He had come to see Zhang Yungan only to understand the cause of his mother’s death; Zhang Yungan should be the only person, besides his father, who knew the real story.

But he hadn't expected that before even uncovering the truth about his mother, a bolt from the blue would strike him.

This uncle of his—he was a direct descendant of the Medical Saint lineage.

Yet, as far as Zhang Yang knew, the Medical Saint lineage had vanished. After his great-grandfather in his previous life passed away, there were no other successors, but Zhang Yungan had undeniably used the Zhang family's direct ancestral techniques, and possessed the family heirloom, the Herb Gathering Gloves—all clear proof of his identity.

“Senior…”

“Still calling me Senior? You are Shihua’s son; you are my nephew. I am your actual maternal uncle!”

Zhang Yungan glared, and Zhang Yang immediately fell silent. Zhang Yungan was indeed his maternal uncle, a fact his mother had simply never told him.

“Quickly, tell me, where exactly did you learn all this?”

Zhang Yungan pressed again. He was greatly astonished that his nephew knew their direct lineage techniques, and more than one, too.

Furthermore, the height of his nephew's internal energy levels also surprised him greatly. Having a spirit beast nearby, people from the Long family, and spiritual herbs—every element made him intensely curious. At this moment, Zhang Yungan's confusion was no less than Zhang Yang’s.

Stared down by Zhang Yungan, Zhang Yang could only reply helplessly, “These were taught to me by an old senior from a long time ago…”

When the division of the Herbal Apprentice lineage occurred, Zhang Yang had pulled out this old senior; he pulled him out again now. After all, so much time had passed, there were no witnesses, and nothing could be investigated now.

As Zhang Yang spoke, Zhang Yungan’s brow gradually furrowed.

Saying this, Zhang Yang instinctively felt a twinge of guilt.

He was indeed a direct descendant of the Zhang family, but not from this timeline. Now, meeting a genuine direct descendant of the Zhang family, he truly feared being seen through.

His excuse might fool others, but he wasn't sure if it would pass muster with a true member of the Zhang family.

However, Zhang Yang also felt a strange sensation stirring within him at this moment.

He even wondered if this was fate's arrangement. In this life, he seemed disconnected from the Medical Saint Zhang family, yet unexpectedly, he still carried the Zhang family bloodline—the only difference was that this time, it came through his mother’s side.

“Yangyang, what did that old gentleman you mentioned look like?”

After hearing Zhang Yang’s description, Zhang Zhang Yungan frowned and asked softly.

That address, "Yangyang," brought a wave of warmth to Zhang Yang’s heart. His mother used to call him that when he was small. After days spent continuously reliving the past, Zhang Yang felt that the events that had occurred were truly happening to him; he had now completely merged with this physical body.

“White hair, not very tall, and a white beard!”

Zhang Yang fabricated an image of an old man in his mind, speaking slowly; this person existed only in his imagination.

Unexpectedly, as soon as Zhang Yang finished speaking, Zhang Yungan became agitated, urgently exclaiming, “Does that white-haired, white-bearded old man you speak of have a habit of stroking his beard, and making a threatening gesture as if to slap someone with his right hand? And does he often say things like, ‘The world has fallen into chaos, and human hearts have decayed’?”

Zhang Yang stared at him in astonishment, able only to nod helplessly; he didn't know what to say then.

“So it was Father. No wonder he hasn’t returned for so many years since he left. He must have heard about my little sister’s death, felt deep sorrow, and deliberately went to find you, even breaking the Zhang family’s ancestral rule of passing down knowledge only to sons and not daughters, teaching you all of the Zhang family’s skills!”

Zhang Yungan seemed even more excited now. This top expert at the Fourth Layer of Internal Energy looked like an ordinary person, barely refraining from jumping up.

Zhang Yang’s mouth hung slightly open. Judging by Zhang Yungan’s reaction, he seemed to have mistaken the figure Zhang Yang fabricated for his own maternal grandfather.

“Zhang Yang, did the old gentleman tell you his name?”

After his initial excitement, Zhang Yungan immediately turned back and asked the dumbfounded Zhang Yang.

Zhang Yang jolted, strongly considering saying he didn't know the name, but looking at the excited Zhang Yungan, the name slipped out of his mouth as if guided by some unseen force.

“Zhang Daofeng!”

After saying it, Zhang Yang closed his mouth, already feeling a tinge of regret.

This was the name he had intentionally used to fool the Herbal Apprentice lineage; how could he have uttered it to the true direct successor? Zhang Daofeng had already fallen off a cliff and died; the Herbal Apprentice lineage all knew this fact.

“It truly is Father, it truly is Father! Haha, I understand now. He was away for so many years without returning because he was secretly teaching my little sister’s son. Father, Father, it’s fine even if you told me; do you think I would blame you for violating the ancestral rules?”

Zhang Yungan shot up, shouting excitedly, then turned back to look at Zhang Yang, finding him more and more likable the longer he gazed.

Zhang Yang, meanwhile, was completely rooted to the spot, his head still spinning slightly.

Judging by Zhang Yungan’s reaction, his father—who was Zhang Yang’s current maternal grandfather—was that very Zhang Daofeng who fell off the cliff. But wasn't he already dead?

“Child, you have already performed the kowtow to acknowledge your ancestors. Since you have learned our Zhang family’s ancestral secret methods, you are one of our direct heirs. Fortunately, the man your little sister married also has the surname Zhang; no need to change your surname!”

Zhang Yungan pulled Zhang Yang to his side, looking at him with a chuckle.

“Uncle, can you explain things more clearly? I’m still quite confused. What exactly is going on here?”

Zhang Yang asked urgently. He was now even more bewildered; if he didn't clarify the exact situation soon, he feared he might go mad.

Zhang Yungan chuckled lightly and said softly, “This all has to go back thirty years…”

Zhang Yungan spoke slowly, and through his recounting, Zhang Yang finally grasped some of the situation.

Zhang Daofeng—the brother of the great-grandfather who supposedly fell off the cliff—was indeed not dead. Thanks to luck, several trees cushioned his fall, and he ended up plunging into a river.

He was severely injured and suffered amnesia. He was eventually adopted by a farmer and lived with him for many years before regaining his memory.

Once his memory returned, Zhang Daofeng immediately sought to rejoin his clan, but unfortunately, he only found the family secret texts and failed to locate his father or elder brother.

He had learned internal energy cultivation since childhood, and although amnesia cost him many years, it did not hinder his subsequent progress. Zhang Daofeng’s recovery in cultivation was swift, and he was extremely fortunate to acquire a Heaven and Earth treasure, from which he concocted a spiritual medicine.

Zhang Daofeng delayed starting a family due to his cultivation, and by the time he did, the War of Resistance was almost over. Only then was Zhang Yungan born.

Zhang Yungan had even better aptitude, and Zhang Daofeng used spiritual medicine to guide him when he was young, which accelerated Zhang Yungan’s cultivation speed, allowing him to break through to the Fourth Layer of Internal Energy at the age of fifty-three, becoming a top master.

He appeared to be only in his early forties, but he was actually fifty-three years old. He was Zhang Yang’s mother’s older brother; if Zhang Yang’s mother were alive, she would be fifty this year.

Listening to Zhang Yungan’s explanation, Zhang Yang’s mouth gaped even wider.

He never imagined that the casual joke he made had actually turned into reality—Zhang Daofeng really hadn't died, and he had actually managed to pass down the Medical Saint lineage.

But then he considered it: such a possibility wasn't entirely out of the question.

The Herbal Apprentice lineage, which was supposed to die out, had survived and thrived because of his transmigration. Likewise, it was possible for Zhang Daofeng, who was supposed to die, to have lived.

At least in his previous life, Zhang Daofeng was definitely not conscious, because his great-grandfather was still alive in that life; Zhang Daofeng would not have failed to find anyone after rejoining the clan.

What followed was rather melodramatic.

The Zhang family’s ancestral rule was to pass knowledge only to sons, not daughters. Zhang Yungan followed his father in learning the Zhang family’s internal energy and medical skills, while the younger daughter, Zhang Shihua, was only allowed to learn ordinary medical arts. However, these ordinary arts were more than sufficient for the average person; the Herbal Apprentice lineage even used these skills to establish Huatuo Residence.

While studying, Zhang Shihua met Zhang Keqin during a trip to the countryside, and sparks flew between them.

But Zhang Daofeng was dissatisfied with Zhang Keqin. He perceived a great deal of ambition in the man and did not want his daughter tied to such a person, so he spoke out in opposition.

Unfortunately, Zhang Shihua also had a fiery spirit; she insisted on marrying Zhang Keqin despite her father’s disapproval. Since she was an ordinary person, she simply wanted to live a life with an ordinary man.

In a fit of anger, Zhang Daofeng disowned his daughter, leading to about ten years of no contact.

Only after ten years, when his daughter gave birth to Zhang Yang and he had a grandson, did Zhang Daofeng slightly soften his stance. But he only visited once after that, and then cut off all contact.

This explained why Zhang Yang knew nothing about his maternal grandfather or his uncle’s family. Zhang Shihua had consistently lied to him, claiming that another ordinary couple were his maternal grandparents; in reality, that couple were Zhang Shihua's godparents, whom she recognized only after getting married.

This way, Zhang Yang finally understood why he had never known about his uncle’s existence.

With no contact in childhood, how could he have known about him?

“Actually, it was mainly Father’s opposition back then; I didn’t have much of an issue with it. It’s a pity, though; fate played cruelly, and your mother ultimately met an untimely end.”

Zhang Yungan spoke slowly, ending with a heavy sigh.

“Uncle, I came this time precisely to ask you what happened back then—how exactly did Mother die?”

Hearing Zhang Yungan say this, Zhang Yang quickly asked, his heart rate slowly beginning to accelerate.

His primary goal for coming out this time was to find the cause of his mother’s death. Now, the answer was within reach, and judging by Zhang Yungan’s tone, it seemed different from what he had assumed.

At least his mother probably wasn't killed by Zhang Keqin, otherwise, his uncle wouldn't have spoken of him with anything other than goodwill, nor would he have defended Zhang Keqin several times.

“You don't know?”

Zhang Yungan paused slightly, then realized something with dawning comprehension and continued, “That’s right. Back then, Shihua specifically requested that your father must never tell you the cause of her death. It seems Keqin has kept his promise and hasn't told you!”

“Yes, he never said anything, but I really want to know, Uncle, please just tell me!”

Zhang Yang urged again, now essentially certain that Zhang Yungan knew everything, and the mystery that had plagued him for so long was about to be unveiled… Fourth update, bonus for the hundredth chapter, Chapter Fifty-Seven, more coming below.

My friends are all amazing; so many of you guessed the identity correctly. It seems Xiaoyu’s riddle wasn't quite effective.

Thank you to friend jolifa for the 10,000 Qidian Coins reward, and thank you to all the friends who have consistently rewarded Xiaoyu these past few days. Also, thank you to everyone who cast monthly votes—thank you for your support! (To be continued) RQ