"Little Chenxing, this is called Spirit-Nourishing Jade. It contains a special kind of energy that can constantly nourish and strengthen the soul imperceptibly. Its effects are quite pronounced for Qi Refining Stage cultivators, but negligible for those at Foundation Establishment, so Grandpa is passing it on to you."
Xuan was the generational character in his name.
He belonged to the same generation as Lu Chenxing's own grandfather, Lu Xuanqing.
Lu Chenxing had no idea how much the Spirit-Nourishing Jade was worth.
But the expressions on the other two old men's faces gave him a rough idea of how precious it was. After accepting it, he smiled again, his eyes narrowing.
"Thank you, Grandpa Xuanming."
He had only just received lavish first-meeting gifts ten days ago, and now he had received another pile of presents.
Even with a mature, twenty-five- or twenty-six-year-old soul living inside his little body, Lu Chenxing was overjoyed.
If only I could keep receiving presents forever.
But I can't squeeze these adorable grandpas I've picked up dry.
They need resources to cultivate and grow, too.
Only by growing stronger can they acquire more resources.
The next day.
It was also the first day of the following month.
The teleportation channel's cooldown ended.
An understanding instantly surfaced in Ji Chang'an's mind: with a mere thought, he could send anything to the other end.
All this time.
They had only been receiving what Lu Chenxing sent, with no way to send anything back.
At last, they could write back and communicate.
Great Xia's senior officials actually grew nervous.
Even though they had weathered countless storms and witnessed all manner of momentous events.
Cultivation, after all...
Was simply too legendary.
Ji Chang'an took up his pen and began writing his reply.
"To be opened personally by Comrade Lu."
"Thank you for your hard work, Comrade Lu!"
"The nation was deeply astonished upon receiving your letter. We never imagined that a cultivation world truly existed in the universe."
"Thank you, Comrade Lu, for your unconditional trust in the nation. Thank you for volunteering to become a pioneer exploring another world for Great Xia. Thank you for ushering in a magnificent era of cultivation for Great Xia."
"Whatever you need or request, Comrade Lu, Great Xia will marshal the strength of the entire nation to fulfill it. The nation has made proper arrangements for your family, so please rest assured..."
At this point, Ji Chang'an recalled what had happened three days earlier.
He had dispatched Minister of State Security Chen Guowei to visit the Lu family personally.
"Get out! Get out of my house!"
"Uncle, Auntie, please! My dad didn't do it on purpose. He didn't want an accident either. Please let him off. We're willing to pay a million in compensation!"
In a dilapidated old residential complex in Changhai City.
An argument broke out.
On one side was Lu Chenxing's family.
His father, Lu Dahai, roared in fury; his mother, Jiang Rumeng, had reddened eyes; and Lu Chenyu kept his eyes tightly shut, silent, his fists quietly clenched.
On the other side was the family of the truck driver who had run over and killed Lu Chenxing.
His daughter, Pan Ting, and his son, Pan Yue.
Originally, things had not been so bad that they needed to come begging for forgiveness and increase the compensation.
For some unknown reason, a few days earlier, they had suddenly been notified that their father's case would be retried and a new sentence issued.
Then, inexplicably, several additional, substantiated charges appeared, and every one was sentenced with the utmost severity.
It had clearly been an ordinary traffic accident.
Yet they had made it look like intentional homicide.
They had forcibly quadrupled the original two-and-a-half-year sentence, bringing it to ten years.
Faced with such a bizarre situation, the Pan family could hardly avoid drawing connections. Some powerful force was definitely pushing things along behind the scenes, and it had close ties to the Lu family.
For precisely that reason.
The siblings, Pan Ting and Pan Yue, had not made a scene afterward or tearfully protested the injustice. Instead, they had chosen to visit the Lu family again to apologize and beg for forgiveness.
They knew full well.
This was now the only way to save their father.
"A million? Even ten million couldn't make up for my Xing'er's life!"
Every time Lu Chenxing was mentioned, tears streamed uncontrollably from Jiang Rumeng's eyes.
Two and a half years.
In the two and a half years since Lu Chenxing's death.
She had not enjoyed a single good night's sleep.
Whenever she closed her eyes, her son's figure appeared in her mind.
Then an indescribable pain surged through her heart.
Have her forgive the killer?
Impossible!
She could never forgive him!
Over those two and a half years, Pan Ting had also become utterly exhausted, body and soul.
For her father's sake, she had even quit her job in Jinghua City, which paid five hundred thousand a year, and returned to Changhai City.
She had spared no effort running from place to place. At first, she had even hoped to reduce the two-and-a-half-year sentence further, and had repeatedly asked the Lu family for forgiveness.
But every last member of this family was as stubborn as a mule.
They would not accept an apology or compensation.
They only wanted a heavier sentence.
Of course, their wishes were merely their wishes. The actual sentence still had to be based on the law.
Even if they refused compensation.
The sentence would still be whatever the law prescribed.
Two and a half years had actually remained within what the Pan family could accept.
He would go in at fifty-three and come out at fifty-five and a half.
Just in time to retire and enjoy life.
But suddenly, everything had changed.
Ten years!
Pan Ting remembered the sight of her father kneeling on the ground, begging her to save him.
"Ting'er, I don't want to go to prison, much less spend ten years there. Please, you have to find a way to save me!"
Although he was only her adoptive father, he had raised her from childhood, paid for her schooling, and provided everything she needed or asked for.
She had to repay that kindness, even at the cost of her life.
Pan Ting looked at Lu Chenyu.
Lu Chenxing's younger brother was their only possible opening.
"Auntie, I know a million can't bring your son back, but it can let your other son see again!"
"I'm willing to sign an agreement. If a million isn't enough, our family will cover all subsequent treatment expenses until Lu Chenyu makes a full recovery."
"Whatever else you ask, I can fulfill it. All I ask is that you let my dad off. He already knows he was wrong!"
He knows he was wrong?
Hmph!
Lu Chenyu abruptly rose from his corner.
Cold sneers curled his lips.
"When your dad was speeding and overtaking on a bend, did he ever think that his actions would plunge a family into permanent grief?"
"Adults should bear the responsibility they deserve for their mistakes."
"Is ten years a long time? Compared with my brother's life, I don't think it's enough. Not nearly enough!"
"My brother was only twenty-five when he died. He should have had a wonderful life of his own. It was all destroyed! Your dad destroyed it all!"
"Even if I stay blind for the rest of my life, I won't take your filthy money! Get out! Get out of my house! Get out!"
As Lu Chenyu spoke, his chest began heaving violently. Seeing this, Lu Dahai abandoned all courtesy and stepped forward, pushing Pan Ting and Pan Yue toward the door.
"Leave now. Your family isn't welcome in our home."
"Don't ever come back. We will never forgive you."
The Pan siblings left, disappointment written all over their faces.
"Sis, what do we do now? Are we really just going to watch Dad spend ten whole years in prison?"
"No, we won't. There's another way. There has to be!"
In the shadows, two pairs of eyes watched the Pan siblings.
"Keep a close watch. Don't let them pull anything. If necessary, you may take the necessary measures."
"Understood."