In Martial Universe, Signed in at the Start with Yao Lao's Ring

Meanwhile, on the other side.

Under the escort of Lin Dong, Lin Xiao, and the others, Liu Yan, Qing Tan, and the rest of the family members finally arrived safely at Steel Wood Manor.

At this moment, Lin Xia, Lin Zhentian, and the others were already waiting outside the manor. The moment they saw their family members arriving safe and sound, they all let out a sigh of relief.

However, as soon as everyone stepped down from the carriages, they quickly noticed that someone was missing—Lin Yan was nowhere to be seen.

Lin Zhentian's brows furrowed at the sight. Without hesitation, he walked forward toward Lin Xiao and Lin Dong.

At the same time, Qing Tan and Liu Yan also stepped down from the carriage.

The moment Qing Tan touched the ground, she rushed toward Lin Dong and Lin Xiao, her voice filled with anxious urgency.

"Father! Brother! Forget about us, hurry back and save Brother Lin Yan! He's out there fighting the Xie Family's warriors alone—it's too dangerous! Everyone else has already returned safely, there's no reason to wait!"

Throughout the journey, Qing Tan had wanted to tell Lin Dong and Lin Xiao to turn back, but considering that the carriages carried not just her and Liu Yan, but also many other family members, she had held back her words multiple times.

Now that they had finally arrived at Steel Wood Manor, Qing Tan could no longer suppress her concern and urged them desperately to return.

"What happened to Yan'er?"

Lin Zhentian, who had just approached, overheard Qing Tan's words. His expression darkened, and he immediately turned to Lin Xiao with a stern glare.

Lin Xiao dared not hide anything. Hearing Lin Zhentian's demand, he immediately responded.

"Yan'er stayed behind alone to hold off the Xie Family pursuers for us."

Lin Zhentian's anger erupted instantly. "Nonsense! So many pursuers, and that old ghost Xie Qian is there too—you actually left him there alone?!"

"There's a saying: even the strongest fists can't fight off multiple opponents. If he's outnumbered, what will you do if something happens to him?!"

"Get back there immediately and help him! Hurry!"

Lin Zhentian was extremely anxious as he gave the order.

Unknowingly, Lin Yan's position in Lin Zhentian's heart had grown immensely important. After all, Lin Yan was the most talented person in the entire Lin Family.

In Lin Zhentian's eyes, Lin Yan was their greatest hope. Nothing mattered more to him than Lin Yan's safety.

Now, learning that Lin Yan had stayed behind alone, Lin Zhentian couldn't sit still any longer. He was even considering rushing out himself.

But just at that moment—a familiar voice suddenly rang out.

"Heh, Grandfather, do you really have so little faith in me?"

The moment they heard that familiar voice, everyone froze.

Then, they immediately turned toward the source of the voice. When they saw the figure standing there, bright smiles of joy spread across their faces.

"Yan'er! You made it out safely?!"

Lin Zhentian was the first to react, his voice filled with excitement as he looked at Lin Yan.

Lin Yan smiled and nodded in response. Qing Tan, however, had red-rimmed eyes as she rushed straight into Lin Yan's arms.

She threw her arms around him, feeling the warmth of his body, her anxious heart finally settling down.

Then, her delicate hands began frantically patting all over Lin Yan's body.

"Stop touching me already. I'm fine. I didn't get hurt at all."

Lin Yan sighed helplessly, fully understanding Qing Tan's intentions, but finding it unnecessary. With a bitter smile, he reassured her.

"Bad brother! You're not allowed to do something like this again! What if something happened to you?! You're impossible to deal with!"

Qing Tan could no longer hold back her tears and started crying.

Throughout the journey, every time she thought about Lin Yan staying behind alone to fight for them, her heart felt like it was being torn apart.

She had been terrified that something might happen to him.

She had spent the entire trip anxious and afraid, fearing that Lin Yan might make a single mistake and never return.

"Alright, alright, no more crying. Sigh, you silly girl, can't you have a little more faith in me? I'm really strong!"

Lin Yan smiled helplessly, trying to comfort her. He had never done anything he wasn't confident in.

If he hadn't been sure of his own strength, would he have dared to stay behind alone and face so many enemies?

However, seeing Qing Tan cry like this still made Lin Yan's heart ache.

Gently, he wiped away her tears, then said with a chuckle,

"Everyone's watching. If you keep crying, they're going to laugh at you."

Hearing this, Qing Tan's body stiffened instantly.

She sniffled, then glared fiercely at Lin Yan.

"This is all your fault! Brother Lin Yan, you're so mean!"

Then, as if running for her life, she let go of Lin Yan and hid behind Liu Yan, not daring to look at anyone else.

Lin Zhentian, still smiling, stepped forward.

Looking at Lin Yan, he asked, "Yan'er, how did you manage to escape from the Xie Family's pursuit? I remember that Xie Qian's movement technique was quite impressive."

Lin Yan paused for a moment.

Then, he calmly answered, "I didn't escape. I killed them all."

"From today onward, the Xie Family no longer exists."

"Their patriarch, Xie Qian, along with several Heavenly Yuan and Earthly Yuan experts, were all wiped out by me."

"As for the ones left behind... they're nothing more than small fry. They no longer pose a threat to us."

Lin Yan's words were shocking.

Lin Dong, Lin Xiao, and Lin Zhentian froze upon hearing them. They stood completely still, their mouths slightly open, looking as if they had turned into statues.

It took them a moment to process what they had just heard.

Even after snapping out of their daze, when they looked at Lin Yan, their eyes were still filled with absolute disbelief.

"Yan'er... Are you serious?"

Lin Zhentian asked again, wanting confirmation.

"Without a doubt."

Lin Yan nodded in confirmation.

Lin Zhentian burst into joyous laughter.

"Good! Good! Good!"

"With Black Dragon Stockade destroyed and now the Xie Family wiped out, we have completely crippled the Lei Family's support!"

"This is it! The Lei Family is finished!"

Lin Zhentian's mind immediately turned to the Lei Family's predicament, and his excitement soared.

Then, as he looked at Lin Yan, his eyes were filled with admiration. The more he looked at this child, the more he liked him.

For the Lin Family to have such a genius, they were truly blessed with fortune.

"As expected... Lin Yan... you're unbelievable."

Lin Dong had an expression of certainty, as if this was the only possible outcome. Among all the people present, he was the one who understood Lin Yan's strength the most.

Back when they were still on the road, Lin Dong had already been wondering—Would Brother Lin Yan just slaughter all of the Xie Family warriors by himself?

And now, it turned out that what he had imagined actually happened.

"Then, Yan'er, how did you return so quickly?"

Lin Xiao asked curiously.

Lin Yan smiled, shrugged his shoulders, and replied, "Killing them wasn't difficult. Besides, Uncle Xiao, your traveling speed wasn't exactly fast."

Hearing this, Lin Zhentian laughed heartily once more.

Following that, he began making arrangements for the family members who had just returned.

"Yan'er, why don't you join us for dinner tonight?"

"It's been a while since you've had a meal with us. Your Aunt Liu and Qing Tan went through a frightening experience today, so I thought I'd prepare a grand feast tonight to help them relax."

Lin Xiao extended a warm invitation to Lin Yan. After all, it had been a long time since their family had shared a meal together.

Hearing this, Lin Yan raised an eyebrow and looked at Lin Xiao.

"Would it be appropriate for me to go? It's been a long time since you all had a meal together."

Liu Yan rolled her eyes at Lin Yan.

"You little brat, what do you mean 'appropriate'? What you should be saying is that this kind of gathering wouldn't be complete without you."

"Or… do you not consider your Uncle Xiao and me as family?"

Lin Yan could only smile bitterly and admit his fault.

"Yes, yes, Aunt Liu, you're absolutely right. Then… how about Lin Dong and I go buy some groceries?"

Lin Xiao shrugged and replied, "Lin Dong and I will handle it. You, my wife, should rest—you went through quite a fright today. Tonight, Dong'er and I will take care of the cooking."

"As for you, Yan'er… why don't you keep that little girl company? Tsk, tsk, tsk, earlier in the carriage, she was so worried about you, she looked like she was about to run off and save you herself."

At those words, everyone burst into laughter.

Qing Tan, on the other hand, turned bright red after being teased like that. She pouted and glared at Lin Xiao in frustration.

"Father! Are you really my father? Even you are teasing me now?!"1

With that settled, everyone went their separate ways according to the plan.

Liu Yan returned home to tidy up, while Lin Dong and Lin Xiao left to buy ingredients for dinner.

Meanwhile, Lin Yan strolled around Steel Wood Manor with Qing Tan. Although Qing Tan had been here once before, her visit had been brief and rushed.

She hadn't had the chance to properly explore the place, so since Lin Yan had nothing urgent to do, he decided to take her around.

"Brother Lin Yan… how have you been lately?"

At first, as they wandered through the manor, neither of them spoke much. It had been a long time since they last saw each other, and for a moment, they weren't sure what to say.

Eventually, Qing Tan gathered her courage and was the first to break the silence.

Lin Yan smiled and began telling Qing Tan about his recent experiences.

As she listened, her small mouth fell open in amazement.

"I can't believe so much has happened to you, Brother Lin Yan…"

"As for me, I haven't been doing much… just training, doing housework, and… thinking about you."

Her voice gradually softened, her cheeks turning redder with each word.

By the time she reached the last part, her voice had become so quiet that it was barely louder than a mosquito's whisper.

However, since Lin Yan was standing so close to her, he heard every word loud and clear.

His eyebrows raised slightly, and without warning, he pulled her into his embrace.

As Qing Tan's soft, delicate body pressed against him, Lin Yan caught a faint, sweet fragrance from her.

A mischievous smile curled at the corner of his lips.

"Oh? How exactly were you thinking about me? Like this?"