This meal dragged on for quite a while.
The atmosphere carried an indescribable sadness.
In the end, Leon Zheng drank too much and had to be helped to his room by Hans Zheng.
"Your uncle is just that kind of person. When he's sober, he bottles everything up inside, and only when he's drunk does he dare to speak his mind."
He truly cares about you. For years, our Zheng family has only produced one truly outstanding child—you. In the future, most of the Zheng estate will likely be handed over to you.
This is all we can do. Evan, kid, you need to remember—no matter what happens, the Zheng family will always stand behind you.
As Hans Zheng helped Leon Zheng away, he passed by Evan Lin, his expression serious.
For the first time, Evan Lin seriously studied Autumn Zheng's father.
Hans Zheng had more of a scholarly air about him, somewhat similar to Sawyer Summer. His gaze was clear—if Evan Lin ever needed it, the entire Zheng clan really would stand behind him, just as he said.
"Thank you."
Evan Lin spoke from the heart.
"We're family—no need for thanks. Without you, the Zheng clan might've vanished long ago."
Hans Zheng shook his head. "Also, Autumn has gone to teach at your university. Please help look after her for me."
"She, like your mother, met the wrong person—fell for a man whose ambition is sky-high and fate is ironclad."
At this point, Hans Zheng paused, looking like he wanted to say more but stopped himself.
Azure Dragon.
Evan Lin's mind flashed to that swordsman in green robes.
Originally, Evan Lin thought the Zhengs knew nothing about the Upper-Grade Lin Clan, and assumed everything back then was just the Qi family causing trouble, which dragged the Zhengs into danger.
But listening to Leon Zheng and seeing Hans Zheng's expression, maybe these two men know more about what happened back then than Evan Lin ever imagined.
They just never spoke of it.
Because, even if they said it, it wouldn't change anything.
As a cultivator—as the Nine Mysteries Immortal Lord who rose from weakness—Evan Lin understood all too well how the strong view the weak.
In this life, to those from the Upper-Grade Lin Clan, the Zhengs are nothing but ants.
Every disadvantage in this world comes down to a lack of ability.
The Zhengs and the Lin Clan—by birth, they're fundamentally unequal.
There's simply no comparison.
After clearing up the misunderstandings, Evan Lin felt a bit closer to the Zhengs than before.
At least now, whether it was Leon Zheng, Hans Zheng, or the old master and madam of the Zheng clan, when Joy Zheng fled Oceanport years ago, they weren't heartless or ruthless enough to cut ties for the sake of principle.
Watching Hans Zheng and Leon Zheng leave, Evan Lin wondered whether he should teach the Zhengs a bit of cultivation.
In the future, Evan Lin wouldn't be able to stay in Oceanport all the time.
"Grandma's got your room all set up. I'll take you there."
Faye Zheng stood beside Evan Lin, seeing where he was looking. "When I was little, I always saw Uncle Leon drinking alone in his room."
"Thinking back, he's always felt guilty deep down."
Faye Zheng spoke softly. Evan Lin didn't say anything more.
After Faye Zheng saw Evan Lin to his room, she headed back to her own.
Evan Lin pulled out his phone and dialed Warren Wu at Medicine King Valley.
"Boss, the alchemists' success rate on Nourishing Spirit Pills keeps climbing. We've already got 3,210 pills ready—when do you want to drop by?"
Warren Wu sounded a bit unsure. "I've noticed the longer these Nourishing Spirit Pills sit, the more the spiritual qi inside just leaks out on its own."
"So the spiritual qi in all 3,210 pills keeps fading. I'm worried it might mess with your cultivation, Boss."
When Warren Wu finished, he just waited quietly on the line.
In front of him, the pill furnace blazed, and hundreds of alchemists were still hard at work.
Thanks to Evan Lin's rules, for every ten pills they successfully refined, each alchemist could keep one for themselves. That kept their enthusiasm sky-high.
On top of that, formation support and Evan Lin's alchemy mental method boosted their skills to a whole new level.
"If an alchemist isn't skilled enough, their pills will end up with hairline cracks as they form. That's normal."
Evan Lin wasn't bothered. "I'll swing by soon. Have all the pills ready."
Evan Lin kept it simple—no extra words. Warren Wu quickly agreed on the other end.
Rivercrest Province, Quhang City.
Zane Family estate.
Bang!
A heavy thud echoed as Grand‑Patriarch Zane was sent flying, crashing to the floor, his forehead hitting hard and splitting open.
His hair was a mess, his appearance wretched—nothing like the revered Zane patriarch he once was.
"Grandpa!"
Tanya Zane's face changed. She rushed forward, lifting Grand‑Patriarch Zane up, then turned, eyes blazing, to glare at the man lounging in the Zane estate's main hall.
"Maran Ma! What the hell are you trying to pull?"
Tanya Zane was furious, eyes locked on Maran Ma.
Standing next to Maran Ma was Uncle Cheng—still injured from when Evan Lin wrecked him earlier.
There were also several other obvious experts in the room.
The guy who just kicked Grand‑Patriarch Zane across the floor was one of them.
On the other side, Zane Zhan lay curled up on the floor, clearly knocked out cold.
"What am I trying to do?"
Maran Ma grinned, idly spinning a teacup in his hand. "Didn't I tell you when I showed up, Tanya?
I'm here to propose a marriage alliance with the Zane Family."
I've spent days here, talking nice. Getting picked by me is your blessing.
If the Zane Family latches onto the Markham clan, you'll have endless riches and glory.
But you keep turning me down for some so-called Master Lin from Seacrest?
Maran Ma shook his head as he spoke.
He stood up and walked toward Grand‑Patriarch Zane.
"Master Lin from Seacrest's strength is way beyond what you can imagine."
Grand‑Patriarch Zane coughed, his voice weak, blood at his lips making it hard and painful to speak. "Maran Ma, for the sake of your status, if you leave now, I'll act like none of this ever happened."
"Otherwise, once he finds out, the consequences will be serious!"
Grand‑Patriarch Zane gritted his teeth, trying to say more.
Maran Ma, who'd been a few meters away, suddenly blurred and appeared right in front of him.
Maran Ma stomped down, grinding Grand‑Patriarch Zane's face beneath his foot.
His face was cold and arrogant as he looked down.
"Old man, do you even get what the four characters 'Ancient‑Martial Markham clan' really mean?"