Chapter 4

In a simply decorated living room, He Yun sat on the sofa, somewhat anxious, frequently glancing at the clock hanging high on the wall.

It was already past midnight, yet Qin Xuan had still not returned.

"What is Xiao Xuan up to?"

"Big Sister, he's already grown up, he needs some personal space," said He Yu, who was sitting beside He Yun. She bore a seven-tenths resemblance to He Yun but had a much younger and cold demeanor, even her tone was icy.

"He Yu, can't you just keep quiet for a moment?" He Yun, feeling anxious, spoke with a slightly scolding tone, "Sister Xiu entrusted us to take care of Xiao Xuan. If anything happens to him, how can we face Sister Xiu?"

He Yu's gaze dropped. Hearing her sister's scolding, her dissatisfaction grew, and she even harbored a bit of resentment towards Qin Xuan.

Ever since Qin Xuan came, He Yun had shown more concern for him than for her. Although she didn't admit it, He Yu felt a sense of being neglected. Therefore, she had never been fond of Qin Xuan.

A faint sound of the door opening caught the attention of both sisters.

"Xiao Xuan!" He Yun was greatly relieved to see the figure at the door.

He Yu, however, coldly snorted and stood up, saying, "Big Sister, I'm going to bed. I have to review tomorrow."

Qin Xuan looked at the two sisters, and a distant memory made him feel a bit melancholic, his heart filled with myriad emotions.

"I'm back!" Qin Xuan felt a warmth in his heart, a bit bitter and sweet.

It seems that not only have I lost all my cultivation, but even my Daoist heart is gone, he thought stubbornly, unwilling to admit it. But looking at He Yun's familiar figure, he couldn't help but feel his eyes well up.

He Yun immediately ran over and hugged Qin Xuan, saying, "Where have you been? Coming back so late, are you trying to worry me to death?"

Qin Xuan's eyes widened. He was about the same height as He Yun, but she was wearing a nightgown, and the softness of her body made him tremble.

"He Yun, I'm not a child anymore. Why do you still treat me like one?" Qin Xuan struggled to break free, his face slightly red.

Seeing that Qin Xuan was fine, He Yun's heart, which had been on edge, finally relaxed. Seeing his embarrassed look, she couldn't help but cover her mouth and laugh, "Oh, you're still shy! Well, Xiao Xuan has grown up, and you think your aunt is old."

Faced with He Yun's teasing, Qin Xuan couldn't help but roll his eyes.

In the past, he always disliked being treated like a child by He Yun, but now it made him feel warm. This was a feeling he hadn't experienced since entering the cultivation world.

He Yun pulled Qin Xuan by the arm to the sofa, cleared her throat, and said in a scolding tone, "Tell me, why did you come back so late?"

Although He Yun tried to sound like a parent scolding a child, she couldn't help but smile, especially when she saw Qin Xuan's embarrassment.

In the past, Qin Xuan would have said nothing and run back to his room.

"I went for a walk, to see the scenery of Jing Shui City," Qin Xuan said softly, his eyes meeting He Yun's clear, autumn-like eyes. "I'm sorry for making you worry."

He Yun was taken aback, staring at Qin Xuan, who was acting out of character, and was a bit dazed.

"It's, it's okay..." He Yun was flustered. In the three years she had known Qin Xuan, this was the first time she had seen him apologize.

"It's late, He Yun, you should get some rest."

Qin Xuan smiled warmly and turned to walk towards his room.

When did Xiao Xuan learn to apologize?

He Yun quickly reacted, feeling puzzled, "You came back so late, didn't you go to see your girlfriend?"

Qin Xuan just raised his hand and waved, then slammed the door shut.

"Is Xiao Xuan really dating someone? It makes sense, it's normal at his age," He Yun muttered to herself, recalling the firm body she had hugged, her face flushing slightly. "It seems he has really grown up."

...

Back in his room, Qin Xuan gently touched the desk that had been with him for three years, a faint smile appearing on his face.

He opened the second drawer on the right side of the desk, and a framed photo appeared before his eyes.

The photo showed a man and a woman, along with a teenager around thirteen or fourteen years old, a happy family by Mingxin Lake.

Qin Xuan couldn't help but recall his past life. His father, Qin Wendeh, was from the Qin family in Jinling. He fell in love with Qin Xuan's mother, Shen Xinxiu, and later refused the arranged marriage set by the family, leading to a falling out. Not only that, he publicly obtained a marriage certificate and grandly placed it before his father, Qin Xuan's grandfather, almost causing the old man to relapse from his old illness.

After that, Qin Wendeh took Shen Xinxiu away from the capital and moved to Jing Shui City. Qin Xuan's mother, Shen Xinxiu, a high-achieving finance student, and Qin Wendeh, who was unwilling to live an ordinary life, decided to start a business elsewhere when Qin Xuan was fourteen. They left for three years and never returned.

However, Qin Xuan knew that in those three short years, his parents had built a commercial empire worth hundreds of millions from scratch. His mother had also become an underground leader in multiple regions in Jiangnan, but at the time, Qin Xuan knew nothing about it.

In his heart, he felt that his parents had abandoned him and entrusted him to others, harboring deep resentment. He even put the family photo in the drawer and let it gather dust, never answering their calls. He only learned a bit about their achievements from He Yun.

At that time, he was in his rebellious teenage years, full of youthful defiance.

Thinking about his past actions, Qin Xuan felt deep shame.

"Father, Mother, I will never let you down!" Qin Xuan whispered, his eyes suddenly sharp and cold, "Chen Zixiao, in my past life, you destroyed my family. You didn't even leave me a chance for revenge. You never thought I, Qin Xuan, would come back, did you?"

The Chen family, Chen Zixiao!

In his past life, Chen Zixiao was an unattainable existence. His parents' three years of hard work were destroyed in just three days after he offended Chen Zixiao.

His mother's company went bankrupt, his father's influence was divided and swallowed up, leaving no chance for a comeback, and they were left with nothing.

Qin Xuan clenched his fists tightly, his head lowered.

He hated himself for being so young and reckless, not understanding the world.

He hated that his parents' three years of hard work were destroyed in a moment of anger.

He hated that the Qin family stood by and let the Chen family destroy his parents' foundation, and even at their funeral, not a single member of the Qin family showed up, instead leaving a document to expel his father from the family.

But... so what?

This time, he, Qin Xuan, he, Qin Changqing, has returned. The Chen family and the Qin family are nothing to him. He will reclaim every humiliation he has endured, and he will destroy every enemy who tried to send him to hell, one by one.

"In this life, I, Qin Changqing, will leave no regrets!"

Qin Xuan lifted his head, a regal and imperial aura filling the room as he made a silent vow.

He, the Green Emperor, Qin Changqing, will ultimately trample this bustling city under his feet.