Chapter 23: The saintly hand from legends

Zhan Chen followed everyone to a secluded location in Zhan family's estate. A wooden house with a serene atmosphere came to everyone's view.

Multicoloured flowers were dancing with flowing wind and small birds were chirping from time to time. Zhan Chen felt a strange calmness inside his mind. His mind felt clearer as he entered inside the boundary of wooden house.

A very old looking woman came to welcome them.

"Granny Mumu"

"Granny Mumu",

All of his aunts and his mother bowed towards the old woman standing near the door. Zhan Qingyue and Zhan Rou followed after them and Zhan Chen also bowed with them.

"You little girls!", a small smile appeared on the stern face of granny Mumu. "Come with me. Young miss is waiting for all of you".

The eldest aunt of Zhan Chen followed after granny Mumu and everyone followed after her. A plain yet clean looking interior appeared Infront of Zhan Chen.

His gaze involuntary attracted towards the center of the room where a woman was resting on a medium sized bed. There were some wrinkles on the face of the lying woman but no one could deny about her gracious beauty.

"Grandma", Zhan Chen felt a slight pain in his heart as he recalled his previous interactions with the lying woman. His grandma loved him deeply. No matter what he did, she was always there to support her.

Everything stopped after his grandma faced an assassination attempt. He had heard that his grandma was always ill but she managed to suppress her illness with her powerful cultivation and will power. The assasins sent were powerful that day. His grandmother managed to fend them off but her previous illness relapsed and she couldn't go out of the bed after that day.

"Grandma", Zhan Chen called out with a shaky voice. The elderly woman who was resting with her eyes closed, opened her eyes after she felt the presence of everyone. A smile appeared on her elderly face as her eyes fell upon Zhan Chen.

Zhan Chen felt agitated for a moment as he looked at his grandmother. As a genius alchemist how couldn't he see that her soul was injured. "What is happening here? Is her old illness a soul injury?", Zhan Chen thought inside his mind.

"Chen-er, you have grown handsome", she spoke with a bright smile.

"Mother", the eldest aunt of Zhan Chen cried out. Her eyes became moist as she knelt down. The other aunts of Zhan Chen including his mother followed her and knelt down to pay their respects.

Zhan Qingyue and Zhan Rou also knelt down. Teardrops came out of their eyes as they saw their bedridden grandma. Zhan Chen also knelt down as he had deep love and respect for his grandmother.

"Rise everyone, there is no need to kneel down", she spoke with a ragged voice. Anyone could see that she was having difficulty in talking. Zhan Chen barely managed to regist his urge to use his soul consciousness upon her.

"Mother", the eldest aunt of Zhan Chen called out in agitation.

"Xuehua, are you still blaming yourself?"

You should let it go. There is nothing to feel guilty about it", the elderly woman spoke with difficulty.

A glint appeared in the eyes of Zhan Chen as he heard the conversation between his eldest aunt and grandmother. He knew about this matter before gaining back his past life memory.

He felt rage but he was powerless at that time. The assasins who attacked that day were formidable. They managed to mask their identities pretty well. Even after so many day, no one had found out the real culprits behind that incident.

"No matter who they are, they can't hide from my eyes. I will make these sneaky bastards pay with their life", Zhan Chen vowed inside his mind.

"Little girl Qingyue, little girl Rou and Chen-er, come near me", the grandmother of Zhan Chen called out.

Zhan Qingyue, Zhan Rou and Zhan Chen went near her and she beckoned them sit near her. Her eyes shined for a bit as she examined them one by one.

"Ranqing, where is little Qiushui?", the elderly woman looked at the second aunt of Zhan Chen.

"Mother, we haven't inform her for the ceremony", Jie Ranqing replied.

Zhan Qiushui was the eldest daughter of Zhan Chen's second aunt. She was the elder sister of Zhan Qingyue. She was a married to a renowned clan of Red cloud kingdom. The clan was initially in good term with the Zhan family but they started to ignore them after the disappearance of Zhan Chen's grandfather.

The grandmother of Zhan Chen nodded her head and fell silent. She then examined his daughter in law's one by one. Her eyes brightened when she observed Zhan Chen's mother. Despite not using any power, she could somehow see the increased cultivation of Li Qingzhao.

Zhan Chen and others walked out from his grandmother's place after some time. Everyone knew she need rest. So, they left her room after seeing her and talking with her for a bit. Zhan Chen wanted to inquire about her injury but he decided to come another day.

Time gradually passed and soon guests started to come one by one. A lavish feast was arranged for the Zhan family's guests. The aunts of Zhan Chen along with his mother was in guest hall to entertain the guests.

Zhan Chen was feeling bored as he had to accompany his mother in greeting the guests. His mother was happily introducing him to everyone present.

"Fourth madam, someone is looking for you", a maid entered the palace hall and spoke to Li Qingzhao.

"Who is it?", Li Qingzhao asked with curiousity.

"Madam, we have never seen her before. She is saying that she is your friend. Her face is veiled and she has another follower with her. Her name is Ruyan", the maid replied to Li Qingzhao.

"Oh! it is unexpected. Where is she?", Li Qingzhao asked the maid. Zhan Chen could see slight excitement in her mother's eyes.

"Madam, she is waiting outside of the gate", the maid replied.

"Ok, you may leave now", Li Qingzhao nodded with a smile.

"Chen-er, come with me. Ruyan is a very good friend of mine", Li Qingzhao spoke with a smile.

She didn't even wait for Zhan Chen's reply. She grabbed the hand of Zhan Chen and pulled him along with her towards the gate.

It didn't take them long to reach the gate of Zhan family's estate. Zhan Chen raised his head and saw a veiled woman standing with an elderly looking woman.

A slight surprise flashed in the eyes of Zhan Chen as he observed the elderly woman. "This is an hidden expert", Zhan Chen thought to himself.

"Ruyan, I never thought you would come. How have you been doing?", Li Qingzhao smilingly asked the veiled woman. Zhan Chen observed the veiled woman. She had a graceful figure and her skin was exquisite.

Just by looking at her, anyone could say that she was a beauty who was hiding her beautiful face beneath a veil.

"Qingzhao, congratulation. You have successfully raised your cultivation", the veiled woman congratulated Li Qingzhao with a light voice.

Her voice was like a breeze as if an oriole was singing. Zhan Chen instantly felt attracted to her beautiful voice. "What a voice!", he thought inside his mind.

"Is this your son? He is indeed a fine looked young lad", the veiled woman pointed at Zhan Chen.

"Yes, he is my son Zhan Chen. Chen-er, greet your aunt", Li Qingzhao smiled at Zhan Chen.

Zhan Chen greeted her and she was invited into the Zhan's estate.

"Ruyan, is your treatment successful this time?", Li Qingzhao asked to the veiled woman.

The veiled woman shook her head as she sipped in the fragrant tea given to her. "It is a failure. Even a grandmaster who was famous for possessing the legendary saintly hands couldn't treat me. I have no hope for cultivation in this life", the veiled woman spoke with a depressed tone.

"The saintly hand!", Zhan Chen raised his eyebrows after listening the words of the veiled woman.