A night had passed without any disturbances as the sun slowly rose in the east.

After getting up, Jiang Chen had breakfast with Gong Lin and the two walked towards the door together, a hint of helplessness appearing on Jiang Chen's face.

"What's wrong?" Noticing Jiang Chen's unusual expression, Gong Lin asked in confusion.

Jiang Chen twisted his mouth towards the loft door and said, "Ying Zi must be worried that I won't take her with me, so she's been waiting at the door since early morning."

"This..." Gong Lin was startled for a moment, then teasingly looked at Jiang Chen, "This girl is quite clingy with you!"

Jiang Chen sighed softly, "It's unimaginable what she endured in the hands of the Soul Devour Group. When I met her, she was already a strong Semi Innate Peak fighter, yet so timid and fragile!"

"Poor Ying Zi, take good care of her!" Gong Lin's eyes showed a complex expression of pity.

Jiang Chen nodded lightly and stepped towards the door.

Click!

"Sir, madam!"

As the loft's door opened, Qingyuan Yingzi's greeting could be heard.

Jiang Chen glanced at Qingyuan Yingzi and helplessly asked, "Have you eaten?"

"Sir, I have!" Qingyuan Yingzi nodded gently.

"Alright, Hu Zi! Elder Wu! Fatty!" Jiang Chen nodded and called out.

Thump, thump, thump!

Li Fenglin, Yan Hu, and Wu Qianxun emerged from the opposite loft, each displaying an expression of helplessness upon seeing Qingyuan Yingzi.

Clearly, they all knew Qingyuan Yingzi had been standing there waiting; they had tried advising her, but it hadn't worked!

However, they could all see that Qingyuan Yingzi was absolutely loyal to Jiang Chen.

After this interlude, Jiang Chen led Yan Hu, Wu Qianxun, Qingyuan Yingzi, and others away from there, heading north.

...

Somewhere in the northern mountains.

The mountains soared into the clouds, lush green trees covered the area, and white snow blanketed everything!

This area was filled with herbal medicine, hosting the Flame Dragon Kingdom's largest herbal medicine market, located in the Northern Dark Forest!

The Dark Forest was a treasure trove spread across the hills. To most, the riches of this dense jungle seemed unclaimed, but a select few knew that certain areas in this jungle had owners—the hidden martial arts family, the Li Family, nestled deep within the forest!

The Li Family had hidden themselves for a century, living deep within the Dark Forest mountain range in a valley.

Tomorrow would mark the one-year anniversary of the death of the Li family's third elder, also once the top expert of the Li family. Various groups with connections to the Li family had arrived early to partake in the memorial service.

The Li family's valley was a hundred meters wide and nearly a thousand meters long, with wooden lofts situated in the middle where the Li family resided. Deeper into the valley lay a dark, dense forest.

A river ran through the middle of the valley, dividing it into two areas, with the Li family's lofts on the west side and a training ground on the east.

Woo woo... Squeak!

It was nearing noon when a booming sound echoed at the valley's entrance; a limited edition Hummer parked on the flat land near the entrance, drawing the attention of two young guards at the valley's mouth.

Click!

The car door opened, and Jiang Chen, Yan Hu, Wu Qianxun, Qingyuan Yingzi, and Li Fenglin alighted from the vehicle.

Seeing Li Fenglin emerge, the faces of the young guards at the entrance changed colors. One whispered to the other, who then turned and ran into the valley.

The remaining young guard stepped forward to greet Jiang Chen and the others.

"Li Fenglin, you actually dared to come back? Are these the people from the Jiang Family of Jincheng? Who is the Family Head of the Jiang Family? Have you come to apologize?" The young man approached Jiang Chen and his companions, his face full of arrogance as he spoke.

Li Fenglin's complexion changed, and he said in a deep voice, "Chen He, you're just a guard, what right do you have to speak to me like this?"

"Ha! What about being a guard? I'm a guard, but I'm also a member of the Li family. What about you? Do you think you are still the young master of the Li family? Do you think you're still the heir? You're nothing but an outcast who was driven out of your clan. You're not even a member of the Li family anymore. Do you understand? Why are you still acting so arrogant?" Chen He sneered with mockery.

Li Fenglin's face turned pale, his eyes revealing a furious expression. He glared fiercely at Chen He, his eyes blazing with rage, his fists clenched tightly, desperately trying to hold back the anger in his heart!

It had been a year since Li Fenglin had returned. Although he knew that he was no longer welcomed by the Li family, he had never expected that even a guard from the Li family, who was at the Profound Level Realm and tasked with watching the gate, would speak to him in such a manner!

However, in order to pay his respects to the three ancestors, he had no choice but to bear this grievance!

"Who among you is Jiang Chen, the Family Head of the Jiang Family? Kneel down and apologize immediately!" Chen He turned his head to look at Jiang Chen and his group, arrogantly speaking again.

Jiang Chen's eyes slightly narrowed as he glanced into the valley.

Inside the mouth of the valley, the guard who had run in was back, standing alongside several young men dressed in brocade, who were looking at Jiang Chen and the others with sneering faces.

"Hey, are you all deaf..." Chen He called out again.

"Shut..." Li Fenglin's expression turned cold as he loudly interjected.

But before Li Fenglin could finish his sentence, a blur appeared.

Bang!

Crack!

With a dull sound, Chen He was sent flying backward, his chest completely caved in.

Pfff!

Thud!

Chen He, flying through the air, spat out a mouthful of blood and landed harshly on the ground, immediately fainting.

"Mr. Jiang, I'm sorry!" Li Fenglin turned to look at Jiang Chen standing next to him and apologized guiltily; it was Jiang Chen who had just kicked Chen He away.

"You don't need to apologize. A mere guard dares to demand that I kneel and apologize. I want to see just how arrogant this Li family can be!" Jiang Chen coldly looked towards the mouth of the valley.

"How dare you! Attacking our guard at the mouth of the Li family's valley, do you not wish to live?"

"Li Fenglin, tomorrow is the memorial day for the three ancestors. All the guests have arrived today; do you really want to cause a scene at this time?"

"How kind of you, Li Fenglin, the family kindly invited you back to attend the ceremony, and yet you dare to cause trouble. You really have no conscience!"

"Li Fenglin, do you think the Jiang Family of Jincheng can protect you? Let me tell you, if the ancestor becomes enraged, even the Jiang Family will be flattened!"

"Right! Let Jiang Chen kneel down and apologize immediately!"

The several young men inside the mouth of the valley were momentarily stunned, then burst out shouting furiously, cursively moving toward Jiang Chen and his group.

Li Fenglin's expression turned completely icy, his aura gradually emanating.

Buzz buzz buzz!

An aura of the Early Heaven Level surged skyward; Li Fenglin coldly said, "You can criticize me, but don't involve Mr. Jiang!"

The guard's insults had already made Li Fenglin feel immense guilt, and now the young men repeating the demand enraged Li Fenglin even further!

"You must not act!"

Jiang Chen placed his hand on Li Fenglin's shoulder.

Then, he looked up and spoke indifferently, "Ying Zi, make them kneel!"

"Yes!"

After a sharp rebuke, Qingyuan Yingzi's figure darted out.

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