4 Chapter 4

[Read Notes at the Bottom. Please...]

Chapter 5

After their heartfelt reunion, the family of three and Julian now sat around the table. Noelle was enjoying the mini-sized pizzas Jason made. Thea and Julian were also a bit surprised that he can now cook.

"I didn't know you could actually cook now." Julian murmured looking at Jason. She was a witness of how terrible Jason cooked in the past and she had experienced it first hand.

Thea smiled, not bothered that her husband can now cook. She had been looking at Jason since the beginning, not looking away even when Noelle tried attracting her attention.

"What? Is there something on my face?" Jason asked. He had noticed that Thea had been looking at him, quite intensely.

Thea shook her head, "I'm just happy that you're back." She smiled.

"I can see that." Jason also smiled.

Julian seeing that they were all lovey-dovey again in front of her, she immediately stopped them and this earned a giggle from Noelle.

"What are you laughing at brat!?" Noelle giggled at her aunt's fake anger, she was having the time of her life. Her mama is happy, her papa is back, her aunt Julian… well, still aunt Julian.

"So, Jason, where were you?" Thea finally asked the question that was bugging her for five years. She thought that her question won't be answered but it seems like she can now finally find the answer to it.

Julian also turn to look at Jason, her expression was that of worry and anticipation. She was also curious to know where her brother had gone to these five years. Noelle was happily eating, not knowing how heavy the atmosphere was. The pizza cooked by her papa was just too good to ignore. Because Thea and Julian still hadn't eaten, they had no idea how terrifying his cooking was, but seeing Noelle's happy expression they can deduce that it was good.

Jason sighed as he knew that they would eventually ask this question, he did not planning on hiding it from them, he trusts his family. But he knows that if others were to find out about this, they will be in great danger. He came up with a complex plan in just seconds, the two didn't know that Jason had just planned what will be his actions for the next two years.

"Let's wait for mom and dad, okay?" Jason said to them, Thea and Julian nodded their heads. Julian was surprised that Jason knew their parents were coming but she decided to wait and ask him later.

"In the meantime, how about you guys taste my pizza?"

Julian looked at him suspiciously while Thea just nodded and took a piece of pizza. Throwing it into her mouth and taking a bite, her eyes widened as the pleasant taste traveled from her mouth towards her whole body. Which doesn't even make any sense.

When Julian sees Thea convulsing, she expected the worse. She looked at her brother angrily but only saw his smile. She turned to look at Thea and saw her blissful smile, Thea then took another piece of pizza and eat it.

"Is it really that good?" Julian asked. Thea nodded her head as she busied herself with the food. "Auntie, it's really, really, good. Papa's food is really, really good." Julian decided to trust her adorable niece as she took a piece of pizza and took a bite.

Her eyes widened, she turned to look at Jason and saw his smile. Her hands moved on their own as they reached for another piece of pizza.

***

*Ding *Dong

Even though Jason had perfect control of his emotions, knowing that he will be seeing his parents after five years of separation and the pain he had caused to them. His eyes unexpectedly moistened as he opened the door.

Standing in front of him was an old couple, the woman was shot and her hair was a mixture of gray and black, her eyes were already red as her face was covered with tears. As soon as she saw him, she immediately hugged him very tightly.

"Jaja!" Jason smiled upon hearing his mother call him in his nickname. No matter how old he already was, she never changed the way how she called him. Because of her, he will always be the mischievous little boy who always wants to make his parents proud.

"Mom," He said as he then turns to the man behind his mother. "Dad." The man nodded at him but Jason can clearly see crystal clear tears on his face. Jason's father had always been strict with him, as he was the only male other than him in their family, he was expected to be the one protecting his mother and sister in the future.

His father's hair was all grey, unlike his mother who still has some black hair. Jason can see that his father was tired, the wrinkles on his forehead have multiplied and he can see the lack of sleep in his eyes.

Jason's heart ached upon seeing the man who was once always standing straight was now slightly hunched due to his age. Although he was still the great man he once knew when he was a kid, he was now an aged old man still working hard for his family. Because his son had disappeared for five years.

This had just made Jason even more determined to complete his plans so that his family can live a good life. Although he was certain that he can complete it, he now wants to shorten the time to one year.

"Mom, Dad, come in. I'll explain everything inside."

"As long as you're here son, everything else doesn't matter." His mother, Ofelia said. Wiping the tears on her eyes as she looked at her son, who had not changed even a tiny bit.

"You guys deserved to know everything." Even though Jason did not intend to tell them that he had faced death numerous times. They were already worried enough he does not want them to be even more worried.

The trio entered the house, Ofelia and Glenn saw their daughter Julian sitting with their daughter-in-law Thea. Their granddaughter Noelle who saw them entering immediately rushed towards them.

"Little Elle…" Ofelia smiled as she prepared to hug Noelle, but who would have thought that the little girl would beeline towards Jason.

"Papa!" She jumped into Jason's embrace. Jason smiled proudly seeing his mother's disappointed expression.

"Sweetie, grandma, and grandpa is here. What do you say to them?"

"Good morning."

"Right, and then?"

"Welcome?" Noelle tilted her head in confusion.

Ofelia and Glenn just smiled fondly at the little girl, she always gives them a reason to smile. Ever since she appeared, Ofelia and Glenn were not too stress anymore as every time they came here to visit, it would all go away because of her.

"Thea." Ofelia greeted Thea as she then turned her attention towards her daughter. "You just sent us the news but did not bother to come and get us?" she sternly looked at her daughter.

"Ah, hehe…" Julian had nothing to say as she was too happy to think straight earlier. Glenn seeing her daughter acting foolishly again, began to think whether she was just acting to be matured, and now that her brother is back, she's returning to her usual self.

"Dad, you're here too." Julian greeted Glenn when she saw him looking at her. Glenn stared at her but did not say anything.

"Oh come on! Am I the only one to be blamed here?"

Everyone turned to look at her, Noelle nodded her head and said, "Yes."

Julian felt betrayed as everyone laughed at her expression, Noelle was laughing exaggeratingly as Julian charged at her trying to tickle her. The family was harmonious as the sounds of laughter and bantering can be heard.

***

"Is she asleep now?" Thea asked softly as she stared at Noelle lying on her bed.

"Yes. She must have been really exhausted, she's sleeping so soundly." Jason nodded as he closed the door. Making sure not to make any sound that can wake up the sleeping princess inside.

Jason turned to look at the standing Thea in front of him, who was also looking at him. The two of them had not met each other for five years and had to restrain themselves because of their daughter and his family.

He approached Thea as he enveloped her into a tight hug. Thea hugged him into a tight hug. The two of them remained standing there for several seconds, enjoying the warmth of each other.

"I'm back" Jason whispered into Thea's ears.

"Yes." Thea nodded as she sobbed softly.

"I'm sorry."

"It's okay."

"I was useless."

"No, you're not."

"Thank you."

"You're welcome."

Jason separated himself from their hug but Thea was still in his embrace. The two of them looked at each other as their faces came closer. Their lips meet as they kissed in a not so passionate kiss but a one filled with all of their feelings for five years.

Their lips separated as a smile appeared on their faces. Jason kissed Thea's forehead as she closed her eyes to enjoy the moment. The feeling of being love and loving someone, they both missed these feelings.

Hugging each other for several seconds, they separated again knowing that there are others waiting for them. Jason held unto Thea's hand as the two of them came downstairs.

In the living room were Ofelia, Glenn, and Julian talking with each other. Julian was telling them about her cultivation level, she bragged about reaching Rank-7. Glenn was telling her not to be arrogant just because she has a high cultivation level, Ofelia on the other hand scolded him because he's not letting Julian celebrate her achievement.

When Jason and Thea walked into the living room, Ofelia noticed them and then gestured them to sit beside them. Holding Thea's hands, Jason sat beside his sister with Thea on the other side.

Ofelia and Julian had already stopped talking as Glenn straightened his back as he seriously stared at Jason. He turned to look at Julian, Ofelia, Thea, and then finally at Jason.

He asks, "Son, where were you in the past five years?"

Jason felt Thea tightened her grip on his hands, he smiled at her assuredly and answered his father's question.

"Dad, a lot of things happened to me during these five years. Most of these things are something that anyone can just see in their lifetime." Jason said as he continued, "It all started when I was on a journey to look for new land with my companions. I don't really know them and our group was just formed because we have the same goal. I wanted to go alone but I know my limits but I didn't expect them to cheat me and robbed me of my stuff."

"The companions you're telling us must be the ones who encountered a Transcended Monster," Thea said as she remembered the news five years ago. She saw the other half of the necklace Jason had given to her. Thea grabbed the necklace she was wearing as she smiled thinking that even though the necklace did not come back, at least the owner did.

"I don't know about that, but if they did, then it is good." Jason did not think much of it. They robbed him of his things, even though he didn't care about most of the stuff he brought, there was one particular necklace that holds sentimental value.

"I was also chased by a monster at that time, although it was not a Transcended Monster, it was close to being one. From what I could remember, it was a Rank-9 Single-Horned Terror."

Everyone gasped upon hearing what was the monster chasing after Jason. Especially Thea and Julian as a former and an aspiring adventurer, they knew the horror of fighting against a Single-Horned Terror.

Just from its name, one can already imagine how frightening it was. There's a reason why it was called a Single-Horned Terror, it was a lion-like monster with six legs, grotesque five faces that looks human-like, hence the word Terror in its name.

"Y-You were chased by a Single-Horned Terror?!" Thea gripped Jason's arms as she stared at him, wide-eyed. Julian was also worried as she looked at him anxiously. Ofelia put her hands together on her chest as she gasped while Glenn's façade always putting a serious face faltered as he gazed at his son, worried.

"Yes. But at that time, I fell into a personal dimension."

"What?! You escaped from it?" Julian asked. Then she realized that she was focusing on the wrong thing as she noticed everyone looking at her.

"Ehem… continue."

Jason stared at her for a second before continuing, "In that personal dimension, there were monsters stronger than Transcended Monsters. Their numbers were also astronomical that I lost hope."

Everyone listened to his story silently, they imagined the scene of him seeing monster stronger than Transcended Monsters. They all felt a shiver in their spines and they wondered how he had even managed to persevere at that moment.