The shattering sound produced by breaking the Formation was particularly harsh outside the quiet courtyard, catching the attention of Uncle Fu, who was trimming flowers and plants inside.

Uncle Fu set down the shears in his hand and, frowning, pushed open the heavy wooden door of the courtyard.

When he saw the middle-aged man in a gray overcoat standing outside the door, he froze at first, a hint of confusion flashing in his eyes.

But a second later, Uncle Fu remembered something; his pupils contracted, the blood drained from his face, and his expression turned grim and fierce!

Staring at the middle-aged man before him, he erupted with the full magic power fluctuations of a B-rank Professional and stood blocking the center of the doorway.

There was no other reason.

First, the other party had violently broken the courtyard's highest defensive Formation without greeting him, which clearly showed ill intent.

And the second reason—the one that filled Uncle Fu with the most dread and rage—was:

He had seen this middle-aged man before!

More than five years ago, after this man wearing a dress hat appeared, Young Master Zhou Huai's mother died tragically in a pool of blood, while the originally healthy and lively Young Master Zhou Huai was hit by an extremely bizarre dark curse, turning him into a cripple who could only sit in a wheelchair!

He was the absolute culprit who caused the Young Master's tragic past!

"Your Excellency... what is the meaning of this?!"

Seeing Uncle Fu looking as if facing a formidable enemy, the middle-aged man didn't get angry, but instead smiled slightly.

Adjusting the collar of his overcoat, he greeted in a gentle tone, "Don't be nervous. I'm here to find Zhou Huai."

"May I ask, is Zhou Huai at home?"

Hearing that name come out of the man's mouth, Uncle Fu felt a chill rush straight from the soles of his feet to the top of his skull. He took a sudden step forward, using his newly reborn, burly body to block the gap in the door behind him completely.

"My Young Master is not at home!"

Uncle Fu said with a cold face, "You are not welcome here! Please leave on your own, Your Excellency!"

The middle-aged man had long anticipated this answer.

A harmless, even elegant smile remained on his face as his gaze passed over Uncle Fu's shoulder, looking deep into the courtyard.

"What?"

"Are you going to reject me, an uncle who has come from afar?"

"Uncle?!"

Hearing this title, Uncle Fu felt a buzz in his head, and the shock in his heart was beyond measure.

The murderer who killed the Young Master's mother actually claimed to be the Young Master's uncle?!

"What absolute nonsense are you spewing! What kind of uncle are you..."

Uncle Fu's eyes were blood-red. Just as he was about to burst out cursing, ready to risk his newly reborn old life to drag the man down with him,

However, right at that moment, a calm voice came from the direction of the house, interrupting Uncle Fu.

"Uncle Fu, let him in."

Uncle Fu trembled all over and turned his head sharply.

He saw that Zhou Huai had already walked out of the living room and was standing quietly on the steps. He was not in a wheelchair; his legs were straight and firm, his hands casually tucked in his pants pockets, his eyes calm.

"Young Master! But he..."

Hearing Zhou Huai say this, Uncle Fu's face was filled with anxiety and hesitation.

Others didn't know, but he had witnessed this man's terrifying methods with his own eyes!

"It's fine, Uncle Fu. Let him in," Zhou Huai spoke again, his tone gentle yet dignified.

Uncle Fu bit his lip. He didn't want to disobey Zhou Huai, and he knew even better that with the Young Master's current strength, he might no longer be the child back then who was left to the mercy of others.

He could only glare hostilly at the middle-aged man before stepping aside.

The middle-aged man took off his retro dress hat, smiled politely at Uncle Fu, who was full of vigilance, and then casually walked into the courtyard.

Zhou Huai also stepped down to greet him at this moment.

The autumn sunlight poured into the courtyard as the distance between the two men gradually closed, finally stopping three meters apart.

Their eyes met sharply in midair.

The middle-aged man's eyes were sizing Zhou Huai up and down. His gaze swept over Zhou Huai's straight posture, showing no surprise that Zhou Huai could walk flexibly on his own and had completely freed himself from paralysis.

"It really has been a long time."

Placing his dress hat against his chest, the middle-aged man offered a complex smile.

"I didn't expect that in the blink of an eye, you'd grow up so big. You look more and more like your mother."

Hearing the word 'mother', Zhou Huai's eyes turned cold, but the expression on his face remained unchanged.

He looked at the unfathomable man before him, looking at this leader of the Dawnbreaker Guild who could kill even Lin Zhu in an instant.

Zhou Huai smiled back at him, speaking in a calm tone.

"You seem to know me very well. But I have no understanding of you whatsoever."

Zhou Huai tilted his head, locking his eyes on the man's eyes, and asked word by word:

"By the way, for our first formal meeting..."

"Should I address you as Uncle, or should I call you..."

"Mr. Duan?"

Mr. Duan smiled politely and waved his hand.

"As for titles, call me whatever you like. Names are just codenames. If you are willing to cherish that thin bit of bloodline affection, calling me Uncle is fine; if you have only hatred in your heart, 'Mr. Duan' suits our current stance better."

He took off his vintage dress hat and played with it casually in his hands, his gaze passing over Zhou Huai's shoulder to sweep across the peaceful courtyard.

"Aren't you going to invite me inside to sit?"

Zhou Huai stepped aside, calmly making a gesture of invitation.

"Please."

One behind the other, the two walked slowly into the living room.

The arrangement inside the living room was very simple; autumn sunlight filtered through the clean floor-to-ceiling windows, casting mottled light and shadow on the floor.

Zhou Huai sat down on the main sofa, while Mr. Duan naturally sat opposite him.

Between them was a rosewood tea table.

Soon, Uncle Fu walked over carrying a zisha teapot and two teacups.

He set the tea set down heavily on the tea table, without looking at Mr. Duan even once throughout the process. Turning around, he withdrew to the corner of the living room, standing motionless and glaring at Mr. Duan's every movement.

Zhou Huai paid no mind to Uncle Fu's tension. He picked up the zisha pot himself and adeptly poured a cup of hot tea for Mr. Duan.

The pale green tea liquor tumbled in the cup, and the curling tea aroma slowly rose between the two, diluting the tense, hostile atmosphere.

Looking at the steaming cup of tea in front of him, Mr. Duan smiled meaningfully.

His slender fingers picked up the teacup, brought it to his nose for a gentle sniff, and then took a sip completely off his guard.

He set down the teacup, looked up at Zhou Huai, and spoke to break the silence.

"Good tea."

Mr. Duan paused, his eyes falling on Zhou Huai's face as he asked, "Do you know why I came?"

Zhou Huai leaned against the soft back of the sofa, crossing his hands over his knees in a relaxed posture.

"Why else? Naturally because of me."

Hearing this answer, Mr. Duan grew even more interested. He nodded candidly, without beating around the bush in the slightest.

"To be honest, you really surprised me. Very, very surprised."

Mr. Duan leaned against the back of the sofa, his fingers tapping rhythmically on the armrest, making a clicking sound.

"In my plan, you should have died long ago."