"What... happened?" Zhou You asked with a headache, thinking that kids are always trouble.

"Master..." Xuan Zhi threw himself into Zhou You's arms, crying intensely. To outsiders, it looked as if he had lost his father.

"Master, I couldn't reach you on your phone. I thought you had abandoned me."

"Stop!" Zhou You pushed him away, handing him a box of tissues, frowning as he said, "What are you talking about? You're here now, and I haven't gone anywhere."

The dining table was still empty. Situ Han went to order food. With a kid around, no one had time for nostalgia.

Zhou You asked the waiter for a pen and paper, jotting down a phone number and the words "Wei Shui Base", then discreetly handed it to Situ Han, saying, "This is for you. I need you to find this person."

Situ Han glanced at the note, tucking it into his pocket, and nodded seriously.

Zhou You took Xuan Zhi home. With outsiders present, the bugs had to be removed. "You'll stay here. My grandfather is being discharged from the hospital tomorrow, so I might move back to the Shao's."

Xuan Zhi asked pitifully, "Can't I stay with you, Master?"

Zhou You looked at him for a moment before nodding, "Alright, you can come with me tomorrow."

He thought that having the boy around might lift his grandfather's spirits.

The next day, Zhou You stood with Xuan Zhi outside the hospital room, admonishing, "Remember! Speak wisely, be sweet, or I'll send you back to Yangcheng Base."

"Understood, Master." Xuan Zhi put on a bright smile before entering. Who could resist a sunny, handsome, and adorable young man sweetly calling out "Great Grandpa"?

The old man was meeting him for the first time. Zhou You introduced, "This is my disciple, Xuan Zhi, from the Xuan family lineage."

"Ah, the grandson of old Xuan Ning," Mr. Shao recognized the name.

"Yes, Great Grandpa."

"The generation doesn't match. If we go by your master's lineage, you should be calling me Grandpa."

"No, I'll go by Master's lineage," Xuan Zhi insisted.

Shao Zhen also arrived, much quieter than before. After arranging for the old man's discharge, they all headed home.

Someone was covertly observing from outside the Shao residence. Zhou You didn't make much of it, but he warned his family, "Try not to go out alone for a while."

The next day, Zhou You got up early. In fact, he had been getting little sleep lately, looking much leaner. Hearing movement, Xuan Zhi quickly got up to prepare breakfast.

Before coming, he was specially trained by experts. As per his grandfather's instructions, he was not just to be a disciple this time but a good caretaker, taking care of the family.

For anyone else, the members of the Xuan family would surely not offer service. But for Zhou You, both Elder Xuan and Xuan Zhuo gave their approval. Moreover, the Shao family and Elder Xuan were old acquaintances.

“Master, breakfast is ready.” Xuan Zhuo placed a few of his specialties on the table, looking at Zhou You with eager eyes.

Zhou You, already dressed, was heading out empty-handed. He said to him, “I’m going to the sports arena for a competition. Stay home.”

“Wait…” Xuan Zhuo asked in shock, “Master, what competition are you participating in?”

“The martial arts tournament, naturally. It’s not suitable for you to compete this year. Wait another couple of years once you’ve learned enough.”

“No, Master, when did you sign up?”

“Yesterday.”

“Can… can I come and watch?”

Zhou You waved dismissively, replying indifferently, “It’s just a preliminary round. I'll be back soon. There’s nothing much to see.”

In reality, Zhou You didn’t return until nightfall. There were so many competitors that his match, based on his number, was at the end. Competitors were pitted against each other two by two, and naturally, Zhou You was one of the last.

After waiting the whole day, his match lasted less than a minute. It was so quick that some spectators suspected his opponent was just a plant.

Zhou You competed under a pseudonym and disguised himself to appear like a man in his forties.

The preliminary rounds lasted for three days, and every day Zhou You would leave at dawn and return at dusk. It seemed he was very busy, but no one, except Xuan Zhuo, knew where he had gone.

After arriving at the Wei River Base, Situ Han didn’t immediately contact anyone. He didn’t use the phone number Zhou You gave him either. Instead, he approached the local communication department and used his authority to find the owner of that number.

Shao Qi publicly introduced himself as Zhou Qi. However, on his current ID, he was named Wang Yeran. He legally changed his name to Zhou Qi.

Situ Han paused when he saw the name. Leaving the communication department, he nervously dialed the given phone number in a secluded corner.

“Hello? Who is this?” A familiar deep, magnetic voice responded.

Without thinking, Situ Han blurted out, “Boss?”

There was a brief pause on the other end before a hesitant voice asked, “Situ?”

“It’s me, Boss…” Situ Han’s voice quivered, on the verge of tears.

“How did you get this number? Where's Zhou You? Nevermind, we’ll talk in person. Where are you?”

After Situ Han provided his location, Shao Qi instructed him to go to a nearby underground mall. There was a night market area there which remained very quiet during the day.

Situ Han arrived first, mentally preparing himself. Yet, the sight of Shao Qi still took him by surprise.

Shao Qi sat down across from him, removing his mask and hat, revealing a scarred face.

“Boss...?” Situ Han could hardly recognize him. If not for those familiar eyes and aura, he would’ve doubted his own senses.

“Tell me, why are you here?”

Situ Han recounted the events fervently, mentioning their phones being tapped, then anxiously asked, "Boss, how did you end up here?"

Shao Qi briefly outlined his experiences, from the moment they were trailed. His account, though succinct, was filled with harrowing near-death experiences, making one's heart race.