On the phone screen.
Today is National Day.
She sent Andrew Han several QQ messages, but received no reply, and couldn’t help feeling a little worried.
"Hey."
Andrew Han smiled faintly. He'd been busy with missions all day and only now found a moment to check his phone.
He thought for a moment.
He replied with the same sticker: Happy National Day... Well, though the wishes are a bit late, I hope you don’t mind.
Buzz buzz.
...I'm having dinner at their place—stir-fried pork with mushrooms is pretty tasty.
He didn't want to be bound by memories of his previous life anymore.
Andrew Han always faintly felt—this vibrant life now truly belonged to him.
"Watching other people show off their love." Andrew Han sighed, glancing at Jodie Jiao as she kept serving Harris Shang dishes at the table, feeling a bit speechless.
This martial couple was the most unusual he had ever met.
Even the polite, gentle senior martial artist Tang Yuehan always paid attention to his image. Even a crouching lion or tiger is still a beast, just with its claws retracted.
But sitting here, Andrew Han felt complicated.
The martial couple before him wore warm smiles. Their home was far from luxurious, only about sixty square meters, and all their furnishings were just ordinary household items.
Moreover—
With Andrew Han's sharp eyes, he could even see the worn corners of their sofa.
"The Martial Arts World, blending into ordinary life."
I used to think the former must be superior to the latter, but now it seems that martial artists with great strength have countless ways to live.
What kind of life you lead isn’t determined by strength, but by your choices.
Andrew Han’s gaze softened, and he suddenly felt a strong urge to go home... All his bitter training was so that he could choose his own life and control his destiny.
That conviction had never changed, from the very beginning.
Buzz buzz.
The phone vibrated.
"Couples who show off break up fast... Is your friend showing off in front of you?" Monica Zhang pursed her lips, her bright eyes fixed on her phone screen.
After two or three seconds, Andrew Han replied: "Yeah, a pair of martial artist spouses."
Then—
He inexplicably added, "I just met them today. I’m having dinner at their place—mushroom-fried pork is pretty tasty."
He didn't want to be chained by memories of his previous life any longer.
Because Andrew Han always faintly felt—this vibrant life now truly belonged to him.
He must move forward.
Andrew Han said his goodbyes, and Harris Shang and Jodie Jiao didn't insist on formalities.
This mission was basically resolved peacefully.
If any further issues arose, Harris Shang would handle them.
The couple wore grateful smiles and accompanied Andrew Han all the way downstairs. They watched as his silver-white car disappeared at the edge of their vision, then exchanged a smile.
"Harris, what do you think we should name our child?"
"Didn't we already decide? Shang Ying."
"But what if it's a boy?"
Ding dong.
With a tap of her slender finger, she sent the photo in a flash.
"Ahem."
Roy Zhang, sitting nearby, glanced at his daughter Monica and said in a low voice, "Eat properly, don’t play with your phone at the table."
"Oh, okay." Monica Zhang replied with a smile.
Meanwhile, Andrew Han received the photo of enoki mushroom scrambled eggs and was a bit puzzled—was there some hidden meaning here?
"Forget it."
"I’m such a pure person, don’t even try to corrupt me." Andrew Han put away his phone, ate a little less, but his eyes grew thoughtful.
He couldn’t afford to delay any longer.
After this holiday, he had to get to the bottom of everything... In his memories from his previous life, every person who left a deep impression must not be overlooked.
"Then let’s call him Shang Eagle."
——
Morning, October 3rd.
Andrew Han drove to the outskirts of Riverford but didn’t go home.
Even Harris Shang, with years of martial training and a fresh breakthrough to Martial General, had to carefully control his surging strength before interacting with his pregnant wife, Jodie Jiao.
Andrew’s situation required even greater caution.
His father William Han, mother Linda Chen, and little sister Lucy were all ordinary people. If he misused his strength, even slightly, Andrew Han could regret it for a lifetime.
"Right."
"Absolutely no risks."
Resolute, Andrew Han stretched out his right hand and clenched his fist.
Even without channeling Presented Liquid Internal Power, he could sense the terrifying force within his body; Andrew Han believed he could crush iron plates without it.
"Soon."
"A few more rounds of Mountain-Sketch Pillar Stance, and I’ll be able to control it completely."
Resolute, Andrew Han called his mother Linda Chen, chatted briefly with Lucy, then gazed into the distance.
This was a forest park.
Riverford’s Yunton River flowed through here, giving the park its name: Yunton Forest Park.
Scenic views were everywhere. The mountains and river formed a rich ecosystem, with diverse plant life. The peaceful woods especially attracted many visitors from around Riverford.
"Hmm."
"It’s been a long time since I relaxed like this."
Andrew Han stretched his arms, yawned, and walked deep into Yunton Forest Park along the gravel path, breathing in the exceptionally clean air.
Tall trees surrounded him, everything was tranquil and fresh, and the air quality was far better than in Riverford. With the sun just rising and it still early morning, there were very few visitors in the park.
It felt as though the entire forest belonged only to him.
Pat-pat.
Pat-pat.
His relaxed footsteps echoed all around. The leafy trees let dappled sunlight through, and now and then, groups of birds wheeled overhead, off to destinations unknown.
It was pure, untouched nature.
"Hmm?"
"Looks like there’s a river ahead."
Andrew Han heard the sound of running water and followed the path quickly for two or three hundred meters, soon spotting a river about twenty meters wide, gently flowing.
Splash.
Two children were playing and laughing in the shallow water.
On the riverbank sat a middle-aged man before a tall easel, painting with intense focus. Sensing someone approaching, he turned and glanced at Andrew Han, nodding and smiling faintly.
His gaze was calm and far-reaching, like mountains and flowing water.
"Oh?"
Andrew Han made a quiet sound of surprise.
Through Inspiration, he could sense the man’s goodwill... In other words, the middle-aged man was at least an Upper Three Ranks martial practitioner.
Inspiration still couldn’t sense ordinary people.
After a moment’s thought—
Andrew Han didn’t dwell on it. He sat on a stone by the riverbank, listening to the gentle stream and watching the children play, a deep sense of tranquility rising within him.
His whole body relaxed.
The warm, lazy sunlight gradually climbed higher, dispelling the river’s chill.
The middle-aged man painted all morning. He glanced curiously at Andrew Han, who lay on the round stone, but didn’t approach. Eventually, he left with the two children.
By noon, more tourists arrived.
"Hmm."
Andrew Han, who had kept his eyes closed and rested, opened them to the lively scene, but remained silent.
He only felt—
He seemed to have grasped something, but no matter how he tried, it slipped away.