Five days later, Lin Fan and Hu Liena parted ways at a crossroads, each heading toward their own destination.
After all, Lin Fan needed to go to Heaven Dou City, while Hu Liena was returning to Spirit City.
"Elder Lin, after being in the Slaughter City for so long, you're not going to meet my teacher first?" Hu Liena asked before leaving.
"Not this time. Just tell your teacher that we'll meet again in the future. Take care." Lin Fan replied calmly.
"Take care." Hu Liena nodded, then turned and left.
Yet after a few steps, she turned back with a bright smile.
"Elder Lin, when I return, I'll remember your teachings. While cultivating my soul power, I'll also continue to study music, just like in Slaughter City."
Lin Fan only nodded, offering no further response.
Thus, the two finally parted ways. Once Hu Liena's figure disappeared from his sight, Lin Fan turned north and headed toward Heaven Dou City.
A few days later, Lin Fan reached the towering walls of Heaven Dou City. After entering, he returned to his residence, took a thorough bath, changed into fresh clothes, and only then went out again—this time, to see Tang Yuehua.
It was already past three in the afternoon, right during Moon Pavilion's lessons.
Fortunately, one of the guards stationed outside Moon Pavilion recognized Lin Fan and did not stop him.
Lin Fan walked straight inside.
As soon as he stepped into the main hall, the steward Odder noticed him.
Odder immediately approached respectfully.
"Your Excellency, you've returned! Madam Yuehua is currently teaching. Should I go announce your arrival?"
Lin Fan looked toward the curtain on the high platform of the hall and raised his hand to stop Odder.
"No need. I haven't heard her music in a long time. I'll just wait quietly until she finishes her class."
"As you wish, Your Excellency. Please, this way. There are seats available in the back." Odder guided him.
Lin Fan nodded and followed, sitting down at a table near the rear.
"Your Excellency, please rest. I'll return to the entrance." Odder excused himself, then quietly instructed a maid to bring water for Lin Fan.
Lin Fan waited silently for about an hour.
At four-thirty, the lesson ended, and the students filed out of the hall one after another.
Behind the curtain on the high platform, Tang Yuehua stood up, stretching her somewhat stiff body after teaching half the day.
"Madam Yuehua, please have some water. You've worked hard." A maid handed her a cup respectfully.
"Worked hard? Hah… compared to my husband fighting for his life in the Slaughter City, how can this be considered hardship?"
Whenever Tang Yuehua spoke like this, her maids exchanged knowing glances. Clearly, in the year and a half since Lin Fan had left, this wasn't the first time she'd sighed so wistfully.
Meanwhile, as the hall emptied, Odder caught sight of Lin Fan seated quietly in the corner.
His eyes widened, and he hurriedly rushed to the high platform, entering the curtained area.
"Madam Yuehua!" he said, almost breathless.
"Steward, why are you so flustered? Have I not told you that here, you must always maintain proper decorum and composure?" Tang Yuehua scolded lightly, her face stern before he could explain.
"It's not that, Madam Yuehua… It's His Excellency Sword Shadow. He has returned. He's been sitting there the whole time." Odder explained with a helpless smile.
"What!"
Tang Yuehua's face instantly lit up, all thoughts of composure forgotten. The transformation was so swift that Odder and the maids were left stunned.
In a flurry, Tang Yuehua swept aside the curtain—just in time to see Lin Fan standing there with a gentle smile.
"Brother Lin!" she cried with joy.
Lifting the hem of her skirt, she rushed forward, throwing herself into his arms.
"Brother Lin, you're finally back!"
Seeing her so overcome, Lin Fan embraced her tightly, patting her back softly as he whispered into her ear:
"Yuehua, I'm sorry. I've made you wait so long again."
Her voice choked as she clung to him.
"It doesn't matter… it doesn't matter. You're back, and that's enough."
"People are watching you, you know. They're laughing at us." Lin Fan teased softly.
At that, Odder and the others quickly turned their backs tactfully.
Blushing, Tang Yuehua released him shyly.
"Let's go home."
"En."
Hand in hand, the two left Moon Pavilion. On their way back to Lin Fan's small courtyard, they stopped to buy some groceries.
All the while, Tang Yuehua clung tightly to his arm, as though afraid that if she let go, he might leave again.
That night, passion was inevitable.
Afterward, the two lay side by side in tender embrace.
"Brother Lin… this time, you won't leave me for another year and a half, will you?" Tang Yuehua whispered anxiously.
She feared hearing him say he would be gone again.
"No. My strength has already reached level 98. Blind seclusion won't help me much anymore," Lin Fan assured her gently.
"Besides, this time, I plan to return to the Clear Sky Sect with you. You won't mind, will you?"
"Really? How could I mind! But… Brother Lin, why the sudden decision to go back to Clear Sky Sect with me?" Tang Yuehua asked, her heart fluttering sweetly.
Inside, her thoughts stirred shyly:
Could it be… Brother Lin is planning to ask my elder brother about our marriage.
"Of course, I'm going to ask your brother for our marriage. Though we're not young anymore, I must give you an official status." Lin Fan said seriously.
"But what if my brother, like my father, refuses to let us be together?" Tang Yuehua asked nervously.
"He wouldn't dare!" Lin Fan declared firmly.
"Why not?" she blinked in surprise.
"Because your brother can't defeat me anymore. If he doesn't agree, I'll fight him until he does." Lin Fan said domineeringly.
"Pfft, that's my brother you're talking about!" Tang Yuehua rolled her eyes, though her heart swelled with joy.
"But if he truly refuses, then I'll never forgive him for the rest of my life."
"Yuehua, you're the best." Lin Fan kissed her forehead.
"But… aside from that, there's another matter. It concerns the Clear Sky Sect." His tone shifted, growing serious.
"What do you mean?" Tang Yuehua asked in confusion.
"I remember you once told me about your grandfather—that he vanished while seeking godhood when you were young."
"Yes…"
"Well, during my trial in the Slaughter City, I met a peerless expert who called himself Tang Chen. I recall you telling me your grandfather's name was also Tang Chen."
"When I told him I was your lover, he revealed his Clear Sky Hammer to me. Only then did I realize he was indeed your grandfather." Lin Fan explained.
"What!"
Tang Yuehua sat bolt upright in shock.
"You saw my grandfather? Where is he now? Is he still in Slaughter City?"
"No. After regaining his clarity, he said he was heading to Sea God Island. Before leaving, he handed me this golden hammer—he said it was the token of the Clear Sky Sect's Grand Elder. Then he left in great haste."
"Before he departed, he also entrusted me with some tasks."
Lin Fan then recounted in detail his encounter with Tang Chen, including how he defeated the Slaughter King and awakened Tang Chen's true self.
Tang Yuehua listened in stunned silence, overwhelmed by the revelation.
"Brother Lin, this is urgent. We must return to the Clear Sky Sect immediately—tomorrow morning!" she declared firmly.
Lin Fan nodded.