"Brother, it's a pleasure to meet you for the first time. Thank you for showing restraint earlier." The arrogance had vanished from the girl's face. She extended two arms, white as lotus stalks, her eyes glistening as she looked up. "See? They're all turning purple from your blows. Shouldn't you compensate me for something?"

Compensation? Qian Jin felt his mind short-circuiting. Did this woman not know what had transpired outside the Qian family manor? Jun Wudao gestured to the floor, indicating Qian Jin should sit. "Boy, do you have an uncle?"

Qian Jin froze, staring blankly at Jun Wudao. He fixed his gaze on Jun Wudao’s face. If one disregarded the ugly scar and the air of a ruthless warlord, he saw it—"...He... ".... He truly bore a strong resemblance to his father, Qian Cheng.

"You... you are..." A warmth spread through Qian Jin's chest, mingled with a deep sense of apprehension, fearing he might be mistaken.

"I am your uncle!" Jun Wudao could no longer maintain his initial composure. Excitement and joy flooded his warlord's visage, his eyes alight with a desperate yearning for Qian Jin's recognition. "I am your uncle! I am Qian Zheng! I am your own uncle, Qian Zheng!"

"Brother." The girl sat on the ground, looking at Qian Jin. "I am Niancheng, Qian Niancheng."

The Elf King bloodline had awakened! Yet, the Qian family’s Bloodline Combat Skills were absent! This could only mean one thing: they were not from the Qian family of Qianzhou!

Qian Jin looked at Jun Wudao, suddenly hesitant to believe that this man before him, this underworld overlord of Yongliu City, was his actual uncle—the very uncle, Qian Zheng, who had left the Qian family to forge his own path long before Qian Jin himself departed.

"Stinking boy, why aren't you calling out?" Jun Wudao gripped Qian Jin's arms tightly, as if afraid Qian Jin might collapse from the shock and bolt. "Boy, you don't believe me? My brother's name is Qian Cheng, and he lives in the outer courtyard. My ancestors for generations have resided in the outer courtyard. On my brother's back, there is a red birthmark that looks like the character for 'King'! Many people mocked him because of it." Only then did Qian Jin stare blankly at Jun Wudao. His father's birthmark was no secret within the Qian family, but outsiders rarely paid attention to those in the outer courtyard.

Qian Jin looked at Qian Niancheng. Under close scrutiny, amidst her beautiful features, one could indeed see a faint echo of Jun Wudao’s shadow.

The Qian family never fostered warriors of the Qian surname who lacked pure bloodline cultivation; they possessed ample resources!

Qian Jin began to accept that this ruthless magnate of Yongliu City must be his uncle! Yes! It had to be so! It was the only explanation for why, during the auction that day, this overlord had helped him trick Xiudasik out of a magic staff, even though Qian Jin had never met him before.

And then, why that very staff, which could have been sold back to the Crystal Magic Tower for a high price, was gifted to Biluo.

Recouping the staff at a premium would surely be a welcome transaction for the Crystal Magic Tower; a nod from Jun Wudao would instantly inject vast funds into the Wudao Association.

The more Qian Jin thought, the clearer it became. When he first arrived in Yongliu, no one knew him, much less his abilities in forging and other skills, so there was no reason for anyone to try and recruit him.

Yet, here was the powerful underworld figure of Yongliu, helping him for no apparent reason!

"Uncle..."

"Ah!" Jun Wudao's eyes glistened with moisture as he nodded vigorously. "My dear nephew! I've finally seen you! You may not know, but I've sneaked back to the Qian family many times, so I have a clear memory of you... you just didn't know it yourself."

"Then... then what about my father?" Qian Jin looked at Jun Wudao anxiously. "Does he know you came back?"

"Of course, he knows," Jun Wudao sighed softly. "Only he knows."

Qian Jin's tension eased considerably. The thought that his father had been able to see his brother multiple times brought some comfort. If he had been completely unaware of his brother's return, then...

"I once wanted to take my brother away, and you too," Jun Wudao tilted his head back, gazing at the ceiling. "But back then, our parents were still with the Qian family. They refused to leave, obsessed with dedicating their lives to the bloodline warriors. Big Brother, seeing that our parents wouldn't leave, stayed behind to look after them and to look after you... so you could grow up without worry and participate in that damned Awakening Ceremony!"

Qian Jin sat quietly, listening as Jun Wudao slowly recounted tales of the past. "Big Brother is the one I respected most, and the one I wronged the most. If it hadn't been for my recklessness, perhaps Big Brother could have had a better life..." Qian Jin gently lowered his head, raising a hand to wipe away a trace of moisture near his eye. Hadn't he, too, been selfish and willful, forcing his father into the role of a mere groom?

Staying in the Qian family? Perhaps he could have secured an administrative position, but Qian Jin sensed a resentment brewing in his father’s chest—a resentment toward the Qian family! If he had stayed, secured a better post, and improved his father's living conditions, it might have taken only a few days to anger his father to death.

"Did you know? After you left, I returned to the Qian family again," Jun Wudao said with a faint air of respect. "Big Brother said he didn't care how the Qian family treated him. But he couldn't bear to see the Qian family, whom he had served his entire life, treat his own son—you—cruelly. If you hadn't left back then, my elder brother would have whipped you with a cane and driven you out of the family himself..." What! Qian Jin stared at Jun Wudao, shaken to the core, unable to comprehend what he had just heard. Did his father truly think that way? And what had he done for his father over the years? "Big Brother doted on you," Jun Wudao gently stroked Qian Jin’s head. "I still remember, every time it was your birthday, whenever possible, I would sneak back to watch Big Brother bustle about, trying every means to prepare a birthday gift for you..."

"Uncle... stop talking..." Tears streamed uncontrollably down Qian Jin's face. He wiped them away only for them to reappear instantly.

All his life, every birthday, he had only thought about what gifts he would receive, yet... Qian Jin looked up, struggling to keep the tears from overflowing, realizing he had never once thought about giving his father a birthday present, nor even spending quality time talking with him.

"Do you remember? When you woke up from sleep, there were several books placed by your bedside that you clearly hadn't touched or read?" Qian Jin nodded faintly. Much of the courage he found to leave the Qian family, or the very idea of leaving, was inspired by the philosophies within those books.

"I placed them there while you were asleep," Jun Wudao slapped the back of Qian Jin’s neck lightly. "Luckily, you didn't disappoint me, boy!" To attend an unexpected dinner and meet an uncle he had only heard of, an uncle who also had a daughter—a daughter who had naturally awakened the Elf King bloodline power.

Qian Jin felt as though he were dreaming, yet every word Jun Wudao spoke was flawless. His tone wasn't filled with fervent pleading, trying to force belief, but rather with the deep, unquestioning affection of an elder, caring only about giving his love, not whether it was accepted.

The main hall of the Wudao Association was quickly cleared and cleaned. Qian Jin sat by the dining table, looking at the simple home-cooked dishes, feeling the warmth of family once more.

For almost the entire meal, Jun Wudao was the one asking questions or rambling about his experiences since leaving the Qian family. When Qian Jin offered a rare response, Jun Wudao would laugh with unreserved delight.

After dinner, Jun Wudao and his party cleared the dishes, wiped their lips clean, and readjusted their posture, examining Qian Jin. "Boy, you need to be extra cautious when you go out these days." Go out carefully? Qian Jin considered that the Red Flow Ten Battles had followed him silently on his arrival, which was unusual...

"The Lei family approached me," Jun Wudao's face instantly turned ice-cold. "They offered me money to buy your life! Those bastards didn't know you were my nephew! I took their money and told them to go home and wait for news." "This is..." Qian Jin looked at Jun Wudao uncertainly, searching for the right word to describe the situation.

"Exactly! Crime preying on crime!" Jun Wudao's icy demeanor hadn't faded, but it was now mixed with a great deal of satisfaction. "This is true crime preying on crime! He wanted me to kill you, but he didn't know our relationship, so I took his money and didn't do the job. It’s because of this matter that I sought you out to acknowledge our kinship, otherwise..."

"I originally intended to wait a little longer, let you grow stronger first," Jun Wudao tapped the table lightly with his finger. "Niancheng is a girl. Although she awakened the Elf King bloodline power, she hasn't experienced much truly brutal combat. Her temperament isn't quite suited..." Qian Jin nodded repeatedly in agreement. The girl's combat ability was quite good, but her disposition seemed a bit too naive. If she didn't suffer a major setback, it would be hard for her to mature quickly.

But to let one's own child suffer a major loss? Qian Jin shook his head slightly. If he had a daughter, his greatest wish would be for her to live a safe and peaceful life, maintaining a little innocence, living happily her whole life—that would be the best.

"Over the years, I've learned a bit about you too," Jun Wudao stood and walked behind Qian Jin, placing his hands on his shoulders. "You are more successful than I was! At your age, I was still struggling to survive on the Man-Demon battlefield. You have experienced much and suffered many great losses; you see life much more clearly than this girl..."

"Dad... I'm quite capable too, okay?" Qian Niancheng pouted, looking at Jun Wudao with a complaint. "I help you with a lot too..."

Jun Wudao affectionately stroked Qian Niancheng’s head. The (fierce dominance) of an underworld overlord was completely gone, replaced only by the tender love of a father. "You are quite good, but not as good as your elder brother. Do you admit it?"

Qian Niancheng thought seriously for a moment, then gave Qian Jin a thumbs-up. "That's true. Brother, you are not a bloodline warrior, but you are much stronger than I am!"

"I will eventually grow old, or rather, I have already begun to age," Jun Wudao relaxed and returned to his seat. "The Wudao Association needs someone to take over eventually. I heard about your situation when you returned to the Qian family. That old dog Qian Zhanxuan! If you want to bring my elder brother out, you need strength and influence!"