In the days that followed, Ye Luotian subsisted on a type of food called medicinal cuisine. Though it carried the inherent bitterness of herbs, its effects were indeed remarkable—so much so that Ye Luotian was now able to train new recruits. Once Ye Luotian recovered, Ye Lanshan plunged into a frenzy of cultivation.
"I wonder if Miss Ye has emerged from seclusion yet?" Sun Chenbo arrived at the Ye residence gate once again. The guards at the door were exasperated; this young master Sun had taken to visiting daily, asking about the Ye family head's condition, for reasons unknown. Still, despite their annoyance, they dutifully answered, "The Ye family head is still in seclusion and has not come out. Please return for now, Young Master Sun."
Just as Sun Chenbo was about to leave, a gruff voice reached his ears: "You're Chenbo, aren't you? I never thought I'd see you so grown up after all these years." Turning around, Sun Chenbo saw it was Old Master Ye. He quickly bowed, "Sun Chenbo pays respects to Marshal Ye."
"Hmm, what are you doing here?" Ye Luotian's tone shifted abruptly from warmth to sharpness.
"I heard that Miss Ye has returned and wished to invite her for an outing, to help her get acquainted with the people here," Sun Chenbo replied without flinching, neither cowering nor groveling before Ye Luotian's imposing presence. This left a favorable impression on Ye Luotian.
"Ah! Among the younger generation in the capital, you're the only one who still remembers Lanshan and thinks to bring her into the circle. But Lanshan is currently in seclusion for cultivation. How about this: once she emerges, I'll ask for her opinion and send someone to notify you?" Ye Luotian found Sun Chenbo decent enough, but he hadn't yet looked into the man's true character. Naturally, he would prioritize Lanshan's wishes.
"Sun Chenbo thanks Marshal Ye in advance. In that case, I'll take my leave." After bowing once more to Ye Luotian, Sun Chenbo departed from the Ye estate.
When Ye Lanshan came out of seclusion and was chatting with Ye Luotian, he suddenly asked, "Lanshan, a few days ago, Sun Chenbo came to the mansion wanting to take you out for a stroll. What do you think?"
"Who is Sun Chenbo?" Clearly, Ye Lanshan didn't even know who he was.
Ye Luotian explained, "He's the legitimate son of the Sun family, ranked in the top ten of the Moon Kingdom's genius list. You two used to play together as children." Ye Lanshan thought hard but still had no recollection. However, she remembered that Sun Yulu also bore the surname Sun, so she asked, "What's his relationship with Sun Yulu?"
"Sun Yulu is Sun Chenbo's younger sister. Why, did you have a conflict with her?" Ye Luotian noticed Ye Lanshan's expression seemed off.
"Yeah," Ye Lanshan replied curtly, saying nothing more. Seeing her mood dampen, Ye Luotian quickly changed the subject: "Lanshan, how's your cultivation going lately?"
"Not bad." Ye Luotian felt that Ye Lanshan had been preoccupied lately, even her answers becoming so terse.
"Lanshan, what's been going on with you recently? I feel like you're always carrying a heavy heart. If something's wrong, just say it. Your grandfather is still a marshal of the nation—I won't let anyone bully you." Ye Lanshan paused mid-sip of her tea, then finally said, "It's nothing." Ye Luotian didn't believe she was truly fine, but since she didn't want to talk, he didn't press further, instead secretly sending people to investigate.
Seeing Ye Lanshan training so relentlessly, a guard suggested, "Miss, if you really want to boost your strength, why not check out the family arena?"
"What's the family arena?" Ye Lanshan admitted she didn't know about it. Though she'd heard Sun Yulu mention it before, she hadn't paid it any mind.
"The family arena is a key basis for the Moon Kingdom's genius rankings. Only children of major noble families are eligible to enter. There, you can challenge anyone you want," the guard said, a hint of longing creeping into his voice.
"I see. If you're strong enough, you can enter too," Ye Lanshan added, noticing the guard's yearning.
"Thank you for your kind words, Miss."
"So this is the family arena?" Ye Lanshan gazed at the seemingly grand structure. It wasn't quite what she'd imagined, but it looked decent enough.
"Ye Lanshan, you've finally come. Today, I'll show you what happens when you embarrass me!" Sun Yulu's pent-up frustration eased slightly at the sight of Ye Lanshan appearing in the arena. Imagining how she would torment Ye Lanshan, a glint of satisfaction flashed across her face. "I challenge you in the family arena!" Sun Yulu climbed onto the platform and pointed at Ye Lanshan.
Ye Lanshan had long been fed up with Sun Yulu, and since she'd come here to improve her strength anyway, she accepted the challenge without hesitation.
Every day, idle onlookers gathered by the family arena to watch the geniuses clash. Now that Sun Yulu was challenging a woman no one had seen before, curiosity piqued instantly.
"Who's that woman? Never seen her before," said Bystander A.
"You haven't seen her? That's Ye Lanshan, the new family head who turned the tide at the palace, saved everyone, and even cut ties with her own kin to protect the Ye family," Bystander B replied, proud of knowing her.
"Isn't she that waste Ye Lanshan exiled to Chaoyang City six years ago?" Bystander C chimed in.
Hearing this, Bystander B immediately retorted, "What waste could defeat Ye Suzhe and save everyone in the palace? Call her a waste again, and I won't go easy on you."
"Hmph, you're the only one saying that. Who knows if it's true? 'Won't go easy on me'—I'll do the same to you!" The tension between them grew sharp.
As they were about to come to blows, Bystander D calmly interjected, "This gentleman is telling the truth. I was at the palace and saw Ye Lanshan fight Ye Suzhe with my own eyes."
While the argument raged, the duel on the platform had reached a fever pitch. Sun Yulu hadn't expected Ye Lanshan to be this strong. She'd unleashed her full power, yet hadn't even scratched a single strand of Ye Lanshan's hair. Frustrated and furious, her eyes reddened as she unleashed her ultimate move, "Endless Waves." But Ye Lanshan, as if bored with the game, merely waved her hand, conjuring a blaze of fire clouds that instantly shattered the "Endless Waves."
This battle ended with Ye Lanshan's undisputed victory. And because of it, everyone came to know of her heroic feats at the palace.