C8 The Adulthood Ceremony Had Come to an End

At this moment, Huangfu Xihua's gaze was filled with sheer terror; she couldn't fathom how someone she had personally slain could stand before her, very much alive.

"No, this can't be happening. I killed you with my own hands! This can't be real..."

Moments before, she had been the city's cherished daughter, but now she seemed deranged, unable to come to terms with Lin Yunchen's survival.

As Huangfu Xihua confessed to killing Lin Yunchen, the four great clans in the stands erupted in outrage. However, the heads of a few prominent families sensed that the situation was more complex than it appeared.

Lin Yunchen watched the frantic Huangfu Xihua, his lips curling into a cold smirk.

"Huangfu Xihua, the agony I endured that day, I shall personally repay it to you today!"

His words still hanging in the air, Lin Yunchen clenched his fist and charged at Huangfu Xihua.

But just as his fist neared Huangfu Xihua's face, a formidable presence wrapped around her.

"You insolent boy, daring to strike the current leader of the Huangfu family? It seems you've forgotten I'm still around."

The next second, an elder, well past a century old, materialized before the multitude in the city, standing protectively by Huangfu Xihua. With genuine concern, he asked, "Xihua, are you alright?"

At the sound of the old woman's voice, Huangfu Xihua gave a slight nod. "Grandmother, I'm fine. I just... I'm unable to fulfill the mission you entrusted to me."

The old woman responded gently, "As long as you're unharmed, that's what matters. You're not at fault here. None of us expected this Lin family scion to cling to life so tenaciously, surviving even your lethal strike. It seems he was behind the anomaly in our family's back mountain."

"Lin, heed this warning. This old woman's power has reached the Seventh Layer of the Spirit Sea Stage, far surpassing the First Layer of your Lin Clan Patriarch. Should you act recklessly, the consequences will be dire."

As Huangfu Jie made her entrance, Xiu Wuji's voice resonated within Lin Yunchen's mind, explaining his hesitation to act immediately.

Had Lin Yunchen persisted in his assault on Huangfu Xihua, it was doubtful anyone in the border city could have saved him—Xiu Wuji's intervention being the sole exception.

On the verge of speaking, Lin Yunchen was preempted by Lin Yi, who rose to address Huangfu Jie.

"Please excuse my nephew's impulsiveness. Thankfully, the Huangfu Family Patriarch is unharmed. Elder Huangfu, may we ask you to stand down now?"

Huangfu Jie's brow furrowed at Lin Yi's plea, her voice grave as she responded, "I will spare the Lin family this time. But should there be a repeat offense, I swear your entire clan will pay with their lives!"

Her authoritative declaration left the martial arts arena in a hushed awe, no one daring to utter a word in the face of her overwhelming power.

Lin Yunchen's gaze clung to Huangfu Xihua, a flicker of defiance in his eyes.

"Huangfu Xihua, our next encounter will be the day I claim your life, and no one will be able to stop me then."

Xiu Wuji's voice echoed anew in Lin Yunchen's thoughts upon hearing his vow.

"Lin, rest assured. I'll lend you my full support this time. I can't abide by someone flaunting their arrogance before me. Had this been in days gone by, she would already be reduced to cosmic dust."

A smile crept onto Lin Yunchen's face, amused by Xiu Wuji's penchant for recounting his former glories.

As Huangfu Jie escorted Huangfu Xihua away, the Huangfu family's elite and their disciples also departed the arena.

With the Huangfu family's retreat, Lin Yi descended from the stands to stand behind Lin Yunchen.

"Chen, this ordeal seems to have matured you greatly. Your father, if he were here to see you today, would surely be proud."

At the sound of Lin Yi's voice, Lin Yunchen turned to find Lin Yi had quietly appeared behind him, his eyes betraying a hint of remorse.

He whispered, "Uncle Yi, I was wrong before. Having gone through all of this, I've come to understand so much and now I see that you were only looking out for me. I was mistaken about you in the past."

Lin Yi's response was a smile, the most joyful one he had allowed himself in over a decade, all because Lin Yunchen had finally addressed him as 'uncle.'

Lin Yunchen called Lin Yi 'uncle' because Lin Yi was, in fact, his father's younger brother—a truth that would never change.

Had Lin Yunchen's father, Lin Zhan, not chosen to leave the Lin family, he would have been the current patriarch, not Lin Yi.

Lin Zhan, the God of War, had left behind an undefeated legend in the border city at the young age of twenty-five...

"Congratulations to Young Master Lin on your return to the Lin family."

While the uncle and nephew were conversing, patriarchs from various families approached Lin Yi and Lin Yunchen, their faces bright with smiles.

Seeing this, Lin Yunchen's former arrogance was nowhere to be found; he humbly lowered his stance.

With a smile, he responded, "Thank you all. I look forward to working closely with each of you to further the prosperity of our border city."

"Without a doubt."

The speaker was Nangong Tian, the current patriarch of the Nangong family, a man known in the city for not always practicing what he preached. Lin Yunchen offered him nothing more than a courteous greeting.

At that moment, Moo Qiubai arrived beside Lin Yunchen, accompanied by Moo Xuan.

She lifted her gaze to meet Lin Yunchen's, her cheeks still stained with the remnants of tears.

"Yunchen, Qiubai always believed you were alive. It seems I was right..."

Upon seeing Moo Qiubai, Lin Yunchen's face lit up with the most genuine smile. If asked who he trusted most in the city, without hesitation, he would name Moo Qiubai—she had never stopped believing in him.

Witnessing the exchange, Moo Xuan couldn't help but interject, "Lin, do you have any idea how much Qiubai has endured for you? She's been tirelessly training, day and night, all for some brat—I wonder who that could be."

Upon hearing Moo Xuan's words, Lin Yunchen felt a jolt in his heart.

He had an inkling as to why Moo Qiubai had stepped up to challenge Huangfu Xihua, but even with his suspicions confirmed, the reality was more than Lin Yunchen could bear.

He owed a debt to Moo Qiubai, one that seemed impossible to repay in a lifetime. Thus, Lin Yunchen had resolved to spend his life making amends.

"Qiubai, I'll come to see you whenever I can. Be good, okay?" Lin Yunchen gently ruffled her hair.

Moo Qiubai shot Lin Yunchen a look with her big eyes and murmured, "Yunchen, you still treat me like a little sister. Just so you know, Qiubai is all grown up now..."

Before she could finish, Moo Qiubai turned on her heel and strode toward the Moo's family compound.

"Yunchen, I'll always be your Qiubai, your little sister, forever..."

It was only after she had left the martial arts field that Moo Qiubai allowed these heartfelt words to escape her lips. These were the words she longed to say to Lin Yunchen, yet she had hoped to hear them from him, not herself.

Watching Moo Qiubai walk away, Lin Yunchen seemed lost in thought until a hand came to rest on his shoulder.

"Chen, we should head back. You've always wanted to know where your father went, right? I'll tell you once we're home," Lin Yi spoke from behind him with a weighty tone.

Lin Yi had wrestled with the decision to reveal this, as he wished to keep Lin Yunchen from being drawn into an age-old conflict.

In Lin Yi's eyes, Lin Yunchen would always be a child, one who could never truly grow up.

He preferred Lin Yunchen as a brash and impetuous young master rather than embroiled in strife.

Yet today, Lin Yunchen had shown a glimpse of the God of War, the fearless warrior who once dared to challenge heaven, earth, and all creation.

Back at the Lin's residence, Lin Yunchen was enveloped by an unprecedented sense of warmth. Surveying the familiar surroundings, a smile graced his face.

"This feels like home. This is where I, Lin Yunchen, belong..."

"Chen, come inside."

Lin Yi's voice drifted from the room, reaching Lin Yunchen's ears.

Lin Yunchen opened the door and stepped in, finding Lin Yi with his back turned, seemingly deep in thought. On the wooden table lay an object resembling a wrist guard.

"Uncle Yi."

Lin Yunchen addressed Lin Yi with great respect. For one of the few who had shown him kindness in this world, his reverence was heartfelt.

Lin Yi turned slowly to face Lin Yunchen, a smile tinged with the weight of years gracing his features.

"Chen, this belonged to your father. You've been headstrong and impulsive, and I've been unsure whether to entrust it to you," he said gently.

"But seeing you today, I've made up my mind. It's time you knew where your father has gone. Brace yourself."

As Lin Yi spoke, Lin Yunchen's eyes settled on the table, and he whispered, "This is from my father? He's always remembered me..."

Unaware of the shift in Lin Yunchen's demeanor, Lin Yi went on, "Your father left the Lin's for your mother's sake."

"He departed to search for her."

"Your mother was not of our world. To find her, your father grew ever stronger, eventually becoming one of the preeminent figures of our realm."

"There are few in this world who surpass your father, for he was the first to be hailed as the God of War."

Lin Yunchen's eyes widened with awe at Lin Yi's revelation.

He had never imagined his father to be such a formidable figure. Meanwhile, Xiu Wuji, residing within Lin Yunchen, showed a flicker of astonishment.

"So Lin Yunchen's father is Lin Zhan."

"I recall he nearly perished fighting a pair from the Huangfu family. Had I not stepped in, he would've been lost to the underworld."

"It's hard to believe that the rash young man of those days has now achieved the status of a Great Sage. Time changes people, yet some things remain the same..."

Xiu Wuji gently shut his eyes, keeping his words from reaching Lin Yunchen's ears. He understood that the time wasn't right for Yunchen to learn so much just yet.