The Beast Vehicle traveled through the city. They had set out at dawn, but darkness had already fallen by the time they reached their destination.
The destination was a massive estate that covered a vast area, stretching as far as the eye could see. This single estate alone was likely no smaller than a major town! Ye Xuan didn’t know the name of the estate because they hadn’t entered through the main gates; instead, they had been brought through a secluded back entrance. However, Ye Xuan already had a vague guess in his heart.
Right now, the middle-aged man was leading Ye Xuan and Ye Ling’Er into a luxurious courtyard. The courtyard was enormous, featuring miniature mountains and flowing water. Whether it was the flowers, grass, or trees, none of them were ordinary.
For example, the twenty-meter-tall tree in the courtyard actually shimmered with flowing light in the dark of night. This was the Night Moon Tree, which could absorb the essence of moonlight. Its fruit could directly increase a person’s cultivation base.
There were also peculiar flowers blooming in the corners of the courtyard walls. These flowers had five distinct colors, with every single petal being a different hue. This was the Five-Colored Flower, a mid-grade Ghost-tier Spirit Medicine. The Ghost tier corresponded to the Demon Spirit Realm. Wasn’t there a saying about demons and ghosts going hand in hand? Demons and ghosts were on the exact same level. This Five-Colored Flower could elevate the cultivation of any Cultivator below the sixth level of the Demon Spirit Realm.
Was this the foundation of a city? These were things that people in other places could only dream of possessing but could never obtain. Yet here, they were casually planted in a courtyard like common weeds. Ye Xuan really wanted to pluck a few, but he knew he couldn’t act recklessly in this place.
"Master, I’ve brought the people."
Just as Ye Xuan was marveling at the sights, the middle-aged man’s voice rang out. He knelt on one knee before a set of doors, his expression utterly respectful. Ye Xuan narrowed his eyes. It seemed this powerful middle-aged man was nothing more than a servant. A city... it truly lived up to the name of a city!
"They’ve arrived? Bring them in and let me have a look."
An authoritative voice echoed from inside the room. The next moment, the doors opened on their own.
The middle-aged man led Ye Xuan and Ye Ling’Er into the room. It was massive, with the outer area serving as a parlor. After entering the parlor and waiting for a moment, a dignified man who appeared to be in his forties walked out from the inner chambers. A Dapeng was also embroidered on his chest, and he naturally exuded the commanding aura of someone in a high position.
"Hmm? Why are there two of them?"
"My Lord, they are blood siblings."
"I see."
The dignified man didn’t say anything else. He kept staring at Ye Xuan’s face, his gaze shifting between dark scrutiny and genuine surprise. Facing the man’s intense stare, Ye Xuan kept his head held high and his chest puffed out, not shrinking back in the slightest.
After a long while, the man sighed emotionally. "The resemblance is truly uncanny. Young man, what is your name?"
Ye Xuan replied at a measured pace, "Ye Xuan."
"And you, little girl?"
"I... Ye Ling’Er."
The dignified man nodded. "Have you two been without a mother since you were born? Or rather, did your mother leave when you were very young?"
At these words, Ye Ling’Er’s eyes flickered, and she blurted out instinctively, "How did you know?!"
Beside her, Ye Xuan furrowed his brows.
"It seems I guessed right. They say sons take after their mothers. Your facial features are almost identical to your mother’s."
"You... you knew our mother? But she’s been dead for twenty years!" Ye Ling’Er spoke up again, clearly lacking Ye Xuan’s composure.
"She’s dead?"
The dignified man chuckled. Without bothering to explain further, he continued, "It’s getting late today. Tomorrow, I will take you to see your mother. I want to see if she still recognizes you—and if she dares to acknowledge you. Yun Kong, take them away for now."
"Yes, Master."
"By the way, is there any news from Yun Lei’s side? Have those bandits been caught yet?"
"Master, not... not yet."
"Still nothing? You’re all truly useless. To think you actually let them escape."
"Master, there is one thing I still don’t understand. Why are we relentlessly pursuing a few petty mountain bandits? The goods they robbed didn’t even belong to us."
"What do you know! I received word that there might be a certain treasure hidden among those goods. It’s just that those weaklings didn’t realize what it was."
"Master, what kind of treasure is it exactly?"
"Yun Kong, do you really want to know?"
"I really..."
Yun Kong was about to nod, but he suddenly realized something and immediately dropped to his knees. "Master, it was a momentary lapse in judgment. I beg for your forgiveness."
The dignified man said coldly, "I’ll spare you this once, but you won’t be so lucky next time. Remember: do not ask about things you shouldn’t know. I bestowed the Golden-Winged Roc Robe upon you to make it easier for you to handle my affairs. However, you are not a member of the Gongsun Family. You need to be very clear on that point. Don’t forget your place."
The Gongsun Family!
Off to the side, Ye Xuan’s pupils trembled. At this moment, he was certain that his guess was correct. He had arrived at his mother’s family.
Now, he finally understood why the Golden-Winged Roc looked somewhat familiar. When he was little, while rummaging through things, he had found a beautifully crafted, brightly colored dress in his mother’s wardrobe. Embroidered on that dress was a Golden-Winged Roc. Ye Xuan never expected that before he could even go looking for his mother, her clansmen would find him first.
It was just that the man wasn’t entirely sure yet if they were actually Gongsun Yanran’s children.
"Alright, go settle them in the woodshed. Keep watch at the door to make sure they don’t escape."
Twenty minutes later, inside the woodshed.
Ye Ling’Er finally couldn’t hold back anymore. She asked Ye Xuan, "Brother, what did that man mean? He said he’d take us to see our mother tomorrow. But hasn’t our mother been dead for twenty years? Who is he taking us to see? Besides, this is a major city. Even if our mother were still alive, why would she be here? Do you think he mistook us for someone else?"
"Sister..."
Ye Xuan didn’t know how to explain.
Ye Ling’Er didn’t seem to expect an explanation. Her eyes glimmered as she spoke again, "Brother, do you remember what our mother looked like? You were five back then, so you should remember a little bit. But I don’t have any impression of her at all." Her expression carried a trace of sorrow.
Ye Xuan shook his head. "I don’t remember either. I only recall that she loved wearing dresses, but her face is hazy like a thick mist. No matter how hard I try, I just can’t recall it."
"Brother, do you think our mother is really alive?"
"Don’t overthink it. We’ll find out tomorrow."
The rest of the night passed in silence.
The next day, the weather was bright and the gentle morning light felt pleasant.
The dignified man led Ye Xuan and Ye Ling’Er to another courtyard. The Gongsun Family estate was simply too massive. There were patrolling Golden Armor Soldiers everywhere in the courtyard.
After walking for about twenty minutes, the man finally arrived at their destination. Ye Xuan could clearly see the name of this courtyard. It was called: Lingxuan Courtyard.
In that instant, his heart tightened. This was very likely the courtyard where his mother lived.
But what did "Lingxuan" mean? Was this courtyard named after him and his sister? Did that mean he and his sister still held a place in her heart? If so, why had she never come looking for them after all these years?
Stepping into the courtyard, he saw a woman. She was reclining on a rattan chair, sipping morning tea while basking in the sunlight.
Ye Xuan’s body began to tremble.
Was it his mother?