The first thing Huangâerâs maternal grandfather did upon his freedom was to seek revenge on Eternal Divine Nation. Since the original perpetrator, House Xiahou, had already been eradicated, he had nowhere to vent his anger. House Yan had served as an outlet for his fury â hence the unfortunate massacre.
The truth was finally out in the open.
âBrother Chen...â Huangâerâs longing for her parents could not be controlled. She grew increasingly anxious.
Jiang Chen instinctively understood what his beloved felt. A single exchanged glance or movement was enough to tell him what was on her mind.
âIâll go with you,â he affirmed without hesitation.
Yan Wanjunâs mouth trembled. He wanted to say that he would come too, but couldnât.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om
First Windâs master â in other words, his sonâs father-in-law â didnât have a good opinion of him. It was doubtful whether his presence was wanted at all. If he went anyway, he would only be making things more awkward for all involved.
Repressing his desire to see his son again, he turned to Huangâer.
âJust as well that you go for a visit. I let them down in the past, just as I did you. Itâs good that you and your parents should reunite with one another. House Yanâs fate... was the result of karma. Iâm in no position to speak further. Go on.â
First Wind snickered. In his opinion, Yan Wanjun was only putting on an act to garner sympathy from his granddaughter.
Huangâer had a different perspective. Sheâd already reconciled with her grandfather and could understand his adversities and hardships. Moreover, she knew her grandfather had always lamented his past choices.
âGrandfather, you couldnât do much by yourself back then. Itâs been so many years... I think father would understand. Youâre father and son at the end of the day...â
Yan Wanjun let out a long sigh. He waved gloomily, but said nothing more.
âQingsang, Elder Shun, go back to the sacred land with Elder Wanjun. I shall accompany Huangâer on this trip,â Jiang Chen instructed.
âAlright. Take care of Huangâer and yourself too.â Elder Shun nodded readily. As an outsider â a past subordinate at most â he wasnât qualified to comment here.
This was a family affair.
First Wind and his companions didnât oppose Jiang Chenâs presence. âThe master has heard about his newfound grandson-in-law, who is supposed to be a legendary genius. He wants to see whether the praise is overblown or not. Itâs most ideal that you come, young master Chen.â
His tone was drastically different from his formerly proud self. Evidently, Jiang Chenâs methods and abilities had won his respect and the right to speak.
âCome, lead the way.â Jiang Chen remained impassive in the face of his new treatment.
His coolness won him an even better appraisal from the four cloaks. It was rare to find someone in the younger generation who was First Windâs equal in battle, but his temperate and stoic nature was rarer still.
This young man was destined for greatness. An appropriate match for the young miss. The master was sure to be pleased.
Along the way, Huangâer found out from the cloaks that her maternal grandfatherâs name was An Jiashe. In the Boundless Prison, he was known as Divine Kasyapa.
Her motherâs name was An Yuâer.
Huangâer wasnât usually much of a conversationalist, which made her incessant badgering of the four cloaks along their journey uncommon. She continually asked after her parents.
The place that Divine Kasyapa lived in was very remote. Even by airboat, it took several days to get to what looked like a deserted island.
âHere?â Huangâer was a little surprised. âI remember this place being one of the forbidden lands in Myriad Abyss. The Ten Divine Nations usually donât let others trespass here.â
âHaha, no place in Myriad Abyss is forbidden to the master,â First Wind declared easily.
âLet us land.â
The airboat descended upon an island.
Jiang Chen was fascinated by the route theyâd taken. The island had been rather hard to get to, requiring several dimensional jumps. In other words, it didnât ordinarily exist to the rest of the world.
This was a bona fide secret realm.
Divine cultivators were elusive indeed. Without guidance, it was essentially impossible to find a secret realm like this, short of it opening voluntarily.
Jiang Chen marveled at the flora and scenery he saw as he moved along. These wouldnât be out of place at all in the heart of the ten sacred lands. Myriad Abyss had its own fair share of wondrous locales after all.
Though clearly no one had found this place before, this Divine Kasyapa had plucked it trivially from the aether. Because of this, the man piqued Jiang Chenâs curiosity. What he had done was quite admirable in his own right.
Coming to an engraved obelisk, First Wind made several hand seals as he transmitted, âHonored Master, we four elements of nature have brought Miss Huangâer back home.â
Piercing light flared from the obelisk in the next instant, conjuring a number of wavy runes that opened up like a series of gates.
âGo ahead.â
The space past the entrance was completely different.
Rather than magnificent buildings and architecture, there was only a wild landscape, accentuated with splendid flowers and trees that embodied the very soul of nature.
At the end of the narrow path was a tower â more accurately, a pagoda.
A sacred light emanated from it, imparting to the viewer a dignified feeling. Before even entering, Jiang Chen could already feel the power the light possessed. It gave off the impression that it was completely inviolate.
âYouâve returned.â A voice echoed from the direction of the pagoda.
Far from being harsh, the voice was actually quite endearing. Without knowledge of the House Yan slaughter, Jiang Chen would perhaps suspect the owner of this voice to be a very kind senior of some sort.
Suddenly, the pagoda grew even more brilliant for a few moments. After this radiance subsided, an almost illusory figure appeared outside.
Man and pagoda seemed one with each other, and both carried a sense of ancient history.
âMaster.â All four cloaks saluted their master with due respect.
Seeing that Huangâer was entranced by the pagoda, Jiang Chen didnât disturb her. Instead, he cupped his fist in his own salute. âThis junior offers sincere greetings, Divine Kapasya.â
âJiang Chen!â the voice of the divine came once more from the direction of the pagoda. âSo youâre the one theyâre talking about everywhere? In the Eternal Sacred Land and beyond?â
âIt is I. I would think any such rumors of my prowess are far too exaggerated, however. Iâm less than a fraction of what they make me out to be.â Jiang Chen laughed.