"A gentleman seeks revenge, even ten years is not too late." Ye Lanshan stood at the foot of the Sunset Mountains, quietly gazing at them, before finally turning and leaving with everyone without looking back.
"We're finally back." Qing Dai's weary voice finally carried a hint of joy.
Yes, they had returned to the Moon Kingdom, but this time they no longer had to live in fear, because the Moon Kingdom was now their territory. Though the emperor was still of the Yue family, he was merely a puppet; true power lay in the hands of the Ye and Mu families.
Moreover, Dream Red Pavilion had been rebuilt, once again becoming a place of indulgence and revelry for all, as well as the intelligence headquarters.
"A brothel?" Ling Chu Nian's worldview was shaken; she never expected Ye Lanshan to live in a brothel.
In the past, Ling Chu Nian would have looked down on her with contempt, but now she only felt pity.
"Of course, you won't be staying here." Ye Lanshan turned around and led Ling Chu Nian to the courtyard where Sikong Kuang once lived. The marks of past battles remained, but the house was intact and still livable.
Why not take them back to the Ye family? Because there were traitors within, so naturally she couldn't bring them there.
"Just settle in here comfortably. If anything comes up, I'll let you know." Ye Lanshan's voice was flat, and her gaze toward them was distant and unfamiliar.
"Oh, alright. Then, clan leader, we'll go in and tidy up." Ling Chu Nian felt a pang of disappointment; she could sense Ye Lanshan growing colder and more aloof toward them.
When had this started? It seemed to begin the moment Ye Lanshan rescued Huo Feiyan, back when that person named Xia Ri died.
Though she didn't say it aloud, Ling Chu Nian could feel Ye Lanshan's pain. Along the way, she had assumed Ye Lanshan was still reeling from Xia Ri's death, but after so long, the increasing coldness and distance made Ling Chu Nian realize something was deeply wrong.
What had happened? Why was the clan leader acting this way? Ling Chu Nian was utterly baffled.
"Yue Shu, now that your poison has been fully cleansed, and we have no other ties between us, it's time for you to return to the palace." Ye Lanshan's voice was faint, devoid of any emotion.
"So it's finally time to part ways? Take this Red Moon Xiao. If anything happens in the future, blow it, and I will appear before you." Yue Shu handed her his lifebound artifact and had her imprint her mark on it.
Ye Lanshan initially didn't want to accept it, but Yue Shu's bright eyes gazed at her so earnestly that she found it hard to refuse.
Seeing Ye Lanshan take the Red Moon Xiao, Yue Shu broke into a joyful smile and headed to the palace in high spirits.
Beside her, Yun Di cast her a resentful glance. Why did this woman attract so much attention?
"What's your next move?"
"What else? Naturally, I'll help you reclaim your position in the Sikong family." Ye Lanshan said casually, as if unaware of the storm her words would stir in his heart.
"What did you say? Say it again?" Yun Di was incredulous, his voice rising.
"Isn't it just helping you take back the Sikong family's position? But that might need to wait a few more days, until your uncle finishes refining the Nine-Turn Twin Life Pill." Ye Lanshan's voice was cool, and her expression seemed a bit dazed, though Yun Di didn't notice.
"Then what are we waiting for? Let's go quickly."
After years of waiting and pretending, finally being able to return to the Sikong family—it would be a lie to say he wasn't happy.
"Hey, Ye Lanshan, what's wrong with you?" In his excitement, he finally noticed something off about her.
"What is the meaning of my existence here?" Ye Lanshan's eyes held a desolate stillness, and her voice carried a hint of confusion, but it vanished in an instant.
Suddenly, she let out a soft laugh. "I'm being foolish too. Why am I saying all this? Alright, let's go."
Yun Di stared at her as she returned to her usual demeanor, his brow furrowing deeply. Something was wrong, terribly wrong. Ye Lanshan had been off ever since she mentioned Xia Ri's death.
"Lanshan, you're back." Ye Luotian laughed heartily, striding over in a few steps to embrace her tightly. That hug seemed to infuse her with new strength—the power of family bonds.
The Holy Land, the Transmigrators—I won't let a single one of you off. Rest assured, I'll make you see that my name will be forged from your blood.
"Grandfather, I'm back." Ye Lanshan curved her lips in his embrace. Family was so beautiful—how could she bear to let it go?
"Lanshan, eat more. Look how thin you've gotten out there." Ye Luotian ignored his own meal, piling dishes into her bowl.
Ye Lanshan looked helplessly at the mountain of food in her bowl, a mix of amusement and exasperation.
"Grandfather, with me here, I won't let anything happen to you again."
"This silly girl has really grown up. But what could happen to me alone in the Ye estate? Don't worry yourself over nothing." Ye Luotian paused mid-reach with his chopsticks, feeling a warmth in his heart, but also a trace of concern.
"Mm." Ye Lanshan nodded, picking up a bite of food from her bowl and eating it. It was delicious—she hadn't tasted such good food in a long time.
Even the last ray of sunlight faded, giving way to the world of the moon and stars. The moonlight wasn't strong but soft, and walking under such a night sky calmed even the most restless heart.
"Were you serious earlier? About helping me enter the Sikong family?" Yun Di's voice trembled with barely contained excitement.
"No." Ye Lanshan shook her head.
Yun Di's joyful heart sank. He opened his mouth to speak, but then heard her say slowly, "It's about reclaiming the Sikong family."
Yun Di rolled his eyes in exasperation. "When did you learn to talk in such a roundabout way? You've got my heart all over the place."
"Have I? I don't think so." Ye Lanshan's lips curled slightly; she seemed in a good mood.
"Come on, let's go see if your uncle has finished refining the Nine-Turn Twin Life Pill." Ye Lanshan walked forward.
"I say, aren't you being too impatient? How could it be done so quickly? At the very least, it'll take three days and nights." Yun Di looked at her in disbelief. Such a difficult pill to refine—did she think it was like rolling mud balls, one after another?
"That slow?" Ye Lanshan stopped in her tracks, thought for a moment, and decided to go back into seclusion to cultivate. By the time she emerged, the Nine-Turn Twin Life Pill should be ready.
Time flew by, slipping through the cracks in the blink of an eye. Three days had quietly passed, and she had stabilized at the mid-Golden Core stage, with her mystic power resting at the fifth-rank Mystic Emperor General.
"Miss." Ye Yu looked at the Nine-Turn Twin Life Pill, thinking his heart had long since calmed, yet a ripple stirred within him. Perhaps even he didn't realize that he secretly yearned to have his meridians restored.