Chapter 110 Returning home.

Chapter 110: Chapter 109: Returning home.

Chen Yuan had almost reached the end of his patience with the woman beside him. He merely shrugged and said to Lin Qingyue, "Then go and prepare your belongings..."

He turned his gaze back toward the vast mountain ranges stretching beyond the cliff.

"And say your last goodbye to this place while you’re at it."

"I’m sure you have many memories here to part with, and I hope your master is willing to let you leave with me."

Lin Qingyue paused when she heard the last sentence, then smiled. "Actually, my master had already left the kingdom when she neared the end of her lifespan."

Her smile faltered a little, yet she continued despite the bitter taste at the tip of her tongue, her fingers clenching against the base of her palm.

"I wasn’t much help to her, and My Master chose to leave early. But I’m sure she’ll always support my decision."

"I see..."

Chen Yuan’s eyes flickered, but he said nothing more.

Seemingly sensing the mood, Chen Yueran gestured toward Lin Qingyue. "Now, now, go get your belongings."

"Yes, Senior!"

Lin Qingyue nodded hurriedly, gathered the hem of her robes, and rushed back toward her wooden house.

Chen Yueran then turned her gaze toward Chen Yuan’s lonely back and floated over with a mischievous grin, performing a small twirl in the air before stopping beside him.

"My, my, Father. What an unexpected turn of events. A blooming flower under the gentle gaze of the night, and an awe-inspiring moment that most people will never experience in their lives."

She leaned closer, studying his expression carefully.

"I never knew you had such an ability. To catch a glimpse of the heavens so easily."

"And which situation are you referring to, my daughter?"

Chen Yuan answered without even turning his head, his eyes dangerous.

Chen Yueran’s smile deepened at his reaction.

"I don’t know..."

"Childish."

"Well, I was only recently born, after all."

Chen Yuan decided not to entertain the little devil any further. He had long since learned that arguing with her only encouraged her to continue.

Soon after Lin Qingyue returned before Chen Yueran could come up with another remark.

She hurried over, an additional storage ring now resting on the fingers of her right hand.

"Senior, I’m ready!"

Chen Yuan nodded toward her, then turned his gaze to Chen Yueran.

"Then let us go. I’ve been away from the family for too long."

Chen Yueran smiled and moved closer, while Lin Qingyue barely had time to look back at her little house before a powerful surge of spiritual energy enveloped them.

The next instant, the three rose into the night sky at a rapid pace.

Lin Qingyue’s eyes widened as the mountain beneath them rapidly shrank.

Before she could properly adjust to the sensation, Chen Yuan had already carried them beyond the surrounding peaks, leaving the snowy forest and her secluded home far behind.

"Woahhh!"

Lin Qingyue exclaimed in shock as the scenery beneath her rapidly disappeared. She had travelled between regions before, but never like this, and most importantly, never from such a height!

Under Chen Yuan’s control, the journey that might have taken her many days was reduced to a single night.

Mountains, rivers, and sprawling forests passed beneath their feet, while the distant horizon gradually changed as they crossed the vast Northern Region and approached the Eastern Region.

Lin Qingyue remained enveloped in Chen Yuan’s spiritual energy, protected from the biting winds and the pressure of their incredible speed.

At first, she tried to keep track of the places they passed, but before long, the unfamiliar landscape became a blur.

She had always known that the difference between her cultivation and that of a High Lord was enormous.

Experiencing it firsthand, however, was another matter entirely.

By the time the first hints of dawn appeared along the horizon, the three had already reached the territory controlled by the Chen Family.

From afar, three huge mountain peaks rose into the sky.

One resembled a gigantic sword that pierced the heavens, another was covered with strange, square-shaped buildings, while the middle peak appeared ordinary despite possessing an unusual quality of its own.

As they approached, Lin Qingyue stared down at the vast grounds spreading beneath them.

Buildings, courtyards, and training grounds stretched across the landscape, while numerous cultivators moved throughout the family grounds.

Powerful auras could be sensed throughout the territory, and the sheer scale of the place left her momentarily speechless.

The Chen Family had grown beyond its original size under Chen Yan’s meticulous planning. Now, the entire place looked more complete and more vibrant.

As her gaze settled upon the family’s plaque above the entrance to the main peak, she finally understood what was happening.

Only then did the doubts she had carried since accepting Chen Yuan’s offer finally begin to settle. As they continued their descent, Chen Yuan glanced at her and smiled faintly.

"An oath is an oath, no?"

Lin Qingyue immediately straightened, her expression becoming serious.

"Yes, Senior. I won’t tell a soul about this."

Chen Yueran, floating beside them, let out a soft chuckle.

"Goodness, Father. You’ve barely brought her home, and she’s already more obedient than I am."

Chen Yuan gave her a sideways glance.

"Would you like to learn from her, then?"

"Absolutely not!"

Chen Yueran answered without hesitation, prompting Lin Qingyue to look at her in surprise. She found herself smiling.

By the time Chen Yuan returned to the Chen Family, the clan had already grown accustomed to his prolonged absence.

Although his disappearance had initially caused some concern among the higher-ranking members, Chen Feng had never announced that anything was wrong. Most assumed that their ancestor had simply entered seclusion.

After all, Chen Yuan had a habit of disappearing for extended periods, and few dared to question what he chose to do with his time.

Consequently, his return caused no particular commotion.

Aside from a few members who happened to catch a glimpse of Chen Yuan passing through the family grounds, hardly anyone even realized that their ancestor had returned.

Chen Yuan, for his part, had little interest in making an announcement. Once they had arrived, he turned to Lin Qingyue and briefly explained that he would arrange for someone to take care of her accommodation before calling for Chen Meilan through his divine sense.

The woman arrived not long after, bowing respectfully before him.

"Ancestor."

"From today onward, Lin Qingyue will be serving as the family’s spiritual herbalist," Chen Yuan said, gesturing toward the woman beside him. "I recruited her personally. See that she is settled in properly and that her needs are taken care of, Meilan."

Chen Meilan’s gaze shifted toward Lin Qingyue, and a hint of doubt crossed her face before she could conceal it.

The woman appeared young, her cultivation was particularly strong even among the family members, but...

She seemed rather...

Lin Qingyue was looking at her with wide eyes that glimmered under the sunlight. Her cheeks puffed in excitement as if there were red peaches stuffed inside.

Chen Meilan continued inwardly...

Unreliable...

Yet Chen Yuan had personally brought her back and introduced her as the family’s new herbalist, which meant there was clearly more to the matter than she could see.

She wisely kept those doubts to herself.

"As you command, Ancestor," Chen Meilan replied, turning toward Lin Qingyue with a courteous smile. "Please follow me, Miss. I’ll arrange suitable accommodation for you and have someone prepare whatever you require."

Lin Qingyue returned the greeting, still somewhat unaccustomed to the respectful treatment she was receiving. Before leaving, she glanced back at Chen Yuan, perhaps intending to say something, but he had already turned away.

"Go and settle in first," he told her. "We’ll speak again later, as I have a task for you."

Lin Qingyue nodded and followed Chen Meilan, who remained careful to treat her with the utmost courtesy. Only after the two women had departed did Chen Yuan turn toward Chen Yueran.

"Come. There’s something we need to attend to."

Chen Yueran’s expression immediately grew curious, though she made no attempt to ask what it was. With a light step, she followed him as the two vanished from the spot.

High above the main peak, beyond the familiar training grounds and the courtyards where the younger generation gathered, lay the inheritance cave.

At that moment, two figures were already waiting inside.

Chen Feng stood near the entrance, his arms folded loosely before his chest, while Chen Yan sat farther within the cave, seemingly occupied with his own thoughts.

A moment later, the space before them rippled, and Chen Yuan appeared alongside Chen Yueran.

Chen Feng looked up, his expression carrying a trace of amusement as he regarded the man who had been absent for so long.

"And I thought you weren’t planning on coming back."

"I’ve been busy..." Chen Yuan replied casually, as though his extended absence required no further explanation.

Chen Feng gave him a look that suggested he had expected precisely that answer, but he did not press the matter. Instead, his attention briefly shifted toward Chen Yueran before returning to Chen Yuan, silently acknowledging that at least the two had returned safely.

Chen Yan, however, seemed far less interested in their reunion.

His gaze had remained fixed elsewhere.

Only after a short while did he slowly raise his eyes toward Chen Yuan, his attention finally settling on the unfamiliar woman he had noticed Chen Yuan bringing along.

"And who’s that woman... "

"Have you taken a liking to her? An unknown person from nowhere?"

Chen Yuan glanced at him. "You could hear what I said outside with your divine sense. Why bother asking me?"

Chen Yan’s expression remained unchanged, though there was a faint pause before he answered.

"I wanted to hear you say it again."

"She’s Father’s new wife!"

Chen Yueran interjected with a playful grin, apparently delighted to have found an opportunity to cause trouble.

The moment the words left her mouth, Chen Yuan turned and delivered a smack to the top of her head with his right hand.

BOOM!

A sharp sonic boom burst through the inheritance cave, the sound reverberating off its stone walls and sending a brief tremor through the surrounding air.

Chen Yueran’s head dipped under the blow, and she immediately clutched it with both hands, her eyes widening in disbelief before her cheeks puffed up in indignation.

"You!"

Rather than argue with him directly, she darted behind Chen Feng, peeking out from beside his shoulder with an expression that made it abundantly clear she considered herself the victim.

Chen Yuan paid her no further attention and turned back toward Chen Yan.

"Her name is Lin Qingyue. She saved my life while I was injured in the Northern Region, and she has considerable talent as a spiritual herbalist. Her knowledge of spiritual herbs is top-notch, and I believe she has considerable room to grow. I’ve brought her back to serve the family."

His tone was casual, concise and immediately explained the whole situation. Chen Yan’s expression became slightly more attentive at that explanation.

"So she’s the one who treated your injuries," he remarked.

Chen Yuan nodded. "She did."

Chen Feng’s earlier amusement faded slightly as he examined Chen Yuan more carefully.

"You were saved by her?" he asked.

"It’s already been dealt with."

"She’s a second-grade spiritual herbalist?"

"No..."

Chen Yuan’s answer caused the two men to pause. Slowly, they began to understand the woman’s value.

"So she treated you while being a first-grade spiritual herbalist?"

"Yes, you could say that."

Chen Yuan offered no further details, and Chen Feng understood that he would not receive a proper explanation unless Chen Yuan chose to provide one.

After exchanging a brief glance with Chen Yan, he let the matter rest for the moment.

"Now..."

Chen Yuan turned to look at the three of them.

"We have so much to discuss..."

He gestured toward them.