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Jiang Wanqing's red Mercedes-Benz was still parked downstairs. Lin Xu walked in the familiar cement stairwell, a slight ripple stirring in his heart.

My home is on the fifth floor of this old building, and everything here over the past ten years is deeply etched in my memory.

The door was ajar, and faint voices could be heard coming from inside.

"... The Night Watchers are a state-supported organization dedicated to protecting the Spirit Realm. Joining us will provide Lin Xu with better resources and a brighter future."

"With his current strength, he only needs two years of training within the organization to become the head of the county's Night Watchers. Moreover, the Spirit Realm Rift has recently been showing unusual activity, and it needs someone like him." A gentle male voice said sincerely.

This was clearly meant for him; even from across the building, Lin Xu had already assessed the other party's strength.

The newcomers were a man and a woman. The man was a level 4 martial artist, on par with gangster bosses like Liang Hu.

The woman is a level 3 spellcaster. Considering that the training difficulty of magic-based professions is far greater than that of martial artists, her strength is even more extraordinary.

Lin Xu pushed open the door and entered. The two men immediately stood up, their gazes solemn.

"Mr. Lin Xu, I've heard so much about you." The man stepped forward and handed over an identification badge engraved with a silver emblem. "Night Watchers Southern District Branch, Chief Zhao Chengyuan. This is my colleague, Su Li, Captain of the Third Brigade."

Lin Xu remained expressionless. "Captain Zhao, Captain Su, it's a pleasure to meet you."

His gaze lingered briefly on the two of them before he spoke calmly, "I understand your intentions, and I will consider them seriously. However, I am currently preoccupied with family matters and cannot give an answer at this time."

"Family matters come first, that's only right." Zhao Chengyuan's expression remained unchanged, still placing his identification badge on the table. "The Night Watchers's door is always open for Mr. Lin."

Su Li nodded gently, and the two turned and left.

The footsteps in the hallway faded into the distance, and Lin Xu gently closed the door.

"A-Xu, you're finally back." Her mother's voice came from the living room, tinged with barely concealed excitement. She rushed forward, took her son's hand, and looked him up and down. "How were you in the Spirit Realm? Were you injured? You've lost weight and gotten darker..."

Her eyes were slightly red, and she gently stroked Lin Xu's cheek with her fingers, her heart full of heartache.

"Mom, I'm fine, don't worry," Lin Xu said softly, holding his mother's hand in return, feeling its familiar roughness and warmth.

"Come on, quickly kowtow to your father!" Mother Lin snapped out of her daze and hurriedly pulled him to the storage room.

Incense, candles, and paper money were neatly arranged in front of an old wooden table. In the black and white portrait, the father's eyes were gentle and profound.

"Dad, I've returned from the Spirit Realm." Lin Xu knelt down and kowtowed three times.

In the rising smoke, the father was smiling.

Several home-style dishes were laid out on the table, steaming hot and filling the air with their aroma.

The three sat around the table, Mother Lin enthusiastically picked up a piece of braised pork with her chopsticks and put it in Jiang Wanqing's bowl. "Wanqing, eat more. This dish is made according to your taste last time, so don't be shy."

Jiang Wanqing smiled gently, her expression warm and kind. "Auntie's cooking is excellent; I'll definitely eat as much as I can."

Lin Xu lowered his head and ate his rice in silence.

"What did you encounter in the Spirit Realm? Why did it take you so long to come back?" Jiang Wanqing looked at Lin Xu, a hint of concern and doubt flashing in her eyes.

"I've encountered a special mission..." He briefly explained what had happened at Xuanwei Monastery, "Once things settle down at home in a couple of days, I need to hurry back. Xuanwei Monastery is part of a major plot; once I've gained control of the situation, this will be my family's foundation in the Spirit Realm!"

Jiang Wanqing's eyes flickered slightly as she lowered her head and took a small sip of soup.

"Then you must be careful. The Spirit Realm is unpredictable, unlike here." Mother Lin paused, her chopsticks hanging in mid-air, a hint of worry flashing in her eyes.

Lin Xu nodded. "Don't worry, the first time is the hardest, it will only get smoother after that."

After the meal, Jiang Wanqing stood up to say goodbye, "Auntie, A-Xu, I have something to attend to at home, so I'll head back now."

Mother Lin quickly urged her to stay, "Wanqing, don't rush off. A-Xu and you just got back; let him talk to you a bit more."

Jiang Wanqing glanced at Lin Xu, who seemed hesitant to speak, and smiled slightly, "Now that he's back safely, there will be plenty of opportunities in the future."

"Let me see you off." Lin Xu followed.

As you descend the dilapidated stairs, time seems to stand still on the weathered walls.

He realized in a daze that this was not the first time Jiang Wanqing had passed by here. For a wealthy young lady from a privileged family, such a place should have no connection with her.

"That's enough for now, I'm heading back." Jiang Wanqing stood by the car, gently closed the door, and glanced back at him. "Meng City won't be peaceful these next few days. You need to be careful of the Chen Lineage; they're the local tyrants of this city, their influence is everywhere."

Lin Xu nodded calmly. "I'll be careful."

As Jiang Wanqing drove, her mind was far from calm. Chen Haoyue outrageous pressure made her feel unprecedented stress. She never expected that even now, the Chen Lineage was still unwilling to let her go, or the Jiang Clan go.

She was on the verge of despair when Lin Xu suddenly appeared, just like on that rainy night years ago when she lost her father, silently standing behind her and holding up an umbrella.

"A-Xu, I never expected you could go this far..."

The car drove into the somewhat dilapidated courtyard, where a servant came forward to take the keys.

"Uncle Tang, why are you still here guarding? It's very cold outside."

"Miss is back." Uncle Tang, dressed in a well-tailored black Zhongshan suit, stood with his hands folded, looking worried. "The old master coughed up blood again this morning. He waited for you in the house for a long time, wanting you to go see him as soon as you returned."

Jiang Wanqing's heart tightened, and she quickly walked towards the main house.

Pushing open the door, the aroma of medicine mixed with the scent of aged wood wafted out.

The old man lay in the wicker chair, his face rosy, not at all like someone seriously ill. When he saw Wanqing enter, a kind smile appeared on his face, "Wanqing, you've come. Please sit down."

"Grandpa, I heard you coughed up blood again. Has a doctor been called to take a look?" Jiang Wanqing walked anxiously to his side, grabbed her grandfather's wrist, and her eyes were slightly red.

The old man smiled and squeezed her hand, "It's just an old ailment, nothing serious. But you, I heard your childhood sweetheart caused quite a stir as soon as he came back..."

Jiang Wanqing blushed and said with a hint of reproach, "Grandpa, don't talk nonsense. What childhood sweetheart? He's just my classmate."

The old man gave her a meaningful look, then coughed twice. "Classmate? No, this is the son-in-law of the Jiang Clan."

"Grandpa, you..." Jiang Wanqing was immediately embarrassed and was about to speak when she saw her grandfather wave his hand solemnly, "Wanqing, things are different now."

He paused, then sighed, "Your father passed away early. I originally thought you could marry into an ordinary family peacefully, and I would accept the family's downfall. But the Chen Lineage has been pressing us relentlessly, even setting their sights on you. It seems they're prepared to go all out. I had already decided to take a gamble, but I never expected..."

He looked at Jiang Wanqing with pity. "I never expected you to be so reckless and wander into the Spirit Realm. Luckily, you came back alive. Once you get past the hardest first hurdle, things will get smoother. I was even planning to take you to another city to avoid trouble a couple of days ago, but I never expected..."