Gods of the Nation: You worship the God of Longevity, I worship the King of Hell!

Chapter 236 The treacherous minister has already revealed himself...

At this moment, Lu Jianming also strode forward.

Looking at his bright and spirited son, he patted Lu Chen's broad arm heavily. A thousand words were stuck in his throat, but in the end, they all came out as: "It's good that you're back, it's good that you're back!"

"Tell me! Where have you been for the past two months?!"

Lu's mother was already sobbing uncontrollably, her tears and snot mixed together.

"The secret realm was sealed off, trapping me inside. Later, I came up with a plan and escaped."

Lu Chen deliberately downplayed the situation.

"What method?"

"It's a method taught to me by the God of Wealth, and it's come in handy."

"Alright, alright, stop asking." Lu Jianming wiped away his tears and comforted his wife, "Our son is lucky to be back safe and sound. Now you can finally get a good night's sleep."

"Still sleeping? I've been sleeping for two months!"

Although her eyes were still red, Lu's mother's eyes brightened: "Are you hungry? Mom will cook you some food!"

"I'm actually a little hungry." Lu Chen rubbed his stomach.

"By the way, this is..."

Only then did Mr. and Mrs. Lu notice Lan'er standing quietly to the side.

"Uncle, Aunt, hello." Lan'er greeted them obediently.

Lu Chen: "..."

Given Lan'er's actual age, calling him "uncle" and "aunt" is really beneath him.

"Let me introduce you. This young lady is called Lan'er. She is the guardian spirit of the secret realm, and her true form is a dragon. I was able to escape danger this time entirely thanks to her help."

"A dragon?!"

Although they had heard many stories about the dragon race, seeing it in person still gave Lu's parents a shock.

"Then, how can we be worthy of being called 'Uncle and Aunt'..."

"Uncle and Aunt, Lu Chen and I are friends. Our friendship transcends age, and you two are certainly worthy of such a title," Lan'er said with a smile.

"This... Thank you so much, Great Immortal, for saving my son!" Mr. and Mrs. Lu said, about to kneel down and kowtow.

"Hey, no, no, Mom and Dad, you really don't need to do this." Lu Chen quickly stopped them, both amused and exasperated. "It's all over now. Mom, please start cooking, we're really hungry."

"Okay! I'll go right away. You take good care of the guests." Mrs. Lu wiped her hands and hurriedly turned and went into the kitchen.

Lu Chen pointed to the sofa: "Sit wherever you like, Lan'er."

"it is good."

"By the way, son, have you contacted Miss Sun since you got back?"

Lu Jianming suddenly remembered something and hurriedly said.

Lu Chen was peeling a banana when he shook his head: "Not yet."

"Then you should make a call right away! Miss Sun was heartbroken by your accident. You have no idea, she was waiting for you day and night outside the secret gate for a whole month. When she finally couldn't get any news, she returned to Jiangdu and told us about it. That girl is so thoughtful."

"Waited a month?" Lu Chen paused.

"Yes, she looked terribly haggard. Later, when we were getting things done for you... ugh, when we were getting things done, she was the one who forced herself to help with the arrangements. The Sun family head and the city lord also came in person. If it were just your mother and me, we would have collapsed long ago and wouldn't have been able to hold on."

As Lu Jianming spoke, he was still shaken and unwilling to recall those days.

"Okay, I'll contact her right away."

Lu Chen took out his phone and found it was out of battery.

“Use mine!” Mr. Lu quickly handed over his phone: “Miss Sun specifically left a message telling us to contact her anytime if we need anything.”

“Okay.” Lu Chen took the phone and quickly dialed the number.

……

Sun Family Villa, south of the city.

"Squeak-"

The door opened gently.

Mrs. Song came out carrying a bowl of almost untouched porridge, her face full of worry.

Sun Qingcang, Sun Dechang, and Sun Xingwen were all guarding outside the door.

"Still hasn't eaten a single bite?" Sun Qingcang frowned. "She only eats one meal a day. How can her body take this? I'll go in and check on her!"

As he was about to push the door open, Sun Dechang whispered behind him, "Qingcang, speak softly."

Sun Qingcang nodded and went into the room.

In the bedroom, Sun Yourong lay on the bed with her hair disheveled, staring blankly at the ceiling, her whole body emaciated.

"Rongrong, so much time has passed, it's time to let it go."

Sun Qingcang sat down by the bed, frowning and sighing deeply.

But Sun Yourong didn't react at all, as if she hadn't heard him.

"If you keep ruining yourself like this, even if Lu Chen is watching from heaven, he wouldn't want to see it."

Sun Qingcang said with reluctance.

"dad……"

Sun Yourong finally spoke, her voice hoarse: "I killed him. If I hadn't suggested going to Rongcheng, none of this would have happened..."

"Silly child, how can you blame yourself? It's all fate."

Sun Qingcang bent down and patted his daughter's shoulder, his tone softening:
"Dad will give you another two weeks to adjust. After two weeks, you must pull yourself together. After all, time... will always heal all wounds."

After saying that, he got up and walked out.

"Baby, Mommy has put the porridge on the table. Get up and have a bite if you're hungry." Song's tears fell again.

"Let's go." Sun Qingcang put his arm around his wife's shoulder and was about to close the door.

"Ring ring ring!"

The phone on the bedside table suddenly rang urgently.

Sun Yourong mechanically reached out and took the phone. Seeing that it was Lu's father calling, she barely mustered up a bit of energy and answered, "Uncle, what's wrong? Is there something you need?"

"Yes, I have something extremely important to discuss with you!"

The voice coming from the other end of the phone sounded strange, as if it was deliberately lowering its voice to imitate an old person's speech.

Sun Yourong's pupils suddenly contracted.

He jumped out of bed in a flash.

Sun Qingcang and the others at the door were startled by the commotion.

"W-What's wrong, Rongrong?"

Sun Yourong gripped her phone tightly, her voice trembling: "You...you are..."

"Hey, Sister Sun, it's me. I'm back."

The voice on the other end of the phone returned to its familiar clear tone.

--boom! ! !

Sun Yourong felt a deafening roar in her mind, and she covered her mouth tightly, tears welling up in her eyes.

"Sister Sun? Sister Sun?"

Lu Chen called out twice in confusion from the other end.

Sun Yourong took a deep breath and forced her voice to steady: "Wait for me. I'm coming right now...right away!"

The phone hangs up.

She could no longer hold back, and tears streamed down her face.

"Rongrong, what's wrong?" Sun Qingcang knew something must have happened, and he was both shocked and anxious.

“Dad…” Sun Yourong cried, tears streaming down her face, but she couldn’t hide her smile: “He—is back!!!”

- Om!

Sun Qingcang and his companions were struck dumb, frozen in place.

A moment later, excited exclamations, choked laughter, and triumphant cheers erupted, resounding throughout the entire Sun residence. ...

In Nanshan Residential Area, a long queue formed again in front of Lu's house, just like every day.

"Xiao Chen, how did you get into such a big mess this time? You've scared everyone half to death!"

An old man held Lu Chen's hand tightly, his eyes reddening.

The neighbors chattered on and on, offering words of concern.

Upon learning of Lu Chen's "resurrection," the entire Nanshan residential community was in an uproar.

Many people initially thought it was a ghost returning, but they only dared to believe that Lu Chen had really come back after seeing him alive.

"Grandpa, it's all in the past. Look at me, I'm perfectly fine." Lu Chen comforted him with a smile.

"Okay, okay, it's good that you're alright."

Seeing that her son couldn't even eat a meal in peace, Lu's mother quickly stepped in: "Neighbors, let Xiao Chen finish his meal first. Later, we'll set up a few tables at our house so everyone can have a good time and celebrate my son's escape from death!"

Seeing this, the neighbors decided not to disturb them any further and all smiled and said goodbye.

Before leaving, he reminded Lu Chen to get some rest.

The room was finally quiet.

"call--"

Lu Chen let out a long sigh of relief, picked up the bowl, and wolfed down his food.

Lan'er, who was standing to the side, also ate without any restraint.

"How does it taste?" Lu Chen asked with a smile.

"Delicious! Much better than the fruits in Linglong... much better than the fruits in the secret realm."

Lan'er's mouth was stuffed full.

"If the immortal is pleased, that's good." Mr. and Mrs. Lu looked at each other and smiled.

The house has finally regained its former warm and cheerful atmosphere.

Lu Chen had just taken a few bites when there was another knock on the door.

"It must be Sister Sun. I'll go open the door."

Lu Chen put down his chopsticks and walked quickly to the door.

As soon as the door opened, Sun Qingcang was standing outside with a smile.

"You little rascal, I knew you'd be lucky and would be fine!"

Sun Qingcang hugged Lu Chen tightly and patted his back forcefully.

"Hello, Uncle Sun! Um...where's Sister Sun?"

Lu Chen peeked into the stairwell and saw Sun Yourong standing there quietly.

Their eyes met, but Sun Yourong's face remained expressionless, though her gaze held a complex emotion.

Lu Chen's heart softened: "Sister Sun, you've lost weight."

“I’m on a diet lately,” Sun Yourong said casually, turning her face away.

Sun Qingcang, standing to the side, didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

This girl was crying her eyes out in the car, but once she saw people, she suddenly put on airs.

"Come in, come in quickly!" Lu Chen hurriedly stepped aside to let them into the house.

"Old Lu, sister-in-law."

"Uncle, auntie."

The father and daughter greeted each other.

"Master Sun, Yourong has arrived. Please have a seat!"

Lu Jianming was busy making tea.

"Who is this……?"

Sun Yourong's gaze involuntarily fell on Lan'er.

The girl looked small, but she was exquisitely beautiful and exceptionally cute.

But... I always felt there was some inexplicable pressure emanating from her.

Sun Yourong frowned slightly, secretly wondering to herself.

Lu Chen began to introduce: "This is Lan'er, the guardian spirit of the secret realm. Her true form is a dragon. If it weren't for her help, I really wouldn't have been able to get out this time."

Sun Qingcang exchanged a glance with his daughter, secretly alarmed.

—A dragon?
It seems this kid has gotten another great opportunity.

"So it wasn't that the secret realm collapsed, but rather that it shifted, and you were trapped inside?" Sun Qingcang asked after sitting down.

"Yes. It took me a lot of effort to escape, but I didn't expect that two months had already passed outside."

Lu Chen nodded, and with a slight thought, the boundary pivot appeared above his head: "This is the boundary pivot of that secret realm."

"Hiss... You really managed to subdue him!" Sun Qingcang gasped.

While not entirely unprecedented, such incidents are certainly rare.

"Looks like you've really struck it rich," Sun Qingcang laughed. "What's the highest grade of rare and precious materials inside?"

Lu Chen didn't hide anything: "Eighth rank."

As he spoke, he casually waved his hand, and several medicinal herbs brimming with spiritual energy appeared on the table. They were all of grade five or six quality, a total of ten herbs.

"Uncle Sun, please keep these."

"This...this won't do."

"Let's not stand on ceremony between our two families. My parents both said that you were a great help when I got into trouble. If you refuse again, it would be disheartening for your nephew."

"This……"

Sun Qingcang hesitated for a moment, but seeing Lu Chen's resolute attitude, he stopped refusing and accepted the treasure with a smile.

"Alright! Then Uncle Sun will accept the offer without hesitation! We're family, no need for formalities!"

Sun Yourong sat to the side, her face slightly flushed, muttering to herself: What family...

Lu Chen was laughing when he suddenly exclaimed, "Oh no! I forgot about the Earth God!"

"What Earth God?"

"When I broke the formation, it was the local earth god of Rongcheng who showed me the way. I promised to give him ten rare and precious herbs as a thank you gift, but I was so happy when I got back that I completely forgot about it."

"It's alright, I'll run the errand for you later," Lan'er said, offering to help.

Lu Chen nodded: "Okay, thank you for your hard work."

"Small things."

Lu Chen sat down to continue eating, but then noticed Sun Qingcang and Sun Yourong exchanging glances, as if they had something to say to each other.

"Uncle Sun, did something happen while I was away?"

"Eat first, then we'll talk."

"It's alright, please go ahead, I'm listening."

Lu Chen put down his chopsticks.

"Then you can eat while I talk."

"also."

Sun Qingcang paused, his expression turning slightly solemn: "A lot has indeed happened while you were away."

Lu Chen's hands didn't stop moving at all, clearly not surprised, and he laughed, "It's Zhao Wanliang, isn't it? He must have his eye on my Lu Clan Temple."

Sun Qingcang nodded, then shook his head: "This time it's not just the Zhao family. The Qin family and the Wu family are also eyeing your Lu family."

This time, Lu Chen paused slightly with his chopsticks and looked up in surprise.

Sun Qingcang nodded solemnly: "That's right, the three of them—have joined forces!"

　Uh, could you write the second update during the day...?

　　
　
(End of this chapter)