After the seal was unlocked, there was a substantial change in Yong Heng.
Mainly that he was no longer just a voice in Xue Chang's head.
Yong Heng now had a "spiritual form" or at least something like it.
He used to appear in front of Xue Chang using illusions and other strange techniques in the past, but now he didn't need to do such things to appear. He had a spiritual form that he could constantly exist in, and the main specialty of this ability was that he could appear to others as well. Not just Xue Chang.
Although this hasn't been tested yet. After all, Xue Chang hasn't told anyone of Yong Heng's existence yet. Not his friends, sister, not even his parents.
This was something he kept as a closely guarded secret.
Besides, who would believe him? More than likely they'd think he had gone mad.
But now he was more like a ghost or at least something similar to one.
Xue Chang and the others also didn't leave the area immediately. With the guards' newfound strength, they needed to spend some time consolidating their cultivation
Luckiky the area they inhabited was filled with an abundant amount of spiritual force for a short period of time. Even more dense than even their own home back in the city. But this only lasted for a few days before wearing off.
Afterwords, they returned to the city to find a shocking scene.
A group of guards and mercenaries were patrolling the city in search of them. After a bit of questioning they learned the reason why.
Xue Ai had visited their home a couple of times the past few days for reasons unknown, when she discovered that they had gone missing she flew into a panic immediately asking Zhou Wei to send a group out in search of them.
Zhao Wei, under the pleads of his beloved daughter, had no choice but to concede.
A search party was immediately set out for them, yet the people who were hired found themselves receiving quite the headache.
No matter where they searched, the missing people could not be found within the city borders.
Of course none of them would have expected that Xue Chang and the others had left the borders even during such dangerous times like now, much less expect them to go to the ruins of a previous village.
Xue Chang didn't know whether he was supposed to laugh or cry. After this event, it would be obvious that he had some sort of connection to the Xue Family leading the city.
After all of his efforts to keep their connection a secret, it all went to waste by his own little sister!
Feeling a headache building up, Xue Chang softly rubbed his temples as he planned to have a serious talk with his sister.
But upon returning back to his home, he found his sister sitting at the open doorway into the villa snoring softly with bags under her eyes.
And to his shock, next to her was a face he didn't ever expect at this place.
"Hello Xue Chang." Zhao Wei gave off a faint grin at his son who, according to rumors, had been dead for years now.
"Father!" Immediately bowing his head in a show of respect, Xue Chang welcomed his dad into his own home.
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"You seem to be doing alright for yourself." Zhao Wei took a casual stroll around the villa while glancing at the furniture and decoration set up in the house. Picking up a little statuette nearby, he couldn't help but think back to the days long past. Back when his son, who didn't care about material possessions, would rather spend his days sitting in a room reading a good book.
The more he looked at how the house was decorated the more he felt like this would be how Xue Hai would like to furnish his own abode.
There was always a weird connection between the two. While his sons didn't admit it, how could he not notice the signs.
Xue Chang was always the first to notice when his twin brother was injured or in trouble. Before Zhao Wei or Xue Mei could even begin to catch a hint of one of them being sick, the other twin would already have prepared medicine ahead of time long before any symptoms occurred.
It was like there was some sort of hidden connection between them. And even now, Zhao Wei was sure Xue Chang's current fashion sense was influenced by Xue Hai subtly.
"For the years that have passed, I have been able to see many new things in the world. I can say that I have gained a lot more experience exploring around than I would have if I had just stayed in my room and kept reading those books like in the past."
Xue Chang was different than he was in the past. The boy who could happily spend his days just sitting there reading was not so simple anymore.
Not only did he have his own set of responsibilities, but the fact that his life was now so short made it so that he felt just sitting there reading would be a waste of time. He wanted to explore more of the world, and maybe hope for a chance to find a cure for his ailment.
"And that is why you plan to leave the city soon?"
Zhao Wei's words froze Xue Chang on the spot. This was something he had told only a close few confidantes, and he was sure they weren't the type to reveal anything to his father.
"Don't look so surprised Xue Chang, in the end you're my son. Other than your mother, don't you think I would know you best."
Hearing his father's words, Xue Chang realized he had been seen through, "Yes." He said with a sigh, "I plan on leaving and exploring the continent after Xue AI's birthday celebration."
Zhao Wei looked at his son with a gentle smile on his face, looking at a doorway that led to a guest bedroom where Xue Ai now rested, Zhao Wei nodded his head carefully.
"In your shoes i would make the same decision, the world is vast and I wouldn't want to die without seeing more of it. As a man I agree with your choice, but as a parent I cannot give you my blessing." Zhao Wei's face hardened as he expressed his thoughts.
A strange pressure began to form in the air as Tian Kai and Tian Hai, who stood in the background, took a step back from sheer panic.
They have never felt such intense pressure before, not even from Xue Chang during any battles they participated in. It was like they were being crushed by a mountain.
"Even so father, I've made my decision." Ignoring the pressure coming from his dad, Xue Chang's eyes gave off a brilliant light and he suppressed the pressure under his own ability.
Feeling the change in the room's atmosphere, Zhao Wei smirked as he muttered, "As expected, the cub of a tiger is still a tiger. You sure do hold many secrets don't you Xue Chang."
With this Zhao Wei knew that Xue Chang was hiding something from him. Something to do with his strength. If he were to truly go out into the world, then he probably wouldn't be a defenseless duckling. But even so, Zhao Wei didn't agree with the decision to explore the continent. Yet, seeing the determination reflected in his eyes, he knew that no matter what happened Xue Chang wouldn't give up on his choice.
Sigh, "I won't stop you Xue Chang, but it'll be hard to convince your mother. While she doesn't know about this yet, this isn't something I can keep from her."
After Xue Hai left the family to go join a sect, the only child they had left was Xue Chang. Yet they couldn't even fulfill their duties as his parents due to his unique situation.
All of that made Zhao Wei form a feeling of guilt over his matters, and this was why he couldn't bring himself to crush his own son's dreams.
But his wife wasn't him. He wasn't sure how she would react and had to tread around this carefully.
"Thank you father!" Knowing that he got permission from his dad, Xue Chang excitedly stood up and bowed toward his dad. Yet unexpectedly, Zhao Wei's arm reached out toward Xue Chang.
Grabbing onto his arm, Zhao Wei dragged his son over to him and placed him into a soft embrace.
Tears, welling up in his eyes he whispered out ,"I'm sorry Xue Chang. I am sorry I couldn't be a good father to you. I couldn't be there when you needed me and even now I can't accompany you in the future."
Zhao Wei knew this was one of the last times he'd be able to speak to his son so intimately and wanted get some stuff off of his chest.
The guilt he felt over forcing his son to live in a shack all alone, the pain of knowing the ailment he was ridden with, and the fact that he couldn't even support him during a time when he'd need him the most.
All of it came crashing down at once onto Xue Chang who stood there frozen in place.
While he looked like a ten year old child, on the inside he still had all of the experience he had built up over the years.
Yet never in his life had he been in a situation like this.
Xue Chang had forced himself to become hardened emotionally, and kept the people around him at a slight distance due to fear of his condition being revealed. As such he had never experienced anything like this before.
But seeing his father's apologetic face and tears, a warm feeling began to build up in his heart and he returned the embraced with his own tears dripping down his face.
"I'm sorry too dad, I'm sorry I'm such an unfilial son who has hidden so many things from you. And I'm sorry I can't accompany you into your own age." The two cried there heartfelt words out with the two guards exiting the room to give the father and son duo some space.
After a couple of minutes the two released each other as they smiled back at one another.
Looking at his son smiling so brightly, Zhao Wei looked at him and said slowly, "Remember Xue Chang, no matter what happens out there you will always have us to return to. Never forget that."
Xue Chang nodded passionately as he gave his father another hug. The two co NBC erased for a bit longer before Zhou Wei picked up Xue Ai and brought her back to their mansion.
Xue Chang say there alone for a while in contemplation while his heart was finally at peace.
With this interaction he was finally ready.
No longer was there doubt or fear in his mind.
He would go explore this world!