Liu Hui had resolved Shu Yan's matter once and for all, his women remained silent upon learning the truth - none dared raise objections. After all, they were familiar with her kind nature and had been moved by her devoted heart.

Thus Liu Hui finally untangled himself from emotional entanglements, feeling a newfound lightness in spirit.

Yet new troubles soon surfaced. While he now enjoyed inner peace, Zhou Tengyun still awaited his intervention back home!

Liu Hui called Dingsheng to locate Zhou Tengyun's whereabouts before hurrying back to the mainland. He quickly found him in Mingyue County of Shuzhou Province - Zhou Tengyun's ancestral hometown.

When Liu Hui discovered Zhou Tengyun, he was slumped asleep at his late wife and daughter's gravesite. The sight nearly made Liu Hui recoil - Zhou Tengyun looked like a ragged beggar with matted hair and beard, haggard features etched deep by grief.

Liu Hui took out incense from his basket to honor both graves before speaking: "Cai Lufeng indeed brought much sorrow..." Zhou Tengyun suddenly sprang up, eyes burning red. "Silence! Never speak ill of Afeng!" Liu Hui chuckled. "Heaven's will - I was merely stating facts. Did you accuse her? A legendary martial master at the peak of power yet wallowing in past sorrow for a decade? Is this how you live as man?"

Zhou Tengyun hesitated, then growled: "Mind your own business!"

Liu Hui sighed. "Do you think I have so much free time to meddle in yours? If not for Xiaoyuxin's worsening condition, would I even be here?" Zhou Tengyun paled at the mention and demanded anxiously, "What's wrong with Yuxin?"

"When she confessed her love to you that day," Liu Hui explained, "you fled right after making her heartbreak. She returned home ill, refuses food or water, cries herself into a wraith."

Zhou Tengyun snarled: "Liu, you're lying! Mei Laoshi runs a miracle hospital - surely he'd cure Yuxin if anything were truly wrong!"

"Love's wounds require love's balm," Liu Hui said. "Yuxin suffers from heartbreak beyond medicine's reach."

Zhou Tengyun muttered: "Heart disease? Did I really hurt her?"

Liu Hui gave his friend a head slap. "You thirty-something man still don't grasp the value of first love? When she confessed, did you at least acknowledge it before running away like a coward?"

The older man stammered: "She suddenly said she loved me and wanted to marry me... I thought of her as my daughter..."

Liu Hui interrupted sharply. "Third Brother, when you gave her your surname 'Zhou Yuxin', did she accept? You claim fatherhood but has she ever called you Father? She always calls you Uncle. Is this not proof enough? Your so-called filial affection is mere self-delusion. From the moment in Africa where you rescued her as a child, didn't she fall for you then?"

Zhou Tengyun stared at his wife and daughter's graves - saplings now grown into towering trees. "But she was just a child back then!"

"Third Brother," Liu Hui said, down beside him, "we underestimated Yuxin. After your mission nearly got her parents killed, she matured instantly. Then you rescued her... it was natural for her to develop feelings."

After a pause he continued: "Look around - these graves are ten years old now! If they saw you like this would they find peace? Besides, you two share no blood relation. What's wrong with mutual affection?"

Zhou Tengyun gazed at the gravestones and sighed. "But I don't feel love for her. Also what about Mei Peng who raised her..."

"Feelings can be cultivated," Liu Hui said cheerfully. "If you don't act, she may fall in love elsewhere. Better to protect her yourself! And trust me - the family agrees as long as you and Yuxin work things out."

Zhou Tengyun mumbled: "But our age gap..."

Liu Hui laughed heartily, slinging an arm around his neck. "Call each other whatever suits! If you like, call Mei Peng 'Father-in-law' since he raised her."

The older man's dark face flushed purple with embarrassment but showed signs of softening.

"Say goodbye to your wife and daughter," Liu Hui urged. "Tell them you'll start anew - let their spirits bless your happiness."

Zhou Tengyun hesitated: "Shouldn't we wait until things are certain..."

Liu Hui chuckled. "Third Brother, remember how you were the first among us to win Cai Lufeng's heart?"

（）

Thus Zhou Tengyun, charmed by Liu Hui's silver tongue, returned to Star City.

Arriving at Mei Peng's home, he blushed furiously under his friend's stern gaze. Mei Peng said plainly: "Third Brother, treat Yuxin well or I'll never forgive you."

Duan Lin added coldly: "We disapproved of your old age match but since it's her choice... just stop being so 'cool' and remember to be gentle - no more soldier mannerisms!"

Zhou Tengyun nodded silently, looking awkward.

Liu Hui laughed. "Enough! Let them meet now."

Duan Lin knocked on Yuxin's door where a girl opened it. "Xiaoyao, time to leave," she said, stepping aside as Xiaoyao cast Zhou Tengyun an odd glance before exiting.

Pushed gently by Liu Hui, the older man slowly entered the room.

When Liu Hio saw him inside, he bid farewell: "I'll take my leave now..."

（，）

Zerath remarked with fervor, "Truly unforeseen! We've seized the initiative against the Celestials in this campaign. Our previous clashes always left us at a disadvantage—massive losses endured each time. We were forced to rely on sheer numerical superiority through swarm tactics until the divine forces withdrew from unsustainable casualties. Yet here we are, now able to strike deep into their territory!"

Liu Hui responded, "Honored Commander Zerath, congratulations on this remarkable breakthrough. May I ask if this marks a comprehensive advantage for your Swarm in this epoch-defining war against the Celestials?"

Zerath shook his head, "This victory remains localized—we haven't achieved strategic superiority yet. We're still locked in stalemate with their forces. That's why I'm here—to request another two million units of that miraculous powder on credit. We must synthesize more long-range commanders to concentrate our strength and dismantle the Celestial legions systematically. Only then can we secure decisive advantage in this war."