“Don’t worry. With your great fortune and sturdy fate, you’ll definitely live to a hundred!”

As he said this, He Lingchuan suddenly noticed two strands of silver amid Madame Ying’s black hair.

She took excellent care of herself and had hardly a wrinkle on her face, but she was, after all, already in her late thirties.

Madame Ying took out a small jade ruyi[1] and pressed it into his hand. “Keep this with you. It’s for protection.”

He Yue laughed from the side. “Wow, Mother even brought out one of the treasures from her dowry.”

Madame Ying shot him a withering glare that required no explanation. “Are you really my son? Why are you more talkative than some teenage girl?” Then she turned back to He Lingchuan and solemnly instructed him, “When you enter Panlong Desert, you absolutely must be careful. That is not a good place! And—”

She paused.

“I know you’re capable now. Take good care of your father. The two of you must both come back safe and sound!”

The...