Chapter 88: Chapter 88: Letter from the Ye Family
...
In the blink of an eye, a few more days passed.
It had been half a month since the Imperial City had relocated.
At the Lingyun Sect, inside the Drunken Ink Residence.
Under the night sky, a beautiful melody echoed.
Qu Luoning arrived, and during this period, she successfully cultivated the "Phoenix’s Song of Nine Heavens" that Ji Chen had given her.
This was an Earth Tier Martial Technique, capable of killing with an invisible melody.
However, at this moment, Qu Luoning did not use spiritual power to pluck the strings, and the beautiful melody was devoid of any hidden killing intent.
Soon, the song ended, but the melody lingered in Ji Chen’s mind.
After a long while, he snapped out of it, "It truly deserves to be an Earth Tier level score. Even without using spiritual power to strike the strings, the melody alone is mesmerizing. Phoenix’s Song of Nine Heavens, it truly lives up to its name."
"Two days ago, I happened to have a breakthrough, and now I’ve reached the Seventh Layer of the Spirit Transformation Realm. With this Earth Tier Martial Technique, I should be able to contend with ordinary Ninth Layer Spirit Transformation Realm experts, and even some First Layer Returning Ruins Realm masters might not dare withstand this invisible melody’s lethal attack," Qu Luoning said.
"You mentioned before that if you succeeded in cultivating this technique, you would give me a grand gift?"
Ji Chen spoke, looking at her, "I wonder what it is?"
Qu Luoning was silent, sitting in front of the zither for a moment. Suddenly, she plucked her fingers lightly, forming a restriction with spiritual power that enveloped the entire Drunken Ink Residence.
Ji Chen was startled by this, but then he saw her rise and walk towards him.
Under the moonlight, the Eldest Princess, dressed in a snow-white dress tonight, appeared particularly ethereal, like a fairy from the Moon Palace, her elegance unmatched and unbelievably beautiful.
Ji Chen was somewhat mesmerized, feeling that the Eldest Princess tonight was quite different from usual.
Alluring, mysteriously captivating.
The long dress fell from her body, like frost hitting the ground, revealing a perfect physique before Ji Chen.
"After tonight, I will leave Chu Kingdom. Off to Kunlun, who knows when we will meet again. During those fifteen years in the Saint’s Dojo, did you ever have feelings for me?" she asked, looking directly at Ji Chen.
No words were spoken, Ji Chen met her gaze, difficult to articulate his feelings.
Fifteen years was a long time, but the two of them had come through it together.
In those monotonous fifteen years, many things happened. To say he had no feelings for Qu Luoning would be a lie.
"I know it’s wrong, especially since you once had an engagement with Qingcheng’s younger sister, but I don’t want... to leave with regrets."
Before Ji Chen could respond, her jade arms already embraced him.
...
Until early the next morning, the restriction enveloping the entire Drunken Ink Residence dissipated.
"The next time we meet, I hope you will be a formidable presence in Beiyou. I will wait for you in Kunlun." Outside the courtyard, she said with a smile, releasing Ji Chen’s hand, and walked alone down the mountain.
Ji Chen watched her leave, only retracting his gaze after a long while, a bitter smile appearing, "Becoming Kunlun’s son-in-law won’t be easy. It seems I need to work harder to improve my cultivation."
Qu Luoning’s journey to Kunlun would undoubtedly earn her focused training there, and by that time, the disparity in status between them would be incomparably vast, even greater than the gap he once had with Liu Qingcheng.
After all, as one of the oldest Sacred Lands in Beiyou, there’s no doubt about Kunlun’s strength, with its deep foundations exceeding the common people’s understanding.
It’s said that in the distant Ancient Era, Kunlun even had Ancient Emperor Level experts who once dominated the world, true unparalleled rulers of that era.
"Junior Brother, there’s a letter for you."
As Ji Chen was contemplating this and planned to turn back to the Drunken Ink Residence, Fang Qingyao approached from not too far away.
"A letter?"
Ji Chen was momentarily stunned upon hearing this, "What letter?"
"It seems to be... from the Ye Family over there," Fang Qingyao said.
"The Ye Family!"
Upon hearing this, Ji Chen’s brow furrowed immediately.
He took the letter from Fang Qingyao, flipped it open, and found that the writer was Ye Yunge.
The Ye Family, located in ’Bicheng’ in the Cloud Domain of Beiyou.
This letter from Ye Yunge mentioned the upcoming grand birthday celebration of the Ye Family patriarch, inviting heroes from all over to gather in Bicheng.
This was Ye Yunge’s invitation and not from the Ye Family.
Clearly, to the Ye Family, Ji Chen and his father were a taboo subject.
Some clansmen might be aware, but they never dared to mention it.
Especially with the patriarch’s grand birthday, inviting them, father and son, was completely out of the question.
"This Ye Yunge, making such a decision on his own, is quite interesting..."
Ji Chen narrowed his eyes.
This Ye Family patriarch, named Ye Huai, was the most renowned figure in the current Ye Family.
In terms of seniority, he was Ye Jinglan’s father and Ji Chen’s grandfather!
It’s said that back in the day, it was Ye Huai who vehemently opposed the matter between Ye Jinglan and Ji Xiaotian and had her forcibly brought back to the Ye Family.
Since then, Ji Chen and his father had no further contact with Ye Jinglan.
"Almost twenty years..."
Ji Chen gazed into the distant sky, "This matter must eventually be resolved. Visiting the Ye Family in Bicheng... why not?"
Fang Qingyao spoke, "What about the Master..."
"With my father’s temperament, even if he knew about this, he wouldn’t likely accompany me. As long as the Ye Family doesn’t acknowledge him and my mother’s affair, Father will never set foot in Bicheng. As for visiting the Ye Family, I’ll go alone," Ji Chen said.
"The Cloud Domain might be adjacent to the Profound Domain, but the distance between the two is still considerable. On the way, passing through the Great Wilderness, there might be demon beast attacks. Moreover, going to Bicheng, with Junior Brother’s identity, appearing in the Ye Family could certainly cause trouble. Perhaps Senior Ao could accompany?" Fang Qingyao suggested.
Ji Chen nodded.
Speaking of which, Nangong Ao had been trapped in the Saint’s Dojo for many years and finally managed to get free.
Recently, Ji Chen had met him several times, and Nangong Ao had mentioned wanting an opportunity to travel around.
The former Nangong Ao possessed Void Realm strength, comparable to many of today’s top magnates. Even the current Kunlun Saint Master was just at this level, demonstrating that Nangong Ao was once a renowned figure.
Though he’s a figure from thousands of years ago, most of his old friends are likely no longer around, but their legacies remain. Nangong Ao had expressed several times the desire to visit the descendants of these old friends.
This journey to the Cloud Domain might interest Nangong Ao as a companion.
"The Ye Family in the Cloud Domain, huh..."
Soon, Ji Chen located Nangong Ao and informed him of the matter, to which Nangong Ao responded with a smile, "Speaking of which, I had some dealings with the Ye Family in my day."
"Oh?" Ji Chen was curious.
"Back when I was about to explore the Ancient Ruins of Emperor Ye, I accidentally learned that the Ye Family were descendants of Emperor Ye, so I intended to borrow the Mysterious Iron Halberd from them to facilitate my exploration."
"But that’s a Holy Weapon. The Ye Family wouldn’t likely agree to that, right?" Ji Chen couldn’t help but ask.
Nangong Ao nodded, "Of course, they didn’t agree. So later on, I sneaked into the Ye Family intending to steal it, but I got discovered and was chased by them for at least a thousand miles."