「Demon City.」

Atop a high mountain, clouds billowed and mist swirled.

An old man and a young man sat opposite each other. The elder exuded a powerful aura, filled with an air of authority. The youth had sharp brows and starlit eyes, his entire demeanor as keen as a blade's edge.

A chessboard was placed between them. The elder gripped a chess piece, unable to make a move for a long time.

"CLACK."

The elder tossed the piece into the chess box, his expression souring. "I'm not playing anymore! I can never beat you."

The youth gave a faint smile, knowing the elder was not truly angry.

The elder, now even more annoyed, said, "Can't you let your grandfather win for once? Who would dare to play chess with you in the future?"

The youth's expression turned serious. "Grandfather, chess is like life. Once a piece is played, there are no regrets. How could I go easy on you?"

The elder heaved a long sigh. "Chuan, that's not right. I'm your grandfather, after all."

The youth rubbed a chess piece and replied earnestly, "There is no concession on the Martial Way. Grandfather, this is what you taught me."

The elder was startled, then burst into relieved laughter. "Right, right! Truly worthy of being the dragon of the Qin Family!"

This youth was none other than Qin Chuan of the Demon City Qin Family.

The elder carefully sized up Qin Chuan and said joyfully, "Chuan, judging by your aura, it won't be long before you take that step, will it?"

Upon hearing this, Qin Chuan's brows furrowed slightly, a rare hint of bitterness and fear appearing on his face. "That step is too difficult."

Looking down at the pieces on the board, Qin Chuan continued, "I have a gut feeling that if I truly attempt it, my body could perish and my dao could scatter."

"If even you don't dare speak of taking that step lightly, it seems that Lin Wudi would dare even less," the elder said, stroking his beard with a smile.

Qin Chuan's fingers paused as he murmured to himself, "Lin Wudi?"

"Chuan, if you were to face this man, how confident are you?" the elder asked, his expression laced with anticipation.

Qin Chuan smiled arrogantly. "Ninety percent."

The elder was slightly taken aback. "That low?"

If any outsider had heard this, they would have been utterly astonished.

Ninety percent? And that was considered low?

After all, the Lin Wudi of today was the undisputed number one in the Martial Arts World.

"The remaining ten percent depends on whether Lin Wudi knows what's good for him," Qin Chuan said with a faint smile. He placed his piece on the board, instantly forming a pattern to slay a great dragon.

The elder erupted into hearty laughter. "Indeed! Chuan, you are a once-in-a-century genius of our Qin Family. You became a Grandmaster at twenty, and eight years have passed since then. You are not far from taking that next step."

"A mere Lin Wudi is naturally not a concern."

Suddenly recalling something, the elder said, "Speaking of this Lin Wudi, it seems he comes from River City. River City..."

Qin Chuan smiled. "Grandfather, are you thinking of that worthless branch of the family?"

The elder nodded slightly, then sneered, "So many years have passed. It's about time we contacted the River City side."

"While you're at it, have someone ask this Lin Wudi if he has any interest in joining our Qin Family as a servant."

Pride was written all over the elder's face, as if allowing Lin Wudi to become a servant of the Qin Family was the greatest honor he could possibly receive.

...

「Jiangling.」

During this time, Lin Mu had been constantly by his family's side. This brought a smile to Qin Luoli's face every day. Ever since marrying Lin Mu, the man had never spent so much time with her.

But she knew that he would have to leave before long. Therefore, Qin Luoli treasured these moments immensely.

One day, the family woke up early, as Xu Yao's school was about to start and they all planned to see her off together.

"Mom, Auntie, you really don't have to!" Xu Yao said with a hint of helplessness. "I'm not a little kid anymore, you don't need to take me to school."

Su Xiaomei gave Xu Yao a light tap on the head. "Don't talk nonsense. In my eyes, you will always be a child."

Xu Yao shot Qin Luoli a pitiful look, hoping her sister-in-law would speak up for her. If her parents really took her to school, she would die of embarrassment.

Qin Luoli shrugged. "Don't look at me. If I didn't have work today, I'd want to go with you."

"Ah!" Xu Yao clutched her head in agony. "But it's so embarrassing."

Xu Xiaotian had a troubled look on his face. "Yaoyao, if you think it's embarrassing for your mom and dad to take you, then we won't go."

Su Xiaomei, who was helping Xu Yao pack, froze. Her eyes instantly grew red.

"Mom, Dad, that's not what I meant at all!" Xu Yao grabbed her parents' hands. "In my heart, you'll always be the people I admire second most. How could I ever be ashamed of you?"

With a sigh, Su Xiaomei said sadly, "See? We're not even number one. How is that not being ashamed of us?"

Xu Yao giggled. "Because Brother Mu is the person I admire the most."

Su Xiaomei rolled her eyes at Xu Yao and said to Xu Xiaotian, feigning anger, "Fine, I give up. I can't win an argument with this daughter of yours."

Xu Xiaotian said, "Yaoyao, your mom and I want to take you to school because we're afraid you'll get bullied. You have to understand we mean well."

Xu Yao shook her head. "Then you have even less to worry about, because Brother Mu is taking me today."

"Xiao Mu?" Su Xiaomei chided, "Yaoyao, you can't always be troubling Brother Mu. Xiao Mu is very busy."

"Who said I'm busy?"

At that moment, Lin Mu walked in with a smile. "Aunt, Uncle, I've already promised Yaoyao I'd take her to school, so there's no need for you to go."

Lin Mu knew that a girl Xu Yao's age was at her most sensitive. If her classmates saw her parents dropping her off, some of them might look down on her, even if she herself didn't mind.

"Aunt, don't worry," Lin Mu said. "Yaoyao has grown up, and it's time for her to learn to be independent. Let me take her this time. If you want to visit her school, I can have Luo Li take you later."

"Exactly, exactly." Xu Yao swung Su Xiaomei's arm, pleading coquettishly, "Please, Mom? Just let Brother Mu take me, okay? Pleeeease?"

"Alright, alright." Su Xiaomei knew that Lin Mu was right. Her daughter would eventually grow up and leave them to live on her own. They couldn't shelter her forever.

Most importantly, with Lin Mu around, her daughter would not be bullied. This was something Su Xiaomei's family understood deeply.

"Yay! Long live Brother Mu! Long live Mom!" Xu Yao jumped up excitedly, finished packing her things, and left with Lin Mu.

Leaving Coiling Dragon Bay, Lin Mu watched the ecstatic Xu Yao and said calmly, "Alright, I already agreed to help you. Now you can tell me why you didn't want my aunt and uncle to take you."

A few days prior, Xu Yao had begged him to make sure her parents didn't take her to school and to help her make an excuse. Lin Mu had felt that something was off.

Seeing Xu Yao's excited face, Lin Mu's expression changed. "Yaoyao, tell me the truth. Are you... in a relationship?"

If his little sister was dating, his first instinct was to find the little bastard who dared to flirt with her and beat him to a pulp. If anyone in the Martial Arts World knew of this, their jaws would hit the floor.

To think that the great Grandmaster Lin Wudi was such an overprotective brother!

Xu Yao rolled her eyes at Lin Mu. "Brother, what goes on in that head of yours all day? I already made plans with friends to go exploring."

"Exploring? With friends? Boys or girls? When did you meet them?" Lin Mu bombarded her with questions until her head felt like it was about to explode.

"Brother, you're starting to sound more and more like Mom," Xu Yao pouted. "If you're that worried, you can just come with us."

"I was going to, even if you hadn't invited me. I promised my aunt I would personally see you to school." Lin Mu still felt a bit uneasy, so he decided to go along and check things out.

If anything happened to Xu Yao, he, as her brother, would regret it for the rest of his life.

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