In the hall, both the elder and the grandson were consumed by a profound sorrow, stemming not merely from the booklet, but from the painful memories it had unearthed.
“Th-then, could he be...?” Yang Rong asked, clutching at something unseen.
“I don’t know yet. The investigation is ongoing. If it is indeed him, I won’t stop you from taking action. DNA testing is certainly a reliable way to verify it,” Yang Xuan stated with a grave expression.
“But what about that woman?”
“I might have misjudged her. Besides, I had people investigate before; she is merely Shangguan Qingyun’s adopted daughter, unrelated to our affairs. However, both the arrogance she carries and that distinct scent of blood on her make me utterly convinced that he is very likely...” Yang Xuan trailed off, knowing that uttering the possibility aloud would only deepen their grief.
The events of twenty years prior were the greatest sorrow of the Celestial Vein Clan, and without definitive proof yet, no hasty conclusion could be drawn.
“If the DNA confirms he is—!” Yang Rong wiped away tears, as if dreading a certain outcome, “No, if he is...”
“Rong’er, there is nothing to be done about fate. What I do believe is that he might become the first person in the entire history of our Vein Clan to reach the level of Celestial Vein Grandmaster!”
“If only that were true. If he fails, then those members of the Vein Clan Elder Council will...! ”
Yang Xuan glanced at her, nodding with extreme seriousness. “Absolute extermination. Even if his secular influence is not weak, I believe that with the full might of the Celestial Vein Clan, erasing him would be effortless.”
“Why...” Yang Rong sat there, her heart a complex knot of confusion.
“It’s too early to discuss such things now. How about this, I’ll go first...”
Before Yang Xuan could finish, Yang Rong stood up, closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and said, “Grandfather, leave this matter to me. Rest assured, I will handle it in complete secrecy, ensuring not a single member of the Vein Clan discovers anything.”
“Sigh... He is the closest person you have in this world. I cannot stop whatever you choose to do. But I hope you understand one thing: if you are not absolutely certain, he will be...!”
“I know!” Yang Rong turned, declared one final, “I absolutely will not allow that to happen!” and walked toward the door.
Watching Yang Rong’s retreating figure, Yang Xuan’s expression shifted instantly. He murmured to himself, “It seems I truly need to speak with Yitian. This long-standing knot needs to be undone!”
Meanwhile, at the Shanghai airport, a young man and a young woman were emerging from the main entrance, straight into the path of...
“Yi!”
“You brute!”
“Hmm? What are you two doing here?” Yang Yi opened his arms, embracing Li Qian and Xia Shiyun deeply as they rushed toward him. “How did you two know I was back today?”
“Hmph, you brute! If we hadn’t interrogated Ye Xiaohou, we wouldn’t have even known you went to England,” Li Qian’s pincer-like grip already landed squarely on Yang Yi’s side.
Yet, the expected yelp of pain never came. Instead, Yang Yi looked at them both with deep tenderness, embracing them again. Xia Shiyun seemed on the verge of tears and whispered, “Yi, I missed you!”
“Mmm, I know,” Yang Yi responded softly.
It is common for couples deeply in love to sometimes act contrary to their feelings; sometimes displaying indifference while their hearts ache for one another. Upon learning Yang Yi had left Shanghai again, these two beauties had endured the torment of longing.
“Uh!” Suddenly, Yang Yi looked momentarily stunned, scanning the surroundings. “What’s with those people?”
“Brother Yi, Boss,” Fatty Lin and Ye Xiaohou appeared behind Yang Yi seemingly out of nowhere, calling out to him with strangely knowing smiles.
In fact, quite a crowd had gathered around Yang Yi. Some looked furious, as if resentful that some scoundrel was desecrating their goddesses. Others wore expressions of utter shock, staring fixedly at the trio. A few even looked heartbroken, mock-banging their heads against the nearest wall to test its solidity.
“What is wrong with them?” Yang Yi asked, looking utterly bewildered.
“Pfft!” Li Qian and Xia Shiyun both chuckled softly, offering no answer.
Ye Xiaohou, however, pretended to cough, but his expression betrayed him completely, giving Yang Yi the urge to deck him. Seeing the fiery look in Yang Yi’s eyes, Ye Xiaohou quickly raised his hands. “Don’t be like that, Boss. Actually, their reaction is normal, because the two ladies you are hugging are, in the eyes of others, currently...”
“Damn it, are you asking for a beating!” Yang Yi cursed, knowing Ye Xiaohou had deliberately paused for effect.
“Uh, actually, Boss, you should pay a bit more attention to your wives. Right now, they are the nationally famous, sought-after Phantom Group! You know, everything they do now is...” Wait, wait, Boss, listen to me, hey... I haven't finished!” Ye Xiaohou felt thoroughly deflated as Yang Yi, without waiting for him to complete his sentence, had already grabbed Li Qian and Xia Shiyun and was pulling them out of the airport.
“Haha, Fourth Brother, you deserve that! Haha, you’re hilarious! Gotta go!” Fatty Lin guffawed at Ye Xiaohou’s sputtering indignation.
“Damn it, being a good guy is hard work. Waaah, why am I so pitiful?” Ye Xiaohou muttered through gritted teeth, glaring at Fatty Lin’s retreating back. “Second Brother, you are truly ruthless, crap!”
Once they were out of the airport and settled into the stretched Lincoln, Yang Yi finally let out a sigh of relief. Those gazes, those expressions, those ineffable gestures from the crowd—they had stirred up a reaction more intense than the time he’d fumbled against Li Qian’s chest back in City A. If those onlookers knew what the current Phantom Group members were up to, they might very well bury him alive!
Thinking of this, Yang Yi let out a soft sigh. Li Qian noticed and asked, “Yi, what’s wrong? Don’t tell me you’re scared of those people back there?”
“Uh!” Seeing Li Qian’s mischievous smirk, a chill ran down Yang Yi’s spine. But then, recalling something, he suddenly twisted his face into a strangely wicked grin and leered at Li Qian, “Oh, so you dare tease your husband, hmm? Tsk tsk, lift those skirts, I’m gonna spank your bottom!”
“Ah! No!” Li Qian hid herself with a blush covering her face.
“Pfft!” Xia Shiyun burst out laughing. But as her laughter faded, she caught sight of Yang Yi’s predatory smile and instantly shrieked, “Ah, no!”
Her voice was as enchanting as could be, and the three of them started playfully tussling inside the car. Fatty Lin and Ye Xiaohou in the front, along with Long Yi and Feng Shi driving, all broke into laughter.
After some time had passed...
“Yi, why didn’t you tell us you were going to England this time?” Xia Shiyun asked with a hint of complaint.
“Hehe, you two didn’t tell me either. It seems your fame has truly spread across Huaxia. If I had stayed in that airport for a few more seconds, I’m afraid I might have ended up as dust,” Yang Yi chuckled lightly.
“Hmph, you brute, it’s because you don’t pay enough attention to us, not our fault!” Li Qian glared at Yang Yi with some displeasure.
“Hehe, yes, yes, it’s all your husband’s fault.” Yang Yi, with an arm around each woman, looked thoroughly relaxed, but in that instant, his demeanor shifted as if he had become a different person. “Actually, the reason I went to Britain this time was that after the summer break, I plan to transfer to Peking University.”
“Peking University?” Li Qian and Xia Shiyun both flinched, feeling as if Yang Yi was about to leave them behind.
Sensing their reaction, Yang Yi reassured them, “Don’t worry, nothing bad will happen. To make it up to you, I plan for us to have a wonderful vacation during the break.”
“Really?”
“Mmm, truer than pearls.”
“That’s wonderful!” The two women cried out excitedly. They knew they couldn't truly stop Yang Yi; his immense ambition was something they were proud of.
“Where are you planning to go for the vacation?” Li Qian asked.
“Hmm, where should we go?” Yang Yi feigned thoughtful deliberation. Seeing the vulnerable looks on their faces, he laughed. “Haha, don’t give your husband those sad expressions. Ah, I know you miss home. How about this: we’ll go back to City A for a proper trip?”
“Oh yeah!” The two girls cheered excitedly, adding, “You absolutely can’t go back on your word; you have to spend the whole break with us.”
“Mmm, I absolutely won’t regret it.” Seeing their joyful smiles filled Yang Yi’s heart with warmth. Wasn't this the life he longed for?
“Long Yi, how is the progress going?” Yang Yi suddenly asked the driver.
“As you commanded, Master, all Five Elements Death Gods and Five Elements Death Soldiers have passed qualification. I believe taking down one Dark Council will pose no problem,” Long Yi reported.
“Good. I am putting you in complete charge of this matter. Be swift and clean with your methods. If you come across anyone named John Osley, send him over to Britain.”
“Understood.”
It turned out Yang Yi had long targeted the Dark Council. Furthermore, he had been secretly pulling strings, perhaps preparing to ignite a global underworld upheaval. However, one thing was certain: given the current situation, the Black God Gang’s influence was not only spreading across the nation but was already slowly eroding the global underworld—perhaps this was what he envisioned as the ‘Present Continuous Tense’!