Chapter 57: Small Flower Hall, The Past

Xu Yang kept silent for a long while and said, “The first condition, I will return to the Xu family but you can’t restrict my freedom, and stop sending Uncle Qinggang to follow me.”

Xu Changling and Xu Qinggang looked at each other. Xu Changling nodded and said with a smile, “The reason I sent Qinggang to follow you is to protect you. You won’t need the protection from the family anymore since you have advanced into the Mystical Warrior stage and have the ability to protect yourself. I agree with the first condition.”

Xu Yang continued saying, “The second condition, I have some grudges with some of the youngsters in the family such as Xu Zhengming. Some people have been rude to us. I won’t forgive them if I hear such words again. The family shouldn’t punish me if something like that were to happen.”

Xu Changling nodded. “So long as you return to the family, you are my grandson, no one would dare to scold you. This condition is also accepted.”

“The third condition…” Xu Yang looked at Xu Yu and said, “I want the family to recall my parents and let us reunite as a family.”

Xu Changling was in a difficult position. “Xu Yang, this…”

Xu Yang frowned and said, “What’s wrong? Is it not okay?” He was puzzled. Since the family wanted to acknowledge Xu Yang, it should mean that the family will no longer blame Xu Qingyuan for his mistakes years ago. Why would they not recall his parents and let them return to the family if that were the case?

Second Elder waved his hand and laughed. “Xu Yang, it is not that the manor master is unwilling to do that. He has his reasons. You were too young to know when the incident happened, we’ll tell you all about it when the time is right.”

Xu Changling nodded and said, “The third condition is accepted too. We could include Qingyuan’s name into the genealogy once again. However, as for your mother, it is a rather tough task.”

Xu Yang was not a greedy person. He did not ask for more after hearing what the two old men had to say.

“…Grandfather.” Xu Yang hesitated for a while, and saluted with one of his knees down on the ground.

Xu Yang did not call him Grandpa which showed intimacy, instead he addressed him as Grandfather. Xu Changling sighed deep down. It seemed that Xu Yang still needed time to mend the emotional rift he felt toward the family.

“Good boy.” Xu Changling said with a chuckle, “The names of the family members are given according to the different generations, Chang, Qing, Zheng, and Yu. You are in the third generation. You should be called Xu Zhengyang from now onwards.”

Xu Yu said cheerfully, “My name has to be changed to Xu Zhengyu then.”

“That’s right.” Xu Changling smiled and looked at Xu Yu affectionately.

“Thank you, Grandfather. However, I’m used to my name, Xu Yang.” Xu Yang refused to change his name. The name not only represented Xu Yang in this era but also the memory of him in the future era from where he came.

Xu Changling assumed that it was because Xu Yang had some mental barriers when it came to the family. He did not want to force him. He nodded and changed the topic, “We should continue the Grand Family Tournament.”

“Grandpa.” Xu Zhengxin walked forward from the side. “Younger Cousin Brother Xu Yang has utterly defeated Zhengchun. However, my strength is the same as Zhengchun’s. Thus, the champion of the Grand Family Tournament should be Xu Yang. I’d rather forfeit.”

Xu Changling looked approvingly at his eldest grandson and nodded. “A gentleman must be honest. You’re a good boy, Zhengxin.”

Third Elder mumbled at the side, “How would one break through the stages without an ambitious mind?” Of course, the crowd pretended that they did not hear what he said.

Xu Zhengchun thought that Xu Zhengxin, who had always been his strongest opponent, would mock him when he was defeated by Xu Yang. He did not expect that Xu Zhengxin would admit that their strength was the same. He was somehow touched, and an undecipherable feeling appeared at the bottom of his heart.

“It seems that Xu Yang is the champion everyone expected.” Xu Changling said, “You two don’t have to go against each other. However, the other youngsters should continue their matches in order to decide the distribution of ranking and prizes.”

“Understood, Manor Master.” Xu Qinggang bowed and accepted the order. He announced loudly, “The Grand Family Tournament will continue now!”

The Xu family’s youngsters queued up according to the sequence once again. They were all motivated as the two geniuses, Xu Zhengxin and Xu Yang would not be participating in any more matches. The rest of them were rather hopeful. Although the first prize had gone to Xu Yang, they still stood a chance to get the second and third prize. The rewards were still very attractive.

Xu Yang held onto Xu Yu’s small hand and supported the drowsy Chubby Ball on his shoulder under the sign given by Xu Changling. He followed his grandfather, Xu Changling, and his uncle, Xu Qinglu, and walked out of the gymnasium.

The four people reached a small flower hall after a few steps.

“Xu Yang. Grandpa was in a difficult position when you mentioned the third condition. It’s not because I’m not willing to accept it but it is too hard for the Xu family to do that right now.” Xu Changling said with great honesty and sincerity.

“The family can’t do that?” Xu Yang felt that it was weird. “Did my father meet an accident, or is he no longer alive?!”

“That’s not the case.” Xu Qinglu said immediately. “Your father is missing but we are not sure whether he is still alive.” The man thought that Xu Yang was rather disrespectful in the way he spoke, even directly assuming that his father was dead. However, he stopped himself from reprimanding Xu Yang as he realized that it was not surprising since Xu Yang was not able to receive proper education from his parents. His tactlessness was predictable.

What he did not know was that Xu Yang did not have much feelings for his father, Xu Qingyuan. These were just the effects of the memories left by the previous Xu Yang. Hence, he blurted out such words without much thought.

“Missing?”

“The story of your father’s disappearance started fifteen years ago.” Xu Changling looked at the pine and cypress trees outside the window and said leisurely, “Your father, Xu Qingyuan, was the top one teenage geniuses in Lin Yuan City fifteen years ago. He was talented and amazing, there wasn’t another teenager who could compare with him. Even Lord Lin Yuan’s son, Li Zhongxuan, was not as outstanding as your father.”

“Your father also participated in the Sea-Cloud Academy selection conference. He succeeded in the pre-selection, middle-selection, and final-selection with his outstanding performance. The family was proud of him.”

“However, your father met your mother, the daughter of the head of Sea-Cloud’s Mo family during the final selection. Both of them were very talented and they fell in love at first sight. However, Lin Yuan’s Xu family is too weak compared to the enormous Mo family. The Mo family was naturally against your parents’ relationship.”

“Your father eloped with your mother from Sea-Cloud Kingdom. They escaped from Sea-Cloud Kingdom and got married in Lin Yuan City…” Xu Changling sighed. “If I knew that your mother was the Mo family’s little princess at that time, I would not have agreed to the marriage between them even if I had the guts to do that.”

“What happened after that? My parents must have lived in Lin Yuan City for at least three years since they had both Xu Yu and I. Why didn’t the Mo family look for them?” Xu Yang was puzzled.

“Your father escaped from Sea-Cloud Academy by faking his death at that time. Lord Lin Yuan’s youngest son, Li Zhongxuan, helped conceal the truth and it was flawless as the Mo family thought that your mother had died in an unexpected adventure. However, the Mo family finally realized the truth three years later and they immediately sent people to put the blame on us… I could still remember what a big disaster it was!” Xu Changling sighed, “Your fourth granduncle died in that disaster… Please don’t blame your third granduncle. He was the closest to your fourth granduncle…”

“In the end, the Mo family sent people to crush your father’s Star Ocean, but your mother threatened to take her own life, so they ended up letting him live. The Xu family was forced to cast those of Xu Qingyuan’s bloodline out and we had to guarantee that we would not care about the three of you.”

Xu Yang nodded as many of his doubts were cleared. It seemed that he could not blame his grandfather and the Xu family.