102: Returning home in glory

“Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!”

In the azure sky, a massive Azure Eagle spread its wings, transforming into a streak of azure light as it flew at extreme speeds.

Mountains, plains, rivers, and lakes were rapidly bypassed by the massive Azure Eagle, its speed terrifyingly boundless.

“Teacher Wang, roughly how much longer until we reach Dongshan Prefecture?”

On the back of the Azure Eagle, watching the land pass by inch by inch beneath him, Lin Yi couldn't help but ask Wang Yu.

“Soon!”

Wang Yu smiled slightly.

“We are less than three hundred miles from Dongshan Prefecture City. At Little Azure's speed, I estimate we will arrive in the time it takes to drink a cup of tea at most.”

“The time it takes to drink a cup of tea!”

Hearing this, Lin Yi's eyes flickered with excitement, and a rare sense of nervousness welled up within him.

In just the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, he would be back in Dongshan Prefecture. After nearly two years, he wondered if his parents and Dean Zhao Haihong were all doing well.

Lin Yi gazed into the distance, lost in thought... Meanwhile, in Dongshan Prefecture, at the Dongshan Martial Academy, on a massive Training Field.

Hundreds of people were lined up on the Training Field, waiting quietly. The lowest-ranking among them were heads or managers of second-rate families in Dongshan Prefecture; many were even Elders or heads of first-rate families and other prominent figures.

If placed in the outside world, every single one of them would be considered a heavyweight figure in the entire Dongshan Prefecture.

But at this moment, on this Training Field, they were just inconspicuous individuals among hundreds. None of them dared to even breathe loudly, their eyes looking respectfully at the few figures at the very front.

“Brother Lin, and Dean Zhao.”

At the very front of the crowd, Chi Longyue, the Governor of Dongshan Prefecture—dressed in low-key black robes but still possessing a majestic countenance—spoke to the two with a placating smile.

“According to the news from the Sect, Inspector Lin should be arriving shortly.”

“As you know, I previously offended the circuit inspector because of Brother Lin's matter. The circuit inspector is likely unhappy with me.”

“But I truly realize my mistake now. I hope Brother Lin and Dean Zhao, for the sake of my sincere repentance over the past two years, will say a few kind words for me before the circuit inspector later.”

“If so, I, Chi, will be eternally grateful.”

Chi Longyue's face was filled with utmost sincerity.

Even though the two people across from him were just a minor Third-Rank Martial Artist who was an ordinary Sect Elder, and the other was merely an Eighth-Rank Martial Artist who was also a cripple with a lame leg, he still maintained an extremely humble posture.

There was no other way! Lin Yi was truly too much of a Prodigy now!

As early as over a year ago, every Xiantian in the Sect placed immense importance on him, certain that as long as he did not perish, he would surely achieve the Innate Golden Core and even break into the top ranks of the Heaven Ranking in the future.

As for now, those within the Sect had already determined that Lin Yi was the greatest Prodigy in the history of the Heavenly Mountain Sect!

From top to bottom throughout the Sect—from the Sect Master down to every Disciple, and even the Xiantian ancestors of his Chi Family—everyone treated him like a treasure!

Under these circumstances, even if the other party hadn't fully grown yet, his status within the Sect was already extremely high. Forget about a mere First-Rank Martial Artist like himself; even the Xiantian Grand Elders of his Chi Family couldn't afford to offend him.

Therefore, what did it matter if he lost some face or acted humble? It was better than losing his life, wasn't it?

“I can't control Yier's thoughts. How he deals with you is his business. Even as his father, I have no right to interfere.”

“When Yier arrives in a moment, at most, I simply won't bother to speak against you.”

Hearing Chi Longyue's words, Lin Haichuan, sitting in a wheelchair and pushed by Ji Xuan, spoke with a somewhat cold expression.

He had long since learned the details of what happened back then. To be honest, although Lin Haichuan understood that under the circumstances at the time, Chi Longyue indeed had no obligation to save him.

Understanding was one thing, but when facing Chi Longyue, Lin Haichuan still couldn't help but feel some resentment in his heart.

If it weren't for the fact that the other party had indeed been attentive enough to him over the past year or so, he wouldn't have even allowed him to come and receive Lin Yi this time.

“Yes, yes, yes!”

Hearing this, Chi Longyue also nodded with a smile.

“If Brother Lin can go this far, I, Chi, am already very satisfied. How could I dare to ask for more? Thank you, Brother Lin. Then, Dean Zhao...”

As he spoke, Chi Longyue looked toward Zhao Haihong again.

“What's the use of looking at me?”

Zhao Haihong frowned and said:

“If Haichuan, as the father, finds it difficult to intervene, it's even less appropriate for me, an outsider, to do so. I can also only go as far as not speaking against you. When the time comes, it will depend on Lin Yi's own intentions!”

“Dean Zhao is right!”

Hearing this, Chi Longyue replied, but he couldn't help but sigh in his heart.

He had been extremely attentive to Zhao Haihong during this period, and he hadn't offended the man in the past.

He had originally thought Zhao Haihong would help him with a few kind words this time, but he hadn't expected the other party to be unwilling to intervene either.

Now, it really only depended on his own luck.

Chi Longyue felt helpless, but he could only wait silently.

And soon, the time it takes to drink a cup of tea passed.

Suddenly—

“Screech!”

In the sky, a bird's cry that seemed capable of shattering metal and stone suddenly rang out.

On the ground, everyone looked up to see an incredibly fast azure streak of light cutting through the Void Realm. In just a few breaths, it crossed several miles, arriving above the square from the distant horizon.

Then it descended rapidly, transforming into a majestic azure giant eagle before everyone's horrified eyes.

On the back of the Azure Eagle stood two figures with their hands behind their backs, their Auras as vast as the abyss and the sea, looking down at everyone.

The two were none other than Lin Yi and Wang Yu, who had rushed over from the Heavenly Mountain Sect!

“We pay our respects to Inspector Lin! Respects to the Sect expert!”

Seeing this, everyone on the square, except for Zhao Haihong, Lin Haichuan, and Ji Xuan, bowed in greeting.

“Rise!”

On the eagle's back, Lin Yi spoke indifferently, then jumped down with Wang Yu, revealing a brilliant smile to his parents and Dean Zhao Haihong.

“Father, Mother, and Dean Haihong, I'm back!”

“Haha! It's good that you're back! It's good that you're back!”

Hearing this, Zhao Haihong immediately laughed heartily.

“Lin Yi, although we don't know specifically what you've done in the Tianshan Pavilion over the past two years, we all know of your talent.”

“The number one Genius of the Tianshan Pavilion! The greatest Prodigy in the history of the Heavenly Mountain Sect!”

“Haha! Lin Yi, although I knew back when you first came to the Dongshan Martial Academy over two years ago that you would definitely be successful, I didn't expect you to be this successful! Haha! Good!”

“The Dean is right!”

Beside him, Lin Haichuan also laughed with excitement.

“The historical number one Prodigy of the Heavenly Mountain Sect. Yier, you are too incredible! I will be proud to have you as my son for the rest of my life! Haha!”

“Yier, look at you. You're thinner than you were two years ago. You've suffered.”

His mother, Ji Xuan, stood behind Lin Haichuan, looking at Lin Yi with a heart full of pain.

Seeing this, Lin Yi felt a warmth in his heart and laughed.

“I didn't suffer! I was highly valued in the Tianshan Pavilion; otherwise, how could I have achieved such success in such a short time? Mother doesn't need to worry about me anymore.”

“Haha! Inspector Lin is right!”

As soon as Lin Yi finished speaking, the Governor of Dongshan, Chi Longyue, hurriedly seized the opportunity to flatter him.

“Inspector Lin’s talent is peerless and unrivaled! Your achievements in the Tianshan Pavilion over the past year or so have shaken the entire Nine Provinces. I, Chi, admire you greatly!”

“Now that the circuit inspector has returned for the first time in nearly two years, I have nothing grand to give. Please accept this small gift as a token of congratulations on your joyous return home.”

Chi Longyue spoke with a smile, then immediately stepped forward and handed a small black bottle to Lin Yi.

Lin Yi raised an eyebrow at the sight, opened it gently, and immediately found a longan-sized Medicinal Pill, emitting a faint green light, lying quietly inside the bottle.