The Grand Elder walked over with a smile. “Your family is finally reunited, so I won’t disturb you any longer. Xiao Ge, you should also understand your father and mother. They truly went to great lengths for your growth. Do you still remember the two Divine-Rank Life Cores I had you retrieve from the Green Sea of Life? Those were essential to reviving them. So in a sense, you could say you were the one who saved them.”
Lan Ge stiffly turned his head toward the smiling Grand Elder. “Then what if there hadn’t been those two Divine-Rank Life Cores?”
The Grand Elder shrugged. “Then their elementalized state would simply have lasted longer, and breaking through wouldn’t have been so easy. Your father is, after all, the Lord of the Blue Domain—the ruler of a nation. No matter how weak humans may be, kings are not so easily killed.”
“I understand.” Lan Ge’s voice sounded somewhat numb.
Cheers rose and fell throughout the crowd. Lan Xiang stepped over to his son’s side and patted him on the shoulder. “Son, you’ve really grown up. Your father is proud to see how far you’ve come. We originally thought the Grand Elder would explain everything to you, but in order to keep you driven by grief and determination, he chose not to tell you the truth. That’s why you suffered for so long. Your mother and I are sorry.”
Lan Ge looked at his parents, then at the Grand Elder. Suddenly, he smiled and nodded. “It’s fine, Father. You all did it for my own good. As long as you’re alive, that’s enough for me.”
Xiang Yun blinked. “Son, you really have grown up! I thought you’d be angry. By the way, shouldn’t seeing your mother again bring tears of joy? Look at me—I couldn’t stop crying.”
Lan Ge chuckled. “Tears of joy? If you’re that happy, why cry? You should laugh instead! Hahaha!”
Lan Xiang and Xiang Yun both felt something was off. Xiang Yun grabbed Lan Ge’s hand. “Son, are you all right?”
Lan Ge didn’t answer. Instead, he looked toward Lan Xiang. “Dad, No. 58 was you, wasn’t it? You deliberately changed your build, your voice—even the way you walked. But eyes don’t lie. The moment I saw your eyes up close, they felt familiar. Besides, other than you, nobody in Thunder City could possibly have reached Star God level. Am I right?”
Lan Xiang coughed awkwardly. “It was all to build your image among the people. Defeating someone as strong as me would naturally earn you even greater admiration, wouldn’t it? Next, I’ll officially announce you as the heir to the Lord of Thunder City. I’ll remain king. That’s the reward Thunder City’s Grand Competition prepared for you.”
Lan Ge shook his head. “No thanks. I like freedom. You can keep the Lord of Thunder City position for yourself.”
Lan Xiang didn’t insist. “That’s fine too. Do whatever you want. Once you’re tired of wandering outside, the position of Lord of Thunder City will always be waiting for you.”
Fa Hua… are you really my brother? Lan Ge silently called inwardly.
Fa Hua remained silent for a full ten seconds before replying, My condolences.
If you’re really my brother, then help me this once. Lan Ge’s voice was calm, but to Fa Hua, it sounded fiercer than a raging storm.
Amid the cheers, the family of three stepped down from the arena. The honor guard had long since assembled, ready to welcome their prince home.
Lan Ge now completely understood why the Grand Elder had refused to let him return to the palace earlier. Without question, it was because his parents had already returned and were living there. If he had gone back, he definitely would have noticed clues.
The sudden decision to hold the Thunder City Grand Competition had probably also been for his sake. The championship? The championship existed to keep him excited enough that he wouldn’t resent being deceived.
Yes. That had to be it.
Lan Ge had always been intelligent. During the walk from Palace Square back to the palace, he had already pieced together the entire chain of events.
He knew the Grand Elder and his parents must have possessed some way to avoid death. He didn’t know exactly how, but such a method clearly existed. Which meant the Grand Elder had known from the very beginning that his parents would survive.
He still vividly remembered the tragic scene of his mother transforming into the Azure Phoenix and ultimately “dying” in battle.
And he remembered even more clearly just how agonizing, how utterly heart-wrenching, his grief had been at the time.
He remembered all of it!
“Is Xiao Ge really all right?” Xiang Yun asked worriedly.
“He should be fine. He was probably just shaken for a moment. But our family being reunited is still a good thing. Give him some time. At worst, just promise him we won’t force him into blind dates anymore. Give him a little more freedom. Our son is already Ninth-Rank and has even comprehended the essence of elemental laws. Reaching Tenth-Rank in the future is practically guaranteed. And once he reaches God Rank, his lifespan will become vastly longer anyway. Marrying later won’t matter,” Lan Xiang comforted his wife.
“No. Something feels wrong. That brat never had a good temperament growing up. He absolutely holds grudges. The calmer and quieter he acts, the more suspicious it feels,” Xiang Yun said with certainty.
Isn’t that because he takes after you? Lan Xiang muttered inwardly, though he naturally didn’t dare say it aloud.
“It’s fine. We’re his parents. Even if he’s unhappy, what can he really do? At most, he’ll vent a little. Whatever he wants to do, we’ll just indulge him.” Lan Xiang held his wife’s hand.
Xiang Yun thought about it and felt that made sense. Both she and Lan Xiang had already broken through to Star God level. No matter what Lan Ge did, they should still be able to handle it. Besides, their son had grown up now. Surely he wouldn’t do anything too outrageous… right?
“Son, do you want to go rest first, or stay and chat with your father and mother for a while?” Xiang Yun warmly wrapped herself around Lan Ge’s arm and asked with a smile.
“I’m leaving,” Lan Ge said flatly.
“Leaving? Going where? We only just reunited, and now you’re leaving again after being gone for so long? What else do you need to do? We already heard everything you told the Grand Elder. But the Blue Domain’s situation is different now. Not only did you obtain the Peerless Pearl, your father and I also used the Devil Race invasion as an opportunity to break through. The Devil Race covets your Peerless Pearl. You absolutely can’t wander around recklessly—it’s too dangerous,” Xiang Yun said anxiously.
The moment she recalled everything Lan Ge and Fa Hua had faced against the Ruby Queen and within the Demon Domain, fear welled up uncontrollably inside her. She truly didn’t want her son leaving her side again.
“Why should I stay? You’re both back now. With you managing the kingdom and ruling Thunder City, everything will be fine. I just want to travel and see the world. At least out there, I won’t be so easily deceived. If I stay here, who knows what other surprises you’ll spring on me?”
Xiang Yun frowned deeply. “Son, are you really angry with your father and mother? Do you love me?”
Lan Ge’s mouth twitched. Again?
“Do you love me?” Xiang Yun shook his arm like a little girl.
“I do!” Lan Ge couldn’t bring himself to lie.
Xiang Yun immediately smiled brightly. “Then don’t stay angry. Are you really going to stay mad at your mother? Besides, we never intended to hide this from you in the first place. We originally thought the Grand Elder would explain everything afterward, but who would’ve expected him to…”
“Mom, besides loving you, I’ve also fallen in love with someone else,” Lan Ge suddenly said.
“Ah? You have a girlfriend?” Xiang Yun stared at him in surprise.
Lan Ge murmured softly, “The peerless come in a pair. One life, one fate they shall share.”
Golden light descended, and Fa Hua, dressed in white, appeared at his side.
“Greetings, Uncle and Aunt.” Fa Hua politely bowed toward Lan Xiang and Xiang Yun.
Under the utterly dumbfounded gazes of Lan Xiang and Xiang Yun, Lan Ge wrapped himself around Fa Hua’s arm. “Father, Mother, since you’re both perfectly fine, there’s nothing left in Thunder City that I need to do. We’re going traveling now. Dear, let’s go.” As he spoke, he leaned his head against Fa Hua’s shoulder.
“Goodbye, Uncle and Aunt.” Fa Hua’s expression looked slightly stiff. Before Lan Xiang and Xiang Yun could even react, light flashed, and the two vanished instantly.
Lan Xiang and Xiang Yun stared blankly at the place where they had disappeared, both unsure whether to laugh or cry.
This… what exactly just happened?
“He… the person Xiao Ge said he fell in love with… don’t tell me… no way?” Xiang Yun suddenly grabbed Lan Xiang’s arm and shook it hard.
Lan Xiang smiled bitterly. “He is obviously doing it on purpose to get back at us. I knew that brat wouldn’t let this go so easily. That brat actually went this far.”
Xiang Yun’s face turned slightly pale. “But… they really wouldn’t, right? It really was just to anger us, right? They have that shared teleportation ability, and even life-sharing. Their relationship is already unbelievably close. If they spend too much time together…”
Lan Xiang also looked speechless. “Th-this… that shouldn’t happen… right?”
“You bastard!” Lan Ge shoved Fa Hua hard enough to nearly send him stumbling. “Are you even human? Tell me, are you even human? I asked you for one tiny favor, and you still insisted on making me play the girl. Do you have even the slightest bit of humanity?”
Fa Hua silently looked at him. “I’m a steel-reinforced straight man.”
“Me too! Me too!” Lan Ge exploded in frustration.
At that moment, they were already within the Law Domain, inside Wisdom City—within the Wisdom Temple itself.
“They lied to me. They were actually alive the whole time. They lied to me together with the Grand Elder. They never told me. They let me suffer for so long. I almost went insane from the pain. They actually lied to me…” Lan Ge suddenly burst into loud sobs. The emotions he had suppressed for so long finally exploded.