Inside the escort agency's reception hall.
Qin Changsheng sat calmly in the main seat, teacup in hand, his expression serene as he considered the placement of the Rebirth Stone.
Shortly, hurried footsteps sounded outside the hall, accompanied by Lin Xiao's respectful voice: "Immortal Master, I've brought someone."
Lin Xiao entered first, followed closely by Qin Chang'an.
Qin Chang'an looked reserved, head bowed, cautiously following behind Lin Xiao, his steps hesitant, unsure of who they were meeting.
Lin Xiao strode to the center of the hall, stepping aside to let Qin Chang'an pass. He bowed slightly to Qin Changsheng, his tone respectful yet enthusiastic, and quickly introduced, "Immortal Master, this is my son-in-law, Qin Chang'an, the son of Mr. Qin De you are looking for."
As he spoke, Lin Xiao subtly turned and winked at Qin Chang'an, signaling him to quickly pay his respects and not be impolite.
He deliberately emphasized the words "son-in-law," fearing Qin Changsheng wouldn't believe him, and also hoping to use this to further strengthen his relationship with Qin Changsheng and curry favor with this immortal master.
Qin Changsheng slowly put down his teacup, raised his eyes to glance at Qin Chang'an, his gaze calm and unwavering, yet seemingly able to see through people's hearts.
With just that one glance, he had already seen through Lin Xiao's lie.
Lin Xiao addressed Qin Chang'an as his son-in-law, but Qin Chang'an's gaze towards him was filled with restraint and reverence, even a hint of barely perceptible fear, showing none of the warmth and ease a son-in-law would display towards his father-in-law.
Furthermore, Qin Chang'an was dressed in plain, coarse cloth, without a single decent ornament. This attire was completely unlike that of the son-in-law of the head镖师 (chief镖师) of the Jingfeng Escort Agency.
Given Lin Xiao's status and position, his son-in-law would never allow him to appear before him in such a shabby state, much less meet a powerful cultivator in such a manner.
Qin Chang'an understood perfectly well that Lin Xiao's words were merely a last-minute agreement, an attempt to use the title of "in-law" to curry favor and ingratiate himself with him.
However, he didn't reveal his thoughts, his expression remaining calm. He neither agreed nor disagreed, simply withdrawing his gaze and saying in a flat tone, "Yes, I understand."
His purpose in coming here was to build the ancestral hall and place the Rebirth Stone. Now that he had seen his younger brother, Qin Chang'an, there was no need to expose Lin Xiao's ulterior motives.
On the other side, the moment Qin Chang'an looked up and saw Qin Changsheng's face clearly, he was struck dumb. His whole body stiffened, and the restraint on his face was instantly replaced by extreme astonishment. His eyes widened, and his mouth opened slightly, almost as if he were about to shout.
He would never mistake him. Even after more than ten years, even though his demeanor had changed drastically, he could recognize that face at a glance.
This was his older brother, Qin Changsheng! He remembered that more than ten years ago, when his brother Qin Changsheng left home, he was still a naive young man, not much different from the children of ordinary farming families.
But at this moment, Qin Changsheng sat upright in the main seat, his expression calm, his aura steady and restrained, his gaze calm yet revealing an undeniable majesty, exuding the air of an immortal, completely different from his brother who left home more than ten years ago.
Qin Chang'an opened his mouth, wanting to call out "Brother," but the words caught in his throat.
His heart was filled with doubt and trepidation. Was the person before him truly his brother?
Why had he changed so much? Why was he here, and why was Lin Xiao calling him "Immortal Master"? Countless questions churned within him, leaving him frozen in place, unsure of what to do.
Lin Xiao noticed Qin Chang'an's unusual behavior and felt a slight panic. He quickly nudged him with his elbow and whispered, "Chang'an, what are you standing there for? Quickly greet the Immortal Master!"
He thought Qin Chang'an was too nervous, or perhaps intimidated by Qin Changsheng's aura, and feared he might inadvertently offend him.
Qin Chang'an, touched by Lin Xiao, slowly came to his senses. Forcibly suppressing his excitement and confusion, he bowed deeply to Qin Changsheng: "Junior...Junior Qin Chang'an greets Immortal Master."
Looking at him, Qin Changsheng's eyes flashed with a barely perceptible emotion: "Chang'an, rise."
Lin Xiao, standing to the side, saw Qin Chang'an still dazed and looked slightly anxious. He was about to whisper a reminder again.
But then Qin Chang'an slowly raised his head and cautiously asked, "Immortal...Immortal Master, are you...are you...my brother? Qin Changsheng?"
"Yes, it's me." Qin Changsheng nodded.
Those two words, however, exploded in Qin Chang'an's ears like a thunderclap, instantly shattering all his restraint and trepidation.
"Brother! It really is you! It really is you!" Qin Chang'an could no longer contain his excitement. His voice choked with emotion as he took a few quick steps forward, wanting to get closer to Qin Changsheng, but hesitated slightly, intimidated by Qin Changsheng's aura.
"I knew it was you! How could I mistake you! Even after more than ten years, even though you've changed so much, I can still recognize you!" He murmured excitedly, his whole body trembling slightly with joy.
Lin Xiao stood to the side, his face filled with astonishment, then a look of delight.
It seemed his gamble had paid off. Qin Chang'an was indeed this immortal master's younger brother. With this, the Jingfeng Escort Agency had completely secured a connection with this powerful figure, and their future was sure to be prosperous.
He wisely refrained from interfering, silently standing aside, watching the two brothers recognize each other.
"By the way, where are Father and Mother?" Qin Changsheng asked.
But as soon as the words left his mouth, Qin Chang'an's ecstatic joy froze instantly. Tears streamed down his face even more fiercely, his initial excited sobs gradually turning into suppressed whimpers, and his trembling intensified.
Seeing Qin Chang'an like this, Qin Changsheng's smile vanished instantly, his heart skipped a beat, and a strong sense of foreboding washed over him.
After a long, agonizing silence, Qin Chang'an finally managed to choke out, "Brother... Father and Mother... They... They're gone..."
"Gone?" Qin Changsheng's body stiffened slightly. "What do you mean, gone? Chang'an, explain yourself clearly!"
"Two years ago... Two years ago, Father went up the mountain to chop firewood, accidentally slipped, and fell off a cliff. He... he died on the spot..."
"After learning of Father's death, Mother was overcome with grief and fell ill. Not long after, she followed Father..."
After saying this, Qin Chang'an could no longer suppress his grief and burst into tears. His sobs were filled with despair and helplessness, a sound that tugged at the heartstrings.
Qin Changsheng took a deep breath. He hadn't expected that returning to Beihai County would bring news of his father and mother's deaths.
...
West suburbs, back mountain.
Qin Changsheng stood before two simple graves.
The tombstones were sparsely decorated, simply inscribed with the names of his father, Qin De, and mother.
Qin Changsheng stood silently before the tombstones, his upright figure radiating a sense of loneliness, as if he had become one with the desolate mountain forest. He stood there for a long time.
After an unknown amount of time, Qin Changsheng turned to Lin Xiao beside him: "Chief Escort Lin, there's something I'd like to trouble you with."
Upon hearing this, Lin Xiao immediately stepped forward, bowed deeply, and said with utmost respect, "You're too kind, Immortal Master! It's an honor for me to serve you. Whatever your orders, I will do my utmost and never refuse!"
He had long hoped for an opportunity to curry favor with Qin Changsheng, and now that Qin Changsheng had asked for a favor, it was the perfect chance for him to do so.
Qin Changsheng nodded slightly, his gaze returning to his parents' tombstones, his tone solemn: "I would like to ask your help to build an ancestral hall for my Qin family near the escort agency. It doesn't need to be too grand, but it should be dignified and solemn, so that my parents' memorial tablets can be placed there, providing a place for them to rest in peace."