Feng Lin's mother soon began to show her pregnancy. The largest change was after a giant bird had flown over the city. With this, his father would leave immediately in the mornings to the Wong estate. Feng Lin could only practice his energy perception and breathing with his mother. Feng Yong would come back extremely late and be tired as well as stressed.

"Mama . . . why papa?" Feng Lin gestured to the empty cushion opposite her.

Long Ai explained to him in a worried voice that bad news had arrived from the capital and his papa had to help deal with it.

Feng Lin soon learned that his father would be leaving with the local Lord Wong Hu as well as some of the lord's advisors for the capital city of Xiander. The journey would be long and hard for Long Ai and Feng Lin so it was determined for her and him to stay at the Long family farm.

It was not three days later, that Feng Yong kissed both him and his mother goodbye. Tomorrow, they too will leave their home.

Exiting the city of Jinzu Lingyu, Feng Lin watched on his mother's back. The dirt road passed through golden fields of wheat that turned into rice farms lining the Nisqually river. They traveled less than two hours until they came upon a nameless village of fewer than six families. Only bothering to stop and refill her waterskin from a well, they continued for another hour. Long Ai sang softly to him and Feng Lin soon drifted into sweet dreams.

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Upon awakening, they were moving through a cherry orchard with the sun at their backs. The cherry trees shifted into pear trees and then they departed the orchard to see an array of homes against the hills. Upon the hills were steps of rice terraces and behind that were white-capped mountains.

The main Long farmhouse was actually three buildings lining an open courtyard. The builds and courtyard were much larger than their own back in the city. In the center of the courtyard stood a tall man even larger than his father with greying black hair and blue eyes.

"Father!"

A smile soon appeared on the man's bearded face.

"Is that my long-lost daughter and my grandson? . . .You should have had an escort."

"That was not necessary, father. The roads are safe enough and I can take of myself."

"Hmph, that maybe, but it is always better to be safe than sorry." Long Ai's father said. Hugs were exchanged and Feng Lin got a good look at his grandfather Long Minjun. Long Minjun had a strong face, but it was his aura that was unlike any Feng Lin had felt so far.

Feng Lin couldn't feel the aura anymore, but it was much stronger than his mother or his father. His grandfather must be multiple magnitudes stronger. This made Feng Lin respect his grandfather greatly and feel safe to be now living under the care of such a monster.