Chapter 3387 — What Sorts of Gifts
The Blossom Guardian · Page 1 of 2
"Xianghua? Second Young Master?" Astonishment spread across Song Xiangda's face. "You are Second Young Master Xianghua? Second Young Master, you've come home?"
"Third Granduncle, don't you recognize me anymore?" By then, Xiao Rui had come over as well.
"It's Second Young Miss Lingrui—you've come back too?" Song Xiangda's forms of address had grown rather muddled; for Song Xianghua he still used the name of his boyhood, but for Xiao Rui he already spoke as a great clan's steward would.
"Yes, I came back together with Second Granduncle!" Song Lingwei nodded. She was Qiu Lingshan's younger sister.
"So it was the Second Young Miss who found the Second Young... Second Elder Master!" Song Xiangda nodded in sudden understanding, and his form of address for Song Xianghua changed to Second Elder Master as well, for he had already reckoned the difference in their ages. "Second Elder Master, come with me quickly—if the Elder Master sees you, he'll surely be overjoyed!"
"Good, I've missed my elder brother too!" Song Xianghua nodded. "How has our Song family fared all these years? You and my elder brother—are you both well?"
"Second Elder Master, we're all well enough. The Elder Master is now a fine expert at the peak of the late Yellow Rank, and so am I..." Song Xiangda said. "We can't claim to rank among the top of the great clans, but at least we've held on. This year is easier still, for the secular clans have formed a cultivators' alliance, and there's far less pressure now."
"Ah, I came back too late! Had I returned a little sooner, things would have been easier for you..." Song Xianghua said with some self-reproach. "But never mind—this time, Xiao Rui and I have come back to make our Song family renowned throughout the entire Central Plains cultivation world, to stand as no less than the ancient clans!"
"Ah?" Song Xiangda was slightly taken aback at his words, then nodded. "Indeed. When you left, Second Elder Master, you were a fine expert at the peak of the late Mystic Rank. These years, I fear you broke through long ago and became an Earth Rank expert?"
"Second Granduncle is now a great consummation expert at the peak of the late Heaven Rank!" Song Lingwei cut in.
"What!" Song Xiangda was thunderstruck. He cried out and stood rooted to the spot, speechless.
Song Xiangda's cry carried into the rooms of the courtyard, and Song Xiangwen heard it. He had just stepped out of his room at that moment. "Third Brother, what are you shouting about? What's happened?"
"Elder Master, you're here? Good news, good news! Second Elder Master Xianghua has come home!" Song Xiangda cried excitedly. "Not only that—according to the Second Young Miss, the Second Elder Master's strength has already broken through to great consummation at the peak of the late Heaven Rank!"
"Third Brother, you mean my second brother has returned? Xiao Rui too? They've both come back?" Song Xiangwen trembled all over at the news and strode quickly over. When he saw Song Xianghua and Song Lingwei standing beside Song Xiangda, tears suddenly streamed down his aged face. "Second Brother, you've finally consented to come home!"
"Elder Brother, forgive me. I was young and foolish, and I simply left..." Song Xianghua lowered his head in shame. In that moment he was no longer the lofty Grand Elder of the Overseas Cultivators' Association, no longer a top-tier cultivator, but like a small child who had done something wrong...
"It's all right, it's all right—so long as you're home!" Song Xiangwen laughed and clapped him on the shoulder, just as he had when they were boys, full of fondness and kindness.
"Yes, I'm home. Only now have I realized how much this home means to me!" Song Xianghua sighed.
"By the way, Second Brother, I heard Third Brother say just now that you're now a great consummation expert at the peak of the late Heaven Rank?" Song Xiangwen suddenly recalled what Song Xiangda had said.