In Terradawn, many people had gathered around the white and golden bordered squared mansion. They were standing by the gates to welcome Shuchang. By the mansion, a young couple and three identical young women were standing by the main balcony, looking at the gates. Guards, butlers and servants were standing by the entrance to welcome Yuxuan.

  The black and white carriages had arrived and everyone came by the first carriage to welcome Shuchang. Shuchang didn’t open the curtains because he didn’t want to show his face to the public right now. Haoran was sitting on the opposite side, staring at his younger brother. Haoran couldn’t believe how much Shuchang changed, physically and personality. In fact, Shuchang had not said one word ever since he was found.

  The carriages entered the premises but the people weren’t allowed in. The guards blocked the entrance to stop the people from entering. The other guards, butlers and servants stood upright when the carriages had arrived. The one butler walked to the first carriage then opened the door widely with a bright smile.

  “Welcome back home, Mr Xiao.”, he welcomed Shuchang.

  Shuchang showed a small smile while coming out of the carriage. “Thank you.”, he answered with a deep voice.

  Haoran came out of the carriage. “Jonanthan, where’s the rest of our family?”, he asked.

  “They’re standing by the main balcony. They should be inside now.”

  Shuchang immediately walked into the building. Haoran walked slower so he could give his younger brother some space. As Shuchang just entered the building, three women jumped on him and hugged him tightly. Shuchang tried to hug them but he couldn’t lift his arms because they were still really sore. His bright silver eyes caught the couple coming in his direction. The three young women released Shuchang but still had their hands on his muscular arms.

  Xiao Ling Xiang, Fei Xinyan and Zixuan Chunhua were Shuchang and Haoran younger triplet sisters. They were smiling while staring at their eldest brother. The couple appeared next to the triplets and another young woman immediately hugged Shuchang tightly. The woman, Xiao Meiling Yingyue, Shuchang’s mother, released him then allowed her husband Xiao Muchen Shoi-Ming. Muchen appeared in front of his son and offered Shuchang a handshake. Muchen was known for not giving people hugs because he really hated them. Shuchang didn’t mind a handshake which was better than none. He accepted the handshake with a small smile.

  “Welcome back.”, Muchen said without a smile.

  “Thanks, father.”, he appreciated it.

  Meiling came forward. “Haoran, take Shuchang to his room. Make sure he is well refreshed before dinner.”, she said with a smile.

  Haoran acknowledged, then escorted Shuchang to his room. The rest of the family watched them walking to the silver and red marbled granite chairs.

  Shuchang was standing in the middle of his starry blue and white marbled bedroom. He was still surprised that his room was still looking clean from the last time he was here. Haoran was standing by the door with his arms crossed.

  “How does it feel to go back home with so much comfort?”, Haoran asked.

  Shuchang was still looking at the room. “It feels fine.”, he answered coldly.

  Haoran didn’t like it that his brother had become a cold person. “How are you feeling now?”, he asked.

  Shuchang turned to him. “Feeling much better. You should get some rest after spending three days taking care of me.”, he suggested.

  “I first need to help you to get ready for dinner and I also need to check on my three ladies.”, Haoran meant Samantha, Lithanya and Yaithra.

  Shuchang immediately remembered something that Shilin told Haoran. “Emperor Huang did tell you that you mustn’t do any work for this week. He said that you must focus on family matters.”

  “I know that but I still want to know what’s going on. I want to know if Shilin has now given them the permission to capture the rest of the smuggling diamond merchants.”, he explained.

  “Mr Xiao.”, a butler appeared by Haoran. “Message from the academy.”, he pulled out a starry blue envelope.

  Haoran took the envelope. “Thank you.”, he ripped the envelope immediately and pulled out another starry blue paper.

  Haoran, we want to meet your brother after he has settled. Please let me know when the three of us can come and see him.

  Samantha Moonshadow

  Haoran was expecting more details about the case. “What does it say?”, Shuchang asked out of curiosity.

  “Samantha, Lithanya and Yaithra want to see you. But they’ll only come when you’ve finally settled.”, he answered.

  Shuchang faced him fully. “May I make a request?”, he asked politely.

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  Haoran glanced at him. “Sure.”

  “I only want one person to question me and that person is the one who got me out of the ropes first.”, he said firmly.

  Haoran was confused before he wasn’t on the mission when Shuchang was being rescued. “I wasn’t on that mission that evening. Who was the one who saved you?”, he asked.

  “She had snow-white hair.”

  “Lithanya? But she can’t ask you questions because she is a student. Questioning must always be done by the senior investigators.”, Haoran mentioned.

  Shuchang nodded but still didn’t listen. “But I would want her to ask me questions as well. Her senior investigator can be in the same room with her.”

  Haoran was still doubting but he had to give it a try. “I’ll send Samantha a message. When do you want them to come?”

  “Tomorrow should be fine.”

  “Don’t you want your body to recover a little bit?”

  “My body will recover but also this case is important. They need to bring down the merchants before more teenagers are kidnapped and used as slaves.”, Shuchang said firmly.

  Haoran understood Shuchang’s point. “I’ll tell them tomorrow.”, he said. “Get ready for dinner.”, he reminded Shuchang then walked out of the room.

  Shuchang was alone in the room, looking at the door. It wasn’t for long when he headed to the bathroom to get ready for dinner. Normally, the servants would help him to get ready but now he preferred to do most of the things on his own.

  ___________

  The entire family was sitting in the green, gold and white granite marbled dining room. The table was filled with delicious food and desserts. Not only was the family having dinner, the servants, butlers and guards who lived in the mansion were also having dinner. It was a standard rule in the mansion that all the servants, butlers and guards had breakfast, lunch and dinner with the family. Even if most people didn’t like that, the family didn’t care about what other people thought about it.

  The triplets were sitting in between their younger brother and telling him stories about what they were doing during his disappearance. Most of the stories were basically about their businesses and attending the unnecessary banquets. The servants were also talking to Shuchang and telling them their stories during the thirteen years. While the butlers and guards were stunned to see how much Shuchang had changed personality wise. Even the way he was sitting had changed dramatically. His body posture was sitting upright with his shoulders straight and he was eating very neatly with small bites.

  Meiling finished chewing down her meal and wanted to have a chance to talk to Yuxuan. “Did you get a chance to have a look at the academy?”, she asked.

  Shuchang had a small smile. “No, I didn’t get a chance because I was in the clinic room.”

  “So, you weren’t allowed to walk around to work your legs.”

  “No. Because I didn’t want to affect anyone just in case I had an infection.”, he answered and continued eating.

  Muchen came closer to Haoran. “So, what’s going to happen next with this case? Are they going to capture the merchants that kept Shuchang as a slave?”

  “Yes. Also, now that Shuchang is alive, I also believe that the rest of our family members are still alive. Including my best friend. Also, my three companions are coming to visit Shuchang.”

  Muchen was hoping that his other sons and their families would come back alive, including Haoran’s best friend. “And who’re they?”, Muchen meant Haoran’s three companions.

  “Miss Samantha Moonshadow, Princess Lithanya Manrayar and Princess Yaithra Manrayar.”

  Muchen was surprised that the Manrayar sisters were part of the academy considering their background. “I thought only the Nymphaedra and Eldoria people were allowed in the academy.”

  “A new rule came out this year that all the eldest heirs of the royal families from Tellus and Mortalis must attend the academy.”, Haoran explained.

  Muchen hadn’t been paying much attention about what was happening in the other worlds or continents due to being busy with work and hoping that Yuxuan would come back alive.

  “When do they want to come?”, he asked.

  Haoran answered. “Once Yuxuan settled.”

  “Tell them to come tomorrow.”, he whispered.

  Shuchang was talking to Fei until his attention went to his father and brother. He was listening to their conversation carefully.

  “But Shuchang needs to recover properly.”, Haoran protested a little bit.

  “It’s better that they come quickly so they can capture those merchants quickly after what they did to Yuxuan.”, Muchen fought back calmly.

  Haoran was a bit doubtful but his father had a point about getting this case done faster. Shuchang was staring at his brother who was looking slightly stressed right now.

  Shuchang was back in his room after having a lovely home cooked meal. He really missed having the proper food and being around his family having a lovely conversation. He was standing by the balcony and admiring the beautiful view of Terradawn. His body was covered with a silky black and royal purple patterned long robe. He was only wearing tight black pants while his tattooed muscular upper body was exposed. His really long pitched black straightened hair was moving along the gentle breeze.

  After spending fifteen minutes standing on the balcony, Shuchang came out of the room and walked straight to the bed. He closed the door behind him by using his mind. His main focus was mainly thick dark blue with a little light blue golden and silver glowing starry book that was sitting on the bed. In the middle of the normal size book had a golden mystical sun that was surrounded by small light green, purple and pink mini flowers with dark tiny three branches. The one side and the back of the book cover was the same except there was no sun.

  Shuchang picked up the book and opened it to the first page. The first page had his and his late wife’s name, Xiao Baozhai with a floral circle surrounding their names. His hand strolled on their names while staring at them with some sadness but his expression remained cold.

  Eventually, he flipped over to another page which was filled with writings. On top of the page had a name of a person that was written in bold and the first page of the person was mainly their background information. Before he could start reading, he could hear footsteps coming to his room. Shuchang closed the book immediately then hid the book underneath the bed.

  Haoran walked into the room. “Shuchang, Samantha and the two students will be coming in the afternoon. Be well-prepared.”, he said.

  Shuchang had a small smile. “Okay.”

  Haoran smiled back then walked out of the room. Shuchang was hearing his brother’s footsteps making sure that they were getting softer and softer. Shuchang immediately closed the door by using his mind and also locking the room. Then he pulled out the book then started reading the details of the first name.