Chapter 420 - 229: Old Acquaintance and Parting

During his stay, he made a special trip to the old site of the White Cloud Martial Arts Hall.

The former site of his Martial Arts Training was now a scene of crumbling walls, overgrown with weeds.

Jiang Che stood there for a long time, reminiscing about his days of Martial Arts Training, a sense of melancholy washing over him.

He then used his Divine Thought to instruct Zhao Kang, ordering him to have the place properly repaired.

Although the Martial Arts Hall was now empty, it was good to keep it as a memento.

He also took his family to see the large mansion he had purchased long ago.

Though it had been vacant for a long time and was now somewhat dilapidated and covered in dust, its layout remained grand.

Jiang Che gave Zhao Kang the same orders: find people to repair and renovate it, and assign dedicated personnel to guard it properly.

The sun sank in the west, its golden afterglow bathing the streets.

Looking at his family laughing and chatting happily beside him, feeling the rare tranquility of the small city, Jiang Che found himself wishing, just for a moment, that he didn’t have to leave.

’If only time... could stand still forever at this very moment.’

He sighed to himself, but he knew it wasn’t time for that yet.

In these turbulent times, only by constantly growing stronger could he truly protect this precious peace.

...

The horse-drawn carriage ambled along the wide main road.

Before long, the silhouette of a city gradually sharpened on the distant horizon.

It was Hengsha City.

Riding his horse, Jiang Che gazed at the familiar city gate, a wave of complex emotions washing over him.

"Dad, Mom."

He slowed his horse to a walk, pulling up alongside the carriage window. "Hengsha City is just ahead," he said softly.

"Do you remember? Back then... you said you were coming here to Hengsha City to find work, and you never came back."

At his words, the atmosphere inside the carriage grew heavy.

Jiang Che continued, "Back then, I went crazy looking for you everywhere. I even made several trips to Hengsha City, but there was never any news, not a single trace."

The carriage curtain was drawn back, revealing Jiang Dawu’s weathered face.

He gazed at the massive city in the distance, a flicker of lingering fear and bitterness in his eyes.

"Sigh... That’s right."

Jiang Dawu sighed, his voice low. "Actually, we never even made it to the gates of Hengsha City back then."

"We were only halfway there when we had the misfortune of running into those damned Horse Bandits!"

"After they abducted us, we were locked in cages. After a long, bumpy journey, we were... sold as laborers to the Zhao Family’s Arsenal!"

"And we were trapped there... until you found us."

Hearing this, Mrs. Zhou’s eyes reddened as well, clearly recalling those dark, hopeless days when they were treated like animals.

Jiang Che’s heart ached as he listened.

’What a cruel twist of fate.’

But, if it weren’t for those Horse Bandits, his parents might have been murdered by the Blood Spirit Sect.

Was this, in a way, another kind of fortune?

But no matter.

All of that was in the past now.

He had brought the Zhao Family to heel, the Horse Bandits had long been exterminated, and Li Yuanwai’s Mansion was burned to the ground. As for those vermin from the Blood Spirit Sect, who knew where they were hiding.

If he happened to run into them, Jiang Che wouldn’t mind sending them on their way.

To lighten the somber mood, Jiang Che changed the subject and suggested with a smile:

"Dad, Mom, since we’re passing by anyway, why don’t we... go into the city for a bit?"

"Back when I was working as a caravan guard, I came to Hengsha City a few times. It’s a bit better than Lin Yuan City, with lots of good food and fun things to do."

Jiang Dawu and Mrs. Zhou exchanged a glance, a hesitant look on their faces.

"But... we still need to get to Cangzhou Prefecture. Won’t this cause a delay?"

"Besides, we..."

They were accustomed to a hard life, and instinctively felt that such pure leisure was an extravagance they couldn’t afford.

"Oh, come on, Dad, Mom! Let’s just go and see!"

But Jiang Ling poked her head out of the carriage window, her big eyes sparkling with anticipation. "I’ve never been here before! And Big Brother said a little delay won’t matter!"

Seeing the eager look in his daughter’s eyes, Jiang Dawu finally gave in. He smiled good-naturedly and said, "Alright! If Ling’er wants to go, then let’s go have a look!"

"That’s great!" Jiang Ling cheered.

Soon, the group arrived at the city gates.

After Jiang Che discreetly slipped the guard a piece of silver, the carriage entered Hengsha City without a hitch.

After finding a fine inn and stabling the horses, Jiang Che accompanied his family on a stroll down the city’s most prosperous street.

Seeing the beaming smiles on the faces of his parents and sister, Jiang Che felt his own spirits lift considerably.

’This is what life should be about.’

Just as the family was passing an exceptionally grand mansion, Jiang Che’s steps faltered for a moment.

He looked up.

Vermilion gates were flanked by stone lions.

On the plaque above the gate were two large, gilded words.

"Zhang Mansion."

A thought struck Jiang Che, and he was suddenly reminded of the old Li Yuanwai’s Mansion.

From the outside, Li Yuanwai’s Mansion had once looked just as grand and imposing as this one.

But who would have known it was secretly the den of an Evil Cult?

Jiang Che shook his head and was about to move on.

Suddenly, a memory flooded his mind.

He remembered the strange well he had encountered in the small woods outside Li Yuanwai’s Mansion!

His power had been low at the time, and after sensing something was amiss, he hadn’t dared to investigate further, leaving in a hurry instead.

’That well... something was very wrong with it!’

Jiang Che’s eyes narrowed.

Now, he was an expert at the Second Layer Peak of the True Master Realm. With his many trump cards, his power was worlds apart from what it had been.

Now that he was passing by it again, he could no longer suppress his curiosity.

’This is a perfect opportunity. I’ll go take a look. Maybe I’ll find something unexpected...’

He glanced at his mother and sister, who were enthusiastically picking out jewelry at a roadside stall, careful not to disturb them.

A thought occurred to him: he would send his Clone to investigate in his place!

With its current power, the Clone’s combat strength was comparable to the First Layer of the True Master Realm.

It was more than capable of handling ordinary dangers.

And if it ran into trouble it couldn’t handle...

...destroying the Clone would be no great loss!

At his command, the Clone, which had been following them silently and invisibly, detached from the group. It then crept away soundlessly in the direction of his memory.

As for his original body, his expression remained unchanged as he continued to stroll with his family.

...