“Father?”

After Du Ruhui departed, Ye Qingyu anxiously looked at Ye Lingxiao.

The conversation between Ye Lingxiao and Du Ruhui was essentially veiled. With her sharp mind, she had already sensed something was amiss.

Du Ruhui’s interest in Jiang An’an could only be related to Jiang Wang.

And the hatred between Jiang Wang and the Zhuang Clan was self-evident…

With Jiang Wang still missing, and Du Ruhui suddenly appearing, it was impossible not to think the worst.

Ye Lingxiao looked at her and nodded.

Then, he patted Jiang An’an’s small head, said nothing, and left.

Ye Qingyu was immediately stunned.

Her first impression of Jiang Wang was a large foot.

At that time, Ye Lingxiao was still in seclusion, striving for the Dongzhen realm, and had given her sufficient life-saving measures, treating half of the Western Border as her back garden, allowing her to choose her own training methods.

She had deliberately left Yun Country and accepted a bounty in Three Mountains City, Zhuang Country.

Thus, for the first time in her life, she found herself surrounded by a horde of fierce beasts.

Looking back now, those fierce beasts were not terrifying. Even at the time, they couldn’t truly harm her.

However, lacking combat experience, she was flustered. The Dao techniques she practiced so diligently were completely forgotten when the time came.

It was that handsome young man with a sword who flew in with a kick, knocking her away.

The only words he left behind were – “What are you standing there for!”

Honestly, those words stunned her for a long time.

From childhood, she had been a favored daughter of heaven. She was the precious pearl of Pavilion Master Ye Lingxiao of the Azure Cloud Pavilion, the princess of the entire Yun Country.

If nothing unexpected happened, the Azure Cloud Pavilion would be hers, and Yun Country would be hers as well.

She didn’t need to do anything to possess everything.

She wasn’t enthusiastic about combat. She studied Dao techniques because they were interesting. She liked the adorable cloud beasts and the magnificent, mystical lights and shadows. Beneath her aloof demeanor was a soft, kind heart.

But she wasn’t naive. On the contrary, she inherited her parents’ intelligence. She was keenly aware of what those who surrounded her since childhood were thinking, wanting, and ultimately seeking.

No one had ever spoken harshly to her, and no one had ever ignored her charm.

She had seen too many people adept at concealing themselves, those feigned politeries, those insincere gentle gestures…

But for the first time, she encountered someone who kicked her right off the bat.

By the time she came back to her senses and tried to find her “savior,” Jiang Wang had already vanished without a trace.

That youth was simply passing by, saving someone as a casual act. He was truly selfless, acting purely from the heart.

Her pride prevented her from wanting to owe anyone a favor, so she searched for that youth for a long time, wanting to repay him. In the end, she gave him a Cloud Token, offering him the extremely valuable promise of the Azure Cloud Pavilion’s young master.

But that youth didn’t seem to care. He only accepted it because he didn’t want to reject her kindness.

Upon first meeting that youth, all she remembered was sincerity.

Later, she invited him several times, but that youth never came to redeem the favor. However, a few letters were exchanged, and they gradually became acquainted.

The next time they met, it was already after the cataclysmic change in Maple Forest City, after the tragic event where the entire city was utterly destroyed.

That youth entrusted his younger sister to the Azure Cloud Pavilion, leaving alone to shoulder suffering and hatred.

From that youth’s entrustment, she felt a heavy sense of trust, and she reciprocated that trust with the utmost sincerity. She took good care of Jiang An’an, treating her like her own sister.

After that, the youth traveled thousands of miles, and cloud cranes often delivered letters.

She wasn’t quite sure what her own feelings were, but as she wrote more letters, the more she understood that youth, and the more she admired him.

Some people may seem wonderful upon first meeting, and still wonderful upon the second, but the more you interact with them, the more problems arise. It might not take long for them to go from radiant to loathsome.

But this youth was a hidden gem. The more she interacted with him, the more she discovered his merits.

His love for his sister was touching, and his choices and persistence often inspired her.

The youth was growing rapidly. Alone and with only a sword, he traveled far, yet he made a name for himself in Qi Country, a powerful nation filled with talented individuals.

Out of some feeling she couldn’t quite describe, she also began to seek strength.

Speaking of which, she hadn’t actually met that youth many times.

The next time they met was a year later, when that youth traveled tens of thousands of miles back to give his sister a surprise.

What moved her the most was the gentleness that youth displayed when facing his sister.

It was a kind of gentleness that had endured the bitterness of life, yet sought out a bit of sweetness amidst the bitterness to feed to a loved one.

Without a strong enough heart, one could not support such true gentleness.

Even now, she couldn’t explain what she felt for that youth in her heart.

But at this moment, knowing the youth’s fate,

She couldn’t avoid the overwhelming sadness that suddenly surged within her.

She thought she was grieving.

“Sister…”

Jiang An’an’s voice sounded at this moment.

Ye Qingyu lowered her head and saw tears welling up in those beautiful, large eyes.

Little An’an couldn’t quite understand the adults’ conversation, but her pure heart could sense Ye Qingyu’s emotions. So she cried.

In that instant, Ye Qingyu almost burst into tears as well.

But she forced herself to hold back.

“It seems your brother had an urgent matter to attend to in Qi Country!” she said. “Someone saw him heading in that direction, but he was in a great hurry.”

Jiang An’an opened her tearful eyes: “Then why didn’t he tell me?”

“It must be something very important, otherwise he wouldn’t have left in the middle of the night, not even staying to celebrate New Year’s Eve with you. We all know how much he loves you,” Ye Qingyu said.

Little An’an couldn’t help but feel wronged, sobbing: “Then… why didn’t he even write me a letter?”

“Qi Country is too far, cloud cranes are too slow…” Ye Qingyu raised her head, trying to keep her voice calm: “Wait a few more days, the letter should arrive soon.”

The battle between the True Persons above the Long River naturally attracted Ye Lingxiao’s attention.

The closest section of the Long River wasn’t too far from Yun Country’s border.

He had been paying attention to the Long River all along.

And the battle between True Persons of this era had far-reaching consequences.

How Zhuang Gao Xian fought to the death with others was of no concern to him.

Except for watching with a cold eye, he would not offer any concern.

But that direction… Zhuang Gao Xian was clearly chasing after Jiang Wang, so how could a battle between True Persons have erupted?

By the time Ye Lingxiao personally arrived, the battle was already over.

From the remnants, it could be seen that both sides had been restrained, probably only exchanging a few fierce blows, recognizing each other’s strength, and then ceasing hostilities.

Now that he had arrived, he could only sense the remaining aura of the battle. Part of it was related to the Buddhist faith.

Did that youth named Jiang Wang have such complex connections behind him? That a Buddhist expert was willing to stand up for him, even at the risk of a battle between True Persons.

He thought he had already given Jiang Wang high regard, but he hadn’t expected Jiang Wang to bring him new surprises.

Perhaps…

Ye Lingxiao looked at the surging Long River and flicked his fingers.

A pebble silently condensed, falling straight down from the sky, emitting a sharp whistling sound.

It crashed into the water, parting the flow, and smashed all the way to the bottom before stopping.

Deep ripples spread out in circles.

The water level has risen again, he thought.