White Cloud Temple

"Celestial Venerable Han... you bastard!"

"Too arrogant—how dare someone provoke our Dragon-Que Clan like this?"

"Daring to style himself a Celestial Venerable, this man truly doesn't know his place."

"Notify the main branch, notify the main branch—we cannot let this scoundrel go."

"Everyone on high alert. If that villain dares come again, we'll fight to the death."

Inside the villa of the Jiujiang Dragon-Que Branch, the gathered Dragon-Que Clan experts all spoke up, though their bluster barely masked their fear.

They were terrified. This so-called Celestial Venerable Han had effortlessly infiltrated the Underground Palace Spirit Ground and made off with most of their branch's treasured collection.

They felt humiliated, but they were also afraid. This time, he hadn't taken lives. What about next time? It felt like a sword hanging over their heads—how could they sit still or sleep soundly?

The Jiujiang Dragon-Que Branch was left uneasy by the two lines Yan Kuan had written. Meanwhile, the instigator himself had already taken his spoils and headed north to Jingcheng.

Yan Kuan himself wouldn't have minded traveling more of the motherland's magnificent landscapes, but the New Year was approaching, and his mother, Ms. Xiao Lin, had ordered her precious son to come home. With nothing urgent on his plate, family came first—so off to Jingcheng he went.

As the year drew to a close, the capital city bustled with lively prosperity. Yan Kuan's family's Courtyard House was second to none in this district, and along the way, many people greeted him.

He didn't recognize most of them, but he could guess their identities—likely tenants of his family's properties.

His old man, following his precious son's strategic advice, had taken on the role of bridging the antique trade between Hong Kong and the mainland while also getting an early start in real estate. Real estate in Jingcheng had barely shown any signs of life at this time, so acquiring land was all too easy.

"I'm home!"

Yan Kuan jogged back into the renovated Courtyard House, only to be met with two cold stares the moment he pushed the door open. Good grief—what were his parents up to? Trying for a second kid? He figured he wasn't that much of a disappointment, was he? Sure, he was rarely home, but was that really worth this treatment!

"Son, you're back!"

As Yan Kuan walked over, his mother, Ms. Xiao, had already composed herself. Smiling warmly, she pulled her son close and looked him over from head to toe.

He had to admit, women were born actors, and married women—well, let's just say their skin was rarely thin, often blurting out some shockingly bold remarks.

Yan Kuan glanced up. Aside from a lingering blush on his face, his mother seemed perfectly normal. Truly a master of changing expressions. As for his father, Yan Qiang, sitting nearby, his performance was far more awkward—he'd picked up a newspaper to play the cultured intellectual, but hadn't noticed it was upside down.

"Dad, the paper's upside down."

Yan Kuan patted his father's shoulder and 'kindly' pointed it out. That only made Old Yan more flustered. He fumbled to drop the newspaper and instinctively reached into his pocket.

"Smoking's bad for your health. You quit when I was born, remember? Don't pick that nasty habit back up."

Yan Kuan said this while lying down, resting his head on his mother's lap, which made Old Yan's eyes practically shoot fire. This little brat was too cocky—completely undermining his authority as head of the household. Yan Qiang, once nicknamed 'Smokestack,' was now being lectured by his own son. Helpless.

Old Yan slumped back into the sofa, looking like he was grinding his teeth in frustration but couldn't do a thing. Ms. Xiao covered her mouth with a laugh. Having a son who was too mature wasn't all good—it made them look like such inadequate parents. In this household, the youngest one was really the one in charge.

"Son, is something on your mind?"

Ms. Xiao seemed to sense that her son wasn't quite his usual self, but even as she spoke, she couldn't resist reaching out to pinch his cheeks.

As her first child, Yan Kuan had been subjected to her 'evil clutches' since birth—mainly because he'd been round, adorable, and had flawless skin as a kid. His mother had made a habit of it.

Now, it was much the same. Yan Kuan's cultivation had refined his skin to be even better than a baby's, but as he'd grown older, Ms. Xiao had fewer chances to carry him around and play.

Still, he'd been through a lot on this trip, and his heart wasn't entirely at ease. Coming home and getting this close with his family really helped him relax.

He had lived three lifetimes as a child of peaceful times. He'd never killed anyone—hadn't even killed a chicken more than a few times. Outside the Three Pure Palace, he'd taken out twenty-eight people who meant him harm. He'd been prepared for it ever since stepping onto the path of cultivation, but after it was over, his heart couldn't help but stir with some indescribable feelings.

It wasn't that he was being sanctimonious. It was just that the Ancestral Star's environment was peaceful, nothing like the chaotic ancient cultivation stars like Big Dipper or Ziwei.

For someone who'd lived long in such a peaceful place, taking lives for the first time inevitably brought some discomfort. But once you'd done it once, the next time wouldn't hit as hard.

Yan Kuan shifted his head but didn't dodge his mother's 'evil clutches.' He replied softly, "Some things happened while I was away. I've handled them all."

"Son, you've been traveling so long this time. It's time to come home and rest. I was thinking—after the New Year, maybe we should get you back to school first."

Ms. Xiao knew her son was smart and sensible, and that if he said something, he had his own reasons. She didn't press further, instead changing the subject. "With my son's brains, you could definitely skip grades. By the time you're in your teens, you'd be in university—how impressive would that be!"

Old Yan also looked at Yan Kuan. He'd always wanted his son to make something of himself, even if their family was already doing very well.

"I'm not planning to go to school."

Yan Kuan's words made both parents want to object, but he continued before they could speak. "School is for learning knowledge, making friends, and working to earn money.

I already know more than most professors. It'd be a waste of time. As for making friends—do you really think I'd get along with a bunch of little kids?

And about future degrees, jobs, and money—do we even need to worry about that now?"

His words left Yan Qiang and Xiao Lin speechless. They thought it over and realized that, maybe, possibly, indeed... their son had a point. But they still felt that schooling was the right path, yet they didn't know how to argue.

"I got some things on this trip. I'm going to pursue the Dao."

Yan Kuan didn't give his parents a chance to calm down. Just as they were still mulling over how to get him back to school, he dropped another bombshell.

A jade box suddenly appeared in Yan Kuan's hand. The moment he opened it, a fragrance swept through the room. Yan Qiang and Xiao Lin, who had been about to steer their son back to the 'right path,' were instantly captivated by the scent. Then Yan Kuan's voice rang out again.

"Tomorrow, we'll go to the White Cloud Temple in the west of the city and get it done."