I'm Really Going to Become an Immortal
Chapter 71 - 67: As If In A Different World

Chapter 71: Chapter 67: As If In A Different World

Huang Family Village.

Chen Yun rose from the bench and thanked the old man in front of him over and over again.

He had just come down from the mountain.

He was shirtless; the ragged shirt that he had been wearing had gone up in flames, along with the tattered white robe that was now buried in the ancient mine.

As for his shoes, those were in tatters too, destroyed by his excited leaping between trees.

This wasn’t a testament to the poor quality of the 360-degree brand, it was simply that the slightest exertion in Chen Yun’s movements was too much for ordinary shoes to handle.

And as a well-educated young man with aspirations,

although he killed without blinking an eye, he knew that he was a good boy.

Stealing was not good, unless absolutely necessary.

So, he approached an old man who was sitting and daydreaming at the entrance to Huang Family Village to buy some clothes.

He received a pure cotton shirt with only simple, neatly-shaped patterns, and a loose collar design for easy wearing and removal.

And a pair of white canvas shoes.

However, after chatting for a while, the two of them quite enjoyed their conversation.

It wasn’t until some time later that Chen Yun, who had lost his cash, power bank, data cable, and other items in the fire, remembered to pull out his phone to make a payment.

But the old man immediately refused.

"Young man, it’s fine, I really don’t want your money,"

"It’s nice enough that you could keep an old man company for a while."

The slightly thin but spirited old man waved his hand at Chen Yun.

His voice was full of kindness, without any of the prejudice some city dwellers have toward people from the countryside.

Even living in a mountain village, he maintained a sense of spirit above the average person. However, it was clear there was a touch of loneliness there.

Like many other elderly people left in a village where most of the young and able-bodied had gone off to the city,

he would always gaze into the distance, often moving a stool to sit at the village entrance as if waiting for someone.

Upon seeing this,

Chen Yun fell silent for a moment.

Then he smiled, sat down again, and began chatting and laughing with the old man.

At that moment, he wasn’t the Transcendent.

Just an innocent child who enjoyed talking with the elderly.

Basking in the refreshing cool breeze after the rain,

the topics between the two ranged from rural construction to the current price of pork. They talked about the county government’s visit to the countryside a few months ago to actions taken in response to the national call for environmental protection.

Chen Yun thoroughly enjoyed the conversation and could tell that the old man was enjoying it too; they even felt a sense of regret for not meeting each other sooner.

Until it was close to noon,

Chen Yun, feeling that he shouldn’t impose any longer, declined the old man’s invitation for a meal and walked toward the nearby highway.

The old man watched Chen Yun’s departing figure

and smiled gently.

The old man’s smile, like the warm sun in winter, was warm and comforting. When the corners of his mouth turned up gently, it was as if one could see his enduring love for life and resilience despite the hardships he had faced.

Like an old tree weathered by storms, its branches and leaves may be mottled, but it kept growing towards the sun, exuding a sense of serene detachment.

···························

Three o’clock in the afternoon.

Chen Yun returned to Mingwang New Village in Shucheng.

He still felt as if he had stepped into a different world by the time he reached his apartment and stood at the door.

This trip had been the longest he had been away from home since obtaining his abilities, and even before that, it was rare for him to be absent for such a period.

During his school days, he was like a homebody, never stepping outside. After beginning his job, he kept it to a simple routine between the factory and home.

And after he started writing online novels and could support himself, he had cut out even those routine outings completely.

Other than necessary errands like grocery shopping, taking out the trash, or picking up deliveries, as well as returning to his ancestral home in Jiangnan Province for major family events or the New Year, he hardly ever went out.

If it hadn’t been for a neighbor named Bai Shi, who occasionally suggested outings, he might have rarely ever left the community gate at Mingwang New Village.

Therefore,

this time, enjoying the deep forests by himself, completing a bear fight, a slumber evolution, a moment of martial arts insight, and a murder in the wilderness...

It truly felt like a different lifetime.

It was only the morning of the 16th when he left, and he was back by the afternoon of the 18th.

It was only a few days, but it felt as if he had been gone for several months.

Gazing at his own front door, Chen Yun was about to take out his keys when he suddenly remembered something and stopped.

He knocked on the door of Bai Shi’s house.

Soon the door opened.

Bai Shi emerged, holding a bottle of red wine, with a hint of alcohol on his breath. His expression was one of sorrows drowned in drink.

Behind him, Bai Jin was excitedly bouncing around.

"You’re finally back; Bai Jin’s energy really is exceptionally exuberant."

"The new dog hasn’t been vaccinated yet, so It can’t be taken out for a walk to burn off some energy," Bai Shi said, looking at Chen Yun who had just returned home at noon, unable to resist immediately complaining.

Clearly, he had been quite troubled these past two days.

Chen Yun chuckled upon hearing this, "Haha, he really is a bit energetic."

After speaking, Chen Yun beckoned towards the lively Bai Jin with a hook of his finger.

Seeing this, Bai Jin immediately calmed down and obediently walked out of the door of Bai’s house, sitting neatly by Chen Yun’s feet.

His docile stillness made Bai Shi’s eyes widen in disbelief, as if he had seen a ghost.

"Geez, didn’t you just get this dog a few days ago? Are you a Beast Tamer or something?"

Bai Shi couldn’t help but make such a comment.

He had been kept busy by the restless Bai Jin these days, seldom encountering something that made him feel confused and powerless.

However, Chen Yun’s little trick had really shocked him.

Was it really as simple as just hooking his finger?

Thinking about this, Bai Shi couldn’t help but try to hook his finger at Bai Jin, only to find his finger getting sore without Bai Jin making any move.

Seeing this, Chen Yun shook his head helplessly, "I’ll treat you to a meal next time."

Having said that, he was ready to turn around and go home.

However, Bai Shi suddenly stopped him, expressing himself awkwardly, "Uh, Chen Yun, do you still remember Sun Huwen?"

Chen Yun stopped in his tracks.

Looking at Bai Shi, who had never seemed so awkward and hesitant before, Chen Yun said, "Of course, the bookstore owner you brought over for cards the other day, what about her?"

Sensing Bai Shi’s complex emotions, Chen Yun had a vague idea of what was going on.

"She... she confessed to me yesterday."

"What should I do?"

Bai Shi looked hesitant.

For someone who usually lived a carefree and satisfied life, this was the first time he was so troubled over a woman.

Even when he was extorting the internet-famous store owner, he could casually accept the special services of the bathhouse. Even when he took Chen Yun to the bar to see the world, he could easily pick up a few girls and head to a hotel with them.

But now, faced with a girl’s confession, he was actually a bit panicked.

"What else can you do? If you like her, then accept it."

Chen Yun raised an eyebrow, unsurprised by this.

Before he left for the deep mountains, he had indeed met Sun Huwen and had discussed with this girl some of the little tricks to be mindful of when pursuing Bai Shi.

Now that it had escalated so quickly, it seemed to be very effective by the looks of Bai Shi’s reaction.

"Chen Yun, let me say something from the bottom of my heart. I can fool around, but I can’t truly fall in love."

"To tell the truth, back in the day, I was both a forger of art and an art thief. Nearly every official authority around the globe wants me as a wanted criminal, other than in this country I’m standing in."

"I’m like a bird in a cage, afraid to fly high. Now, I only dare to hide in this familiar and comfortable city, and I need to carefully study a dozen emergency escape routes before I dare visit any other city."

"With such a background, how can I even think of truly being with a girl?"

Bai Shi was conflicted as he spoke.

This was the first time Bai Shi had revealed his identity and inner turmoil. Chen Yun’s power of Emotion Perception allowed him to sense Bai Shi’s nervousness.

Even though he already trusted Chen Yun very much, when he spoke, he still hid a bottle of ether behind his back, capable of making a person faint.

Most likely, he already had escape routes prepared.

Chen Yun’s Transparent World 3.0 perception covered Bai’s house, and he could see an emergency escape package filled with cash, documents, and medicines, as well as a map of the underground sewer network of Shucheng.

Obviously, Bai Shi wouldn’t have risked revealing so much to Chen Yun had it not been for the confounding matter of Sun Huwen.

Regarding this, Chen Yun hesitated for a moment before saying, "There’s nothing to be afraid of, this is the land of Hua Country. If worse comes to worst, you can just develop your future here in Hua Country, and the money you have left should be more than enough for a comfortable retirement, right?"

"And... isn’t that what you’re doing now? What are you afraid of?"

"On this land, at least no enemies will come after you guns blazing."

Chen Yun did not respond to how Bai Shi should reply to Sun Huwen’s confession.

Because he knew that Bai Shi wanted to accept it, and that he was truly moved.

It was just the strong sense of insecurity brought about by his identity that was holding him back from accepting her affection. So, Chen Yun said a few words about the security of the land here.

Following that, he turned and walked back home with Bai Jin.

Next, it was time for Bai Shi to reflect on his own.

When friends face such significant decisions, all you can do is offer a bit of advice. The actual decision-making should still be left to the friend himself.

As for Chen Yun, he was now going to go home and deal with his own affairs.

Such as...

Summarizing some of the general changes brought about by his fourth cycle of slumber evolution and recording them down.

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