To everyone except Long Feng, there was a faint trace of surprise. The words, "Childhood ends here," sounded awkward, yet carried a touch of melancholy, enough to suggest that Zhang Yang must have gone through something deeply unpleasant here.

And an experience that had profoundly affected him. "Zhang Yang!" Mi Xue tightly linked her arm through Zhang Yang's, leaning her body gently against him.

Gu Fang and Li Wei exchanged glances, neither speaking. It seemed they were beginning to understand Zhang Yang's true purpose for coming to An Tian, and why his earlier answers to them had been so distracted.

"I'm fine, we've had a long day. Let's all head back and rest," After a moment, Zhang Yang sighed softly, offered a smile, and led the way into the hotel.

The rooms were already booked, and the check-in process was swift. Once they had their rooms, everyone rested briefly before gathering for dinner.

Li Wei had initially planned to treat them at the best hotel in the city—he knew which one it was—but seeing Zhang Yang's low spirits, he abandoned the idea. They ate a simple meal at the hotel, and then everyone retreated to their rooms again.

The next morning, Zhang Yang and Long Feng awoke unusually early, as was their habit, and headed out for a run in a nearby park to breathe in the fresh morning air while practicing their techniques. They preferred places lush with vegetation, as the natural energy there was correspondingly richer.

They didn't return until breakfast time. Mi Xue was long accustomed to the two of them exercising together so early; she simply thought they were working out, unaware they were cultivating internal strength.

In her perception, it was just exercise. A night's rest had significantly improved everyone's spirits.

During breakfast, Gu Fang brought out a pile of miscellaneous items. "Zhang Yang, An Tian has changed quite a bit in the last ten years.

You didn't just come back here for nostalgia, did you?" Gu Fang asked, chewing on a bun with evident interest. Mi Xue also looked up at Zhang Yang; she had been intensely curious about his reasons for visiting for a long time.

"My visit is indeed about nostalgia and looking around," Zhang Yang smiled lightly. After a night's rest, his mood had lifted considerably.

Since he was already here, he trusted he would find what he was looking for. "Fine, I won't ask.

Where are we going later?" Gu Fang raised his hands in a gesture of mock surrender. He detected Zhang Yang's reluctance to discuss his motives.

"You all stay behind for a while; I need to step out alone. I'll explain when I get back," After some thought, Zhang Yang said quietly.

On the first day, he still had no clear path forward, and he hadn't shared his true objective with the others, so he naturally couldn't have them tagging along now. Gu Fang was momentarily surprised but nodded nonetheless.

"Alright, we'll wait for you. Just don't take too long.

If you're out for an extended period, I'll rent a car so we can get around more easily later on." Gu Fang was astute. Knowing Zhang Yang didn't want to share and intended to act alone meant he sensed something Zhang Yang wished to keep private.

He wouldn't press the matter or insist on going along; staying put or doing something else was fine. "Renting a car is a good idea.

We'll need transportation going forward," Zhang Yang nodded. They didn't have a car in An Tian, and buying one specifically for this trip wasn't worth the trouble; renting was far more practical.

He might be gone for a while, so entrusting the rental task to Gu Fang was acceptable. "No problem, consider it handled!" Gu Fang waved his hand dismissively, while Mi Xue’s face showed a touch of worry.

She too understood that if Zhang Yang needed to go out alone, it was for a personal matter. After breakfast, Mi Xue cautioned Zhang Yang a few more times before returning to the room, choosing to wait for him at the hotel.

Soon after, Qu Meilan slipped into her room, and the two began whispering. Mostly, it was Qu Meilan asking questions, trying to probe Zhang Yang's past.

Unfortunately, even Mi Xue knew very little about Zhang Yang's history. Clutching Lightning and Shadow, Zhang Yang left the hotel by himself.

Many taxis waited at the entrance, and he immediately hailed one, giving the driver an address. Fushou Hutong—the place where he had lived—a place name he had never forgotten.

Fushou Hutong wasn't far from the hotel; it wasn't isolated, but it certainly wasn't an affluent area. Fushou Hutong was a collection of ordinary residential compounds, named after the nearby Fushou Square.

Zhang Yang remembered attending the third elementary school nearby, though he couldn't recall any of his classmates from that time. An Tian was small, and in 1998, it was even smaller.

The taxi arrived quickly. After paying the fare and stepping out, Zhang Yang felt a familiar stirring in his heart.

It had been ten years; he hadn't returned here in a decade. Now, being back brought only a profound sense of things remaining the same while the person has changed.

This was truly a case of the scenery enduring while the man is altered. Fushou Hutong still held its old appearance, but he was no longer the man he used to be.

The current him housed a soul from a later age—a soul that had integrated with this body and inherited its memories. Gazing at the Fushou Hutong street sign, Zhang Yang sighed again before walking forward with a determined stride.

Zhang Yang recalled that they had lived in the family quarters of the Chinese Medicine Research Institute. The 'Zhang Yang' of that time had zero interest in such things; no matter the institute, it held no relevance to him.

After walking for about five minutes, a row of aging apartment buildings came into view. These were old, five-story structures.

Seeing them caused his emotions to fluctuate once more. He and his mother had lived in one of these buildings, in a three-bedroom apartment.

That apartment had been allocated to his mother by her work unit. The original 'Zhang Yang' hadn't understood then, but reflecting now, his mother must have held a respectable position at the institute to be assigned such a decent three-bedroom unit.

This meant finding information about her should be easier. Walking slowly forward, Zhang Yang soon arrived at the building where he once lived.

Although ten years had passed and memories had grown hazy, returning to this location made every memory snap back into clarity, as if re-cataloged. He remembered every detail, every shadow.

"The soap tree is still here!" Seeing a large soap tree next to the building, a faint smile touched the corner of Zhang Yang's lips. This soap tree was the favorite gathering spot for the neighborhood children back then.

It was thick but not too tall, making it easy to climb. In the summer, they would climb it for shade and to pick the pods—a unique pleasure.

For the children of that era, these simple activities were the height of entertainment. A single soap tree brought back so many memories.

After gazing at it for a moment, he walked to the entrance of Unit Three in that residential block. Unit Three, Room 301—that was where he had lived.

"Who are you? Who are you looking for?" As Zhang Yang stood there lost in thought, a voice suddenly called out to him.

He quickly turned around. An elderly, slightly stooped man stood behind him whom he hadn't noticed approaching.

He must have been too absorbed to notice someone getting so close. "Uncle Zhou?" Zhang Yang looked at the old man for a moment, calling out hesitantly.

He had a vague recollection of this stooped figure; it was Uncle Zhou, who used to sell ice cream and popsicles at the corner of the alley. Uncle Zhou's "Zhou's Ice Cream" was incredibly delicious.

Back then, Zhou's Ice Cream was Zhang Yang's absolute favorite snack. "And you are?" The old man frowned, studying Zhang Yang intently.

He found Zhang Yang completely unfamiliar, yet the young man knew him. Among the residents of this complex, he was one of the longest-tenured employees of the Chinese Medicine Research Institute, though long retired.

He had started selling ice cream only after retiring. Now, being older, he couldn't manage the cart anymore, so he just ambled around the courtyard occasionally.

"I'm Zhang Yang, Shi Hua's son, do you remember me?" Seeing the old man, Zhang Yang felt an inexplicable surge of happiness, and his speech quickened. "Zhang Yang, Shi Hua?" The old man scrutinized Zhang Yang up and down, his face clouded with confusion.

After a moment, a look of surprise, mixed with genuine delight, spread across his face. "I remember now!

You're Shi Hua's boy, what was your name... Yang Yang, yes, Zhang Yang!

Didn't your father take you away? When did you get back?" With Zhang Yang's reminder, the old man finally recognized him.

"I just returned. It's been many years.

I came back specifically to look around," Zhang Yang said cheerfully, reaching to take out a gift, only to remember he hadn't bought anything before leaving, which brought a twinge of regret. "My little rascal has grown up!

Excellent, excellent! A fine looking young man!" Uncle Zhou continued to look at Zhang Yang, clearly pleased as well.

He hadn't expected to see his old neighbor again after ten years, especially seeing how much Zhang Yang had grown—handsome, well-dressed, and possessing far better bearing than before. "That's right, I was very naughty back then.

I took your ice cream without paying, and my mom even hit me once!" The smile on Zhang Yang's face widened as he spoke to Uncle Zhou, recounting memories that felt as immediate as if they had just happened to him. The previous Zhang Yang was also a person without a childhood; he had started cultivating and studying from a very young age—a harder life, in fact.

At least the former 'Zhang Yang' had enjoyed a relatively happy childhood before the age of ten. "They say children only remember the bad and forget the good.

You only recall your mother hitting you, but you forget how frantic your mother was when you were injured and rushed you to the hospital?" Uncle Zhou laughed heartily, mildly scolding Zhang Yang, which made Zhang Yang feel a bit sheepish. These events were all true, and Uncle Zhou was correct.

Recalling them now brought a distinct sense of warmth to Zhang Yang's own heart. "Come, come into my place, don't stand out here.

I have something good to eat at home!" Uncle Zhou invited Zhang Yang in. Zhang Yang knew Uncle Zhou lived alone and wouldn't bring just anyone into his home.

This meant Uncle Zhou had fully recognized him and accepted his identity.