After a moment, Zhou Wen slowly raised his head. All the dejection in his eyes vanished, replaced once more by the composure and majesty befitting a City Lord.
Recalling Aunt Lin's previous report, he spoke in a deep voice.
“That day, dozens of bandits with decent cultivation had surrounded Jinyun's carriage. In that desperate situation, Young Friend Ye instantly killed them all with just a single flash of sword light.”
“To kill so cleanly and decisively, her cultivation must be above the Xiantian Realm.”
“Even I might not have been able to do so with such ease.”
“Looking at the entire Qingyun Kingdom, there are very few geniuses of such a young age with such superb swordsmanship.”
“I would venture that nine times out of ten, Young Friend Ye comes from the Qinglan Sword Sect.”
Ye Ruoqing frowned slightly and agreed softly, “That is highly likely.”
A trace of complexity flickered in her eyes as she continued, “However, Young Friend Ye has a cold and aloof temperament, making her seem difficult to approach.”
“Yet she is exceptionally gentle toward Jinyun. And Jinyun has admired the Jianghu since she was a child.”
“Now that she has witnessed the style of a true expert firsthand and accompanied such a genius, I fear she will never be content to be confined to a single city again.”
...
The night was deep, and the guest room was bathed in the warm glow of lamplight.
Ye Ling walked slowly into the room, with the small figure behind her following all the way.
She knew Zhou Jinyun was quietly tailing her, but she did not speak to break the silence.
Only after closing the door did she turn around and speak. “Jinyun, why are you still following me?”
“It is late. You should go back and rest.”
Hearing this, Zhou Jinyun, who had been keeping her head down with her thoughts in a tangle, finally raised her face slowly.
Her clear eyes were shrouded in a faint layer of confusion and loss.
Looking at Ye Ling, she asked softly, “Sister Ye, is power... really that alluring?”
Without waiting for Ye Ling's reply, she continued on her own, her voice soft.
“My brother used to be the most dazzling young genius of Tianfeng City.”
“I was still small back then, and my brother was extremely good to me. Every time he went out to train, he would bring back beautiful little trinkets for me.”
“When he returned, he would sit in the courtyard and tell me about the vastness of the Jianghu and the grandeur of the mountains and rivers.”
“He was the one who planted the seed of the Jianghu in my heart, making me yearn for a free and untrammeled life from a young age.”
At this point, Zhou Jinyun's voice trembled slightly, and her eyes welled with tears.
“But not long after, my brother was ambushed while training outside. His cultivation was crippled, and his left leg was broken.”
“Since then, he changed completely. He locked himself in his small courtyard and did not step outside for ten whole years.”
“The brother who used to dote on me the most... I barely saw him a handful of times over those ten years.”
“Actually, I've always understood in my heart that the biggest reason my parents stop me from stepping into the Jianghu is because of my brother.”
“They are afraid I will repeat his mistakes.”
She pursed her lips tightly, her eyes red and her nose stinging.
“But I really never expected... my uncle and aunt watched me grow up since I was a child.”
“They were always so gentle and kind to me, yet in the end, just for the position of City Lord, they didn't hesitate to hire assassins to intercept and kill me.”
“I never even wanted to inherit Tianfeng City!”
“Even though my parents brought it up to me in private countless times, I always felt that this city and this position would forever belong to my brother.”
Zhou Jinyun raised her eyes to look at Ye Ling. The naive innocence in her eyes gradually faded, replaced by an unprecedented determination.
“But now, I think I have completely changed my mind.”
“If my brother can never come back, then I will no longer wait for him to pull himself together.”
“I will be the City Lord myself.”
She took a deep breath, suppressing the moisture in her eyes.
“I will cultivate diligently, grow strong, protect my parents, and guard this Tianfeng City.”
Ye Ling quietly listened to the young girl's heartfelt confession, watching the innocence in her eyes give way to resolve.
She reached out and gently patted the top of Zhou Jinyun's head, her voice clear and gentle.
“It is good that you have such a state of mind and resolve.”
“But you do not need to force yourself to shoulder everything. Just follow your own heart.”
“Choose what you desire, and do what you wish.”
“Whether you ultimately head into the Jianghu or stay to guard the city, your family will always stand behind you.”
The gentle words smoothed away all the bitterness and confusion in Zhou Jinyun's heart.
She nodded vigorously, her eyes shining clean and pure.
She bowed slightly to Ye Ling to take her leave in earnest. Just as she turned to go, she suddenly stopped and looked back.
The moonlight filtered through the window lattice, illuminating her clean features, which were filled with sincerity and gratitude.
“Sister Ling, the thing I am most grateful for in this life is meeting you on my journey home.”
“Thank you for saving my life, and thank you for waking me up.”
With those words, she said no more. With a light expression, she turned and walked away quickly, disappearing into the dark corridor.
Quiet returned to the guest room.
At dawn the next day, the morning light was warm and gentle.
To thank Ye Ling for saving their daughter's life, Zhou Wen and Ye Ruoqing went out of their way to personally cook and prepare a family feast.
Yesterday, they had asked Zhou Jinyun to find out Ye Ling's taste preferences. Only after learning that she had no dietary restrictions did they feel at ease preparing the meal.
The dishes on the table were simple in appearance, steaming hot and richly fragrant, carrying their most sincere feelings and the warmth of home.
There was no one else at this family feast; it was a simple gathering of just the four of them. The atmosphere was quiet and gentle, entirely free of any polite, distant, official pretenses.
The meal was peaceful and comforting.
After the meal, Ye Ruoqing took out an exquisite storage bag from her bosom.
Holding it solemnly with both hands, she presented it to Ye Ling. “Young Friend Ye, if not for your rescue this time, Jinyun would certainly not have escaped death.”
“You have given our Zhou family a new lease on life. This humble gift is a small token of my husband's and my gratitude. You absolutely must not refuse it.”
Seeing the sincerity filling the couple's eyes, Ye Ling did not engage in excessive politeness or refusal. She calmly accepted it and put it away.
Seeing Ye Ling accept the thank-you gift, the three of them breathed a sigh of relief at the same time, genuine smiles appearing on their faces.
Zhou Wen pondered for a moment before speaking at the opportune time. “Young Friend Ye, I know your swordsmanship is transcendent and your foundation is profound. You are definitely no ordinary rogue cultivator.”
“With your age and such stunning swordsmanship, you must hail from a top cultivation sect in the Qingyun Kingdom.”
Hearing this, Ye Ling did not make a conscious effort to hide it. “I come from the Qinglan Sword Sect.”
Zhou Wen and Ye Ruoqing exchanged a glance, thinking to themselves, As expected.
Beside them, Zhou Jinyun was dumbfounded. Since she had been obsessed with the Jianghu since childhood, she naturally knew that the Qinglan Sword Sect was the leader of the four major sects.
She had not expected Sister Ye to hail from the legendary sacred ground of the sword path. Instantly, her eyes shone like stars.
“Sister Ye, you're actually a disciple of the Qinglan Sword Sect? That is so amazing!”
Ye Ruoqing took the opportunity to ask softly, “May I ask, Young Friend Ye, is your departure from the sect this time for worldly training?”
“Do you have other arrangements afterward?”
Her tone was gentle. “If you will still be traveling around the Yun'an Commandery area, feel free to speak up if there is anything Tianfeng City can help with.”
“Although our Tianfeng City is not overly powerful, we still hold some sway in Yun'an Commandery.”
“Indeed, Young Friend Ye, if there is anything you need help with, just say the word,” Zhou Wen added.
Hearing this, Ye Ling finally spoke softly, “Since the City Lord and Madam are so enthusiastic, I do indeed have a favor to ask of you both.”
Zhou Wen and Ye Ruoqing exchanged a glance.
“Young Friend Ye, please feel free to speak.”
Rate on N.U.
