Hearing Chen Fan's words, Feng Jun snapped back to his senses.
"This is too much. We lose nothing in the process…" he thought, feeling that this cooperation tilted overwhelmingly in their favor. The generosity of the offer made him uneasy—he wasn't sure he could accept it in good conscience.
Chen Fan's gaze swept over Feng Jun and the rest of the Feng family. As expected, they all seemed to share the same sentiment—except for Feng Yanyan. Unlike the others, her eyes remained glued to the book, her expression one of pure fascination, completely oblivious to the conversation.
Seeing her daughter's silly antics, Mo Qinglan sighed before pinching her lightly. Feng Yanyan yelped, snapping her head toward her mother with a look of confusion.
Chen Fan chuckled at the sight but soon turned his attention back to Feng Jun. "Then, I will shamelessly ask for your help three times in the future," he said with a relaxed yet firm tone.
"This…" Feng Jun hesitated, wanting to protest further. However, when he met Chen Fan's unwavering gaze, he knew this was the young man's final decision. With a deep breath, he nodded. "Alright. Let's do it that way." His expression softened as he looked at Chen Fan with newfound warmth. "Thank you, Xiao Fan."
"There's no need to be so formal between us, Grandpa Feng," Chen Fan replied with a chuckle, effortlessly dispelling the tension in the room.
Just then, Feng Yanyan's voice broke the moment. "If I practice this… can I fly like in the movies?" she asked eagerly, her eyes shining with anticipation as she turned to Chen Fan.
He smirked teasingly. "Of course you can. But you'll have to train hard—it won't be easy, you know."
"Hmph! Just don't cry when I surpass you, Brother Chen," she declared smugly, crossing her arms in triumph.
"Haha! Then I'll be looking forward to that day," Chen Fan laughed, amused by her enthusiasm.
Suddenly, a voice rang in his mind.
"Hm."
Chen Fan's expression subtly shifted as Ao Xue's voice echoed in his consciousness.
"What's wrong?" he asked through their telepathic link.
"I sensed divinity just now," Ao Xue responded.
Chen Fan's brows furrowed. His mind immediately turned serious. He had long confirmed that gods did not exist in this world—so how could divinity appear?
"Could it be the Blood King?" he asked solemnly.
"No. It wasn't him. The presence felt like a god from another realm… but it was fleeting."
A heavy silence settled over Chen Fan's thoughts. The situation was becoming increasingly complicated. Unseen variables lurked in every corner, making the future more unpredictable than ever.
"Xiao Fan? What's wrong?" Feng Jun's voice pulled him out of his contemplation. The older man was watching him with slight concern, having noticed the brief moment of silence.
Chen Fan quickly shook off his thoughts and flashed a casual smile. "Ah, it's nothing, Grandpa Feng. I just remembered something, that's all." He laughed lightly as if it were a trivial matter.
"If you ever need anything, you can come to me," Feng Jun said, puffing out his chest. "I may be weaker than you, but old age has its own advantages, you know."
Chen Fan couldn't help but chuckle at the man's confidence. "Alright, then. If I ever need something urgent, I'll be sure to call you, Grandpa Feng."
"Hahaha! Good! Then I'll make a special ringtone just for that!" Feng Jun laughed heartily, his amusement filling the room.
With the tension finally lifted, Chen Fan and the Feng family conversed in a far more harmonious manner. Even Feng Yuhan, who had remained reserved at first, occasionally asked Chen Fan questions about cultivation. Meanwhile, Feng Yanyan's relentless curiosity about the cultivation world filled the room with a seemingly endless stream of chatter. The atmosphere grew lively, yet amidst the cheerful discussion, Feng Xueying remained silent.
Her thoughts were still consumed by the cultivation manual Chen Fan had given them. To any martial artist, it was nothing short of a priceless treasure. And now, for the first time, she too had a chance to step into a higher world.
She had no idea how much this cultivation manual truly meant to Chen Fan, but one thing was clear—cultivators typically lived in seclusion, rarely involving themselves in the affairs or advancements of martial artists. That was why, even after hundreds or thousands of years, there had been no news of anyone reaching the so-called "peak realm," which remained nothing more than a myth. Yet Chen Fan had not only bestowed them with such an invaluable resource, but he was also willing to search for talent among those considered mere mortals. This was an unprecedented opportunity, one that could completely transform their world.
The more she reflected on how completely she had misjudged Chen Fan, the more unsettled she became. A strange discomfort filled her heart, making it difficult to face him. She didn't know what attitude she should take toward him now. Should she treat him as a business partner? But that felt wrong—he had simply handed them an unimaginable gift without asking for anything in return. Should she see him as a benefactor? But how could she, after how she had burned the bridge between them the very first time they met?
For the first time, she genuinely wanted to slap her past self for her reckless actions.
If I try to get closer to him now, will he think I'm only after benefits? she wondered bitterly. That after humiliating him in the past, I now want to reap the rewards of his generosity?
And so, unable to figure out where she stood, she could do nothing but remain a silent bystander, listening to her family's harmonious conversation without joining in.
Feng Yuhan, watching his daughter struggle with tangled emotions, could understand exactly what she was thinking. After all, whether in martial arts or business, he was the one who had spent the most time guiding her. Feng Xueying soon met his gaze, and he simply looked her in the eyes before slowly closing his own.
Take it slow.
It was something he had always told her.
Since she was young, she had followed in his footsteps, and much of her success today was due to his guidance. Whether in martial arts or business, he had always advised her to take things slow. Don't let emotions get the better of you. Look at your past self, understand why you made certain choices, and then ask your present self—are these the things you want to carry into your future?
Taking a deep breath, Feng Xueying gathered her thoughts.
Yes, regret wouldn't change anything. The only way forward was to acknowledge her mistakes and face them.
Then, like a spark in the darkness, a thought surfaced in her mind—the martial arts competition.
Slowly, her emotions settled, and a sense of clarity replaced the turmoil. Let's start over, she decided. I will prove myself in the martial arts competition—not as an ex-fiancée, not as the lady of the Feng family, but as a fellow practitioner. I will prove my worth on my own terms.
Her gaze shifted to the cultivation manual in front of her.
She would not use it—not yet. Not until she felt she was truly worthy of it.
Feng Yuhan, observing his daughter as she gradually calmed herself, felt a faint smile tug at his lips.
Chen Fan patiently answered the Feng family's questions, with nearly eighty percent of them coming from Feng Yanyan, the rest being a mix from the others. Her questions ranged from the innocent and curious, like "Can cultivators slay ghosts?" to "Is there a flying unicorn?" and "Do dragons exist?" Her childlike wonder filled the air, and Chen Fan responded with stories and explanations, making her eyes shine with excitement and longing.
Of course, he didn't mention Ao Xue's existence—at least not yet.
As Chen Fan was speaking, he felt his smartphone vibrate with an incoming notification. He saw it was from Wang Yue. He immediately answered the call, switching to telepathy.
"Oh, you answered!" Wang Yue's voice, slightly exaggerated in surprise, echoed in his mind, causing Chen Fan to laugh awkwardly.
"I'm in front of your house right now. Where are you?" Wang Yue asked.
"I'm at the Feng house," Chen Fan replied.
A brief silence followed before Wang Yue spoke again.
"Hm. I see. Your fiancée, huh? In that case, I'll head back tomorrow."
"No, no, I'm just about to head home. I'll be there in a moment," Chen Fan quickly corrected her.
He turned his attention back to the Feng family. "I'm sorry, but someone is waiting for me now," he said, excusing himself.
Feng Yanyan's mood immediately dropped. "Eh? You're leaving already?" she asked, clearly disappointed, as she still had a mountain of questions to ask.
"Yanyan, Brother Chen is busy. Don't be a nuisance," Mo Qinglan's stern voice came from behind.
Feng Yanyan could only look down, feeling a bit dejected.
Seeing her like this, Chen Fan smiled softly, reaching over to gently pat her head and rub it. "I'll call you later when I have some free time. If you don't mind, I can take you to that place I mentioned next week, and I'll help make your phone like mine."
"Eh, really? It's a promise, right?" Feng Yanyan's mood immediately brightened as her eyes sparkled with excitement.
Mo Qinglan was about to scold her but saw Chen Fan's kind smile and realized it was fine. She sighed softly but smiled in gratitude for Chen Fan's indulgence with her daughter.
"Alright, it's a promise," Chen Fan nodded firmly to Feng Yanyan.
"Thanks, Brother Chen!" she exclaimed, immediately giving him a hug. Chen Fan, used to her clingy nature, didn't mind and allowed her to hug him. He glanced at the rest of the Feng family, noticing they didn't seem bothered by the contact, and felt a slight sense of relief.
After saying his goodbyes, Chen Fan left the Feng house and made his way home.