Lin Mu

The familiar voice by his ear made Lin Tao, who had been shaking his head and lamenting his old friend Lin Zhentian's tragic circumstances, shift his gaze from the father and son toward the figure slowly approaching along the corridor outside the window.

"Eh... Why is this kid here?"

As soon as Lin Tao's surprised words fell, Lin Chen calmly pushed the door open and entered. He then clasped his hands in greeting to Lin Gong, Lin Zhentian, and the others.

"My friend, how should I address this young master...?"

Looking at the handsome youth before him, who seemed strangely familiar and gave off the feeling of a spring breeze, Lin Zhentian, whose heart had been as cold as ashes, somehow rekindled a glimmer of hope. It was as though Lin Xiao might return to normal in the next moment.

Lin Zhentian naturally recognized Lin Chen as the youth who had arrived late at the Clan Assembly yesterday. However, the Inner Clan and the Branch Family differed in status; seniority was not determined by age or strength. Lin Zhentian did not dare address him presumptuously, so he could only suppress his hopes for Lin Xiao and ask Lin Tao first.

"Patriarch Zhentian, just call me Lin Chen."

Lin Chen did not leave Lin Zhentian confused for long. He directly introduced himself before Lin Tao could speak, and Lin Tao merely nodded with a smile.

"Lin Chen, were your earlier words questioning this old man's diagnosis of his injuries?"

Unlike Lin Zhentian's respectful inquiry and Lin Tao's nod, Lin Gong wore no pleasant expression. He immediately rebuked Lin Chen with a question.

It was not that Lin Gong held any prejudice against Lin Chen. Rather, Lin Chen's earlier remarks had denied his abilities, and they sounded exceptionally grating to his ears.

"Elder Lin Gong, you give me too much credit..."

Lin Chen gently shook his head and responded neither humbly nor arrogantly. His unusually mature bearing made Lin Zhentian repeatedly glance at him, his favorable impression growing greatly.

A Lin Xiao whose injuries could be healed and whose talent remained unchanged was the outcome Lin Zhentian, as a father, wished to see most. Therefore, no matter who it was, anyone who refuted Lin Gong's earlier conclusion represented hope that Lin Xiao's injuries could be completely cured.

"Then what did you mean by those words, kid? Could it be that you have a way to completely heal his injuries?" Lin Gong asked indignantly, his three-foot-long grizzled beard trembling.

Although Lin Chen's denial greatly displeased Lin Gong, having lived to such an age, he knew well that there were always greater people beyond one's sight and greater heavens beyond the skies.

Moreover, within the Lin Clan, it was no secret that Grand Elder Lin Mu greatly favored Lin Chen. Thus, Lin Gong did not dare be excessively rude or dismissive toward him.

"My dear old Grandfather Lin Mu... You can show yourself now."

Lin Chen did not explain anything further to Lin Gong. He merely coughed, muttered quietly to himself, and gazed toward the sky beyond the window, clearly waiting for something.

Seeing this, Lin Zhentian and the others unconsciously gathered their gazes and looked toward the clear blue sky outside the window.

The next moment.

They saw a streak of purple light shoot across the distant sky like a meteor. As it drew closer, they saw a purple-clad figure walking through the air, covering a hundred paces in an instant before slowly descending onto the corridor outside the window. With a light step, he entered the room.

Looking at the white-haired, white-bearded elder in purple standing before him, at that immensely familiar and dignified face, at the unfathomable pressure of his Origin Energy, scenes from decades ago began to echo through Lin Zhentian's mind. He was so excited that he nearly did not know what to say.

"Elder Lin Mu..."

"Greetings, Grand Elder."

Unlike the stunned Lin Zhentian, Lin Tao and Lin Gong, both Elders of the Lin Clan, were extremely familiar with Lin Mu and hurriedly bowed.

"Hehe, what is it, Lin Zhentian? Could it be that you no longer recognize me? I remember that when you left the clan, you were only in your twenties. Who would have thought that in the blink of an eye, several decades would pass?" Lin Mu first gave Lin Chen an amused glance, then smiled faintly and waved at Lin Tao and Lin Gong. Finally, his gaze settled on the dazed Lin Zhentian, and he could not help sighing.

"I recognize you... I recognize you... Zhentian greets the Grand Elder."

Lin Tao and Lin Gong's words had completely confirmed the newcomer's identity for Lin Zhentian. He instantly recovered from his daze and hurriedly bowed to Lin Mu.

Hearing Lin Zhentian's excited words, Lin Mu did not put on the airs of a Grand Elder. He merely shook his head lightly and said, "Hehe, back then, you were expelled from the clan because you failed in your duties and that mission caused severe losses to the clan's interests. Those were the rules of the Lin Clan, and I could not show favoritism."

"But now, your son was grievously injured by Lin Langtian at the Clan Assembly, and his wounds cannot be cured. Since I have learned of it, I cannot possibly stand by and refuse to save him."

Upon hearing this, Lin Zhentian was overjoyed. Tears streamed down his face as he immediately knelt before Lin Mu.

"Thank you, Grand Elder, for saving Xiao'er. Zhentian will never forget this kindness for all eternity."

"Enough, get up quickly. There is no need for such formalities in the future."

Lin Mu stepped forward and pulled Lin Zhentian to his feet. Then, looking at Lin Chen, who stood calmly to the side, he said, "You needn't thank me for this either. It was my grandson's idea. Otherwise, how would I have known that your son Lin Xiao had been injured?"

Lin Mu could not understand why Lin Chen wanted to go to the Lin Family in Qingyang Town. What he understood even less was why Lin Chen, who had refused to call him grandfather for so many years, had agreed to the condition he casually proposed in exchange for saving Lin Xiao and finally changed how he addressed him.

Still, no matter what, the boy had changed his form of address. It made all the effort Lin Mu had spent bringing him back to the Lin Clan from the desolate mountains years ago worthwhile.

When Lin Chen asked Lin Mu to personally resolve Lin Xiao's injuries, Lin Mu did not refuse. He merely proposed one condition: from then on, Lin Chen had to call him grandfather whether anyone else was around or not.

Lin Mu had no sons, only one daughter. Years ago, she had married a talented disciple of the Huangpu Clan and rarely returned more than a few times a year. With nothing to do in his old age, Lin Mu had grown increasingly lonely, and that loneliness had only eased somewhat after Lin Chen appeared.

Although Lin Mu held an extremely high position in the Lin Clan and was one of the few peak Creation Realm experts, he was no different from an ordinary old man. He too hoped to enjoy the happiness of a family and see his children and grandchildren gathered around him.

Without a doubt, in Lin Mu's eyes, the abandoned Lin Chen was his hope, his grandson. Unfortunately, Lin Chen had never truly accepted this for more than a decade, which gave Lin Mu endless headaches.

"This old man..."

Sensing Lin Mu's appraising gaze, Lin Chen curled his lips slightly. Relying on others truly was worse than relying on oneself. In order to save Lin Xiao, it seemed he had gained another relative on the Tianxuan Continent.

When he had inexplicably arrived on the Tianxuan Continent years ago, if not for Lin Mu's kind rescue, whether he could have survived until now would have been unknown. Yet despite Lin Mu's kindness in saving and protecting him, Lin Chen had still felt resistance toward him all these years.

At its root, he did not want someone bearing the identity of Grandfather Lin Mu to make him miss the relatives from whom he had been separated by heaven and earth for so many years, to make him recall those memories etched deep in his heart from time to time, and thus add to his troubles and sorrow.