Chapter Fifty-Five: Old Man Ye Min's Arrangements

Father Ye Min’s decision struck Ye Guo as quite inappropriate, but Ye Min was a man of unparalleled stubbornness; once he made up his mind, not even nine oxen could drag him back. Yet Ye Min dared to make such a choice because he had his own confidence.

With the three drops of spirit milk given to him by Ye Yun, he would soon be able to advance to the Golden Core stage. Coupled with his status as an alchemist, his standing would rise dramatically—even the Prefect, Ye Haiyi, would pale in comparison. A Golden Core cultivator who was also an alchemist ranked among the top experts in the entire Holy Dragon Dynasty; countless noble families would strive to win him over, so there was no need to fear the Xu family’s revenge.

Ye Min was genuinely fond of Ye Yun, believing he would achieve great things in the future. Su Xue was his only precious granddaughter, and nothing would please him more than to bring these two young people together.

Before the next day arrived, that very afternoon, Ye Guo and Lu Mei were sent home by Ye Min, while Lu Su Xue was kept behind, lest she be used by the Lu family as a stepping stone to the Xu family’s lofty branch.

Ye Yun was at home, immersed in the study of alchemy, when a young girl in a snow-white dress, ethereal as a fairy, suddenly visited.

“Um… are you Ye Yun?” Meeting the young man her grandfather praised so highly for the first time, Lu Su Xue’s cheeks bloomed with shy red, making her somewhat uneasy.

Ye Yun was momentarily stunned, then recovered and nodded, asking in confusion, “And you are?”

“I’m Elder Ye Min’s granddaughter, Lu Su Xue. Grandfather is going to refine pills soon, so he asked me to stay at your house for a while.” As she spoke, Su Xue’s shyness deepened.

There was another reason, which she dared not mention—that her grandfather wanted her to spend more time with Ye Yun, so they could develop feelings…

“Oh, so you’re the elder’s granddaughter. Please, come in.” Ye Yun smiled, unaware that Ye Min had already arranged a marriage for him.

Learning that Elder Ye Min’s granddaughter would be staying for a few days, Ye Zili and Liu Shuyun had no objections. When they saw Su Xue’s beauty, akin to a celestial maiden and roughly Ye Yun’s age, they were astonished and began to understand the elder’s intentions.

Thus, Su Xue’s quarters were arranged right beside Ye Yun’s.

“Elder Ye Min is truly good to our Yun,” Ye Zili said, his mood joyous.

“Yes, Ye Qian’s situation has surely wounded Yun’s heart to some extent. If he could be joined with Su Xue, it would be a fortunate thing.” Liu Shuyun smiled as well.

Ye Yun did not think much of his father’s request to help Su Xue settle in. She was indeed a stunning beauty, her radiance far eclipsing Ye Qian’s, like fireflies against the moon. Yet his mind was wholly devoted to cultivation, and matters of romance did not interest him in the slightest.

“Alright, you’ll be staying here. If you need anything, just call me.” The room was quickly tidied, and Ye Yun spoke briefly before returning to his own chamber to continue his study of flame control and the Jade Dragon Pill Formula.

“He’s quite good-looking, and his gaze is clear—much better than that second son of the Xu family,” Su Xue thought as she watched Ye Yun depart. Her first impression was favorable.

Truthfully, Su Xue was curious about Ye Yun, whom her grandfather praised so endlessly. At fourteen, she had never experienced romantic feelings; curiosity and a bit of longing stirred in her heart, so she did not object to her grandfather’s arrangement.

Of course, a good impression did not mean she liked Ye Yun; whether they could truly become close would depend on their future interactions.

Thus, Su Xue remained in Cloudwater City.

As the Lu family’s little princess and Elder Ye Min’s own granddaughter, the Ye clan naturally placed great importance on her.

Therefore, led by Ye Peng, the Prefect’s eldest disciple, the outstanding youths of the Ye clan gathered in Cloudwater City for a small gathering.

The purpose was clear: to foster ties between the Ye clan’s younger generation and Su Xue. If someone could win the princess’s heart, it would be another blessing for the clan.

That morning, Ye Yun pushed open his door, breathed in the fresh air, then leaped smoothly into the courtyard. His muscles sang as he landed without disturbing a single mote of dust, displaying the finesse of his movement.

Even while immersed in alchemy, he never neglected his daily cultivation. Having followed his master from childhood, it had become a habit.

He practiced the Totem Battle Technique—his movements like a dragon, his strikes like a tiger, his lunges like a phoenix, his seals like a tortoise, his steps like an elephant, his sprints like a wolf, his arm extensions like a roc…

Of the nine Totem Techniques, only the ninth, the Qilin, eluded him.

Among divine beasts, Qilin symbolized nobility. Only those in high positions and possessing a noble aura could master this technique. Ye Yun, as he was now, could not hope to achieve it.

Su Xue, living next door, stepped out and happened upon Ye Yun practicing.

“What technique is that? It looks so much more refined than our Lu family’s Seven Waves.” Su Xue was amazed.

“Bang! Bang! Bang!”

Just then, someone knocked on the door of Rain Pavilion.

Ye Yun paused, spotted Su Xue, nodded with a smile, and went to open the door.

Even before reaching it, his spiritual sense extended to identify the visitor.

“Do you need something?” Ye Yun asked coolly, gazing at the woman outside.

It was Ye Qian, dressed in her usual fiery red gown, though some things could never be the same again…

Seeing Ye Yun’s expressionless face, Ye Qian felt a pang she could not describe.

“Are you still angry with me?” she suddenly asked.

“Why should I be angry?” Ye Yun’s face relaxed into a faint smile. “Did you come here for something?”

The past was behind him; Ye Yun had long let it go.

“I heard the Lu family’s little princess, Su Xue, is staying at your house?” Ye Qian asked abruptly.

“Ye Yun, is someone here to see me?…” Hearing her name mentioned, Su Xue came to the door, peeking out from behind Ye Yun.

Su Xue, who visited Elder Ye Min every year, knew Ye Qian as his disciple. Seeing Su Xue after more than a year, Ye Qian was momentarily stunned.

“Su Xue, you’re so beautiful—like a fairy…” she exclaimed.

“So it’s Sister Ye Qian!” Su Xue recognized her as well.

“You two chat,” Ye Yun said quietly, turning to return to his room.