Ye Yutian obediently addressed Ye Luotian, "Greetings, Grandfather."
If this were to spread, it would surely shock countless people. Who was Ye Yutian? A ruthless, unpredictable, and merciless Dark Lord—how could someone like him be so docile toward Ye Luotian? Fortunately, Ye Luotian had no idea of his identity, so he simply nodded calmly, though a hint of hostility flickered in his eyes as he looked at him.
"Grandfather, let's set that aside for now. Have something to eat first. Only by regaining your strength can you better protect me." Ye Lanshan stirred the porridge repeatedly until it was no longer too hot, then brought it to Ye Luotian's lips.
To be honest, this was the first time Ye Lanshan had ever cared for someone like this. In neither her past nor present life had she ever tended to anyone so attentively.
Those who had once believed in her, she would protect; those who sought to kill her, she would annihilate; and those who betrayed her, she would execute with the utmost cruelty. Even Ye Yu, who had protected her with his life when she first arrived on this continent, had never received such devoted care from her.
After he finished the porridge, she softly asked who the man before her was.
"Grandfather, this is Ye Yutian, the one I was once betrothed to." Ye Lanshan glanced indifferently at Ye Yutian.
"What? You mean he's the Ye Yutian who broke off the engagement with you? What is he doing here?" Ye Luotian became agitated upon hearing this.
"Grandfather, listen to me. It was thanks to his help that you were revived. As for why he's here, it's because he came to assist me in bringing down the Yue family." Ye Lanshan quickly calmed the agitated Ye Luotian.
After hearing this, Ye Luotian gradually settled down. "Ye Lanshan, step out for a moment. I have a few words to say to Ye Yutian."
Ye Lanshan looked at them suspiciously but ultimately said nothing and left.
"Grandfather, breaking off the engagement was indeed too rash of me. I now realize my mistake. I wonder if you could still give me another chance—a chance to pursue Ye Lanshan anew."
At this point, Ye Yutian had lowered his stance as much as possible, hoping only to win over Ye Luotian. If he could secure Ye Luotian's approval, winning over Ye Lanshan would surely follow.
"Ye Lanshan has always been strong-willed. I won't interfere in her marriage. If you can win her heart again, I naturally won't oppose it. But before that, I want to ask you something. Do you still remember the agreement between our two families?"
"The... what agreement?" A trace of confusion flickered in Ye Yutian's eyes. He had no idea what agreement they were referring to.
"So Ye Changbai never told you? Never mind. If he didn't, he must have had his reasons." Ye Luotian hadn't expected Ye Yutian to be completely unaware of this agreement.
"What happened to Mu Xinlian?" On the other end of the transmission talisman, Mu Xinlian was panting heavily, urgently calling Ye Lanshan to the place where they first met.
"Just come and you'll see. Hurry." After saying this, the transmission talisman fell silent.
"Mu Xinlian, where are you?" Ye Lanshan arrived at the eerie courtyard, though the yin energy was no longer as thick as before.
"Quick, Ye Lanshan, please save him." Upon seeing Ye Lanshan, Mu Xinlian looked as if she had found a savior, immediately pulling her over to Yue Shu.
Yue Shu lay pale-faced on the ground, a trace of crimson blood in his palm. His eyes were tightly shut, like a sleeping beauty—delicate and fragile, as if he might vanish at the slightest touch.
"I know you can do something, right? Your alchemy skills are incredible—you must have a way to save him, don't you?" Mu Xinlian shook her arm frantically, completely panicked.
"Why are you so worried about him?" Ye Lanshan recalled that Mu Xinlian had no apparent connection to the Yue family.
"His frail condition is partly my fault."
A hint of guilt lingered in Mu Xinlian's eyes.
"Back then, his health wasn't this weak. But I, consumed by resentment, had lost my sanity. Day and night, I disturbed his mind, allowing yin energy to invade his body and damage his soul. On top of that, he had already been poisoned, which is why his body became so fragile—incurable no matter what."
"Is that so?" Ye Lanshan checked Yue Shu's pulse and found it was just as Mu Xinlian had said—a lingering yin energy within him, and his soul was extremely weak.
"If you have a way, please save him. I don't want to cause an innocent life to be lost because of my unintentional mistake." Mu Xinlian's eyes stung, as if she wanted to cry, but no tears came.
"Is it really just that? I don't recall you being so soft-hearted. When I first stumbled into your courtyard, you wanted to kill me."
Mu Xinlian's gaze flickered as she said softly, "I suppose nothing escapes you. It's because he once awakened my sanity and drove away a man who called himself a member of the Nether Clan, who wanted to kill me. Though I wasn't afraid of that man, he still protected me."
"His illness won't be easy to treat." In her life, aside from severed meridians, Ye Lanshan had never encountered such a difficult condition.
This body had long been drained of its vitality by the yin energy and poison, compounded by the soul damage. If not for the constant use of precious herbs to sustain him, he likely wouldn't have made it to today.
"Is there really no way?" Mu Xinlian was drowning in guilt, constantly reproaching herself for her past actions.
"It's not that there's no way. For now, let me first remove the yin energy from him." Ye Lanshan narrowed her eyes and began to perform a ritual on the spot. To expel the yin energy, she even resorted to using the Three True Fires.
"Cough, cough." The person on the ground coughed lightly and slowly regained consciousness.
"You're awake. Take this—it can temporarily suppress the poison in your body." Ye Lanshan placed a pill in his palm.
Yue Shu naturally wouldn't put it in his mouth, as he still didn't know Ye Lanshan's intentions.
"May I ask what purpose Miss Ye has in going to such trouble to save me?" Though Yue Shu was weak, his voice was still as melodious as a heavenly sound.
"You'll have to ask her. She's the one who begged me to save you." Ye Lanshan pointed at Mu Xinlian beside her.
"Who are you?" Yue Shu looked at Mu Xinlian. Wasn't she the woman who had been following him for the past few days?
Mu Xinlian didn't answer him but glanced at Ye Lanshan and said, "I'll leave this to you."
"Miss Ye, what is this about?" Yue Shu turned his puzzled gaze to Ye Lanshan. In truth, he was overjoyed inside. He had thought he would never see Ye Lanshan again, yet here they were, reunited—though the circumstances were a bit awkward.
"She once unintentionally harmed you and has been consumed by guilt. When she saw you collapse, she begged me to heal you." Ye Lanshan watched as Mu Xinlian left her with a mess, silently reflecting on whether she had become too kind lately.