The purple-robed man and his two companions vanished in an instant, causing Wang Zhai's pupils to constrict before he slumped to the ground like a deflated ball.
"Master!"
"Uncle Wang!"
"Cough cough... I'm fine." Wang Zhai waved his hand, glanced once more in the direction the three had left, and then looked at Lin Chu with lingering fear. "Chu'er, I'm afraid I can no longer keep you here."
"Master..." The middle-aged woman's expression changed drastically at his words.
Hearing Wang Zhai, Lin Chu was utterly bewildered and asked, "Uncle Wang, did something happen?"
Even Wang Menglan, who was on Lin Chu's back, spoke with a hint of nervousness, "Daddy, what happened? Why can't Brother Chu stay with us anymore?"
Wang Zhai shook his head helplessly. "Those three just now were clearly looking for you, Chu'er. And judging by their tone, they are definitely not your relatives. On the contrary, they are more likely your enemies."
"Furthermore, they are absolutely not ordinary people. Just one attendant made me feel immense fear. I suspect they are cultivators; otherwise, ordinary mortals could not achieve such a feat. Chu'er, your background is likely not as simple as your grandfather and I thought."
"Cultivators?" Lin Chu looked at Wang Zhai in confusion.
"Chu'er, judging by their status, your background cannot be ordinary. And your name, Old Lin chose it based on the jade pendant you wear. If there is truly a connection, then today's events would not be so simple."
"As for cultivators, Uncle Wang doesn't know much either. However, it is rumored that cultivators can control the heavens and earth with a mere flip of their hands. Such beings are beyond the imagination of ordinary mortals like us."
Wang Zhai nodded slightly, took a deep breath, and continued.
Noticing Lin Chu's changing expression, Wang Zhai spoke again. "Chu'er, you don't need to worry. Since those three have left, they have likely already inspected you. So, you should be safe for now. Uncle Wang only hopes your family will come to find you soon."
"However, we cannot stay here any longer. Your grandfather, before he passed, instructed me not to let you leave before you turn eighteen. But now, I'm afraid that can no longer be done."
Lin Chu nodded, "Uncle Wang, I understand."
"Chu'er, it's not that Uncle Wang is afraid of trouble. Uncle Wang is worried that if others come, and they discover you are the one they are looking for, the consequences would be unthinkable. Uncle Wang would also be unable to face your grandfather. The methods of cultivators are beyond our comprehension. I hope you understand this."
Wang Zhai looked at Lin Chu with a complex expression.
There was one thing Wang Zhai didn't say. As a husband and father, he had a responsibility to his wife and child. In the face of such a situation, this was the only choice.
Lin Chu nodded, then handed Wang Menglan to the middle-aged woman. "Aunt Lian, please take care of Lan'er. Uncle Wang, Aunt Lian, thank you for your care during this time. I will come to find you once I locate my family."
With that, Lin Chu bowed deeply to Wang Zhai and the middle-aged woman, then walked into the room.
Lin Xuan had remained silent the entire time, but as he saw Lin Chu enter the room, he followed.
"Daddy..." Seeing Lin Chu like this, Wang Menglan anxiously looked at Wang Zhai. Even the middle-aged woman lowered her head with a helpless expression.
"Lan'er, Daddy has no choice. We can only let your Brother Chu leave now. Not only he must leave, but we cannot stay here long either. Someone has already found this place, and more people will likely come in the future."
"If it's Chu'er's family, that's fine. But if not, the consequences are unimaginable. Letting your Brother Chu leave now is not only for his own good, but also for ours. Lan'er, do you understand?" Wang Zhai looked at Wang Menglan's expression and shook his head with a complex expression.
"Uncle Wang, Aunt Lian, Lan'er, thank you." A moment later, Lin Chu emerged from the room, a cloth bag slung over his shoulder, clearly packed with his belongings.
Lin Chu walked up to Wang Zhai and the other two, bowing again.
"Chu'er, remember, be careful when searching for your family. The matters of this world are not like here. If Uncle Wang had any ability, I wouldn't let you leave now. Chu'er, please don't blame me."
Wang Zhai struggled to stand, patted Lin Chu's shoulder heavily, and said.
Lin Chu smiled faintly, "Uncle Wang, I know."
"Xuan'er... you..." Wang Zhai nodded slightly, then looked at Lin Xuan, who had also packed his belongings.
Lin Xuan's expression was firm as he said, "I am Chu's elder brother. I cannot let him go out alone. I must protect him!"
Wang Zhai felt a thousand emotions surge within him, but in the end, he slowly nodded.
As the sun gradually set, two young figures gradually disappeared into the afterglow.
"Lian'er, go pack. We can't stay in Lin Family Village anymore either." Watching Lin Xuan and Lin Chu disappear into the night, Wang Zhai slowly withdrew his gaze, looked at Wang Menglan, whose face was already streaked with tears, and then looked at the middle-aged woman with a hint of guilt.
On the back mountain of Lin Family Village, beside a solitary grave, Lin Xuan and Lin Chu appeared.
"Grandpa, we are leaving Lin Family Village. Let us spend one last night with you." Lin Xuan and Lin Chu knelt before the grave, gently caressing the tombstone and murmuring.
...
Late at night, the purple-robed man and his two companions, who had vanished from Lin Family Village, reappeared in Linwu City.
"Sir, why must we remain on this Anwu Continent?" the golden-robed man asked as soon as they appeared.
"The five people we saw today, I still feel something is not quite right. Did you notice? That child bears some resemblance to Heavenly Venerate," the purple-robed man said after a moment of thought.
"Sir, we have used our immortal power to examine that child. If he were truly an Imperial Son, how could there be no reaction? Furthermore, Lord Divine King also instructed that the Imperial Son carries Heavenly Venerate's immortal pendant, which would absolutely not escape our detection."
The two golden-robed men exchanged glances and bowed again.
The purple-robed man's doubts lessened. "Perhaps, I was overthinking. Alright, we will rest here for the night. Tomorrow, we will go back to check again. If there are no clues, we will have to head to other continents to rendezvous with the other personnel."
"Yes," the two golden-robed men replied with a bow.
The next day, the morning dew dripped onto Lin Chu's face. The cold dew woke him instantly.
"It's dawn..." Lin Xuan and Lin Chu sat up, then looked at their grandfather's grave and knelt again. After kowtowing three times, they stood up.
"Grandpa, we're leaving," Lin Xuan murmured, looking at the hazy sky, and pulled Lin Chu's hand as they turned and left.
An hour later, when it was fully bright, a beam of spiritual light once again whistled through the air and landed in Lin Family Village.