"There's no need for that. I'll team up with my senior disciples. It's always better to cooperate with those you know well," Zhou Yichen said, fearing they'd think he wanted to curry favor with Zhou You. He'd rather keep his distance from Zhou You than follow him around.

Zhou You had no desire to include him either. "Indeed, it's better to team up with familiar faces. Coordination is crucial," he remarked, highlighting the importance of compatibility.

At the same time, Wang Shengqian was engrossed in his game. He preferred to log on during the evenings when the server was bustling with players. Unable to emulate his father's dominance in real life, he was determined to rule the virtual world, devoting himself wholeheartedly and even seeking ways to extend his gaming hours.

Song Jin'an had previously researched Wang's in-game alias and habits. That evening, he waited online for Wang, showering him with flattery and quickly becoming Wang's loyal in-game sidekick.

When they encountered a mutated beast, Song unhesitatingly stepped in front of Wang, executing impressive moves to slay the creature, successfully catching Wang's attention.

After several days of interaction, Wang had come to greatly appreciate this new teammate. They'd schedule times to play together, running dungeons and not paying much attention to ranked matches. After all, Wang wasn’t really in it for the rewards.

As Zhou You and his group left the Zhou residence, the car's trunk was packed full. Zhou Huajin seemed intent on making up for a decade of lost time in a day. With Hu Shancheng looking to befriend the young group, apart from initial gifts, he also presented them with food and modest presents, which were hard for Zhou You and his friends to decline.

Once inside, Hu Xueqing exhaled deeply and complained, "You all went overboard! The resident chat group is buzzing about which VIP visited today. They're just youngsters. Was all that fuss really necessary?"

Zhou Huajin defended adamantly, "How is that fussing? Can't I treat my own child well?"

Hu Xueqing smirked but kept silent, thinking, "Would you have treated Zhou You the same if he had returned alone?"

At dinner, they had all overheard Zhou You admitting his limited martial skills, unable to digest the meat of high-level mutated beasts. He seemed to be just an average martial artist, and who knows how long his relationships with high-status friends would last?

"Dad, you really shouldn't have! Those elixirs are so rare, many can't even buy them. Yet you gave away so many," she pointed out.

Hu Shancheng tapped his daughter's forehead, "You should look at the bigger picture. Don’t meddle in these matters. If you truly dislike him, let Huajin handle him. I don't think he's fond of you two anyway."

Mrs. Zhou, irritated, decided not to engage and went upstairs with her son, while Zhou Huajin and Hu Shancheng continued their tea and conversation about Zhou You and his friends.

"Don't blame me for being suspicious. I had someone look into their backgrounds, but we haven't found much yet. I trust Zhou You, but I've been concerned about the company he keeps."

Zhou Huajin nodded understandingly. He'd have done the same if he had the time. He wished to know what his son had been through in the last decade.

However, their recent meetings had alleviated his concerns. Zhou You's friends seemed quite remarkable and probably didn't harbor ulterior motives.

"But don't underestimate Zhou You's martial skills. He's more proficient than you think," Hu Shancheng emphasized.

"How did you deduce that?"

"I've met many experts over the years. His demeanor and the respect his friends show him are telling. You should recognize your son's excellence. He's always been exceptional; why would he have wasted the last decade?"

"He told me he'd spent those years in seclusion in the mountains. I doubt he had the chance to learn martial arts. The sects are very selective, but I plan to send him to the Yueyang sect. Even if Master Tong doesn't accept disciples, the other masters should be competent."

Hu Shancheng disagreed, "People overvalue lineage these days. A prestigious sect doesn't guarantee great disciples. Have you considered how he survived a decade in the mountains, facing numerous mutated beasts? Especially in the Yunlan Mountain range, where few dare to tread. I believe your eldest son is just being modest."

Hearing this, Zhou Huajin felt a surge of pride. An accomplished son indeed boosts a father's reputation.

"You see things more clearly. Regardless, he's my son, and our reunion alone brings me immense joy."

Hu Shancheng patted him on the shoulder, "You're indeed fortunate. I trust Xueqing in your hands. Now, we must focus on nurturing Xiao Chen. As long as he can stand his ground, our legacy will thrive."

Hu Shancheng had only his daughter, Hu Xueqing. Naturally, he doted on his grandson and saw him as the heir to the family business. This vision was one of the reasons Zhou Huajin respected his father-in-law. The man certainly had a broad perspective.

Hu Shancheng lowered his head to blow on his hot tea. A glint of sharpness flashed behind his glasses. He was not yet sixty. Given the current average human lifespan and the medicines in his possession, he expected to live another sixty years. Issues of inheritance would only matter after his death. His focus was on nurturing young talents to serve him.

Chapter 128: Making the List.

Over the next few days, the number of invitations received by Litchi Manor mysteriously increased. People from all walks of life seemed incredibly curious about the new owner of Litchi Manor. Zhou You, as the household head, quickly became the talk of the town. His young age combined with his luxury mansion, high-end cars, and a possible entourage of bodyguards always drew attention wherever he went.

Some daring livestreamers camped outside Litchi Manor every day, hoping to capture a glimpse of the manor’s owner. The first one to capture Zhou You and his group leaving the manor became an overnight sensation. It was said that the number of viewers rushing into the livestream nearly crashed the platform.