78: Find that little mouse!

The top high school in the Demon Capital.

Nangong Jie was also staring intently at the score display board, his lips pressed tightly together, his eyes filled with a complex, unreadable expression.

Jealousy, confusion, and a sense of humiliation intertwined… As a direct descendant of a Gold-level Professional family in Dragon Country, the pride in his heart made him feel even more tormented at this moment!

He had fought desperately, risking his life several times to obtain spoils of war, accumulating enough to make him proud among his peers. He had thought he would comfortably secure the top spot on the score list, yet this suddenly appearing Lin Feng had a score 60 times his own!

This made him feel like a joke!

Another high school in the Demon Capital.

Wang Meng snorted heavily, arms crossed, his bell-like eyes glaring at the score display board, but this time he didn't curse. He just frowned, seemingly trying to digest the information.

However, just then, a figure flashed like lightning into the minds of Nangong Jie and Wang Meng!

"Could it be him?!"

Wang Meng slapped his thigh, his rough voice filled with the excitement of realization, instantly overpowering the surrounding noise.

"It can only be him!"

Nangong Jie’s pupils suddenly contracted!

He stared fixedly at the score display board.

That figure, who had led hundreds of Gold-level magical pets and many disheveled students to resist the beast tide during the chaotic beast tide, guided by a calm and composed voice, slowly emerged!

"So his name is Lin Feng!"

Nangong Jie squeezed out a few words through gritted teeth. The sense of humiliation in his heart had not disappeared, but it was mixed with an extremely complex emotion… a reverence for the power of a true strong person, and an undeniable frustration of being convinced by the facts.

His proudly accumulated score indeed seemed insignificant in the face of the other party's merit in leading students to resist the beast horde.

That outrageous score was probably the evaluation of his special contribution in saving the lives of many students!

Although he was somewhat unwilling, he had to admit the weight of this contribution!

Even so, the pride in Nangong Jie’s heart would not allow him to abandon his pride; instead, it completely ignited the fervent flame within him!

He took a deep breath, an unprecedented, almost fanatical fighting spirit surging in his eyes.

He stared intently at the words 'Lin Feng' on the score display board, as if to engrave them deep into his soul.

"Very good!"

"I, Nangong Jie, will surely surpass you!"

Unlike Nangong Jie, Wang Meng was also staring intently at the score display board, but his expression was calm, and after a moment, he even let out a hearty laugh, his voice loud and sincere.

"Brother Lin Feng! Well done!"

His eyes were filled with admiration and gratitude; he clearly had no complaints about Lin Feng getting 1,000,000 points, and was even exceptionally happy.

Under the escort of the City Defense Force, Lin Feng successfully left Weiyang No. 1 High School and, citing rest as a reason, declined the invitation from the president of the Weiyang City Professional Association.

Walking towards home, the bustling city streets, the traffic, the bright sunshine—everything was full of life.

This formed a stark contrast with the blood, cruelty, and despair of the Barren World, giving him a feeling of being in another world.

He walked through familiar streets.

He entered the Emerald Micro Garden community.

He pushed open the door to his home.

A familiar, warm scent of cooking food enveloped him.

"Xiao Feng? Is Xiao Feng back?!"

His Mother’s surprised voice came from the kitchen, accompanied by hurried footsteps.

His Father also suddenly stood up from the sofa in the living room, his face filled with worry and anticipation.

When they saw their son standing at the door, although his clothes were a bit torn and his face showed fatigue and the marks of travel, he was indeed safe and sound. The two elderly parents, who had been worried for so long, finally let their hearts settle.

"Dad, Mom, I’m back."

Lin Feng’s voice carried a hint of an almost imperceptible choke.

"It’s good that you’re back! It’s good that you’re back!"

His Mother rushed forward and hugged Lin Feng, tears instantly streaming down her face… Lin Feng had been away for a month for the Professional College Entrance Examination, and Father Lin and Mother Lin had worried for that entire month!

Mother Lin felt him up and down, afraid that her son might have lost an arm or a leg.

"You’ve gotten thinner, darker, you must have suffered a lot, right? Let Mom take a look!"

His Father stood to the side, his eyes also a bit red. He patted Lin Feng’s shoulder hard, his voice a little hoarse.

"Good boy, it’s good that you came back safely! It’s good that you came back!"

Thousands of words were condensed into these simplest few words.

There was no inquiry about the college entrance examination results, no questions about the details of the process, only the purest, deepest concern and the joy of having him back.

Lin Feng felt his Mother’s warm embrace and his Father’s strong hand. Listening to them fussing, asking, "Are you hungry?" "Are you tired?" "Are you hurt?", the coldness and anger that had accumulated in his heart in the Barren World began to melt and dissipate little by little, like solid ice encountering the warm sun.

Home is always the warmest haven.

Over the next few days, Lin Feng completely relaxed all his taut nerves.

He lived like an ordinary high school student, enjoying a rare and peaceful family life.

In the morning, he would accompany his Mother to the morning market to buy groceries.

His Mother would chatter about which stall had fresh vegetables, which one had cheap meat, and occasionally haggle with vendors over a few cents.

Lin Feng would quietly follow behind, carrying heavy shopping bags, watching his Mother’s energetic back, listening to the bustling market sounds full of life, feeling a strange sense of peace in his heart.

In the afternoon, he would play chess with his Father in the living room.

His Father was terrible at chess and always liked to take back moves. The two often argued heatedly over a single piece, only to burst into laughter afterward.

Sunlight streamed through the window, warm and inviting. The radio played old, warbling operas, and time seemed to slow down.

Evening was the most pleasant time of the day.

After dinner, the family of three would go downstairs for a walk in the community.

Emerald Micro Garden had excellent greenery with lush trees, and many neighbors were out for walks and chats after dinner.

His parents would enthusiastically greet familiar neighbors and proudly introduce him.

"This is my son; he just returned from the Professional College Entrance Examination."

The neighbors would offer kind glances and greetings.

Lin Feng quietly walked beside his parents, listening to them chat about everyday things: whose child in the community got into a good university, which elderly person wasn't feeling well, and the property management urging for fees again… These trivial yet real daily occurrences gradually filled the void in Lin Feng’s heart that had been torn by blood and death.

At night, his Mother would prepare delicious meals in various ways, and the dining table was always laden with his favorite dishes.

His Father would open a bottle of treasured good wine, pour a little for Lin Feng, and the father and son would have a small drink and chat.

His Mother would fuss from the side, saying, "Drink less," while continuously putting food on his plate.

Under the dim yellow light, his parents’ kind faces, their caring words, and the crisp sound of bowls and chopsticks clinking together formed the most heartwarming picture.

Lin Feng greedily savored all of it.

He no longer thought about the death conspiracy in the Dragonfall Nest, the wailing of Alduin, the cold eyes of the old man, or Zhao Tieying’s warning. He even temporarily pushed Wang Yin’s safety deep into his heart.

He just accompanied his parents, buying groceries, cooking, eating, walking, and chatting.

He listened to his Father recount interesting stories from his youth at work, and to his Mother grumble about what new health remedies Aunt Zhang upstairs had recommended to her.

He told his parents about the scenery in the "safe" areas of the Barren World, about strange plants and gentle exotic beasts, which made his parents exclaim in wonder.

The anger and indifference were quietly diluted by this ordinary yet warm daily life, replaced by a calm strength.

He knew that this peace was only temporary; entering a military academy meant embarking on an unknown path.

A few days passed quietly in peace and warmth.

The gloom on Lin Feng’s face gradually dispersed, and his eyes regained their usual calmness. However, beneath this calmness, there was an added layer of resilience from having faced life and death, and an indescribable depth.

Lin Feng knew that such days would not last too long.

The military’s notice, the Professional Association’s arrangements, and Wang Yin’s news… these unresolved matters would eventually break this peace.

But at least, during these few days, he, like an ordinary Professional student, enjoyed the love from his parents and the warmth of his family after the college entrance examination.

This brief respite made him clearly realize that he was willing to spend his life… protecting this ordinary yet precious warmth.

He stood on his balcony, looking down at the myriad lights of the homes below, listening to his parents’ soft laughter as they watched TV in the living room, his eyes calm and resolute.

"Cracks, pull out that little rat hiding in the dark!"