聂言
Chapter 1 As Usual

Nie Yan logged out of the game as usual, drank a glass of nutrient solution, and was about to start studying and exercising when he suddenly heard urgent knocking on the door, thump, thump, thump.

Not knowing who it was, Nie Yan stood up and opened the door. Two familiar figures came into view: his parents were back!

The contours of Nie Yan's father's face were very similar to Nie Yan's. Although he was only in his forties, he already had a lot of gray hair. He was wearing a smart suit, and his heroic figure and upright posture unconsciously revealed the temperament of a soldier. Nie Yan's mother was a beauty when she was young, but as time passed, some crow's feet had appeared at the corners of her eyes, but one could still feel her dignified and elegant temperament, which was completely different from that of ordinary townspeople. Perhaps this was the reason why Nie Yan's mother was out of place among her relatives and friends.

Nie Yan's parents were travel-worn, their faces full of fatigue, probably having not closed their eyes for days.

"Dad, Mom." Nie Yan's nose tingled, and tears filled his eyes. Too many things had happened in his past and present lives. Seeing his parents again, he couldn't help but feel a mixture of grief and joy.

"Xiao Yan, I'm sorry for leaving you alone at home." Nie Yan's mother put her arms around Nie Yan, choked with sobs. They had left Nie Yan behind, which was really a last resort. "Mom and Dad are back."

"Mom and Dad, it's okay, I understand. It's good that you're back safe and sound." Nie Yan said. He understood his parents' difficulties. Having been reborn once, he was no longer the ignorant fool he used to be. Being able to see his parents again was a gift from God.

"Xiao Yan seems to have grown taller and stronger." Nie Yan's mother said lovingly.

"Mom and Dad, you haven't closed your eyes for days, have you? Go and rest."

Nie Yan seemed to be much more sensible than before. Nie Yan's father looked at Nie Yan, and his usually stern face also showed a bit of kind and amiable smile.

"I said boys should learn to be independent. You spoil him too much. During this time we were away, Nie Yan has become a lot more sensible." Nie Yan's father said with a hearty smile.

Nie Yan's father was a rigid person, and the two had never had much communication. As a result, Nie Yan always felt a sense of estrangement from his father when he was young. But after being reborn, Nie Yan also understood that the ways fathers and mothers expressed their love were different.

The family was finally reunited. Nie Yan's mother was surprised to find that Nie Yan could actually cook, and his skills were not bad, which made her very gratified. It seemed that during the time they were away, Nie Yan had indeed learned to be independent and was more down-to-earth and stable than before, and his figure had become much stronger, which made her very happy.

During dinner, the atmosphere was harmonious and warm, and the feeling made Nie Yan, who had lived two lives, once again realize how hard-won happiness was. A strong belief slowly grew in his heart: he must have enough power to protect this family.

"Let A-Chen come over to eat together. He's been helping us with everything during this time, and he's suffered a lot with us." Nie Yan's mother said. A-Chen in her mouth was one of Nie Yan's cousins, who had been very close to Nie Yan's family since childhood. He had gone out with Nie Yan's parents during this time.

"Don't be nosy. He finally went home for a visit. Let him spend more time with his family." Nie Yan's father scolded.

Nie Yan's mother smiled, thinking that was right.

"We should pay back the money we borrowed from Luo Ming and the others." Nie Yan's father said. When he borrowed money in the first place, Luo Ming and the others had made things difficult for him. This time, he returned home in glory, finally feeling proud. The money he earned on the border was enough to pay back the money and ensure that his family would have no worries about food and clothing. Moreover, he had made connections and would soon be able to start a company, with a bright future ahead.

"I've already paid back the money they lent." Nie Yan said, sneering in his heart when he thought of these relatives. He wanted his parents to draw a clear line with this so-called relatives starting today.

"What did you say?" Nie Yan's father was stunned. Nie Yan paid back the money?

"During the time Mom and Dad were away, my uncle and the others came to our house several times to demand payment. As a last resort, I had to borrow some money from Yaozi to pay off the debt first." Nie Yan said.

"Bastard! Those bastards Luo Ming!" Nie Yan's father's face was frosty, and he slammed the table heavily. Although Nie Yan didn't say anything when he spoke, he could imagine how much Nie Yan had suffered. The reason why they left Nie Yan at home in the first place was because the border was too dangerous to take Nie Yan with them, and on the other hand, it was to reassure Luo Ming and the others. However, during the time they were away, Luo Ming and the others actually demanded payment from a child who was alone at home, forcing Nie Yan to borrow money from his classmates to pay it off. This was too much. Even a clay Buddha has some temper.

Nie Yan's mother was also very angry. Luo Ming was Nie Yan's uncle, how could he do this!

"Since all the money has been paid back, then forget it. From now on, we will sever ties with them. Our family doesn't have such relatives! But we have to pay back the money to Yaozi. Let's find a time to treat Yaozi to a meal. We're very grateful for his help this time." Nie Yan's father said. He was full of guilt towards Nie Yan. Fortunately, Nie Yan had matured. Otherwise, if an eighteen-year-old child was left with any psychological trauma because of this, they would be guilty for the rest of their lives.

"Yeah, I'll call Yaozi tonight and ask him to come over for dinner tomorrow." Nie Yan said. He had been thinking about why Luo Ming and the others came to demand payment during this time. Maybe it had something to do with that woman Lin Jia. But anyway, things had passed, and he didn't need to dwell on it. Luo Ming and the others' demand for payment directly led to his parents breaking with them. When his father started a company, he would naturally not let these so-called relatives squeeze into the company. Lin Jia had actually helped Nie Yan a lot.

"When should we invite Lao Lin and Lao Liu to our house? We owe them a lot this time too." Nie Yan's father said. Those relatives were not as good as these old comrades who had shared life and death with him.

"Yes." Nie Yan's mother nodded.

The family chatted until late at night.

"Mom and Dad, get some rest early, so you'll have the energy for tomorrow!" Nie Yan said. He was actually in his twenties, but he was stuck in an eighteen-year-old body, so he had no choice but to act sensible to please his parents.

"You should get some rest early too." Nie Yan's mother touched Nie Yan's head and said lovingly.

Although Nie Yan's father didn't say anything, Nie Yan could feel that he was extremely happy in his heart.

Returning to his room from the living room, Nie Yan lay on the bed. His parents were back, and this feeling was extremely comfortable. Today was the most peaceful day he had had since his rebirth. He glanced at the helmet lying quietly by the bed. Many things would happen in the future, but everything was developing steadily. No matter what, he would never let his family repeat its old path.

For three consecutive days, Nie Yan entered the game at night to farm quests and dungeons, and accompanied his parents to visit relatives and friends during the day. People like Luo Ming, his aunt, and his aunt were in the minority after all. There were still many relatives who had helped their family when they were in difficulty. His parents went around to visit them, invited Tang Yao to their house for a meal, and visited Uncle Lin and Uncle Liu, as well as Nie Yan's cousin A-Chen.

On the third day, Nie Yan's father began to nervously prepare for the company's affairs. He had finally made contact with the other side, and if he didn't start the company quickly, the connection would easily be broken.

Registering a company was not a troublesome matter in itself. With fixed business and recruiting some people, it could be put into operation. Nie Yan's father was doing a lucrative business, and he didn't have to worry about the market. Someone on the other side shipped the goods over, and the country immediately bought them at a high price. Otherwise, Nie Yan's father would not have seized huge wealth in just one or two years in his previous life. Of course, after the company expanded, he also did legitimate business, but that was just to cover people's eyes.

Since his father's side started smoothly, Nie Yan could focus his attention on *Faith*.

Re-entering the game, he checked the quest status: 11997/12000.

He only needed three more to complete this stage of the quest. Nie Yan continued to kill Headless Knights. Anyway, it had always been like this, and he was already numb. He killed three more.

System: You have completed Quest Progress 5 and received the title of Intermediate Demon Hunter.

This quest was really difficult to do. If there was another Quest Progress 6, Nie Yan would definitely go crazy. He checked the status attributes of the Intermediate Demon Hunter. All human kingdoms' Respect +12, all nearby dark creatures' attributes -20%, comes with the skills Scare and Intimidate.

Scare: Can cause the target creature to enter a state of fear and stiffness for 2 seconds, range 3 yards.

Intimidate: When this skill is used, it can disperse nearby monsters, lasting 10 minutes. It is ineffective against monsters above level 20.

Scare was a short-range control skill, which was very good. It could be used in PK and killing monsters. As for Intimidate, it was quite useful when farming monsters. Most importantly, with the Intimidate skill, he seemed to be able to enter the temple in the center of the Illusionary Realm.

The rewards for Beginner Undead Hunter, Intermediate Undead Hunter, and Advanced Undead Hunter were not bad, but they were just symbolic. It was not until the title became Beginner Demon Hunter and Intermediate Demon Hunter that the rewards for this quest became truly generous!

Nie Yan checked his Respect value. His previous Respect value was already 19 points, plus 12 points of Respect bonus, his total Respect value in Carol was 31 points. Now it didn't matter if he returned to Carol City in a red-name state! The guards would not kill him!

Immediately afterward, Nie Yan received another quest.

System: Congratulations on completing a round of quests, Strength +10, Agility +10, Intelligence +10.

System: Quest Progress 6, kill undead creatures above level 30, quantity 0/50000.

When Nie Yan saw the words Quest Progress 6, he almost had the urge to kill someone, but he breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that it was not Headless Knights. This quest only required him to kill 50,000 undead creatures above level 30, and it didn't require him to complete it here. He could do it outside as well. He wondered what the rewards were for the Advanced Demon Hunter title. Also, was the Advanced Demon Hunter title the highest level, or were there more?