93: Chapter 93 The Warm Neighbor

"Alright, alright, stop right there."

Fang Wu turned to look at Li Ru. "I was just teasing you. How could I not see what Fang Zhuo is thinking? Sigh, when he and Shi Wei come back for New Year's this year, don't keep a long face all day, and don't put pressure on him."

"Martial arts treasures that restore vitality are just too expensive! They are even more expensive than the natural treasures containing source power used for cultivation. The premium is just too high!"

"Fang Zhuo has great talent, and his character, comprehension, and execution are all outstanding. The old man praised him to me all day long the past couple of years, always saying, 'If your mother were still here, Fang Zhuo would definitely achieve great things in martial arts.'"

Fang Wu panted slightly as he spoke, pausing for a moment to catch his breath before continuing:

"Now that he has awakened a Superior Martial Aspect, I'm not worried about his future at all. A Transcendent Martial Artist, or even a Flying Martial Artist! But... I'm just afraid he's pushing himself too hard during this period and something might go wrong."

Hearing this, Li Ru didn't know what to say. Hearing "Transcendent Martial Artist" and "Flying Martial Artist" made her feel lightheaded.

For a couple who were only Primary Martial Artists, let alone a Transcendent Martial Artist, even an Advanced Martial Artist would have been an unattainable existence to them in the past.

Just then, a fashionably dressed middle-aged woman with well-maintained, supple skin walked in from outside the residential community.

"Fang Zhuo's mom! Taking your Old Fang out for a walk?"

"Yes, Sister Xueling. Are you back from picking up a package?"

Li Ru smiled, her expression somewhat constrained.

This woman was the mistress of the neighboring household, named Luo Xueling. Her Life Level was not high, and she herself was only a Primary Martial Artist.

But Luo Xueling's husband was a level 39 peak Advanced Martial Artist with outstanding strength, earning tens of millions a year on the Origin Star.

In addition, Luo Xueling and her husband had a highly talented son who was a graduate student at Mowu University, one of the two top prestigious universities in the Xia Nation. His Life Level had also entered the Advanced Martial Artist stage, and he stood a good chance of becoming a Transcendent Martial Artist in the future.

As the saying goes, a woman's status rises with her husband's, and a mother's status rises with her son's. Luo Xueling enjoyed both, so she usually walked with an air of self-importance, always looking down on others in the residential community.

"Yes, my husband sent it back from the Origin Star. He said it's some kind of beauty wine brewed with exotic beast gallbladder, which is good for the skin."

Luo Xueling held a tightly packed box in her hand with a label that read 'Future Express'. She walked up warmly and grabbed Li Ru's hand.

"Perfect timing, I'll share some with you."

"No, no need."

Li Ru shook her head repeatedly.

Ever since Fang Zhuo joined the Starry Sky Group and the news spread in Jinhe City, Luo Xueling had become this warm, as if they had always been on great terms.

But in reality, when had their relationship ever been so close?

"Fang Zhuo's mom, don't be polite with me. You call me Sister Xueling; if you truly consider me your elder sister, then accept it."

In an undeniable tone, Luo Xueling tore open the express delivery box on the spot, took out a bottle, and handed it to Li Ru.

"I... thank you, Sister Xueling."

Li Ru was not good with words. In her anxiety, she could only reach out and take it.

"That's more like it. Well, I won't disturb you two then."

Seeing Li Ru accept it, Luo Xueling turned around and entered the apartment building with satisfaction.

In her eyes, since Fang Zhuo had joined the Starry Sky Group with an s-rank contract, he was bound to become a Transcendent Martial Artist in the future. The Fang Family and she were now considered part of the same social circle.

She never spared a glance for those who weren't up to standard, but she was quite warm toward people in her own circle.

"The Fang Family's ancestral graves must really be smoking. To think they could produce a genius with an s-rank contract from the Starry Sky Group."

As Luo Xueling pressed the elevator button and waited, a powerful gust of wind suddenly blew outside the building, bending the flowers and grass.

An aircraft?

She hurriedly ran out, craning her neck to look.

By the edge of the garden, a small aircraft slowly hovered. The word 'Starry Sky' was carved in large characters on the nose of the cabin.

"The exclusive aircraft of the Starry Sky Martial Artist Group!"

Luo Xueling was startled and thought to herself, 'Could it be... Fang Zhuo is back?'

As if to confirm her thought, the cabin door of the aircraft slowly opened, and a young man and woman appeared at the doorway.

Bai Shiwei held Fang Zhuo's hand as they leaped down together.

"Old man...!"

Li Ru looked up at the low sky, excitedly gripping the handles of the wheelchair, and shouted, "Fang Zhuo and Shi Wei are back!"

"Why are they back at this time?"

Fang Wu sat in the wheelchair, holding a porcelain bottle in his hand—it was the beauty wine Luo Xueling had given Li Ru earlier.

He was much more calm. Aside from his joy, he was mostly worried—would returning at this time affect his cultivation?

"Dad, Mom."

Fang Zhuo smiled.

He carefully observed his father. After more than three months, Fang Wu had aged quite a bit, looking even older than his grandfather, Fang Dawei. This showed how severe the physical decay caused by overdrawing his Martial Aspect was.

Bai Shiwei also called them Mom and Dad, a heartfelt smile on her face.

Family happiness is one of life's greatest pleasures. Since Fang Zhuo had brought her back this time, she could basically guess his purpose.

To restore Fang Wu's vitality!

Now that Fang Zhuo had received the rewards from the Starry Sky Group's customized contract and promoted to a Transcendent Martial Artist in one fell swoop, he must have gained a lot after slaying Ding Nan.

As a veteran Transcendent Martial Artist with a Life Level of 44, Ding Nan had accumulated wealth over many years, so his net worth was bound to be substantial.

"Good, good. Why didn't you tell us in advance? I didn't even prepare any food!"

Li Ru was all smiles. Originally, she had been wondering how Fang Zhuo's meals were at the Starry Sky Group and how his cultivation was going, but now that Fang Zhuo was back, she didn't want to think about those things anymore.

"Are you hungry? Come on, let's go home, and I'll cook something fresh for you."

"Mom, we're not hungry."

Fang Zhuo smiled and said, "Shi Wei will accompany you upstairs first. I need to go out for a bit, but I'll be right back!"

Without waiting for Li Ru and Fang Wu to say anything more, he strode away and vanished into the Mingyue Residential Community.

On the way here, he had already made an appointment with Manager Zhao.

This manager of the Shanhe Martial Arts Hall had helped him a lot in the past. Returning this time, he planned to sell his resources and purchase dragon-shaped grass. With a transaction worth tens of billions, there was plenty of profit to be made. Asking Manager Zhao to help contact merchants was a way of returning the favor.

"This child...!"

Seeing Fang Zhuo vanish in an instant, Li Ru didn't know what to say for a moment.

"Dad, Mom, don't worry. Fang Zhuo went out to take care of some business and will be back shortly," Bai Shiwei explained with a smile.

She didn't mention Fang Zhuo's strength or his purpose for coming back just yet.

This surprise was better left for Fang Zhuo to announce himself.

"Fang Zhuo's mom, are Fang Zhuo and your daughter-in-law back?" Luo Xueling ran back out and said, "This must be Bai Shiwei, right? She is so beautiful, even better-looking than a big celebrity."

"Hello, Auntie."

Bai Shiwei was slightly embarrassed by the compliment.

"Oh, you're shy! Fang Zhuo's mom, how about you don't cook either? Just come to my house. The maid at my place made a huge table of food, and we haven't eaten yet. When Fang Zhuo comes back, have him join us too."

Luo Xueling invited them with a chuckle.

She was only a Primary Martial Artist, but her husband and son were both Advanced Martial Artists, so she had met quite a few martial artists and possessed decent judgment.

From her brief glimpse just now, she felt that Fang Zhuo possessed an extraordinary bearing, carrying himself with the demeanor of a true master, not at all inferior to the Advanced Martial Artists she had seen in the past.

Now, in close contact with Bai Shiwei and sensing her carefully, Luo Xueling felt that Bai Shiwei seemed to be even more powerful.

The impression she got was that her Life Level was not lower than her husband's!