"Sister... I heard you're pregnant, so I rushed back as soon as I could." Zhang Rongfang stepped forward, gently spread his arms, and embraced Zhang Rongyu.

He had specifically arranged for Qingsu to disguise their communication for safety.

Every once in a while, he would read through all the letters.

Looking at his sister, who seemed even more radiant than a few years ago, Zhang Rongfang knew she was doing well now.

Only with a good living environment can one look so vibrant.

The two of them walked hand-in-hand into the manor as Zhang Rongyu constantly inquired about Zhang Rongfang's recent life.

Furthermore, she mentioned Jin Xiu.

Under her care, Jin Xiu had started a small business, and life was going quite well.

Also, about Lu Meisha.

They had found a match for Meisha, and she was currently in talks.

Lu Meisha planned to get to know the person first and see how things would unfold. Her match was excellent and held Lu Meisha in high regard, so it seemed like things might be progressing.

The two continued walking and chatting.

Zhang Rongfang picked some less important topics to talk about, several times wanting to share his real situation.

But then he thought, even if his sister found out, what good would it do? She would be worried and scared, unable to help in any way.

So rather than that, it would be better to wait until he could stabilize the situation, when he no longer feared anything, and then speak out.

In the Mu Chi family garden.

"It seems you've grown up... You have your own thoughts now." Zhang Rongyu turned to look at her brother, her expression full of sentiment.

"Your expression earlier, was there something you wanted to tell me?" She keenly sensed something.

"A little, but after considering, I've decided against it," Zhang Rongfang said softly.

"It's okay. As people grow, they encounter various troubles." Zhang Rongyu smiled, picked a pale pink orchid, and gently sniffed it.

"I actually have some things I've been hiding from you too."

"Hmm?" Zhang Rongfang was taken aback.

"Actually....." Zhang Rongyu paused, "Do you want to hear? Or should I keep quiet?" She laughed.

"This time we're even, you have secrets, and I have secrets too. We cancel each other out." Zhang Rongyu playfully smiled.

"Is it troublesome?" Zhang Rongfang asked.

"Of course not. We are one of the two pillar families in the entire Wushan Prefecture. Our businesses are thriving everywhere, who would dare provoke us?" Zhang Rongyu laughed.

"Then..." Zhang Rongfang still wanted to ask.

Suddenly, a graceful figure quickly approached from the side.

"Zhang Rongfang! You've returned?" Lu Meisha wore a pink butterfly-sleeve long dress, her long hair reaching her waist, entirely looking like a noble lady.

Elegant and refined, looking entirely different from a few years ago.

"Meisha, did you just go hiking with Yu Xi?" Zhang Rongyu asked with a smile.

"Yes, there were quite a few people with us, it was tiring but really fun," Lu Meisha said, her eyes revealing genuine happiness.

"Chen Yuxi and Meisha have already been together for some time, it shouldn't be long before the match is settled," Sister Zhang Rongyu explained.

"Congratulations." Zhang Rongfang smiled and offered his congratulations to Lu Meisha.

"Brother Yuxi is now truly a Sixth Grade martial prodigy. With him around, we're very safe when we go hiking. I originally wanted to invite him here for a meal, but he's busy with work, having received some new cases to investigate, so...."

Lu Meisha glanced at Zhang Rongfang with a hint of pride.

Ever since she was backstabbed by her circle of friends due to Zhang Rongfang, she became quite interested in martial artists.

Now, she was finally satisfied, having found a younger martial artist even more talented than Zhang Rongfang.

"Yu Xi is impressive.... He's only twenty-five now, isn't he? Already at Sixth Grade?" Zhang Rongyu exclaimed in surprise. "If we have time, we could invite him to guide our Rongfang. I've heard the younger one is, the more one should seize the opportunity to advance in grade."

"That's right. I'll mention it to him later, they both practice martial arts, so they should have more common topics." Lu Meisha's smile grew increasingly uncontrollable.

"Actually, there's no need." Zhang Rongfang smiled and politely declined, "Different people practice different martial arts."

"No need to be polite." Lu Meisha's smile could hardly be contained now. "I'll talk to Yu Xi later. Closing oneself off from the outside won't work; growing requires more exchange."

She looked at Zhang Rongfang.

"It's a shame you're so tall, if only you could be a genius like Yu Xi, my sister wouldn't always have to worry about you."

"...." Zhang Rongfang was speechless.

Seeing Lu Meisha about to say something further, he swiftly changed the topic, discussing the recent heated dispute among the three teachings.

"Your brother-in-law's family passed on some news." Zhang Rongyu's expression began to change as she mentioned it. "The Great Spirit's fleet in West Yi was defeated. Many ships encountered storms and sank; only a few powerful commanders escaped, including members of the Mu Chi family."

"This matter.... Meisha should also know."

Lu Meisha's smile faded quickly.

"Many from the main family are gone, so they came on their own accord to ask my brother to return."

"The West Yi fleet faced a resounding defeat?" Zhang Rongfang's heart was chilled; the Great Spirit had divine martial artists, which suggested that the Western world might not be so simple.

The three talked for a while about the possibility of returning to the main family in the future.

Zhang Rongfang hadn't expected to receive such big news upon his return.

In the afternoon, brother-in-law Suda Heqi returned to the manor, unexpectedly bringing Chen Yuxi along for the family dinner.

At dusk.

After dinner, a group of people walked in the backyard garden to aid digestion.

Zhang Rongfang walked side by side with brother-in-law Suda Heqi, chatting quietly.

"Actually, the family has asked me to come back many times." Suda Heqi looked at Chen Yuxi and Lu Meisha, who were laughing and chatting quietly in the distance, his eyes complex.

"They promised me that if I return, I could have far more resources and powers than before, but I still refused."

"Why?" Zhang Rongfang had a hunch.

"Because they want me to marry into a Spirit People noble family as my primary wife." Suda Heqi replied. "But I said I can return under the condition that your sister is acknowledged and joins the clan. They didn't agree, so we're at an impasse."

He glanced at Zhang Rongfang, whose expression had changed, and continued to smile.

"When I was sick in the past, they looked down on me and drove me out. Later, when I wanted to choose my own marriage, they cut off my inheritance rights. Now they are in trouble, and seeing my development going well, they want to pull me back?

Sometimes, I wonder which side are my real family and relatives."

"Perhaps in great clans, interests are fundamental," Zhang Rongfang replied.

"Yes.... Maybe..." Suda Heqi nodded. "But I've come to terms with it, living as I want; after all, life spans mere decades."

"Brother, Rongfang, come over quickly. Yu Xi happens to be in the mood to give Rongfang some pointers; perhaps a master's insight can help you break through in grade!"

Lu Meisha waved her hand towards them.

Zhang Rongfang opened his mouth slightly, glancing at the tall and sturdy Chen Yuxi beside her.

This man had long and solid limbs, standing over two meters tall, only slightly shorter than him, with exceptionally developed chest and back muscles.

Upon hearing Lu Meisha's voice, he smiled at Zhang Rongfang.

Before coming over, he had already heard from Meisha that he needed to help vent her grievances.

To regain face.

This Zhang Rongfang had always relied on his good talent and high martial arts skill, being overly arrogant at home. Now inviting him here was also to give her a chance to vent.

"Isn't it unnecessary?" Zhang Rongfang's eyes swept through the dim light vision, and he could roughly figure out this person's background.

Indeed, somewhat tougher than the usual rabble.

Then... he couldn't quite gauge the height anymore.

After all, it had been a long time since he seriously observed individuals below the Ninth Grade.

"Don't be afraid, Brother Yuxi will be careful with his measures, he'll make sure you won't get hurt." Lu Meisha saw that Zhang Rongfang seemed to want to avoid the situation.

She understood he might be afraid.

"No, actually I..." Zhang Rongfang felt he shouldn't hit Lu Meisha too hard.

Considering her brother-in-law, he could completely change tactics to take care of Lu Meisha.

"It's okay, go ahead, just let us see how strong you are now." His sister Zhang Rongyu also approached with a smile.

"You are already twenty-two this year. Always running about outside and never at ease. Now you say you're doing well outside, you should let us see how well precisely."

Zhang Rongyu was actually quite curious about her brother's strength.

She had asked people to investigate his situation, but couldn't find out much.

All she could uncover was that her brother had joined a very powerful organization, and all information was blocked and erased.

Now was a perfect opportunity to test it out.

Seeing the expectant eyes of the people around him, Zhang Rongfang thought for a moment.

"Alright, then I'll give it a go." He decided to keep it controlled.

Soon, the two turned and headed together to the martial arena of the mansion.

The training ground was already buzzing with many servants and maidservants who had gotten wind of the event and come to watch the excitement.

Weapon racks and protective armor were already prepared.

The two put on chest armor, helmets, and skirting armor together, covering the vital areas.

Then they stepped onto the field, standing opposite each other.

"Let's agree first, we don't hit the head or the heart, we only exchange fists amicably, stopping at a point," Chen Yuxi looked dignified and sunny, his words easily giving off a feeling of an openhearted gentleman.

It easily garnered a good impression.

"...." Zhang Rongfang felt a bit uncertain.

It had been a long time since he fought someone below the Ninth Grade. Gauging strength was a technical task....

Otherwise....

He feared overexerting himself might cause problems....

How could he exhibit style without accidentally hurting anyone? This was a challenge.

*

*

*

Upper Capital, beside the Qing River.

On the midnight river, pink lotus lanterns floated everywhere.

Hundreds, even thousands of floating lights gently drifted with the river's flow into the distance.

All these lanterns were made of folded paper, with a little lamp oil inside, that would eventually ignite the entire lotus.

Between the many lotus lanterns, boat after decorative boat slowly sailed through.

Inside one of the largest boats.

A tall, broad figure was quietly watching the night view of the entire Upper Capital.

From the boat, the city looked like an unprecedented tower ship, gently moving leftward.

At this moment, it felt as if he was static while the city was drifting.

"Judging by the time, you should be here by now." The figure suddenly spoke lightly.

"Knowing we'd come, you dare to stay here alone?"

From the rear of the boat deck, an old man with a long beard, wearing a purple Daoist robe and a gold lotus crown, slowly approached him.

"Why wouldn't I dare?" The figure retorted, turning to reveal a strange mask on his face.

The left side smiled, the right side frowned.

"Where is Master Yuan? Since you're here, why hide?"

As soon as the figure said this, a shadow silently emerged from the darkness at the back of the boat.

It was a dwarf of extremely strange appearance.

Short and chubby, chubby to the point of being like a ball.

Hence, people referred to Master Yuan as Round Stone too.

Back many years ago when he wasn't strong enough or had low status, everyone called him Round Stone.

Later, he killed those who called him names indiscriminately.

The rest called him Master Yuan.

This round monk had his facial features squeezed together, on a visibly large face, his eyes, ears, mouth, and nose were all gathered, from a distance, you couldn't even make out his expressions.

This was also the reason Master Yuan rarely showed himself to outsiders.

"Moon King, the affairs of the Great Capital shouldn't involve you. Anyone else could rightfully come, but only you...." Master Yuan's sharp voice was as grating as a wildly screeched erhu.

"Oh?" The Moon King chuckled, extending his hand to gently grip his mask.

"In this world, I go wherever I like. As for whether I have a reason?"

The Moon King laughed deeply.

"Now, take a look at who I am!"

With a light crack, the mask on his face split open, breaking into two and falling away.