Chapter 1981 Cut All Ties
"Miss!" Yang Wu was overjoyed to see Yang Ningchang again.
During this time, he had been forbidden from visiting her, and he couldn't sleep well at night due to worry. If it hadn't been for his persistence, he would have left long ago.
"Uncle," Yang Ningchang stepped forward, her eyes filled with tears, and took Yang Wu's thin hands. Yang Wu was already in his seventies, and his physical condition resembled that of someone in their nineties. It could be seen how hard his life was over the years.
"It's good you're safe, Miss." Yang Wu smiled with satisfaction. Seeing his young miss again, he felt no regret in his life.
"Lintian…" Yang Ningchang looked at Yun Lintian pleadingly.
Yun Lintian stepped forward and placed his hand on Yang Wu's shoulder. He then infused his wood energy into Yang Wu's body. Instantly, Yang Wu's appearance began to change. He grew younger, and his complexion improved significantly. It was as if he had returned to his early thirties.
Yang Wu, stunned, looked down at his body in confusion.
Meanwhile, bewilderment gripped Yang Shen and Yang Xuan as they stared at the scene. They couldn't comprehend what was happening before them.
"Thank you," Yang Ningchang said with gratitude.
"No need for formalities between us," Yun Lintian replied as he retracted his hand.
Yang Ningchang turned to Yang Wu. "I'll explain it later. For now, Uncle Wu, I want you to come with me."
"This…" Regaining his composure, Yang Wu subconsciously glanced at Yang Shen and Yang Xuan, seeking their tacit approval. Despite his disapproval of their treatment towards Yang Ningchang, he remained a loyal member of the Yang family.
"Don't worry about them," Yang Ningchang soothed him.
With a calm expression, she turned to address Yang Shen and Yang Xuan. "Effective today, I am no longer a member of the Yang family. Their fortunes and misfortunes hold no bearing on me."
Yang Shen furrowed his brow. "What do you mean by that?"
With a restraining gaze towards Yang Shen, Yang Xuan shifted focus to Yun Lintian. "It appears you've had a rather magical year, wouldn't you say?"
Yun Lintian offered a smile. "Magical indeed. However, old man, if you're considering a favor, you might want to reconsider."
Previously, Yun Lintian held a modicum of respect for Yang Shen and Yang Xuan. Witnessing their treatment of Yang Ningchang, however, extinguished those feelings entirely.
Yang Xuan sighed internally. He acknowledged the futility of seeking a favor from Yun Lintian but felt compelled to try. He bore the sole responsibility for this outcome.
"I acknowledge my past errors," Yang Shen admitted. "However, I stand by my actions. In my own judgment, you weren't worthy of my daughter."
Despite acknowledging Yun Lintian's magical abilities, his stance remained unwavering.
Coldness seeped into Yang Ningchang's eyes. Vividly, she recalled Yang Shen's order to the Xuanwu team to delay Yun Lintian's rescue.
Just as she was about to respond, Yun Lintian gently touched her shoulder, shaking his head. "There's no need for anger. He did nothing wrong at that time, given his position."
Understanding his sentiment, Yang Ningchang remained silent.
Yun Lintian met Yang Shen's gaze and spoke slowly. "Indeed, I was unworthy of her then. Even now, those feelings persist. She made many secret sacrifices for me, and I was too blind to recognize her affections."
"While I appreciate your attempt to dissuade her from this path, ultimately pushing her into the Zhu family's clutches requires some introspection on your part."
"What do you know? There are more things than you think." Yang Shen countered, his voice sharp.
"Of course, I know," Yun Lintian replied calmly. "Enough to recognize you for what you truly are: a coward who preys on weakness while cowering before strength."
"You!" Yang Shen's face contorted in fury.
"Enough!" Yang Xuan boomed.
Turning to Yun Lintian and Yang Ningchang, he confessed, "The fault lies entirely with me. I let Zhu Tianlong hold my weakness and play around it."
He rose with newfound resolve and bowed deeply to Yang Ningchang. "While the title of 'grandfather' no longer holds weight, please accept my sincerest apologies."
"Father..." Yang Shen stammered, his shock evident.
A tremor ran through Yang Ningchang's heart as she witnessed the scene. Her grandfather, known for his unwavering pride, had humbled himself to offer an apology. It was a sight that defied belief.
Taking a deep breath, she said, "This ends here. May you all have good lives."
Yang Xuan exhaled in relief. His body seemed to loosen as if a weight had been lifted from his chest.
He addressed Yang Wu, who now appeared thirty years old. "You are free to go. The Yang family has failed you."
Yang Wu bowed deeply. "Thank you for raising me to be the man I am today. If the opportunity arises, I will do my best to aid the Yang family."
Yang Xuan offered a silent smile.
Yang Ningchang turned to him. "Zicheng has benefited from a favor granted by Lintian."
She trusted Yang Xuan's intelligence to grasp the unspoken message.
"Let's depart," Yang Ningchang said softly.
With a simple wave of his hand, Yun Lintian vanished alongside Yang Ningchang and Yang Wu.
Yang Xuan and Yang Shen stood stunned, staring at the empty space for a long time.
"What… what was that?" Yang Shen stammered, his voice trembling.
"I fear he is the one responsible for Zhu Tianlong's downfall," Yang Xuan finally conceded, releasing a long breath. "The world holds many mysteries. Consider yourself fortunate to have witnessed one."
"Father…" Yang Shen began, his voice thick with guilt. His face contorted with remorse.
"The blame lies with me," Yang Xuan interjected, offering comfort to his son. "My judgment was clouded. You are not to blame yourself."
Yang Shen squeezed his eyes shut, the pain evident. He hadn't anticipated losing his daughter forever in such a way.
Yang Xuan sighed heavily. "You can still make amends with Zicheng."
A heavy nod escaped Yang Shen's lips. "What was the favor Ningchang mentioned?" he inquired.
"Let's call Zicheng over," Yang Xuan replied.
***
"Miss, where are we?" Yang Wu exclaimed, stunned by the sight of the modern complex surrounding them.
"This is Cloudhaven Orphanage," Yang Ningchang replied with a warm smile. "Lintian will be bringing children rescued from human traffickers here soon. I want you to be the dean."
Understanding dawned on Yang Wu's face. His eyes ignited with newfound purpose as if he'd discovered a new calling in life.
"And what about you, Miss?" he inquired.
"Me?" Yang Ningchang's smile softened. "I'll be leaving soon."
The source of this c𝐨ntent is fre𝒆w(e)bn(o)vel