Chapter One: The Demon Gourd

A small bridge over flowing water, withered trees, and cawing crows.

Henry Carter walked along this increasingly familiar path, watching the nameless wildflowers by the roadside blooming in full splendor. He felt as if he could fly. At this moment, he wished he could soar straight home to see his parents.

"Yellow Stone Slope!" Looking at the yellow hillside ahead, Henry Carter couldn't help but feel a surge of joy in his heart. Once he crossed Yellow Stone Slope, it would be only five li to his home in Yi Family Village. After three years away, his hometown was about to appear beneath his feet.

Father, mother, Little Niu, Er Dan... One by one, their figures flashed through Henry Carter's mind. Unable to hide his excitement, his steps quickened. If anyone saw Henry Carter walking at this moment, they would be astonished, for each stride he took was three times faster than an ordinary person's.

Anyone able to reach such speed would at least have martial skills at the third rank, and for someone so young to reach the third rank, there were not many in the entire Da Luo Kingdom.

"Chu boy, is that you, Chu boy?" A delighted voice came from an old farmer returning with a hoe on his shoulder. Looking at the spirited face of Henry Carter, he called out in disbelief.

Hearing this familiar yet distant voice, Henry Carter stopped in his tracks. He glanced at the old farmer in coarse clothes and then exclaimed, "Uncle Clark, Uncle Clark, how is your health?"

"Hahaha, it really is Chu boy! You’ve come back from the army?" Uncle Clark looked at Henry Carter's fitted blue uniform and asked joyfully.

"Yes, Uncle Clark, I’ve come back from the army. The war between our country and Duoluo has ended, and His Majesty the Emperor let us all return home." Speaking of the war's end, Henry Carter's face showed a trace of happiness. If not for the end of the war, he didn't know when he would have been able to return.

"Good, finally no more war. No more war is good, child. A day in the army, a thousand years in the world!" Uncle Clark tapped his pipe on the ground and said with a trembling voice.

Home is still the best. Looking at the shriveled Uncle Clark, who resembled an old elm tree, and thinking of his loving parents, Henry Carter's eyes grew hot and his heart softened, as if it were soaking in a sun-warmed mountain pool.

Watching Henry Carter's cheerful figure, Uncle Clark muttered to himself, "Poor child."

This was the first time Uncle Clark called Henry Carter "child." He knew that after this moment of happiness, this child, this unfortunate child, would never be happy again!

Uncle Clark's sigh was not heard by Henry Carter, who was now completely immersed in the joy of returning home. At seventeen, he had gone to war in his father's place. Three years of fighting on the battlefield, countless flashes of blades, brushes with death, years of bloodshed—Henry Carter had changed a lot. He was stronger, more open-minded, and his features had grown broad and bright. The boy of the past had become a passionate young man ready to shoulder responsibility.

He was back—finally, he had made it back alive!

Looking at the familiar land of his hometown, Henry Carter's heart pounded wildly, like a forest full of joyful birds set free.

He finally reached the village entrance! This place that had haunted his dreams countless times! Henry Carter fought back tears, his face wearing a gentle, clear smile as he greeted the familiar yet distant villagers.

In his excitement, Henry Carter didn't notice the strange expressions of his neighbors. His heart was so full of happiness that there was no room for anything else!

At this moment, he wished he could leap straight home to see if his father still liked to carry that dark wine gourd, savoring his drink in the corner of the kang; and whether his capable mother had steamed those fragrant, sweet jujube buns.

"Henry Carter ge, you’re back?" A sturdy man looked at Henry Carter and called out in surprise.

Overwhelmed with emotion, Henry Carter looked at the changed face before him, stepped forward and punched the man: "Brian Clark, you rascal, I can’t believe you’ve grown even taller than me after a few years!" As he spoke, he patted his childhood friend a couple of times, then continued on toward his home.

"Henry Carter ge..." Brian Clark looked after Henry Carter's receding figure with pity, a trace of worry on his face. He shouted something loudly, but didn't know if Henry Carter could hear him.

"Brian Clark, I’m heading home first. When it’s time to eat, call Little Niu and come to my place. Let’s have a good drink together." Henry Carter shouted without turning his head.

Turning a corner, he was almost home. A crooked elm tree appeared in Henry Carter's sight from afar.

Later, Henry Carter would think: from heaven to hell, it turns out it takes less than three years!