"Wait, An Chen, how long has it even been since we last met? How... how did you get so strong?"
Yu Tianyao stared at An Chen in shock.
Then, before An Chen could answer, Yu Tianyao recalled how he had looked earlier, and his usual cool expression returned.
"And you... something seems off about your mental state, too?"
An Chen knew Yu Tianyao meant the way he had laughed like a madman earlier.
He knew it was because of the potion and Rock Douluo's soul, which he was Grazing inside his body, but he would not breathe a word of those things to anyone.
So he adopted a somber air. "That's the price of gaining power."
Yu Tianyao stared straight at An Chen, searching his eyes for that earlier glimmer of "excitement" and madness, but there was nothing in them except calm.
After a moment, An Chen looked at his expression and suddenly laughed, patting his shoulder.
"I'm kidding. Stop staring and hurry inside to check on your father."
Only then did Yu Tianyao snap out of it. He nodded, opened the door, and entered the courtyard, while An Chen sat down outside against a large tree.
"I'm not a voyeur. I'm just a little curious..."
An Chen stared at the courtyard and muttered to himself, then pricked up his ears.
A moment later, the conversation inside the courtyard reached An Chen's ears with perfect clarity.
"Tianyao! Are you all right? Hurry and find your uncle. Don't worry about me. I'm not their target. Run!"
A weak, middle-aged man's voice spoke anxiously.
The room fell silent for a moment, then Yu Tianyao spoke:
"Father... don't worry. They've already been dealt with."
There was a note of self-reproach in Yu Tianyao's voice.
An Chen heard the middle-aged man let out a