All Realms and Worlds: The Lost Home

Outside the earthen house, purple-gold energy and black malevolent energy collided wildly, roars and explosions shook the heavens and the earth. Lin Nuannuan and the young man in green robes were fighting a deadly battle with a powerful evil god. The energy shock swept through the entire village, and even the depths of the ground trembled slightly.

Beneath the ruins of the earthen house, Yao Guang remained deeply immersed in that warm illusion, completely unaware of everything outside.

This is his home on Earth, the place he longs to return to after traversing countless worlds and experiencing countless moments of despair.

Sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows, gently illuminating the floor. The air was filled with the aroma of porridge made by his wife, Su Wan—a subtle fragrance that was enough to soothe all his weariness and pain.

Yao Guang leaned back on the sofa, her gaze so gentle it could melt hearts, looking at her daughter Xiao Yu in the living room not far away. Xiao Yu was lying on the carpet, playing with a pile of blocks, her little face full of seriousness, occasionally frowning and muttering to herself.

"Dad, look at the house Xiaoyu built! It's bigger than our house!"

Xiaoyu suddenly looked up, held up the crooked block house she had built, and gave Yaoguang a bright smile. Her eyes sparkled like two grapes filled with starlight, innocent and adorable.

Yao Guang's heart was instantly filled with that long-lost, reassuring warmth, which spread from the bottom of his heart to every part of his body, almost bringing him to tears.

He hadn't felt this way in a long time—no eerie pursuit from evil gods, no spiritual corruption, no despair or resentment, only his family by his side, and the peace and tranquility of life.

"Our Xiaoyu is so amazing, she built such a beautiful structure."

Yao Guang smiled and stood up, walking step by step to Xiao Yu's side. He squatted down and gently stroked her soft hair. The warm touch from his fingertips was so real that it made his heart tremble.

Even though a voice deep inside him kept reminding him that it was all fake, all an illusion, he still willingly succumbed to it and refused to wake up.

Even if it's fake, he'd be willing to see his wife and daughter again and feel the warmth of home once more.

"Honey, Xiaoyu, dinner's ready."

At the kitchen doorway, Su Wan, wearing an apron, held a bowl of steaming porridge, her smile gentle and her eyes full of doting affection. "Xiaoyu has been building with blocks all morning, she must be hungry. Honey, come over and try my newly made millet porridge."

Yao Guang raised his head and looked at Su Wan. Her smile was still the same as he remembered, gentle and serene, like a ray of light illuminating all his darkness.

These days, in the illusion, he accompanied Su Wan to cook and go shopping, accompanied Xiao Yu to play in the park and told her stories, and spent one ordinary but warm day after another with them.

He remembered that one night, Xiaoyu had a fever and cried incessantly. Su Wan stayed by the bedside, not sleeping all night, gently stroking Xiaoyu's forehead and humming a lullaby. He sat beside her, holding Su Wan's hand tightly. At that moment, he felt that even if he were trapped in this illusion forever, it wouldn't matter.

He remembered that on Su Wan's birthday, he secretly bought her a bouquet of her favorite sunflowers. When she saw it, her eyes lit up, and she smiled and rushed into his arms, whispering, "Honey, it's so good to have you." At that moment, his heart was filled with happiness.

He remembered the first time Xiaoyu learned to put on her shoes by herself. She excitedly ran to him and Su Wan, stood on tiptoe, showed off her shoes, and said in her childish voice, "Daddy, Mommy, Xiaoyu has grown up." At that moment, looking at his daughter's innocent appearance, he couldn't help but tear up.

These ordinary, sweet moments accumulated little by little in his heart, turning into the softest longing and also the most fatal shackles, making him deeply trapped in this illusion, unwilling and afraid to wake up.

He feared that when he woke up, everything before him would disappear, that he would return to that dark and hopeless world of evil gods, and that he would never see his wife and daughters smile again.

"Dad, what are you daydreaming about? Hurry up and eat, the porridge is getting cold."

Xiaoyu stretched out her chubby little hand, tugged at Yaoguang's clothes, and said in a childish voice, her little face full of doubt.

Su Wan also came over, gently patted Yao Guang's shoulder, and asked in a gentle tone, "What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell? Or are you tired?"

Yao Guang snapped out of her daze, quickly wiped away the tears that were about to spill from the corners of her eyes, forced a smile, and shook her head: "It's nothing, it's nothing, I'm just too happy. It's so good to be with you all."

He took Xiaoyu's little hand and then held Su Wan's hand. The three of them sat at the dining table, eating warm millet porridge and chatting about everyday things. Their gentle laughter filled the room, warm and comforting.

As Yao Guang ate his porridge, he secretly glanced at his wife and daughter beside him, his eyes filled with longing and reluctance.

How he wished it were all real, how he wished time could stand still at this moment, how he wished he could stay with them like this forever, until the end of time.

But he knew in his heart that this was ultimately just an illusion, a dream he didn't want to wake up from.

Just then, a slight tremor suddenly occurred.

"Buzz—!"

The ground shook slightly, and the bowls and plates on the table gently clinked together, making a soft "clinking" sound.

Yao Guang's heart skipped a beat, and she instinctively looked up at the window.

The once azure sky now had a tiny crack, so faint it was almost imperceptible, yet it was exceptionally clear in Yao Guang's eyes.

"What's wrong, honey? What are you looking at?"

Su Wan noticed Yao Guang's unusual behavior and followed his gaze to the window, but her face remained unchanged. She asked in a puzzled tone.

Xiaoyu also looked up at the window, blinked her bright eyes, and asked in a daze, "Daddy, what's going on outside the window? Xiaoyu doesn't see anything."

Yao Guang was stunned.

He turned his head sharply to look at Su Wan and Xiao Yu. Their faces still held gentle and innocent expressions, as if they had not felt the ground tremor just now, nor seen the crack in the sky.

"Didn't you... feel the ground shaking? Didn't you see the cracks in the sky?"

Yao Guang's voice trembled slightly with a hint of doubt as he pointed to the sky outside the window and asked urgently.

Following the direction he pointed, Su Wan glanced again, then shook her head, a hint of worry on her face: "Honey, are you too tired? Are you hallucinating? The sky is fine, there are no cracks, and the ground isn't shaking."

Xiaoyu nodded in agreement, tugging at Yaoguang's sleeve. "Yes, Daddy, there's no shaking or cracks. Is Daddy sick?"

Yao Guang's heart sank little by little.

It's not a hallucination.

He clearly felt the ground tremble and saw the cracks in the sky; the sensation and the images were so real that they couldn't be ignored.

But why couldn't Su Wan and Xiao Yu feel or see anything?

Could it be... that only he can see these anomalies?

A nameless panic instantly surged into Yao Guang's heart.

He was afraid that this false warmth would disappear at any moment; he was afraid that this beautiful dream would end at any moment; he was afraid that he would fall into that isolated, helpless, and desperate situation again.

"Maybe... I'm just too tired."

Yao Guang forced a smile, suppressing the panic and doubt in her heart. She gently patted Xiao Yu's head, then looked at Su Wan, her tone gentle but with a hint of bitterness, "It's okay, let's eat, don't worry about me."

But his mind could no longer find peace.

As he ate, he would glance out the window every now and then, his gaze fixed on the crack in the sky, his unease growing stronger.

The crack, though still minute, was gradually widening, slowly but with remarkable determination.

The ground tremors became more and more frequent and intense, turning from a slight shaking into a noticeable tremor. The dishes on the dining table clattered more and more violently, making a "clanging" sound.

Su Wan and Xiao Yu, however, remained unfazed, eating and chatting with smiles on their faces, as if none of this concerned them.

Yao Guang's heart felt as if it were being tightly gripped by an invisible hand, the pain almost suffocating him.

He knew that this illusion was about to collapse.

Those anomalies, those cracks that only he could see, were all omens of the impending collapse of the illusion.

But he was still unwilling to give up, still wanting to grasp at this last sliver of false warmth, even if it was only for a second.

After dinner, Su Wan went to the kitchen to wash the dishes, while Xiao Yu continued building blocks in the living room. Everything was as usual, peaceful and warm.

But Yao Guang could no longer stay by their side with peace of mind as before.

He stood by the window, watching the cracks in the sky grow larger and larger, and the tremors on the ground become more and more obvious. The panic in his heart grew stronger and stronger.

Just then, a faint, gentle voice suddenly reached Xiaoyu's ears.

"Xiaoyu... Xiaoyu... my dear granddaughter..."

Xiaoyu suddenly stopped building with blocks. She looked up, frowned, scratched her head, and said with a puzzled expression, "Daddy, did you hear that? It sounds like Grandma's voice."

Yao Guang's heart skipped a beat, and she quickly turned to look at Xiao Yu: "Xiao Yu, what did you say? Did you hear Grandma's voice?"

Xiaoyu nodded, then shook her head, looking bewildered: "Hmm, I think I heard Grandma calling Xiaoyu, but... Xiaoyu can't find Grandma."

As she spoke, Xiaoyu stood up, looked around, her little face full of confusion and grievance, "Where is Grandma? Xiaoyu misses Grandma."

A complex emotion welled up in Yao Guang's heart.

grandmother?

His mother, on Earth, had always been with Su Wan and Xiao Yu, but in this illusion, his grandmother was nowhere to be seen.

Where did the calling that Xiaoyu heard come from?

Just as he was puzzled, another gentle voice reached Su Wan's ears.

"Wanwan... Wanwan... my daughter... wake up..."

That voice belonged to Su Wan's mother, Yao Guang's mother-in-law.

Su Wan, who was washing dishes in the kitchen, suddenly stopped. She looked up, a hint of confusion and bewilderment on her face, and subconsciously glanced towards the door, murmuring softly, "Mom? Is that you? Are you calling me?"

"Wanwan... Mommy's here... Wake up..."

The call came again, still very soft, but filled with a deep sob and worry, clearly reaching Su Wan's ears.

Su Wan put down her bowl, quickly walked out of the kitchen, looked around, her face full of confusion and anxiety: "Mom? Where are you? I'm here, come out!"

But when she looked around, there was no one else in the house except for herself, Yaoguang, and Xiaoyu.

"That's strange, I can clearly hear my mom's voice, but I can't find her."

Su Wan frowned, looking puzzled, a hint of disappointment and unease flashing in her eyes.

As Yao Guang watched the scene unfold before her, her doubts deepened.

Xiaoyu heard her grandmother calling, and Suwan heard her mother calling, but neither of them were in the illusion.

Where are these calls coming from?

Could it be... that this isn't a sound from an illusion?

A thought suddenly arose in Yao Guang's mind, making him shudder.

He recalled the scene before he transmigrated to this world of evil gods, the last moment he spent with Su Wan and Xiao Yu, and the sudden accident.

Could it be... that something happened to Su Wan and Xiao Yu on Earth?

Are those cries for help they are being called upon on Earth?

This thought caused Yao Guang's heart to clench instantly, the pain almost making it hard for him to breathe.

He dared not think, dared not think what might happen to Su Wan and Xiao Yu, dared not think what the meaning of his life would be if something happened to them.

"Mom, what's wrong?"

Seeing Su Wan frowning, looking anxious and disappointed, Xiao Yu quickly ran over, hugged Su Wan's leg, and asked in a childish voice.

Su Wan snapped out of her daze, quickly squatted down, hugged Xiaoyu, forced a smile, and gently patted her head: "It's okay, Mommy's okay. I just thought I heard Grandma's voice, but I couldn't find her, so I'm a little sad."

"Grandma will come. Grandma will definitely come to see Xiaoyu and Mom."

Xiaoyu stretched out her chubby little hand and gently wiped Su Wan's eyes, comforting her in her childish voice, "When Grandma comes, Xiaoyu will show Grandma the building blocks Xiaoyu built."

Su Wan nodded, hugged Xiaoyu tightly, and a barely perceptible tear flashed in her eyes.

Yao Guang stood aside, watching the mother and daughter embrace, her pain and unease growing stronger.

He knew he couldn't let himself sink any further.

No matter how beautiful or warm this illusion may be, it is ultimately fake.

He needs to wake up, he needs to become stronger, he needs to find his way back, he needs to return to Earth, to Su Wan and Xiao Yu's side, and to confirm their safety.

But just as he made up his mind, a violent tremor suddenly erupted!

"Boom—!"

The ground shook violently, as if it were being torn apart. The dishes on the table fell to the ground and shattered with a piercing sound.

The crack in the sky widened instantly, like a giant net covering the entire sky. The originally azure sky turned pitch black, and the broken fragments fell slowly like shooting stars.

The surrounding houses began to crumble little by little, with dense cracks appearing in the walls and chunks of cement falling from the ceiling, hitting the ground with dull thuds.

The whole world is collapsing!

Yao Guang suddenly reached out and hugged Su Wan and Xiao Yu tightly, protecting them in her arms, her body trembling uncontrollably.

"Honey! What happened?!"

Su Wan was so frightened by this sudden turn of events that her face turned pale. She clung tightly to Yao Guang's waist, her voice filled with fear and unease.

Xiaoyu was also frightened and started crying, clinging tightly to Yaoguang's neck, sobbing, "Daddy! I'm scared! Xiaoyu is so scared! The house is going to collapse!"

"Don't be afraid, don't be afraid, Daddy is here. Daddy will definitely protect you."

Yao Guang hugged them tightly, her voice hoarse, her eyes filled with pain and reluctance. Tears finally streamed down her cheeks uncontrollably.

He knew he could no longer hold onto this false warmth.

The illusion has completely collapsed.

The surrounding houses were collapsing faster and faster; walls, ceilings, and floors were crumbling and falling away bit by bit, and everything familiar was disappearing rapidly.

Fragments fell continuously from the sky, crashing around with a piercing sound, plunging the entire world into chaos and darkness.

Yao Guang held Su Wan and Xiao Yu tightly, feeling their warmth and their fear and unease. The pain in her heart surged forth like a tidal wave.

He always knew that it was all fake, that these were not his real wife and daughters, but merely an illusion conjured from his deepest obsession.

Even if it's fake, he still cherishes this warmth and can't bear to let go.

But now, he can't even hold onto this false warmth.

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry..."

Yao Guang hugged them, crying her heart out, sobbing as she apologized again and again, "I'm sorry, I can't stay with you anymore, I'm so sorry..."

He lowered his head and gently placed a tender kiss on Su Wan's forehead. That kiss was filled with deep reluctance and guilt, carrying all his worries and longing.

Then, he lowered his head and gently kissed Xiaoyu's forehead, his voice so tender it could melt hearts, yet tinged with a deep sob: "Xiaoyu, I'm sorry, Daddy can't play with your blocks anymore, can't tell you stories anymore. You have to be good, be obedient, and stay with Mommy, okay?"

Xiaoyu cried even harder, clinging tightly to Yaoguang's neck, sobbing, "No! Xiaoyu doesn't want to! Xiaoyu wants Daddy to stay with Xiaoyu! Daddy, don't go! Don't leave Xiaoyu and Mommy!"

Su Wan hugged Yao Guang tightly, tears streaming down her face, her voice hoarse: "Husband, don't go! Don't leave us! We'll always be together, okay?"

Yao Guang's heart felt as if it were being torn apart, the pain almost suffocating him.

He longed to agree to their request, to stay with them forever, to remain in this warm, dreamlike world, and never be separated again.

But he can't.

He needs to wake up, he needs to return to Earth, he needs to find the real Su Wan and Xiao Yu, he needs to protect them, and he needs to be with them, truly.

Goodbye, my love.

Yao Guang hugged them tightly, holding them in her arms with all her might, as if she wanted to imprint their images deep in her heart and never forget them.

Goodbye, my little rain.

The moment the words left his mouth, the entire illusion shattered completely!

"Boom—!"

With a deafening roar, everything around them shattered into countless fragments, vanishing with the wind. The dark sky, the broken houses, the tender wife and daughters—everything disappeared without a trace.

Yao Guang felt a sudden darkness before her eyes, and all her strength vanished instantly. It was as if she was being pulled violently by an invisible force, falling into endless darkness.

After an unknown amount of time, Yao Guang slowly opened her eyes.

The blinding sunlight streamed in through the broken roof, causing him to squint instinctively.

The images from the illusion still lingered in his mind, as did the smiles of his wife and daughter, and the warm yet false happiness. Tears continued to stream down his cheeks.

He slowly turned his head and looked around.

Before her eyes was no longer a warm home, but a scene of devastation—the mud houses in the village, smashed to pieces by the battle between Lin Nuannuan and the evil god.

The ground was covered with gravel and dust, and the air was filled with a strong smell of blood, decay, and the lingering scent of purple-gold energy and black malevolent energy, which was pungent and unpleasant.

In the distance, the sounds of fierce fighting, roars, and explosions could be heard, deafeningly loud. Clearly, Lin Nuannuan and the young man in the green robe were still fighting to the death against the evil gods.

Yao Guang slowly sat up, feeling a soreness all over his body. His head was still dizzy, but his consciousness was unusually clear.

The illusion has ended.

He finally regained consciousness.