The world fell into silence.
Zhao Meiqin stared out the window, lost in thought.
"Mom, Zhao Zhigang and his family got what they deserved. Don't—" Tang Yuxin began, but Zhao Meiqin quickly interrupted her.
"Yuxin, you don't need to worry about me," Zhao Meiqin said, her voice steady. "After everything we've been through these past two years, I've long since given up on Zhao Zhigang and his family. If it weren't for Xiaoyu being here today, they would've tortured us to death. It's not worth feeling sad over people like that."
Tang Yuxin let out a relieved sigh. "Mom, things are going to get better from now on, I promise."
Zhao Meiqin nodded, her expression softening. "Yuxin, as long as Xiaoyu is by your side, I can rest easy. Now, you two just need to give me a big, healthy grandson."
Tang Yuxin's cheeks flushed with embarrassment. "Mom, stop saying things like that!" she protested, biting her lip.
Zhao Meiqin chuckled. "Alright, alright, I won't rush you."
Meanwhile, Horn was busy tending to Zhao Meiqin's injuries. Afterward, he joined Tang Yuxin in cleaning up the house. Zhao Meiqin, despite her low cultivation talent—only at the first level of the Qi Condensation realm—felt her broken ribs, injured by He Juan's brutal kick, heal astonishingly under Horn's care.
As she watched Horn helping around the house, Zhao Meiqin said, "Xiaoyu, you should rest. You've done enough. Let me handle this."
Horn waved off her concerns. "Aunt Zhao, it's no trouble. I'm happy to help."
Seeing she couldn't dissuade him, Zhao Meiqin joined in, tidying up as she spoke. "Xiaoyu, I know the past two years have been tough for you."
Horn smiled lightly. "Aunt Zhao, there's no need to worry. Linzhou isn't safe right now, so I think it would be best if you came with us."
He planned to take Tang Yuxin and Zhao Meiqin to Changsheng Academy, where Lin Zixuan would also be moving later that night.
Zhao Meiqin didn't hesitate. "Xiaoyu, I'll do as you say."
After the house was cleaned, Horn went out to buy a cake, while Zhao Meiqin cooked many of his favorite dishes. The atmosphere was warm and comforting. Tang Yuxin's birthday was simple but filled with genuine happiness. For the past two years, she had made a wish every birthday for Horn to return. Now that he was back, her wish had changed—she now wished for his safety.
That night, Horn, Tang Yuxin, and Zhao Meiqin moved to the Academy of Immortality.
The night passed quickly, with Tang Yuxin and others barely sleeping. It was decided that only Mr. Wei, Mr. Qiao, and Jiang Wan would accompany Horn to Tianhai, while the rest, including Lu Lin and Tang Yuxin, would stay behind at Changsheng Academy. Initially, Lu Lin and Tang Yuxin were determined to accompany Horn, but Mr. Wei and Mr. Qiao convinced them otherwise, pointing out that their current cultivation levels wouldn't be of much help and might even become a burden.
As the sun rose, casting warm light over the land, there was no need to rush. Jiang Wan suggested taking the high-speed train to Tianhai, a journey that would take only a few dozen minutes. Lu Lin drove Horn and the others to the high-speed rail station, with Lin Zixuan and the rest following in another car.
Before boarding, Tang Yuxin said, "Horn, I'll be waiting for you to come back at Changsheng Academy."
Horn gently patted her head. "Yuxin, I promise you, nothing will happen to me."
Tang Yuxin nodded, though the worry in her eyes lingered.
As Horn, Jiang Wan, and the others walked away, Lin Zixuan sent a secret message to Horn: "Disciple, I'll be waiting for you to return."
Meanwhile, outside Tianhai High-speed Railway Station, an old man and a middle-aged man sat in the backseat of a luxurious black car, with their driver standing outside. The old man, dressed in a black robe, had a face lined with wrinkles, but his aura was imposing. He was the patriarch of the Jiang family, Jiang Wan's grandfather. The middle-aged man beside him, with an extraordinary bearing, was Jiang Zhan, the head of the Jiang family, exuding a sense of latent, explosive power.
"Dad, do you really want Xiaowan to get engaged to Su Wu?" Jiang Zhan asked, frowning. He had always doted on his eldest daughter, Jiang Wan.
Mr. Jiang snorted. "Don't think you're the only one who cares for Xiaowan. But this time, Old Man Su made an offer I couldn't refuse. If Xiaowan and Su Wu get engaged, he promised to have the president of the Alchemist Association refine seven-star elixirs for our family three times."
Jiang Zhan was taken aback. The president of the Alchemist Federation was a Seven Star Alchemist, someone even the Jiang family couldn't easily invite. This kind of offer would elevate both Mr. Jiang and Jiang Zhan's cultivation, propelling the Jiang family to new heights. It was an opportunity that Mr. Jiang found difficult to decline, especially with the other conditions Old Man Su had offered.
"But we've just cut off all ties with the Su family," Jiang Zhan protested. "Xiaowan must have strong reasons for rejecting them so firmly. With her temperament, she won't agree to this engagement."
Mr. Jiang's expression hardened. "Su Wu has immortal bones. He's destined for greatness. Many daughters from prestigious families are vying to marry him. Xiaowan wouldn't be settling."
He sighed, adding, "The situation in Linzhou has spiraled out of control because of an abandoned son of the Su family. Xiaowan mustn't get involved. It will only bring trouble to our Jiang family. When she returns to Tianhai, she must distance herself from that abandoned son."
As soon as Horn, Jiang Wan, and the others boarded the high-speed train, Mr. Jiang and Jiang Zhan were notified and made their way to Tianhai High-speed Railway Station to meet them.
Time passed, and Horn, along with Jiang Wan, arrived in Tianhai. As they stepped out of the station, Horn's eyes darkened with deep emotions. After such a long time, he had returned to the city that once filled him with despair. But this time, he wasn't here to be bullied—he was here for revenge.
Jiang Zhan and Mr. Jiang exited the car as soon as they saw them. Jiang Wan smiled brightly, "Brother Horn, my dad and grandpa are here to pick us up. Come on, I'll introduce you to them."
Before Horn could say anything, she took his hand and led him over, with Mr. Wei and Mr. Qiao following closely behind.