[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-solflare-the-painter-s-secret":3,"chapter-solflare-the-painter-s-secret-solflare-the-painter-s-secret-chapter-141":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Solflare: The Painter's Secret",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1323069,1757,"Chapter 141: The Return of the Painter’s Son","solflare-the-painter-s-secret-chapter-141",141,"\u003Cp>At five hundred meters away from the border, birds soared high in the sky, flapping their wings as if fleeing from chaos.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beneath them, men dressed in full combat suits walked slowly, their breathing coming in ragged bursts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Darian, are you sure it took this path?\" Zoe’s voice cut through the cold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yeah... I chased it until it vanished at that spot.\" Darian pointed a finger at the black-stoned mountain—Basalt Mountain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before Zoe could add another question, a howling sound exploded from all sides.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Guys, be ready.\" Darian stepped to their front, then drew his sword.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ewan frowned slightly. \"I shouldn’t have come when you called.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Do you think I care about you?\" Darian gave an eerie laugh, then shook his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This isn’t the time to fight, foolish boys.\" Kira’s voice cut in like a poisonous dagger. \"You can head back home if you want.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She turned, gave Ewan a wink, then shifted her attention to the moving rocks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I think that’s just the dormant volcano making those noises.\" Kira’s eyes closed for a brief second, dissatisfaction filling her expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The wind pushed across the dark stones of the mountain, carrying with it a faint tremor from deep within the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Far away from the border, life moved in a completely different rhythm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the front of the Qing’s safe house, leaves drifted beside the wheels of Li Mei’s wheelchair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Mom.\" Lily moved her left arm forward and touched her mother’s shoulder, while her right hand kept pushing the wheelchair slowly. \"We are going to the house brother bought us.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soft tears fell from Li Mei’s eyes as Leon’s face flashed before her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She gripped the new red cloth she had woven, then loosened it the moment the tire of the wheel stopped moving.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Let me help you.\" Mr. Lee offered a gentle hand, raising Li Mei and placing her calmly in the back seat of his BMW.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You can sit in the front if you want.\" Mr. Lee pointed toward the front door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lily’s eyes flared with joy. \"Thank you. But I will sit at the back beside my mother.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mr. Lee opened the door. \"Okay.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He folded the wheelchair, moved to the back of the vehicle, then placed it in the boot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Closing the lid of the boot and standing by the driver’s door, he sighed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"At last... they are entering their new home.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He slid into the car, then started the engine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As if watching the late evening sky, Li Mei brushed her fingers along the cold window, smiling faintly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beside her, Lily kept smiling every time the vehicle moved past another.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’So... I will have my own room, my own bed, and a swimming pool I can jump in every day?’ she said quietly in her head as they moved past tall buildings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leaves followed the BMW as it branched to the left, heading toward Bastion City.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A few kilometers away from the city, a sweet fragrance lanced through the air through the ventilation system of the vehicle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Mmm...\" Lily’s eyes closed as she inhaled the new air. \"Mom, we are entering heaven.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mei laughed slightly, then brushed the palm of her left hand across her face, clearing the joyous tears dripping from her eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Colorful trees moved past the vehicle as it reached the half-moon arc of the city’s entrance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Halfway inside the city, Lily’s eyes bulged, almost wanting to pop out of their sockets.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Wow...\" she grinned, her teeth showing, the smile on her face refusing to fade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After an hour of moving through the mirrored streets of the city, the BMW halted in front of a large gate that had the head of a dragon carved into it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Sir.\" Lily brushed her fingers on the right shoulder of Mr. Lee. \"Is this where our new home is located?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lily’s cheeks reddened when she watched Mr. Lee nod slightly through the driver’s mirror.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She turned and placed her head in Li Mei’s lap.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Mom, our new home is bigger than the Qing’s place where we were.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although Li Mei could speak, the only thing that kept coming out were the tears she had wished to stop.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moving through the one-lane street, men and women dressed in training outfits stopped and greeted the BMW.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the vehicle, Lily’s smiling face stilled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Are they greeting us?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mr. Lee smiled at the girl through the driver’s mirror.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as the vehicle halted to a stop in front of one of the buildings on the right side, Mr. Lee killed the engine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment he stepped down, two ladies—one with white hair and the other with grey hair—neared the vehicle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With one accord, they lowered themselves in greeting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Good evening, sir!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Good day, Min-seo and Min-ji.\" Mr. Lee smiled back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He shifted slightly, then gestured at the back of the vehicle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Min-seo...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes, sir.\" The grey-white-haired lady answered, then moved a step forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Go and take the wheelchair from the back of the vehicle.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Okay, sir.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Wait... press the button.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Alright, sir.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The lady walked like a queen. She hesitated, then pressed the black button at the center of the boot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hhew...\" she sighed, then pulled out the wheelchair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Lily got down, she frowned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What are you doing at my house?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With laughter, Mr. Lee stepped forward, then brushed his palms over Lily’s hair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Don’t worry. They are here to help you and your mom. When you’re old enough, they will go.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lily folded her arms across her chest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’m not a kid. I’m old enough to take care of her and myself.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Min-seo laughed, but Min-ji looked at the small girl like she was a nuisance that needed to be wiped out of existence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Min-ji, go and prepare the rooms for them.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before Lily could turn and look at the lady’s face, Min-ji had already turned and entered the mansion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With the help of Min-seo, Li Mei got into the wheelchair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Min-seo bowed slightly to Lily when she came and held the push handle of the wheelchair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Little madam, let me help you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’Little madam?’ Lily frowned, but loosened her grip on the handle and stepped aside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While Min-seo pushed Li Mei, Lily walked beside her, throwing thoughtful questions at her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mr. Lee watched them enter the building.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It’s good I brought Min-seo and Min-ji here to be their maids.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The yellow leaves of distant trees waved through the air and landed softly on the ground beside the BMW as Mr. Lee closed it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, at the front of Basalt Mountain, new reporters joined the Qing family, capturing them and the Oculus creatures that were lying in pools of blood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the front, Darian stood on a large corpse, flaunting as the cameramen drew their attention to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While Darian answered their questions, a new sound and vibration lanced through the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At a far distance from them, a convoy with the Agathian flag moved slowly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In a flash, all the reporters and cameramen dashed toward the vehicles, flashes of light sparking through the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From the front of the first car, two men dressed in full combat outfits alighted, then stood at ease.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the third vehicle, Leon sighed as he saw Darian and Kira standing behind the reporters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Seems your friends came to welcome you.\" Longwei pushed Leon’s shoulder, then laughed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hei Yung pushed the door open, then got down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like a god among men, all the reporters froze, their camera lights flashing wildly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"IS THAT THE LEGENDARY GOD OF LIGHTNING?!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Murmuring sounds lanced through the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Behind Darian, Kira looked at Hei Yung with seductive eyes, then moved forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like water splitting apart, the reporters gave way for Kira the moment she stopped behind them and cleared her throat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hello, sir.\" She bowed while greeting Hei Yung. \"Welcome to Thule Country.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hei Yung looked at her without any emotion in his eyes, as if she were invisible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Wow, I never knew you had a wife here too.\" Longwei teased as he joined Hei Yung outside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hei Yung brushed his palm across Longwei’s shoulder, then stepped aside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Where is he? Won’t he come out?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hei Yung looked at Longwei with a confused stare, then turned toward the door of the MRAP.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside, Leon sat there, head lowered, staring at the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Leon.\" Hei Yung smiled at the boy, then moved away from the MRAP’s entrance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before Leon could get down, the reporters moved back, their microphones and cameras ready.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two of the reports stumbled two steps back, the moment Leon stepped out of the MRAP.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’That can’t be possible. Isn’t that the son of the painter?’ the same thoughts reeled through the two men’s head, their camera’s trembling under their grips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The first camera man zoomed in, ’That can’t be possible!’ he screamed in his head, shook his head, then blinked twice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Behind the reporters, Zoe swallowed hard, then focused on the jet-black-haired boy’s face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a heartbeat, she thought her eyes were deceiving her. \"Is that... Leon?\" a fierce shock rushed through her chest, followed by a swelling joy she couldn’t hide.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Memories of Leon in the Qing clan flashed through her mind, followed by the last exchange of smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Leon moved forward and stopped between Hei Yung and Longwei, the air itself began to freeze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Darian’s firm smile cracked. His pupils shrank, as fear flickered through his eyes as if he had just realized the shift of power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Within minutes, the footage exploded across Thule Country. New networks replayed the moment endlessly: the Painter’s son retuning beside the legendary God of Lightning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In Bastion City, screens inside cafes, training halls, and streets lit up with the same headline.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Citizens leaned closer, whispering in disbelief as the image of Leon standing between two legends spread like wildfire.\u003C\u002Fp>",1627,"2026-06-05T19:15:29.583Z",1,"novelbin.me","f00eb4933942eb954737d7260394e1ebd9be727e3ed7d9286339b4794ac07474","solflare-the-painter-s-secret-chapter-142","solflare-the-painter-s-secret-chapter-140",272,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fsolflare-the-painter-s-secret-cover.jpg"]