"You're right, son," Sun Caiying chuckled, "I was just scaring myself. We've lived here for years, and nothing's ever happened."
"If there were any unclean spirits, we'd have encountered them by now."
"Alright, alright, hurry home and get ready."
"Your girlfriend's family is arriving soon."
"We need to host them well today."
"If this union with that family works out, we'll truly prosper!"
------
Just as he left the imperial palace.
Chen Nan received a call from Li Mu.
The guy was back in the capital from a business trip and had prepared food and drinks, inviting Chen Nan to his home.
Chen Nan didn't hesitate for a moment and drove to Li Mu's place.
Regarding this former guardian.
His brother who had shared life and death with him.
Chen Nan was stunned when he saw him: "Holy cow, have you gained thirty pounds? Did you lose your manhood?"
Li Mu used to be lean and upright.
But now.
He had become as round as a ball.
Li Mu burst into laughter: "Don't you think this is great?"
Chen Nan shrugged, unable to deny it.
Li Mu's transformation into a ball suggested he had lived a very good decade.
This also indicated.
That the mortal world was truly peaceful.
Indeed, it was a good thing.
It reminded him of the profession of firefighters.
Many people dreamed of firefighters being unemployed.
This would signify no fires and no casualties.
"Come, come, try my cooking," Li Mu warmly invited Chen Nan to sit.
"Your sister!" Chen Nan's mouth twitched, "How does hot pot show off your cooking skills? Can you be any more perfunctory?"
Li Mu laughed heartily: "I'm telling you, it's only because you're back. Otherwise, I wouldn't even bother with hot pot; I'd just get some takeout."
"Besides, with our years of friendship, does what we eat really matter?"
"Even delicacies from land and sea can't compare to our brotherhood!"
"I won't argue with you on that," Chen Nan said, "But you haven't prepared enough drinks."
"No big deal, I'll have some delivered by takeout right away," Li Mu said, pulling out his phone. "You've just returned; you haven't experienced the speed of delivery these days, have you?"
"Let me tell you, delivery speed now is so much faster than ten years ago; everything arrives super quickly!"
"Come, come!"
"Let's drink first!"
The two men sat by the induction cooker, shirtless, with the air conditioning on, eating hot pot.
Li Mu, curious, asked Chen Nan about his experiences in the underworld. Then, he seemed to recall something and chuckled, "You went to the underworld? Did you meet King Yama? Are you familiar with him? Why don't you ask him to erase my name from the Book of Life and Death?"
"I want to be immortal like that monkey."
Chen Nan felt awkward.
Why did he have to test my area of expertise?
Li Mu raised an eyebrow and asked with a smile, "What's wrong? You're not familiar with King Yama? Is this difficult for you? Aren't you known for being invincible wherever you go?"
Chen Nan rolled his eyes at him.
With a raise of his hand, a thick Book of Life and Death and a Judge's brush appeared in his palm.
He then looked at the dumbfounded Li Mu: "Such trivial matters can be handled by myself, why bother King Yama?"
"Holy hell!"
Li Mu suddenly stood up, letting out a piercing scream, "Is this really the Book of Life and Death and the Judge's brush?"
"Tell me, am I awesome or what!" Chen Nan grinned carelessly.
Perhaps only in front of Li Mu.
Could he revert to his carefree youthful self.
And boast about his current achievements.
Li Mu's scalp tingled: "You son of a bitch, how did you do this? How do you have these two items?"
Chen Nan opened his left palm, and two spheres appeared in his hand.
One was filled with dense spiritual energy, with beautiful mountains and rivers, and magnificent scenery.
The other was shrouded in yin energy, immensely grim, causing a palpitation.
"What are these?"
"The Immortal Realm and the Underworld."
"These two worlds have long since become a part of my body."
"I am not only the Lord of the Immortal Realm."
"But also the Lord of the Underworld," Chen Nan declared proudly, raising his beer and draining it.
"Therefore, even without erasing your name from the Book of Life and Death, you can achieve immortality."
"As long as I don't want you to die."
Li Mu, recovering from his shock, asked shyly, "I feel like our brotherhood can be deepened. Uh, do you like men?"
Chen Nan looked disgusted: "Can you stop grossing me out?"
Li Mu burst into laughter, then a hint of sadness crossed his face, "Now that you're so omnipotent, can you resurrect Meng Kuo and Hong Yu?"
Chen Nan thought of the fat man and the woman who always wore a red cheongsam.
They had met an unfortunate end during the era of cultivators.
This had become Li Mu's lifelong pain.
"Give it some time!"
Chen Nan also wanted to resurrect them. If they were still alive.
Today's hot pot meal would have been even livelier and warmer.
However.
Meng Kuo and Qin Hongyu had died more than a decade before he became the Lord of the Underworld.
And their souls had long since scattered.
Even he couldn't resurrect them.
But.
As long as Chen Nan could rebuild the Heavenly Court and engrave their names on the Pillar of Merit.
They would not only be resurrected but also attain divine positions.
"I believe you!" Li Mu did not doubt Chen Nan's words, a flicker of longing appearing in his eyes, "If our brothers are reunited, I'll personally cook."
"And then we'll drink until we drop!"
Chen Nan retorted without mercy: "Forget it, let's just have hot pot. I don't trust your cooking."
Li Mu roared indignantly: "You son of a bitch, be a decent person! My cooking is also superb."
Chen Nan burst into laughter.
He felt like a pervert.
Being insulted, yet feeling warm.
And this warmth.
Only Li Mu in the entire world could bring him.
"Come, come, let me show you how your parents, wife, and sister are living in the Immortal Realm," Chen Nan formed a seal with one hand, and two projections appeared in the void.
They were Li Mu's parents, wife, and sister in the Immortal Realm.
Seeing them.
Li Mu's eyes welled up with tears.
"Do you want to see them?" Chen Nan asked softly.
Li Mu wiped away his tears and smiled, "See what? With you taking care of them, I'm at ease."
He considered himself an unqualified son and an unqualified husband.
Because he had failed to fulfill his duties as a son.
Nor had he fulfilled his responsibilities as a husband.
But he didn't regret his choices.
After all.
Someone had to sacrifice their family for the greater good.
Even in this era of peace.
Some people had to carry the burden.
"Ding dong!"
The doorbell suddenly rang.
Li Mu smiled and said, "What did I say earlier? Meituan delivery, everything arrives fast! Whether it's medicine or food, you can buy what you want in a short time without leaving home."
Chen Nan: "Then let's drink to our heart's content!"
Time slipped away, and it was dark.
A large pile of wine bottles had accumulated under their feet.
Yet, they seemed to have endless topics of conversation, drinking heartily.
Meanwhile.
Zhou Wenshu found a ghost and politely asked, "Could you perhaps go and scare a fellow named Chen Nan?"