Yang Lin felt a flicker of apprehension. This strangerās origins were a mystery, and he was a powerhouse of the Transcendence Realm.
What business did he have with the Yang family?
If he harbored ill intent, the consequences could be dire.
However, judging by the direction the youth had been traveling, he clearly already had a general idea of where the family was located.
Even without a guide, he would have found the place soon enough.
Besides, the man was his savior; if he meant them harm, there would have been no reason to save him after confirming his identity as a member of the Yang family.
Accepting this logic, Yang Lin nodded and pointed toward a heading slightly off from Wang Yueās original course.
Throughout the journey, Wang Yue remained silent, speaking only when necessary to confirm directions.
His worldly experience was still growing, and he knew well that these Sacred Lands might possess communication methods beyond his knowledge.
If he revealed his true purpose and it turned out his second aunt was being mistreated, the family might resort to drastic measuresāeven silencing her to keep their secrets.
When it came to his auntās safety, Wang Yue believed one could never be too cautious.
Under Yang Linās guidance, the remaining hundred kilometers vanished in a heartbeat. Soon, a cluster of buildings came into view.
Nestled within a serene valley, the settlement lacked high-rises or grand structures; instead, it resembled a tranquil, ancient village.
Dozens of small courtyards were arranged with quiet elegance, radiating a sense of peace that brought to mind the legendary "Peach Blossom Spring."
Wang Yue had once imagined what a martial arts Sacred Land would look likeālofty palaces, grand gates, and imposing architecture.
The Yang family estate completely upended those expectations. He wondered if this was unique to the Yangs or if all Sacred Lands shared this understated grace.
One thing was certain: a family with such a temperament was unlikely to be a den of arrogant or tyrannical thugs. Even if his second aunt wasnāt highly placed here, she likely wasnāt suffering. This realization allowed Wang Yue to breathe a quiet sigh of relief.
"Senior, that is Yang Village ahead," Yang Lin said, gesturing toward the settlement.
Wang Yue nodded and brought the vehicle down at the village entrance. He was here to check on his aunt, not necessarily to start a fight, so a display of proper etiquette was in order.
Despite its secluded location and rustic appearance, the village was far from backwards.
A group of children playing at the entrance didnāt seem particularly shocked by the arrival of such an advanced flight vehicle; they merely watched with curious eyes as Wang Yue stepped off.
A moment later, their curiosity turned to excitement as they rushed forward.
"Uncle Lin is back!"
"Uncle Lin, did you bring us any treats?"
"Uncle Lin..."
It was clear their joy was for Yang Lin, who followed behind Wang Yue. In Yang Village, everyone shared the surname Yang, so the children addressed the adults by their given names preceded by a title.
"Not this time, little ones. Next time," Yang Lin said with a warm smile, patting the children on their heads. "Go play for now; I have business to attend to."
Hearing there were no treats, the children looked disappointed but didnāt pester him. They chirped their goodbyes and prepared to scatter.
"I have some treats here. Who wants some?" Wang Yue said with a smile. He reached into his spatial ring and pulled out a heap of snacks, offering them to the children.
The childrenās eyes lit up with longing, but none reached out. Instead, they all turned as one to look at Yang Lin for permission.
Yang Lin chuckled. "The young man is offering them to you. Go ahead, take them."
"Thank you, Uncle!" the little ones chirped politely. They took the snacks and ran off to a corner to share their bounty.
Wang Yue rubbed his nose. Am I really an āUncleā already? These kids ranged from seven to maybe ten years old; he wasnāt much older than them himself.
"Children donāt know the ways of the world. I hope youāll forgive them, Senior," Yang Lin said with an apologetic smile.
"They have pure hearts. Thatās a rare thing in the world outside these days," Wang Yue remarked, sounding a bit world-weary for his age. He couldnāt help but add, "I always imagined Sacred Lands as stern, heavily stratified places. It seems I was mistaken."
Purity. That was the only word Wang Yue could find to describe his first impression of Yang Villageāa simple quality that had become nearly extinct in the secular world.
Yang Lin was taken aback. "Senior... you are not from a Sacred Land?"
Given Wang Yueās age and terrifying strength, Yang Lin had assumed he was a "Saint Son" or "Holy Child" from one of the great Sects out on a trial. But Wang Yueās words suggested otherwise.
This meant that this impossibly young, impossibly powerful youth hailed from the secular world.
How is that even possible?
Wang Yue didnāt hide the truth. He nodded. "Thatās right. Iām from the secular world. Iād only heard rumors of the Sacred Lands until today."
Yang Lin marveled at the revelation but didnāt let his respect waver. "Senior, please, come to my humble home so we can speak further."
Wang Yue followed him into the village.
Though the settlement was smallāonly about fifty households and some two hundred peopleāit was packed with masters.
The arrival of the flight vehicle had not gone unnoticed. As they walked deeper into the village, a dozen or so people came out to meet them.
Leading the group was a man with black hair and a long, flowing beard. The others varied in appearance from middle-aged to elderly.
Wang Yueās eyes narrowed slightly. Through his True Qi perception, he realized that not one of these dozen individuals had a cultivation lower than Yang Linās.
The weakest was at the seventh level of the Transcendence Realm.
The leader and two other elders were Transcendence Realm powerhouses. Most notably, Wang Yue couldnāt accurately gauge the leaderās exact level, which meant the man was at least three sub-levels higher than him.
A super-powerhouse at the fifth level of the Transcendence Realm or higher!
"Father? Uncles? Why have you all come out?" Yang Lin asked, surprised.
The leading elder frowned, casting a wary glance at Wang Yue before looking back at his son. "Yang Lin, how did you come to be so badly injured?"
Yang Lin realized then that his father and the others must have sensed his dire condition and feared the worst. He hurried to explain, "I encountered a peak-Transcendence beast out in the wilds. I nearly lost my life, but fortunately, I ran into this Senior..."
At this point, Yang Lin faltered. He realized with a start that he hadnāt even asked for Wang Yueās name. It wasnāt that heād forgotten; it was that Wang Yue had been so aloof on the journey that he hadnāt dared to ask.