By the time they reached the doorstep, Ye Guohua, Qiao Feixuan, and Ning Huwen were already waiting at the door.

"You're back, finally back safe and sound." Qiao Feixuan was the most delighted, and upon seeing Ye Fan and Li Zhaojun supporting each other as they approached, she could no longer hold back and gently covered her face, crying softly.

Ning Huwen went up and embraced her daughter tightly, the deep affection between mother and daughter evident, while Ye Fan went over to greet and pay respects to the three parents.

"Let's talk inside," Ye Guohua said.

The two families went inside, and once seated, it was inevitable that there would be a round of warm inquiries about each other's well-being. Ning Huwen was most concerned about where Li Zhaojun had been all these days, what dangers she had encountered, and if she had been bullied.

Ye Fan answered on behalf of Li Zhaojun, "Zhao Jun has been fine these days and hasn't suffered any grievances. However, some fellow friends helped rescue her, bringing some trouble, and later we need to accompany these friends to the south for some matters."

"You mean you can't stay with Zhao Jun?" Ning Huwen glared at Ye Fan, finally getting a definite answer from her daughter.

"No way, you just got back, why be in such a hurry to leave? At least stay for a few days first." Ye Guohua said.

Ye Fan replied, "These fellow friends were injured while rescuing Zhao Jun, and morally we can't just ignore it."

Ye Guohua's face darkened, but he said nothing more.

If someone got hurt saving you, and you turn your back on your word, you're no friend but an ungrateful person. Next time you meet, you'll be enemies.

"At least take the time to talk with me more."

Ning Huwen pulled her daughter into the room, wanting to check if there were any hidden injuries her daughter was not telling her about.

Ye Fan was not worried, as Li Zhaojun's injuries were internal ones and couldn't be detected even with advanced instruments. Her body's vital signs had changed too much; she couldn't go to the hospital for now, or others would think of Li Zhaojun as a freak.

Qiao Feixuan smiled and said, "It's only natural for a mother and daughter to speak privately after reuniting. Xiaofan, Mom actually has a lot to tell you too, but since you're a grown man now, Mom believes you can handle things well. Though you're leaving soon, Mom will personally cook for you. Let's all sit down for a meal together..."

Ye Fan smiled and said, "I've been craving Mom's cooking. Looks like I'm in for a treat today."

"You cheeky boy, always with the sweet talk. Just wait here..."

Qiao Feixuan went off to the kitchen, and Ye Guohua returned to his study, leaving Ye Fan and Min Shang alone in the large living room. However, Min Shang showed no intention of starting a conversation; she had no concept of familial bonds and didn't understand why these two families sat crying and laughing together.

"Who are they?" Min Shang asked.

"They're our family, mine and Zhao Jun's. Although their attitudes toward us are different, their concern for us is the same," Ye Fan explained.

"Concern?"

Min Shang seemed to ponder what concern meant; she had no familial love, and even with her only master, it was merely a relationship of passing down to solve doubts. Family, to her, was a mysterious concept.

Ye Fan didn't continue speaking with Min Shang. He stood up, went to the balcony on the second floor, and took his phone out from the storage bracelet.

He didn't dare to show his feelings for Lu Xiaoman in front of Li Zhaojun. Since returning from the Pan Gu Secret Realm, he also thought of her and needed to call this lovesick girl at least once.

After all, Lu Xiaoman was his woman too, and he wasn't planning on giving up.

"Buzz, buzz..."

With just one ring, it was answered; it seemed the phone was always in Lu Xiaoman's hand.

"Ye Fan, is that you?" Lu Xiaoman's voice carried a hint of tears. Now that dawn had just broken, Ye Fan wondered if she had yet again been sleepless all night.

"It's me." Ye Fan spoke into the phone, though he didn't know how to begin, "I'm fine."

The sound of Lu Xiaoman crying came through, and after a while, she asked, "Is she... okay now?"

"She should be fine, but I… can't come over for a while. Give me a few more days, and I will be there as soon as I finish things here. Rest assured," Ye Fan said softly.

"Okay." Hearing Ye Fan's voice, Lu Xiaoman felt a great sense of satisfaction.

Ye Fan didn't hang up immediately or say much else. He quietly stayed on the line, letting his breathing be heard through the phone.

"I'll wait for you," Lu Xiaoman said with determination.

A simple promise echoed what he said when he left. Ye Fan decided he needed to console her a bit more to ease her mind.

...

The two families had their meal, but Ye Fan and Li Zhaojun hardly had an appetite since they were no longer just ordinary mortals and didn't need food to sustain their energy.

Qiao Feixuan said, "When you go this time, take good care of Zhao Jun. Call home every day, don't make us worry."

"I know," Ye Fan replied.

After finishing the meal, Ning Huwen personally accompanied Li Zhaojun to the door. She intended to have the driver take them, but Ye Fan did not want to expose Wu Ding and Elder Wu's locations, so he insisted on taking a taxi.

After getting in the car, Li Zhaojun leaned weakly against Ye Fan's chest. Acting strong in front of her family, she was now exhausted.

"Young man, is your girlfriend sick?" The driver this time was an elderly lady, full of kindness.

"Yes," Ye Fan replied.

"Then why not go to a hospital instead of a hotel?" the lady suggested.

Min Shang, sitting in the front, curiously asked the elderly lady, "What is a hospital?"

"This girl is funny. Have you never been to a hospital?"

Ye Fan explained, "What she means is, why go to a hospital if my girlfriend's illness isn't serious. She's just like that; please don't mind her, ma'am."

The car finally stopped in front of the hotel. As soon as Ye Fan got out, he felt a spiritual sense intentionally circling around him, undoubtedly Wu Ding teasing him.

Upon reaching the room, Wu Ding was already waiting inside.

At the time, Wu Ding was dressed in loose casual wear, more like a sophisticated woman from the city. Ye Fan helped Li Zhaojun onto the bed, allowing her to meditate and recover while asking Min Shang for assistance, letting her use extremely yin spiritual energy to aid in her healing.

"Even junior brother, when returning to Earth, couldn't just inform the family but insisted on meeting them. Look at how he's tormented Yun Zhao?" Wu Ding seemed somewhat reproachful.

Ye Fan replied, "I had to give an account to the family. Senior sister, shall we set off now?"

"No rush, Senior Brother Qing Wu is still recuperating; his injuries are quite severe. You've made all arrangements with your family, haven't you?" Wu Ding assessed Ye Fan, and upon seeing him nod, she chuckled softly, "Come to senior sister's room; she has some things to discuss with you."

What could it be, not another attempt at teasing, surely?

"Don't worry, this is about some serious matters regarding this journey. Actually, there are forces spread from the Pan Gu Secret Realm on Earth as well, but they are very mysterious. They're not the motley crew we encountered yesterday."

Ye Fan nodded, calculating in his mind that this meant the real masters remain hidden, while only those with half-baked skills would claim to be Cultivators and engage in actions of plunder and force.

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