Wu Fenglan had no real concept of cars; she only knew Zhang Yang’s car was good, though exactly how good remained a mystery to her.

But when it came to houses, she was quite knowledgeable.

The villa Zhang Yang had purchased was in a high-end residential area; both the environment and the status radiated prestige, and as soon as they entered the community, Wu Fenglan’s eyes began darting everywhere.

Upon arriving at Zhang Yang's villa, she became even more satisfied.

To Zhang Yang, the house before them seemed ordinary, but in her eyes, it was already extraordinary.

Such a large, imposing villa simply did not exist in Lieshan; normally, she’d only see things like this on television.

While still in the car, she had been constantly pulling Mi Xue aside to shower it with praise, making Mi Xue’s cheeks flush red.

“Young Master, you’ve returned!” The moment the car stopped, a person rushed out from the house, looking at Zhang Yang with unconcealed joy.

It was Qu Meilan.

Since Long Feng was still in seclusion at home, Zhang Yang hadn't let her go out.

Qu Meilan had been terribly restless these past few days staying inside.

Besides guarding the house, she also had a very important duty.

This duty involved feeding Shandian and Wuying.

Both were spirit beasts, especially Shandian; Qu Meilan had long heard the fearsome reputation of the Fox-Tailed Marten.

Every time she fed them, she had to be extremely cautious, treating them like deities.

She was acutely aware that even though this little creature wasn't large, a single puff of its toxic mist could completely finish her off; this little guy was incredibly potent.

And the way Shandian ate also frightened her.

Shandian particularly loved sinking its jaws into a snake’s head while it was gaping open, chewing with immense relish.

It might have been satisfied, but Qu Meilan’s heart would pound faster; every viewing left her terrified.

Coupled with the fact that she couldn't leave these past few days, she had been terribly bored alone at home and had long been yearning for Zhang Yang’s return.

“Is she asleep?” Wu Fenglan’s expression shifted subtly.

Qu Meilan wasn't old, looking about the same age as her own daughter.

The sudden appearance of a young girl in the house immediately led her mind to unfavorable conclusions.

It was understandable; parents always worry about their children.

“Her name is Qu Meilan.

She’s apparently an orphan from Southern Borderlands; Zhang Yang took her in because he felt sorry for her.

She handles the cooking and housework here.

Zhang Yang and I are both busy, and the house needs someone to look after things!” Mi Xue smiled faintly and explained in a soft voice, which finally brought some relief to Wu Fenglan’s expression.

“So, she’s a maid.

But why hire such a young maid? Little Xue, you must be careful!” Wu Fenglan whispered this, but unfortunately for her, even in her low voice, Zhang Yang could hear every word.

Zhang Yang could only shake his head helplessly at this moment.

After unloading the luggage, Mi Xue immediately started preparing rooms for her parents.

This was their first visit, and Mi Xue was visibly happy, her smile never fading as she bustled about.

Once inside the villa, Wu Fenglan showered it with more praise, utterly satisfied with the place.

She was almost calling it a celestial palace, proclaiming it superior to any house in Lieshan, saying she had never seen a finer dwelling anywhere in Lieshan.

Zhang Yang could only chuckle inwardly at her words.

This was merely a small villa; if Wu Fenglan saw the larger one he owned in Shanghai, he wondered what new level of astonishment she would reach.

That was truly a grand villa.

After everything was unpacked, the group finally gathered in the living room.

Zhang De had not left; he shamelessly stayed behind for a meal.

Zhang De had been running errands and helping out constantly these past few days.

Regardless of his underlying motives, he had genuinely worked hard to assist, so inviting him to stay for a meal was appropriate.

Lunch was prepared by Zhang Yang himself.

Seeing that Zhang Yang possessed such excellent culinary skills, Wu Fenglan’s eyes nearly crinkled shut from happiness.

Even Mi Zhiguo was marveling at how he’d never noticed so many of Zhang Yang’s merits before, especially since he had previously put on a stern face for his future son-in-law.

If Zhang Yang hadn't been so unconcerned, repairing that relationship would have been far more difficult.

In the afternoon, Mi Zhiguo felt tired but remained in high spirits.

Zhang Yang administered a few acupuncture needles for him, then asked Mi Xue to take them out while he drove the Bugatti to the recuperation center.

After Mi Zhiguo was hospitalized, Zhang Yang had visited Elder Qi privately once to conduct a follow-up examination.

Now, the time for the next check-up had arrived.

After this session, the interval before his next visit could be extended further.

Mi Xue took her parents and Zhang De directly to their Yangxue Grand Hotel.

The Yangxue Grand Hotel wasn't the absolute best in Changjing, but it was certainly a high-class establishment.

Previously, Mr.

and Mrs.

Mi had known that Zhang Yang helped Mi Xue open a restaurant, one in which her two classmates also held shares.

But back then, they assumed it was just a small, ordinary eatery, never imagining it would turn out to be such a massive hotel.

A hotel of this scale was undoubtedly top-tier in Lieshan County.

Seeing the impressive parking lot and the grand sign of the hotel, Wu Fenglan’s face displayed even greater shock, coinciding with an ever-deepening satisfaction with Zhang Yang.

She even whispered quietly to Mi Xue, urging her to hold onto him tightly and ensure that Zhang Yang, the ideal husband, wasn't snatched away by someone else.

Before this, Wu Fenglan had felt Zhang Yang was very good, but she hadn't felt this sense of urgency.

Her previous mindset was that Zhang Yang was excellent, and her daughter wasn't lacking either, so she hadn't worried excessively.

However, as she learned more about Zhang Yang, she began to grasp just how exceptional his circumstances truly were—far surpassing her daughter’s standing.

Naturally, a touch of anxiety began to surface.

Xiao Dai and Nannan were both at the hotel and came out together to greet Mr.

and Mrs.

Mi.

Mi Zhiguo had met both girls before.

On the third day of his hospitalization, they had visited the hospital along with some of Mi Xue’s classmates.

Both girls addressed the older couple with an incessant stream of sweet words.

They remained there all afternoon until Zhang Yang returned from the recuperation center and joined them there as well.

In the evening, no one went home; they all enjoyed a magnificent dinner at their own hotel.

During the meal, Xiao Dai recounted the story of Zhang Yang helping them settle scores and then buying this very hotel.

Mi Zhiguo finally learned that a Deputy District Chief could be dealt with just like that with a single word.

This realization sent a fresh wave of alarm through him.

A Deputy District Chief seemed to be at a similar rank to himself, but in reality, he was far superior, given that this was a provincial capital city where promotions would naturally occur faster.

The fact that they could handle such a powerful figure so casually, let alone a mere Deputy County Head like himself, was staggering.

Zhang De experienced a similar shock.

He now fully understood the extent of Zhang Yang’s influence.

At this point, he felt immense gratitude, thankful that he hadn't been foolish enough to join forces with the Yu father and son to offend this person.

Had he done so, he would have met his end without even knowing why.

Mi Zhiguo stayed with Zhang Yang for five continuous days.

His injuries were largely unproblematic.

His bones were mending exceptionally well and rapidly.

After taking new X-rays, even the doctors were exclaiming in disbelief, saying they had never encountered a recovery speed like Mi Zhiguo’s.

Mi Zhiguo merely smiled in response, offering no explanation whatsoever.

He knew clearly that all of this was bestowed upon him by Zhang Yang.

In his eyes now, Zhang Yang was growing increasingly mysterious and elevated.

Once his recovery was nearly complete, and after sharing a somewhat apprehensive meal with Zhang Keqin, Mr.

and Mrs.

Mi finally departed Changjing.

Their stay in the city had been quite long, but the returns were enormous, especially concerning Mi Xue and Zhang Yang’s relationship.

Zhang Keqin did not object to them being together; he even hinted that if Zhang Yang wished, their arrangement could be formalized anytime.

If that happened, he would truly become the in-law of the Provincial Party Secretary.

Once Mr.

and Mrs.

Mi left, Zhang Yang’s life returned to quietude.

Apart from the occasional follow-up consultations for a few patients, he mostly remained at home cultivating.

He no longer needed to attend school; as long as his research topic was progressing, he didn't have to be physically present, and his academic credits would not be docked at all.

Currently, the research was advancing excellently.

Once clinical trials began, the effects became vividly apparent.

Whether it was Su Shaohua or the volunteers, their reactions after taking the medication were uniformly positive.

Combined with Zhang Yang’s auxiliary Traditional Chinese Medicine treatment methods, the patients’ conditions were rapidly improving.

Once this batch of patients was cured, the research topic would be considered a success.

At that point, everyone involved would reap a bountiful harvest.

The positive clinical results fueled their enthusiasm, negating the need for Zhang Yang to exert himself strenuously, thus granting him more time to be lazy and hide away at home.

Time flew by, and another fortnight slipped away.

Before dawn, Zhang Yang rose early, preparing to head out to the nearby mountains for cultivation.

That area was lush with vegetation and rich in energy; practicing just before sunrise yielded the best results.

“Who’s there?” The moment he stepped outside, Zhang Yang’s brow furrowed sharply, and he shouted coldly toward the front.

He had sensed someone lurking in the shadows ahead, positioned deliberately, it seemed, as if waiting for him.

“Chirrup chirrup!” “Squeak squeak!” Wuying and Shandian both cried out.

The frown on Zhang Yang’s face quickly smoothed out as he looked toward the front with a touch of pleasant surprise.

“Long Feng, you’ve actually come out of seclusion?” Zhang Yang called out directly.

He didn't know who was hiding there, but Shandian and Wuying certainly could sense it.

Wuying’s little nose, with its keen sense, could not be fooled by anyone it had previously met.

Shandian had guarded Long Feng’s seclusion for so many days; it naturally knew Long Feng intimately and had its own means of identifying who was concealed in the darkness.

“I forgot; these two little fellows aren't easily fooled!” Long Feng emerged from the shadows with a wry smile, and Zhang Yang finally saw the person clearly.

Long Feng looked significantly more energetic than he had a month prior, indicating that his month of hard solitary practice had yielded significant gains.

The only unknown was the current extent of his inner energy recovery.

“Long Feng, when did you finish your seclusion?” Zhang Yang called out again.

He had been cultivating alone for the past month and was already feeling bored; it felt quite unnatural without Long Feng nearby.

“Last night!” Long Feng replied with a light laugh.

This period of seclusion had been precisely one month, which was somewhat surprising even to him.

“Come here, let me see how much you’ve recovered!” Zhang Yang’s body flashed, and he instantly stood before Long Feng, reaching out to grab his arm.

Long Feng’s body whipped backward sharply, surprisingly managing to evade Zhang Yang’s grasp.

“If you want to know how much I’ve recovered, you’ll have to catch me first!” Long Feng called out lightly, quickly darting up the mountainside.

Zhang Yang froze for a moment, a deep astonishment lingering on his face.

Although his movement just now had been casual, his speed was certainly not slow; he was currently a grand master at the late stage of the Third Level, just a hair's breadth away from the pinnacle of the Fourth Level of Inner Force.

To be evaded by Long Feng at this point was truly unexpected.

Even more surprising was that Long Feng dared to provoke him, daring him to chase after him first—it gave Zhang Yang a distinct feeling of disbelief.