Jiangzhou, one of the nineteen provinces of the empire, located near the East Sea, there are many lakes.


    In Jiangzhou, the city of Guangling.


    On the bustling Jinglou Street of the western district of Guangling City, pedestrians were everywhere, the street lively and prosperous.


    "It''s been six years," a young man in simple clothes, carrying a sword at his waist and leading a horse, walked down the street. "Finally back. After being away so long, I still feel like home is the best."


    Clop! Clop! Clop!


    The sound of galloping hooves echoed as a young man dressed in splendid clothes rode a tall horse down the busy street at full speed. Pedestrians quickly stepped aside to avoid him, while servants and guards on horseback followed behind. "Young master, slow down, slow down!"


    The young man in plain clothes watched this scene, leading his horse to the side to make way, and watched as the young man in splendid clothes rode past.


    "Which family is that boy from?" the young man in plain clothes mused. "Ah, it''s been six years since I left home. Six years ago, this kid was probably only seven or eight."


    He smiled and continued walking.


    As he looked around at his familiar hometown, he even recognized some of the street vendors.


    "Six years. When I left, I was just fifteen. Looking at myself now, I’ve changed so much." The young man sighed.


    At fifteen, he had been full of youthful vigor and arrogance, hailed as the best of the younger generation in Guangling County. However, after traveling the world for six years, he now realized how naive he had been back then.


    As he walked, he passed familiar shops and inns, as well as the well-known stone bridges over the rivers.


    Finally, leading his horse, he arrived at a large estate.


    Returning to one''s hometown often brings a sense of hesitation. The young man took a deep breath before approaching the gate and knocking three times.


    Creek...


    The gate slowly opened, and an old man leaned out to look, his eyes widening in shock. "Second young master!"


    Although the young man was dressed in simple clothes, he was immediately recognized by the old man, who had watched him grow up. It was none other than the second young master, Qin Yun.


    "Li Bo," the young man smiled and greeted.


    "Second young master is back! Second young master is back!" The old man shouted excitedly, his voice echoing throughout the entire estate. He hurriedly opened the large gates.


    "Let me, let me, I''ll take the horse!" The old man took the reins from the young man.


    "Yun''er, Yun''er!" A middle-aged woman, dressed in luxurious clothing, ran out from the estate, followed by several maidservants. When she saw Qin Yun, tears of joy welled up in her eyes.


    "Mother."


    Qin Yun’s eyes also became moist, and he rushed forward to meet her.


    The middle-aged woman carefully examined her son, touching his arm and face. "Good, good. You’ve grown taller."


    "Second young master, the madam has cried so many times for you, every day she prays before the Buddha for your safety," the housekeeper said from the side.


    "I am unfilial. Only now have I returned," Qin Yun said, looking at his mother. She had more white hairs now, and the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes were more pronounced. His heart ached. Unconsciously, his mother was already nearing fifty.


    "Enough of this. As long as you’re back, it’s enough." Though tears were in her eyes, her joy was evident. She quickly ordered, "Quickly, go tell your father and your older brother!"


    "Yes," the housekeeper replied and hurried off to inform them.


    The entire Qin estate was filled with joy, and soon the head of the family, Qin Liehu, returned.


    "Master!"


    "Master!" The servants and maidservants bowed respectfully, their faces full of joy. The return of the second young master was a cause for celebration, and everyone was happy.


    The one-armed man nodded slightly. His eyes were sharp as lightning, and he carried a single saber at his waist. The invisible aura of power he radiated made all the servants and maidservants act with utmost respect. This man was none other than Qin Liehu, the head of the Qin family, and also one of the three Silver Medals Captains in Guangling County.


    "Father." Qin Yun and his mother, Chang Lan, came out to greet him.


    "Yun''er." Qin Liehu’s eyes softened as he looked at his son, a hint of moisture in his eyes.


    A son’s journey of a thousand miles always worries the parents. Though Qin Liehu had never shown it, he had always been deeply concerned about his son. He knew that for his son''s future, it was right to let him venture out, but he still couldn’t help but worry.If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    He feared that his son might never return.


    The world was vast, with dangerous creatures and monsters hiding in the deep mountains and swamps. The journey was fraught with peril.


    "It’s good you’re back. It’s good you’re back," Qin Liehu said, looking at his son. Compared to the sharp, arrogant young man he had been when he left, his son had clearly matured. His aura had become more restrained.


    "Have you broken through?" Qin Liehu asked. He knew well that his son practiced the legendary cultivation method of immortality, and achieving success in it was incredibly difficult.


    "Two and a half years ago," Qin Yun replied with a smile.


    Qin Liehu’s eyes brightened. This breakthrough truly felt like a leap from a fish to a dragon.


    "Good, good, good! I, Qin Liehu, have a truly extraordinary son!" Qin Liehu was overwhelmed with excitement. This breakthrough was significant, and he hadn’t even dared tell his wife, Chang Lan, about it.


    "You two can’t sit down and talk in the house?" Chang Lan, the mother, said with a smile.


    "Come inside first, come inside first," Qin Liehu said, urging them to enter.


    After chatting for a while with his parents, Qin Yun suddenly heard a voice from outside.


    "Second brother! Second brother!" The joyful shout came from a distance.


    "Brother!" Qin Yun stood up. "Father, Mother, I’ll go meet him."


    "Go ahead, go ahead. You and your brother haven’t seen each other for six years," Chang Lan smiled.


    Qin Yun quickly walked out to greet him. Soon, he saw a family coming toward him—his elder brother, dressed in a brocade robe, was accompanied by his beautiful wife and two children, a boy and a girl.


    "Second brother!" The young man in brocade robes saw Qin Yun and immediately ran over, hugging him tightly.


    "Brother," Qin Yun also embraced his elder brother.


    He and his older brother shared a deep bond. When the Qin family was still in a humble state, they had grown up together in a village, enduring many hardships. Although Qin Yun was younger, his older brother had always taken care of him.


    "You brat! Six years, and you don’t say a word when you leave! You said three years, then suddenly sent a letter saying you would stay for another three years?" The brocade-robed man said with some frustration. "Three years, then three years again! You really made the whole family worry."


    "It’s my fault," Qin Yun quickly apologized. "I’ve missed you all too. Let me meet my sister-in-law. Brother, these two little ones must be ‘Shuyan’ and ‘Shubing,’ right? My niece and nephew are looking so cute!" He reached over and pinched the little faces of the two children, making them cling to their parents’ legs in fear.


    "Don’t just stand there, hurry up and greet your uncle," the brocade-robed man said.


    "Uncle." The two children, about three or four years old, shyly called out.


    "Good, good. I have two protective amulets here, take them and keep them close. They’ll keep you safe." Qin Yun had prepared these gifts in advance and took out two jade amulets from his pocket. The amulets were warm and white, with intricate runes engraved on them, giving off a calming aura.


    Qin An, the brocade-robed man, had a discerning eye and immediately recognized that the amulets were special. "Second brother, these are too precious."


    "Keep them close to the children. They’re good for them," Qin Yun said.


    That afternoon, the Qin family gathered together for a hearty lunch. The meal was plentiful, and the servants were all cheerful, bringing dish after dish to the table. The Qin family was known for treating their staff kindly.


    Qin Yun felt happy as he spent time with his parents and older brother’s family. This feeling of reunion and happiness was something he truly cherished.


    "Master! Master!" A shout came from outside after the meal.


    Everyone inside the hall heard it.


    "Can’t we take one day to rest now that Yun’er is back?" Chang Lan said with some displeasure.


    "Madam, I’ll go and check," Qin Liehu said, standing up and heading for the door.


    Outside, a burly man, over eight feet tall with a tiger-like build, stood holding a heavy iron club that could easily crush a wall. He was none other than Captain Xu, one of the trusted subordinates of Qin Liehu.


    "Old Xu, what’s going on?" Qin Liehu asked in a low voice as he approached.


    "Master, I didn’t want to disturb you, but the county magistrate personally ordered me to


    summon you. There’s an urgent matter. You might not be able to return home for a day or two," Captain Xu replied.


    "The county magistrate?" Qin Liehu frowned. "A day or two?"


    The county magistrate held supreme power in Guangling County, responsible for both military and civil affairs. In times of danger, he had the right to execute decisions without waiting for approval. No one dared challenge his authority.


    Qin Liehu quickly returned to the hall.


    "The county magistrate has asked me to go. I might be away for a day or two," Qin Liehu said, putting on his outer robe and hanging his saber at his waist.


    "Be careful," Chang Lan reminded him.


    "I’ll send you off, Father," Qin Yun said, standing up.


    "No need. Go back and spend time with your mother," Qin Liehu said as he and his son headed toward the door.


    "Second young master, it’s been six years, I really missed you," Captain Xu said with a smile.


    "Xu Uncle, looks like you’ve gained quite a bit of strength. Your club’s bigger than before," Qin Yun remarked.


    "Nothing special, nothing special," Captain Xu replied humbly.


    In front of Qin Yun, who had been recognized as the best of the younger generation in Guangling County at the age of fifteen, Captain Xu remained modest.


    "Father, if you’ll be gone for a day or two, is it something serious? Do you need my help?" Qin Yun asked.


    Qin Liehu glanced at his son and smiled. "Don’t worry. In Guangling County, the government is the strongest!"


    "Mm," Qin Yun nodded.


    He escorted his father to the gate of the estate, where horses were ready for both of them. They quickly mounted and rode off.


    Qin Yun stood there, watching his father leave, and then began to channel his internal energy to cast a spell.


    "Eye of Law, open!"


    Qin Yun’s pupils seemed to deepen, and intricate law patterns appeared in his gaze. Though nothing outwardly changed, the world around him transformed!


    It was still afternoon, the sun hanging high in the sky. However, through Qin Yun’s eyes, the air was filled with a greenish aura. His father, Qin Liehu, riding off in the distance, had six strange auras swirling around him—light pink, dark green, blood-red, and more, though each was faint and would likely dissipate with time.


    "My father, being one of the three Silver Medals Captains, occasionally encounters monsters. It’s normal for some demonic energy to cling to him," Qin Yun thought, feeling relieved. The demonic energy was only on his father’s surface and hadn’t penetrated his body, so there was no immediate danger.


    Turning back, Qin Yun walked back into the estate.


    With the Eye of Law still active, he observed everything around him. Human life forces were clearly distinct, as were the energies of plants and animals, each with its own unique aura.


    Of course, within the estate, his father’s life force was the most powerful, second only to his own. The servants and maidservants had much weaker life forces.


    "Yun’er, come, come, don’t worry about your father. He’s always busy with official duties," his mother, Chang Lan, called from inside.


    As Qin Yun entered the hall, his Eye of Law detected something strange. His older brother’s aura was weaker than usual, and there was a thick, evil green aura blending with his life force, completely entangling it.


    "That’s demonic energy! So much of it, and it’s already permeated his internal organs! This isn’t just a one-time thing. My brother’s life force is weak, and if this continues, he’ll fall seriously ill!" Qin Yun’s heart trembled with anger. "Who could have done this to my brother?"


    Qin Yun’s mind raced with shock, fury, and fear. If he had been even half a year later, he might never have seen his older brother again.