While Zhao Changhe was subtly investigating the situation here, Yue Hongling had returned to her homeland, adorned in brocade.

She had left Luoxia Manor at the age of fifteen, and now, at twenty-two, was soon to turn twenty-three after the New Year.

Having been away from home for seven or eight years, even someone as carefree as Yue Hongling couldn't help feeling a pang of apprehension as she approached her hometown. The plants and trees here seemed unrecognizable.

The closer she got to the manor, the more unfamiliar it became.

What had once been a rather small estate of no more than a dozen disciples, with old bricks and roof tiles everywhere, managed thriftily by the master's wife, resembled an ordinary, large farming household.

Now as she approached, there was a continuous expanse of red bricks and green tiles spanning dozens of acres, extending all the way to the foot of the mountain, even encroaching upon the road. People bustled about everywhere, the sounds of martial training and cheering intermingling to create a lively atmosphere.

Itinerant peddlers were even selling goods outside the manor, and from time to time, one could see local officials or gentry visiting, with both hosts and guests appearing delighted. It all looked like some of the renowned, large factions she had seen during her travels in Worldly Society.

From a distance, Yue Hongling stared at the signboard "Luoxia Manor." If not for this sign still being there, she would have hardly dared to recognize this as the place where she had grown up.

She had once thought about visiting stealthily at night, just to see her master and inquire about the situation in private. However, as she approached, overcome with emotion, Yue Hongling suddenly did not want to sneak around. Why should she be clandestine about returning home if she lived her life openly and honorably?

Thus, she walked forward confidently.

"Who might you be?" Several young men and women guarding the gate eyed the red-dressed woman approaching from afar, a name coming to mind, yet they were cautious and probed tentatively.

Stopping in front of them, Yue Hongling smiled faintly, "Children do not recognize each other when they meet, laughing and asking the traveler where they came from. Today, I know."

Contrary to the disciples of Luoxia Manor, who could hardly believe what they were seeing, a bystander exclaimed immediately, "Yue Hongling!"

"It's definitely Yue Hongling! I was fortunate enough to see her once in Central Plains four years ago."

"The real person is even more beautiful than the legends… Who has been maliciously spreading rumors that Yue Hongling is always grimy?"

Far in the Imperial Palace of the Capital, Xia Chichi sneezed.

The scene fell silent, with faces of the young men and women lighting up with extreme joy.

"Sister has come back!~"

After a moment of quiet, the air erupted into chaos; the young men and women abandoned their posts and ran towards the manor: "Second sister has come back!"

Yue Hongling's return!

The explosive news spread in the blink of an eye throughout Chang'an. Zhao Changhe was still dallying with Dai Qingge in the gambling dens. Without stepping outside, gamblers were already discussing Yue Hongling's return, their excitement palpable, with many planning to venture to Huashan to see her.

After all, her debut on the Earth List at the age of twenty-two had marked her as a top-level prodigy. Over the past few years, the most famous among the younger generation were Yue Hongling and Zhao Changhe. However, Zhao Changhe's rapid ascent left many feeling it was surreal, partly due to his frequent associations with divine or demonic beings, which added a layer of mystique; Yue Hongling, on the other hand, had become famous earlier and seemed more relatable and grounded.

Moreover, setting aside the newly involved factions of divine and demonic beings, if one only considered the original forces of Guanlong, with the deaths of Li Gongsi and Yuan Cheng's departure, Yue Hongling was quite possibly the number one native of Guanlong!

Now, what a concept that was!

The popularity of Luoxia Manor was not without reason—the multitude of age-appropriate children eager to join and train there was purely inspired by Yue Hongling's role model status. Her appeal wasn't just limited to the children; it extended across all of Guanlong Martial World, with countless people admiring and looking up to her. One could easily imagine the sensation caused by her return.

But after the initial surge of excitement, people soon came upon a question.

The relationship between Yue Hongling and Zhao Changhe…

Rumors had it that ever since Beimang, Zhao Changhe, like a toad lusting after a swan's flesh, started pursuing Yue Hongling… Infuriatingly, rumors also suggested that following side by side battles beyond the border last year, they had indeed come closer, with Chaotic World Book even annotating "sunset by the great river," hinting at a deeply affectionate marital relationship.

Now, with Zhao Changhe being King Zhao of Great Han, those in the know realized that this was not merely about romancing a woman—claiming that the fate of Great Han rested on him, even calling him the Han Emperor, wouldn't be stretching the truth. If Yue Hongling was to be the "Imperial Concubine of Great Han," how would people regard her return? And for what reason was she returning?

It may be like throwing a huge stone into the still waters of Chang'an, resulting in tumultuous waves.

Of course, rumors were just that, rumors. Early inquiries had been made to Cui Yuanyong, someone privy to everything from Beimang to Yanmen, but the response was blunt: "Go to hell. What business does Yue Hongling have with my brother-in-law? Stop spreading dumb rumors. Let me reiterate, Zhao Changhe is my brother-in-law! Beimang? Back then in Beimang Yue Hongling and I were fighting, what does that have to do with Zhao Changhe?"

Cui Yuanyong's assertion seemed to somewhat quell the rumors across Guanlong, as fans were inherently reluctant to accept that their goddess had been 'won over,' and with Cui Yuanyong's firm support, wasn't this evidence solid enough?

But to many eyes of the Guanlong Aristocratic Families, this was considered rumor-spreading while attempting to debunk rumors. Cui Yuanyong naturally insisted that it was his own sister who was the main character, trying desperately to clear Yue Hongling of any guilt. What's the use of asking him... Can't your brother-in-law be involved with other women? Do you have the guts to repeat those words in front of Your Majesty and Chief Tang? It would be best to repeat them in front of Vermilion Bird Venerable as well.

When Yue Hongling strode into the main hall of Luoxia Manor, her master Yue Fenghua was already seated there, alongside another middle-aged man she did not recognize, dressed in brocade which indicated immense wealth.

The expected scenario where Yue Fenghua would greet her outside did not occur, but Yue Hongling didn't mind. She entered the hall with large strides and performed a deep bow, "Disciple pays respect to Master."

"Very good, very good!" Yue Fenghua stroked his beard and laughed heartily, "Seeing Hongling in such a spirited manner brings me great comfort."

Yue Hongling looked up at her master, feeling an odd sensation in her heart.

Praising her spirited manner?

Not asking me to rise from kneeling—Is this to showcase your authority?

Yue Hongling preferred to think that her master was too excited and had simply forgotten. After all, since the master didn't say to rise, she wouldn't either, still kneeling on one knee, she calmly replied, "Seeing Master more dashing than ever fills this disciple with immense joy. May I inquire if Mistress is around? I would like to visit her."

Yue Fenghua's expression darkened, he sighed softly, "Your Mistress passed away two years ago due to illness."

Yue Hongling pursed her lips and did not respond.

Due to illness?

Although Mistress's Cultivation was modest, being only at the Fourth or Fifth Layer of the Mystical Gate, she was merely in her early forties last year—a prime-age Martial Artist. The physique of a prime-age Martial Artist is not comparable to that of normal people. It might be plausible if you said she died in a conflict, but in Chang'an, a place teeming with resources, and in a sect already so wealthy and powerful, lacking neither doctors nor medicine, she died due to illness?

At that moment, the middle-aged guest laughed and said, "Could it be that Brother Yue is too excited and forgot to let his talented niece rise and speak?"

Yue Fenghua chuckled as if waking from a dream, "Indeed, indeed, look at my confusion. Hongling, please rise quickly."

Yue Hongling stood up and took the opportunity to ask, "Who might this be?"

Yue Fenghua stood up as well and introduced him, "This is Brother Wei Changming, the head of the Wei Family, ranked seventeenth on the Human List."

"Cough." Wei Changming stood up and clasped his hands together, "Being seventeenth on the Human List is truly embarrassing before Miss Yue, who is the brightest star of the Guanlong Martial World."

Yue Hongling had no real interest in entertaining the head of a Worldly Society's family and responded indifferently with a clasped-hands salute, "Nice to meet you."

Yue Fenghua smiled and said, "Brother Wei does not hold against Hongling's previous impetuosity, having let bygones be bygones. Hongling should thank Mr. Wei for his magnanimity."

Yue Hongling coolly said, "Mr. Wei's magnanimity is indeed admirable. I didn't expect Mr. Wei to become such good friends with my master, visiting here so often."

"Brother Yue taught a disciple like Miss Yue, naturally a person of great righteousness, and interacting with him feels like bathing in the spring breeze. Nowadays the guest seats are always full, all due to Brother Yue's own charm," Wei Changming chuckled, "To be honest, my visit today to Luoxia Manor was initially for discussing a marriage alliance, but running into Miss Yue returning home is an unexpected pleasure."

"Oh? A marriage discussion?" Yue Hongling asked, "Is the eldest disciple brother getting married?"

The eldest disciple brother, naturally Yue Fenghua's own son Yue Baiyu, was the heir to Luoxia Manor.

Wei Changming smiled and clarified, "Yes, it's exactly the marriage for the commendable nephew."

"Congratulations, congratulations," Yue Hongling offered her congratulations, her smile carrying a hint of sarcasm, "Is it Mr. Wei's daughter?"

Wei Changming shook his head, "No, appearing in this marriage discussion, I am naturally the matchmaker."

"Then who is the other party?"

Wei Changming did not answer immediately but instead asked, "May I first inquire if Miss Yue, upon returning home, is just visiting briefly or intends to stay longer?"

Yue Hongling laughed dismissively, "I haven't decided yet. Since I've stumbled upon the eldest disciple brother's marriage discussion, it seems only right to stay until I've had a drink at the celebration before leaving."

Wei Changming nodded, then asked again, "May I ask another question… What exactly is your relationship with Zhao Changhe?"

Yue Hongling casually responded, "We were merely ordinary friends, maligned by the rumors of the Worldly Society. Now the relationship has changed. If I see him again, I will surely make him suffocate to death."

Yue Fenghua and Wei Changming did not catch the true meaning of her words—what changed about the relationship, and why the method of death was suffocation—they took it as casual talk. The two exchanged glances, seemingly a bit incredulous, and Yue Fenghua continued probing, "In that case, with Hongling coming back this time, might there be a possibility to help the hometown resist the false dynasty?"

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