The sky was clear and the weather was perfect.
Ye Bufan and Chu Mengyao walked out of Jinhe International Airport, where Wang Xinyan had been waiting for them outside for a long time.
"Chuchu, you're finally back," Wang Xinyan exclaimed upon seeing Chu Mengyao, rushing forward to hug her.
"Oh! Master Ye, are you finally gracing us with your return?" Wang Xinyan glanced at Ye Bufan. "I thought you were so smitten in the gentle embrace of that woman in the capital that you'd forgotten all about returning."
Ye Bufan smiled helplessly, thinking that this girl's words were as direct as ever.
"Alright, alright," Chu Mengyao said, pulling Wang Xinyan aside. "How has everything been at home recently?"
Upon hearing Chu Mengyao's question, Wang Xinyan's expression turned somewhat unnatural.
"What's wrong?" Chu Mengyao frowned, a sense of foreboding immediately creeping into her heart.
"It's like this. Other families, I don't know where they got their funding from, suddenly started suppressing your family's and my family's businesses. Grandpa Chu got so angry that he fell ill. But since you were in the capital, Grandpa Chu didn't let anyone tell you." Wang Xinyan explained to Chu Mengyao.
"Where is my grandfather now?" Chu Mengyao asked, looking extremely anxious.
"He's recuperating at home," Wang Xinyan replied. "Doctor Zhu has been at your house every day these past few days, busy looking after him."
"Zhu Zizhen is here too?" Hearing that Zhu Zizhen was present, Ye Bufan felt that something was not quite right. Coupled with what Ye Qingcheng had told him earlier, Ye Bufan suspected that Chu He's illness was not as simple as it seemed.
"What's wrong?" Chu Mengyao asked, looking at Ye Bufan.
"Given Zhu Zizhen's medical skills, there's nothing he can't handle. If Wang Xinyan says Zhu Zizhen has been busy attending to him, it means he's been unable to do anything about your grandfather's illness," Ye Bufan explained.
Hearing Ye Bufan's words, Chu Mengyao's condition worsened.
"So you're saying someone is deliberately targeting my grandfather?" Chu Mengyao clenched her fists, and Ye Bufan could faintly sense her anger.
"Don't worry, I'm here," Ye Bufan said, gently taking Chu Mengyao's hand to comfort her.
"Oh, dear, I can't bear to watch," Wang Xinyan said, shaking her head at their affectionate display.
"Alright, alright. Hurry and take me home to see my grandfather. And tell me more about what exactly happened," Chu Mengyao said anxiously to Wang Xinyan.
The three of them got into the car Wang Xinyan had prepared. In the car, Wang Xinyan recounted the recent events in Jinhe to Chu Mengyao.
Not long after Chu Mengyao left Jinhe, a group of people from Sakura Island arrived, investigating Ye Bufan openly and covertly. However, due to Ji Feiyang's influence, they couldn't find out anything.
Then, about three or four days ago, the Liu family suddenly received a large sum of funding, seemingly backed by a consortium, and they immediately returned to the ranks of the wealthy elite.
Following this, Liu Ruoyan's father, Liu Sheng, lobbied among several wealthy families. These families also received backing from the consortium overnight. Strangely, no matter how hard they tried, they couldn't uncover the true identity of the consortium.
"The Liu family..." Ye Bufan murmured the name, his brow furrowing. He had thought their troubles were over, only to find them entangled again.
"Fortunately, ever since the Jin family returned to the capital, coupled with the cooperation between your families, your family's industries, although somewhat affected, did not suffer severe damage," Wang Xinyan added.
"Stop the car!"
At that moment, Ye Bufan suddenly sensed something was amiss. A strong sense of danger washed over him, indicating that peril was approaching.
"What?" Chu Mengyao and Wang Xinyan looked at Ye Bufan, confused.
"There's no time," Ye Bufan's body moved instantly, and he spirited Chu Mengyao, Wang Xinyan, and the driver into his spatial jade pendant.
The next second, Ye Bufan appeared by the roadside as the vehicle they had been in suddenly exploded.
"Hiss—"
Ye Bufan extended his spiritual sense, searching for any unfamiliar presences in the vicinity, but found no trace of anyone else.
"Remote control," Ye Bufan frowned deeply and found a spot to release Chu Mengyao, Wang Xinyan, and the driver.
"Wh-what just happened?" Chu Mengyao asked as soon as she emerged.
"The car exploded. I put you into my spatial artifact earlier," Ye Bufan replied.
Chu Mengyao nodded, still shaken. After a moment to collect herself, she turned to the terrified driver and said, "You know what to do about what just happened, right?"
"Yes, Miss Chu. You saved my life, and I will keep my mouth shut and not reveal anything," the driver replied nervously.
"Let's go, we should head back and assess the situation," Ye Bufan said.
...
At the Chu family residence, Chu He lay in bed, with Zhu Zizhen performing acupuncture on him.
"Doctor Zhu, have Mengyao and the others returned?" Chu He asked.
"Don't worry, as soon as my master returns, you'll be saved," Zhu Zizhen said. "This poison from the other party is difficult to classify. It's very troublesome. My cultivation is not high enough yet, so I can only forcibly prolong your life."
Zhu Zizhen sighed. Since he had followed in Ye Bufan's footsteps and become a cultivator, his medical skills had improved significantly. However, he also discovered that many poisons used between cultivators were related to their own strength, which made Zhu Zizhen very distressed.
"I'm afraid I might not last until then," Chu He said weakly.
"You will," Zhu Zizhen assured him.
"Indeed, you will last."
Ye Bufan's voice rang out as Chu Mengyao, followed by Wang Xinyan and Ye Bufan, walked in from outside.
"Master!" Zhu Zizhen exclaimed, seeing Ye Bufan, his face beaming with excitement.
"Master, you're finally back!" Zhu Zizhen said.
Ye Bufan nodded and said, "Let me take a look."
Zhu Zizhen nodded and followed Ye Bufan, assisting him.
Without a word, Ye Bufan channeled his true qi into Chu He's body. Immediately, he felt a chilling energy within Chu He. As soon as the true qi entered, that chilling energy would instantly freeze it and convert it into cold energy.
"Frostbite Poison," Ye Bufan frowned, surprised that Chu He had been poisoned with Frostbite Poison.
"It's fine."
While Frostbite Poison was a considerable challenge for others, it was effortless for Ye Bufan.
Frostbite Poison and Purple Nether Cold Fire originated from the same source, yet Purple Nether Cold Fire was its counter. Ye Bufan immediately infused the energy of Purple Nether Cold Fire into Chu He's meridians.
Sensing the entry of true qi, Frostbite Poison prepared to swallow it as before, converting it into cold energy. However, unexpectedly...