Faced with his little cousin’s hopeful eyes, Zhang Yang nodded with a smile. “No problem, we’ll go to the aquarium, and you guys head home first!” Lunch was eaten out.

This time it wasn’t roast duck, but still a delightful meal—something Zhang Keqin used to favor, so since he rarely returned from Changjing, he indulged himself this time. “I knew it!

Cousin is the best!” The little girl struck a triumphant pose, giggling. Seeing that she was truly unaffected by last night’s incident, everyone let out a sigh of relief.

Little did they know, Yang Wanying was able to act this way entirely because of Zhang Yang. Before she regained full consciousness, Zhang Yang had already soothed her body.

Upon waking, he used his inner strength to calm and stabilize her spirit. Following that, he even employed a mesmerizing technique to subtly dull that segment of memory in her mind.

This wasn't erasure, merely a dimming, ensuring it would have no lasting impact. With this multi-pronged approach, yesterday felt like a frightening but ultimately unreal dream.

“Yangyang, you take them, but be careful!” Zhang Aiying said with a smile. She felt utterly secure knowing her son and daughter were with Zhang Yang.

Since his return, she sensed her nephew was far more mature and steady than before. This filled her with both admiration and deep gratification.

The better her nephew became, the less burden her elder brother would carry. A complete, harmonious, and happy family—that was the greatest joy.

The aquarium wasn't far. Going in the summer offered not only a view of marine life but also a welcome coolness.

Due to the summer vacation, the aquarium was quite crowded. Yang Guang went to queue for tickets.

Just as he received the tickets, before they could even enter, Zhang Yang’s phone rang again. Glancing at the number, Zhang Yang paused slightly.

It was Long Feng’s number. Long Feng owned a phone, but he rarely used it, and even more rarely called Zhang Yang.

“Mi Xue, take them inside first, I need to take this call!” Zhang Yang turned and spoke. Long Feng wouldn't call him unless something urgent had arisen.

They were all still in Beijing, and rather than waiting for him to return, calling directly meant something significant was up. Moreover, it couldn't be a minor issue; given Long Feng’s temperament, he would rather wait for Zhang Yang back home than disturb him otherwise.

Mi Xue agreed, taking Wanying’s hand and heading into the aquarium. Yang Guang followed behind, his lower lip slightly pursed.

He had long since lost interest in the aquarium; he’d visited several times before. In his view, it was a place only for small children.

It was unfortunate that his sister wanted to come, and Zhang Yang had agreed, leaving him no choice but to follow along, not wanting to spoil the mood for everyone. Besides, his sister had been frightened yesterday, so he would readily agree to any request she made today.

“Long Feng, what’s wrong?” Answering the call, Zhang Yang asked first. He knew Long Feng’s nature well; even when he initiated a call, getting him to speak directly was difficult.

“I need to go home for something. Do, do you have time?” Long Feng sounded visibly hesitant while saying this.

“Go home? Has something happened to the Long family?” Zhang Yang paused briefly, asking reflexively.

Long Feng’s home was naturally Long Family Plain. He hadn't returned since the last time he came out with Zhang Yang, and he hadn't planned on returning for the past two years.

The sudden decision to go back made Zhang Yang instinctively feel that something significant—something major—must have occurred within the Long family, significant enough to alert Long Feng, who was currently away. “Can you come back?

I want to tell you in person!” After a silence, Long Feng said softly. He glanced back at the entrance of the aquarium, and Zhang Yang immediately nodded.

Hanging up, Zhang Yang called Mi Xue, telling her to take Wanying and Xiao Guang home by taxi later, as he had to return home first; Long Feng had something urgent. Hearing that Zhang Yang had to leave, Wanying pouted, clearly unhappy.

Fortunately, she wasn't completely unreasonable and understood that her cousin had important business. It was a small comfort that pretty Sister Mi Xue would be with them to play, so she could still be happy.

Driving, Zhang Yang headed straight toward his home. The roads were busy during the day, so Zhang Yang didn't push the speed.

On the way, Zhang Yang’s mind raced, constantly pondering what crisis in the Long family could possibly command Long Feng's immediate return. A change of patriarch for the Long family?

That was possible. The Long family rule stipulated that once a patriarch advanced to the Fourth Level, they naturally ascended to the role of Elder, vacating the patriarch position.

As Long Feng was the heir apparent, if his father had indeed advanced, he would certainly need to return to inherit the mantle. But that was only one possibility.

Zhang Yang tried to focus on positive outcomes, forcing himself not to dwell on worse scenarios. Zhang Yang’s home wasn't far, so the drive didn't take long.

Upon arrival, he found Long Feng sitting alone on the stone bench beneath the jujube tree, lost in thought, with the three little ones—Zhuifeng and Shandian—beside him. “Squeak, squeak!” “Chirp, chirp!” Upon seeing Zhang Yang enter, the three little ones scurried over, chirping incessantly.

They were signaling about Long Feng. The trio was extremely intelligent and had sensed Long Feng’s unusual state before.

Although Long Feng wasn't Zhang Yang, they cared deeply for him after spending so much time together. They had been cultivating but rushed out when they felt Long Feng’s aura was wrong.

Long Feng seemed deeply anxious, radiating worry. This caused a jolt in Zhang Yang’s heart.

He had intentionally steered his thoughts toward positive outcomes, avoiding the bad ones, unwilling to see anything ill befall his good brother. Now, looking at Long Feng’s state, it seemed all his optimistic guesses were wrong, and the worst he hadn't allowed himself to consider had become reality.

“Long Feng, tell me, what exactly happened?” Sitting opposite Long Feng, Zhang Yang asked directly. Given their bond, there was no need for subtlety or evasion.

At this moment, Zhang Yang could also sense the difference in Long Feng’s emotions. Looking up, Long Feng met Zhang Yang’s gaze, then spoke softly after a moment: “Our Long Family Ancestor has passed away suddenly!” “The Long Family Ancestor is dead?” Zhang Yang’s eyes widened instantly.

A voice immediately echoed in his mind—an ancient voice he’d heard in Long Family Plain alongside Zhang Pinglu. The Long Family Ancestor was the oldest among all the Great Perfection realm cultivators, already two hundred and eighty years old.

By the normal lifespan expectations for the Great Perfection realm, even if he had taken abstinence pills diligently, he could only have lived another twenty years without incident. But twenty years was ample time.

The Long Family’s Great Elder had been at the mid-Fourth Level for quite some time; twenty years would have been enough for him to break through to the Fourth Level. Yet, unexpectedly, before the Great Elder could advance, the revered ancestor had died unexpectedly.

This meant the Long Family was now without its guardian. For a family that had maintained an unbroken lineage of Great Perfection cultivators for two millennia, this sudden void represented a true rupture.

“I understand. Long Feng, I’ll go back with you!” After a brief moment of thought, Zhang Yang spoke immediately.

Long Feng looked up, his gaze registering surprise, but beneath that, overwhelming gratitude. When he called Zhang Yang, he had intentionally omitted the core reason; he had intended to invite Zhang Yang to return to the Long Family with him.

Upon hearing about the Ancestor’s sudden death, Zhang Yang had already foreseen this same need. The Long Family, as the foremost of the Four Great Millennial Clans, represented the pinnacle of power among family cultivators.

Their standing was second only to major sects like Shaolin and Wudang. With over two thousand years of inheritance, the wealth accumulated by the Long Family was terrifyingly immense.

Coupled with their consistently high prestige, Zhang Yang wouldn't doubt claims that their fortune surpassed that of the Huyan family threefold. Such a colossal repository of wealth, now without its Great Perfection guardian, invited disaster.

It was like a perfectly ripe, tempting apple, drawing attention from many eager to take a bite. Of course, only the top-tier families and sects—those possessing at least one Great Perfection powerhouse—could dare approach.

Anyone lesser would be inviting humiliation. To preserve all this, to maintain the Long Family’s current standing, only the emergence of a new Great Perfection cultivator within their ranks could suffice.

Long Feng’s invitation to Zhang Yang was a plea for assistance; with Zhang Yang’s backing, they could at least temporarily secure the family and prevent the more impatient factions from making reckless moves. However, Long Feng also carried a worry: the relationship between the Long Family and Zhang Yang was poor, even antagonistic.

He truly didn't know if Zhang Yang would agree to lend such crucial aid. “Thank you, Zhang Yang!” Looking at Zhang Yang, Long Feng nodded slowly, a degree of relief washing over him.

He was a Long Family disciple; facing a major crisis, he would die defending his home. Given the strained relationship, even if Zhang Yang had refused, he wouldn't have held any resentment.

What he hadn’t anticipated was that Zhang Yang not only agreed but offered proactively, without a trace of hesitation. “We are brothers; why the formality?” Zhang Yang shook his head, smiling, and asked again, “When did this happen?” “The night before last, but the news has already leaked.

When Father contacted me today, he said the Li family and Hua family are already mobilizing. I hear Shaolin and Wudang also have designs on involvement, and even some figures from the Demonic Path seem interested.

Our Long Family faces the gravest crisis in over two thousand years!” Long Feng spoke with a tinge of bitterness. Such rapid dissemination of news suggested a traitor or spy within the family, likely someone high-ranking.

Otherwise, given the isolation of Long Family Plain, the news couldn't have spread so quickly. It was humiliating, but this was no time to hunt for the mole; the entire Long Family needed unity to overcome this difficulty.

Because the news leaked unexpectedly, the Long Family currently lacked even the option to relocate their headquarters temporarily for cover. “It’s that serious?

We can’t delay; we leave today!” Zhang Yang’s brow twitched. So many families and sects with Great Perfection masters moving in concert meant multiple entities at that apex level.

This was no small matter. Without a Great Perfection guardian, the Long Family, relying on their residual defensive measures, could perhaps ward off one or two such experts.

If so many moved at once, they could easily flatten Long Family Plain. However, the reality was that these Great Perfection cultivators wouldn't attack as a united front; each had their own self-interest, aiming to secure the largest possible benefit for themselves.

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