Morning.
Fang Yu stood by the window, looking at Luo City as it slowly awakened, filled with mixed emotions.
They would be leaving tomorrow. There would likely be no chance to return.
This place once held his "home" and family. Now, there was nothing left.
No place to return to.
Taking a deep breath, Fang Yu decided to stroll around the city. Just to clear his mind.
With the hidden forces of the Black Vatican in Luo City dismantled, it could now be considered relatively safe.
However, just as he stepped out of his room, the door to the neighboring room opened as well.
A handsome young man emerged.
It was Fang Jin.
Fang Yu was slightly surprised. After giving a small nod, he continued downstairs.
"Brother, please wait a moment," Fang Jin called out to him.
"Is there something?" Fang Yu asked.
"I'd like to invite you to sit together for a while. I heard there's a good tea restaurant nearby. Would you honor me with your company?" Fang Jin asked.
After a brief hesitation, Fang Yu nodded in agreement.
There was no harm in getting to know someone from a clan.
At the tea restaurant.
Looking at the delicate breakfast laid out on the table, Fang Yu felt a slight sense of nostalgia.
He had seen others eat such things before, but had never stepped into a place like this himself. Now that he was sitting here, the innocence of childhood was long gone.
Though, strictly speaking, he had not really been a child even back then.
"Fang Jin of the Ghost City Fang Clan. May I know your name, brother?" Fang Jin asked politely.
"Fang Yu."
"So it's Brother Fang." Fang Jin did not inquire about Fang Yu's background. Instead, he expressed his gratitude for last night.
"If you hadn't stepped in, the outcome might have been disastrous. I'm truly grateful."
"You're too polite. I didn't contribute much," Fang Yu replied.
Fang Jin took out a jade pendant and gently placed it on the table.
"This pendant is a token for honored guests of the Fang Clan. If you ever need help in the future, you may call upon me once."
A favor from a Fang Clan disciple? Fang Yu raised an eyebrow.
That was quite a generous gesture.
"I heard your element is Ice. I have something here that may suit you." As he spoke, Fang Jin produced an exquisite box.
Just by looking at the box, Fang Yu could tell the item inside was extraordinary.
"Go ahead and open it," Fang Jin said with a smile.
Fang Yu politely drew the box toward himself and opened it.
Inside was a vibrant green tea leaf, its edges tinged with a faint icy blue.
Fang Yu did not know its exact name.
But there were fluctuations of Ice Element energy around the leaf, contained yet immense. At a glance, it was clearly a cultivation treasure of astonishing value!
Fang Yu was inwardly shocked and slowly closed the box.
"It's too precious," he said, not taking it.
Fang Jin smiled and shook his head.
"The Fang Clan is some distance from Bo City. Under normal circumstances, we wouldn't step foot there. This time, it was mainly because of my childhood sweetheart. She returned home to visit relatives.
We hadn't planned to go, but then we suddenly discovered she had gone missing, so we rushed over. We traced the clues from Bo City to Cong City, and then to Luo City. Eventually, we traced everything back to Zuo Lan. That led to what happened last night. Unfortunately, we almost fell there."
Fang Yu lowered his gaze.
No wonder.
How tragic, just returning home to visit family, only to run into the Black Vatican.
In the end, he shook his head.
"I'm sorry, but it wasn't me who acted last night."
"That's alright." Fang Jin pushed the box toward Fang Yu again.
Fang Yu refused.
Even if Fang Jin came from a clan with substantial resources, this cultivation treasure was still extremely valuable for a Basic Tier Mage like him.
Moreover, Fang Yu possessed the Ice Orb, that extraordinary object.
This item did not hold much value for him.
After that, Fang Jin did not insist further, nor did he probe deeper. They simply chatted casually while eating breakfast.
After tasting it, Fang Yu found the flavor quite decent.
He considered packing some to bring back for the mysterious woman, it might not be a bad idea.
After a long while.
Fang Yu parted ways with Fang Jin.
Watching Fang Yu disappear from sight, Fang Jin sighed.
He felt that Fang Yu was somewhat difficult to approach, perhaps a bit too cautious.
He had genuinely wanted to gift the Heavenly Ice Leaf to build a bond of goodwill.
At this time, Fang Yu continued walking along the streets.
He walked along familiar roads or rather, the further he walked, the clearer his memories became.
And the more familiar everything felt.
Of course, some places no longer overlapped with his memories. Certain roads had been altered, and new houses had appeared.
Places that had clearly been empty land in his memory were now tall buildings.
After some time, he reached the riverside. There were a few trees along the bank, and beneath them several children were playing and laughing.
Seeing this, Fang Yu could not help but smile.
He had played here before as well, though he had never quite fit in with the children nearby.
"Why did I come here back then?"
Fang Yu thought for a moment, then remembered.
Chopping firewood had been too exhausting, so he had sneaked out.
But every time, he never rested for long before his stepmother dragged him back.
Only occasionally had he managed to stay until mealtime.
Standing there in thought, Fang Yu realized that most of his memories were of his stepmother.
There were far fewer of his biological father.
Perhaps because he had neither beaten nor scolded him, nor shown him any affection.
Fang Yu stopped wandering and found a place to sit, watching the clear river and listening to the children playing nearby.
For a moment, it felt as though he had returned to his childhood.
It was somewhat nostalgic.
Splash!
Suddenly, the sound of something falling into the water rang out.
Fang Yu turned his head and saw that a child had accidentally fallen into the river while roughhousing.
"Mom! Mom, come quick! Gou Dan fell into the water!"
Seeing this, Fang Yu took two quick steps to the riverbank and used his telekinesis to lift the child out.
By the time the adults hurried over in panic, they found Gou Dan sitting by the river, drenched from head to toe, clearly having just fallen in, yet there was no one else around.
"How did you get out?" Gou Dan's father asked.
"I—I don't know?" Gou Dan said blankly.
He had suddenly fallen into the river, and then suddenly he was on the riverbank.
Smack!
Gou Dan's father smacked him on the head and said excitedly,
"Why aren't you thanking the River God for saving your life?"
Watching the people kneeling by the river in prayer, Fang Yu merely smiled faintly.
They were worshipping the river. It had nothing to do with him.
He did not stay, not because he was afraid to be seen.
It was just troublesome.
It had only been a small effort. There was no need.
After watching a little longer, and once the adults had finished scolding the children, Fang Yu finally turned and left.
As people at the bottom rung of society, parents could not possibly keep watch over so many children at all times.
But they still needed to discipline them when necessary, to prevent tragedies.
As evening fell, Fang Yu somehow found himself walking back to the old residence he once called "home."
He stood at the entrance for a while.
After hesitating for a long time, he decided to do something after all.
In the end, he gently knocked on the residence gate.
The one who opened the door was still that elderly woman.
"You again?" She remembered Fang Yu.
Just as she was about to invite him inside, Fang Yu shook his head.
"No, I'm here to ask the two of you for a favor."
"Wait a moment." The old woman immediately called into the house,
"Old man, come out quickly."
Her voice was not loud, as if it took some effort. Only after someone responded from inside did she smile and explain,
"My memory isn't very good."
Fang Yu smiled and nodded in understanding.
Soon, the old man walked out. Seeing Fang Yu, he looked slightly surprised.
"Young man, is something the matter?"
"It's like this." Fang Yu hesitated for a moment before continuing, "If one day someone from the Fang family comes here, I'd like to ask the two elders to pass along a message."
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