Ye Family's Ye Shu, Hereby Pays Respect to the Mountain

The night was clear, studded with countless stars.

Ye Shu had barely taken two steps out the door when he ran into someone in front of the mountain gate.

It was none other than his dear eldest senior brother.

Holding a broom, Jian Wuhen stood at the entrance. Watching Ye Shu walking with long strides, he looked up and asked with a smile, "Junior brother, you're leaving the sect this late. Is there something urgent?"

"Eldest senior brother?"

Ye Shu paused for a moment, a strange look flashing in his eyes.

"Aren't you with sister-in-law? I remember she's quite wealthy, isn't she? Compared to sweeping floors here, living off a woman like I do with Li Shixuan is obviously a much sweeter deal, right?"

Jian Wuhen's smile froze.

"I..."

He patted the broom in his hand and said earnestly, "Junior brother, a person cannot forget their roots. You shouldn't forget the hardships of the past just because of temporary wealth."

"You have to reminisce occasionally, lest your skills grow rusty."

"After all, mountains fall and people run away when you lean on them."

Could he really tell his junior brother that he only ran out for a breather because he couldn't stand that demoness?

Not everyone had strange little fetishes, alright?

"I see, I've learned something today."

Ye Shu looked as if he had a sudden realization and cupped his hands in a respectful salute.

"You're young, so it's understandable that you lack experience." Jian Wuhen waved his hand, then asked, "You still haven't told me, what are you doing going out so late? Is it an emergency?"

"It's urgent, but also not that urgent."

Ye Shu thought about it and replied.

"Why do you say that?"

"Does senior brother know my background?"

"The legitimate son of the Ye family. At three you reached the Qi Condensation realm, and at five, Foundation Establishment, making a name for yourself across the Eastern Wasteland. At eight, you suddenly contracted a strange illness causing your dantian to leak energy. From then on, you never recovered, being called a fallen genius and reduced to a laughingstock. Now, having regained your cultivation, you reached the peak of the Golden Core realm in just one year, making you the last of the second-generation disciples of our Xuantian Sword Lineage."

"Senior brother, how do you know all this so clearly?" Ye Shu, who was just about to introduce himself, was stunned.

If you say everything, what am I supposed to say?

Hearing this, Jian Wuhen looked at him like he was an idiot.

"You don't think just anyone can join our Xuantian Sword Lineage, do you? What if you were an undercover agent for the demonic path, or what if your ancestors were demonic spies or committed evil deeds? Even with Uncle-Master Lin vouching for you, I still had to conduct a thorough background check."

Hearing this, Ye Shu was left speechless.

So there was even a political background check.

"Alright then."

He nodded and continued, "Since senior brother knows my background, you must also know about my fiancée. I won't hide it; I have some karma to settle with the Yunxiao Sect, and this trip is precisely for that."

"To fulfill a long-standing promise."

"The Yunxiao Sect... the three-year agreement?"

Jian Wuhen pondered for a moment.

He knew a bit about the grudge between his junior brother and the Yunxiao Sect. He had originally planned to save up some money, take a day off, and see if he could just go and beat that woman named Feng Mengli to death, which would also count as defending the righteous path against evil.

But looking at it now...

"Are you going to the Yunxiao Sect alone?"

Jian Wuhen peered behind him. Seeing no one there, he offered, "Do you want me to accompany you? Going alone might be dangerous. With me there, even if we can't retreat completely unscathed, I can at least keep you safe."

"Let me tell you, you can know a person's face but not their heart."

"Going to this appointment is no less dangerous than walking into a trap. I'm afraid it will be easy to get in, but hard to get out."

Hearing this, Ye Shu's mouth twitched.

He couldn't help but feel that his senior brother was being too modest. He seriously suspected that Jian Wuhen could slaughter his way through the entire Yunxiao Sect all by himself right now.

"Forget it."

Ye Shu thought for a moment and still declined.

"This is my own business, so I won't trouble eldest senior brother with it."

Seeing him refuse, Jian Wuhen didn't press the issue.

They were all adults, and from the same lineage, so there was no need for the tedious back-and-forth of fake politeness.

A yes was a yes, and a no was a no.

"Alright then."

He stepped aside.

"Go early and come back soon."

"Thank you, senior brother."

Ye Shu thanked him, then strode out of the mountain gate toward the vast night, quickly disappearing into the darkness.

Jian Wuhen watched for a long time before withdrawing his gaze.

He was just about to pick up his broom to clear the fallen leaves on the steps when he suddenly noticed a pair of old cloth shoes on the stairs. Looking up, he saw that Lin Heming was standing in front of him, having arrived at some unknown time.

"This junior greets Uncle-Master Lin."

Jian Wuhen hurriedly bowed. He had great respect for this sworn brother of his master.

"No need for formalities."

Lin Heming waved his hand, looking out at the distant night.

"Uncle-Master Lin... are you here to see junior brother off?" Jian Wuhen asked softly, testing the waters.

"Indeed."

"I see."

Jian Wuhen nodded and stood beside him. The two of them stood together in front of the mountain gate, gazing into the night.

After watching for a while, Lin Heming suddenly spoke.

"He's not going to fulfill an agreement."

Jian Wuhen was taken aback. "Then what is he going to do?"

"He's going for revenge."

.........................

Meanwhile, deep within the Hundred Thousand Mountains, Ye Shu, wreathed in the Ten Thousand Beast Flame, flew straight toward the location of the Yunxiao Sect.

"Hey, hey, hey!"

"It's a three-year agreement, and it's only been one year."

Xiaobai, sitting on his shoulder, was blown side to side by the wind and only managed to hold on by grabbing his collar. "Why are you going to fulfill the three-year agreement ahead of schedule?"

Ye Shu, flying on his sword, looked speechless.

"Do you think we're playing a video game, where if you go to a map before the time node, it triggers a warning saying, 'Please come back to explore the area ahead later'?"

"This is an open world!"

"I'm already at the peak of the Golden Core realm, meeting the requirements for the three-year agreement. If I'm not mistaken, my nominal fiancée was at the peak of the Golden Core realm a year ago. By now, she should be at the early stage of the Nascent Soul realm."

"But it doesn't matter; I'll still spin her like a top."

Ye Shu wore a look of absolute confidence.

Ever since obtaining the Azure Profound Sword, he felt he could look down upon all his peers.

"Uh..."

Xiaobai scratched his head, having to admit that it was true.

Just then, Danxia spoke up from inside the ring. She sounded a bit worried. "Shu'er, I'm afraid your chances of winning won't be very high if you go to the Yunxiao Sect now."

"That Li Qingran's cultivation is a level higher than yours."

"Moreover, since both your master and Feng Mengli have been reborn, Li Qingran must have been reborn as well. She definitely possesses a lot of intelligence about you. If you fight... the outcome is truly unpredictable."

"It's fine, Master."

Ye Shu smiled. "You just need to believe in me."

"Mhm..."

Seeing his persistence, Danxia didn't say anything more. As expected of the man she had her eyes on; he looked so handsome when he was confident!

"Hmph! Reckless brat."

Medusa, hiding in his sleeve, wasn't so good-tempered. Having watched Ye Shu and Lin Qingxue being intimate for three whole months, she was holding back a bellyful of fire.

Even if she didn't like this bastardly little thief.

But no matter what, he was still the father of her child. It would be strange if she felt comfortable watching him tumble in the sheets with other women.

"A Golden Core cultivator storming their main headquarters?"

"Even if you win, they won't let you leave, will they? When the time comes, don't come crying to this Queen for help. This Queen won't care about you."

"Rest assured, I certainly won't need you."

Ye Shu said indifferently.

"You!"

"What did you say?!" Medusa, who had been waiting for him to say something nice, instantly flew into a rage.

"I said, I won't need you," Ye Shu repeated.

"Fine! Very well!"

Medusa gnashed her teeth in anger, coiling around Ye Shu's wrist so tightly that a red mark appeared. "When the time comes, even if you die, this Queen won't lift a single finger to help you!"

"Suit yourself."

"You, you, you! You are infuriating me to death!"

The man and the snake bickered the entire way as they flew. Traveling day and night, it took them a mere ten days to cross the Taiwu Dynasty and arrive at the location of the Yunxiao Sect.

A majestic, towering mountain peak pierced the heavens. A flight of stairs paved downwards from the sea of clouds extended all the way to the foot of the mountain. Mortals standing at the bottom could not even catch a glimpse of a single corner of the immortal sect.

"Yunxiao Sect, I have arrived."

Ye Shu murmured softly, taking grand strides forward.

Two mountain-guarding disciples dressed in blue and white uniforms stood before the mountain gate. Looking at this uninvited guest, they frowned deeply.

"This is the territory of an immortal sect. Halt your steps."

"Do you have an appointment?"

Ye Shu curled his lips into a smile. Gazing at the endless, rolling sea of clouds, he announced loudly, "The one hundred and sixty-seventh generation disciple of the Ye family, Ye Shu."

"Has come to pay his respects to the mountain!"