Chapter 9
Two years passed quietly in Solhaven.
The rhythm of life in the Zan Manor remained peaceful, yet the world beyond had already begun to shift in subtle ways.
Then one morning, a letter arrived from the imperial capital.
The moment Xueyun opened it, her hands trembled slightly.
Zan Tianming had passed the imperial examination.
And not only passed…
He had taken first place.
For a brief moment, silence filled the room.
Then Xueyun’s face lit up with overwhelming joy.
“He did it…” she whispered, tears of pride forming in her eyes. “Our Tianming… first place…”
Even Zan Wei, now a bright and mischievous boy, ran around the room excitedly.
“Big brother is amazing! Big brother is number one!”
The entire manor was soon filled with celebration and laughter.
Zan Yunxiao stood quietly at the side, holding the letter in his hand.
A faint smile slowly appeared on his face.
“First place, huh…”
Not bad.
Very not bad.
He had taught Tianming everything he could from his past life, strategies, logic, structure, even how to approach problems from multiple perspectives. But seeing those teachings actually bear fruit still brought him a quiet sense of satisfaction.
He turned toward Xueyun.
“We should go see him,” Zan Yunxiao said calmly. “It has already been two years since he left for the capital.”
Xueyun nodded immediately.
“Yes,” she replied softly. “Let’s go.”
Zan Yunxiao glanced toward the courtyard where Zan Wei was playing with a pile of gold coins he had somehow collected and stacked neatly.
The boy’s eyes were shining as he counted them again and again, muttering to himself about wealth and numbers.
Zan Yunxiao sighed inwardly.
This child… really has an obsession with money.
His second son had grown strangely fixated on wealth from an early age, often speaking about becoming the richest man in the world with absolute confidence, as if it were already destined.
Zan Yunxiao could only shake his head slightly.
Still, it was harmless for now.
Looking back at Xueyun, he spoke again.
“We leave tomorrow.”
Xueyun smiled gently.
“Alright.”
That night, the Zan Manor was filled with quiet preparation.
The next morning, the sky was still pale as dawn slowly stretched across Solhaven.
A carriage stood ready at the manor gate, its wooden frame reinforced and its wheels polished for long-distance travel. The horses stamped lightly against the ground, exhaling warm breath into the cool morning air.
Inside the carriage, Xueyun sat gracefully while holding Zan Wei, who curiously peeked outside through the window. Zan Yunxiao sat calmly beside them, his expression as composed as ever.
Zan Tianming was not with them this time, he remained in the capital, already walking the path he had chosen.
Soon, the coachman climbed onto his seat and turned slightly toward the carriage window, hesitating for a moment before speaking respectfully.
“Immortal Master,” he called cautiously, “where are we heading?”
Zan Yunxiao opened his eyes slightly.
“Imperial Capital,” he replied calmly.
Then, after a brief pause, he added in an even tone:
“And don’t call me ‘Immortal Master’ after we arrive.”
The coachman blinked.
Zan Yunxiao continued without changing his expression.
“Just call me… Lord.”
The coachman quickly nodded, slightly nervous but obedient.
“Yes, Lord!”
With that, the reins were pulled.
Yaa—!
The horses neighed as the carriage slowly began to move forward, rolling out of Solhaven and onto the long road leading toward the imperial capital.
Behind them, the village gradually grew smaller, fading into the distance.
Inside the carriage, Zan Yunxiao’s gaze briefly drifted toward the horizon.
With his current cultivation, reaching the imperial capital would have been effortless, just a single step through the air, or a burst of speed, and he could arrive within a day.
But doing so would not be wise.
Even though he remained only at the Qi Refinement Realm, exposing unnatural speed or flying abilities in public would immediately attract attention. And attention… was exactly what he wished to avoid.
For now, he preferred the ordinary path.
Zan Yunxiao leaned back slightly in the carriage, hiding his aura as best as possible.
If I move too conspicuously… it might become troublesome.
So he chose patience.
The journey toward the imperial capital lasted an entire week.
During those seven days, the Zan Family spent most of their time inside the carriage, chatting to pass the endless hours of travel. Sometimes Xueyun would tell stories to Zan Wei, while other times Zan Wei would excitedly ask about the capital and whether nobles there truly ate golden food like in the tales he heard.
Each time, Zan Yunxiao could only laugh helplessly at his second son’s strange imagination.
As for the scenery outside, it constantly changed as they traveled farther from Solhaven. Vast plains, rivers, bustling towns, and mountain roads gradually passed by one after another, allowing Zan Wei to remain excited almost the entire journey.
Finally.
After seven days of travel, the outline of the imperial capital slowly appeared in the distance.
The moment the enormous city walls entered their sight, even Zan Wei became speechless.
The capital was grand beyond imagination.
Towering walls stretched endlessly across the horizon like a massive dragon guarding the empire itself. Huge gates stood firmly beneath countless banners fluttering in the wind, while streams of people continuously entered and exited the city without pause.
Soldiers clad in armor guarded the entrance with strict expressions, inspecting every carriage and traveler attempting to enter.
Compared to Solhaven Village.
This place felt like an entirely different world.
Soon, the Zan Family’s carriage arrived before the gate.
Several soldiers immediately stepped forward to inspect them.
“State your identity,” one guard demanded formally.
Inside the carriage, Zan Yunxiao calmly took out a noble token granted by the empire years earlier.
The moment the soldiers saw it, their expressions instantly changed.
“A noble lord…”
The guards immediately straightened respectfully before stepping aside.
“Our apologies, Lord,” the soldier said quickly. “You may enter.”
Without further trouble, the carriage slowly passed through the massive gates and entered the imperial capital itself.
The moment they crossed inside, a bustling world immediately unfolded before them.
Wide streets filled with merchants.
Towering buildings lined across the roads.
Countless people moved everywhere in endless streams.
The sounds of trading, laughter, horses, and conversation echoed throughout the city without rest.
Even Zan Yunxiao silently observed the surroundings for a moment.
Compared to the quiet life of Solhaven…
The imperial capital truly deserved to be called the heart of the empire.
After entering the imperial capital, the carriage continued moving through the bustling streets while Zan Wei excitedly looked outside without pause.
“So many people…”
“So many shops…”
“Dad, look! That building is huge!”
His voice echoed endlessly inside the carriage, causing Xueyun to laugh softly while Zan Yunxiao calmly listened nearby.
After a while, Zan Yunxiao took out the letter Tianming had previously sent to them. Attached alongside the letter was the address of his residence within the capital.
He glanced at it briefly before handing it toward the coachman outside.
“Bring us here,” Zan Yunxiao instructed calmly.
“Yes, My Lord.”
The carriage soon changed direction and traveled deeper into the capital.
The surroundings gradually became quieter compared to the crowded commercial streets earlier. The noisy merchants and busy marketplaces slowly disappeared, replaced instead by residential districts where scholars, officials, and nobles resided.
Eventually, the carriage slowed to a stop.
“We’ve arrived, My Lord,” the coachman announced respectfully.
Zan Yunxiao and his family stepped out of the carriage and looked ahead.
Before them stood a modest residence.
It was not luxurious nor particularly grand compared to the estates of high-ranking nobles within the capital. Still, it was clean and well-maintained, with a small courtyard surrounded by wooden fencing and enough space to comfortably house a single family.
Compared to the massive Zan Manor back in Solhaven, which could easily hold several families at once.
This place appeared rather small.
Even Zan Wei blinked in surprise.
“Big Brother lives here?” he asked curiously.
Zan Yunxiao quietly observed the residence.
Although simple, the place carried traces of discipline and hard work. Everything was properly arranged, and not a single corner looked neglected.
Clearly, Tianming had been living carefully and responsibly.
Xueyun’s eyes softened slightly.
“Our son really grew up…”