All Heavens: A Role-Playing System Starting from Tianlong

Zhang Cheng returned the greeting and said with a smile, "Then I shall respectfully accept your offer. I will be in Dali City these few days and will certainly visit you another day."

Duan Zhengming nodded, then looked at Duan Yanqing, who stood silently to the side. "Senior, would you be willing to return to the palace with me for a chat?"

The Duan family of Dali, a royal family that has existed for over a hundred years, naturally has a family genealogy. The fate and whereabouts of each member are recorded.

Now that such a powerful disciple of the Duan family as Duan Yanqing has appeared, Duan Zhengming, though not revealing it, has already guessed the other party's identity.

Duan Yanqing shook his head. "No need. I've been away from home for a long time; I've only come back to visit."

He looked at Duan Zhengming, his gaze calm: "Now that Dali is at peace, you have done a good job. You don't need to worry about me."

Upon hearing this, Duan Zhengming finally felt a great weight lifted from his heart.

He had been somewhat uneasy, feeling that his lineage had usurped the throne from the line of Crown Prince Yanqing. Now that the other party had personally acknowledged the legitimacy, his long-standing unease had finally been resolved.

He took a deep breath and solemnly cupped his hands in greeting.

"You are, after all, a descendant of the Duan family. I wish to build you a royal mansion in the city, with a rank equal to that of Zhennan, and a hereditary title. All that the sons of the Duan family can enjoy, you should also enjoy."

Duan Yanqing shook his head again. "There's no need to say anything more. I've returned this time simply to revisit old haunts and see some old friends."

Seeing his resolute attitude, Duan Zhengming did not force him.

"Then we will do as you say, senior. However, if you change your mind in the future, you are welcome to visit us at any time."

He turned to look at everyone. "Then I'll take my leave with my two senior brothers."

Having said that, he left together with Benyin and the Yellow-Eyebrow Monk.

"In that case, let's go out for a stroll. We haven't explored the city of Dali yet."

Seeing this, Zhang Cheng grabbed Mu Wanqing and Zhong Ling, one in each hand, and headed out of the palace.

Zhong Ling was being pulled along by him, constantly turning back to look around. "Hey, are we leaving already? I haven't seen enough yet!"

Zhang Cheng sighed, "You actually want to watch this spectacle?"

"What's wrong with looking at this?" Zhong Ling pouted, looking completely matter-of-fact. "Isn't he just my dad's old love rival? Now I understand why he's so annoyed by that Duan guy."

Zhang Cheng glanced at her sideways: "Aren't you worried?"

Zhong Ling blinked, completely unconcerned. "What are you worried about? Didn't you hear how protective my mother is of my father?"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Cheng shook his head inwardly: Silly girl, although your mother has been kind and righteous to your adoptive father all these years, it's a pity that before she married him, she was tricked into having sex by Duan Zhengchun, that playboy—otherwise, where would you be?

However, he naturally wouldn't say these words aloud. He simply patted Zhong Ling's head and said perfunctorily, "Alright, alright, you're so carefree, you're amazing."

The three of them walked out of the palace. It was already late, and there were fewer and fewer pedestrians on the street.

Zhang Cheng turned to Duan Yanqing: "Boss Duan, are there any good places to go in Dali City?"

Duan Yanqing pondered for a moment and said, "I haven't been back here for twenty years. The layout of the market has changed drastically, and I know this place no better than you do."

He paused, then said, "I'm going to Tianlong Temple to see my uncle first and sound him out."

Zhang Cheng nodded, clasped his hands in a fist and said, "Then I'll have to trouble you, Boss Duan. Speaking of which, I have indeed caused you some trouble today, Boss Duan. Is that alright?"

His original plan was simply to pretend to be an accomplice sent by one of Duan Zhengchun's lovers to seek revenge, so that Mu Wanqing could see how her biological father would behave in a life-or-death situation.

Just then, Duan Zhengchun brought over the Yellow-Eyebrow Monk—the old monk was so distinctive that Zhang Cheng recognized him at a glance. He simply took the opportunity to impersonate "Southern Murong," shifting the blame to Madam Wang, thus making the whole scene more convincing.

As the fight progressed, Qin Hongmian and Gan Baobao joined in. He then changed his plan again, secretly informing Duan Yanqing and urging Duan Zhengchun and the others to talk things out.

Duan Yanqing shook his head without speaking. With a light touch of his toes, he rose into the air and disappeared into the end of the alley in a few leaps.

After seeing Duan Yanqing off, Zhang Cheng turned to look at Mu Wanqing.

"Alright, your parents' mess should be settled today. You've seen enough what kind of person your father is. Whether you plan to acknowledge them as family or continue to resent them for not wanting you all these years—if you want to follow me, that's fine too."

As soon as he finished speaking, Mu Wanqing suddenly stepped forward and hugged him tightly.

"Zhang Lang..." Her voice trembled slightly, "Today, because of me, you almost offended everyone in Dali. I... I really don't know how to thank you."

Zhang Cheng was taken aback. To be honest, he wasn't as selfless as Mu Wanqing thought.

To him, all those he was fighting today were characters with names and identities from the original book. The arena battles themselves also fit the stereotypical image of a "great hero."

Furthermore, regardless of Dao Baifeng and Gan Baobao's attitudes after the matter was brought up, at least Duan Zhengchun and Qin Hongmian were appreciative.

All these bits and pieces added together, his professional role-playing progress had already soared to [Lv2 Swordsman 98%].

It's a pity that he had already made an agreement with Duan Yanqing to obtain the "Six Meridians Divine Sword Manual" peacefully. Otherwise, if he had dragged out those old monks from Tianlong Temple and given them a beating, he probably would have leveled up on the spot.

However, Zhang Cheng still had to say some nice things.

He reached out and hugged Mu Wanqing back, gently patting her back.

"Wanqing, what difference is there between us? Your affairs are my affairs."

Listening to the two talking, Zhong Ling quickly guessed who Mu Wanqing's parents were.

She looked at the two people hugging and cuddling in front of her, clearly having a tacit understanding, and then thought about how such a big thing had happened and no one had informed her beforehand, making her feel isolated.

The little girl's eyes lit up, and another bad idea came to mind.

She grinned and squeezed between the two of them: "Brother Zhang, Sister Mu, how about we find an inn and play some cards to pass the time?"

"Leaf brand?" Mu Wanqing lifted her head from Zhang Cheng's arms, looking completely bewildered.

This thing can be considered the precursor to playing cards. She grew up in the valley with her mother since childhood, and they traveled the world together, so naturally she had never come into contact with it.

Zhang Cheng had done it when he was in Weizhou. He looked at Mu Wanqing, who looked blank, and thought it wouldn't hurt to show her around, so he agreed—anyway, they were three free people at the moment, so it was a good way to kill time.

When Zhong Ling saw that he agreed, her eyes lit up, and she immediately used her lightness skill to leap up and jump onto the roof next to her.

"In that case, let's go to the inn two streets away! I'll head over first!"

After saying that, she leaped and ran across the rooftop in a few bounds.

Zhang Cheng and Mu Wanqing exchanged a glance and smiled helplessly.

Unlike Zhong Ling, the two didn't make a scene; they simply held hands and strolled over leisurely.