After he had returned to the front of the house, Bai Yijun had led Qian Yu to his guest lodging and anxiously walking back and forth in front one of the houses was Zhen Yue. 

“Master, welcome back,” Zhen Yue ran towards them. 

“Thank you,” Qian Yu gave her a small wave before turning to Bai Yijun. 

In response, Bai Yijun only gave a simple nod and turned around. 

“What did you guys talk about?” Zhen Yue whispered as she watched Bai Yijun leave. 

“Let’s head in-” Qian Yu started heading towards the building but he quickly heard some footsteps approaching them. 

Turning his head, he saw a rather plainly clothed individual heading in their direction. With his clothing a little different from the robes of Bai Jia and Bai Yijun, Qian Yu concluded that he was likely a servant. 

“The fourth master wishes to see young master Qian,” the boy arrived in front of the two and gave them a small bow. 

“...” Qian Yu and Zhen Yue exchanged glances before they both let out a small chuckle. 

“Bai Jia’s father?” Qian Yu asked. Prior to this, he had done some research on the Bai Family and the ones with the most control of the family were the family head and his three younger siblings. Of them, Bai Jia’s father, Bai Hu, was the youngest of the four siblings. As for Bai Jia’s mother, she was named Bai Ju. 

“Yes,” the boy nodded. 

“Looks like I have to get going again,” Qian Yu apologetically looked at Zhen Yue before turning back to the boy. “Alright, lead the way.”

Minutes later, they swiftly arrived at a large courtyard. From the outside, Qian Yu couldn’t help but realized the main building was the same size as the mansion that belonged to the crown prince of the Xia Empire just a couple months ago. 

As Qian Yu entered the courtyard, he noticed dozens of servants running around doing their chores and tasks. Noticeably, most of them were young but a few older ones stopped, taking a long glance at him. 

“It’s this way,” the boy didn’t seem to notice her phenomenon and urged Qian Yu along towards the large hall. 

Following him, they soon entered the main residence and after settling Qian Yu down, the kid disappeared. Minutes later, Qian Yu heard a few pairs of footsteps from one of the hallways. 

Easily, he recognized one of them to be Bai Jia from afar and standing up, he couldn’t help but be a little nervous. “H-hello,” he greeted the three of them as they arrived. 

Yet as he bowed, he realized there was a very long silence. 

“Mother!” Bai Jia’s voice suddenly interrupted the silence. 

Looking up, he realized that Bai Jia’s mother had collapsed a bit and was being supported by her husband and daughter. 

“Let’s sit down,” Bai Jia’s father, Bai Hu, moved towards one of the wooden chairs to help sit them down. As he took a closer glance at them, he realized that while Bai Hu was much stronger than himself, Bai Jia’s mother, Bai Ju was only a soul foundation cultivator. 

“Thank you… I’m fine now,” Bai Ju said as she took a few deep breaths. 

“Sorry about that… you resemble our late son too much,” Bai Hu forced a smile, yet his eyes looked somewhat lost and distant, as if he was reminiscing on the past. 

Qian Yu froze as he heard his words and realized the reason for the stares he had gotten earlier. Bai Jia’s brother was something she had only ever mentioned once to him and over the last few months, it had been something that he had completely forgotten. 

“I offer my deepest condolences,” Qian Yu quietly said. 

“Thank you. Anyways, I am Bai Hu and my wife is Bai Ju,” Bai Hu finally officially introduced himself and his wife. 

“Yes… I am Qian Yu,” Qian Yu nodded back, a little awkward. Without a doubt, the way their meeting had developed was something Qian Yu had never expected. 

“Let’s take a walk,” Bai Ju suddenly voiced up. 

“Are you sure you can?” Bai Hu turned to his wife. 

“... I feel like burning some incense,” Bai Ju stood up and started heading towards one of the hallways.  

“Mother, let me help you!” Bai Jia quickly ran to support her mother. 

Seeing that, Qian Yu and Bai Hu had no choice but to follow them as they left the room. Arriving at the back of the mansion, a large garden and forest appeared. 

Walking behind the two women, and alongside Bai Hu, Qian Yu could only silently watch them as they trod through the forest. 

A clearing appeared before long and on top of a hill, a large tombstone sat. As they got closer, Qian Yu recognized a hand drawn portrait, one that closely resembled his own, embedded into the tombstone. 

Stopping in place, Qian Yu watched as the three kneeled before the tombstone and took out some incense sticks. 

‘Do I bring pain to their family?’ Qian Yu’s heart stung as he watched them. He was sure that they were normally fine. Otherwise, Bai Jia would have likely continued to stay home with her parents. 

A tap on his shoulder caught Qian Yu’s attention. Looking over, he saw Bai Jia by his side with an incense stick in her hand. 

Qian Yu’s hand slowly inched forward before he weakly grabbed the incense stick. Yet as he did, Bai Jia’s hand reached towards his own face and with her fingers, she gently wiped across the bottoms of his slightly pink eyes.

Qian Yu froze for a split second as she did that but in the next second, his hands tightly gripped the incense stick as he approached towards the tombstone. 

Lighting it, he kneeled down by Bai Ju’s side. ‘Bai Jian,’ Qian Yu read the name on the tombstone before he fell into deep thought. He rarely prayed, only ever for his grandpa, but now, it was for someone he had never met. Nonetheless, Qian Yu’s eyes closed as he silently prayed.

Minutes passed and by the time Qian Yu’s eyes opened, he realized the majority of the incense had already burned off. Inserting it into the burner, Qian Yu turned around to see Bai Jia and her parents waiting at the bottom of the hill. 

As Qian Yu walked down to them, they started heading back, like before with Bai Jia and her mother in front. Yet it was different this time. The sun was starting to set but the atmosphere was lighter than before. Little words had been spoken, but now, he had felt more comfortable compared to the initial meeting. 

As they neared the large residence though, Bai Hu stopped in place. “It looks like we’ll have more to discuss another time.  That said, Jia’er has changed a lot upon meeting you. Thank you for that,” he warmly smiled at Qian Yu before he picked up his pace, catching up to his wife's side as they entered the building. 

Pausing to think about his words, Qian Yu remembered when they first met. As an elder in the Ice Arts Sect, she held a pretty secluded lifestyle, likely a result of losing her brother and it was only later that she started becoming more social and active after he had left for the Soba Empire. It was something he had never noticed but his presence had ended up changing Bai Jia.

As he returned to reality, he saw Bai Jia still outside, sitting at the door. Arriving at the door, Qian Yu quietly sat down by her side before they both silently stared into the distance. 

“Can I borrow your shoulder?” Bai Jia’s flowery scent entered his nose as he slightly turned to his side. 

“Of course,” Qian Yu reached out his hand before grasping onto her own.