Why Didn't You Come Back Sooner

Blood Sabre Old Ancestor cursed loudly, "Your Zhao Family knows nothing but tricks. Some days ago, this old ancestor was talked into leaving by your lies. Today, don't even think of deceiving me again. Hurry up and send that brat out, or don't blame this old ancestor for taking action!"

The bearded elder's expression stiffened at those words, and he immediately frowned deeply.

Blood Sabre Old Ancestor was an Innate Grandmaster. Other than Third Granduncle, no one in the Zhao Family could stand against him. Yet Third Granduncle was already ninety-five years old, and it was still unknown whether he could defeat Blood Sabre Old Ancestor.

Do we have to ask Great-Aunt Grandmother to act again? But she has never concerned herself with worldly affairs. And Jie'er is hiding with her... If—

The bearded elder was named Zhao Xuanyi. He was both the current head of the Zhao Family and Zhao Yujie's father.

Just as Zhao Xuanyi was caught in a dilemma, a decrepit figure leaning on a jade cane slowly hobbled out from the rear hall and appeared before everyone.

"Haha, I was wondering who could stir up such a commotion. So it was you, Chang Blood Sabre. No wonder!"

The moment Chang Meng saw the newcomer, he became far more cautious. Though he restrained some of his arrogance, he still sneered, "Old Zhao, you're not dead yet? But judging by how you're gasping for breath, it's hard to say whether you can even draw your sword."

The old man smiled without the slightest concern, patting his cane as he said, "The Jade Sword Young Master of old died long ago. All that remains is an old man with a solitary cane. But this old man has lived long enough anyway. Shall I take you with me?"

Upon hearing this, Chang Meng's gaze contracted. He sat upright and stared cautiously at Zhao Zhijing.

Though Chang Meng was in the prime of his life while the other had already withered into a shadow of his former self, no one dared underestimate the desperate strike of an Innate Martial Grandmaster, even if he had only one breath left in him.

"You old bastard, you dare threaten me?" Chang Meng asked viciously after sizing Zhao Zhijing up.

"How could that be? This old man merely fears the road to the next world will be lonely. I only want to find someone pleasing to the eye to keep me company," Zhao Zhijing explained unhurriedly.

Just then, the Daoist with a childlike face and crane-white hair suddenly spoke.

"Old Master Zhao has misunderstood. Brother Chang bears no ill intent. He merely saw that the Third Young Master of your esteemed household possesses exceptional talent and is fine material for martial arts. Delighted at the sight of such prey, he came to your residence to offer to accept him as a disciple."

"Accept him as a disciple? More like a sheep walking into a tiger's jaws!" Zhao Zhijing sneered inwardly, while secretly pondering, Why are these two so fixated on Yujie? Could news that Yujie possesses a spiritual root have leaked out?

Every family knew its own affairs.

Though he kept talking about taking someone with him to death, in truth, he could not do it at all.

Two years ago, his cultivation had already collapsed, and all his Innate True Qi had dispersed.

Yet an old tiger's frame did not collapse! Zhao Zhijing remained calm and shook his head without hesitation. "The Zhao Family appreciates your goodwill, but our family has a deep martial heritage. Our Floating Light Swordplay and Cloud Dragon Three Transformations stand unmatched in Ganzhou. There is no need for outsiders to teach our own descendants."

After hearing this, Blood Sabre Old Ancestor laughed in rage. "Fine! You refuse the wine of respect only to drink the wine of punishment! It seems this old ancestor cannot avoid taking action today."

Seeing that the talks had broken down completely, the Zhao Family's four great clan elders and Family Head Zhao Xuanyi immediately rose and blocked the other party's path, their expressions exceedingly grave.

The Blood Sabre Sect disciples showed no weakness either. They swiftly drew their sabres, waiting only for their ancestor's command before moving to wipe out the Zhao Family.

Just as a bloody clash seemed unavoidable, an aged voice came from outside the doors. "Who was it just now that said they wanted to make a move in my Zhao Family?"

As he spoke, Zhao Sheng slowly walked into the Main Hall carrying an urn, with the driver Zhao Er following close behind.

Seeing that the newcomer was an old man missing an arm, Blood Sabre Old Ancestor mocked, "Where did this crippled old wreck come from? You dare challenge this old ancestor? Disciples, get him! Kill without mercy!"

"Yes, Ancestor!"

The Blood Sabre disciples responded thunderously. They knew their ancestor intended to kill someone to establish his might.

At once, a group of red-clad disciples charged toward Zhao Sheng with their long sabres held in reverse.

"Be careful!" the Zhao Family elders shouted in warning, about to step forward and help.

At that moment, Zhao Sheng merely cast a glance at the driver.

"Zhao Er!"

Before his words had faded, the driver Zhao Er suddenly dropped into the midst of the blood-clad men. Streams of azure Innate Qi Swords burst from his palms. None of the Blood Sabre disciples could withstand that terrifying sword strike; one after another, their heads and bodies parted as they fell into pools of blood.

"An Innate Grandmaster?!"

"The Azure Sea Tide Rising Art?!"

Chang Meng and Zhao Xuanyi cried out almost at the same time.

At that moment, Blood Sabre Old Ancestor Chang Meng felt as though he had just eaten a bitter gourd. His mouth was unbearably bitter, and his heart shook with astonishment. Who exactly is this man? Why is even a mere attendant an Innate Martial Grandmaster?

Zhao Zhijing carefully studied the one-armed elder several steps away. He found him strangely familiar, as if he had seen him somewhere before.

Zhao Sheng looked back at him and could not help sighing. "Third Brother, after so many years apart, you've grown old too."

"Ninth Brother? You're Old Ninth, Zhao Zhiqin? How is that possible?!" Zhao Zhijing could hardly believe his eyes.

Old Ninth, Zhao Zhiqin, had been missing for fifty years.

He never imagined they would live to see each other again.

With deep emotion, Zhao Sheng said, "Third Brother, I am Zhao Zhiqin. I really came back."

After learning the newcomer's identity, Zhao Xuanyi's entire body suddenly trembled. An immensely complicated expression appeared on his face. Is this the grandfather Father always spoke of?

The other four clan elders heard the newcomer claim to be Zhao Zhiqin, the legendary third Innate Grandmaster of the Zhao Family.

Hadn't the rumors said he died long ago?

The Zhao Family elders were utterly bewildered, unable for the moment to make sense of the truth.

"Old Ninth, where have you been all these years? Why didn't you come back a few years sooner? They're all dead. The elders and brothers, all of them are dead! Even juniors like Chenggong and Chengli are dead. Now I'm the only one left, barely dragging out this wretched life. You... why didn't you come back sooner?!"

By the end, Zhao Zhijing could not stop tears from streaming down his aged face, which was filled with bitter desolation.

Zhao Sheng's entire body shook violently. He had just heard the name he least wanted to hear.

Chenggong?! His eldest son had already passed away. So, in the end, he had still chosen to return to the Zhao Family.

White-haired parents sending off black-haired children—there was no greater bitterness in this world.

Yet even more painful was that when his son died, he, as his father, had not only failed to see him one last time, but did not even know when he had died.

Zhao Sheng had never been a qualified father.

He had once personally sent his seven biological children onto carriages, then watched helplessly as each of them rode toward an unknown distant horizon.

At that moment, Zhao Sheng's heart suddenly filled with boundless bitterness. He had thought himself rational enough, but he had been wrong! Just then, Blood Sabre Old Ancestor suddenly rose to his feet and said cautiously, "Th-that... I have matters to attend to, so I'll take my leave first."

What a racket!

Chang Meng had abruptly interrupted Zhao Sheng's thoughts, and a nameless fury suddenly rose in his heart.