Deeply Shocked

"Young Master, please get in."

Outside Yellow Bamboo Courtyard, a carriage stood before the Courtyard Gate. Chen Donglai respectfully addressed Zhao Ping'an.

Chen Donglai had cared for Zhao Ping'an for twelve years, always utterly loyal and attentive in every possible way. Zhao Ping'an had not treated him poorly either. Aside from frequently rewarding him with Hundred Herbs Pills, he had even bestowed upon him an expensive Primordial Sea Pill.

Thanks to Zhao Ping'an's rewards, Chen Donglai had opened his Essence Sea five years ago and become a Primordial Sea Realm expert.

Chen Donglai's form of address for Zhao Ping'an had also changed, from Cousin Young Master to Young Master.

Zhao Ping'an stepped into the carriage compartment. Chen Donglai drove the carriage, which slowly moved away from Yellow Bamboo Courtyard and headed toward the rear gate of the Zhennan Marquis Estate.

After the Imperial Guards delivered the Imperial Decree to the Zhennan Marquis Estate, they would return to Yujing one month later. In other words, the descendants of the Zhennan Marquis Estate named in the Imperial Decree had one month to prepare.

Knowing that he could not confine Zhao Ping'an for the time being, Zhao Yingpeng simply allowed him to return to the Jiang Family and make thorough preparations, lest Zhao Ping'an embarrass him too badly after arriving in Yujing.

When the carriage reached the rear gate of the Zhennan Marquis Estate, the guards stopped it for a routine inspection. Chen Donglai wore a placating smile before the guards, but inwardly he was tense, afraid something might go wrong.

"Is he Zhao Ping'an?" After briefly checking the carriage compartment, a guard returned to the front of the carriage and asked Chen Donglai in a low, puzzled voice.

Chen Donglai often came and went through the rear gate, so he was familiar with its guards. Over the past twelve years, the guards at the rear gate had been replaced batch after batch, and all of them had learned of Zhao Ping'an's existence: the eldest son born of a concubine to the Zhennan Marquis's Young Lord, a useless Mortal Body who had been confined and raised like a pig.

However, this was the first time they had seen Zhao Ping'an himself.

Zhao Ping'an's handsome, refined appearance and tranquil, composed bearing greatly surprised them. He was completely unlike the fat, pig-like, foolish, and boorish figure they had imagined.

"That is indeed my Young Master." Chen Donglai replied with a somewhat ingratiating smile.

The guard said, "Seeing you in person truly surpasses hearing of you."

Chen Donglai gave a few obliging laughs, not quite understanding the meaning behind those words.

"The inspection is fine. You may pass," the guard announced.

Chen Donglai thanked the guard, then flicked his whip and urged the horses onward.

After entering the street and traveling another seven or eight zhang, Chen Donglai could not help turning around. Excitedly, he shouted into the carriage, "Young Master, we're out! We're out!!!"

"Yes, we're out." Inside the carriage, Zhao Ping'an smiled. "From now on, the sky is high enough for me to fly wherever I please."

He drew aside the carriage curtain and looked at the bustling pedestrians on the street, as well as the prosperous shops and taverns lining both sides.

His cultivation at the Jade Capital Grand Martial Academy would last five years. By then, he would already be twenty-one, and the seal within his body would be lifted upon his twentieth birthday. At that point, no one would be able to imprison him again.

Chen Donglai smiled. "Young Master, it should be a dragon returning to the sea."

With their hearts flying home like arrows, after more than half an hour, Jiang Manor came into view.

At this moment, nearly everyone in the Jiang Family stood before Jiang Manor's main gate, craning their necks in eager anticipation.

To see Zhao Ping'an sooner, Jiang Shuyue did not hesitate to expend True Essence to stand in the air and gaze into the distance.

The Zhennan Marquis Estate did not permit anyone to go to its gates to receive him, so they could only wait at their own doorstep for Zhao Ping'an's return.

From afar, Jiang Shuyue saw Chen Donglai driving the carriage toward Jiang Manor.

Seeing Chen Donglai's relaxed expression and smile, she knew her son had truly left the Zhennan Marquis Estate. Her heart, which had been taut and suspended high in the air, finally relaxed, yet tears spilled from her eyes uncontrollably.

A moment later, the others at Jiang Manor saw the carriage as well and cried excitedly, "Look! Ping'an has really returned!"

The entire Jiang Manor immediately erupted with excitement. Some maids and servants ran forward to greet him.

Under the excited gazes of everyone at Jiang Manor, the carriage stopped before the main gate. Chen Donglai jumped down, pulled aside the carriage curtain, and called, "Young Master, we're home. Please get down."

Zhao Ping'an extended a hand as fair as jade, its fingers long and slender, and grasped the carriage doorframe. Then he lowered his head and emerged from the compartment before stepping down onto the ground.

A young nobleman, tall and slender, with a tranquil bearing, fair skin, and a face handsome enough to rival Pan An, appeared before the people of Jiang Manor and the neighboring onlookers gathered in the street.

For a moment, every maid of Jiang Manor and every young wife or unmarried girl among the spectators stared wide-eyed, their faces flushing red.

The men, meanwhile, could not help raising their thumbs inwardly in praise: What a graceful, handsome young man!

"Ping'an—" Jiang Shuyue descended from the air and pulled Zhao Ping'an into her embrace, her voice choked with sobs.

She wanted to gather his entire body into her arms, only to find that she could no longer do so.

Zhao Ping'an had grown up. He was more than a head taller than she was.

When the Zhennan Marquis Estate had forcibly taken him away and confined him, he had not even reached her chin.

Thinking of this, Jiang Shuyue was overcome with grief and could not stop herself from crying.

"Mother." Zhao Ping'an hugged Jiang Shuyue as well, his voice choked and tears filling his starry eyes.

Twelve years.

Mother and son had been separated for twelve years, unable to see each other even once.

After mother and son embraced and wept for a while, Jiang Wen, Jiang Zhengtian, Second Maternal Aunt, and the others stepped forward to console them.

"Ping'an's return is a joyous occasion. Why are you crying?" Jiang Wen comforted Jiang Shuyue. "So many neighbors are watching."

Only then did Jiang Shuyue barely hold back her tears and sobs, releasing Zhao Ping'an.

Zhao Ping'an greeted Jiang Wen, Jiang Zhengtian, and his other relatives one by one with bows.

When he greeted Second Maternal Aunt, she pulled Ping'an into her arms and cried for a while.

To celebrate Zhao Ping'an's return, Jiang Manor held a three-day open feast. Every servant in Jiang Manor also received generous rewards, with the silver given out even more abundant than at New Year.

In the current Jiang Manor, Jiang Shuyue was the strongest combatant.

Ever since Jiang Shuyue had carved her way through four Divine Treasury Realm experts of the Li Family alone to establish her might, Jiang Manor had entered a period of rapid ascent.

With powerful strength as its backing, the soap business no longer had to proceed so cautiously and began bringing in gold by the day.

The current Jiang Manor was far more prosperous than it had been before Jiang Shuyue married into the Zhennan Marquis Estate—at least two or three times as prosperous.

A mother could rise in status through her son, and a son could rise in status through his mother. Thus, Zhao Ping'an's standing in Jiang Manor was far beyond what a mere cousin young master could measure.

The clamor and merriment of the open feast continued outside, while Zhao Ping'an and Jiang Shuyue spoke quietly inside the room.

"Ping'an, Mother is about to reach the great completion of the Divine Treasury Realm. Once I reach completion, I can transform into a dragon. At that time, no one will ever be able to take you away from Mother's side again!" Jiang Shuyue said. Her calm tone contained incomparable resolve. "Not even if Zhao Yingpeng comes in person!"

Zhao Ping'an smiled happily. "Congratulations, Mother."

Jiang Shuyue showed a faint smile. "Mother should thank you. If I had not carried you, with Mother's aptitude and comprehension, I fear that even if I struggled my whole life, the Primordial Sea Realm would have been my limit."

"Mother, you're too modest." Zhao Ping'an shook his head.

Then he took the initiative to mention his own cultivation. "Mother, I have also cultivated diligently all these years. I have already reached the Primordial Sea Realm."

"Mm! Mother knew you were extraordinary from birth, absolutely not the Mortal Body you appeared to be!" Jiang Shuyue was not surprised, because she had vaguely guessed twelve years ago that Zhao Ping'an possessed Primordial Sea Realm cultivation.

When Kong Nian had tried to seize Zhao Ping'an and take him to Pudu Mountain, the movement technique Zhao Ping'an used to flee was not something someone in the Channel Opening Realm could perform.

The next morning, at the Martial Arts Field within Jiang Manor, Zhao Ping'an invited his grandfather Jiang Wen, his eldest maternal uncle Jiang Zhengtian, who had advanced to the Divine Treasury Realm two years ago, and his second maternal uncle Jiang Zhengfa.

Naturally, Jiang Shuyue remained by his side the entire time.

"Grandfather, Eldest Maternal Uncle, Second Maternal Uncle, Mother, ever since Grandfather taught me the Spirit Star Swordplay and Parting Flowers, Sweeping Willows, I have kept practicing them," Zhao Ping'an said. "After practicing for so many years, I have gained a little insight. Please offer your corrections."

Having said that, he used the new Parting Flowers, Sweeping Willows movement technique to swiftly fly two or three zhang away into an open space, then began performing the Xun Star Swordplay move by move.

One month later, he would leave White Emperor City with the Imperial Guards for Yujing. He estimated that he would not return to White Emperor City for seven or eight years, so he intended to pass the Xun Star Swordplay and the new Parting Flowers, Sweeping Willows on to Jiang Manor in return for all it had done for him.

Jiang Wen, Jiang Zhengtian, and the others watched intently. When they saw Zhao Ping'an's first move change form, they hesitated over whether to immediately point it out, only to discover that the move seemed sharper and more powerful.

They could not help being startled.

By then, Zhao Ping'an had already begun demonstrating the second move of the Xun Star Swordplay.

Just like the first move, it had been born from the Spirit Star Swordplay, yet its power was at least a whole level stronger.

Jiang Wen, Jiang Zhengtian, and the others were further astonished.

By the time Zhao Ping'an had demonstrated every move of the Xun Star Swordplay, Jiang Wen, Jiang Zhengtian, Jiang Zhengfa, and Jiang Shuyue were all so shocked that they stood dumbfounded.

Zhao Ping'an sheathed his sword, returned before Jiang Wen and the others, and asked with a smile, "Grandfather, what do you think?"

Jiang Wen recovered from his shock and said excitedly, "Ping'an, the swordplay you just demonstrated is far stronger than the original Spirit Star Swordplay. This old man believes it has already reached the level of a High-grade Martial Skill!"

"Father is right!" His two maternal uncles cried excitedly, their faces filled with disbelief. "Ping'an, how did you do it?"

Under normal circumstances, it was already excellent for someone to master a sword technique and grasp its true essence. To comprehend a sword technique a full grade stronger was extraordinarily astounding, a mark of exceptional talent.

Especially since Zhao Ping'an was only sixteen!

Only after Jiang Shuyue recovered from her shock did she put on an ordinary expression while speaking with pride. "Ping'an's comprehension has been astonishing since childhood, something seen only once in a thousand years. He practiced the Spirit Star Swordplay for twelve years, so there is nothing surprising about his comprehending a stronger swordplay!"

Second Maternal Uncle Jiang Zhengfa could not help smiling at Jiang Shuyue. "Little Sister, how can you praise your own wares like an old woman selling melons? Why not simply say Ping'an's comprehension is something seen only once in ten thousand years?"

"Hahaha..." Jiang Wen and Eldest Maternal Uncle could not help bursting into laughter.

Unexpectedly, Jiang Shuyue said earnestly and decisively, "Ping'an's comprehension truly is something seen only once in ten thousand years!"

Jiang Wen, Jiang Zhengtian, and Jiang Zhengfa did not know how to respond for a moment.

Zhao Ping'an smiled modestly. "Mother, please don't praise me like that."

Then he said to Jiang Wen and the others, "I intend to give this swordplay to you. Grandfather, both Maternal Uncles, please do not disdain it."

"Disdain it? We could not ask for more!" Jiang Zhengfa said excitedly. "If the Jiang Family obtains this swordplay of yours, our foundation will immediately grow much stronger."

Jiang Zhengtian said emotionally, "Ping'an, Jiang Manor thanks you."

Jiang Wen sighed. "Ping'an, for this old man to have such a fine grandson as you, I must have accumulated blessings in my previous life."

The Jiang Family possessed only two High-grade Martial Skills and one high-grade spell. One of those High-grade Martial Skills had only been bought at great cost in recent years, after the Jiang Family began rapidly prospering.

Not only was the Xun Star Swordplay a high-grade swordplay, it also shared the same lineage as the Spirit Star Swordplay, making it easier to cultivate.

The soap formula Zhao Ping'an had given them had made Jiang Manor wealthy, and now he was gifting them a high-grade swordplay. Jiang Manor would become even stronger.

Zhao Ping'an waved a hand, indicating that he did not deserve such praise, then said, "There is also the Parting Flowers, Sweeping Willows movement technique. Please offer your corrections as well..."

After saying that, he prepared to demonstrate the new Parting Flowers, Sweeping Willows movement technique for Jiang Wen and the others, when Jiang Wen suddenly called out, "Wait!"

Zhao Ping'an halted and turned toward Jiang Wen with some confusion.

Jiang Wen said to Jiang Zhengtian and Jiang Zhengfa, "Zhengtian, Zhengfa, bring Huai Hai, Huai Shan, Huai Yi, and Yiyi here."

"Yes, Dad!" Jiang Zhengtian and Jiang Zhengfa immediately replied, understanding Jiang Wen's intent.

They turned and quickly left the Martial Arts Field to fetch them.