Teng Qingshan's return as an Void Realm expert was truly a blessing for the Guiyuan Sect. While Zhuge Yuanhong was deeply contemplating how to maximize the resources Teng Qingshan brought, Teng Qingshan himself made his way to Dragon Ridge, a frequent promenade spot for the sect's inner disciples.

Dragon Ridge boasted numerous small paths and flower gardens, presenting a scene of refined beauty. Many family members, elders, and young couples of the Guiyuan Sect often came here for leisurely strolls.

"Father, Mother," Teng Qingshan murmured, gazing into the distance.

Yuan Lan, clad in a simple, deep crimson padded robe, was pushing a specially designed wheelchair. Teng Yongfan, whose spirits were dimmer than in previous years, squinted, smiling genially at his surroundings, clear crow's feet etched around his eyes. With Teng Qingshan's vision, the abundance of silver hair atop his father's head was immediately apparent.

Father looked much older than four years ago!

"Ah Lan, after lunch, we must make a trip to the Clan estate this afternoon," Teng Yongfan chuckled.

"The Clan estate is miles from here. Why bother traveling so far? Rest well," Yuan Lan advised gently. Teng Yongfan shot back with a playful glare, "That won't do! Master is getting old. When those scoundrels from Qinghu Island raided Yicheng, our old home, Master's hands were injured. He couldn't teach those three rascals how to forge weapons. With me gone, they'll slack off. Don't think just because I can't stand, teaching those three whelps will be anything but easy."

"Alright, alright, alright," Yuan Lan laughed along.

Standing afar, watching his parents, a faint smile touched Teng Qingshan's lips.

As long as Mother and Father lived well, that was enough.

"Slow down, little one." A crisp, melodious voice drifted from nearby.

Teng Qingshan turned his head. He saw a strikingly beautiful young matron playfully wrestling with another girl, accompanied by two toddling children. Looking at the matron, a smile of undisguised affection appeared on Teng Qingshan's face. "Qingyu… nearly four years have flown by. Qingyu has certainly matured."

That young matron was indeed his sister, Teng Qingyu.

"Xiaoshan, Tingting, come here, come to Mother," Qingyu crouched down and called out to the two small children.

The two children, stumbling across the grass, toddled toward Qingyu, babbling, "Mama, Mama…"

"Qingyu has two children?" Teng Qingshan felt both surprise and joy. "When I left Jiuzhou, Qingyu and Zhuge Yun had only recently married. I never expected this. 'Xiaoshan, Tingting'… looks like a boy and a girl. Judging by their looks, they are remarkably similar. They must be a matched set, boy and girl twins."

As a mother, Qingyu’s gaze upon her children was filled with adoration and deep care. A nearby maid assisted in looking after the two youngsters.

"Oh, Xiaoshan, Tingting, look, there are Grandpa and Grandma over there. Shall we go see them?" Qingyu called out towards the distance.

"Grandpa, Grandma."

One of the children, though his voice was infantile, managed the words.

"It's too far; Grandpa and Grandma can't hear us. Let's go closer," Qingyu picked up one child, and the maid took the other. Together, they headed towards Teng Yongfan and Yuan Lan.

And Teng Qingshan stood precisely between the two groups.

"Hmm?" Qingyu, carrying her child, spotted the seemingly amiable young man standing nearby. Normally, Qingyu would not engage with a stranger. But upon seeing this youth… somehow, Qingyu felt an inexplicable sense of kinship.

"Qingyu is coming over," Teng Qingshan suppressed a breath, his heart rate uncontrollably quickening.

Facing countless enemy battalions or fighting the Heaven Wind Battle God had never made him this nervous, yet seeing his sister approach sent his heart racing.

"Hello. I don't think I've seen you before," Qingyu smiled at Teng Qingshan.

"This is my first time at the Guiyuan Sect," Teng Qingshan replied smoothly, studying his sister intently… Years had stripped the childishness from her face, replacing it with an air of gentle poise.

"I don't know why, but I feel like I’ve seen you somewhere before. Yet, I just can’t recall," Qingyu remarked, hugging her child, a smile playing on her lips. "It’s truly strange." Qingyu left unspoken the other thought—strangest of all was the immediate, natural affection she felt toward this stranger.

"Perhaps you met someone who resembles me," Teng Qingshan smiled, glancing at the child in Qingyu's arms. "Is this your child?"

"Yes, my son," Qingyu said proudly.

The child gazed intently at the stranger with wide, dark eyes, then broke into a radiant smile, giggling, "Ha, ha…" while extending a chubby little hand.

"Xiaoshan seems very fond of you," Qingyu exclaimed, surprised.

"I'm very fond of this little fellow too," Teng Qingshan replied, gently shaking his 'nephew's' tiny hand.

The child laughed so hard his eyes narrowed into crescents, emitting happy sounds. Unknown to anyone present except Teng Qingshan, the person standing before them was his sister’s brother, and the child’s uncle.

"Qingyu!" A warm, familiar voice called out.

Teng Qingshan turned to see his mother, Yuan Lan, pushing the wheelchair toward them.

"Xiaoshan, Tingting," Teng Yongfan, seated in the wheelchair, looked even happier seeing his grandchildren.

"Father, Mother," Qingyu walked over, handing the boy to her parents, while the maid presented the little girl to Teng Yongfan.

Cradling their grandson and granddaughter, Yuan Lan and Teng Yongfan looked utterly delighted.

"Father and Mother's lives are peaceful and warm," Teng Qingshan felt a great easing in his chest. At that moment, Mother Yuan Lan’s gaze fell upon Teng Qingshan, and she paused slightly. A mother's heart felt keenly; though his appearance was completely different, and even his demeanor had shifted, Yuan Lan sensed an overwhelming familiarity in the young man before her.

"Qingyu, who is this gentleman?" Yuan Lan asked, sounding slightly tense.

Qingyu laughed, "We just met. I don't even know his name yet."

"My surname is Li. This is my first visit to the Guiyuan Sect; I am here to see Sect Master Zhuge," Teng Qingshan fought to suppress his agitation.

"Oh." Yuan Lan nodded kindly, her look toward Teng Qingshan softening with a trace of maternal affection.

Teng Yongfan also fixed a long, deep look upon Teng Qingshan.

Just then, nearby chatter drifted over.

"Commander Zang Feng is a Innate expert now. I heard the Sect is planning to make him a Guardian Elder soon. Amazing—an Innate expert so young. He’s the best of the younger generation in the Sect."

"Right. Commander Zhuge's swordsmanship is superb, but he hasn't reached the Innate Realm yet."

"Look at you two, talking about Commander Zhuge and Commander Zang Feng? Back when Commander Teng was here, he defeated Zang Feng in a single move. He became an Innate expert at seventeen. Rumor has it that in Wucheng, Yuzhou, even several Innate Golden Core experts couldn't touch Commander Teng."

"Commander Teng? Who doesn't know that Teng Qingshan betrayed our Guiyuan Sect? What Commander Teng? Ridiculous."

"Keep your voices down."

The murmuring instantly ceased. The three disciples glanced over and quickly walked away, daring not continue their gossip.

Hearing the discussion, the previously elated Teng Yongfan couple and Qingyu’s expressions subtly changed.

"Those three bastards! How dare they speak of my brother like that," Qingyu glared after their retreating backs.

"Enough, stop talking," Teng Yongfan sighed.

In the Guiyuan Sect now, while some still revered Teng Qingshan and believed his past actions were justified, there were also those who belittled him, calling his choices foolish and blaming him for the deaths of their Black Armored Army brothers. However, around Teng Qingshan's parents, no one dared to speak such things openly.

"I wonder when Qingshan will return," Yuan Lan sighed softly.

"It's alright, don't fret. Your old man and wife still have decades left in us. We'll live long enough for our child to come back," Teng Yongfan chuckled.

Seeing this scene, a pang of sourness struck Teng Qingshan's heart.

"Are you speaking of Teng Qingshan?" Teng Qingshan finally spoke up.

Teng Yongfan, Yuan Lan, and Qingyu all turned to look at him.

"I believe that Teng Qingshan will return," Teng Qingshan looked at his parents and smiled. "Perhaps Teng Qingshan is hiding somewhere in Jiuzhou, occasionally observing you both from the shadows. You just don't know it."

"Observing us from the shadows?"

Teng Yongfan and Yuan Lan paused, looking around them.

"Gentlemen, I must depart; I have urgent matters," Teng Qingshan knew he couldn't stay a moment longer, fearing he would fail to keep his composure. He immediately turned and walked away.

At that moment, Teng Yongfan, Yuan Lan, and Qingyu—even as they stood near their deeply missed kin—remained unaware that the person standing before them was the very relative they worried and longed for—

Teng Qingshan!

**

"Father, Mother, Qingyu, I will return soon, openly and honorably to stand before you," Teng Qingshan took a deep breath and returned to his Master's study.

Inside the study, the spectral light that was Teng Qingshan reformed into a human silhouette.

"Qingshan," Zhuge Yuanhong rose instantly upon seeing him. "Did you see your parents?"

"I did," Teng Qingshan nodded.

"You didn't tell them your identity, right?" Zhuge Yuanhong pressed anxiously.

"No," Teng Qingshan confirmed.

Zhuge Yuanhong nodded, sighing deeply. "I know this must be difficult for you. However, this hardship must be endured. If your parents or Qingyu were to let slip even a hint, it would be incredibly dangerous. You told me so much before; I already have a rough plan forming."

"Master, what should I do?" Teng Qingshan's eyes brightened.

Zhuge Yuanhong's eyes glittered subtly, confidence radiating from him. "With your addition, the Guiyuan Sect now possesses two Void Realm experts, numerous spiritual treasures, and even that 'Fire-Flowing Iron.' However—our current advantage is that Qinghu Island does not know you have reached the Void Realm, nor that you have returned! We cannot discard this advantage. To force a confrontation now, although we could contend with them, would yield little benefit."

"Therefore, there are three courses of action for you!"

Zhuge Yuanhong’s voice was resolute. "The first, Qingshan: with your methods, secretly establish a band of mountain bandits in the southern part of Yangzhou. Train them well. Later, equip them with the 'Spirit of the North Sea' and 'Fire-Flowing Iron Armor,' and they will become a formidable elite army. When the Guiyuan Sect finally clashes with Qinghu Island, we will hold the north, and you will lead this army to strike them fiercely from the rear."

"Second: You possess the Immortal Grass… Many powerful experts on the Heavenly Rankings are one step away from the Void Realm, but they are nearing one hundred eighty or ninety years old. Due to lifespan limits and the immense pressure of their approaching end, they cannot break through to the Void Realm. You can leverage the 'Immortal Grass' to forge alliances with them. Perhaps you can cultivate one or two more Void Realm masters."

"Third… you must appear under a different guise and act as an enemy to Qinghu Island!"

"This third point?" Teng Qingshan paused, slightly confused by his Master’s meaning.