The past surged back, as clear as the sky after the clouds parted.
Not like my former self, unchanged by a single bit.
If life and wealth had to be chosen between, the old me and the current me would break apart in disarray.
All nightmares were extinguished by his determined heart.
With a single thought, Chen Jiuyang's soul-flame grew stronger.
Like conquering a fiery mountain peak in the dead of winter.
Like warming a bowl of wine in the snow.
A thousand miles of joy bloomed.
Chen Jiuyang's heart began to beat again.
Two streams of clear tears flowed down his face.
One bowl of life's sustenance was enough, eighteen or nineteen years of hot tears, twenty-five or twenty-six moments of hidden regret.
Then, his eyes slowly opened.
Within the Han clan's forbidden grounds, in a pool of spiritual liquid, Chen Jiuyang was present.
His white hair, after he opened his eyes, rapidly turned from white to black, and the pool of spiritual liquid was instantly absorbed by him.
At the exit of the Han clan's forbidden grounds, members of the Han clan were stationed in shifts.
"Achoo!" A guard, sitting at the mouth of the mountain pass at the exit, yawned. Suddenly, he heard movement in the distance, making him somewhat suspicious.
Immediately, his eyes widened, and he quickly stood up, tidied his appearance, and looked at the young man with disbelief. Only when the young man approached did the guard respectfully say:
"Greetings, son-in-law! Congratulations on your recovery!"
Chen Jiuyang smiled slightly and said in a gentle tone, "Thank you. May I ask what the date is today?"
"Son-in-law..." the guard replied, "Today is November eighth."
Chen Jiuyang's expression froze for a moment, and he said with some emotion, "So I was unconscious for several days."
The guard said, "Son-in-law, Elder Han instructed me to bring you to the clan grounds to see her once you woke up."
"Then I shall trouble you," Chen Jiuyang said, cupping his fists in a slight bow.
Following that, the guard led the way.
Chen Jiuyang followed leisurely and calmly behind the guard, his gaze falling upon the lush green forest and vegetation around them. As November approached, the weather was a bit chilly.
The former Chen Jiuyang had never paid attention to the things and matters around him.
Upon meeting Elder Han, Chen Jiuyang cupped his fists and said, "Thank you, grandmother, for your help during this great tribulation."
Elder Han looked surprised. This young man had recovered, and his changes were so significant. It was not a bad thing. She slowly nodded, her expression softening, "Jiuyang, you have recovered. What are your plans now?"
The Chen family patriarch had specifically discussed this with her before leaving Su Hang, truly fearing that Chen Jiuyang would cause more trouble and disturb everyone's peace.
"Having gone through this near-death experience, I have gained much insight and reaped considerable rewards," Chen Jiuyang said slowly. "All things in the world have causes and effects. They began because of me, Chen Jiuyang, but the bitter fruit has harmed others."
"Next, I wish to resolve my inner turmoil."
"Grandmother, please rest assured, I will not cause trouble again."
Elder Han nodded, praising, "It seems that the previous incident has transformed your character. This is indeed a good thing."
Chen Jiuyang said, "People outside might think I, Chen Jiuyang, am dead. I would trouble Elder Han to write a letter for me to Xi Butui of the Six Doors in Fengcheng. My life-and-death battle with him on November fifteenth remains unchanged."
Elder Han's face twitched, "Alright, I will have someone do it now. You should stay with us in the Han clan for a few days and get along well with Yihan."
"Hahahaha!" Chen Jiuyang laughed heartily, "That's exactly what I intend. Yihan is my woman, and I will take her back to Fengcheng this time."
Chen Jiuyang's personality was no longer as cold and ruthless, nor as eager for quick success. Instead, he was like a person from the martial world, unrestrained and free-spirited, with a hint of having seen through worldly affairs, yet not entirely so. For a moment, Elder Han could not determine how much Chen Jiuyang had truly changed.
Elder Han said, "Yihan is in the Golden Hall of our Han clan grounds. You can go and find her yourself."
Chen Jiuyang had almost died in battle before. Elder Han judged that Qiu Yihan had developed true feelings for Chen Jiuyang, which was more than just a simple designation of a dao companion.
Chen Jiuyang left Elder Han and entered the Han clan grounds. With Chen Jiuyang's recovery, Elder Han needed to inform the Chen family patriarch, prepare Qiu Yihan's dowry, and even she had to go to Fengcheng to meet Chen Jiuyang's parents.
Chen Jiuyang had already been enfeoffed as the Marquis of Xuanyang, with the privilege of marrying seven wives. Coupled with Qiu Yihan's genuine feelings for Chen Jiuyang, their Han clan's Saintess would likely not remain within the Han clan.
Inside the Han clan grounds, it was still bustling and lively.
In the Golden Hall where Qiu Yihan was located, she was cultivating. Suddenly, the Yan Sheng Saber and the Han Ling Sword in the hall emitted sounds of sabers and swords. Qiu Yihan's expression stirred slightly, and she turned around to see a young man with hair like a waterfall, a heroic posture, and a handsome, devilishly charming appearance standing at the entrance.
Seeing him appear, Qiu Yihan's beautiful eyes sparkled, and a smile played on her lips. She said in a charming voice, "You almost made me a widow before we were even married."
"Hahahaha." Chen Jiuyang laughed heartily, walked up, and pulled her into his embrace. He whispered into her ear, "Here I am, aren't I? If you're in a hurry, I can make you a bride right now."
Embraced by Chen Jiuyang, Qiu Yihan showed no resistance. Instead, her jade arms actively wrapped around his neck, and their eyes met.
"Hehehehe," Qiu Yihan giggled, "You scoundrel, you're dreaming."
"Slap—"
Chen Jiuyang's large hand slapped Qiu Yihan's soft, perky buttocks, looking directly into her eyes, "You are my woman. Do you get to pick and choose what I do to you?"
Qiu Yihan's buttocks stung, and her face immediately flushed. She said with a pout, "You dare to hit me? You're already domestically abusing me before we're even married. How will we live in the future?"
"Heh, to tell you the truth, I've wanted to hit you for a long time," Chen Jiuyang said. "When your divine soul recovered its true form back then, you certainly gave me a stern warning."
"Tch." Qiu Yihan disdained, completely denying that such a thing had happened.
...
Elder Han acted with extreme speed.
That very day, a letter was delivered to the Six Doors in Fengcheng.
"Please, the Chief Constable of the Six Doors, Xi Butui, come out to meet us."
A Grandmaster of the Earth realm from the Han clan stood at the entrance and announced loudly.
Instantly, it attracted the attention of countless people. However, this time, no constables from the Six Doors came out with guns pointed at him.
Xi Butui had already lost the support of everyone within the Six Doors; no one defended him.
Xi Butui slowly appeared. Seeing an unfamiliar Grandmaster of the Earth realm, he asked, "What business do you have with me?"
The Grandmaster of the Earth realm from the Han clan lightly tossed the letter in his hand over, saying, "The death match previously agreed upon between Xi Butui and our Han clan's son-in-law, Chen Jiuyang, is still valid."
Xi Butui's expression darkened. He took the letter without opening it and said coldly, "What do you mean?"
The Grandmaster of the Earth realm from the Han clan replied, "Our Han clan's son-in-law, Chen Jiuyang, is not dead. He has fully recovered and awakened today."
"The son-in-law specially wrote a letter asking me to inform Constable Xi Butui not to forget the death match on November fifteenth."
"Boom!"
As the words fell, it was like a bomb being thrown into the scene, causing many to exclaim and then erupt in discussion.
Chen Jiuyang was still alive?!!
He wasn't dead, he was alive!
Immediately, Xi Butui's expression turned grim, and the envelope in his hand turned to dust.