Gu Fang and the others didn't wait long before Zhang Yang arrived. The villa Zhang Yang had purchased was currently located in the suburbs, conveniently close to the highway exit, so he didn't keep Gu Fang and the others waiting long.

Seeing his former beloved car, a trace of nostalgia flickered in Gu Fang’s eyes, but it immediately vanished. Just by seeing the vehicle, he knew Zhang Yang had arrived.

“Why did you all suddenly rush over without even a heads-up?” Getting out of the car and walking up to Gu Fang and the others, Zhang Yang spoke first. “We wanted to surprise you, how about it, feeling surprised?” Gu Fang chuckled, while Li Wei offered Zhang Yang a polite smile as a greeting, a sense of awe lingering deep in his eyes.

“Not surprised, more like startled!” Zhang Yang said with mock annoyance, causing Gu Fang to burst into laughter. After the previous incident, Gu Fang and Zhang Yang’s relationship had become quite good, especially since Zhang Yang was the life-saver of Gu Fang's maternal grandfather.

His attitude had improved even more so. The matter of Zhang Yang saving Elder Qiao had brought Gu Fang no small amount of benefits; almost everyone in his family’s attitude toward Zhang Yang had shifted.

After his laughter subsided, Gu Fang immediately said with a grin, “Surprise or shock, as long as you felt something, that’s fine. Let’s go, you can’t just leave us standing by the roadside!” Zhang Yang could only sigh and lead them back to the villa.

The villa wasn't far. Upon arriving, Gu Fang and Li Wei merely glanced at it, nodding casually.

Their perspective was naturally different from Hu Xin and the others. In their eyes, this villa was merely adequate—fine for an occasional retreat, perhaps for keeping a mistress, but certainly not a place for long-term residence.

Their own family homes were much larger. “Mr.

Long!” As soon as he entered the villa, Li Wei spotted Long Feng and immediately stepped forward to greet him respectfully. He was acutely aware of Long Feng’s power; he was a master among masters.

Even looking at Lightning, who was currently bouncing around in a room, Li Wei regarded him with reverence. These were true powerhouses.

Long Feng nodded at him before returning to his room. While his previous attitude had softened, it was limited only to those like Long Cheng, with whom he had spent a long time.

Towards others, he remained as he was. It is hard to change one’s nature; true transformation is not an easy feat.

“Gu Fang, there’s something I need to mention first. I welcome your visit, but I have an obligation tomorrow and won’t be able to keep you company.

I hope you understand!” After seating them and asking Qu Meilan to brew tea, Zhang Yang spoke in a low voice. “You have something tomorrow?

What is it?” Although Zhang Yang’s words sounded a bit abrupt, Gu Fang was quite satisfied. Zhang Yang being direct proved he wasn't being treated as an outsider, and that was enough.

Zhang Yang said, “I need to go to Antian tomorrow; it might take a few days to return. The plane tickets are already booked!” “Antian?

Why such a sudden trip?” Gu Fang sounded slightly surprised, asking softly. “I have some matters to attend to there, so I won’t be able to accompany you tomorrow!” “That’s fine.

We’re free anyway. Cousin served in the military in Antian back in the day, and I visited once.

Since we have nothing planned, we’ll accompany you. We can return together after you finish your business!” Gu Fang chuckled.

Zhang Yang looked toward Li Wei, who nodded in agreement. Gu Fang was correct; Li Wei had indeed spent time in Antian initially.

After graduating from military academy, he was assigned there, serving as a deputy platoon leader and then a political instructor before being transferred to Jinling, and finally to Shanghai. He had spent several years in Antian and was genuinely familiar with the place.

“Do you have the time for this?” Zhang Yang pondered, asking again. He hadn't expected Li Wei to be familiar with Antian.

Having someone familiar around was certainly better, and since Li Wei knew Zhang Yang’s capabilities, he likely wouldn’t speak carelessly if brought along. “We do.

We came here with no other purpose than to deliver a gift. Oh, almost forgot—I brought your gift!” Gu Fang slapped his head, immediately dashed out to the car, and carried back several exquisitely packed boxes.

There weren't many items, only six boxes, but the packaging was beautiful, clearly indicating high quality. “These are all from Grandpa.

We’ve delivered them right to your doorstep!” Gu Fang unceremoniously placed the items before Zhang Yang, saying with a grin. Zhang Yang asked, “What are these?” Gu Fang grinned mysteriously, “Why don’t you open them and find out?” Zhang Yang gave him a dubious look and slowly opened one box.

A hint of astonishment immediately crossed his face. “A hundred-year-old He Shou Wu?” Zhang Yang looked up.

The first delicate box contained an entire piece of He Shou Wu, clearly aged. With Zhang Yang’s discerning eye, he could tell it was over a century old, top-grade material.

Gu Fang gave a thumbs-up. “An expert indeed.

I wouldn't have been able to tell what that was. These were all gifts many people sent when Grandpa was ill.

Now that he’s recovered and his health is even better than before, these items are no longer needed, and it would be a waste to just keep them. Grandpa said these things would serve a much better purpose in your hands, so he sent us to deliver them!” Gazing at the He Shou Wu, Zhang Yang’s surprise deepened, and he finally nodded silently.

Elder Qiao knew he was a physician, specializing in Traditional Chinese Medicine, so he passed on the precious gifts others had given him. These gifts were truly something Zhang Yang couldn't refuse—they were top-tier auxiliary medicines.

Combined with the celestial treasures he already possessed, Zhang Yang could concoct even more miraculous elixirs. Zhang Yang never felt that such fine materials were excessive.

Zhang Yang remained silent and opened another box. “Tianshan Snow Lotus Seeds?” Zhang Yang’s face showed renewed astonishment.

The contents of this box were even better: five-hundred-year-old Tianshan Snow Lotus Seeds. While not as potent as a thousand-year snow lotus, they were still a prime specimen among auxiliary medicines.

Elder Qiao’s gift was certainly not light. “We don’t really know the specifics of what everything is, but all of this is yours now!” Gu Fang grinned widely.

Seeing Zhang Yang’s reaction, he knew the gifts had been perfectly chosen. Initially, when Elder Qiao instructed them to bring these gifts, Qiao Guanhai had been somewhat perplexed.

Zhang Yang was a divine doctor and must have access to many fine medicines; surely he wouldn't lack items like these. He thought sending something more valuable might be better.

In the end, Elder Qiao insisted, stating that giving a gift should be about providing what the recipient genuinely needs, not just what is perceived as valuable. Looking now, the older generation truly knew best; Zhang Yang was clearly very interested in all these items.

Zhang Yang slowly opened and examined all six boxes before closing them one by one. Besides the He Shou Wu and Snow Lotus Seeds, there were also high-grade musk, Fritillaria cirrhosa, and other precious medicinal herbs—all fine materials with considerable age.

Elder Qiao’s assessment this time was spot on; these were precisely the things Zhang Yang required. “Gu Fang, please extend my gratitude to Elder Qiao.

I won’t be polite this time; I accept these gifts!” After carefully placing the boxes aside, Zhang Yang finally looked up and spoke to Gu Fang. These materials would be far more effective in his hands than if given to anyone else.

Elder Qiao had presented a grand gift this time, and Zhang Yang would find an opportunity to repay him later. Zhang Yang was never one to be pedantic or feign polite refusal unnecessarily.

“Done. Which flight are you taking?

I need to book tickets immediately; we’ll go together tomorrow!” Gu Fang agreed readily, immediately inquiring about Zhang Yang and his group’s flight details. Judging by his demeanor, he was truly determined to join Zhang Yang in Antian, and Li Wei standing beside him offered no objection.

Li Wei understood perfectly that their visit was intended to solidify their relationship with Zhang Yang. Since Qiao Guanhai and Elder Qiao were too senior to manage these matters personally, they were the appropriate delegates.

Furthermore, since Gu Fang was Zhang Yang’s friend, it made deepening the bond easier. As for where they were going, it hardly mattered.

Even if Zhang Yang intended to go abroad, they would strive to follow if possible. Gu Fang quickly booked the tickets.

Seeing their insistence on accompanying him, Zhang Yang ceased opposing the idea. Zhang Yang’s departure preparations were nearly complete, but now, with two extra people, he adjusted things slightly.

In reality, there wasn't much to prepare; this trip was only to Sichuan-Chongqing, an airplane ride of just over an hour, nothing complicated. That evening, Zhang Yang hosted a welcoming dinner for Gu Fang at Mixue Restaurant; the spread was rich.

However, it was only one meal, and Zhang Yang didn't invite Long Cheng and the others, as Long Cheng and Gu Fang did not see eye-to-eye. After the meal, Gu Fang and Li Wei chose not to stay in a hotel and instead moved into Zhang Yang’s house.

The villa wasn't large but had many guest rooms; accommodating two more people was fine, though it was simpler here, lacking the comfort of a hotel. The night passed quietly.

The next morning, Zhang Yang woke up very early and went up the mountain with Long Feng to cultivate. Their cultivation over the past few days had allowed them to almost fully digest the Essence Blood Pills they had consumed previously.

Long Feng planned to take another pill in a couple of days, aiming to utilize its medicinal power to push his Internal Strength to the peak of the late second stage, then consolidate it while seeking an opportunity to break through. For the breakthrough from the second stage to the third, Long Feng decided against using the Saintess Pill; he wanted to rely first on himself and his own efforts for this advancement.

Zhang Yang intended to continue solidifying his mid-third stage Internal Strength cultivation. Afterward, the two would alternate taking the Essence Blood Pills; fortunately, they had an abundance of spiritual medicines, making cultivation based on herbs perfectly feasible.

Returning to the villa, Gu Fang and Li Wei were also awake, chatting animatedly with Qu Meilan, while Mi Xue listened nearby with a gentle smile. Upon seeing Zhang Yang return, Qu Meilan immediately stopped talking and glanced at Zhang Yang with a flicker of concern.

She remembered her station; she was Zhang Yang’s servant, and it was improper for a servant to converse so casually with guests. “Young Master, I—I didn’t say anything, nothing at all!” Qu Meilan explained nervously and anxiously as she looked at Zhang Yang.

Zhang Yang found her reaction amusing and ignored her, greeting Mi Xue and Gu Fang before heading straight to the shower. He had engaged in some practical sparring with Long Feng earlier and was slightly sweaty, needing to clean up first.

“Young Master Long, did the Young Master get angry?” Seeing Zhang Yang walk off without acknowledging her first, Qu Meilan grew more anxious and hastily asked Long Feng behind her. “Whether he’s angry or not, you’ll have to ask him.

How would I know!” Long Feng said with a laugh, then also entered the room, leaving Qu Meilan standing there, looking worried and deeply unsettled. It was Mi Xue who finally came over to comfort her a few times before she felt slightly better.

………… Third chapter update, fifty-first of the hundred-chapter bonus updates!