jiang Chen suggestively.

"These are pajamas woven from 'Phantom Dream Silk'. Wearing them will not only keep you warm in winter and cool in summer, but also... increase the realism of certain specific dreams, you know."

Jiang Chen's eyes went wide instantly.

This isn't a surprise? This is lethal!

"Ahem!"

Mu Qingxue, who was nearby, finally couldn't help it and coughed heavily twice. The surrounding air instantly cooled, "Pavilion Master Su, this is a student dormitory, please mind your influence."

"Oh my, Teacher Mu is here too." Su Manyu feigned surprise, "What, do you want to try these pajamas too? I can give you the same style, the lingerie version."

"You!"

Mu Qingxue was choked with anger.

Just as the two women were about to erupt into another catfight.

Jiang Chen, quick-eyed and nimble-handed, snatched the pajamas and also grabbed the card filled with Spirit Stones.

"Stop arguing! We're all family... oh no, we're all good friends!"

He jumped off the stretcher, energetic, "To celebrate my safe return and to thank everyone for taking care of me. Tonight... my treat!"

"Where?"

Everyone asked in unison.

Jiang Chen pointed to the villa's huge terrace, then pointed to the chest filled with Spirit Stones, and revealed an extremely spendthrift smile:

"Right here! Let's have a... 'Spirit Stone BBQ Party'! Using Spirit Stones as charcoal, the taste must be incredible!"

Everyone: "..."

Are you a devil? Fifty billion for a barbecue?!

But looking at Jiang Chen's expectant eyes, no one had the heart to refuse.

That night, the lights of Cloud Top Villa did not go out all night.

Amidst the laughter, Jiang Chen looked at his friends, his lover (though not admitted yet), and that Fox Spirit who was still sulking, and a long-lost sense of peace welled up in his heart.

"This... is probably the life I wanted to live."

He lay on that priceless Millennium Soul-Calming Wood bed, holding the star dream emperor pillow in his arms, a smile on his lips, and slowly closed his eyes.

But the moment he closed his eyes, a flicker of imperceptible cold light flashed deep in his eyes.

"As for those rats hiding in the dark..."

"Don't be impatient, wait until I wake up, and I'll crush them one by one."