At the same time, Lin Chen also arrived at the Long family in a special car.
Long Yuling was already waiting for him at the main entrance.
After receiving Lin Chen, Long Yuling took him directly to the backyard and through the barrier to that bamboo house again.
Long Yixian, shirtless, was forging a short sword-like weapon by the furnace with a large iron hammer in his hand.
"Dad, Lin Chen is here."
Seeing Long Yixian, Long Yuling also greeted him proactively.
For some reason, after she told her father what Lin Chen's master had conveyed, Long Yixian had started forging this sword in silence.
As if he had suddenly become silent.
"You go keep your mother company for a while."
Long Yixian didn't even lift his head, continuing to clang the red-hot sword with the iron hammer.
Lin Chen stood by, watching Long Yixian forge the weapon in silence.
"Uncle, isn't the fire a bit too much?"
Looking at Long Yixian's movements, Lin Chen squinted his eyes.
He had some understanding of artifact forging from the Nine Dragon Ring's library.
The highest level of artifact forging was definitely not about using a strong fire.
"Too much fire? You scoundrel! How dare you talk to me about too much fire?"
However, Lin Chen had only meant to kindly remind him, but unexpectedly, it had ignited Long Yixian.
"Neither of you two, master and disciple, are any good!"
Long Yixian looked at Lin Chen indignantly, his eyes seeming as if they could devour him.
What's more, at this moment, Long Yixian glared fiercely at Lin Chen, his hammer movements unabated, incessantly striking the red-hot blade.
It seemed as if he wasn't forging a weapon now, but rather venting his anger.
"Uh, Uncle, did you and my master know each other before?"
Seeing Long Yixian like this, Lin Chen was completely bewildered.
Good heavens, Long Yixian was now full of rage, as if he wanted to kill someone. Did he have a grudge against his master?
"I ask you, has that damned old man broken through to a third-grade alchemist?"
Long Yixian did not answer Lin Chen's question, but instead asked back.
At this, Lin Chen couldn't help but feel helpless at his master's title.
If anyone else had called his master that, he would have fought them.
But his master had mentioned Long Yixian's name in front of Long Yuling before.
He was sure that these two could not be enemies, and might even have a close relationship.
"Uh, yes, may I ask if Uncle needs any pills refined?"
Lin Chen dared not delay and quickly replied.
Although he was the true alchemist, if Long Yixian really needed any pills refined, he would definitely not stand by and watch, considering his master's long-standing friendship with him.
"Hmph, what pills would I need refined?"
"A mere third-grade alchemist, our Long family isn't without one. Does he need to make a move?"
Long Yixian snorted coldly, his expression full of dissatisfaction.
At this point, Lin Chen could finally see that Long Yixian had a deep resentment towards his master.
"Alright, why are you making things difficult for my disciple's nephew?"
"You said yourself earlier that you wanted Yuling to get along well with Lin Chen, and you even wanted to take him as a live-in son-in-law."
"Why are you giving him a cold shoulder now?"
However, just as Long Yixian was about to say more, a voice came from within the bamboo house.
But what was said made Lin Chen even more confused.
He knew that Long Yuling's mother was lying in the bamboo house, but why was she calling him disciple's nephew?
"Hmph!"
Hearing his wife's words, Long Yixian snorted, and silently continued forging the weapon in his hand.
Lin Chen stood by for quite a while, and seeing that Long Yixian had no intention of talking to him further, he tentatively walked towards the nearby bamboo house.
He really wanted to ask why Long Yuling's mother called him disciple's nephew.
What was the relationship between the Long family and his master?
"Come in."
Just as Lin Chen was standing at the door, contemplating whether to go in, Long Yuling's mother, Lu Yuyan, called out from inside.
Upon receiving permission, Lin Chen pushed open the bamboo door and walked in.
"Greetings, Aunt."
Seeing Lu Yuyan lying on the sickbed, Lin Chen quickly bowed.
"That's enough, don't call me Aunt anymore. You should call me Martial Aunt."
"Your master is my junior disciple."
Lu Yuyan gave a kind smile, resolving all of Lin Chen's doubts.
"Ah? Martial Aunt?"
Hearing this explanation, Lin Chen was truly surprised.
Before, he had seen his master acting alone and thought he had no family in this world, but he never expected his master to have a senior sister.
The moment he heard this explanation, besides confusion, Lin Chen inexplicably felt a trace of resentment.
He knew how much hardship his master and senior sister had endured over the years.
If this Lu Yuyan was truly his master's senior sister, how could she have watched him suffer?
"You seem to have some resentment towards me."
Lu Yuyan smiled faintly and asked Lin Chen.
As a woman, she was quite sensitive to emotions.
The change in Lin Chen's expression did not escape her notice.
"Martial Aunt, do you know what my master has gone through these past few years?"
Lin Chen's expression returned to normal, and he asked Lu Yuyan.
"I don't know. Isn't he in seclusion practicing? What's wrong? Did something happen?"
Hearing Lin Chen's words, Lu Yuyan immediately became curious and asked.
All the information she had received so far was that Zhang Long was in seclusion and no one was allowed to disturb him.
How could it be that, based on Lin Chen's words, her junior disciple had not been doing well all these years?
"I see, then it's nothing."
Upon hearing Lu Yuyan's explanation, Lin Chen was relieved.
But thinking about it, his master had gone to prison back then, and he had put himself there.
It was normal that Lu Yuyan didn't know.
"What's wrong, Lin Chen? What has your master gone through all these years?"
Seeing Lin Chen remain silent, Lu Yuyan became even more curious.
Their master's lineage only had the two of them.
Moreover, they had grown up together since childhood and had a deep affection for each other.
If Zhang Long had really encountered any trouble, why wouldn't he have come to find his senior sister?
"Right, where is your mistress?"
However, Lu Yuyan's next question left Lin Chen completely speechless.
So, the Martial Aunt in front of him truly knew nothing.
"To answer Martial Aunt, my mistress passed away ten years ago."
"Master and Senior Sister were framed by villains and almost died."
Lin Chen did not dare to hide anything and quickly told Lu Yuyan about his master and senior sister's experiences over the years.