Chapter 11

Despite serving his master for a long time, he had never grown accustomed to that chilling look on his face.

"I will handle it. Take this to that man; there's no need for words, he will understand," Li Jun replied, turning around and handing the figure a wooden box. As soon as Li Jun spoke, the figure swiftly vanished. Li Jun, too, prepared to depart, but not before stealing one last glance in the direction where Zhao Yang had disappeared.

Zhao Yang walked alone towards the city, feeling a void in his heart. He frequently looked back at the spot where Li Jun had stood last. The emptiness consumed him; he longed to see Li Jun again, to be with him. However, he knew that Li Jun belonged to another kingdom, and in order to reach him, Zhao Yang needed to grow stronger. Once outside the Zhao mansion, he was recognized by one of the guards who opened the front gate for him.

Zhao Yang immediately sought out his grandfather. He had been gone for so long, leaving his grandfather alone. He first searched for him in his bedroom, but he wasn't there. Then, he looked in the garden, but his grandfather was absent from there as well. He searched every corner of the house, but his grandfather was nowhere to be found. There was only one place left to check—the secret study. It was an area of the mansion known only to the Zhao family and a select few who were close and trustworthy.

As he suspected, Zhao Yang discovered his grandfather in the secret study, gazing at a piece of paper, his face showing signs of fatigue. Zhao Yang shook his head; he knew his grandfather hadn't taken proper care of himself during the months he was gone. It seemed as though the aging process had accelerated.

"I thought I told you to go to bed early, Grandpa," Zhao Yang said as he approached his grandfather. Zhao Ai looked up and saw that his grandson had returned, bringing immense relief to his heart. He stood up from his seat and embraced Zhao Yang tightly.

"Oh, my precious grandson, you're finally back. Your training must have been harsh; look at you, you've become so thin. Come, I'll have someone prepare a delicious meal for you," Zhao Ai said, leading Zhao Yang to sit in the chair he had been occupying before and leaving to summon assistance. Zhao Yang glanced at the documents his grandfather had been perusing and couldn't resist opening the scroll a bit further.

What he read within shook him to his core. He couldn't believe what his eyes were seeing, rubbing them in disbelief. The more he read, the more shock coursed through him. Just as he was about to uncover the location, he heard his grandfather returning. 

Zhao Yang quickly rolled the scroll back to its original position and acted as if nothing had happened. His charade succeeded, as his grandfather didn't mention anything and took his seat opposite Zhao Yang.

They conversed while enjoying their meal, sharing their experiences from the past few months. After finishing his food, Zhao Yang prepared to depart when his grandfather's voice stopped him in his tracks.

"Yang-er, there's something your grandfather needs to tell you," Zhao Ai said, pausing for a moment before taking a deep breath and locking eyes with Zhao Yang.

"Your father was a remarkably strong man, known for his strength in the neighbouring kingdoms. Though he wasn't the most powerful, he left a significant impact. When your mother became pregnant with you, he pushed himself to the limit. Your mother was also a formidable woman. After your birth, both your parents couldn't bear to see their precious son weak and frail, so they set out to find a rare flower that grew on mountain peaks. The specific mountain was not mentioned, but your mother was able to recognize it. We received news of your parents' deaths, but we managed to obtain the rare flower, which saved your life. For sixteen years, I refused to believe your parents were truly gone, and it turns out I was right. I dispatched men all over the continent to search for your parents, and recently, I received some news," Zhao Ai revealed, pausing for a moment.

"Yang-er, your parents are alive. Read this and keep it with you. Your brother now bears the responsibility of ensuring the safety of millions of people, and he has his wife to care for. I can only entrust this task to you," Zhao Ai said, passing a scroll into Zhao Yang's hands.

After spending a bit more time with his grandfather, Zhao Yang retired to his room. He sat on his bed and carefully read through the entire scroll again. According to the information, his parents might have been taken to a distant place far from the Mu Kingdom known as the Demon Kingdom. Zhao Yang had read numerous books about the world he lived in and knew of the Da Continent. However, there was little information available about the Demon Kingdom—an enigmatic realm where those who ventured in never returned. It was shrouded in mystery.

If his parents were truly alive and held captive in the Demon Kingdom, he had to find them and bring them back. However, the continent was vast, and its population was immense. He needed to become stronger. Then, he remembered the rare herbs he had obtained from the forest. Gathering everything together, he used the herbs and discovered that they made his cultivation process significantly easier. After taking a refreshing bath, Zhao Yang noticed a small bag among his belongings. Opening it, he found a tiny bottle of liquid and a small note. The note read, "Dear Zhao Yang, if you're reading this, it means we have parted ways, and you have safely returned home. While we were in the forest searching for herbs, I could sense your desire to become stronger. This liquid I've left for you will aid in your cultivation, making it easier. I sincerely hope that you can grow stronger and come find me in the Demon Kingdom. My feelings for you are genuine. From Li Jun."

Zhao Yang's shock intensified as he read the note, realizing that Li Jun hailed from the Demon Kingdom, the very place his parents were taken to. 

This revelation made Zhao Yang's mission clear: he could find his parents and reunite with Li Jun simultaneously. The fact that Li Jun was willing to entrust him with something so precious further astonished him. However, rather than consuming it immediately, Zhao Yang decided to store it away safely. It was the first gift Li Jun had given him, and he wanted to keep it as a precious memento.

Leaving his room, Zhao Yang summoned the two maids and instructed them to prepare his bath. Once the bath was ready, he dismissed the maids and immersed himself in the warm water. For the first time in months, he enjoyed a proper, soothing bath. Lost in the relaxation, Zhao Yang unknowingly dozed off, only to be awakened by Jing's concerned voice.