When Yun Fan slowly opened his eyes, Yun Rong, who was standing by the bedside, burst into tears of joy. This was the first time in a month that her husband had regained consciousness.
Yun Fan's expression was still somewhat dazed, but as he pushed himself up on the bed, he was startled to realize that his strength had somewhat returned.
After getting his bearings, Yun Fan immediately noticed the young man standing by his bedside. The young man's appearance bore a striking resemblance to his son-in-law. And those eyes—they were nearly identical to those of his beloved daughter.
"Grandfather, your grandson has come," Lin Qian said softly as he half-knelt by the bed, gazing at Yun Fan, whose face was still somewhat gaunt.
At this moment, there was no Emperor of Huaxia, only a child finally meeting his long-lost grandfather.
In his previous life, Lin Qian had been a lonely soul. Even after finding his biological parents, the happiness he experienced was short-lived.
Thus, in this life, he cherished familial bonds all the more.
Though emperors are often seen as cold and detached, Lin Qian was a different kind of emperor—an extraordinary ruler in a world unlike any other.
Since coming to this wondrous world, the concept of an emotionless royal family, which had once held meaning for Lin Qian, had long since faded away.
No matter how revered emperors were in ancient cultures, none of them ruled over citizens who could soar through the skies or move mountains with their might.
"Qian'er…" Yun Fan finally regained his senses. His hand trembled as he reached out to gently touch Lin Qian's head, a broad smile spreading across his face. "Haha, my child, it's so wonderful to see you. The heavens have smiled upon me. To be able to see my grandson before I die—how fortunate."
"Grandfather, that's not true," Lin Qian responded with a smile, gently correcting Yun Fan. "Your grandson is counting on you to recover and stand strong so we can rescue my parents together."
Lin Qian's words rendered Yun Fan silent for a moment before he burst into hearty laughter. "Alright, since my good grandson says so, how can I, as your grandfather, not give it my all to get better?"
Yun Rong, who was standing nearby, quietly wiped away her tears.
In the past, she had been a lowly member of the Yun family's branch line. But after marrying Yun Fan, he had become her entire world.
With Yun Fan by her side, she no longer had to worry about envy or jealousy and could reveal her true talents and cultivation potential.
Their love wasn't dramatic or earth-shattering, but they had supported each other throughout their journey together.
Especially since they had struggled for so long to have a child—only having their daughter later in life—they cherished their family even more. Their lives should have been peaceful and happy, but fate had other plans.
At that moment, Yun Fan caught sight of Yuan Supreme in the distance, and his eyes widened in astonishment. He struggled to get up and bow to the elder. "This junior pays respects to the Old Ancestor."
"Junior has an audacious request. I beg you to save me, for without me, my daughter, son-in-law, and this grandson of mine… I fear their fate would be dire…"
"There's no need for such courtesy," Yuan Supreme interrupted, shaking his head gently. "Your injuries are beyond my ability to heal."
Hearing this, Yun Fan's face fell, disappointment etched deep in his expression.
"However, I have not come here alone. I am here accompanying the Young Lord," Yuan Supreme continued. "He has assured me that he can heal your injuries, so rest easy."
Yun Fan's face lit up with renewed hope at Yuan Supreme's words.
Yun Fan was not afraid of death, but he knew he could not die yet. If he were to die, his daughter and son-in-law would likely meet a grim fate, and his wife's life would also be at risk. As for his newly reunited grandson—his future seemed even more uncertain.
"May I ask, Senior, who is this Young Lord? Could you introduce him to me?" Yun Fan inquired, his voice filled with curiosity. Anyone addressed as the Young Lord by Yuan Supreme must surely be an extraordinary figure.
Yuan Supreme was a figure of immense importance. Across the entire human race, people greeted him with the utmost respect, and even Yun Fan's adoptive father had to show deference when in his presence.
Yun Fan recalled seeing Yuan Supreme once in his youth when visiting the Yuan family's territory. He still remembered the awe he had felt, especially since Yuan Supreme had even given him some guidance during their brief encounter.
A person whom Yuan Supreme referred to as the Young Lord must undoubtedly be someone of great renown.
"Your grandson, Lin Qian, is the very person our Old Ancestor instructed the Yuan family to serve as Young Lord," Yuan Supreme replied, his words causing Yuan Hu's face to turn pale with shock. He stood frozen, too stunned to speak.
Yuan Supreme had anticipated Yuan Hu's reaction and gave him a gentle nod. "There's no need to hide this any longer."
"Qian'er?" Yun Fan was completely taken aback, his gaze shifting to his grandson, who had now risen from his kneeling position.
Wait!
The Old Ancestor—the one universally recognized as the Old Ancestor of the human race—was Yuan Supreme, the current Gatekeeper of the Yuan family.
And the only person whom Yuan Supreme would call the Old Ancestor could only be one man…
Xuanjun Yuanxiang, the legendary figure of the human race, the one who had named the entire Soul Martial Continent.
Yun Fan looked at his grandson in disbelief. He couldn't quite wrap his mind around how his grandson had become associated with such an extraordinary figure like Xuanjun and had even become the Yuan family's Young Lord.
"If I told you that your grandson is the ruler of a force called the Huaxia Empire, an emperor, what would you think?" Yuan Supreme's playful tone broke the silence. "The entire Southern Territory, all 1,972 prefectures, now belong to the Huaxia Empire. Your grandson is the Lord of the Southern Territory."
"What?" Both Yun Fan and Yun Rong, along with Yuan Hu, were utterly shocked. The mere thought that this young man, their beloved grandson, had become the ruler of the entire Southern Territory was unimaginable.
Seeing their stunned expressions, Yuan Supreme smirked mischievously. "So, when the Young Lord says he can heal you, I have no reason to doubt him. From here on, listen to your grandson."
At that, Lin Qian smiled at Yuan Supreme.
The elder's words had not only deeply shaken his grandparents and Yuan Hu, but they had also given them a surge of hope.
If Lin Qian himself had spoken these words, they might have thought he was merely trying to comfort them. But coming from Yuan Supreme, the message carried an entirely different weight.
Lin Qian could see the newfound confidence gleaming in his grandfather's eyes.
Confidence is a powerful force. With Yun Fan's mindset shifted, it would greatly aid in his recovery.
A joyful and confident outlook could make all the difference.
"Grandfather, we'll begin now. Are you ready?" Lin Qian asked, looking warmly at Yun Fan.
Sitting cross-legged on the bed, Yun Fan's face cleared of all the gloom, and he nodded firmly to his grandson.