Chapter 129: Earth

The vibrant parrot outside the window continued its relentless pecking at the glass, while the three people inside the room wore nuanced expressions.

Father Chen and Mother Jin immediately turned their heads to look at Chen Shi Jin, both pairs of eyes filled with straightforward curiosity.

When did you acquire the colorful macaw?

Father Chen even pushed up his gold-rimmed glasses, inspecting the parrot's feathers and outline meticulously. Gradually, a look of astonishment appeared in his eyes: "Hiss... This parrot... It seems to be an exclusive species from South America, an internationally protected endangered animal, right?"

As he spoke, he moved to open the window. Chen Shijin struggled to extend his hand to stop him but was at a loss for words to actually do so.

Before Chen could intervene, Father Chen had already brought in the large parrot.

The vibrant, multicolored Macaw, its feathers shimmering in the sunlight, flapped its wings and landed directly on Chen Shijin's shoulder.

Initially, it had intended to perch on top of Sweet Jin's head, but Sweet Jin, sensing its intention with sweetness, gently swatted it onto his shoulder.

"Oh~ my sweet Jin baby~ I'm here!"

With wide eyes, Mama Jin watched the colorful macaw rub its head affectionately against her son's face, somehow imbuing the scene with an inexplicable flirtatious vibe that left her itching to intervene.

"So when exactly did you get this pet? And how could you even dare to keep such a bird?"

Mama Jin was well-versed in endangered species. "If it weren't for your current status, an ordinary person would face at least a decade-long sentence."

Chen Shi Jin was desperate to claim he had no idea about the parrot and that it had simply flown into their home uninvited. However, his parents' confident yet skeptical expressions left him with no choice but to admit half the truth.

"…It’s alright. This is a pet I kept while in exile. I didn’t expect it to follow me here.

This fellow is quite untamed. It enjoys wandering around on its own, bullying other small creatures, and even likes to join in on the fun. It hasn't become tame no matter how much I've cared for it.

So, I was quite surprised that it followed me here."

Upon learning that this Rainbow Macaw was actually from the Exiled Grounds, Father Chen and Mother Jin's gazes toward the parrot changed.

"No wonder it speaks so fluently." And it's incredibly irritating.

Aunt Jin sighed in amazement.

Then she witnessed the parrot perched on her son's shoulder, swaying and nodding as it spoke, "Who said I can't be tamed? You're my one and only lovebird~ No one knows us better than we know each other! We'll be together forever! Love lasts a lifetime!"

Dad Chen and Aunt Jin: "...."

This parrot seemed to have a mischievous streak.

To be precise, it was incredibly sentient, as if it had attained some sort of enlightenment!

Dad Chen, having read countless ancient texts, gasped, "Could this parrot have become enlightened? It won't suddenly turn into a human, right?"

The voice of the parrot sounded male! And it kept talking about being with her son forever. If it were to suddenly transform, wouldn't her son...?

With an expressionless face, Chen Shi pinched the parrot's beak. "Be quiet."

Looking at his parents whose imaginations were running wild, he almost used a mind-manipulating spell to straighten things out.

"No, no, it's not like that. He's just an overly clever bird! He won't turn into a human!"

The multicolored parrot, hearing this, flapped its wings, eager to respond, but its beak was tightly pinched, leaving it unable to utter a single word.

Of course, he could turn into a human, and an impressively stunning one at that.

Unfortunately, there was no way to convey this to his future in-laws.

With Chen Shi's reassurance, Father Chen and Mother Jin's suspicions about the parrot subsided slightly. They also realized their imaginations had run a bit wild.

After all, it was just a parrot. Even if it were enchanted and wanted to transform into a human, it would take hundreds or even thousands of years, right?

No rush. In a few hundred years, their son would be ashes.

Even if their son was unexpectedly still alive, they would certainly be long gone by then.

They couldn't bear to witness such an astonishing sight.

Thus, the Golden King Parrot received a friendly reception from Father Chen and Mother Jin. Father Chen even took several photos of it, intent on studying its excessively vibrant feathers.

Meanwhile, Chen Shi looked down at his phone again. Bai Mo had not replied to his message. Perhaps he was still engrossed in his research or treating him as a hypothetical adversary.

Yet, the thoughts of one person, even those of an entire nation or the world, could not sway him if they did not resonate with him.

However, the accelerated invasion of the crimson rain was a matter that required serious attention.

Chen Shijin promptly turned on the television, which displayed official news live coverage of the crimson rain appearing simultaneously in six countries.

At that moment, various angles and live footage of the refugees in those six countries resisting the crimson rain were being broadcast on the screen. The two hosts, functioning as analysts, were examining the locations of the crimson rain's appearance and introducing the abilities of the refugees combating the invasion.

"The latest report from our station reveals that the six countries affected by the crimson rain concurrently are the southern United States, France, Japan, South Africa, Burma, and the southeastern region of India."

"In these six countries, the crimson rain appeared abruptly with almost no prior indication. As a result, none of the nations could predict its occurrence or issue evacuation warnings in time."

"Fortunately, each of the six affected regions has a powerful Returnee present. Although some have chosen to leave, the majority of these Returnees confronted the crimson rain head-on, attempting to dispel it as soon as it emerged."

"That's right. Currently, there are at least a dozen Returnees beneath the crimson rain clouds in each of the six countries. The Returnees in the United States seem to possess greater strength; the crimson rain cloud above their heads has already been significantly diminished.

"Although their pace is about ten minutes slower than our Special Grade Civil Servants, we believe they should be able to eliminate the crimson cloud and invasion before the rain falls."

A slight smile tugged at Chen Jin's lips upon hearing this.

Online, the barrage of comments erupted into laughter.

"The host speaks the truth! Indeed, they seem impressive, but they're still about ten minutes slower than our Grade A civil servants."

"Ten whole minutes. Dog head. How mighty and reliable."

"Let's now see how other countries are responding to the Red Rain invasion... The Homeward Bounders are working tirelessly, and their efforts seem to be paying off. Apart from the fact that half of Africa's red clouds remain, the red skies in the other six countries have almost been cleared by the Homeward Bounders."

"Indeed, it appears that with the Homeward Bounders' protection, our homeland will eventually find peace."

"We will eventually unravel the mysteries of the unknown energy behind the Red Rain invasion and rid the world's skies of these crimson clouds."

The two hosts continued their lighthearted commentary on the live coverage of the Red Rain invasions in the six countries, while ordinary people online rejoiced at the sight of the Homeward Bounders employing their extraordinary abilities to resolve the crisis once more.

Everything seemed well.

It seemed that everything was progressing in a positive direction.

Yet, half a month later, without any prior signs, red rain invaded eight more regions across the globe.

This time, the rain clouds were denser and darker, casting an oppressive shadow upon the sky, instilling a sense of unease upon those who gazed upon them.

Among these eight regions was Southwest China. Nevertheless, once again, valiant Homeward Bounders dispersed the crimson clouds in each of these areas.

The online atmosphere remained jubilant and reverent.

Another half month passed, and red rain descended upon thirteen more locations worldwide.

In China, there were two regions now.

One was still the southwestern region, and the other was the southeastern coastal area.

For the first time, a national region had not dispelled the scarlet rain clouds, allowing the red rain to fall extensively and create a restricted zone.

As for the other regions, although they eventually dispersed the scarlet rain clouds, the online comments and remarks were no longer filled with irrational admiration and worship.

"Oh, it seems like the clouds are thicker this time... It took them longer to disperse the rain clouds, didn't it?"

"This time it's not the same group as before. Each individual has different capabilities, but since there are more of them involved this time, they don't seem as powerful as the previous ones."

"Tsk, I still prefer the grand spectacle of someone simply waving their hand to dispel rain clouds!"

"Count your blessings. The chaotic returnees next door didn't even bother to stop the Red Rain invasion. They've declared that they won't waste their power on ordinary people.

Ordinary folks can die, it just means less competition for resources and consumption."

[Indeed, it's fortunate that our country has our elders looking out for us. Next door is the real inferno. Their exiles don't treat ordinary people as equals. There was a coup not long ago, and I heard that the exiles are now in charge, with themselves as 'leaders' and ordinary people as 'submissive civilians.' It's absurd, what century is this, still engaging in such practices?]

"...Our country's top-ranking civil servants are truly exceptional. Those exiles abroad don't seem to treat people with the respect they deserve."

"Indeed, there's no place like home. But have you noticed that the Red Rains are appearing more frequently and in more areas lately? It feels to me... as if even with these formidable Returnees around, they're powerless against the Red Rain's onslaught."

"The returnees are indeed formidable, but... can they possibly always be there to shield us beneath the Red Rain in a timely manner?"

"..."

"No problem, we have plenty of first-class civil servants! They'd surely be sufficient even if they were spread across the entire country!"

Ten days later.

Across the globe, twenty-seven locations found themselves shrouded beneath crimson storm clouds.

This time, China has three locations.

This time, in seventeen regions, no Exiles stepped forward to stop the Red Rain's onslaught.

"Are those exiles merely eating dry rice?! They are clearly right beneath the rain clouds! Yet, why don't they work to eliminate the resistance against the Red Rain invasion?! Ah! Those damned selfish, greedy bastards! I watched helplessly as dozens of them flew out of a luxurious building and left without looking back! They completely disregarded the lives of tens of thousands of people below!"

"If these superpowered individuals return only to plunder, kill, and indulge their selfish desires, caring nothing for ordinary people or their wellbeing...

Why let them live? It would be better if they perished in that land of exile!!"

These were the words of an enraged father in America, recorded in a live broadcast prior to the Red Rain invasion. His face contorted with furious hatred, his final curse-like roar shattered the facade of peace that both ordinary folks and exiles had been striving to maintain for the past three months.

"Indeed, if they contribute nothing, why don't they just return to their land of exile?"

"Have you not noticed? Whenever the Red Rain invades, there's always a congregation of refugees."

"In the past, the Red Rain didn't appear as often. Does it also have a preference for devouring those with more energy?"

Reading the last few comments, Chen Shijin wasn't surprised as he tugged at the corners of his mouth.

What was inevitable would still come.