"Grandpa!"
Zhang Hao looked at his Grandpa, who was smiling at him, and said respectfully.
"Zhang Hao, if your Father were still here, seeing you like this now, he would definitely be very pleased." Zhang Yaobang sighed emotionally.
"Grandpa, I came this time because I wanted to know Father's whereabouts." Zhang Hao said solemnly.
"I guessed as much."
Zhang Yaobang said with a slightly bitter expression, "A year ago, your Father and I went to Frost City to attend a birthday celebration. On our way back, we passed by Despair Ridge."
Despair Ridge? Just hearing the name, Zhang Hao's heart couldn't help but feel a chill.
Despair Ridge is a forbidden area in Watt Country and also a very terrifying place. Inside, there are not only endless Demonic Beasts but also countless Ferocious Beasts. There are even many unknown dangers. Martial Warriors with weak strength who enter will definitely never return.
Zhang Yaobang continued, "At that time, we were attacked by those beasts. There were over twenty masked men who attacked your Father and me. Naturally, the two of us couldn't resist the attacks of so many masked assassins, so in utter desperation, we had no choice but to flee into Despair Ridge. After fleeing into Despair Ridge, your Father and I got separated. In the end, I was still caught up to. That was at a cliff. Facing the pursuit of over a dozen assassins, I ultimately chose to jump down to seek the only chance of survival. Fortunately, I was destined for a long life and survived a desperate situation. It was only a month ago that my injuries at the bottom of the cliff fully healed."
It turned out that after Zhang Yaobang's injuries healed, he searched Despair Ridge once. However, because Despair Ridge was truly too terrifying, he didn't dare to search deeply. Finally, he hurried back. In this month, through Zhang Yanwu's actions and the evidence he collected, Zhang Yaobang finally learned that the mastermind behind it was his rebellious son, Zhang Yanwu. Ultimately, Zhang Yaobang took advantage of the Family competition to eliminate Zhang Yanwu.
Zhang Yaobang looked at Zhang Hao apologetically and said, "Zhang Hao, this time, I didn't pursue the matter with many Elders who participated in the rebellion with your second uncle. I hope you don't take it to heart. I did this for the sake of the Zhang Family."
Zhang Hao nodded understandingly and said, "Grandpa, please don't say that. I understand that you did this for the sake of the Zhang Family."
After a pause, Zhang Hao said thoughtfully, "Grandpa, do you think the mastermind behind this was only second uncle?"
Zhang Yaobang heard the implied meaning in Zhang Hao's words, frowned, looked at him, and asked, "Zhang Hao, what do you mean?"
"Grandpa, according to what you said, there were three Great Martial Masters and over twenty Martial Warrior realm Martial Warriors chasing you and Father. Do you think it's possible with just second uncle's people?"
"Zhang Hao, you're right. I really overlooked this point."
Zhang Yaobang frowned, his expression somewhat solemn.
"Grandpa, you don't need to guess anymore. The only ones who would want trouble with our Zhang Family are those few families." Zhang Hao said this with certainty.
Zhang Yaobang gave Zhang Hao a deep look, nodded slightly, and said, "You're right. The other two major families in Watt Country and the Royal Family have long been wary of our Zhang Family. They don't want us to grow too strong and have long wanted to unite to deal with us. This time, they definitely played a part. It's just that we don't have any evidence."
Zhang Hao shook his head and said, "Grandpa, even if we had evidence, would we really dare to make a move against them? I believe everything still depends on our own strength."
Zhang Hao paused, then continued, "Don't worry, Grandpa. One day, I will make them pay for their blood debt."
Zhang Yaobang looked at Zhang Hao, sighed deeply, and said, "Zhang Hao, I always thought I saw everything clearly, but now I realize I'm far inferior to you!"
After chatting with his Grandpa about everyday matters for a while, Zhang Hao returned. Although his Grandpa strongly urged Zhang Hao to move back, Zhang Hao was very satisfied with his new home and temporarily refused his Grandpa's request. After returning to his residence in Ninghai City, a servant reported that the Li Family in Ninghai City had sent an invitation.
Zhang Hao was slightly surprised. He took the invitation and looked at it. Only then did he realize that it was an invitation to the Martial Arts Assembly sent by the Wang Family.
Zhang Hao still had some impression of the Martial Arts Assembly in his memory. In Watt Country, led by the three major families and the Royal Family, the Martial Arts Assembly is held every year. The renowned prodigies from other families in Watt Country all participate. In the past, the Zhang Family was also the main character of the Prodigy assembly. But now, the Zhang Family has gradually declined. Although they don't necessarily finish last in every Martial Arts Assembly, they have long lost their competitiveness.
"Tsk tsk, I didn't expect you to receive this invitation? In ten days, there will be a good show to watch."
Ning Xue appeared unpredictably, showing up beside Zhang Hao at some unknown time. She poked her small head out and curiously looked at the invitation in his hand.
"What? Are you interested too?" Zhang Hao looked at Ning Xue.
Ning Xue pouted and said, "I'm not interested at all. I'm already at the high level of the Martial Master realm. If I were to participate in your Martial Arts Assembly, it wouldn't be a fair fight! Moreover, I'm not from Watt Country."
Zhang Hao nodded slightly and said with interest, "I estimate that people from the Wang and Li Families are watching me become a joke. If I participate in the Martial Arts Assembly, many people will probably target me."
"Hehe, you're currently riding the wave of popularity from the Zhang Family competition. I think you've attracted the interest of many people. This time at the Martial Arts Assembly, I bet many people want to gauge your strength!" Ning Xue looked at Zhang Hao and smiled slyly.
"If they want to be abused, I don't mind fulfilling their wish." A hint of cold sternness appeared on Zhang Hao's face.
Ning Xue blinked her beautiful eyes a few times, chuckled, and said, "It seems like meeting you is truly their misfortune."
Her big, beautiful eyes darted around. Ning Xue looked at Zhang Hao and smiled, "But when the time comes, when you go, take me with you too!"
Zhang Hao looked at Ning Xue with some confusion and asked, "Didn't you say you weren't participating? Why do you want to go again?"
Ning Xue glared at Zhang Hao and snorted, "Although I'm not participating in the martial arts competition, I can still go have fun. Since I've come to Watt Country this once and encountered an interesting opportunity, I should at least join in the fun."
"Alright!"
Zhang Hao let out a wry smile, always feeling that taking Ning Xue was a very troublesome matter.
"Hehe, then it's settled. I'm going out for a stroll." With that, Ning Xue drifted away, emitting a pleasant sound like a silver bell.
Zhang Hao shook his head, then went to see Zhang Jianfeng before returning to his room.
After a busy day, Zhang Hao had long wanted to take a good bath and wash away the weariness of the day.
Suddenly, Zhang Hao's eyebrow twitched, because for some reason, he always felt like someone was there.
"Holy crap! Could it be... watching me bathe?" Zhang Hao thought about it in horror and felt goosebumps all over his body.
Zhang Hao scanned the surroundings with his gaze and immediately found a flaw. His gaze finally landed on the wooden cabinet in front of the bathtub. The System's power lay in this; as long as Zhang Hao deliberately used the System to search, the health bars of all characters would appear.
"It's her?"
A teasing smile appeared on Zhang Hao's face. This uninvited guest was precisely the girl he had met at the Sea Sky Auction House who had asked him for the seven-colored stone.