"Ding Dong!"
The doorbell rang at the entrance to the courtyard.
Qiangu Qitian had lived alone in this small courtyard for three years. Fortunately, life had become quite modern, and the Qiangu clan's land provided a dedicated place for eating. Qiangu Qitian no longer needed to survive in the wilderness; his life was actually much easier than his previous life as a social slave.
"Who is it?"
Qiangu Qitian asked casually, then jumped off the swing and headed towards the door.
Although he knew it couldn't be some unlucky creature like an evil spirit master, Qiangu Qitian still maintained his usual caution.
Having lived here for so long, he'd only heard a few knocks on the door. Keeping a low profile was the key to longevity.
From the camera feed, Qiangu Qitian could clearly see the man.
He looked frail, but he was tall, standing at over 1.8 meters. Though his hair and beard were white, and his face was wrinkled with age, his back remained straight, and his eyes were still bright, as if full of life.
The old man seemed to sense Qiangu Qitian watching him through the camera, and his aged face met the camera's gaze, a gentle smile playing.
"Son, open the door."
Qiangu Qitian could sense that the smile was forced, not unwillingly, but more like he couldn't even smile.
And, more importantly, Qiangu Qitian felt that the door couldn't stop the old man before him.
This wasn't the world of my previous life, where the young man, unscrupulous and undisciplined, had attacked my sixty-nine-year-old comrade. To have lived to this age and still function like a normal person meant that this old man had cultivated for a very long time, and his strength must be no less than that of a Titled Douluo.
Qiangu Qitian opened the door, a puzzled expression on his face. "Grandpa? Are you looking for me?"
The old man looked down at the six-year-old Qiangu Qitian, his bright eyes clouded in the blink of an eye, becoming just like an ordinary old man. After a moment of distraction, tears welled up in the corners of his wrinkled eyes.
The old man crouched down, looking level with Qiangu Qitian, his hands resting on his shoulders. Qiangu Qitian could clearly see the lingering moisture in the old man's eyes.
"Child, is your mother's name Qiangu Roufeng?"
The old man didn't answer Qiangu Qitian's question, but instead asked.bFaced with the old man's question, Qiangu Qitian pondered.
Although his mother, Qiangu Roufeng, shared the surname Qiangu, and her martial spirit might even be the Coiling Dragon Staff, her own talent was certainly not exceptional; it could even be considered mediocre.
And this seemingly powerful old man didn't seem like someone who could be related to his mother.
Qiangu Qitian didn't have the guts to lie before the old man. Those wrinkled eyes gave him the air of utter piercing insight. If it weren't for the fact that two lives had given Qiangu Qitian a spirit far beyond that of a six-year-old, he would have been frightened to tears by those eyes, even if the other person had been very restrained. Ifnhe couldn't figure it out, he'd just speak the truth.
Qiangu Qitian nodded, answering the old man's questions in a childish voice, "Yes, she's my mother."
"Is life going well here? "
"Yes."
"Does anyone bother you?"
"No."
"..."
The old man rattled on with countless trivial questions, and Qiangu Qitian answered them all without holding back.
He had a hunch that the old man before him must have a very close connection with his mother, Qiangu Roufeng.
The idea of inherited talent was only a guideline. Didn't the leader of the Blue Lightning Tyrannosaurus Rex Clan twenty thousand years ago also have a son whose innate soul power was only half a level and whose martial soul had failed to mutate?
"Grandpa, do you know my mother? I, I miss her..."
Qiangu Qitian's eyes welled up as he spoke, his tone tinged with sorrow, like a child who had lost his mother.
This was half genuine emotion, half melancholy, tinged with memories of past lives. In short, there wasn't a trace of falsehood.
Facing an old monster, any performance would have flaws.
The old man reached out and wiped the tears from Qiangu Qitian's eyes, soothing him, "It's okay, child. It's all over. You still have me."
"You?"
Qiangu Qitian's face was puzzled, knowing he was about to learn the old man's relationship with him.
"I'm your grandfather. Your mother, Qiangu Roufeng, is my daughter."
Sure enough...
Qiangu Qitian's suspicions were confirmed. From the moment they met until now, the old man's every move had revealed the care of an elder for his junior. If he hadn't expected this, Zisha would probably have reopened.
Therefore, Qiangu Qitian didn't show any surprise, but remained calm.bThe old man hadn't expected Qiangu Qitian's expression either; instead, he looked a little stunned.
As mentioned earlier, any performance would be ineffective in front of the old man. If Qiangu Qitian pretended to be shocked, it would seem contrived. It would be better to be natural, keeping the initiative within his grasp.
"You don't blame me, but why did I only come to see you after three years?"
The old man's curiosity about Qiangu Qitian grew.
Qiangu Qitian shook his head. "You probably didn't know I was in the Spirit Pagoda before, or even that I existed. You have your reasons. Why should I blame you?"
The old man's brow furrowed as he listened to Qiangu Qitian's words. He couldn't detect the familiarity of a grandson and grandfather in Qiangu Qitian's childish voice; instead, it sounded more like the respect others displayed.
He said he didn't care, but there was still a hint of resentment, wasn't it?
The old man pondered, a smile spreading across his face. The wrinkles on his face smoothed with the smile, making him look even more kind.
"My dear grandson, Grandpa has prepared a gift for you. I hope you like it."
With that, a sandalwood box appeared out of thin air in the old man's hands.
The box wasn't large, only about the size of a palm, and exuded a faint, delicate fragrance. Qiangu Qitian didn't budge, simply accepting the box from the old man.
A gift from an elder shouldn't be refused. He didn't open the box in front of the old man, but carefully put it away.
"Don't you want to open it and take a look?"
Six-year-olds are naturally curious about everything, and the old man, seeing Qiangu Qitian's behavior, felt a little curious as well.
After Qiangu Qitian placed the box in his arms, he replied matter-of-factly,
"I like anything Grandpa gives me."
The tactic was old-fashioned, but it was effective.
"Your name is Qiangu Qitian, right?" The old man didn't wait for Qiangu Qitian to reply, continuing, "From now on, I'll call you Xiaotian. Tomorrow is the day your martial spirit awakens. Rest well and get enough rest today. Don't worry too much."
Qiangu Qitian wasn't surprised that the old man knew his name. After finding him here, how could he not investigate him thoroughly?
Qiangu Qitian even suspected that this grandfather, who had suddenly appeared before him, knew everything about the uncle who had brought him to the Spiritual Transmission Tower headquarters three years ago.
"I understand, Grandpa,"
Qiangu Qitian nodded.
(End of this chapter)