Lord Qin Ming is coming back!
The news spread quietly like an undercurrent among the family's low-ranking guards and servants, bringing an excitement and anticipation that were hard to contain.
That man was the true pillar of the Qin Family!
Because of him, what had once been a minor family in the Windfall Empire had grown into one of the empire's most influential families.
He was a legendary top talent of the Virtual Universe Company, someone even the royal family of the Ganwu Universe Kingdom treated with the utmost courtesy!
A month later, at the Qin Family's central estate.
A spaceship slowly descended onto its designated landing pad.
The hatch opened, and Qin Ming stepped off the ship, surrounded by the King Rank undying Aisi and a group of guards.
Qin Lan, Qin Shou, and Qin Xue, who had been waiting for a long time, immediately hurried over to greet him, their faces alight with excitement.
"Third Brother!"
Qin Xue was still as lively as ever. Though she had grown into a powerful family figure in her own right and had now become a disciple of the Ganwu Kingdom Lord,
in front of Qin Ming, she seemed just like the little girl from years ago who used to tug on his sleeve and pepper him with questions. Pure joy and admiration sparkled in her eyes.
"Little Brother!"
Eldest sister Qin Lan had become more mature and composed. She hurried forward and carefully looked Qin Ming over. Her eyes held both the joy of seeing her younger brother again and the pride in his achievements, along with a hint of wistfulness that was hard to detect.
Meeting in the Virtual Universe had always kept a barrier between them. Only now, with him standing right in front of her, did the closeness of their shared blood feel truly real.
"Third Brother!"
Second brother Qin Shou had changed the most. He was even more powerfully built now, his presence steady and sharp.
He gave Qin Ming's shoulder a hearty slap and grinned. "We've been waiting ages for you to come back! You'd better stay for a good long while this time!"
"Eldest sister, second brother, Xiaoxue."
Looking at the three people dearest to him, Qin Ming felt warmth well up inside him.
Though he had witnessed the vastness of the universe and endured the trials of life and death, the unconditional love of his family remained the softest haven in his heart.
Though they could meet often in the Virtual Universe, those meetings were never in person.
Including the time spent in the Initial Universe, nearly two hundred years had passed in reality since they had truly been together.
"All right, don't just stand here," Qin Lan said with a smile, suppressing her excitement.
"Father and Mother, as well as the old ancestor, are all waiting in the main hall. Hurry inside before we keep the elders waiting."
"Right, let's go, let's go!" Qin Xue eagerly grabbed Qin Ming by the arm.
Surrounded by his family, Qin Ming walked through the familiar corridors and courtyards toward the main family hall.
Every clan member, guard, and servant they passed bowed respectfully, their eyes full of fervor and awe.
Inside the hall, all the Qin Family's Core Members had already gathered, waiting eagerly.
His father, Qin Feng, and his mother, Lin Wan, sat at the head of the hall. Their eyes were moist, and their excitement was plain to see.
The old ancestor, Qin Shanhai, sat nearby, stroking his beard with a smile. His gaze brimmed with relief and a pride too profound for words.
The other uncles and elders, along with the heads of the various branches, had all gathered as well. They gazed eagerly toward the doorway.
"Ming'er!"
His mother, Lin Wan, was the first to rise. She hurried forward, clasped Qin Ming's hands tightly, and looked him over from head to toe, as if she wanted to make up for the nearly two centuries apart by taking in all of him at once.
"You've gotten thinner!" she blurted out, her voice full of concern.
At her words, the corner of Qin Ming's mouth twitched almost imperceptibly.
His Space-Time Nightmare Beast clone had a powerful life essence and precise control over its form. How could it have gained or lost weight?
It seemed that no matter the world, however accomplished or powerful a child became, in a mother's eyes he would always be the child who went away and might have suffered and grown thinner.
"Father, Mother, old ancestor." Qin Ming respectfully greeted each of his elders in turn.
Though he now held a prestigious status and was powerful enough to look down upon the entire family, the respect and affection born of their shared blood remained unchanged.
"Good, good. You're back, and that's what matters!"
His father, Qin Feng, patted Qin Ming's shoulder firmly. His booming voice carried all the pride he could barely contain.
"My Qin Family's pride has become a major figure in the Virtual Universe Company, an Inspector Envoy! Nothing could bring greater honor to our ancestors!"
The old ancestor, Qin Shanhai, nodded with a smile as well. "Ming'er, your achievements have far exceeded our expectations. The family is proud of you. Now that you're back, you must stay for a while."
"I understand, Father," Qin Ming replied.
Afterward, he greeted each of his uncles and elders in turn.
The hall was filled with warmth and laughter, brimming with the joy of reunion and boundless hopes for the family's future.
Everyone understood that Qin Ming's return meant more than a family reunion. It also meant the Qin Family's standing in the Ganwu Universe Kingdom was about to rise substantially!
The welcoming banquet soon began.
During the meal, Qin Ming briefly recounted some of his experiences at the Virtual Universe Company, leaving out the many classified details, of course.
Even so, everyone listened with rapt fascination and amazement.
Qin Xue kept peppering him with questions. At the Ganwu Dojo, the Ganwu Kingdom Lord always said her strength was too poor to let her go adventuring, so she longed to explore the stars and experience the wider universe.
Halfway through the banquet, Qin Ming turned to his father, Qin Feng, and said seriously, "Father, I've been assigned to the Ganwu Branch as an Inspector Envoy.
"Perhaps we can use this opportunity to make some prudent adjustments and expand the family's businesses and connections throughout the Ganwu Universe Kingdom."
Qin Feng's eyes lit up. He exchanged a glance with the old ancestor, Qin Shanhai, then replied solemnly, "Ming'er, your perspective and experience now far surpass ours.
"If there's anything the family needs to adjust or cooperate with, just say the word. The family will give you its full support."
"There's no need to rush for now," Qin Ming said with a smile.
"I just took up my post, so I need to get the Inspector Envoy's affairs in order first. As for the family, everything can stay as it is. There's no need to draw attention to ourselves. It's just..."
He paused briefly, his expression turning serious.
"Above all, the family mustn't think my special status means it can rest easy and break the law with impunity.
"If anyone breaks the law and I find out, I'll punish them severely. I won't show favoritism for the sake of family ties.
"And don't think you can get away with it just because the family's internal inspectors don't catch you. The Virtual Universe Company's intelligence network is far more capable than you can imagine."
This was no idle warning.
In the original story, Luo Feng's family had paid a heavy price for this, and Luo Feng himself had personally dealt with many people.
Though Qin Ming wouldn't reveal the details of the Virtual Universe Company's final assessment, he still had to give them this necessary warning.
Qin Shanhai's expression turned grave. "Ming'er is absolutely right. I'll personally look into this matter and keep the family strictly in line. I won't tolerate any transgressions!"
Qin Ming nodded.
Late that night, Qin Ming returned to the private courtyard reserved for him in the family's central estate.
He stood in the courtyard, gazing up at Lanfeng Planet's clear night sky.
Stars glittered overhead. It looked somewhat like the sky above Earth in his memories, yet it was entirely different.
"Earth..." he murmured to himself.
His position as Inspector Envoy was secure, and his family was safe.
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