Chapter 600 - 600: Parents

Jiang Xinghai was silent for a moment.

He thought his Second Senior Sister, Zhong Yunman's, proposal made sense.

Building a force of his own would lay the foundation for completely eradicating the Shadow Sect.

The Celestial Profound Realm Shadow Sect was simply too tyrannical.

Destroying them wasn't just about his personal grudge; they were a major scourge that the higher-ups in the Dragon Country had long wanted to eliminate!

He was still a four-star officer in the War Department. Setting aside personal matters, he had to serve his country!

"Everyone, your decision gives me a sense of responsibility, and I'm also very moved."

Jiang Xinghai had to admit that their choice to follow him had made him understand many things. "If that's the case, then let's face what's to come together."

"That's great!" everyone cheered.

"Thank you for trusting me so much."

Jiang Xinghai looked at each person present. "I believe that as long as we are united, there is nothing we can't overcome. Since you've just been freed from prison, I'll give you all five days to go home and visit your families. After five days, we will gather at Little Hua Mountain in the Imperial City."

A cheer erupted from the crowd. Everyone was excited for this opportunity.

They knew that following a young expert like Jiang Xinghai was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

After all, they too had once been considered geniuses.

But compared to Jiang Xinghai, they still fell short.

"Prince of the East, call Elder Tang. Have him send another ship so we can head back."

Jiang Xinghai glanced at the time. After all that had happened, it was already 8:30 PM.

The Prince of the East, Cao Qing, nodded and quickly contacted Tang Zhen.

The four-star officer, Tang Zhen, was still with Zheng Wuji and Nightingale, waiting on a yacht just off Lightning Island.

"It's been two hours. The call is finally coming in!"

Tang Zhen's brow was furrowed with worry. He hadn't dared to make a rash move. Seeing the caller ID was the Prince of the East, he finally smiled in relief. "Old Cao, tell me it's good news, right?"

"Old Tang, it's just as you hoped!" Cao Qing kept it brief, recounting what had just transpired.

"Good! Good! Excellent!"

As Tang Zhen listened, his eyes started to well up. "Young Jiang is truly a great talent! With him here, our Dragon Country won't have to suffer so much anymore. Good, good! I'll dispatch a vessel right away. Wait for a bit, I'm bringing you all home!"

With that, the two ended the call.

Cao Qing relayed the message to Jiang Xinghai.

Jiang Xinghai nodded calmly, his gaze softening as he watched his parents chatting with Zhong Yunman.

Judging by his mother Ji Qingya's expression, it seemed she already saw Zhong Yunman as her daughter-in-law.

This made Jiang Xinghai smile wryly.

'If my parents found out there's another woman in Shanhe Province carrying my child, what would they think?'

"Dad, Mom, what do you want to eat when we get back?"

Jiang Xinghai had to interrupt their conversation. Now that his family was finally reunited, there was still so much they hadn't had a chance to say.

"As long as the family is together, anything we eat will be delicious." Ji Qingya took Zhong Yunman's hand and started chatting again.

Jiang Wendong, however, patted Jiang Xinghai's shoulder. "Xinghai, you have good taste. You take after your father in that regard."

Jiang Xinghai grinned. "Of course."

"Junior Brother, what are your plans now?"

Just then, Zhong Yunman steered the conversation toward Jiang Xinghai.

"Second Senior Sister, what are your plans?" Jiang Xinghai asked with a smile.

"Naturally, I'll be staying with you. We're family, after all," Zhong Yunman said with a slight smile, clearly putting on a show for Jiang Xinghai's parents.

Of course, Jiang Xinghai didn't refuse. He nodded. "Alright then. We'll head back to Shanghai first. I have a few things to take care of, then we can all go to the Imperial City together."

「Half an hour later.」

The soldiers, led by Tang Zhen, arrived at Lightning Island by vessel.

"Elder Tang!"

Jiang Xinghai was the first to greet him.

"Jiang, you truly are a worthy son of our Dragon Country! You've done well!"

Tang Zhen was so moved that tears of joy streamed down his face. "You have no idea how many years it's been since the Dragon Country has been able to hold its head so high."

"Elder Tang, I ignored your warning and killed everyone from Mirror Lake Manor, and you're still praising me..."

"I've said it before. We can't just keep tolerating them. If you have the power to make them bow their heads, then it's fine for us to act once."

Tang Zhen explained nonchalantly, then lowered his voice. "By the way, when we get back, a certain big shot wants to have a video call with you. You can lay out any plans and goals you have then."

"A big shot?" Jiang Xinghai was slightly taken aback.

"Yes. You should know who I mean," Tang Zhen said solemnly.

"He wants to have a video call with me?" Jiang Xinghai's expression shifted slightly. "What is it about, specifically?"

"The big shot will tell you the specifics himself. As for why he wants to talk to you... well, who else but the genius of our Dragon Country? A once-in-a-century genius, at that." Tang Zhen offered what seemed like a reasonable explanation.

To further ease Jiang Xinghai's confusion, he added, "Besides, your appointment was the result of him overruling all objections. He is your biggest supporter, bar none."

Hearing this, Jiang Xinghai felt even more uneasy.

'The big shot in the Imperial City strongly supports me?'

'Is it just to place a responsibility on my shoulders?'

'No.'

'It's more than that.'

Jiang Xinghai was filled with emotion and decided not to dwell on it. He would just have the video call with the big shot once he was back in Shanghai.

Soon, everyone left Lightning Island, heading for the Shanghai coast by vessel.

And as the vessel departed, Mirror Lake Manor, built upon Lightning Island, was gradually reduced to ashes in a blaze of fire.

「On the way back.」

Jiang Xinghai told them about the calamity that had befallen the Jiang Family in the Imperial City.

"..."

His father, Jiang Wendong, was instantly struck dumb. He spoke with difficulty, "I have failed the ancestors of the Jiang Family!"

"Dad, you and Mom were imprisoned by Mirror Lake Manor for five years. It's normal that you don't know what's been happening outside." Jiang Xinghai knew he had to tell his father sooner or later, but seeing his father's desolate and sorrowful expression made his heart ache.

"Xinghai, as soon as your mother and I arrive in Shanghai, we'll book tickets and fly back to the Imperial City immediately." Jiang Wendong was determined not to waste another second elsewhere.

His family home was gone. He was in a terrible state of mind.

"Dad, it's been five years. There's no rush to go back this very moment. I promise I'll find the culprit behind this. Stay with me in Shanghai and rest for a few days first, then we'll go back together," Jiang Xinghai pleaded.

Ji Qingya chimed in, "Yes, honey, Xinghai is right. Even if we wanted to go back now, we wouldn't have any leads."

"That's right. My body is practically useless right now. Even if I went back to the Imperial City and found the killer, what could I do?" Jiang Wendong was utterly dejected in that moment.

"Dad, don't worry. Over the past five years, I inherited some heaven-defying skills from a mysterious master. I guarantee I can restore your body within three days and bring you back to your former glory." Jiang Xinghai was extremely confident about this.

After all, he had healed Lingxue's father, Shen Zhengye, whose Dantian had been damaged, on the very same day.

His father's Dantian was merely sealed. Although he couldn't do anything about it right now, he decided he would make a trip back to Kunlun to ask his master, Yao Gu, for help. He was sure she could break his father's seal.

"I believe in my son!" Jiang Wendong managed to force a rare smile before quickly sinking back into contemplation.

Jiang Xinghai then turned to his mother, Ji Qingya. "Mom, back when you and Dad were being hunted by the Black Cloaks, I found out the identity of the person who sent them."

"Who was it?" Ji Qingya had always been puzzled by this.

Even the contemplative Jiang Wendong looked up.

"Ji Xiao." Jiang Xinghai spoke the name.

Suddenly, Ji Qingya's mind went blank.

Her own brother!