Volume Four: Renown Across the Lands Chapter 125: A Familiar Feeling

Tian Yu had not expected the young man before him to have military connections. He was not at all worried about being taken away by the troops; after all, the Tian family enjoyed a close relationship with the military. What bothered him most, however, was Qin Yang’s look of utter disgust.

He thought to himself that once he was out of military custody, he would certainly come back to make trouble for the other man.

Meanwhile, Qin Yang’s mother was busy cooking at home, completely unaware of the events unfolding outside. Seeing Qin Yang enter alone, she paused in surprise. "Oh? Why are you back by yourself? Where is Honghong?"

"Mom, don't mention that name to me. I went over there only to be ridiculed. To put it bluntly, they don't think much of me." Qin Yang sighed, then added, "Oh, that’s right, my girlfriend is coming over this afternoon. I thought I’d bring her by for you to meet, so you wouldn't keep complaining that I never let you see her."

"Come on in!" Qin Yang called out to the entrance.

"Hello, Auntie. My name is Zhang Mengqi; you can just call me Qiqi." Zhang Mengqi, who had been standing outside, stepped in. Hearing Qin Yang, she blushed slightly but introduced herself with poise and grace.

Qin’s mother scrutinized Zhang Mengqi, but the more she looked, the more pleased she became. The girl was not only beautiful but also appeared well-mannered.

"Son, you didn’t hire this girl with money, did you? I’ve heard that 'renting a girlfriend' is quite the trend on the internet these days."

Qin Yang felt a vein throb in his forehead. He had no idea his mother was so trendy that she kept up with the latest internet phenomena.

"Auntie, you’ve misunderstood. I am Qin Yang’s high school classmate and his current girlfriend. I certainly wasn't hired online."

"Really?" Qin’s mother looked at Qin Yang, who nodded in confirmation. She looked embarrassed. "Qiqi, I’m so sorry. I was just afraid this boy was trying to pull a fast one by finding someone to fill the spot."

"Come, sit down, sit down. Are you hungry? Wait a moment, dinner will be ready soon."

She had expected Qin Yang to bring Honghong home, but instead, she found herself welcoming a different prospective daughter-in-law, and she was delighted. Both in terms of temperament and appearance, the girl was an excellent choice.

Watching his mother pull Zhang Mengqi aside to chat about domestic matters, Qin Yang felt speechless. *Mom, I’m your own son, you know. Is it really okay to just abandon me like this?*

His mother glared at him. "There’s still food frying in the kitchen. Go check on it. I’m going to keep Qiqi company."

Qin Yang was left speechless, left with no choice but to retreat into the kitchen.

Time passed quickly. His mother didn't let him stay in the kitchen for long before coming in to tell him that his friends had arrived. When he walked out, he was dumbfounded to see Wang Qiang, Zhou Ming, and He Wen there joining the fun.

Seeing them smiling knowingly, a familiar voice rang out: "Surprise!"

Seeing Ye Mei'er suddenly appear before him, Qin Yang was stunned. *Damn it, didn't you say you were too busy to come? Now that I've brought Zhang Mengqi as a substitute, what am I supposed to say? Am I supposed to tell them you’re my other girlfriend?*

At that thought, the surprise faded, replaced by mounting panic.

Zhang Mengqi sat there, not rising, sipping tea with an air of indifference. She felt a secret sense of triumph—thank goodness she had arrived early to meet Qin’s mother and had established herself as the "official" girlfriend first.

When dinner was served, the table was filled with over a dozen dishes his mother had painstakingly prepared. As she came out, she saw another great beauty and was astonished. Was this one here for her son as well?

"Hello, Auntie. I’m Ye Mei'er. I was in a rush, so I bought you some nutritional supplements. Please have some; I heard they are excellent for nourishing the skin," Ye Mei'er said smoothly, walking up to the mother with a warm smile.

"Oh my, dear, are you seeing anyone? And what is your relationship with Qin Yang?"

Zhang Mengqi watched this scene, feeling indignant. She hadn't expected that even though she arrived first, she would be outmaneuvered by Ye Mei'er. She was annoyed with herself for forgetting to bring a gift. In truth, it wasn't really her fault—she had intended to buy something, but the incident with Pan Wei on the way had rattled her nerves.

Wang Qiang was very familiar with Qin Yang’s home, having visited often. The meal was a joyous affair. Watching the two girls beside his son, Qin’s mother felt secretly delighted, already deciding to tell her husband all about this tomorrow.

After the meal, it was still early. Qin’s mother cleaned up and headed to the guest room to sleep, saying she wanted to leave some space for the young people.

He Wen hurried outside and carefully retrieved a leather case. His father had handed it to him personally, claiming it was worth several million. "Master Qin, here is what you requested."

Wang Qiang and the others were puzzled. "He Wen, what is that?"

He Wen shook his head. "My father said it was what Master Qin needed. I assume it's some kind of medicinal herb."

"Medicinal herbs?" Zhou Ming’s eyes widened. "Boss, you aren't suffering from kidney deficiency, are you?"

"Get lost! You’re the one with kidney deficiency!" Qin Yang glared at them. "Alright, if you want to stay, stay. Play cards or something. I have work to do."

Suddenly remembering Ye Mei'er and Zhang Mengqi, he felt a headache coming on. Neither of them showed any sign of leaving. He led them into his room. "This is my room, and the one next door is my sister’s. You two can figure out the arrangements."

He didn't dare linger, fearing they would force him to mediate. He slipped away instantly, disappearing toward the basement wine cellar, which was secluded enough to avoid discovery.

Looking at the various medicinal herbs in his hands, he began his work. Time was of the essence. First, he needed to restore his own strength, and then improve his parents' constitution. Thinking of Wang Qiang and the others outside, he smiled—since they hadn't left, he’d consider it their lucky day.

He began crafting "Vitality Pills." These were low-grade elixirs designed to awaken the body's life force. They were most effective for ordinary people and slightly less so for martial artists. Furthermore, he needed to refine them into a powder to ensure his parents wouldn't notice anything strange.

By late night, the refining was complete. In his hand, he held one final pill—a medicine capable of healing his internal meridians and allowing him to return to his peak.

He didn't hesitate and swallowed it. His shattered meridians began to vibrate. With a flash of joy, he began circulating the "Slayer of Immortals Technique."

Behind him, a mist formed, making him look like an immortal ascending to the heavens.

He Wen, who was playing cards, felt the surge of spiritual energy and was overjoyed. "You guys keep playing." He dashed outside to find a spot with concentrated energy to begin his own cultivation.

Wang Qiang and Zhou Ming, bored and left to themselves, watched TV for a while before falling asleep on the sofa.

Ye Mei'er and Zhang Mengqi had both hoped for a late-night encounter with Qin Yang, but after waiting all night in vain, they were left deeply disappointed.