Chapter 238: Returning to Familiar Grounds

More than a month later.

Knock— knock— knock—.

The knocking reaches Yu Lin, who is lying on the bed scrolling videos.

"The door isn't locked; just come right in."

"Alright!"

With the sound of the lock turning, Bai Xiaoxia's figure appears in Yu Lin's view, her face full of smiles.

"Yu Ge, are you free?"

"Hmm?" Yu Lin puts down his phone, raises an eyebrow and looks at him:

"What do you want me to help you with this time? What mission did you take on?"

"No, no, no, it's not a mission," Bai Xiaoxia waves her hand and explains:

"Qin Jie and I, aren't we on vacation? The bureau gave us a seven‑day leave."

"Coincidentally the bureau still has a few slots for an exchange visit to the Northern Europe cultivation academy, and the Deputy Director approved a few for us."

"I'm here to ask you, Yu Ge, whether you want to go to Northern Europe for fun together."

"Let's all get together again!"

He pulls out his phone, opens the chat with Zhang Jiangping for Yu Lin to see, confirming that it is indeed so.

"Well, that could work…" Yu Lin thinks, turns his head toward the three Dragon Lord who are playing games and asks:

"Dragon Lord, are the three of you going?"

Dragon Lord, without turning his head, replies:

"No, no, we've been out playing for so long, now I just want to game!"

"When you come back from gaming, just bring me some local specialties."

After it says that, Qilin and Bai Hu also nod and say, "Right, right."

"The game versions just updated, let's enjoy them thoroughly."

"Yu Lin, as long as you have fun, that's all that matters."

Hearing them say that, Yu Lin doesn't press the issue, gets up and says:

"When do we depart?"

Bai Xiaoxia sees his agreement, her smile widening:

"Tomorrow! Tomorrow's tickets!"

"Yu Ge, you just need to go there, the rest is on me!"

"Shall we go out for a meal today first?"

Yu Lin nods, "Fine."

"Let's go."

The two walk toward the outside.

When they leave.

Dragon Lord finally sighs in relief:

"That's a relief."

Qilin turns its head toward it: "Long Ge, aren't you going to persuade him?"

"If you pretended to be Yu Lin back then, flirting everywhere, and Yu Lin found out…"

"What would happen if he got angry with you?"

Dragon Lord waves a paw: "Ah, it's fine, it's fine."

"I was using that guy from Qingzhou's name to disguise myself… Hehe."

"When Yu Lin finds Qingzhou, he may have already stopped caring!"

"Besides, what's our relationship? We're tighter than iron brothers!"

"Don't worry about it."

"Oh," Qilin nods, thinking to itself that Dragon Lord is still scheming.

It hadn't thought of those.

It directly used Dragon Lord's name.

It originally wanted to tell Dragon Lord, but since Dragon Lord already said it that way, it kept silent.

Tighter than iron brothers!

Northern Europe time, 4 p. m.

The Northern Europe nations jointly established an academy in Yingguo to rival Da Xia's premier cultivation academy.

Although Yingguo is not part of Northern Europe, its National Church is now powerful and its resources abundant, so they wanted a share. Moreover, in the first batch of funding, their money and personnel made up the bulk, and because it isn't in Northern Europe, it serves as a bridge for later Western European countries to join the academy, so the site was chosen in Yingguo.

Yu Lin, Bai Xiaoxia, and a few other Civil Affairs Bureau colleagues had just arrived at the designated exit station.

Before they could admire the foreign scenery, three low‑key black sedans silently glided to their front.

The cars looked ordinary, but a cross emblem carved with the World Tree on the body silently announced they belong to the Northern Europe United Cultivation Academy.

The doors opened, and the first to step out were several attendants in casual clothes.

Though they seemed ordinary, their eyes were sharp, aura steady, and the fabric's texture glimmered with distinction in the light.

Finally, the one who stepped out of the middle vehicle captured everyone's attention.

He was about fifty years old, tall and upright, wearing a well‑tailored National Church bishop's robe, his golden hair meticulously groomed.

Most striking were his eyes: the left a deep blue like the North Sea, the right a rare pale red, as if harboring some mysterious power.

His steps were brisk yet unhurried, his face beaming with a warm smile, his gaze fixed precisely on Yu Lin as he walked straight toward him.

"Welcome to Britain!" He stretched out his hands, his tone unable to hide his excitement:

"I am Lilake, the current Canterbury Archbishop, representing the Church of England and the Northern Europe Joint Cultivation Academy, warmly welcoming your arrival—Saint Yu Lin."

Yu Lin himself smiled faintly, extended his hand and shook with Lilake: "Hello, Archbishop Lilake, you're too polite."

"This time it's just a private trip; I came to look around casually, no need for such formality."

"Just call me Yu Lin."

Lilake readily agreed, immediately nodding: "Yes, Mr. Yu Lin."

"Since that's the case, you can all just call me Lilake."

"Everyone, this way please."

He turned sideways, making an elegant inviting gesture.

Under the personal guidance of this esteemed archbishop, the group boarded the vehicle one by one amidst the curious and probing gazes of surrounding travelers.

The car doors closed, the convoy smoothly started, merging into London's evening traffic, heading toward the city center.

The interior was simple yet comfortable, with Lilake and Yu Lin sharing the same vehicle.

He did not rush into small talk, but instead thoughtfully introduced some landmark buildings along the way, his tone relaxed and natural, as if it were merely a friendly reception.

Although, but.

Yu Lin wore a smile, listened politely, but his gaze involuntarily drifted toward the window.

These buildings, these streets, to him, felt more familiar than novel.

After all, in a sense, he had become acquainted with many corners of this city earlier than this archbishop.

His gaze wandered aimlessly over the street scene, finally settling on an inconspicuous corner not far away.

There was a shop that looked somewhat aged, the characters on its wooden sign slightly faded from wind and sun—"Feiluo Watch Shop."

"Has the Feiluo Exorcism Office become the Feiluo Watch Shop?"

The power of time is silent and unseen, yet so profound.

He quietly gazed at the somewhat worn display window; through the glass, wiped clean but still bearing the marks of years, he could see inside a white-haired watchmaker wearing spectacles, bent over a table full of precise gears and parts, carefully adjusting the movement of an old grandfather clock.

At that very moment, Yu Lin's gaze grew somewhat dazed.

The scene before him seemed to overlap and blend with distant memories.

He seemed to see, in that same spot, not the cold watch parts, but an oak desk piled with ancient tomes and strange implements.

Feiluo stood beside the desk, holding a cup of steaming coffee, and let out a loud, hearty laugh toward his silent partner opposite him.

And opposite Feiluo—Van Helsing, the demon hunter who is as reliable as a rock at any time.

He lightly pursed his firm lips, habitually toying with a gleaming silver dagger, his sharp eyes perhaps hinting at a hint of helplessness, but more so conveying an unspoken trust and tolerance.

Perhaps sensing his gaze, the two simultaneously turned their heads toward him, smiling and nodding, as if welcoming an old friend.

"Are you interested in this shop? This shop quite has a background...."

Lilake's voice caused the past images to surge like a tide, then quickly recede.

Yu Lin blinked lightly, his focus returning; inside the shop remained the attentive watchmaker and the table full of gears.

"What do you mean?"