Chen Chang'an's sudden remark left Lin Xiangliu momentarily stunned.
Lin Xiangliu looked at Chen Chang'an, who was smiling, yet his eyes betrayed not a trace of warmth.
Reincarnation—did such a thing truly exist?
"Perhaps, though I can't say for certain."
"Brother Chen, are you suggesting…?" Lin Xiangliu asked, his voice tinged with surprise.
"I want to share three hundred cups of wine with him."
"Whether it's possible or not, I must try."
"But it won't be easy."
"Difficult or not, I will search."
"Moreover, the Fengtian Imperial Dynasty and Yin Tianzi—I will never let them off."
"I want Mingdao to witness their downfall with his own eyes," Chen Chang'an said with a faint smile.
Throughout the conversation, Chen Chang'an remained either calm or smiling, never once revealing anger. Yet his smile sent a chill down Lin Xiangliu's spine.
Still, the concept of reincarnation was nebulous—its very existence remained uncertain. Even if it were real, and Wu Mingdao had indeed been reborn, where in this vast world would one even begin searching?
This was no simple task.
"Brother Chen, is there anything I can do to help?"
"You? Well, you could keep an eye out."
"Very well. If either of us discovers anything, we’ll inform the other. I… miss him too."
"Agreed."
Lin Xiangliu took a deep breath. The weight of Wu Mingdao's memory had made the atmosphere unbearably heavy, so he swiftly changed the subject.
"Brother Chen, after all these years, you haven’t changed much. I couldn’t fathom you back then, and I still can’t now."
"Though I see you’ve gained a new companion."
"Ah…"
Lin Xiangliu had noticed Gu Xian'er earlier but hadn’t paid her much mind. Now, upon closer inspection, his heart skipped a beat.
Ninth level of the Divine Ability Realm?
At such a young age?
"May I ask, young lady, how old you are?" Lin Xiangliu inquired curiously.
"Twenty."
Twenty years old?
To reach the ninth level of the Divine Ability Realm at twenty—her talent was nothing short of monstrous.
Lin Xiangliu was far from arrogant, but he took pride in his own abilities. Yet even he hadn’t achieved such heights at that age.
"Only twenty? You truly are a prodigy."
"You flatter me, Senior. I am merely my young master’s maidservant. Without him, I would never have attained this level of cultivation."
Hmm?
A maidservant?
A genius of her caliber, reduced to serving Chen Chang'an?
How was this fair?
A talent like hers would be nurtured as a prized disciple anywhere else—a true daughter of heaven. Why would she willingly become a servant?
Lin Xiangliu couldn’t make sense of it, no matter how hard he tried.
"Speaking of which, Brother Chen, what brings you to Langya?"
"I recall you once said you wouldn’t travel far. I’d planned to visit you after breaking through to the Immortal Realm, yet here you are in Langya."
Only now did Lin Xiangliu think to ask—surely Chen Chang'an hadn’t come just to reminisce?
"I came to see you for a reason."
"The Qingshui Lin Family—they’re a branch of your clan, correct?" Chen Chang'an asked.
"Qingshui Lin Family? Ah, yes, they exist. Why? Have they offended you?" Lin Xiangliu frowned.
He wasn’t closely acquainted with this branch, but they were still part of the Lin Family. If they’d provoked Chen Chang'an, he couldn’t ignore it.
"Let me explain the situation briefly."
After Chen Chang'an summarized the events, Lin Xiangliu’s frown deepened. The matter was graver than he’d imagined.
Gu Xian'er’s talent was undeniable, and her blood feud with the Qingshui Lin Family would not end peacefully.
Moreover, the Qingshui Lin Family had dared to openly hunt Chen Chang'an?
Had they lost their minds?
Even Lin Xiangliu wouldn’t dare provoke him—yet they’d outdone him in recklessness?
"So, the Chen Family in Qingshui shares your lineage?"
"If that’s the case, I’ll ensure you receive justice."
"However… the Chen Family wasn’t completely wiped out. Could you, for my sake, avoid excessive bloodshed?"
Chen Chang'an glanced at him and smiled faintly. "If not for you, do you think I’d have come to Tianshui Lake first?"
Relieved, Lin Xiangliu still cast a wary look at Gu Xian'er.
"Without my young master, I, Gu Xian'er, would be nothing. I will abide by his decisions."
How could Gu Xian'er not hate the Qingshui Lin Family? But everything she had was owed to Chen Chang'an. In this matter, she had no choice but to defer to him.
"Brother Chen, what do you propose?" Lin Xiangliu asked.
"Here’s my offer: send someone to the Qingshui Lin Family and have them return everything they stole from the Chen Family."
"Additionally, they must pay for their crimes. Those who attacked the Chen Family and slaughtered the Liu Family—they must die."
"This is non-negotiable."
From the Chen Family records, Chen Chang'an knew his kin hadn’t been exterminated, but the losses were severe. Vengeance was necessary.
The Liu Family’s annihilation could not be forgiven either.
Now that Gu Xian'er was under his protection, Chen Chang'an would never let his people suffer injustice.
This was the only compromise he could offer, out of respect for Lin Xiangliu.
Yet Lin Xiangliu hesitated. Such measures would cripple the Qingshui Lin Family.
"I could have bypassed you entirely."
Chen Chang'an’s quiet remark struck Lin Xiangliu like a thunderclap.
Indeed, Chen Chang'an could have gone straight to the Qingshui Lin Family. By the time Lin Xiangliu intervened, it might have been too late—and he’d have no grounds to protest, given their wrongdoing.
"I understand. Rest assured, I’ll deliver a resolution that satisfies both you and Lady Xian'er."
Lin Xiangliu nodded reluctantly. Though he couldn’t gauge Chen Chang'an’s strength, he’d witnessed the power of the "big yellow" companion—fearsome and awe-inspiring.
With Gu Xian'er’s potential, letting her grudge fester would doom the Qingshui Lin Family once she matured.
"Stay here as my guests. I’ll dispatch men to Qingshui immediately."
"Very well. I appreciate your cooperation."
"Brother Chen, you’re too kind. Had you annihilated them outright, that would’ve truly put me in a bind. I know you’ve already considered my position."
Lin Xiangliu smiled faintly before walking out.
Three days later, at the Qingshui Lin Family estate—
"What? Has the Ancestor truly broken through to the Undying Realm?"
"This calls for celebration—truly, this is joyous news indeed!"
The Qingshui Lin Family was naturally overjoyed upon hearing this. However, the next words from the envoy of the main family left them utterly stunned.
"What?"
"What do you mean by this? Are you sending us to our deaths?"