That statement Zhang Yang made earlier still echoed in his mind; Zhang Yang had accused him of saying things he didn't mean, and upon careful consideration, it was undeniably true. He held deep respect and regard for Zhang Yang, and genuinely desired to learn Neijin, yet deep down, he wasn't entirely convinced by the Medical Saint Martial Sect.

Respecting Zhang Yang did not equate to endorsing the Medical Saint Martial Sect.

Or rather, he disliked confining himself to such a structured, membership-based way of life.

After all, over these past thirty-plus years, he had established his own set of habits and his own way of living.

"Yefei, how about we just leave?"

Li Juan gently tugged at Yan Yefei’s sleeve. She also desperately wished to cultivate Neijin; not only could it cure her illness, but it could also fulfill a dream they shared.

They were part of the Supernatural Association and yearned for many extraordinary phenomena, naturally hoping to become beings akin to superheroes. This was a chance to realize that dream, but she also didn't want to chain herself down for the sake of that dream.

At least for now, joining a sect felt like restricting her freedom.

"Leave? Go where?"

Yan Yefei turned back, appearing slightly bewildered. Zhang Yang hadn't rejected them, but he had asked them to join an unknown sect organization, which he found difficult to accept immediately.

"Anywhere is fine. Mr. Zhang also said our physique is special and very suitable for cultivation; perhaps someone else elsewhere will take us in!"

Li Juan spoke softly, a sliver of hope shining in her eyes.

She had even less endorsement for the Medical Saint Martial Sect; her loyalty rating, under 20, made that perfectly clear. A score of 60 was considered passing, and 20 merely indicated a slight familiarity.

It was hardly surprising that someone like her proposed leaving.

Though her approval of the Medical Saint Martial Sect was low, she respected Zhang Yang immensely. It was Zhang Yang who had allowed her to live like an ordinary person these past few days, without hiding behind a veil. She knew Zhang Yang was a truly formidable hidden master.

After a moment of thought, Yan Yefei slowly nodded: "Alright, we can go out and try our luck. But we must bid Mr. Zhang farewell first!"

In his heart, he held an inclination toward exploring other options. He didn't want to pin himself down to just one path.

Zhang Yang had opened this door for him, but that didn't mean he had to walk the exact road Zhang Yang designated; he had his own ideas, hoping for better prospects elsewhere.

Of course, this stemmed from his relative ignorance of the Neijin cultivation world.

If he knew how powerful the Medical Saint lineage was, and that Zhang Yang was a master at the Great Completion level, he probably wouldn't leave even if chased away with a stick.

After bidding the Yan couple farewell, Zhang Yang returned to the bedroom.

Mi Xue was still asleep. Spending the entire night helping her cultivate was trivial for Zhang Yang, but for Mi Xue, it was equivalent to running nonstop for a full day.

She was currently sleeping soundly, enjoying a well-earned rest.

With a soft sigh, Zhang Yang stood before the window again.

Indeed, the human heart was unfathomable. Zhang Yang had expected that by agreeing to let the couple cultivate and bringing them into the sect, they would be deeply grateful. He never anticipated this outcome.

Everyone had their own agenda. Zhang Yang now deeply understood why the disciples of major sects had to be nurtured from childhood; only then could the disciples truly align their hearts with the sect and treat it as their home.

If it weren't for the System this time, they might have left immediately after cultivating Neijin. If that happened, he would be the one in a difficult position.

Leaving after mastering the skills was a major taboo for major sects, almost tantamount to defecting. To prevent their techniques from spreading, many sects would "clean house."

In that scenario, he might be forced to carry out another act of purging the ranks.

Mi Xue slept for a long time, not waking until the afternoon.

Despite sleeping for so long, Mi Xue felt no exhaustion; instead, she felt vibrant, as if she possessed endless energy.

Since Zhang Yang wasn't dining at home that evening, he took Mi Xue to visit Zhang Keqin.

Zhang Keqin had been very worried about his recent disappearance. Moreover, Zhang Yang now knew that the mobilization of so many armed police was due to his father's concern. Though he had called earlier, he needed to see him upon return.

Seeing Zhang Yang and Mi Xue arrive, Zhang Keqin was overjoyed. He personally cooked a few side dishes and even brought out some Monkey Wine for a few cups. Now that the toxins had been cleared from his body, Zhang Keqin’s health was vastly improving. Post-checkup, he showed no ailments and possessed more vigor than others his age, enabling him to work longer hours daily.

The Detoxification Sacred Pill, after all, was a spiritual medicine, and spiritual medicines inherently altered the body's constitution.

This significantly eased Zhang Yang’s worries.

Zhang Yang did not stay the night, returning to his villa, but before leaving, Zhang Keqin mentioned something to him.

In July, Zhang Keqin needed to return to the capital for an extended trip, roughly ten days. If Zhang Yang was free, he could accompany him.

Zhang Yang’s true home was, in fact, in the capital.

Aside from his ancestral home, Zhang Yang had other relatives. Previously, he and his father had deep conflicts, and he had never visited. Now that the misunderstanding was resolved, it was time to see them.

Regardless, those people shared kinship with him.

For instance, Zhang Keqin’s sister, Zhang Yang’s aunt, resided in the capital, as did one of Zhang Keqin’s uncles and an aunt. These relatives had been very fond of him when he was young, and it was time to visit.

Recalling the past, Zhang Yang acknowledged their existence and agreed to return with his father in July.

July coincided with the summer break. Mi Xue would be graduating, and Zhang Yang would complete his fourth year. His fifth year was primarily for internships, but for Zhang Yang, whether he interned or not was irrelevant; the university would undoubtedly give him a clear path regardless.

From the school’s perspective, they might even prefer he didn't intern elsewhere.

If he sought an internship, every hospital in Changjing would vie for him. His research projects had already caused a stir across the entire city. Bringing back such a brilliant intern, even just to keep him occupied, would be beneficial; gaining insight into one of his projects would be an immense boon.

Upon his return, Zhang Yang was unusually busy for several days.

Construction on the new villa had begun, and modifications required Zhang Yang to visit the site several times.

The construction team for this project was personally recommended by Su Shaohua; their capability and quality were completely trustworthy. They possessed extensive experience in building large estates domestically, as well as in Singapore, Thailand, and Malaysia.

They had even constructed many wealthy estates in Australia and Canada. This was an internationally renowned architectural team.

If the construction team hadn't been so experienced, Zhang Yang’s explanation would likely have required much more of his time.

Besides the new villa, Zhang Yang hosted several banquets over consecutive days.

He properly treated Su Zhantao and Wu Zhiguo. So many people had worked so diligently and risked their lives in the dangerous environment of the Savage Mountain to search for him; their camaraderie deeply moved Zhang Yang.

They not only brought many men but also personally entered the Savage Mountain multiple times. Wang Chen and Li Ya had even sustained minor injuries, though thankfully nothing serious.

There were also Hu Xin and Gu Cheng.

The pair hadn't known about Zhang Yang’s ordeal in the Savage Mountain until they heard about it by chance, rushing over immediately to see him. They felt a lingering terror.

Thankfully, Zhang Yang was unharmed. Because of this, Hu Xin, the large man, had grumbled at Zhang Yang like a nagging wife for a long time.

Zhang Yang couldn't explain the situation to them and could only nod repeatedly, acknowledging that he was in the wrong this time, and Hu Xin and the others truly cared for him.

Aside from Hu Xin, Xiao Bin also offered his sincere thanks to Zhang Yang.

His arrangements to remain at the university as staff were finalized; upon graduation, he could officially become a member of the school's personnel—the realization of his greatest wish.

He knew clearly who was responsible for making this wish come true.

He wasn't as wealthy as Hu Xin or Gu Cheng, but he still emptied his pockets to host Zhang Yang at the Triumph Tower.

This time, Zhang Yang did not refuse. Xiao Bin harbored a deep sense of gratitude toward him, and allowing that gratitude to find an outlet was better than leaving him feeling perpetually indebted.

After concluding these matters, Zhang Yang had been back for nearly ten days, and the calendar had turned to June.

"Young Master, good morning!"

The early summer morning was quite pleasant. Zhang Yang descended the stairs in his pajamas, and Qu Meilan quickly greeted him.

Qu Meilan had officially entered the sect. Seven days prior, Zhang Yang had helped her dissipate her old Neijin and reconstruct her body using spiritual medicine. Currently, Qu Meilan possessed no Neijin whatsoever.

However, her physical resilience was greater than before, and her fundamental constitution had undergone a profound transformation.

Even with the need to re-cultivate, her future achievements would far surpass her previous peaks.

Qu Meilan began her rebuild starting from the early stage of the First Layer. Neither she nor anyone else felt any regret over this foundational reset.

"From now on, you should stop doing these chores. Go back and cultivate diligently, strive to manifest Neijin as soon as possible!"

Zhang Yang nodded and added this instruction. Qu Meilan's status was no longer that of a servant but of a disciple of his Medical Saint Martial Sect—currently, his only disciple.

Zhang Yang’s feelings naturally shifted slightly toward this sole apprentice.

It had been convenient to command her previously, but now, Zhang Yang hoped more to see her strive in cultivation. The higher her future achievements, the prouder Zhang Yang would feel.

After all, she was someone he had cultivated from scratch; everyone hopes their disciples will grow, and that is a form of glory.

"Yes, Young Master. I will go cultivate right after I finish tidying up!"

Qu Meilan nodded hurriedly. She was only preparing breakfast; once done, she would immediately return to her practice. She possessed several bottles of medicinal pills specially prepared by Zhang Yang; though not spiritual medicine, they were perfectly suited for her current state.

After breakfast and a brief cleanup, Zhang Yang drove straight out.

Mi Xue was still asleep. He had helped cultivate for her all last night again; today, she probably wouldn't wake before noon.

As he left, Zhang Yang suddenly pondered whether he should hire another housekeeper for cooking and cleaning. If no one did these tasks, Qu Meilan would inevitably revert to doing them herself.