Chapter 526: Recognition
While Yun Che and Yun Qinghong were conversing, two figures swiftly passed overhead and then landed, accompanied by a light laugh: "Heh heh, Yun Qinghong, it's been a long time."
The arrivals were Tianxia Wudi, with Tianxia Diyi also landing shortly after. Tianxia Wudi's "long time" carried a multitude of emotions... Though they lived in the same city, it truly had been a "long time."
"Brother Tianxia, it's been a while." Yun Qinghong nodded slowly, a deep sigh showing on his face. "And Helian Peng? Did you catch him?"
"That bastard, he sure runs fast. But I gave him a good kick in the ass—enough to hurt for ten days or so. At least it let off some steam, hahahaha!" Tianxia Wudi laughed heartily.
Tianxia Diyi stepped forward, performing a junior's salute: "Patriarch Yun has regained his former might—truly a cause for celebration. With you at the helm, the Yun Clan's resurgence is only a matter of time."
"Thank you for your kind words." Yun Qinghong smiled and nodded, then his expression turned serious. "The Huai Wang's ambitions have been fully exposed. The Little Demon Queen's ceremony a month from now is bound to be turbulent. Please inform Brother Tianxia that within five days, I will visit your clan to discuss important matters."
"Patriarch Yun's personal visit would be most welcome. I'm just afraid that once our clan head learns you've recovered, he won't be able to wait five days and will come running to you himself." Tianxia Wudi said with a chuckle. His words were no exaggeration—back in the day, the person Tianxia Xiongtu respected most was Yun Qinghong. After Yun Qinghong was crippled, he had sighed in regret no less than eight hundred times, if not a thousand.
"Patriarch Yun, with major events unfolding in your clan, you must be swamped. We came back only to bid farewell, so we won't intrude further. I'll relay your words in full. If you ever have free time, you're welcome to visit our Tianxia Clan." Tianxia Wudi clasped his hands. Though full of curiosity, he didn't presume to inquire how Yun Qinghong and his wife had recovered or when it had happened.
"Certainly!" Yun Qinghong returned the gesture.
"Brother Yun, a great kindness need not be spoken," Tianxia Diyi said to Yun Che, nodding firmly.
"Brother Tianxia, you're too kind. See you in a month." Yun Che smiled. "Also, if I may offer some advice: with the Little Demon Queen's ceremony approaching, it's likely to stir up trouble. I think this period is not the time to be distracted by settling scores with the Helian Clan. The greater plan takes precedence over personal grudges—ten years is not too late."
Yun Che's words didn't displease them. Tianxia Diyi nodded slightly, and Tianxia Wudi even showed a look of admiration, sighing softly, "Patriarch Yun, this adopted son of yours is truly extraordinary."
"Farewell."
Tianxia Wudi and Tianxia Diyi departed. What had happened at the Yun Clan today could never be hidden; by evening, it would spread like wildfire through the city. The Huai Wang's long-held ambitions would be largely brought into the open. This period in Yaohuang City would be turbulent, and the Twelve Guardian Clans would enter a state of extreme tension.
The Little Demon Queen's ceremony in one month was no longer a simple celebration of her centennial reign—it could very well become a turning point for the future fate of the Demon Illusion Realm.
Just after they left, Yun Xiao and Mu Yurou returned after seeing off Mu Yubai. As soon as she entered, Mu Yurou rushed straight to Yun Qinghong's side, her expression anxious: "What's the story with that clan leader token? Where did it come from?"
Yun Qinghong was even more eager to know. He looked at Yun Che and said, "It was Che'er who gave it to me."
"Che'er?" Mu Yurou turned in shock, her face full of disbelief.
"Che'er, it's time you told me about that clan leader token. That was part of your promise earlier." Yun Qinghong spoke calmly, but his shifting gaze betrayed his urgency. This token had been lost for a hundred years—lost back when it was on the person of his father, Yun Canghai! As the Yun Clan's most important item, Yun Canghai had never let it leave his side.
Yun Che's lips moved. He steadied his emotions slightly and said, "Let's go inside and talk... I'll tell you everything you want to know, from beginning to end."
"Good!" Yun Qinghong nodded. Judging by Yun Che's expression, he knew what he was about to say would be of great importance. He took Mu Yurou's hand and led the way inside.
Yun Xiao quickly came to Yun Che's side, astonished: "Big Brother, that clan leader token—did you really give it to Father?"
"Mm," Yun Che nodded. "I'll reveal its origin without holding back. After all, it was originally a Yun Clan item."
Finished, he glanced at Yun Xiao's somewhat dazed expression and said, "Yun Xiao, still thinking about what happened earlier?"
Yun Xiao lowered his head, half in melancholy, half in self-mockery: "I still can't accept that the Yun Xinyue I always respected the most was... that kind of person... I even doubted you because of her. I am such a fool!"
"All these years, I've been working hard, hoping to do more for Father and Mother. But when the entire Yun Clan was in danger, I could do nothing. Instead, I foolishly supported someone who nearly destroyed the family... If not for Big Brother, I don't know what would have become of the Yun Clan... You and I are close in age, but I fall so far short... I'm utterly useless. I don't know when I'll ever be like you."
Yun Che stopped, turned around, and patted Yun Xiao's shoulder firmly: "Don't belittle yourself. All these years, you've trained relentlessly for Father and Mother, endured and held back for their sake. That filial piety is more important and precious than anything. As for Yun Xinyue, even the elders who've lived for centuries and the supreme elders who've lived for nearly a millennium were completely in the dark. Your self-deprecation is entirely unnecessary. Keen alertness, foresight, and insight—those aren't things someone your age should have."
"Uh, but Big Brother, you're the same age as me..."
"I'm different." Yun Che shook his head. "Yun Xiao, I would rather you keep your current nature forever, always be 'useless' as you put it, than ever experience what I have."
Yun Xiao stared at him blankly, unable to comprehend.
Though their conversation was soft, it didn't escape Yun Qinghong's ears. Hearing Yun Che's words, his steps paused slightly, and his expression grew complex... Yes, at twenty-two, with a temperament and insight entirely at odds with his age, he couldn't imagine what he had been through.
"Yun Xiao, if you truly want to grow up quickly, today presents an opportunity." Yun Che suddenly said.
Yun Xiao perked up: "Really? What opportunity? What kind?"
"Fate always plays all sorts of jokes on us—some kind, some malicious, some cruel, even vicious. As a man, to truly stand tall and hold your own, the first thing you must learn is to face fate's upheavals calmly! This requires broad-mindedness and courage. If you can do that, your life will be elevated, giving Father and Mother more to rely on, and giving your Seventh Sister more strength."
"Face... calmly..." Yun Xiao was still somewhat bewildered, but Yun Che's words, though not fully understood, sounded impressive!
"What's about to happen next is a test for you," Yun Che said seriously. "Let me see if my lifelong good brother is a man who can stand tall and not be easily broken by fate's twists!"
Though he had no idea what Yun Che was referring to, his words stirred Yun Xiao's spirit. He said with great determination: "My mind isn't that fragile! Even if I can't compare to Big Brother, I won't let you look down on me!"
"Good, those are your words... Let's go inside."
Entering the room, the door closed behind them. Yun Qinghong took out the purple-glowing clan leader token, feeling its unique aura. Suppressing his excitement, he said urgently: "Che'er, tell me quickly—where did you get this?"
At this question, Yun Qinghong, Mu Yurou, and Yun Xiao all stared intently at Yun Che, waiting tensely and eagerly for his answer. Under their gazes, Yun Che did not speak but instead faced Yun Qinghong and Mu Yurou, slowly kneeling on both knees.
"Che'er, what are you doing... get up quickly." Mu Yurou panicked and rushed forward to help him up.
Yun Che did not rise. He looked up at them—his own birth parents—and slowly, bit by bit, opened his palm...
"Father, Mother... do you still remember this?"
In the center of Yun Che's palm lay an old, weathered copper-colored pendant.
The moment they saw that pendant, Yun Qinghong and Mu Yurou were as if struck by heavenly thunder, their bodies jolting violently. Mu Yurou, as if gone mad, pounced forward, snatched the pendant from Yun Che's hand, raised it before her eyes, her hands trembling wildly: "Lunhui Jing... it's the Lunhui Jing... it really is the Lunhui Jing!!"
Mu Yurou, who usually spoke softly like water, now let out a hoarse, terrifying voice. Yun Xiao was greatly startled and cried out in panic: "Mother, what's wrong with you?"
When he turned to look at Yun Qinghong, he saw that his entire face had completely contorted.
"This Lunhui Jing... where... where did you get it?" Yun Qinghong, wise and proud, spoke with immense difficulty. Suddenly, a possibility flashed in his mind, and his body trembled even more violently: "Could it be... you..."
Yun Che did not answer. He raised his left arm, where the Xuan Gang mark blazed brightly.
"Ah! Xuan... Xuan Gang!!" Yun Xiao screamed in shock. Though he didn't possess Xuan Gang power, having lived in the Yun Clan for over twenty years, he certainly recognized it.
Holding the Lunhui Jing, her eyes on the glowing Xuan Gang mark, Mu Yurou was stunned. Her hands trembled, her lips shook violently, but she could not make a sound. In an instant, both her eyes were completely blurred by tears. The world spun around her, and her body fell straight backward.
"Mother!!" Yun Xiao rushed forward to support her: "Mother! What's wrong? Don't scare me."
Yun Qinghong's gaze was vacant, his breath completely stopped. He could no longer feel his own body or the blood within it. The moment the Xuan Gang flared, all his hot blood surged to his head, making stars dance before his eyes, nearly causing him to vomit blood and faint.
Yun Che's eyes grew misty. He said softly: "Before I was sixteen, I didn't bear the surname Yun, but Xiao. At that time, Xiao Che was my name... I am not from the Demon Illusion Realm. The place I grew up was a country called Cang Feng Empire, one of the seven nations of the Tian Xuan Continent, in a place called Liu Yun City. My foster father was named Xiao Ying, and my grandfather was named Xiao Lie."
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