### Chapter 281: Senior Brother, Let’s Have a Heart-to-Heart Talk
The teacup exuded waves of fragrance. Ye Ao held his teacup with both hands and took a sip, then scrutinized the red-robed youth across the table.
He hadn’t thought much of it before, but these past two years, Ye Anping had been constantly on the go.
Three days make a man look different; how much more so after half a year?
That cherubic face, once brimming with childishness, had vanished from his features at some point.
Solemn yet spirited, refined and noble, Ye Ao couldn’t help but sigh inwardly. His son had truly become a dashing young master.
“Son, if you walk around wearing a skirt now, people will recognize you as a man in disguise at a glance.”
“What?”
Ye Anping, who had just raised his teacup, frowned slightly and retorted, “What do you mean by that?”
Ye Ao chuckled heartily, raising an eyebrow and explaining, “I’m complimenting you! In the blink of an eye, my son has become a man! Hahaha… They say that a man who hasn’t bedded a woman is a virgin even at 120. You lost your virginity at seventeen!
“When I was your age, my first time… I saved up spirit stones for two months and sneaked off to the Red Pavilion in West Gate Immortal City. I picked Sister Chen, but barely after she sat down, it was over. In the end, Sister Chen took pity on me and gave me a free encore.”
Ye Ao still looked quite proud when recounting this.
“What’s there to be proud of?” Ye Anping couldn’t understand. Still, it was the first time he’d heard his father talk about this, and he thought he had another handle on his old man.
“Dad, does Mom know about this?”
“Are you going to tell her?”
“It depends.”
“Hiss—You little brat, you dare try that? You think I haven’t spanked you before?”
Ye Anping sighed softly and said, “Dad, what’s the point of bringing this up?”
“Isn’t it to comfort you? Men, their first time is usually quick. Wasn’t yours quick?”
Ye Anping pouted his lips and replied with a smile, “Dad, I have an excess of Yang energy. What did Elder Wang of the Xuan Xing Sect say back then? Did you forget?”
“Oh, right. So, did that Pei girl actually cry and beg to go back to her family’s home?”
“…Dad, can we change the subject?”
Ye Ao flinched and pouted awkwardly, “Can’t I even ask?”
“No.”
“Alright, alright, you’ve grown up and are so capable now.”
Ye Ao waved his hand dismissively, then glanced towards the stairs of the pavilion, appearing to be in deep thought. He became serious.
“We discussed this last time. Your dual cultivation ceremony, who goes first and who goes second, you need to think it through. This isn’t a matter of mutual consent; love is love, and cultivation partner is a cultivation partner. They’re not the same.”
“…I know.”
“Good that you know.”
Ye Ao counted on his fingers and started talking to himself, “Young Lady Feng with the Saint Emperor’s bloodline, Young Lady Xiao, the Xuan Xing Sect Young Master’s… Young Lady Li, the Chi Long Mansion Master’s… And before that, Young Lady Yun from the Moon Shadow Sword Sect… Your admirers are all extraordinary girls! I just don’t understand why these girls would fall for a penniless brat like you. Why didn’t your father have such good fortune back then?”
Ye Anping said with self-awareness, “Perhaps it’s because I’m more handsome.”
“Wasn’t your father a dashing, handsome youth back then too? Besides your mother, why didn’t any other girl take a liking to me?”
“Could it be because Dad, you were a bit weak, and those girls who liked you were mostly chased away by Mom?”
Ye Anping rested his chin on his hand and pondered for a moment, thinking it was possible. He nodded, “Perhaps.”
“Heh heh…”
“Speaking of which, where did you go before? I heard something happened at the Moon Shadow Sword Sect. Yun Kunwu, who killed the Taibai Sect Young Master back then, seems to have been protected by the Sword Sect Master and is still alive. It wouldn’t be…”
“Yes, I know. Junior Sister and I encountered him. Junior Sister even inherited Yun Jian Shang Xian’s legacy and was accepted as a personal disciple by Yun Jian Shang Xian himself. That Spirit Sword, Xue Qiong Tian Ling, she has it.”
“What?!”
Ye Ao’s eyes widened, and he blinked, “What are you saying?”
Ye Anping sighed, ignoring his shock. “Just as I said.”
“You… no… Girl Pei was taken by Yun Jian Shang Xian… That Yun Jian Shang Xian, the one who was renowned alongside Dan Yue Shang Xian a thousand years ago, known as the ‘Sword Ancestor’?”
“Yes.”
“My word!” Ye Ao’s mouth hung open. “You brat, I don’t know if I should say you’re lucky or unlucky! Wherever you go, trouble follows. So, does that mean Girl Pei is a Descendant of the Sword Ancestor? In terms of immortal seniority, wouldn’t I have to call her Aunt-Martial?”
*You should also call me Aunt-Martial…* Ye Anping averted his gaze, refraining from uttering such disrespectful words. “Yes. When Junior Sister comes down later, remember to call her Aunt-Martial.”
Ye Ao’s eyebrows rose and fell, his mind in a jumble.
Yun Jian Shang Xian was the one who established the dao of ‘Sword Cultivator.’ All Sword Cultivators in the immortal world had to respectfully call him Grandmaster. Now, he had passed his inheritance to Pei Lianxue, and his son was going to marry Pei Lianxue.
Then what was his relationship to Pei Lianxue? His aunt-martial was becoming his daughter-in-law?
He pinched the bridge of his nose and gave up thinking. After a pause, he asked, “So, where are you planning to go next?”
“First, I’ll return to the Xuan Xing Sect to consolidate my cultivation, then head to the Central Domain.”
“Central Domain? Is something big going to happen in the Central Domain too?”
“What do you mean, ‘is something big going to happen in the Central Domain too’?”
“Wherever you go, trouble erupts, right? When you first went to the Xuan Xing Sect, the sect declared war and eradicated the Seven Kill Gate in the Western Regions. After you went to Chi Long Mansion, Chi Long Mansion was invaded by demonic cultivators. A while ago, you went to the Sword Sect in the Southern Domain, and the old and young sect masters of the Sword Sect suddenly came back from the dead.”
Ye Ao muttered, suddenly feeling that his son appeared like a mastermind, exuding an air of mystery.
He was merely the Sect Master of the small Hundred Lotus Sect. He had never expected Ye Anping to achieve great things. As long as he didn’t go astray or fall into wickedness, he would be grateful. It would be good for Ye Anping to peacefully succeed him as the Sect Master of the Hundred Lotus Sect.
But his son…
He furrowed his brows and asked, “Did you do these things?”
Ye Anping smiled slightly, picked up his teacup, and took a sip, calmly replying, “The four domains have been experiencing frequent turmoil in recent decades. It’s not strange that I happened to be there; I just lent a hand.”
Ye Ao seemed to believe him and felt relieved. “Be careful out there. Your mother and I only have you as our son. If something happens to you, your mother would cry herself to death!”
“I’m aware of myself, an…”
Ye Ao finished his sentence: “…ordinary young cultivator with dual spiritual roots and no special abilities, right?”
“…Mm.”
“Heh heh, you’ve always said that since you were little,” Ye Ao shook his head and sighed. “Last month, the Sect Master of Tiger Roar Sect was bragging to me about his useless son.”
“Bragging about what?”
“Bragging about his son having single spiritual roots, already in Mid Foundation Establishment, and accepted as a personal disciple by an elder of the Xuan Xing Sect.” Ye Ao gave a wry smile, took a sip of his tea, and continued, “He even taunted me, asking if your dual spiritual roots needed guidance, and if you wanted to attend his son’s grand lectures at the Xuan Xing Sect.”
*This parental competitiveness…* Ye Anping felt a sense of helplessness. But competition was human nature. He sighed and asked, “What did you say?”
“Your old dad isn’t one for showing off. I said you’re also in Mid Foundation Establishment, but he didn’t believe me, thinking I used some enlightenment technique. He even pretended to worry about you.”
Ye Ao rolled his eyes towards the window but then seemed unable to let it go. He raised an eyebrow and said to Ye Anping, “When you return to the Xuan Xing Sect later, why don’t you go meet his son? Take Young Lady Xiao with you and show him.”
Ye Anping gave him a sideways glance. “…You don’t show off yourself, but you want me to show off for you?”
“Hey—just take Young Lady Xiao and stroll past him. That kid’s name is Yang Xiong; he’s on your Tianyun Peak.”
“Then should I take Dan Yue Shang Ren for a stroll?”
“Alright, alright…”
Ye Ao quickly stopped him. He could see his son’s capabilities, but he absolutely couldn’t believe he was *that* capable.
“Forget I said anything. You can joke with anyone, but don’t joke with her. If it gets back to her, your dad won’t be able to protect you. Everyone in the four domains knows Dan Yue Shang Ren is petty and can’t stand being joked with.”
“I’ll tell her that you said she’s petty. When I have the chance.”
Ye Ao pouted and gave him a look. *As if you actually know her…*
*Tap tap—*
At this moment, Kong Yulan and Pei Lianxue, who had been talking upstairs, seemed to have finished their conversation and descended the stairs one after the other.
Ye Ao turned to look and immediately joked, even cupping his hands in a salute and saying, “Greetings, Aunt-Martial Pei.”
“What?” Kong Yulan, walking ahead, had question marks popping up above her head. But just as she was about to ask, “What Aunt-Martial Pei?”, Pei Lianxue instinctively nodded and said, “Sect Master Ye is too kind.”
Kong Yulan twisted her eyebrows, looking at her husband. “Are you drunk from drinking tea? You’re already calling her Aunt-Martial.”
“Of course! Young Ye told me that Girl Pei received Yun Jian Shang Xian’s inheritance. I certainly have to call her Aunt-Martial.”
“What? Yun Jian Shang Xian?” Kong Yulan’s eyes widened in disbelief. She then looked at Pei Lianxue, who was wearing the Xuan Xing Sect uniform, and shifted her gaze back to Ye Anping. “Anping, is it true?”
“Mom, it’s true.”
“I see…” Kong Yulan paused, then turned to Pei Lianxue and said, “Girl Pei, do you remember the thing I gave you earlier?”
Pei Lianxue’s cheeks flushed slightly. She glanced at her senior brother, then bowed respectfully, “Madam Kong, Lianxue will remember!”
“Then you and Anping go back first.”
“Mm… Thank you, Madam Kong.”
Although Ye Anping was slightly curious about what his mother had given her, he didn’t ask directly. He stood up and bowed, “We won’t disturb Mother and Father any longer. We take our leave.”
With that, he took Pei Lianxue’s hand and left through the main door of Tian Ge.
Once they were at the bottom of the stairs, Ye Anping let out a sigh of relief. He looked at Pei Lianxue’s expression and saw she was quite happy, so he knew his mother had likely agreed. He asked, “Junior Sister, did my mother agree?”
“Mm… I can barely say yes, but she said I’ll only be officially part of the Ye family after the dual cultivation ceremony.”
“The ceremony isn’t urgent. Now is not the time to hold the ceremony.”
“Mm.”
“By the way, what book did my mother give you?”
Pei Lianxue lowered her eyes and pondered for a moment, then shook her head and smiled, “That’s a secret.”
“Even Senior Brother has to keep secrets?”
“Mm, it’s a good thing.”
Ye Anping sighed helplessly, a sudden weight in his heart. His junior sister, whom he knew as well as the number of hairs on his body, was now keeping things from him.
He shook his head and sighed, “Forget it… If you don’t want to say, Senior Brother won’t ask. I’ll go find Brother Liang later and ask if he’s made up his mind. You go pack, and we’ll return to the Xuan Xing Sect tomorrow morning.”
“Mm…”
… …
————
Meanwhile, inside Tian Ge.
Kong Yulan watched the two leave with a faint sigh, recalling what Pei Lianxue had just told her. She lamented, “Ah—Girl Pei’s wings have hardened now.”
“Hm?” Ye Ao furrowed his brows in confusion. “Yulan, what were you talking about?”
“I asked her why she felt she could marry into our family.”
“How did Girl Pei reply?”
“That girl said she’s now an Inner disciple of the Xuan Xing Sect. With Anping’s status as the Young Master of the Hundred Lotus Sect, she’s completely worthy of Ye Anping; it’s a match made in heaven. Moreover, she grew up with Anping and understands his preferences and personality better than anyone, even better than I do.”
Ye Ao found this hard to believe. He couldn’t imagine Pei Lianxue saying such things.
Pei Lianxue always gave the impression of being overly introverted, shy, and quiet. She rarely spoke and seemed to lack presence, appearing somewhat dense.
“Is that what she said?”
“Yes, that’s what she said, very forcefully. She also said she understands Anping better than anyone, can take care of him and protect him better than anyone else. No one in this world can compare to her, and she said it very seriously.”
“Are you sure Anping didn’t teach her to say that?”
“It doesn’t seem like it. The look in her eyes then… it was genuine. She was determined to marry only Anping. I was afraid she would draw her sword and threaten her life if I didn’t agree.”
Kong Yulan shook her head and sighed, “I didn’t expect that girl to also receive Yun Jian Shang Xian’s inheritance. Now it’s like Anping is the one marrying into her family.”
Ye Ao stroked his beard and chuckled, “Isn’t that good? By the way, what book did you give her?”
“Yin-Yang Dao Method.”
“What?”
Ye Ao blinked. Wasn’t that his collection?
It discussed how men could make women linger, techniques like shallow and deep penetration… Of course, it also covered how women could make men unable to resist, such as…
“Hiss—Why did you give her that?”
“Let her learn, what else? She grew up in the Hundred Lotus Sect, and no one taught her these things before. This matter fell to me, didn’t it? If she doesn’t learn this, and tries to figure it out herself, she might develop strange fetishes. That would be terrible.”
“… …”
… …
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