36: Chapter 36 Return to Peace

Meanwhile, Bai Luoyao received a friend request from Jiang He.

[Jiang He]: Help me keep an eye on Gu Qingming. Once I'm killed back to level 1, make him release my mom.

Novice Village No. 8063.

Jiang He's figure had just solidified in the white light of the resurrection point, and before he could even clearly see the familiar surroundings, he was led out of the village by several players who had been waiting for a long time.

The other party didn't waste words, just hacked at him with one strike after another.

Each flash of death was accompanied by the system's cold prompt and the sharply dropping level number.

Level 18... Level 17... Level 16...

Time and again, he walked out of the resurrection point, heading towards the execution ground prepared for him.

Inside the Village Chief's thatched hut.

"Young man, you... what is this?" he asked tremblingly, unable to comprehend what was happening.

Jiang He forced an extremely bitter smile.

He began to take off his equipment, piece by piece.

He carefully placed all his equipment into a wooden box and pushed it in front of the Village Chief.

"Village Chief, I have a favor to ask," his voice was hoarse and tired. "These... please find someone destined to receive them and give them away."

He knew too well.

Being killed endlessly like this, his equipment would eventually be completely dropped.

He would rather give them to strangers, to newcomers, than let that group of people outside benefit.

At the same time, he was also soberly aware that his journey in Immortal Domain had come to an end.

He would never let his mother fall into danger a second time.

"Waaah... Big Brother, are you leaving? Are you never coming back?" Xiao Hu suddenly pounced on him, hugging his leg tightly, sobbing uncontrollably.

At this moment, Jiang He's nose tingled, and his eyes felt warm.

He found it hard to believe that he was deeply moved by the sincere emotions shown by an NPC.

He squatted down and gently ruffled Xiao Hu's hair: "Xiao Hu, be good. Big brother just... has some family matters, so I can't play the game for now. When I have time in the future, big brother will definitely log on to see you, okay?"

After a solemn farewell to the Village Chief's family, he turned around again and walked towards the land of his demise waiting outside the village.

"Huh? Did you guys notice? Why did this kid suddenly become so easy to kill?" a player muttered in confusion.

"Nonsense, are you blind? He's dropped to level 8, of course he's easy to kill! Hurry up and finish so we can get off work."

Ten minutes later.

Jiang He's level returned to 1.

He opened his friends list and sent the last message to In-game Name:

[Jiang He]: Tell Gu Qingming and Zhang Zixuan that I'm level 1.

Before logging off, his gaze slowly swept over the familiar names in his friends list: Zhao Yun, Blood Blade, Old Demon, Xiao Yao, Xiao Xue...

He closed his eyes, then with unusual determination, he began to delete friends one by one.

"My brothers are gone."

Exiting the game.

Jiang He sat up from the game pod, and Zhao Yun and Xiao Xue beside him also exited the game almost simultaneously.

"Damn it, that damned Zhang Zixuan, I'm going to fight him to the death!" Zhao Yun stood up and cursed, making a move as if to go and physically fight the other party in reality.

"Alright, it's just a game, are you really going to fight to the death?"

"Waaah... Big brother," Xiao Xue tearfully pounced over, "Don't be sad. My sister and I have already contacted people, lots and lots of experts. They'll help you level up, and you'll be back up quickly. Then we'll go together to get revenge on them and kill them back to Novice Village."

"Thank you, Xiao Xue." Jiang He smiled gently, "But... big brother has to go home first to see my mom. We'll talk about the game later."

At this time, only Bai Luoyao's helmet indicator light was still on.

Jiang He knew that she was demanding his mother's release from Gu Qingming.

A moment later, Jiang He's phone in his pocket vibrated urgently.

Seeing the two words 'Mom' flashing on the screen, his nerves, which had been stretched to their limit, suddenly relaxed, and a hot tear finally rolled uncontrollably down his cheek.

"Hello... Mom..."

Twenty minutes later, Bai Luoyao logged off.

She walked out of the game pod with a trace of fatigue, but more so with relief, only to find that only Zhao Yun and Xiao Xue were left in the living room.

"Where's Jiang He?" Her heart tightened.

"He left." Zhao Yun replied dully, "I originally wanted to go back to Shang City with him, but he wouldn't let me."

Jiang He's words before leaving still echoed in Zhao Yun's ears:

"You play the game well, keep making money. I'm level 1 now, I'm counting on you to support me!"

Zhao Yun's eyes were incredibly firm at the time, and he nodded vigorously, solemnly promising: "Go back and see Auntie without worry. The money-making business, leave it to me."

Three months later.

Chang'an City, Blood Blade sat in the Viscounts Manor.

"Still no news of Jiang He?!"

Zhao Yun shook his head: "No, In-game Name flew there herself to look, but couldn't find him. His villa was sold at a low price long ago, and we've searched all over Shang City, but there's no trace of him."

Since that farewell, Jiang He had vanished as if into thin air.

Before leaving Immortal Domain, he had already made up his mind to completely bid farewell to this game.

He transferred the villa he had recently bought at a low price and quietly returned to Qingyang County with his mother.

His mother's hometown, a peaceful small county.

It held his happiest summer vacation memories from childhood: his grandmother's kind smile, his uncle and aunt's affection, and the scent of fruits wafting through the courtyard.

Qingyang County, Happy Home Community, Da He Supermarket.

"Boss, a pack of Dayun cigarettes."

"Alright, 20." Jiang He deftly took out the cigarettes from the counter and handed them over.

[Ding, WeChat received 20 yuan.]

The 3.5 million from selling the villa, plus the original 1 million or so in his bank account, allowed Jiang He and his mother to live a stable and comfortable life in this small county town.

A two-bedroom, one-living room apartment only cost a little over 200,000.

He didn't plan to look for another job, so he simply took over this small supermarket at the entrance of the community, spending his days behind the counter, idly passing the time by watching Korean dramas.

During this period, Zhao Yun had transferred over a million yuan to his bank card.

But he returned it all.

Finally, he even directly canceled that bank card.

It wasn't that he didn't miss his brothers with whom he had shared hardships, nor that he had forgotten the passionate vows made in the rental house, eating instant noodles together and swearing to make a fortune, buy houses, and marry wives.

It's just... he couldn't do it anymore.

Not bothering them, not appearing, was perhaps the quietest period he could put on that past.

"Boss, four bottles of beer, a pack of Hongtashan, and two tubs of braised beef noodles."

A familiar voice sounded.

Jiang He looked up and saw Li Qing in front of him, with dark circles under his eyes and an excited expression: "You punk, another all-nighter?"

"Haha, definitely! I got lucky last night, dropped a Tier 3 Apocalypse Necklace, and a rich player instantly bought it for five hundred yuan."

Li Qing was a young man from the same community, and like him, he was an Immortal Domain 'brick-mover' (someone who grinds for items/money).

Every time he dropped equipment and exchanged it for money, he would always come to Jiang He's place to buy some beer and instant noodles to relax.

"Alright, five hundred for one night, pretty extravagant. Should you drink two more bottles to celebrate?"

"No, I can't." Li Qing waved his hand, "Just a little bit is enough, I have big plans tonight."

"Big plans?"

"Yeah, I heard news that outside Chang'an City tonight, two groups of big shots are going to fight."

"Fighting?"

"That's right, it seems to be Blood Blade, the number one on the rankings. I heard it's because one of his brothers was killed out of the game by the other side, and he couldn't swallow it, so he challenges them to fights every now and then," Li Qing said, getting more and more excited. "But that's good too, for us scavengers. We occasionally pick up some dropped equipment, it's incredibly satisfying."

A wave of emotion surged in his heart.

This silly kid, if he likes to fight, he should just say so.

He had to use me as an excuse...

Li Qing walked away happily with his things.

Jiang He, however, sat blankly in his chair.

His mind was filled with memories of being with his teammates in Immortal Domain, scenes of challenging dungeons together.

Just then, his phone rang.

"Son, come to Grandma's for dinner tonight."

Jiang He glanced at the time; it was already 5:30 PM.

"Okay, Mom, I'll close the store and head over now."

Locking the shop door, he got into his newly bought used Volkswagen and drove towards the direction in his memory.

Grandma's house was a single-story house with a courtyard.

Jiang He loved summer evenings the most, sitting on a small stool in the courtyard, shirtless, holding a cucumber with soybean paste in one hand and a chilled small beer in the other. It was incredibly comfortable.

Just as the dishes were laid out on the table, his uncle and aunt walked into the courtyard with worried expressions.

Grandma looked over and sighed silently: "Second Son, Juanzi, come and eat with us."

His uncle sat heavily on a nearby stool, his brows furrowed into a knot: "Mom, you all eat. I... I can't eat."

Grandma secretly wiped a tear from the corner of her eye, then turned her head, her voice choked with emotion, and said to his aunt: "Juanzi, will you eat something?"

"No, Mom," his aunt forced a smile, "We'll just sit for a bit and then leave."

At this moment, Jiang He also put down his chopsticks.

His gaze inadvertently swept over a bag his aunt was carrying.

It was actually the cheapest Immortal Domain game helmet on the market!?