Chapter 289: Threatening Me with This?

“Aunt, Ye Chen killed the Champion King for Li Feihuang,” An Yuyi said, her voice tinged with worry. “He’s shown such strength—there’s no way a woman like Li Feihuang would let him go. What if he decides not to come back?”

Atop Quiet Wonder Peak, An Yuyi sat at a jade table, her elbows propped on the stone surface, her expression a mix of exhaustion and unease.

Before her, a figure cloaked in ethereal grace stood within a pavilion. Dressed in flowing white robes, her silhouette was soft and dreamlike, her curves veiled in a haze of elegance. Turning her stunning face, she shook her head gently. “He said he’d return, so he will.”

An Yuyi fidgeted, unconvinced. “What if he only comes back to say goodbye, grab his things, and leave for good?”

Ye Chen’s reputation as a prodigy had spread like wildfire. The Champion King, capable of overpowering Nascent Soul cultivators, was already a marvel. Yet Ye Chen, a full minor realm below him, had crushed him with ease. It was almost absurdly impressive.

The sect master, upon hearing the news, had visited multiple times to check if Ye Chen had returned. She’d even instructed Gu Yunyun that if Ye Chen was willing, he could be made a full elder of the Divine Will Sect—any position he desired was his for the taking. A prodigy like him would be fought over by countless factions.

An Yuyi’s anxiety was palpable.

An Miaoli, her flawless face serene, responded calmly, “All banquets must end eventually.”

But An Yuyi lacked such composure. Ye Chen had finally forgiven her, even gifting her a sense of home. Her heart brimmed with hope for the future. If he left now, those dreams would shatter. Her lively eyes turned to her aunt.

Everyone could see Ye Chen’s feelings for An Miaoli. He’d even given her a fragment of an immortal scripture—a treasure beyond measure. If their relationship deepened, surely he’d stay.

“Aunt,” An Yuyi ventured, her lashes fluttering with anticipation, “why don’t you form a Dao partnership with Ye Chen?”

An Miaoli’s calm wavered. A Dao partnership with Ye Chen? Impossible. He was the man her niece admired. For her, as an aunt, to pair with him—what would that even mean?

As for the moments she’d shared with Ye Chen? Those were for Yuyi’s sake, born of necessity. She had no regrets, her conscience clear.

But An Yuyi pressed on, earnest. “I’m serious, Aunt. If you and Ye Chen became Dao partners, he’d definitely stay. I know about… what happened between you two. You don’t need to worry about me. Just don’t let that awful Li Feihuang steal him away.”

An Miaoli had always been aloof with men, never sparing them a second glance or seeking their aid. Yet with Ye Chen, her demeanor softened. She’d even taken him to hunt a Wind-Thunder Jiao together.

An Yuyi had noticed and sensed her aunt’s feelings. Far from being upset, she was thrilled. If her aunt and Ye Chen became partners, An Miaoli’s affection for her niece would ensure Yuyi could easily join their circle, perhaps with a few whispered words in Ye Chen’s ear.

An Miaoli’s expression shifted slightly. Yuyi knew about her and Ye Chen? How?

When she’d helped Ye Chen purge his poison, she’d been careful to avoid Yuyi. There was no way she’d been seen. Could it be that some lingering aura or a stray trace—perhaps something in her hair—had betrayed her?

The thought of Yuyi witnessing her detoxifying Ye Chen made An Miaoli, who always held her head high with a clear conscience, feel a rare pang of guilt.

As for Yuyi’s suggestion of a Dao partnership, she should have shut it down immediately with a stern rebuke. But in that moment, she found herself at a loss for words.

“Greetings, Elder Ye!”

“Elder Ye, you’re back!”

“When you have time, Elder Ye, let’s have a gathering. A few other elders would love to get to know you better.”

Upon returning to the Divine Will Sect, Ye Chen was met with a wave of enthusiastic greetings from the elders. Their warmth was a stark contrast to the past, when they’d treated him with polite indifference. Back then, he was just a guest elder, hardly worth their attention.

But the cultivation world revered strength, and Ye Chen’s exploits in the Great Chu Empire had clearly made their way back. A prodigy like him was someone they all wanted to build ties with.

Brushing off their pleasantries with a few polite words, Ye Chen flew straight toward Quiet Wonder Peak.

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This journey back, even with his hastened pace, had taken a full twenty days. The Nether Poison and his other affliction had flared up simultaneously, demanding urgent treatment. He only hoped Senior An wasn’t in seclusion.

As he arrived at Quiet Wonder Peak, he spotted An Miaoli standing at the summit, gazing out at the sea of clouds rolling gently before her. Her long hair danced in the breeze, her beauty flawless and almost otherworldly.

Sensing his presence, An Miaoli looked up. The red mole at the center of her forehead glimmered faintly, and though her eyes remained calm, a subtle spark of joy flickered within them.

“You’re back?” she asked.

“Yes, I’m back,” Ye Chen replied, stepping to her side.