I rode the War-Wave Blade, streaking through the air as a thread of light too faint to catch the eye, and landed without a sound on the rooftop of the old residential complex. The familiar smell of cooking oil and green growing things drifting up from the courtyard below was a thousand times better than the wicked miasma of Black Reef Island.

"System, scan the apartment for spiritual-energy fluctuations," I said inwardly.

"Lady Jade Lin's qi and blood are calm and steady. Young Master River is doing just fine as well — no abnormal spiritual reactions detected." The old geezer's voice carried its usual lazy drawl. "Relax, rookie. Your wife and your little brat are perfectly okay. You, on the other hand, reek of blood and carnage — get down there and wash up before you scare the kid."

I grinned and rubbed my nose. The gore from the battle at Black Reef Island had long since been shaken off by my spiritual energy, but that faint undercurrent of killing intent still clinging to me did need to be dealt with.

I pushed open the front door. The warm amber light of the entryway wrapped around me instantly. Jade Lin poked her head out from the kitchen, apron tied around her waist. When she saw me her eyes lit up for a fraction of a second — then she put on a straight face. "Where the hell have you been? Gone for days again."

River was sprawled on the sofa watching cartoons. He whipped around at her words and came flying at me without even stopping to put on his slippers. "Daddy! You're back! Did you bring me a star from the seaside?"

I bent down and scooped him up. The solid, warm weight of his little body settled something in my chest. "The stars are too big to carry, but Daddy brought something even better."

Jade Lin came out carrying a dish and looked me over. "From the look of you, you were out there fighting again, weren't you?" She reached over to brush the dust from my shoulder, but her fingertips froze the moment they touched my clothes. "Wait — the energy coming off you... it feels different somehow?"

"Different how?" I played dumb, though privately I was rather pleased with myself. After advancing to the late Foundation-Building stage, my spiritual energy had drawn inward to settle in my cinnabar field. An ordinary person would never sense it unless I pushed it outward — but the people who lived alongside you day and night might catch a faint trace of the change.

"I can't quite put my finger on it," Jade Lin said, frowning. "You just seem... sharper. More alert. You're even standing straighter."

"Of course I am. Your husband here has been training, you know." I laughed and reached into my qiankun pouch, drawing out the translucent jade vial. "Here — I brought you both something good."

Jade Lin leaned in, curious. "What is this? Wild honey?"

"Better than honey by a long shot." I carefully twisted out the stopper. An indescribable fragrance unfurled through the entire apartment in an instant — a blending of spirit herbs and mountain spring water that sharpened the mind on contact. Even River, who had been mid-yawn, suddenly sniffed the air with wide-open nostrils.

Ding! Remaining efficacy of Marrow-Cleansing Spirit Liquid detected: sufficient to nourish three to five individuals. Jade Lin physical constitution assessment: mortal constitution, latent trace of Water Spirit Root; River physical constitution assessment: Innate Spirit Body, suitable for cultivation.

The system chime rang through my mind, and a surge of elation followed. As I had hoped — Jade Lin had a spirit root, and River was an Innate Spirit Body.

"Mama, look! Daddy's bottle is glowing!" River pointed at the vial, eyes stretched perfectly round. Inside, the Marrow-Cleansing Spirit Liquid swirled under the lamplight with an amber luminescence, shifting gently as though it were alive.

"This is Marrow-Cleansing Spirit Liquid," I said with quiet gravity. "Drinking it will strengthen your body, and it may even allow you to..." I paused and met Jade Lin's eyes. "...to sense spiritual energy. The way I can."

Jade Lin stared at me, then broke into an exasperated laugh. "Ethan Lu, have you cultivated yourself brain-dead? Sense spiritual energy — I think you've just worked yourself into exhaustion."

"Whether I'm brain-dead or not, you'll know once you try it." I let two drops of the spirit liquid fall into each of two cups of warm water I had ready. The liquid dissolved the moment it touched the water, leaving both cups perfectly crystalline and releasing a fragrance richer still.

"River, you first." I held out one cup to my son.

River sniffed it with great interest. "Daddy, this water smells so nice — like a magic potion from a cartoon!" He gulped it down in several quick swallows and smacked his lips. "It's sweet! Really yummy!"

Almost at once his little cheeks flushed a deep rosy red, like a perfectly ripened apple. Then he shot a finger toward the ceiling and cried out in wonder: "Daddy! Mama! Look! There are lots and lots of sparkly dots flying around up there!"

Jade Lin and I both looked up — and saw nothing but an ordinary ceiling. But I knew exactly what was happening: the spirit liquid had awakened River's pure constitution, and he was beginning to see the drifting motes of free spiritual energy in the air.

"System, check River's status."

Ding! After consuming the Marrow-Cleansing Spirit Liquid, Young Master River's physical body has been strengthened to the equivalent of the Third Layer of Qi Refinement. Spiritual sense has been preliminarily awakened; he can now perceive low-grade spiritual-energy fluctuations.

"Whoa! Daddy, look! One of the sparkly dots landed on my hand!" River spread his small fingers wide with a gasp of delight. We couldn't see what he was seeing, but the wonder on his face was absolutely real.

Jade Lin stared at him, utterly speechless. "Does that mean..." she whispered, "...spiritual energy is actually real?"

"Your turn." I held out the second cup to her.

End of Chapter 77: Homecoming