Return to Qingyan Town

"Second Uncle, how much longer until we reach Changyang County!"

On the road, a merchant caravan was making its way.

On a carriage within the caravan, a girl of twelve or thirteen lifted the curtain and asked her Second Uncle, Song Daitang, who was riding a horse.

"Soon, we should reach Changyang County in half a day. What's wrong, are you homesick?" Song Daitang replied with a smile.

His niece insisted on coming along with the caravan this time, and his elder brother couldn't refuse his daughter, so he asked him to bring his young niece to Changyang County.

"No, I was just asking. We've been traveling for almost ten days and still haven't arrived..."

"Chirp...!"

An eagle's cry pierced the clouds.

Before she could finish speaking, Song Wanqing looked up at the sky upon hearing the eagle's cry.

She saw a streak of green lightning flash across the sky, disappearing into the horizon in an instant, leaving only a small dot.

"What is that, Second Uncle!" Song Wanqing's small face was filled with astonishment, and she hurriedly asked Song Daitang.

"That should be a Green Feather Eagle from Qingfeng Mountain," Song Daitang explained, looking towards the horizon.

The Song family was, after all, a prominent family in Cangwu County, so of course they knew about the Green Feather Eagles of Qingfeng Mountain.

It was just that his young niece was too young, and her elder brother always kept her within the clan to study martial arts and literacy, which was why she was confused.

"There must be an Elder and disciples from Qingfeng Mountain passing by. Let's continue on our way!"

"Second Uncle, it would be great if I could ride on a Green Feather Eagle. Then we could get from Cangwu County to Changyang County very quickly, and we wouldn't have to travel for so many days."

Song Wanqing's small face was full of longing.

"Hahaha! As long as you practice martial arts diligently, you can join Qingfeng Mountain in the future, and that day will naturally come," Song Daitang laughed and patted his niece's head.

"Mhm! I'll work hard on my martial arts when I get back this time. I'll definitely go to Qingfeng Mountain in the future!" Song Wanqing said with a determined look on her small face, clenching her small fists.

Chen Qinglin naturally had no idea that people on the ground were discussing the Green Feather Eagles they were riding.

This time, he decided to rent a Green Feather Eagle from Spirit Beast Peak to return.

Xie Jingyun had originally thought that renting an Azure Scale Horse would be enough for the journey back, as renting a Green Feather Eagle cost twenty Spirit Stones.

After being brought to Qingfeng Mountain by Meng Yunling, she had been cultivating on Qingzhu Peak, and her monthly disciple benefits were only five Spirit Stones.

After all, she was previously only in the Body Tempering Realm. It was only after advancing to the Inner Qi Realm that she received the benefits of a true Inner Disciple, ten Spirit Stones per month and a bottle of True Qi Pills.

With the remaining Spirit Stones needed for her own cultivation, there wasn't much left.

However, Chen Qinglin had completed a few missions, and besides his own cultivation, he still had some Spirit Stones left. He could always earn more later.

Without further ado, he rented a Green Feather Eagle and took Xie Jingyun straight to Changyang County in Cangzhou.

After another quarter of an hour, a prosperous large city appeared before their eyes.

Without stopping, the two of them rode the Green Feather Eagle over the skies of Changyang County City and headed towards Qingyan Town.

A small town nestled at the foot of a green mountain, with a small river flowing beside it.

"Look quickly, Junior Brother! We're here!" Xie Jingyun's eyes lit up with excitement as she saw the familiar place.

Chen Qinglin looked at the small town before him. Although he hadn't left for long, seeing it again gave him a different feeling.

He guided the Green Feather Eagle to land in the forest not far from the town, allowing it to roam freely, and then stepped into Qingyan Town with Xie Jingyun.

As the two entered the town, familiar hawking sounds filled the air.

They slowly walked towards the Iron Sword Martial Arts School.

He wondered if his family and his uncle's family had moved into Qingyan Town.

Inside the Iron Sword Martial Arts School.

"Second Uncle, I'm sorry," Xie Feng said to Xie Jingjiang with some shame.

"It's alright, Father," Xie Jingjiang replied after a moment of silence.

"It's all my fault for being incompetent. Alas, forget about that girl from the Yan family..." Xie Feng said, looking dejected.

Looking at his father, whose figure was slightly stooped, Xie Jingjiang noticed that his father's hair had also turned white.

His father's usually stern face had gradually become kind.

"It's really alright, Father. There aren't only her, Yan Yu, in this world. There are many other good women waiting for your son."

Xie Jingjiang forced a stiff smile.

"Sigh..." Xie Feng didn't know what to say at this moment.

Ever since he went to Dingyuan County for a martial arts competition before the new year, Jingjiang had often visited a woman surnamed Yan at that time. He had told him about it upon his return.

Unfortunately, after he sent someone to inquire, he learned that she had already been promised to someone during that period.

The other party was from Changyang County, and they had agreed to marry the woman in exchange for a Qi Gathering Pill for the Yan family.

Xie Feng didn't have a Qi Gathering Pill, and even if he did, he would use it for Xie Jingjiang's breakthrough, not as a betrothal gift.

It was just a pity for Jingjiang.

"Qingshi, have you noticed that Master and Eldest Senior Brother seem to be in a bad mood lately?" Li Lin said as they practiced martial arts in the courtyard.

"Really? I don't think so," Chen Qingshi wasn't a very perceptive person and hadn't noticed Xie Feng and Xie Jingjiang's unusual behavior.

"Alright, keep practicing then!" Li Lin felt that Master and Eldest Senior Brother indeed had something on their minds. Eldest Senior Brother hadn't been as enthusiastic about practicing martial arts recently, and Master wasn't as energetic as before.

Before, Master had been very happy when Junior Brother Qinglin took first place. Now, he just felt a bit… dejected?

Li Lin thought he might just be imagining things, shook his head, and also started practicing martial arts.

Suddenly, he saw Qingshi pointing behind him, his mouth open but unable to speak for a moment.

After a while, he shouted loudly, "Qinglin!"

Li Lin turned around and saw Chen Qinglin, and at the same time, he saw the woman beside him.

"Qinglin, you're back!" Chen Qingshi ran to Chen Qinglin.

"Brother Qingshi, I'm back."

"Fourth Senior Brother, what's wrong? Have you not recognized your Junior Brother after only a few months apart?" Chen Qinglin said.

"It's true, I almost didn't recognize you after not seeing you for a few months."

"Qinglin, who is this beside you?" Although it had only been four months since he last saw Chen Qinglin, Chen Qinglin had changed quite a bit in those four months.

The original Chen Qinglin, while looking somewhat refined, had skin that was tanned from years of sun exposure due to his village background. His complexion wasn't dark, but it wasn't fair either.

He also wasn't very tall.

The current Chen Qinglin seemed to have suddenly grown into himself. His skin had become fair, and he looked very handsome.

"Fourth Senior Brother, this is Senior Sister Xie Jingyun, Master's daughter. Don't you recognize her?"

"So it's Junior Sister. I wasn't even brought back by Master yet when Junior Sister was brought to the mountain."

"I often hear Master and Eldest Senior Brother mention you. Today I finally see you in person. Come in quickly, I'll take you to see Master."

Li Lin was very surprised. For Li Lin, this Martial Arts School was like his home, and Master was the only family he had left in this world.

Master would surely be happy to see Xie Jingyun.

"Fourth Senior Brother!" Xie Jingyun knew about this disciple her father had taken in, but she had never met him.

Not only Li Lin, but she also hadn't met Third Senior Sister Wu Jianxue or Fifth Senior Brother Zhao Dingming. She only knew that her father had these disciples.

When she left, her father had only taken one disciple, who was Second Senior Brother Jiang Zhong.

Following Li Lin to the inner courtyard, Xie Feng and Xie Jingjiang were very happy to see them, momentarily forgetting their previous worries.

Not wanting to disturb the family reunion, Chen Qinglin excused himself and walked out of the small courtyard with Chen Qingshi.

He also wanted to go see his own parents and younger siblings.