CHAPTER 845: CHAPTER 511: GOING HOME (PART 2)

Enter the building through the main entrance and take the elevator.

Ji Xinghuo took out his phone and turned it on, immediately receiving a flood of information: contacts, emails, social media accounts, and so on. Over two years, he accumulated millions of notifications, but the vast majority could be ignored.

He only checked messages and emails from family and friends on his whitelist, finding nothing urgent.

The people closest to him knew he went to the Star Realm.

Only those who didn’t know would send messages, and there was no need to read those.

Ji Xinghuo sent a message in the family group, telling his siblings he was back but busy and would head home shortly.

There was an immediate response in the group.

"Third brother!"

"You’re finally back..."

Ye Dongyun, Wang Zizhen, and Liangqiu Feiyan quickly sent messages. Ji Xinghuo chatted with them briefly as the elevator arrived.

Zhao Cangming opened the door and entered, immediately alerting the two mutants guarding the entrance. They were both bodyguards and relaxed only upon seeing Zhao Cangming, but tensed again when they saw Ji Xinghuo walking behind him.

They didn’t recognize Ji Xinghuo.

There were seven bodyguards in the thousand-square-meter apartment at all times, led by the Legendary Mutant An Zhisu, who had been stationed in Zhuo Yanran’s home these past two years.

Even from more than two hundred kilometers away, Ji Xinghuo had already discerned the situation.

An Yitian and An Zhisu, the legendary sibling pair, respectively protected Zhao Manying and his family, along with people sent by the leader to secretly watch over them. Neither family had suffered any attacks or assassinations, and Shi Hongyi’s side had been quiet as well.

"Hold on a moment."

A Super Mutant stopped Ji Xinghuo.

He scrutinized Ji Xinghuo but could glean no information, which only heightened his suspicions.

At the very least, this person was a Super Mutant of his own level, possibly even Legendary.

"He’s my brother-in-law," Zhao Cangming said.

The bodyguard was about to inquire about the identity but froze upon hearing this, realizing who Zhao Cangming’s brother-in-law was.

"Ji Xinghuo!"

The two bodyguards’ eyes widened together.

This was the strongest genius in human history, ranked 33rd on the Global Battle Power List, first on the Legendary list, Zhao Manying’s boyfriend, the famous Ji Xinghuo?

Ji Xinghuo nodded to them before entering, immediately spotting three women: Zhao Manying, Zhuo Yanran, and An Zhisu, all of whom had just run out from the Cultivation Room upon hearing the commotion at the door, still in their training clothes.

"Cangming!"

Zhuo Yanran saw her son, who had been away from home for months, and the lingering charm on her face was filled with joy. She was especially thrilled to see that her son was intact without any injuries.

Ji Xinghuo’s gaze fell on Zhao Manying.

She remained tall and graceful, with her training clothes unable to conceal her delicate curves. Her black hair was tied into a high ponytail, a singular beauty; just standing there, she was breathtaking, like a celestial being descended to earth, making others feel inferior.

Zhao Manying had already advanced to Legendary, with her strength rapidly progressing, seemingly having just broken through to Legendary Second Dan not long ago.

Their eyes met.

Her eyes seemed to convey countless words.

"Manying."

Ji Xinghuo swiftly moved in front of Zhao Manying, took her slender hand, and said softly, "I’m back."

"Yes." Zhao Manying gave a slight nod.

She only uttered one word, her gaze focused on Ji Xinghuo, filled with deep concern and affection. Even the least perceptive person could see her sincere feelings for Ji Xinghuo, subtle yet firm.

Ji Xinghuo suddenly felt a pang of guilt and some anxiety, turning to Zhuo Yanran to greet her, "Aunt Zhuo."

He then looked at An Zhisu and nodded, "Senior An."

An Zhisu nodded slightly.

She was the Legendary Fiery Madman, but her personality was the opposite of her brother’s, being more reserved and not fond of speaking.

An Zhisu waved her hand for the bodyguards to return to their posts.

"Xinghuo, have a seat." Zhuo Yanran had long treated her daughter’s boyfriend as part of the family. Today, with her son also suddenly returning, she curiously asked, "Xinghuo, how did you run into Cangming?"

Ji Xinghuo and Zhao Manying sat side by side, and he smiled, "I encountered Cangming in the Star Realm..."

He briefly recounted the events.

Zhuo Yanran was neither a Mutant nor had she ever been to the Star Realm, so there was no need for her to know many things.

Moreover, it wasn’t convenient to talk at home with bodyguards around.

After some casual conversation, Ji Xinghuo gifted Zhuo Yanran two anti-aging potions.

This was a product from an alien race under the True Dragon Dynasty, not too expensive, costing only a few dozen Ether Crystals each.

Ji Xinghuo bought twenty of them in one go, as small gifts for family and friends.

Zhuo Yanran initially didn’t want to accept them.

But upon hearing that they could delay facial aging, with each dose effective for at least five years—ten years with two—she couldn’t take her eyes off them.

Even An Zhisu beside her looked tempted.

Ji Xinghuo chuckled to himself.

Such youth-preserving items have a fatal attraction to women, able to drive them crazy.

Having accepted the gift, Zhuo Yanran beamed with joy and insisted on having Ji Xinghuo stay for dinner, as she wanted to cook personally.

"Aunt Zhuo, I need to go home first, I’ll definitely come another day to taste your cooking," Ji Xinghuo bid farewell as Zhao Manying, now dressed in refined clothes and lightly made-up, said, "Mom, I’m taking Xinghuo home, don’t wait for me for dinner tonight."

Zhuo Yanran naturally understood her daughter’s feelings, feeling genuine happiness for her and said with a smile, "You two go ahead."

She liked this prospective son-in-law more and more.

Holding Zhao Manying’s hand, Ji Xinghuo walked out onto the balcony and leaped, turning into flashes of lightning as they soared into the sky.

Breaking the sound barrier, the scenery flashed past on both sides, creating a distortion in their vision.

Zhao Manying appeared unfazed.

She leaned into Ji Xinghuo’s chest, feeling his strong heartbeat, their eyes meeting, speaking volumes in silence.

After leaving Jingwei District, Ji Xinghuo suddenly lowered their altitude. Not far ahead was Weiyang Tower, where she had lived for many years but had seldom returned to recently; Ji Xinghuo’s rented place at Qindu Tianwu Center wasn’t far either.

"Didn’t you say you’re going home?" Zhao Manying blushed slightly.

"Yes, I did!"

Ji Xinghuo replied naturally, "Isn’t this our home?"

While speaking, he landed at Weiyang Tower, entering Zhao Manying’s home directly from the balcony. Despite no one living there regularly, housekeeping robots kept it clean and tidy.

He glanced around the living room, everything was as it had always been.

In front of the wide one-way floor-to-ceiling window, Ji Xinghuo grabbed Zhao Manying’s hand and pulled her into his embrace.

"Manying."

Ji Xinghuo called softly.

Zhao Manying gazed deeply into his eyes, and the next instant, her emotions that had been brewing for two years burst forth. She wrapped her arms around Ji Xinghuo’s neck, her enthusiastic response surprising even Ji Xinghuo.

The battle was so intense it left the heavens dim and even obliterated the grand way.

Afterwards, they lay on the sofa.

"Manying, this was like rain after a long drought for you." Ji Xinghuo savored the earlier intense moment and joked, "I finally understand the true meaning of that phrase."

Zhao Manying’s face still showed lingering content. She looked up, "Weren’t you too?"

"Of course, I was!"

On the surface, Ji Xinghuo appeared unchanged, but inwardly he sighed with relief, almost slipping up.

Zhao Manying smiled, nestled quietly in his embrace.

Silence filled the living room for a few seconds.

The atmosphere was romantic, yet Ji Xinghuo felt something was off but dared not ask too much, so he changed the topic, "Most of my time in the Star Realm was spent in the True Dragon Dynasty. Not only did I advance to Heavenly King, but I also acquired heaps of loot and brought you back some Alien Species that you’ll surely like."

"Qing Hong!"

Ji Xinghuo called out.

Qing Hong dashed from the guest room next door, its body enlarging, carrying a backpack on its side. It tossed it to Ji Xinghuo and then bolted back to continue watching its cartoons and eating takeout and snacks.

Ji Xinghuo retrieved several prepared Alien Species from the backpack, suspending them in front of them. Zhao Manying was astonished at just a glance.

Among them were several Star-falling Species!