Two years later.
Much had happened in these two years, and the capital city's landscape had undergone significant changes.
For some, the current state of the capital was the best it could be.
The various families, check and balance each other, restraining one another. At the same time, they largely stayed out of worldly affairs, some retiring, others traveling for pleasure.
In simple terms, it was precisely because Ye Longlin was not in the capital that these two years had brought a period of calm, or rather, development.
Moreover, during these two years, the Zhenwu Qin family and the Ye family had engaged in conflict, leading to a rapid decline in the strength of both clans. In May of this year, the Saint Realm experts of both families had even made an appearance.
The war between the Ye and Qin families had reached its peak. The Saint Realm powerhouses from both sides had died not long after their last engagement.
The battles had resulted in a reduction of top martial artists, with casualties among Saint Realm, Dao Realm, and various Dragon Elephant cultivators. With Saint Realm cultivators dead, the lower ranks like Dao Realm and Dragon Elephant were naturally more affected.
Yet, no one expected that two years would pass like this!
Two years, not long, not short, but for the capital, there had been no significant changes. This was considered a rare period of stability for the capital.
The battles in the east and north, lasting half a year, had resulted in great victories. All fronts except the western border had stabilized. The Dark Hall had also been unusually silent.
"What is the status of the conflict between the Qin family and the Ye family?"
In the Hall of Glory, the Grand Elder, looking at a book, asked Ning Qi.
Two years had passed, and the Grand Elder's face had grown more aged, resembling the appearance of the Second Elder a few months before his passing.
"In the last engagement, they almost involved Mu Hanqi. I had Taigong intervene. Taigong publicly executed the Dao Realm experts from both sides and issued a warning."
Ning Qi replied respectfully.
The Grand Elder nodded, glanced at the time, and said, "I don't care how fierce their battles are. The Qin family cannot fall. If the Qin family falls, the Zhenwu Division will face significant trouble. Furthermore, Mu Hanqi and Ye Churan must not be harmed. Until Ye Longlin returns, we must protect them."
Ning Qi nodded, "Understood, Grand Elder."
After speaking, Ning Qi paused for a moment before saying, "Grand Elder, I know I shouldn't ask, but I still want to know, is there truly no news of Marshal Ye, or is all information sealed?"
If it was the former, he truly wanted to inquire, but if it was the latter, no matter how strong his curiosity, he wouldn't ask further.
Since the information was sealed, he had no right to inquire.
"He's alive. He should be returning in the next couple of days."
The Grand Elder offered only this piece of information, which relieved Ning Qi. After respectfully retreating, the Grand Elder let out a long sigh.
He murmured to himself, "If only there were news. I too wish for news of him."
In reality, what he had told Ning Qi was a lie.
He also had no information about Ye Longlin, nor did he know what he had been doing these past two years. All he knew was that he might not be dead.
During these two years, there had been no word from Ye Longlin. Their people overseas, and the people from the Dragon Pavilion overseas, had all been trying to gather information, but they found nothing, not even a hint.
However, if his memory served him correctly, the National Teacher had said that he would return on that day two years later.
Calculating the time, it was today.
Yet, there was still no news.
"Could the Grand Tutor have been mistaken?"
...
A small town in Jiangnan.
Mu Hanqi had been living here for two years, fully integrating into the town. Qin Shimeng was also here, accompanying Mu Hanqi.
During these two years, the Ye family had never given up their attempts to capture Mu Hanqi. Some had even disguised themselves as tourists and attacked suddenly. If Qin Shimeng had not been there, Mu Hanqi might have been captured long ago.
Old Dong passed away last year due to illness.
Old Lin, the fortune teller, went out at the beginning of this year and returned with only one arm, having encountered something unknown.
In Qin Shimeng's words, Old Lin was no ordinary person; he was definitely a martial artist. However, why he chose to live in seclusion here was never questioned. At times, he had even helped them.
"Yiyi, will you stay and play with Aunt Qin here? Mommy will make lunch. Shall we have fish today?"
Mu Hanqi crouched by the door. Despite the passage of two years, while people around her had developed wrinkles, Mu Hanqi grew more beautiful. Even with a child of a year and a half, not a single wrinkle could be found on her face.
It was unclear what kind of constitution she possessed. Even without makeup, her skin was flawless, with no blackheads or blemishes. Many women envied such a physique.
"Mm-hmm, Yiyi will listen to Auntie. Yiyi is very good."
Yiyi, whose full name was Ye Churan, was the daughter of Mu Hanqi and Ye Longlin.
She had grown up now, and on the fifteenth of September, she would be exactly eighteen months old.
The little girl was naturally very sensible, and the two of them were easy to care for.
However, besides the two of them, Yiyi also recognized people.
The last time Xuanwu came to visit Mu Hanqi, he was hugged by Xuanwu, and she cried profusely.
The leader of the Dragon Pavilion, one of its prominent figures, was left at a loss by a little girl.
Qin Shimeng stood outside, smiling warmly as she watched Yiyi take tentative steps, holding onto the wall.
This little one weighed just over five pounds at birth, and now she had grown so big. Time truly flew by. She too had been here for two years.
"Ye Longlin, two years have passed, are you still not planning to return?"
Qin Shimeng looked up at the sky. In the next moment, a familiar figure appeared on the bridge!
When she focused her gaze, a figure, clad in tattered clothes, appeared before her!
"Ye Longlin!"
Qin Shimeng cried out in shock, and then saw the tattered figure fall straight before her!
Qin Shimeng, unsure, turned him over. Taking a deep breath, her hands began to tremble.
How... how could he have become like this? What had Ye Longlin endured these past two years?
With a clang, the sound of metal falling to the ground echoed. Qin Shimeng turned to see Mu Hanqi standing at the doorway, her eyes brimming with tears, her gaze burning hot as tears streamed down her cheeks.
"I'll take him to the hospital first. You watch the child."
Qin Shimeng spoke without hesitation, her voice urgent. Mu Hanqi covered her mouth, nodded vigorously, but the tears in her eyes continued to fall unstoppably.
Ye Churan, seeing Mu Hanqi cry, toddled over and said in a milky voice, "Mama, don't cry. Yiyi made Mama angry again. Mama, don't cry. Yiyi won't make Mama angry anymore."
Mu Hanqi choked back her voice, "Yiyi is very good. Yiyi didn't make Mama angry. Mama is happy because Yiyi's daddy is back."