"Oi—again with you lot!"

A sharp thwack rang out as a pebble zipped through the air, scattering a cluster of crows.

Black wings flapped wildly as the birds cawed in protest and lifted off from the field.

"Persistent little devils," one farmer muttered, lowering his slingshot just enough to squint at the sky. "They've been worse this season. I think they can smell the ripening grain."

The other snorted, already loading another pebble. "Or maybe your field's just tastier than mine. What's the secret?"

"Keep dreaming."

Thwack!

Another shot sent two more crows scrambling. "How's your yield looking anyway?"

The second farmer clicked his tongue. "Better than last year but still worse than I'd like. The soil's starting to give out—at this rate, I'll have to move to another mountain."

"Hm. Tried mixing in ash? Helped mine a bit."

"I did. It helped some, but most still withered. It's not enough."

He raised his slingshot, took aim, and fired, missing cleanly. "Tch. Even the crows are getting smarter."

Just then, the air shifted and the crows, mid-flight, scattered in a frantic burst, as if fleeing something unseen.

"…You feel that?" the first farmer asked quietly.

The other didn't answer as his gaze had already lifted to the sky.

Above them, the space itself seemed to ripple, like a stone dropped into invisible water.

The air warped, twisting unnaturally, forming a faint, shimmering distortion that pulsed with an eerie light.

"…No way."

"That's not what I think it is..."

"It is."

Panic hit them both at once.

"RUN!"

They dropped their tools without hesitation, feet pounding against the dirt as they bolted toward the town.

"They're here! THEY'RE HERE!"

"ATTACK! ATTACK!"

Their voices tore through the quiet countryside, raw with fear, as the warped sky behind them continued to pulse.

Stepping out of the spatial crack was a group of people flying high above Mount Skyhowl.

From above, the mountain was unrecognizable.

Lush fields stretched across the slopes, neatly divided and thriving. Even the surrounding peaks had been turned into farmland, life spreading in every direction.

It was no longer just a mountain, it was a domain.

Fang Yuan took it all in, eyes lingering on the transformation.

"…Zhaoyue," he said, a hint of genuine admiration in his voice, "you're amazing."

Behind him, the others looked at the same scene yet saw something entirely different.

Their expressions stiffened because all they could see… were the countless exhausting days they had spent cleaning the place up.

All under the name of "cultivation."

Xiao Pei's lips twitched, despite being the sworn brother of Fang Yuan, he still couldn't escape sister in law's iron hand.

Meanwhile, Lin Zhaoyue buried her face deeper into Fang Yuan's chest, trying to hide the faint blush spreading across her cheeks.

Fang Yuan noticed and chuckled softly.

Then he spoke again, tone teasing.

"We're about to greet the family," he said. "Are you sure you still want to stay like this?"

Lin Zhaoyue didn't even lift her head.

"I don't care about them."

Fang Yuan raised a brow.

"…You don't care?"

Lin Zhaoyue gave a small, muffled "Mn," her face still pressed against his chest, not the slightest intention of moving.

Fang Yuan let out a quiet laugh.

"Alright then."

He didn't put her down.

Behind them, the others exchanged glances.

Xiao Pei leaned toward Lu Yi and whispered, "The matriach really knows no one will dare say anything."

Lu Yi nodded solemnly. "Well, when she declared wars, did we even have a choice?"

Before Xiao Pei could response , figures shot up from below.

Within moments, several elders of the Fang and Lin clan along with some of their clan members were already hovering in the air, their expressions tense from the sudden disturbance.

"Who dares—"

The leading elder's voice cut off abruptly as his eyes widened.

"Ma… Matriarch?!"

The entire mountain seemed to fall into a strange silence as none noticed the person who was holding her.

Fang Yuan glanced around calmly and then he greeted casually, "Long time no see."

His greeting brought them out of their shock but when their eyes locked onto his face.

Their pupils shrank.

"Cl—Clan Head…?" one of them muttered, voice trembling.

"Clan Head!!"

Fang Ruì's expression broke first, her composure gone as joy flooded her face.

Beside her, Fang Yin reacted the same.

"Patriarch, welcome back!"

"Patriarch, you've returned!"

The two elders stepped forward without hesitation, their voices filled with excitement and relief.

Behind them, the rest of the clan finally snapped out of their shock.

"Patriarch?!"

"The Fang patriarch?!"

"It's really the Patriarch!"

The entire mountain suddenly erupted into noise.

Only now did it truly make sense.

The Matriarch, who had ruled over them with absolute authority was someone no one could approach, let alone move.

Yet now she was in his arms willingly.

That alone was proof enough that the Fang Patriarch had truly returned.

Excitement surged through the Fang Clan.

But not everyone shared the same feeling.

Among the Lin Clan elders, expressions darkened.

If Fang Yuan had really come back…the Lin family future was truly bleak now.

High above it all, Fang Yuan simply smiled.

Looking at the people below was what really brought him joy, they were the ones he had fought for.

The ones he had built everything for.

"…I'm back," he said softly.

Then, without much thought, he lowered his head and kissed Lin Zhaoyue again.

Lin Zhaoyue froze for a brief second.

Then her face flushed even deeper, a rare and vivid red spreading across her cheeks.

Her fingers tightened slightly around him as she endured it, her usual cold composure nowhere to be seen.

Just then, another figure suddenly shot through the air, rushing toward them in haste.

Upon arriving , she stopped just before Fang Yuan, while cradling a carefully in her arms.

She then began to

bowed properly while one hand remained steady for the baby, making sure it remained comfortable.

"Greetings, Patriarch of the Fang Clan."

Fang Yuan nodded lightly.

"Rise."

Then his gaze shifted, landing on the child.

"…Lin Xi," he said, a hint of curiosity in his tone. "You got married?"

Lin Xi smiled softly, glancing down at the baby in her arms.

"Yes. Matriarch Lin gave her blessings."

"Congratulations, who's the father?"

Before Lin Xi could answer, Fang Mei stepped forward and stood beside her.

"She's my stepmother," she said calmly.

Fang Yuan paused.

"…Oh."

Then he turned to Fang Mei, a faint trace of disappointment appearing.

"You didn't tell me about this."

Fang Mei grinned.

"I wanted it to be a surprise."

She then bent down slightly, peering at the baby with sparkling eyes.

"My little brother is going to grow up very handsome." 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

Fang Yuan then chuckled lightly.

"Uncle Chen really got lucky."

His gaze shifted back to Lin Xi, a hint of amusement in his eyes.

"Since that's the case…" he continued, adjusting his tone slightly, "I'll have to start calling you Aunty Xi now."

Then, still holding Lin Zhaoyue in his arms, he gave a proper, polite nod.

"Aunty Xi."