Frank Carter saw Henry Carter's tense expression, as well as the dazed looks on everyone's faces. He gently coughed, breaking the silence in the bunker, and said, "You're back?"

"Yeah." Henry Carter instinctively raised his hand to scratch the back of his head, trying to ease the tense and awkward atmosphere.

Frank Carter gazed at Henry Carter and let out a soft sigh. This child who used to be so playful had really grown up! But... it's my fault! It's all my fault! If, back then, I had insisted he practice instead of letting him play, maybe he wouldn't have to work so hard now.

"As long as you came back safe." Frank Carter walked up to Henry Carter, patted him on the shoulder in comfort, and spoke with a hint of worry in his tone: "As long as you're safe..."

Edward Carter frowned as he watched. What? Breaking the emergency family rules, and that's it? No way!

"Master of the house!" Edward Carter suddenly raised his voice from the edge of the crowd, interrupting Frank Carter's words and drawing everyone's attention to himself.

Frank Carter looked at Edward Carter in confusion. "Instructor Yong, is there something you want to say?"

Edward Carter felt everyone's eyes on him and puffed out his chest. "Henry Carter is your son, I know that. But, even the head of the family can't break the rules. Henry Carter went out without permission..."

"Punishment, I know." Henry Carter stepped forward with his water bag on his back to face Edward Carter. "Fifty strokes, five days of confinement. No problem!"

Edward Carter was annoyed at being interrupted, wanting to speak, but found that Henry Carter had directly accepted the punishment, and for a moment didn't know what to say.

Henry Carter turned with the large water bag on his back, bowed deeply to Frank Carter, then turned and bowed deeply to the other elders of the family. Straightening his back, he said, "This time it was my fault, dragging everyone into unknown danger. Fortunately, no one was harmed. I feel very uneasy, and I apologize to everyone here. Please give me a moment to deliver this spring water from the Pure Water Cold Spring to my brother, and then I'll go to the Hall of Rewards and Punishments to accept my penalty. Is that alright?"

Edward Carter looked at Henry Carter's reasonable and forceful attitude, feeling as if a large bag of sand and stones was stuck in his chest—stifled, but unable to find words to rebuke him.

The elders of the Yi family, gathered together, all stepped aside to make way for Henry Carter, opening a path. Many people sighed inwardly: he understands the bigger picture, knows right from wrong, knows when to advance and retreat! What a good child! It's a pity! He was too playful in his youth and wasted the most precious foundation-building years. Now, although he's turned over a new leaf, it's a pity! A pity it's too late! Well, better late than never.

"Young master, let this old woman do it."

At the other end of the path, an elderly woman with white hair and a slightly plump figure appeared. Her back seemed unable to fully straighten, and she was pushing a wooden cart. The hardwood wheels rolled slowly over the bunker’s rugged, dim road, making a dull thumping sound.

"Grandma Harris..."

Henry Carter called out softly, hurried over with the water bag on his back, and placed it on the cart’s board, saving this old woman, who had served the Yi family for four generations, a few steps.

As soon as the water bag touched the cart’s board, there was a faint hissing sound, and a layer of fuzzy frost instantly covered the pale yellow wooden surface.

People followed the sound and saw the change in the wood, all gasping in surprise and turning their gaze to Henry Carter, their eyes filled with admiration and appreciation.

The spring water from the Pure Water Cold Spring was bone-chillingly cold! Though it didn't freeze, it was even colder than ice! Henry Carter, this young man who had just reached the Qi Activation stage, the state he was showing now probably wasn't his true relaxed state, was it?

People quickly noticed that Henry Carter's clothes on his back were already covered in frost, even the hair at the back of his head was frosted white. His body was clearly trembling, but he was suppressing it to the minimum through sheer willpower.

Chapter 4 Secret Door to the Southern Heavens

"Young master, you must be frostbitten." Mrs. Harris took out two bottles of ointment from her pocket and stuffed them into Henry Carter's hand. "The red bottle is for frostbite, the yellow one... use it after your beating."

"Thank you, Grandma Harris." Henry Carter put away the ointments, turned, and bowed to everyone again. "Sorry to trouble you all. I'll go to the Hall of Rewards and Punishments now."

After speaking, Henry Carter straightened up again, his lips twitching uncontrollably a few times. The icy cold hadn't just frostbitten his skin, even the muscles on his back were injured! But he had to endure it—he couldn't cause his father any more trouble! He'd already caused his father too much trouble in the past. Now the family was struggling, and the Grand Elder was eyeing his father's position as head of the family. He absolutely couldn't cause any more trouble for his father.

"Li..."

"Dad, it's fine." Henry Carter grinned brightly, then turned and strode toward the Hall of Rewards and Punishments deep in the bunker.

Edward Carter stared coldly at Henry Carter's back, a faint joy rising in his heart along with a trace of anger. Why did this brat come back so soon? The Haoyang Blazing Flame Qi in William Carter's body could have tormented him a bit longer!

But being able to give William Carter's younger brother fifty strokes on the butt was enough to vent some of his anger! Edward Carter's lips naturally curled into a smug smile. Fifty strokes! That crackling sound...