Zhu Bufan didn't know what kind of mood he was in when he unsealed the wax on the envelope.

Was it excitement, or indifference...

Was it joy, or pain...

Was it delight, or resentment...

Zhu Bufan wasn't sure; maybe all of them, maybe none. All his emotions vanished without a trace the moment he opened the Dragon Xuan Paper, as white as snow. Zhu Bufan unexpectedly entered a bizarre realm where neither joy nor sorrow moved him.

This realm was astoundingly strange, not causing even the slightest ripple on the surface, and Zhu Bufan didn't notice anything unusual, reading the entire letter quite ordinarily.

What Zhu Bufan didn't know was that deep within his mind, within a chaotic space, there lay a disk-like blue light wheel, surrounded by a massive, indistinct shadow, with mist gently enveloping the blue full moon.

The originally slow-moving blue mist suddenly surged when Zhu Bufan entered that peculiar realm, and the full moon simultaneously burst forth with intense blue light, bright as the midday sun.

After reading the letter, Zhu Bufan took a deep breath and closed his eyes slightly. After a while, he slowly opened them.

"Aunt..."

Zhu Bufan uttered softly. To his surprise, the family letter wasn't left by Zhu Xiaotian but was written by an aunt he had never heard of.

As they say, seeing the handwriting is like seeing the person. Exceptional people can discern someone's nature from their handwriting.

The handwriting on this letter was elegant and ethereal, otherworldly. At a glance, Zhu Bufan seemed to see a trickling clear spring, vibrant green bamboo, and the spiritual energy vividly on paper.

However, amidst all the grace on the paper, Zhu Bufan sensed an unparalleled aura and ambition.

"Seeing my aunt, she's indeed a formidable character! Ambitious and domineering, this Elder Zheng Da must be from her faction!" Zhu Bufan felt his mind becoming clearer and more organized in thinking.

"Heh, missing me? Taking me home?" Zhu Bufan sneered internally. If it were truly as the letter said, why come now after so many years, and not earlier or later? "However, I might as well gain some benefit from it!"

Regarding the familial warmth exuded in the letter, Zhu Bufan sneered internally, not believing it one bit, instead pondering how to reap some advantage from it.

Outwardly, however, Zhu Bufan was inexplicably moved, as if afraid of acting too obviously, nearly bringing forth tears of emotion.

"Heh, aunt? What aunt do I have! When I was suffering, no aunt or uncle appeared, so where did this aunt suddenly come from now?"

Although pretending to be touched, Zhu Bufan continued his defiant manner, gripping the letter in anger, heavily pounding the coffee table.

In response, Elder Zheng Da maintained his calm smile without the slightest change. As the saying goes, with age comes wisdom, and Elder Zheng Da, being capable of holding such a significant position in the Zhu Family, had refined self-control, revealing nothing of his thoughts on his face.

"Haha, Young Master Zhu, don't be anxious. Let me explain!" Elder Zheng Da's voice was gentle and peaceful, like a spring breeze brushing across Zhu Bufan's heart.

Zhu Bufan felt that, in that moment, his blood flow slowed slightly. His conscious effort to quicken his blood flow to appear flushed with anger was subconsciously alleviated.

Zhu Bufan was shocked; had it not been for his exceptional control of his internal energy, he wouldn't have noticed it at all.

Instantly, his fear of this seemingly amiable elder increased. Elder Zheng Da was truly formidable, able to influence others' emotions without them noticing, a fact that astounded Zhu Bufan.

"Your aunt did not suddenly appear; she has always existed!" Elder Zheng Da gently remarked, after sipping some tea, "Your aunt is your father's sister, sent to the Liuyun Sect twenty years ago, and only returned recently." With that, Elder Zheng Da's gaze briefly swept over Zhu Bufan. Seeing that Zhu Bufan indeed 'calmed down' to listen carefully, a trace of satisfaction flickered across his face.

He cultivates the Wood Attribute, one of the Five Elements Attributes, which naturally embodies remarkable abilities, among which, emotional comfort is one.

Yet, hearing this, Zhu Bufan filtered out the non-existent elements. For Zhu Bufan, only two pieces of information were useful from this statement.

First, this aunt is his biological aunt. Second, the Liuyun Sect.

"What? Still angry? Your aunt knew nothing of your situation before, otherwise she wouldn't have ignored you. As soon as she returned recently, she inquired about your current circumstances and tasked me to bring you back!" Elder Zheng Da stroked his beard as he spoke.

"Is that so!" A timely expression of emotional stirred appeared on Zhu Bufan's face.

"Well, it worked out. I didn't expect you to pass the selection, which allows you to return legitimately without fear of others' obstruction!" Elder Zheng Da was clearly very satisfied with Zhu Bufan's passing the selection.

"Obstruction? Does anyone not want me to return?" Zhu Bufan instantly raised his voice.

"Haha, as a direct descendant of the Zhu Family sent away like an exile to Nanli City for over a decade, if you desire to return, would those who banished you approve?" Elder Zheng Da remarked meaningfully, yet he deliberately withheld the explicit answer Zhu Bufan sought, leaving some room for Zhu Bufan to ponder on his own.

"This old fox, so cunning, speaking half-truths to lead me on?" Zhu Bufan cursed inwardly, "Heh, could it be my father Zhu — Xiao — Tian?" Zhu Bufan appeared furious, his face turning crimson with rage, veins bulging prominently, especially when uttering Zhu Xiaotian's name gritted through his teeth. His hatred seemed to cause the surrounding temperature to drop significantly.

Seeing Zhu Bufan's heightened agitation and intense animosity, Elder Zheng Da was startled. However, Zhu Bufan's hatred was directed at Zhu Xiaotian, not the result Elder Zheng Da anticipated.

"Young Master Zhu, how could you address your father by his given name?" Elder Zheng Da's speech was slow and calm, but as he spoke, Zhu Bufan felt the air around him gradually being drawn away, an indifferent and authoritative pressure weighing down on him, making him uncomfortable.

"Heh, father? If he truly were my father, how could he abandon his own son? If he truly were my father, why would he be so heartless, ignoring me for over a decade, neither word nor sign? If he truly were my father, how could he be so ruthless, allowing me to endure humiliation and torment?"

Originally, Zhu Bufan was merely pretending in front of Elder Zheng Da, but at this point, he could no longer contain himself. These few sentences emerged directly from the depths of his heart, voicing the harshest questions towards his father.

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