chapter 3 Old memories

"Palace Master, if there's anything to be handled this time, you can leave it to me," Victor followed closely behind Fernando.
From what he knew, the Palace Master never wasted time without reason. His return this time surely involved important matters.
The immense power of the Five Envoys was unquestionable, and being in Middle Territory, Victor, as the Nation’s Peacekeeper for Middle Territory, found it much more convenient to manage affairs.
Fernando waved his hand without responding.
He left home at eighteen and had been on the border for seven years. Throughout these seven years, a sharp thorn had relentlessly pierced his heart, causing him constant pain.
Now that the border was stable, it was time to settle some debts with certain people and matters.
These were the people he had to handle personally.
Victor didn't dare to ask more, and the other four were also hesitant to speak. They vaguely understood that the Palace Master's return was likely to deal with some personal matters.
The group slowly walked out of the airport.
Peter recognized Fernando, who was at the forefront, at a glance. Trembling hands, he took a step forward.
Fernando hurriedly walked a few steps forward and supported him, "Uncle Su."
Such a common address, yet it brought tears to Peter's eyes. Looking at the robust young man before him, a mix of emotions stirred in his heart.
Only he knew how much hardship Fernando had endured in these seven years.
Fernando's eyes were slightly red. If it weren't for this old man in front of him, he would have undoubtedly died seven years ago.
Seven years ago, on Fernando's eighteenth birthday.
At the banquet, he was framed, drugged without his knowledge, and ended up having relations with a girl in a haze.
That girl was Ella Gu, the daughter of the the Gu family in Jinghai.
The Gu Family, a top-tier family in Jinghai, was furious when one of their own was defiled. They ordered hundreds of bodyguards to surround the hotel lobby, intending to wipe out the Ye Family.
The banquet turned into a battlefield.
Fernando's parents sacrificed their lives to help him escape.
That night, pouring rain accompanied Fernando's continuous sprint in the rain. The pursuers' shouts echoed behind him.
He kept running until he collapsed by the roadside. The pursuers caught up, and as the blade was about to fall, a passing car intervened.
In that car was Peter, who had a lifelong friendship with Fernando's grandfather. The pursuers, constrained by the Su family's influence, dared not act rashly and could only utter threats, watching the car disappear into the rainy night.
The Gu Family held immense power in Jinghai, and Peter had to send Fernando to the border overnight for his safety.
"It's been seven years, Nando, and you've finally come back," Peter choked up.
Besides Fernando's parents, Peter was the only one in the world who had the privilege to address Fernando in such a manner.
These years were not easy for the Su family either. Because of saving Fernando back then, the Su family had a feud with the Gu Family. They faced constant suppression and attacks. If not for their remaining strength, the Su family, like the Ye Family, would have vanished overnight.
"Yes, Uncle Su, Nando is back."
Fernando's return was first greeted by Peter, the one person he would never forget.
He treated Peter as his family.
"It's good to be back. Oh, by the way, this is my granddaughter, Abigail." Peter wiped away a tear from the corner of his eye and pulled his granddaughter forward.
"You're the person my grandpa is picking up today? So young," Abigail couldn't help feeling a bit disappointed.
She thought the person her grandfather was picking up today must be a significant figure. She didn't expect just a young man, and at this age, what could he achieve?
"Just call me Fernando." Fernando didn't blame her.
"Grandpa, the person is here. Let's get in the car," Abigail said without hesitation, opening the car door. She was drenched in sweat, feeling extremely uncomfortable.
Peter felt a bit awkward. "Ahem, Nando, my granddaughter has been spoiled by me. Don't mind her."
Fernando chuckled; he naturally wouldn't blame her.
"Victor, stay. The rest of you can return to where you came from," Fernando said, getting into the car.
The Bentley sped down the road, followed by Victor in a bulletproof Lamborghini Avenger.
"Nando, now that you're back, about... the marriage between you and Abigail..." Inside the car, Peter hesitated in his words. He knew well that with Fernando's current strength if he wanted to marry his granddaughter, it was out of consideration for past favors.
"Marriage? What marriage?" Before Fernando could speak, Abigail asked first. She had never heard her grandfather mention such a thing.
"Uncle Su, since I promised you in the letter, I won't go back on my word. However, if Abigail disagrees, I respect her choice." Fernando sensed from Peter's words that Abigail was unaware of this matter.
Three years ago, in a letter, Peter expressed his intention for Fernando to marry his granddaughter, and Fernando agreed in response.
He agreed not for the sake of marrying the Su family's heiress but to repay the debt of saving his life. Even if it meant protecting the Su family for three generations, it was only fair.
"How dare she!" Peter roared.
As the head of the Su family, no one dared to defy him within the Su family.
More importantly, if his granddaughter refused, it would mean she looked down on Fernando. If this spread, it would be a blow to Fernando's reputation.
In the present world, who dared to humiliate the Palace Master of Annihilation Palace?
If anyone dared, in less than half a day, not to mention the small Su family, even the whole Jinghai would easily be reduced to rubble.
"Grandpa!" Abigail stomped her foot anxiously. While she usually followed her grandfather's wishes, discussing marriage on the very day she met Fernando for the first time felt too hasty.
"Enough, this matter is settled. If you disagree, it'll have to be over my dead body." The car had arrived at Su Residence, and Peter opened the car door, assisted by the driver, and got out first.
Abigail's tears welled up, shocked to see her grandfather acting so unreasonably for the first time.
"I'll talk to Uncle Su about it," Fernando said without looking back, leaving the car.
"Really?" Abigail saw a glimmer of hope, feeling for the first time that Fernando might not be as unpleasant as she thought.
At the entrance of Su Residence, many people were waiting, hearing that an important guest was arriving who could revive the family. Faces were full of expectation.
When they saw Fernando getting out of the car, their hopes were instantly shattered.
Who spread the rumor that Peter was going to pick up a big shot? It was a waste of time and emotions.
"Are you... Fernando?" Brody Su fixed his gaze on Fernando's face, looking utterly astonished.
He and Fernando were about the same age and could barely be considered acquaintances from years ago.
Seven years had passed, and a person's appearance wouldn't change drastically. Brody could still recognize him vaguely.
"What? Fernando?" The crowd exclaimed at the revelation.