C10 Parents

The Ye family resided in the southeast corner of Ridge South Town, nestled against the backdrop of Jun Mountain. Their estate was expansive and majestic.

"After a thousand years, I can finally reunite with my parents. I wonder how they've been faring?" Ye Han mused.

As he gazed upon the robust and powerful characters for "Ye Mansion" above the entrance, and the two massive stone lions guarding the gate, a sense of nervousness unexpectedly washed over him.

With a creak, Ye Han pushed open the heavy wooden door with trepidation and stepped inside. The first sight that greeted him was an elderly man, bent with age, sweeping the courtyard. Swallowing hard, he called out, "Mr. Zhong, how have you been?"

Mr. Zhong's body tensed, and he lifted his dim eyes, searching for the source of the voice. Upon recognizing Ye Han, he gasped, "Young Master, you... Why have you returned? Shouldn't you be studying in the mountains?"

"I've been missing my parents terribly," Ye Han replied with a smile. "I requested a few days' leave from my mentor. I can't linger here for too long."

"It's good to have you back. When the Master insisted on sending you to that academy, I was deeply reluctant to see you go," Mr. Zhong admitted, nodding. "The Master is currently out handling affairs, but the Madam is in the backyard. I'll take you to her now. She will be overjoyed to see you."

"Actually, Mr. Zhong, could you please fetch Doctor Liu first? This child's life hangs by a thread; we mustn't delay. We'll be waiting for you in the backyard," Ye Han urged.

Mr. Zhong, already frail from age and overwhelmed with joy at Ye Han's return, had failed to notice the child cradled in Ye Han's arms.

Upon seeing the child, Mr. Zhong erupted in anger, "That scoundrel, how could he be so cruel? I'm off to find Doctor Liu this instant."

Watching Mr. Zhong's stooped figure hurry away, a surge of warmth filled Ye Han's heart. Taking a deep breath, he carried the young girl towards the backyard.

The backyard served as the Ye family's residential area, bustling with familiar faces. Ye Han, eager to see his mother, exchanged brief pleasantries with those he encountered. After a series of pauses and exchanges, he finally reached the entrance of a particular courtyard.

After steadying his slightly anxious heart, Ye Han, cradling the young girl, hastened into the Ye Mansion. In the southeast corner of the courtyard, a stunning woman in light blue attire was tending to the flowers with a watering can. She appeared to be in her thirties, radiantly beautiful yet with a furrowed brow that hinted at deeper concerns.

Ye Han's eyes welled up as he called out, his voice shaking, "Mother, Han has come back to see you!"

At his words, the woman shuddered, the watering can slipping from her grasp. She looked up, her eyes brimming with disbelief, and stammered, "Han... is it really you, Han? It's been three years, and you've grown so much. You must have endured many hardships."

Handing the girl over to a maid, Ye Han rushed into his mother's arms, sobbing uncontrollably, "Mother, I've missed you so terribly!"

In his previous life, Ye Han had wandered the continent for ten years, achieving modest success, only to return and find that he could never again see his parents—leaving behind nothing but a barren grave and a few desolate crows.

At this moment, his longing for his mother was genuine, not born of dependency.

Ye's mother, looking at him with a mixture of amusement and affection, said, "Look at you, crying like a little boy. You're sixteen now! If your father sees this, he'll surely say that a doting mother makes for a spoiled child." She lovingly caressed Ye Han's hair, her eyes filled with adoration.

Ye Han basked in the warmth of his mother's presence and chuckled, "I'm not crying. Where's Father now?"

"Oh, he's always so busy, but he'll be home any minute," Ye's mother replied, pausing before adding, "Han, how did that girl get so severely injured?"

Ye Han recounted the incident from the street, his voice tinged with indignation, "I saw how pitiful the girl was and couldn't help but bring her home."

His mother, ever compassionate, saw the girl's battered state and immediately instructed the maid to take her inside. She then personally fetched some warm water to clean the girl's wounds, momentarily forgetting about Ye Han.

Standing to the side, Ye Han watched his mother's worried expression and quickly reassured her, "Mother, please don't worry. I've sent Mr. Zhong to fetch the esteemed Doctor Liu."

As soon as the words were out of his mouth, Mr. Zhong and Godly Doctor Liu hurried into the room.

After a thorough examination, Godly Doctor Liu's expression softened, and he reassured everyone, "Luckily, it's only a superficial wound. A few days of rest should do the trick!"

Upon hearing this, Ye Han was riddled with doubts. How could a child, after being roughed up by three grown men, sustain only minor injuries? It was quite peculiar.

Could it be that Zhang Hu had pulled his punches?

But Ye Han had witnessed the event and hadn't sensed any restraint from Zhang Hu.

Was there something unusual about this girl?

With this thought, a chill ran down Ye Han's spine, and he quickly turned his attention to the bed, scrutinizing the girl closely.

She was small and skinny, with limbs as thin as twigs, and looked to be about six or seven years old. Her clothing was ragged and smeared with dirt, resembling a little beggar who had been exposed to the elements, with nothing outwardly suspicious about her.

Could she be a powerful old creature in disguise?

But the Ye family was a minor clan; how could they possibly draw the attention of such a formidable being?

None of it added up!

Ye Han placed his hand on the girl's wrist, channeling his Spiritual Energy to probe further, only to find her body devoid of any cultivation signs.

Was it all just a fluke?

Who was this girl, and what secrets did her body hold?

...

Ye Han's thoughts were in turmoil. He even considered casting the girl out of the Ye Mansion to fend for herself.

The mystery surrounding her was enough to instill a sense of fear in him.

But he quickly dismissed the idea, knowing his mother's compassionate nature would never allow such an act.

Clearing his mind of these uncertainties, Ye Han entertained a new theory. Perhaps Zhang Hu had a moment of conscience and hadn't truly intended to harm the girl. After all, there was nothing outwardly unusual about her from head to toe.

"What does her identity matter? Based on my memories from a past life, there's no formidable power targeting the Ye family. Perhaps the girl's constitution is naturally unique."

Ye Han shook his head, deciding not to fixate on the issue any longer.

With a deep sigh, Ye's mother said, "Oh, Doctor Liu, could you prescribe some medicine for healing? The child is frail, and we must be meticulous in his care."

Upon receiving the instructions, Doctor Liu began to write out the prescription.

Once everything was arranged, Ye's mother led Ye Han to the hall and sat down with a smile. "Han, how's the food at the Cloud Facing Pavilion?" she asked.

Gazing at his mother, whose eyes were filled with concern, Ye Han put aside his earlier troubles and replied with a smile, "Everything's fine, Mother. There's no need to worry."

Ye's mother's expression grew solemn as she sighed, "Han, even though our cultivation is weak, we mustn't wallow in self-pity. Life is full of other pursuits."

"Just remember, when your father scolds you later, don't talk back. Go along with his wishes; he only wants what's best for you."

Clearly, his mother was aware of Ye Han's struggles with opening his meridians at the Cloud Facing Pavilion and suspected that he might have been expelled.

That explained her previous remarks.

Realizing his mother's misunderstanding, Ye Han felt a mix of amusement and frustration as he clarified, "Mother, I haven't been expelled from the Cloud Facing Pavilion. In fact, I've successfully opened my meridians. My mentor even granted me leave to come home and share the good news."

At Ye Han's explanation, Ye's mother paused, a wave of happiness washing over her as she exclaimed, "That's wonderful, truly wonderful! I always knew you'd make something of yourself, Han. You haven't disappointed me."

"Han, what brings you home?"

Just then, a resonant voice echoed from outside, robust and commanding.

Turning his attention to the entrance, Ye Han saw a slender man striding in with a couple of companions. His features were sharp, with bushy eyebrows, large eyes, and a thick mustache lending him an air of natural authority.

This was Ye Han's father, Ye Yuvdao, a formidable practitioner at the Spirit Martial Stage Level Six and the current head of the Ye family.

Gazing at the figure that was all too familiar, now merging with the people in his memories, Ye Han's heart swelled with a tumult of emotions, and he couldn't help but get choked up, "Father, I have returned!"

Ye Yuvdao scrutinized Ye Han with a tense expression, his tone stern, "What's there to cry about? You're acting disgracefully. As long as you persevere, opening your meridians will certainly not be an obstacle for my son."

Ye's mother interjected quickly, "Yuvdao, you're being too hard on Han. He has already opened his meridians, and the Cloud Facing Pavilion has even granted him leave."

Ye Yuvdao paused, taken aback, then gave Ye Han a reassuring pat on the shoulder. A father's love is profound and often hard to express; a simple gesture, yet it conveyed a world of meaning. "You're truly my son, Han. Forgive me for my earlier harshness. There isn't a father in the world who doesn't love their child. But I don't want you to be weak or incompetent. No matter the challenge, as a man, you must stand firm and never retreat."

Ye Han, looking at his parents standing before him, felt a deep sense of contentment. Even if they had punished him without reason, he harbored no resentment. With a smile, he responded, "I will always remember your guidance, Father."

Pleased, Ye Yuvdao nodded and turned to his attendants, "Spread the word at once. Tonight, the Ye family will host a banquet. Invite all our friends and relatives. I want them to see what kind of son Ye Yuvdao has raised."

Ye Han watched his father with a heart full of warmth, thinking to himself, "Father, in my past life, I couldn't share my accomplishments with you. This time around, I will carve out a renowned name for myself in Auspicious Cloud City and make you proud."

The family shared their heartfelt emotions within the comfort of their home. Ye Han felt an unprecedented sense of ease, often gazing at his parents, lost in thought. His mother's kindness and his father's strictness finally allowed him to experience the true warmth of home.