Meanwhile, although Chen Yuyang had already returned to the Hehuan Sect, there were still some matters that needed his personal resolution.
Specifically, it was about that kid, Yan Huo.
The so-called Jia Lao, the ancient formation grandmaster, and even that ring—they were all fabrications Chen Yuyang had made up to achieve his goal.
He had merely communicated with the young man using a disguised, aged voice through spiritual contact from a distance.
He arranged it this way specifically to let Yan Huo draw the attention of the Qiankun Sect’s higher-ups, buying himself time and opportunity.
And judging by the current situation, the plan had worked extremely well.
Yan Huo should have already left Qiankun Sect’s territory safely and arrived in Wuji City.
Over the past two days, Chen Yuyang, in the guise of Jia Lao, had remotely taught him some suitable cultivation techniques and a few books on formations from beginner to mastery.
After that, Chen Yuyang smoothly claimed that his soul power was depleted and he would completely dissipate.
At the moment of dissipation, Chen Yuyang clearly sensed Yan Huo crying his heart out.
Seeing how sorrowfully he wept, it seemed he had developed genuine feelings.
However, Chen Yuyang felt no guilt about this.
Although he had indeed used Yan Huo, the techniques and texts he gave him were real opportunities.
As long as Yan Huo could seize them, cultivate diligently, and study the relevant knowledge seriously, he would surely become a master of formations in the future, reaching heights he could never have dreamed of before.
This brief master-disciple relationship ended there.
After completely settling these matters, Chen Yuyang’s attention returned to the present.
At this moment, he had already returned to his own room.
Originally, Tai Lingxuan had said she would personally guide him in cultivation and also inform him of some details and precautions regarding the Heavenly Prodigy Ranking Battle.
But Chen Yuyang knew exactly what Tai Lingxuan’s ulterior motives were for keeping him there, so he made an excuse and came back first.
Familiar room, familiar environment, a faint fragrance in the air, making him feel extremely at ease.
Chen Yuyang sat down by the desk, enjoying this long-lost peace of solitude.
He hadn’t had this kind of tranquility—needing to think about nothing and do nothing—for quite some time.
Unfortunately, Chen Yuyang’s current life was destined not to be peaceful.
Soon, the stillness was broken.
Chen Yuyang frowned slightly, hearing footsteps and a young girl’s muttering from outside the courtyard.
“Yuyang, is this the courtyard he lives in?”
Yan Luo frowned, standing outside and looking around, muttering to herself: “This courtyard is so shabby. Is this right? That woman named Yiyi didn’t lie to me, did she?”
Chen Yuyang got up, opened the door, and stepped out, meeting Yan Luo’s gaze.
Seeing Chen Yuyang, Yan Luo’s face immediately lit up with surprise: “Yuyang, you’re really here!”
“Luobo, aren’t you resting? What do you want?” Chen Yuyang asked.
“I’m bored~”
Yan Luo stepped forward and squeezed into the room, continuing: “I’m not familiar with this Hehuan Sect, and you’re the only person I know, so of course I came to find you.”
‘Well, that makes sense.’
Chen Yuyang thought helplessly.
“But if you’re looking for a place to kill time, I’m afraid you’ll be disappointed. Our Hehuan Sect doesn’t have much in the way of entertainment.”
Chen Yuyang said.
“It’s fine, it’s fine.”
Yan Luo quickly waved her hand, her gaze constantly probing into the room behind the young man.
“I just wanted someone to talk to.”
Chen Yuyang saw that she was determined to come in, so he stopped blocking and stepped aside.
“Come in, the room is…” The young man had meant to be polite and say “the room is a bit messy.”
But the words died on his lips.
Only now did Chen Yuyang realize that this room, which he hadn’t returned to for a long time, was spotless.
The bedding was freshly washed, everything was neatly arranged, preserved exactly as it was when he left.
The only unfamiliar thing was… a bouquet of golden chrysanthemums placed on the windowsill, glittering in the sunlight.
Chen Yuyang was momentarily lost in thought, a strange feeling swelling in his heart.
Who had been cleaning his room all along?
His Shimei?
His senior sister?
Or Shizun?
“What’s wrong, Yuyang?”
Seeing the young man suddenly freeze, Yan Luo reached out and waved a hand, asking.
“Nothing.”
Chen Yuyang shook his head, suppressing the feeling in his heart.
Yan Luo then walked into the room with great interest, looking around and playing with a wooden ornament placed on the desk.
“Yuyang, did you grow up here?”
Yan Luo asked, looking at Chen Yuyang again, her eyes full of concern.
“Yes.”
Chen Yuyang nodded.
“I see that other parts of the Hehuan Sect have new courtyards. Why does yours look so old?”
Yan Luo pursued curiously, winking jokingly: “Is it because your Shizun is treating you differently on purpose?”
Chen Yuyang gave Yan Luo a slight glare.
“Don’t talk nonsense.”
But he knew Yan Luo was just joking, no ill intent.
“Do you have any books here?”
Yan Luo then sat down on the edge of the bed, her legs dangling, and asked again.
“What kind of books?”
“Just some miscellaneous books, like martial arts biographies, ghost stories, and such.”
Yan Luo propped her cheek, looking somewhat bored.
Chen Yuyang sat down on the chair opposite Yan Luo, thought for a moment, and said: “I do have a few books, but most of them are storybooks for kids.”
“For when you were little?”
Yan Luo’s eyes immediately lit up.
She was curious about everything about Chen Yuyang.
“No, for my Shimei.”
Chen Yuyang shook his head.
“Shimei? Is it Yun Lian?”
“No, it’s Ling Xi.”
“Ling Xi…” Yan Luo murmured softly, as if remembering something, then asked: “Is she that little Shimei who defeated you on the Martial Arena today?”
“Yes.”
“How come her storybooks are here with you?”
Yan Luo found it even stranger.
“I tell them to her, so it’s more convenient for the books to be here.”
Chen Yuyang said matter-of-factly.
Yan Luo’s face showed even more surprise.
“Why are you the one telling her stories?”
“I raised her, so naturally I tell her stories.”
As he answered, Chen Yuyang couldn’t help but recall some past events.
“When she first came to the Hehuan Sect, she was young, her family had suffered a tragedy. She was sensitive, fragile, and very shy. Usually, my senior sisters and I took turns looking after her. At night, when she couldn’t sleep, I would tell her stories to coax her to sleep.”
Yan Luo looked Chen Yuyang up and down.
“But Ling Xi seems to be older than you…”
Chen Yuyang smiled upon hearing this.
“Indeed, but I matured earlier.”
Yan Luo nodded in sudden understanding, finally realizing that they had such a history.
No wonder Chen Yuyang and his Shimei had such a good relationship.
“What about you?”
The girl blinked, even more curious about Chen Yuyang.
“I heard that Yuyang, you were abandoned outside the Shanmen of the Hehuan Sect… What was your childhood like? Have you ever thought about your biological parents, your family?”
Chen Yuyang couldn’t help but laugh at this, not a bitter laugh or a mocking laugh, but a heartfelt, relieved laugh.
His own parents?
Family?
If they really existed, they would be figures from hundreds of thousands of years ago, long turned to dust.
“Shizun, senior sisters, Shimei—they are my family.”
Chen Yuyang shook his head, put away his smile, and said seriously.
Seeing that the young man didn’t seem sad about his origins, Yan Luo pursued curiously: “Then… if one day, your biological parents suddenly showed up to claim you, would you acknowledge them?”
This girl… really knows how to pick topics… Chen Yuyang silently complained in his heart.
But he also knew that Yan Luo was just purely curious, no ill intent.
After thinking for a moment, Chen Yuyang replied: “I’ll decide when they actually show up.”
Yan Luo pursed her lips, clearly unsatisfied with this answer.
But… the girl paused, a blush suddenly spreading across her face, and her eyes became evasive, but she still mustered the courage to ask tentatively: “Then… Yuyang, do you want a real family?”
Seeing the confusion in Chen Yuyang’s eyes, the girl quickly added: “Of course, I don’t mean a family like this one now, but… but one day in the future, you marry a woman, have children, and build a family that belongs only to the two of you…”
After saying this, the girl’s cheeks were crimson, her eyes avoiding the young man’s gaze, but she couldn’t help stealing glances at his reaction.
Chen Yuyang was stunned.
He raised his head slightly and looked out the window.
Golden sunlight streamed through the window frame, casting light on his face.
That face was deep in thought.
To be honest, Chen Yuyang had never thought about these things.
Through a hundred reincarnations, his only goal and direction had been one—ascension.
So matters like settling down and starting a family had never been on his mind.
Even if the thought occasionally crossed his mind, he felt it was something to consider after ascension.
But now, in this life, he clearly realized that this was a choice he could no longer avoid.
Starting a family… A wife… Children…
These were things he had never possessed, yet they now felt incredibly real.
Because he was only one step away from all this, wasn’t he?
“What about you?”
Not knowing how to answer this question, Chen Yuyang lifted his head and asked the girl who had posed it.
Yan Luo was taken aback, blushing down to her ears.
“I… I’m too…”
Yan Luo had been about to say “too young for me.”
But the words stuck in her throat.
Looking at Chen Yuyang’s earnest, probing eyes, the girl bit her lip.
Her gaze quickly became firm.
Her voice was soft but resolute: “I… I do!”
Taking a deep breath, Yan Luo’s tone turned serious as she continued: “To be honest, Yuyang, my grandfather will be attempting the Tribulation Transcendence stage in a few years.”
“The heavenly tribulation of the Tribulation Transcendence stage is immensely powerful. My grandfather may not make it through… So before that, I must get married and have a son to inherit the position of family head.”
Chen Yuyang raised an eyebrow upon hearing this.
This was the first time he had learned of these inside details.
No wonder Yan Dangmo and Yan Luo had been so eager toward him…
In an instant, Chen Yuyang felt he understood a lot.
Because if he were Yan Dangmo, facing those pressures, he would probably be just as desperate.
“So, no matter who it is, I have to start a family… within these few years…”
Yan Luo lowered her eyelashes, her cute face now showing a hint of sadness.
Chen Yuyang slowly nodded, looking seriously at Yan Luo.
In a calm tone, he asked: “Then… is this what you want? To marry early, have a child… Is this what you desire yourself, or is it just out of helplessness?”
Yan Luo bit her lower lip hard, her lips turning pale.
“If… if it were anyone else…” the girl’s voice trembled, “I would be a thousand times unwilling, but I would have no choice but to accept…”
“But… but… if that person is… is…” Saying this, Yan Luo took a deep breath, abruptly lifted her head, and stared straight into Chen Yuyang’s eyes, fervent and focused.
“If it’s you…”
“I am willing!”
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