Weapon seller in the world of magic

She stepped closer, looking at Sylvandria with a firm but not cruel expression.

”You feared the judgment of others. You feared hurting Yue. You feared people misjudging Lu Zhen’s character. I don’t blame you for worrying about us. But…” her gaze hardened slightly, ”you still shouldn’t have done that. Even if you are their mother, you cannot keep children away from their father. You should have let him know.”

Sylvandria’s throat tightened, but she nodded.

Shen Ling then turned toward Mark, her tone shifting into something sharper.

”And you, Lu Zhen.” Her eyes narrowed. ”Why did you never tell us about your relationship with Sylvandria? Why were we kept in the dark? I have a complaint against you.”

Mark sighed deeply, rubbing his forehead.

”I know. I know you’re right. I should have told you long ago.” He glanced around at everyone, the wives, his parents, Lan Jing, and the children clinging to skirts and sleeves. ”But anything I say now will sound like excuses.”

He exhaled slowly, voice heavy with sincerity.

”The truth is… I was scared of complicating everything. I thought I would tell you after completing all of my goals… after stabilizing the clan… after returning here… after everything settled.”

He shook his head.

”But I guess I waited too long.”

And then, in front of everyone, Mark bowed deeply. ”I am sorry. Truly sorry.”

In his life, Mark has never bowed before someone, because of an apology. Not even when he was a weak plainfolk who depended too much on system and weapon store sales.

Now, even after becoming an immortal, he bowed… that too to his wives...

After him, Sylvandria followed and bowed deeply, her voice trembling. ”I… I am sorry. Truly. It is my fault, not his. I made the wrong choice… I was only, ”

Before she could finish, Song Yue stepped forward and wrapped her arms around her.

Sylvandria froze in shock.

Song Yue smiled gently against her shoulder, patting her back in comfort. ”It’s alright, Sister Syl. You don’t have to explain anymore. It’s all in the past now.”

Those simple words were enough to make Sylvandria’s eyes redden. Her body relaxed ever so slightly as she clutched Song Yue in return.

Right then, Lu Shan blinked his bright violet eyes and looked up with curiosity sparkling in them. ”Papa… Faeyna and Kaelen… are they my siblings?”

Mark knelt down beside him, placing a hand on his little shoulders. ”Yes, Xiao Shan. They are your younger siblings.”

Lu Shan’s face lit up like fireworks. He raised both his hands high above his head. ”Yay! That’s great! I have three younger siblings now!”

Everyone couldn’t help smiling at his innocent happiness.

Lan Jingyi chuckled softly and ruffled his hair. ”And you’ll have even more in the future, my little Shan Shan.”

Mark stiffened slightly, scratching his cheek and looking away with an awkward cough. He understood what his mother was implying, about the child he would eventually have with Lan Xia. But in his mind, he couldn’t stop thinking about something else entirely.

Steve.

The son he knew would be born to him and Song Yue one day.

But not yet.

Not now.

Because an immortal’s seed carried overwhelming vitality. With Song Yue at only at 7-circle realm, her body wouldn’t withstand bearing a child from an immortal like him. She would need to become a demigod first. Only then could Steve be born safely.

Thinking about Steve triggered a chain of memories.

Faces.

Names.

Promises.

Zan Rong, who was currently at Leon Province, managing affairs with, Allen, his brother from his past life, who still lived and walked this world under a different sky.

He wondered how they were doing. Whether Leon Province had grown. Whether Shen Ling’s changes affected them, too.

Then his mind drifted to the beasts he had once contracted.

The Zheng, the mighty beast Still living atop Mt. Lan, guarding the burial grounds of Lan Gengxin and the old warriors. A loyal guardian who chose to remain behind even after Mark’s ascension.

But the others…

Ying, the colossal anaconda.

Jinlong, the golden rank-9 dragon.

The Shimmerwood Turtle, wise and ancient.

Pritsha, the cannibal war beast.

All of their contracts had shattered the moment he broke through to immortality.

Their bonds could not withstand the transformation. They had been freed.

Only a few remained tied to him,

Jingwei, the four holy beasts, and Zheng.

Mark sighed inwardly. So much had changed in such a short time. So much had been gained. So much had been lost. And now even more responsibility fell on his shoulders as his family continued to grow.

But when he looked at Sylvandria wiping her eyes…

Song Yue smiling warmly…

Shen Ling standing with a soft sigh of resignation…

Lu Shan jumping excitedly…

Shen Yi babbling while tugging his sleeve…

Mark felt something he hadn’t felt in a long time.

A sense of family, messy, complicated, full of mistakes and secrets.

But still family.

And he knew he had to protect them all.

*

Later that evening, Mark flew quietly toward the towering glass building that dominated the center of Genesis City, Genesis Enterprises, now the beating heart of the empire’s commercial and technological development. The structure glowed with soft blue lights, its eighteen floors reflecting the vibrant neon of the streets below.

Wearing a simple robe and a hood to avoid recognition, Mark descended at the entrance and walked in just like any ordinary customer.

The moment he stepped through the doors, he felt a wave of nostalgia mixed with amazement.

When he left, this place was merely a corporate idea and a handful of prototypes. Now, it had become an empire of its own, bustling, loud, and filled with people moving from one showroom to another while guided by humanoid service robots.

He took his time exploring.

Floors for clothes, jewelry, weapons, robot components, even recreational androids, everything that Alina had worked on now filled the halls. People seemed excited, discussing purchases, taking pictures, and playing with display units.

Mark blended into the crowd without attracting attention. It was surreal, watching a world he had once built take a form he barely recognized.

When he finally reached the 16th floor, two imposing android guards stood by the staircase leading upwards. A glowing red sign above them read: RESTRICTED AREA, AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY.

The moment they sensed him, both stepped forward, mechanical voices echoing, ”Access prohibited. Please present authorization.”

Mark silently lifted a small metallic card, the one Aria crafted for him. A thin barcode ran across the center, carrying an encrypted key directly tied to Mark’s identity and authority.

Both androids scanned it instantly.

”Authorization verified. Supreme access granted.”

They stepped aside without another word.

A few shoppers nearby, browsing boxes of robot components, glanced over and whispered among themselves. Someone murmured, ”Who is that man? Even the restricted access opened for him…”

Mark ignored them and climbed the stairs to the 17th floor.

The moment he entered, the atmosphere changed. It was no longer a bustling commercial space, it was an office floor. Dozens of robots sat behind desks, typing lightning-fast on holographic screens or coordinating logistics across the city. Everything was silent except for the rhythmic tapping of synthetic fingers.

Mark walked past them until he reached a familiar office door.

PRESIDENT

He raised his hand and knocked.

A surprised voice shouted from inside, slightly irritated, ”Who is it? I told you I’m busy...”

Mark opened the door before the sentence finished.

Inside, a pale figure stood frozen mid-rant, Cheng Bo, the Welpire, who once handled Mark’s affairs and now apparently oversaw Genesis Enterprises. His expression shifted instantly from annoyance to shock. His mouth hung slightly open.

”Lu Zhen…? Ahem, Boss?”

Mark smiled warmly. ”It’s been a while, Cheng Bo.”

The Welpire hurried around his desk and came forward with an excited, almost trembling smile. ”Boss, how have you been? When I heard the news of your return, I wanted to visit the palace immediately, but things here have been… overwhelming. I couldn’t leave.”

Mark patted his shoulder with a satisfied nod. ”I can see that. You’ve been working hard. The building… the systems… everything is running perfectly.”

Cheng Bo’s chest puffed up with pride. ”All thanks to your guidance before you left. And of course, Lady Alina. She has been… unstoppable.”

Mark chuckled softly. ”She always has been.”

For a moment, they simply stood there, the weight of the past year settling between them, one filled with wars, conquests, betrayals, and growth. Cheng Bo bowed slightly, expression turning respectful and warm.

”Welcome home, Boss.”

Mark smiled faintly.

”Feels good to be back.”