Rebirth: Slice-of-life Cultivation Chapter 1594 - 872: Return

Days pass by silently, and in no time, the fourth day of the New Year arrives.

By four in the afternoon, the sun's rays soften compared to their scorching midday peak. As the sun dips toward the west, a rattling bus enters the city district, mixing into the fading New Year festivities.

"Haha, I'm back!" Guo Kunnan clutches the handrail, peering out the window with thrill.

Noticing Brother Nan's excitement, Dan Kaiquan senses a wave of nostalgia. Since joining Fourth Middle School more than a year ago, he's journeyed this path endlessly. Every bit of his happiness and hardship, doubts and successes, has been seen by this very stretch...

He assumed Brother Nan shared that sentiment, but right away, Guo Kunnan's cheeks flush with eagerness: "Brother Quan, so many stunners around!"

Dan Kaiquan's face drops as he mutters: "Has nothing to do with me."

The topic of girls summons two enchanting images in his thoughts... but, oh well...

Dan Kaiquan pulls himself together and slaps his shoulder: "Brother Nan, barbecue tonight?"

Guo Kunnan: "Yeah, my treat."

The holiday dullness at home has worn them out, but now with spending money available, they head to the city for excitement, mall browsing, snatching new sneakers, and basking in the joy.

"Getting close now," Guo Kunnan eyes his phone's map, his spirits soaring higher; the city really does have loads of beauties, and he's already caught sight of a handful.

The bus rattles onward, pulling up at a stop, though it's not their destination.

Instead, a rider prepares to hop on here.

A stylish young lady darts from the far sidewalk straight at the bus.

But following a quick halt, the bus lurches forward once more. Eyeing her frantic strides, the growing gap to the door, her desperate bid, Guo Kunnan surges with adrenaline.

In that instant, Xu Yan, Lu Yaya, Tan Meiling, Xin Youling, Yun Tingting... endless silhouettes seem to emerge at his back. His unyielding spirit transforms into a vivid scene of worldwide charms, called the Beauty Map!

As the Beauty Map billows behind him, courage floods Guo Kunnan, setting his life aflame with passion in a flash!

Guo Kunnan inhales deeply and bellows: "Driver, stop!"

His mighty yell rings through the bus, drawing stares from every passenger.

Inside, Guo Kunnan roars: 'For you, I'll freeze the whole world, destiny stone gate key, reverse!'

But the very next moment, the young lady swings open the door of a nearby Mercedes, sliding inside effortlessly.

Guo Kunnan stands stunned, rooted in place.

The bus brakes as commanded, and the driver swivels irritably: "You shouted to stop, but you're not stepping off?"

Guo Kunnan snaps to and blurts an apology: "Sorry, I zoned out for a sec!"

With those words, he grabs Dan Kaiquan and yanks him right off the bus.

Down at the stop, Dan Kaiquan groans in frustration: "Shoot, Wanda Plaza's still seven or eight stops off! What now?"

Guo Kunnan's mood darkens: "Don't sweat it, I'll cover your bus ticket."

What option does Dan Kaiquan have? Bound to this pal, he simply lingers with Guo Kunnan for the next ride.

As they wait, a recognizable shape shows up on the other side of the street.

Zhang Chi strolls with a laid-back strut, utterly ignoring the nearby cars. He shuts his eyes, twirls, hops, and daringly crosses the thoroughfare.

"Whoa, Zhang Chi!" Guo Kunnan calls out in astonishment.

Since running into Yan Tianpeng on New Year's Eve, Zhang Chi hasn't crossed paths with classmates in ages, so he's fairly pleased: "Hey, you guys hitting the city for some fun?"

Guo Kunnan: "Yep, just wandering the urban area."

Spotting familiar friends lifts Guo Kunnan's vibe, prompting him to invite: "Brother Chi, we're linking up with Brother Ma for barbecue tonight, you coming?"

Zhang Chi's eyes sparkle: "For real?"

Dan Kaiquan wrinkles his brow momentarily before smoothing it out. His rapport with Zhang Chi is iffy, and he wasn't keen on including him, but with the New Year spirit, he stays silent to dodge any unease.

Guo Kunnan: "Totally, once we're done with barbecue, we'll snag some treats and sodas, head to Meng Gui's for TV time, and crash there if we're wiped; his spot's got plenty of room."

This makes Zhang Chi eager to say yes right away, yet something feels off.

On New Year's Eve, Yan Tianpeng's kind invite to hotel dinner moved Zhang Chi, as he wasn't sidelined.

Yet, once at the hotel, Yan Tianpeng noted they were the young ones, so tradition called for eating after the elders.

Then Yan Tianpeng had Zhang Chi dish out food for the seniors, and after three hours of plating what ended up being for his own mom, Zhang Chi at last tasted some warm grub.

Good thing Zhang Chi stayed alert, slipping to the front desk to overhear, uncovering how Yan Tianpeng had betrayed him, taking five hundred yuan from the lobby manager, which left Zhang Chi boiling mad.

This episode shattered Zhang Chi's belief in folks.

That said, his laid-back, quick-to-forgive ways lead him to figure Guo Kunnan isn't pulling a fast one, so he goes along with it.

After a bit of talk, the bus rolls up, shaking as it comes.

The trio squeezes on ahead of the throng; a cheeky young kid tests Zhang Chi, but he fends him off using 'Iron Mountain Lean,' sending the boy tumbling.

Stepping inside, he quickly sees most riders clinging to overhead bars, with every seat taken.

"No seats, huh." Zhang Chi's sharp gaze picks out a free one. He moves swiftly in its direction.

There, a dignified old man sits solidly, and catching sight of Zhang Chi nearing, he waves it off: "Taken, taken!"