Chapter 476: Senior Brother, Smile and Welcome the Six Directions
The festive red lanterns on each peak of the Hundred Lotus Sect were just like yesterday, with a joyous red and yellow hue, spilling under the eaves and brackets. Guests chatted and drank, while young attendants playfully hid in the courtyards. Games of pitcher, liubo, and flower poetry filled the air with endless laughter.
“Mahjong! A full flush with two dragons!”
*Pa—*
Yun Xi, sitting in her wheelchair, slammed the mahjong tile onto the table. She was so happy she wanted to jump up. After two days of playing mahjong with Xiao Yunluo and the others, this was her first time winning a full flush.
Xiao Yunluo and Li Longling, also at the table, showed a hint of relief on their faces and exhaled softly.
Putting Yun Yiyi aside, as she and Yun Xi were sisters. Xiao Yunluo and Li Longling were not so familiar with her, and they had been winning so much from Yun Xi for the past two days that they were getting tired. Several times they had considered letting Yun Xi win on purpose, but Yun Xi’s skill, waiting for a win from the start, could even lead to three simultaneous wins…
Xiao Yunluo and Li Longling quickly handed over the chips.
However, the next moment, Zhang Yihe, sitting beside Yun Xi and tapping a wooden fish with a smile, glanced at the tiles and asked, “Third Miss, do you have an extra tile?”
“Ah?”
Yun Xi looked at her tiles and bit her lip, her face filled with embarrassment, as if she were about to cry. Xiao Yunluo and Li Longling were even more embarrassed; they wanted to no longer give her money, but they couldn’t even do that.
“Meow…”
Suddenly, the black cat, perched on Li Longling’s head and serving as her eyes, let out a mournful sound, curled up its body, and raised a paw to pat Li Longling’s forehead.
“Hmm? What’s wrong…”
“…Meow.”
The cat’s timid meow caused Li Longling to frown. She then stood up and went to the window, cradling the black cat and looking towards the sky. She saw a dark cloud pressing down on the Tian Ge of the Hundred Lotus Sect.
Xiao Yunluo noticed her expression and also stood up to walk over.
“Sect Lord Li, what…”
Before she could finish, she looked up and saw the dark cloud. Recognizing the woman in golden robes beneath the cloud, with the Hantian Kingdom’s totem on her back, her eyes slowly widened: “Hantian Kingdom…”
A bad premonition arose in her heart. Yun Yiyi, hearing the murmur, quickly looked at her father, who was drinking with Yun Jiujiu by the side of the room, and shouted, “Jiujiu, Dad, to Tian Ge!!”
“Ah?!”
Yun Tianchong was stunned. He turned and followed everyone’s gaze out the window, gasping. But before he could say anything, he was lifted up by Yun Jiujiu and Yun Yiyi, used as a shield, and together with Xiao Yunluo, they leaped out the window and flew towards Tian Ge on their swords.
“Hey! Zhang Yihe!!”
“Third Miss, you shouldn’t go…”
… …
————
In the red maple forest of the East Peak, Ye Anping, who had already spotted Sun Juehu, was now also heading towards Tian Ge on his sword, accompanied by Feng Yu Die.
Xiao Tian, perched on his head, could not open his left eye due to a sword injury. Seeing Sun Juehu, who had already landed in front of the Tian Ge gate, he nervously clutched Ye Anping’s hair with his small hands.
*”Anping, is she here to…”*
“Deliver a gift. Feng Shijie, just stand behind me and be ready. Don’t do anything.”
“Okay.”
As the two landed their swords in front of Tian Ge, Ye Ao, Kong Yulan, Pei Lianxue, Fu Xuan Shangxian, and several Nascent Soul elders from Xing Tian Division, who were drinking tea and chatting inside Tian Ge, also sensed the commotion and came out of the door.
Ye Ao felt a wave of shame. He had not heard from Ye Anping that Sun Juehu would also be coming. He did not know what kind of connection there was between his son and Sun Juehu, but seeing Sun Juehu suppressing her Void Realm cultivation brought him some peace of mind.
After all, if a Void Realm cultivator did not suppress their cultivation and came uninvited, they were likely there to demand an explanation…
Ye Ao took a step forward, cupped his hands, and said, “This junior did not know the Empress would visit the Hantian Sect, and thus did not prepare any welcoming courtesies. I hope the Immortal will forgive me.”
“It was my oversight for not giving prior notice. There is no need for such politeness.” Sun Juehu said with a kind smile, waving her hand. “I just heard a few days ago about Young Master Ye’s grand wedding, and by chance, I had some free time. So, I came to meet this young junior who is now renowned throughout the Four Domains. I hope that’s alright?”
“Of course, it’s alright… Your Majesty, please enter the pavilion and wait. This junior will go and call Ping’er over.”
Just as he finished speaking, Ye Anping, who had just landed from his sword, walked from behind Sun Juehu with Feng Yu Die to a position ten feet beside her, and said with a smile, “Daddy, there’s no need to call me, I’m already here.”
Sun Juehu smiled and glanced at Feng Yu Die’s silver hair, but quickly shifted her gaze to Ye Anping’s face, raising an eyebrow and complimenting, “Truly as they say, Young Master Ye is rumored to be the most handsome man in the Western Regions~ Such a beautiful face…”
Didn’t I see you at Madam Xu Mulan’s Commander’s Mansion before?
Ye Anping replied with a fawning smile. Seeing Pei Lianxue, who was beside Kong Yulan, frown at her words, he quickly signaled her with his hands behind his back, indicating that she should do nothing, and then cupped his hands and smiled, “Indeed.”
Sun Juehu seemed taken aback by his answer and chuckled heartily, “You’re quite straightforward, but… I like it.”
As she spoke, many guests in the Hundred Lotus Sect seemed to have noticed the dark clouds above Tian Ge and were flying from below on their swords. However, upon seeing that it was the Empress of the Hantian Kingdom, they all showed expressions of shock and hesitated to land.
They had more or less heard of the grudge between Sun Juehu and Dan Yue Shang Xian. Some sect masters were momentarily stunned and whispered to those beside them: “What is she doing here? She and Dan Yue Shang Xian are not on good terms…”
“Don’t speak too much, be careful not to be overheard.”
Sun Juehu could naturally guess the doubts in everyone’s hearts. She scanned around and, upon seeing Xiao Yunluo among them, winked at her with a smile. “Young Master Xiao is here too? It’s been a long time. When I saw you before, you were just a little tot.”
“…”
Xiao Yunluo, holding her chest nervously, nodded and prayed for her mother to arrive quickly.
Sun Juehu chuckled and then walked directly to Ye Anping’s side, placing her hands on his shoulders and pulling him towards her embrace. Using her spiritual power to amplify her voice, she said, “All the Sect Masters and Elders of the Western Regions’ Immortal Sects should have heard about the matter between my father and Sister Dan Yue. My father died because of Sister Dan Yue.”
After this statement, everyone present felt a tightening in their hearts and held their breath, their tension palpable.
Only Ye Anping remained calm, not interjecting, as she held his shoulders.
He had already anticipated that Sun Juehu would take the opportunity to “unify the Six Directions” when he was planning matters for the Taibai Sect.
He just didn’t know exactly when Sun Juehu would act.
And now he knew that his wedding was the time Sun Juehu had chosen.
Sun Juehu looked at everyone holding their breath and let out a wry smile. In a down-to-earth tone, she said, “What are you all thinking? You don’t think I’ve come to cause trouble, do you?”
Everyone present forced awkward smiles but none dared to laugh out loud.
“Relax, relax~”
Sun Juehu waved her hand at them. “How could I possibly disturb such a handsome Young Master Ye’s wedding? Moreover, my father’s matter was so many years ago. I no longer hold grudges and have moved on… It’s just that Sister Dan Yue is a bit petty and has always disliked me, her sister, so…”
Sun Juehu turned Ye Anping to face her, took a red wooden box from her storage bag, and handed it to him. “Young Master Ye, since it’s your wedding day, I’ve come to share in the joy.”
Ye Anping calmly accepted the wooden box and then opened it to take a look.
A jade ruyi inlaid with seven spirit pearls lay quietly in the box. It was a precious, auspicious, but ostentatious magical artifact that could only be used as a decoration.
“Thank you for your blessing, Your Majesty.”
“You’re welcome. When you visit the Northern Region next time, Young Master Ye, you must come to my Imperial Palace. I will personally host you.”
“Perhaps I will…”
“You’re truly steady. You show no fear even at such close proximity.”
“Your Majesty has come to bless the wedding, why should this junior be afraid?”
“It’s good that you are not afraid.” Sun Juehu patted his forehead and rubbed it. “I was actually worried you might be scared and disturb your wedding with Immortal Pei.”
“You flatter me.” Ye Anping smiled. “Since Your Majesty is here, this junior must offer you a toast.”
He waved his hand and took out two wine cups from his storage bag, offering them to her. Sun Juehu naturally accepted them with pleasure.
The two clinked cups in front of everyone: “Your Majesty, please…”
“Young Master Ye, please…”
Then they tilted their heads and drank, inverting their cups to show respect.
“I shall not overstay my welcome. I wish Young Master Ye and Immortal Pei a harmonious and happy union.”
“Thank you.”
Sun Juehu smiled, then looked up towards the top of Tian Ge. Seeing Si Xuanji, who was now barefoot on the tile roof, with her arms crossed and looking at her with Yin-yang eyes filled with killing intent, she quickly winked at her.
Then she transformed into a golden light and, enveloped by the dark cloud she brought, headed northeast.
After watching her depart, Ye Anping finally breathed a sigh of relief. Suddenly, he heard a “ding-ling” sound and looked up, only to discover that Si Xuanji was now standing on the roof of Tian Ge, guarding.
When their eyes met, Si Xuanji lowered her gaze slightly as if disappointed, beckoned him, and then climbed in through the highest window of Tian Ge.
Ye Anping understood that she wanted to speak with him. He cupped his hands towards the cultivators from various sects who were flying over on their swords, and his voice broke the silence around Tian Ge.
“Apologies to all for interrupting your banquet feast. Later, I will ask a disciple of the Hundred Lotus Sect to deliver some hundred-year-old vintage wine.”
After this announcement, everyone present also breathed a sigh of relief and began to whisper among themselves, most of them flying back to the courtyards on the mountainside to continue drinking and chatting.
“Even the Empress of the Hantian Kingdom is willing to give face to the Young Master of the Hundred Lotus Sect. This is incredible…”
“Before coming, this old man thought that the Ye family of the Hundred Lotus Sect had produced a good seedling, but after seeing him, I realized that this is simply extraordinary. Apart from Mr. Qi and Mr. Liu of the Xuan Xing Sect, no one else from the Western Regions’ sects has ever received a gift from the Sun family, right?”
“Earlier, I heard my son say that Mr. Qi made a bet with someone, saying that if the Young Master of the Hundred Lotus Sect formed his Nascent Soul, he would personally wash his feet.”
“He must have been joking! But then again, it is Mr. Qi…”
“But speaking of which, does the Empress’s action mean she wants to reconcile with Dan Yue Shang Xian?”
“I don’t know… Now that Tian Yun Dao Xian has lost her cultivation, the Immortal Families should unite against common enemies. Moreover, there’s the Demon Race in the Central Domain; I don’t know which side they’re on…”
… …
Ye Anping watched them leave, letting out a long breath. He then prepared to go to the top floor of Tian Ge to meet Si Xuanji. But he noticed Feng Yu Die standing by, staring at him blankly, and said, “Feng Shijie, why don’t you go play cards with Xiao Shijie and the others first?”
“Ah…” Feng Yu Die wanted to say something, but didn’t. She pursed her lips and smiled, “Okay!”
Xiao Tian, who had been above his head, hesitated for a moment and then floated back to sit on Feng Yu Die’s shoulder.
When Ye Anping reached the entrance of Tian Ge, he bowed and then looked at Ye Ao and Kong Yulan. “Dad, Mom… I’ll need Tian Ge for an hour. Please don’t come in.”
“It’s fine, of course.” Ye Ao raised an eyebrow. He couldn’t help but ask curiously, “Son, what’s going on with the Empress?”
Ye Anping looked at Fu Xuan Shangxian beside him, thought for a moment, and replied with a smile, “Dad, just consider it giving me some face.”
Ye Ao gave him a look but understood that there was likely a major karmic connection involved. If his son didn’t say anything, it was best not to inquire further. He then said, “Fu Xuan Shangxian, shall we move to the side hall for another drink?”
“Mmm…”
Pei Lianxue saw her Senior Brother walking over and took his hand, asking, “Senior Brother…”
“It’s nothing.” Ye Anping reached out and tickled her cheek. Seeing her worried expression, he smiled and said, “Senior Brother knows what he’s doing.”
“Mmm…”
“Go help pour wine for Daddy and Mommy. Senior Brother will come get you later.”
Pei Lianxue blinked, a faint blush appearing on her cheeks. She shyly nodded, “Okay…”
“Why are you still shy now?”
“Hehe…”
After Ye Anping entered Tian Ge and the door closed, Pei Lianxue followed Ye Ao and Kong Yulan.
Meanwhile, Yun Yiyi and Yun Jiujiu, who were flying in the sky, were relieved that nothing major had happened. They tacitly released their father’s shoulders.
“Hey?”
They had intended to throw their father down to shield Ye Anping or distract the Empress if anything had happened, acting as troublemakers to stir things up.
But fortunately, nothing major occurred.
Feng Yu Die also flew up on her sword and asked, “Xiao Shijie, can I play cards with you? I promise not to…”
Before she could finish, Xiao Yunluo paused for a moment, as if she had just zoned out. She thought she had faintly heard the tinkling of her Master’s bell, but she didn’t see her Master. Looking at Ye Anping entering Tian Ge, she couldn’t help but furrow her brows. “Second fool, go play with Yun Jiejie and the others first. I’ll be there later.”
“Oh, okay! Hehe…”
Yun Yiyi: “Does Xiao Shijie have something to do?”
“Mmm, I’ll be there later.”
Yun Yiyi and the others didn’t think much of it and flew down the mountain on their swords. Yun Tianchong also followed them glumly, as he had been terrified just now…
Due to Yun Jian Shang Xian’s past affairs, the Yun family’s relationship with the Sun family of the Northern Regions was not very good…
After everyone had left, Xiao Yunluo quietly landed her sword on the roof. She stepped to the edge of the wall, held her breath, and placed her ear against the window, but she couldn’t hear any movement from inside.
She paused for a moment and softly called out, “Sh…”
*Whoosh—*
The window was suddenly pushed open from the inside, hitting her directly in the face and almost knocking her off the eaves. But just as she was about to fall, Si Xuanji’s small hand reached out from the window, grabbed her collar, and pulled her inside before closing the window.
*Pa—*
… …
