Thinking of all the ancestors displayed in the ancestral hall of the Ji family, Li Hao gave a respectful bow according to the Ji family’s rites.
After Ji Yunqing introduced Li Hao’s identity, he left the ancestral hall with Ji Yun Yue.
Ji Yunzhan, upon seeing his grandnephew, was so excited that he flew out from his tablet and started questioning Li Hao at length.
Li Hao also sat on the straw mat, chatting leisurely with the old man’s Heroic Spirit.
Though it was their first meeting, they didn’t feel much like strangers. Li Hao’s mood was quite relaxed, and he even brought up some incidents from his mother’s childhood.
Light laughter occasionally rang out from within the ancestral hall.
Ji Yunqing stood outside the ancestral hall, listening to the laughter inside, his eyes showing some relief.
The next day.
News of the calm Great Wilderness Heaven arrived.
First thing in the morning, Ji Yun Yue came, and Li Hao, who had waited the entire night, got up to fly towards the Holy Land Secret Realm in the far north together with his great-aunt.
Thinking that he would soon meet his mother face to face, Li Hao felt somewhat anticipative. It wasn’t that he had deep feelings; rather, it felt like he was about to meet an old friend from years ago.
He still remembered the earnest care in those seven letters from home.
He kept that woman’s intentions close to his heart.
…
…
Outside the territory of the Ji family.
In a barren rocky area, a figure hid; it was Li Tian Gang.
He fixed his gaze on the distant bustling area, which had previously erupted in a fierce battle. The energy released attracted him there, making him realize that it was the Ji family’s land that he had been searching for many days.
He had been circling nearby for four or five days but seemed to be getting nowhere.
He realized he had fallen into some sort of Array.
Initially, he suspected that his wife had intentionally left misleading information, hoping to prevent him from trying to find her and losing his life. But recalling that she was willing to leave the way to the Great Wilderness Heaven, even if he did not enter the Ji family’s domain, the area would still be extremely dangerous. There would be no need to deceive him.
If she meant to deceive, she could have outright refused to provide any clues.
“Qingqing, Hao Er…”
Li Tian Gang’s eyes flickered with light, and he took a deep breath.
He concealed his aura and quietly waited for the noisy conflict to end. Once the other party’s people left, he cautiously approached.
When he saw a group of people embroidered with the ancient character “Ji” on their clothes, Li Tian Gang felt both excitement and nervousness. He knew he had finally arrived at the Ji family’s Secret Realm described by his wife.
That ancient character Ji was his wife’s family name and one of the few ancient characters he recognized.
Seeing that the group was about to leave, Li Tian Gang gritted his teeth and chose to take a risk, life or death being out of his hands. He could not allow the mistakes he made to be borne by his children, including his wife.
“Wait a moment!”
Li Tian Gang stepped forward and called out.
Hearing this, many people of the Ji family were startled and quickly looked over, their gazes all focusing on Li Tian Gang.
“Who goes there?!”
Someone immediately called out in alarm.
Li Tian Gang hurriedly said, “I am Ji Qingqing’s husband, searching for my wife.”
He intentionally did not reveal his own full name or status, worried the Ji people might attack without understanding, thus avoiding bringing trouble to the Li family.
If it came to that, their clan would have to seek protection from the Royal Family.
At Li Tian Gang’s words, the Ji family members were stunned.
One of the elders, who turned out to be Ji Yunyu, also Ji Yun Ge’s younger brother, Old Fourth Ji, spoke up.
“You’re Qingqing’s husband?”
Ji Yunyu, hearing Li Tian Gang’s words, was taken aback, then recalled the young boy, his eyes lighting up.
“Uh…”
Li Tian Gang felt tremendous pressure from the old man, his heart shuddering in fear. He had previously encountered beings from the Grand Tao of Peace Realm, and the old man in front of him imparted a similar aura.
The Ji family was indeed full of formidable people. Just any elder here was from the Grand Tao of Peace Realm. His wife was right; without reaching the Tao Realm himself, coming here would likely lead to certain death!
He tensed up, biting down on his teeth, ready to admit fault and hope that his own death could exchange for his wife and Li Hao’s lives. But suddenly, the old man said:
“Did you lose your way from your son? Why have you just arrived?”
His tone was surprisingly mild.
Being experienced in military affairs, Li Tian Gang heard no threat in his tone, which left him startled, then immediately tensed:
“Elder, have you seen my son?”
He looked anxiously at the old man.
Ji Yunyu couldn’t help but laugh, saying, “Your son arrived a few days ago. Why did you only just arrive, did you get lost outside, trapped by the Array?”
Li Tian Gang’s face paled slightly, but seeing the benevolent smile on the other’s face, hope rose in his heart:
“Yes, junior is dull and got trapped by the Array. I don’t know, Elder, if my son has offended anyone here. I am willing to apologize on his behalf, even if it costs my life, abiding by the Ji family’s law. I won’t resist; I only ask you to spare my wife, Qingqing, and my son, Li Hao.”
“Li Hao?”
Ji Yunyu was taken aback, and the smile disappeared from his face, his expression becoming serious: “Did you just say you are Qingqing’s husband?”
Li Tian Gang, noticing the sudden chill in the other’s words, his face changed, unsure of what he had said wrong, his heart filled with anxiety:
“Indeed.”
“You said your son is Li Hao?”
“…Indeed.”
“Nonsense!”
Ji Yunyu’s face darkened immediately, saying, “Think carefully again about what your son is called.”
“My son…” Li Tian Gang felt absurd. Did he really need to think about his own son’s name?