A few days had passed.
Not much time, but enough to change everything.
After visiting several locations with a real estate agent, Lin Hao's parents had finally found a house they liked—a modest, two-story home tucked near the outer edge of Villa Dragon. The walls were made of polished stone, the garden small but well-kept, and the security presence around the area unmistakable. It cost six million silver coins.
They didn't hesitate.
They bought it.
And just like that, they moved.
The difference from their old life was clear from the first night. The streets were clean. The silence was deep. Cultivators occasionally passed in the distance, wearing robes or armor, some walking, some riding spiritual beasts. It wasn't just safer—it was another world.
His father, inspired by the change, had purchased a set of medicinal herbs after consulting a local pharmacist. They weren't high-grade, but they were more than enough to start. He began soaking in the evenings, just like Lin Hao.
They continued training at dawn, together.
Lin Hao could already see the difference. His father's movements were sharper. His breath steadier. Even his posture had begun to shift.
And today, Lin Hao was going to visit someone who lived at the heart of it all.
Master Yuan's residence sat deeper within Villa Dragon—on a wide hilltop estate surrounded by white stone walls and lined with ancient trees. The building itself was immense, nearly five times the size of Lin Hao's new home. A long garden path led up to a set of lacquered double doors flanked by carved lion statues.
Lin Hao walked up the path alone.
Before he could knock, one of the doors opened silently.
A tall man in dark robes stood there, eyes calm and voice clear.
"Young master. May I ask your name?"
"I'm Lin Hao. I came to visit Master Yuan."
The man gave a slight nod. "We've been expecting you. Please, follow me."
Lin Hao stepped inside.
The interior was quiet. The floor was polished wood, the ceilings high and ribbed with red beams. Paintings of ancient sects and mountain landscapes hung from the walls. There were no guards inside—only silence and space.
They walked through two hallways and stopped before a large open room bathed in natural light. Floor cushions were arranged around a low table where a kettle gently steamed.
Master Yuan sat at the table.
And beside him was a girl.
She looked to be Lin Hao's age, with long black hair tied in a loose braid and clear, observant eyes. She wore a simple white robe with silver thread, and her posture was perfectly straight.
The moment Lin Hao entered, she looked at him—but said nothing.
He stepped forward and bowed respectfully.
"Master Yuan."
The old man smiled. "Lin Hao. You came. Good."
He gestured toward the girl beside him.
"This is my granddaughter—Yuan Qingyue."
Lin Hao froze.
That name. He remembered it.
In his past life, Yuan Qingyue had been known as one of the greatest prodigies of her generation. By the time she was twelve, she had defeated adult cultivators in open duels. She was fast, brilliant, and always calm.
And then—she disappeared.
One year before the end, she vanished without explanation.
No one ever found out why.
Lin Hao lowered his head slightly.
"It's an honor to meet you."
Qingyue nodded once. "Likewise."
Master Yuan looked between the two and poured tea into two small cups.
"I thought it was time you met," he said calmly. "The future rarely moves alone."