Spring turned to autumn, and autumn returned to spring.
Many things happened in these three years.
The current global landscape was vastly different from before. Huaguo had completely severed ties with the West.
Across the vast ocean, that once-superpower was no longer dominant, confined to its own continent.
Facing the rapidly rising Huaguo, Mitili could only sigh in wistful regret.
Not to mention that Huaguo possessed an existence even more taboo than nuclear weapons—
Chen Jinshao!
As long as he still drew breath, he was the Sword of Damocles hanging over Mitili's head.
Preventing Mitili from making any rash moves.
As for Huaguo itself, it had entered a new era of rapid development.
Gouchen Pharmaceuticals and Kunlun Research Institute had overcome numerous human biological challenges, making immortality no longer a distant dream. In the past three years, Mitili had repeatedly sent people to infiltrate Huaguo, attempting to steal secrets in this area, but their efforts had all ended in failure.
Furthermore.
Chen Jinshao had rebuilt the Candle Dragon Legion.
The current Candle Dragon Legion had undergone a complete transformation, becoming the foremost legion of this era.
This was because several individuals at the Jiesuo realm were stationed within the Candle Dragon Legion.
This force was sufficient to sweep across the world!
At Chen Jinshao's residence.
Several women gathered around, curiously examining the cherry blossom branch in Shannai Chiho's hand. Yu Mengzhi seemed to connect the dots and looked at Chen Jinshao, saying, "Have you finally taken that crucial step and reached the Kurong realm?"
Xu Nianqing and the others were greatly excited by this news.
The Kurong realm existed only in legends; almost no one had reached this level.
If Chen Jinshao could enter this realm, he would be able to completely break free from the shackles of humanity.
Withering and flourishing annually, he would attain eternal life.
Chen Jinshao shook his head, "Not yet. I'm stuck at the most critical juncture. After three years of dedicated research, I even suspect this realm might not exist, that it was artificially fabricated."
The crowd instantly felt a sense of disappointment.
Chen Jinshao chuckled, "Why are you all wearing such long faces? If no one before us could achieve it, how could I possibly be that fortunate one?"
Despite his words.
The women still felt a pang of regret for him.
Just then.
Luo Feng arrived outside the door, knocking frantically.
Chen Jinshao stirred at the sound and frowned, "Let's go see what's happening."
Luo Feng was alive.
Having faced death and found a new life, he was now halfway to the Jiesuo realm.
"What's wrong?" Chen Jinshao asked.
Since the calamity three years ago, Luo Feng had rarely shown such a flustered expression.
This led Chen Jinshao to suspect many unpleasant things.
To everyone's surprise, Luo Feng stammered for a long while before saying, "Brother Chen, we've found your father, Chen Yangfu! He's in the western suburbs now. If you don't believe me, you can come with us."
*Swish!*
Chen Jinshao's face contorted.
Yu Mengzhi and the others were even more shocked.
After searching for so many years, would they finally find Chen Yangfu's whereabouts?
"I'll go tell Mom," Yu Mengzhi said.
Chen Jinshao raised his hand to stop her, "Don't tell her yet. I'll go see."
Yu Mengzhi was puzzled.
But since Chen Jinshao had said so, she naturally wouldn't object.
The group hurried to a courtyard in the western suburbs of the capital. Chen Yangfu—or rather, Li Qiutao—was sitting in the courtyard, smiling as he looked at Chen Jinshao. Chen Jinshao's eyes welled up with tears as he stepped forward and said, "Father, is it really you?"
"Of course, it is me," Chen Yangfu nodded.
Chen Jinshao's body trembled. Chen Yangfu choked up, "I'm back. I finally didn't get lost on this path. I've found my way home."
The father and son had a conversation.
Eventually, Li Qiurong also arrived, and the family of three was finally reunited after thirty years of separation.
Time flowed like water.
A month later, Chen Yangfu, on a whim, invited Chen Jinshao to return to their old hometown.
Li Qiurong wanted to accompany them. Chen Jinshao said, "Mom, you stay in the capital. I can handle some things myself."
"Besides, I'll be back soon, it's no big deal."
Li Qiurong agreed.
Watching the two depart from the capital, Li Qiurong felt a sense of melancholy.
Yu Mengzhi supported Li Qiurong, whose hair was streaked with white, and noticed something was amiss. She inquired, "Mom, what's wrong? Are you feeling unwell? Should I take you to the hospital?"
Li Qiurong waved her hand, "No need. I know my own health condition very well. By the way, where is that child, Yaoyao?"
"Have her take me to see her grandfather. Jinshao has something he wants me to relay to the old man."
Yu Mengzhi didn't suspect anything and had Xu Yaoyao escort Li Qiurong to visit Xu Hanchen. However, even Xu Yaoyao didn't know what they discussed.
This made Yu Mengzhi even more suspicious.
The next day.
Chen Jinshao and Chen Yangfu returned to their hometown in Leyang County.
Looking at their renovated hometown, Chen Jinshao felt a strange sensation. The people below were inevitably trying to curry favor with Chen Jinshao.
Even Chen Jinshao's ancestral graves had been newly repaired.
The two arrived at the mountaintop.
Chen Jinshao spoke at length with Chen Yangfu beside him. He first recounted the assassination attempt when they came to sweep the graves with him and Wu Lingyun years ago, and then shared amusing anecdotes about his mother bringing him to pay respects to their ancestors when he was a child, completely preventing Chen Yangfu from interjecting.
This made Chen Yangfu feel awkward.
Finally.
After two hours of Chen Jinshao's eloquent speech, he looked at Chen Yangfu beside him and asked, "Do you know why I've said so much to you?"
"You've grown up. How would I know your inner thoughts?" Chen Yangfu gave a dry laugh.
Chen Jinshao turned his head, gazing at the undulating mountain ranges, and spoke into the slight chill of the late spring breeze, "Because, I have many things I want to say to my father. I've never formally spoken a word to him as father and son since I was a child. Thank you for fulfilling my regret."
Chen Yangfu's expression changed drastically.
He immediately frowned and said, "Jinshao, what are you talking about? I am your father. I am not just Chen Yangfu, but also Li Qiutao."
Chen Jinshao shook his head.
He said calmly, "No, you are not him."
"But thank you. For the past month, you have been by my side as my father. Though the time was brief, it was generally a happy period."
With every word Chen Jinshao spoke, the expression of 'Chen Yangfu' changed.
Chen Yangfu wanted to speak, but hesitated.
Finally, he dropped his pretense. Perhaps out of unbearable pity, or perhaps out of a pang of conscience.
He gave a wry smile and asked, "When did you realize?"
Chen Jinshao said word by word, "From the very beginning, I knew you were faking it."
"Why?" the impostor Chen Yangfu retorted.
"I believe I've imitated him to the bone. Even if the real Chen Yangfu stood before me, he might not be able to discern any differences."
He was clearly a little unconvinced.
A hint of sadness appeared on Chen Jinshao's face. He said lightly, "Two years ago, I found my father's skeletal remains in the extreme north, amidst the ice and snow. So, do you know where you went wrong?"
The real Chen Yangfu had still not escaped his fate, dying in the desolate extreme north.
This remained a permanent regret in Chen Jinshao's heart.
"Since you knew I was an impostor, why did you play along? Why not apprehend me directly?" the middle-aged man said. Chen Jinshao sighed, "Dramas can bring people illusory happiness. I would rather indulge in it. However, there is another reason. I knew you were sent by Wu Enchu, and I also knew you brought me to this place so that Wu Enchu could make his move."
"So I came."
"Shouldn't you show yourselves now?"