Just then, an attendant rushed in to report: “Third Master, Mu Xuetong has arrived, accompanied by an elder who claims to be the Sixth Elder of the Wind and Snow Silver City. Shall I invite them in?”

Ever since their last meeting, the Third Master Jun had instructed all servants and retainers in the Jun family that Mu Xuetong was like a brother to him. No one in the Jun family was to slight him; unless accompanied by others, Mu Xuetong was free to come and go from any part of the Jun estate.

While Uncle and nephew were naturally delighted by Mu Xuetong’s arrival, hearing the title "Sixth Elder of the Wind and Snow Silver City" gave both Jun Moxie and Jun Wuyi pause. They looked up simultaneously, their expressions intricate.

Jun Wuyi’s facial muscles twitched slightly, while Jun Moxie’s face was clouded with doubt. Could they have tracked him down so quickly? That efficiency was staggering.

“Third Uncle, this Sixth Elder possesses Divine Profound cultivation. Your injuries are fully healed; I fear they cannot be hidden from his eyes,” Jun Moxie quickly realized. “But you cannot possibly avoid him now. Shall I tamper with something? I should be able to mask it!”

“No need! They will know eventually anyway,” Jun Wuyi shook his head. “The impact of the news of my recovery might not be entirely negative. Yao’er is still waiting for my message. If Mu Xuetong takes back the news that I am well, I can imagine how happy she will be. She has suffered enough these years.”

As he spoke, a gentle expression softened Jun Wuyi’s features, his gaze distant and deeply affectionate; it was as if that icy, beautiful woman were silently gazing upon him from afar.

Jun Moxie sighed but said no more. Though Jun Moxie was goal-oriented, he understood the agony of Jun Wuyi’s unrequited love. Thus, despite his reservations, he offered no further objection. “Invite them here,” Jun Wuyi managed, controlling his voice so it wouldn't betray his strain.

Jun Wuyi then pushed his wheelchair and went to the courtyard entrance to greet them. “Haha, Wuyi, we meet again! You look much better than the last time we met.” Mu Xuetong laughed warmly, a strange look flickering in his eyes, seemingly a subtle reminder meant only for Jun Wuyi.

Jun Wuyi felt a jolt in his heart and cupped his hands in a slight bow. “Elder Sixth has graced us with his presence; Wuyi is most fortunate. Please, please come in!”

The Sixth Elder’s white beard trailed as he looked Jun Wuyi up and down, scrutinizing him. “You are Jun Wuyi?” His voice carried an imposing authority, naturally dignified. “Indeed!” Jun Wuyi nodded, unyielding and calm, a faint smile touching his lips.

“Not bad, not bad. You cannot be forty yet, yet you have already reached the Middle Stage of Heaven Profound cultivation! For someone your age, in this mundane realm, to achieve such a feat is truly remarkable.” A cold glint flashed in the Sixth Elder’s eyes. “I heard you were injured before, but seeing your progress has been so swift, is your injury healed?”

Jun Wuyi’s injury was indeed fully recovered. He truly could not hide it from this Supreme Divine Profound master! Jun Moxie’s guess was exactly right.

Mu Xuetong trembled, his face showing genuine surprise and hope, looking expectantly at Jun Wuyi for confirmation.

“Heh heh, I owe it to Senior’s blessing. Wuyi was fortunate enough to dispel the poison previously, but my legs still require further convalescence,” Jun Wuyi said with a faint smile, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes. “This peculiar affliction plagued me for ten long years! The taste of those ten years… truly unforgettable.”

“Heh heh, good people are always blessed by heaven; heaven favors the worthy,” the Sixth Elder chuckled meaningfully. “Truly cause for rejoicing.”

“Please!” Jun Wuyi moved aside, simultaneously shouting, “Serve tea!”

Jun Moxie pushed the wheelchair behind him, silent.

“Is this the only son of your elder brother, Jun Wuhui?” The Sixth Elder looked at Jun Moxie, an inscrutable expression in his eyes.

“Yes!” A deep pang of pain flashed in Jun Wuyi’s eyes. “He is my elder brother’s only son who miraculously survived to this day, the last shred of direct lineage in our Jun family.”

The implication in the Sixth Elder’s phrase, “the only son,” was unknowable. But Jun Wuyi’s statement—"the only son who miraculously survived"—though seemingly placid, concealed a depth of bitterness as vast as mountains and seas!

“Heh heh, the only bloodline,” the Sixth Elder chuckled benevolently. “Truly precious. Seeing that you can remain composed and maintain proper decorum even before this old man—the descendants of the Jun family are indeed extraordinary.”

“This elder gentleman must be the Sixth Elder of the Wind and Snow Silver City. May I take the liberty of asking your esteemed surname, Elder Sixth?” Jun Moxie had already noted the elder’s veiled language and pressed the matter now that he was mentioned.

The Sixth Elder’s gaze flickered, and he laughed lightly, calmly replying, “My surname is Xiao. Xiao Han is my nephew.”

“I see.” Jun Moxie laughed, a barely perceptible flicker of murderous intent crossing his eyes before being swiftly masked. “I truly envy Elder Xiao for having reached the realm of Divine Profound cultivation. That level of mastery places you among the pinnacle of the world. Heh heh, your honored visit to the Jun family today is truly the fortune of our clan.”

The Sixth Elder smiled benignly. “Indeed, a young hero; even your words are so well-turned.” All four maintained broad smiles as they proceeded inward.

Mu Xuetong, standing aside, suddenly recalled that since this Sixth Elder joined the triumvirate of Elders Three, Six, and Nine in the Wind and Snow Silver City, almost everyone referred to him as Elder Sixth, so much so that people almost forgot he originally belonged to the Xiao family.

Though their bearing and words appeared amiable, a discernible tension had already surfaced between the two parties.

Despite both sides wearing cheerful smiles, suggesting mutual regard, the atmosphere grew increasingly oppressive. A sudden thought struck Mu Xuetong, making him start in alarm: Could this Sixth Elder have been involved in the events of that year? If so, bringing him here with me today—was I introducing disaster to the Jun family?

Jun Wuyi’s small courtyard connected his study and living room. However, since Ying Bokong currently occupied the study, Jun Wuyi could not have these guests disturb him. Instead, he had a table set up beneath the flowering trees in the courtyard.

“Excellent tea!” The Sixth Elder took the teacup, took a slow sip, leaned back slightly, and closed his eyes to savor the taste, praising it. Without opening his eyes, he slowly asked, “Third Master Jun, have you by chance seen the young master of our Silver City’s Xiao family?”

“Young Master Xiao?” Jun Wuyi frowned in confusion. “Never seen him. My condition has only recently begun to improve, and I still cannot move freely. For so many years, I nearly forgot how to walk and rarely venture beyond the main Jun estate. Why does Elder Sixth ask? What is the young master’s full name? How old is he, and what does he look like?”

“Oh? Third Master Jun says he has not seen him?” The Sixth Elder remained leaning back, his eyes barely open. He said casually, “My grandnephew was accompanying the City’s Little Princess touring Tianxiang City today when he was wantonly beaten by some audacious bandit, leaving him severely injured. This old man simply cannot imagine which family in Tianxiang City, besides the Jun family, would possess such audacity.”

“Elder Sixth means to assert that the injury sustained by this so-called Young Master Xiao was inflicted by someone from our Jun family? Do you have any proof? As they say, catch the thief red-handed. Elder Sixth is a preeminent expert of this age; surely you possess irrefutable evidence!” Jun Moxie suddenly interjected, a spark of anger in his heart—this old man was clearly here to frame them.

“A junior interrupting an elder’s speech; such rudeness is a laughing stock! Is this the proper upbringing expected of the sole successor of the Jun family’s third generation?!” The Sixth Elder, still with his eyes closed, suddenly roared, “Go!!”

Under the concentration of Divine Profound Qi, this low shout struck like muffled thunder, aimed squarely at Young Master Jun. The substantial sound wave drilled directly into his eardrums!

The condensation of a Divine Profound expert’s Qi had nearly reached the point where it could pass through objects. Even Mu Xuetong and Jun Wuyi, who were nearby, only faintly felt a slight tremor due to their Heaven Profound strength. But Jun Moxie, directly in the path, felt as if the world had turned upside down!

He felt a sharp steel needle drilling relentlessly into his ear canal, moving without pause, momentarily making even his soul tremble. If that volume had truly penetrated, Jun Moxie would likely have bled from all seven apertures on the spot. While it might not have been fatal, residual damage would have been unavoidable. At the very least, severe tinnitus, with a constant risk of deafness!

Jun Moxie cursed inwardly. This old codger was ruthless. He had only spoken a perfectly legitimate question, and the retaliation threatened such grave injury—what kind of justification was that!

Young Master Jun had only recently arrived in this world and had previously encountered little adversity. He failed to grasp that in the eyes of these Divine Profound powerhouses, low-level Xuan practitioners were little more than ants, whom they could treat as they wished without restraint. Furthermore, the Sixth Elder had seen Jun Wuyi’s decade-long disability vanish; for the sake of his own nephew, he had to target the Jun family. As for rules or reason, without sufficient strength, one was not entitled to such courtesies! Since Jun Moxie was the Jun family’s only surviving bloodline, the Sixth Elder intended to make the Jun family bleed!

Suddenly attacked, Young Master Jun rapidly activated his Heaven and Earth Creation Art, silently deploying it to meet the assault, instantly erecting seven layers of defense. It had to be said that the Heaven and Earth Creation Art possessed unique qualities. Young Master Jun was only equivalent to Gold Profound strength, yet he could barely withstand an attack from a Divine Profound master. Though the disparity in power was immense, and the sound wave itself was piercing, it ultimately lacked staying power. Under the Young Master’s heavy defenses, the sound wave dissipated with every step forward, becoming spent force by the time it reached the final barrier, and finally dispersed without penetrating.

Jun Moxie let out a muffled groan, blood seeping from his nose. This minor injury was half real and half a calculated deception. Given his current cultivation level, if he had been fully prepared, even that tiny injury could have been avoided.