Chapter 527: A Family Reunited
Yun Che's soft words were like thunderclaps in Yun Qinghong's ears. His upper body shook violently, his vision blurred, and his mind felt almost ready to burst from the surging blood.
"Child... you are my child... my child!!"
Mu Yurou let out a heart-wrenching cry, broke free of Yun Xiao's support, and threw herself onto Yun Che, clutching him tightly and wailing uncontrollably. Her arms tightened around him, pulling him closer and closer... as if she wanted to meld him into her own body. Her cries were so sorrowful, so piercing, that they seemed to make the whole world mourn.
Yun Qinghong reached out a hand, but it stopped in midair. He wanted to say something, but felt as if something was stuck in his throat. The moment he opened his mouth, the tears he had been holding back threatened to pour forth...
The Lunhui Jing—that was the item they had hung around their son's neck when they fled. They had prayed that this sacred artifact, guarded by the Demon Emperor Clan for generations and fought over across the Tian Xuan Continent, would display its divine might and protect their infant son, who had no choice but to flee with them. And the Arcane Firmament—that was even more ironclad proof... The names he had spoken—Tian Xuan Continent, Cang Feng Kingdom, Liu Yun City, Xiao Ying—were the very names they had recited countless times. He had mentioned these names when telling Yun Xiao's story to Yun Che, but the name "Xiao Lie" he had definitely never brought up...
And then there was his resemblance to a younger version of himself, that feeling of déjà vu despite their first meeting... and that inexplicable, almost irresistible sense of closeness and trust...
So that was it... so that was it...
No wonder he had wanted to come to the Yun Clan... no wonder he had risked his life, exhausted himself to the point of collapse, to cure their crippled bodies... no wonder he had been so good to them, husband and wife... no wonder he had risked offending such powerful enemies to quell the Yun Clan's troubles... no wonder he had sworn brotherhood with Yun Xiao... no wonder he had insisted on calling them "Father" and "Mother" instead of "Adoptive Father" and "Adoptive Mother"...
He was their child... their own flesh and blood... Heaven had returned their long-lost son, the one they had lost for over twenty years, back to their side...
He should have realized it long ago... In this world, who would care for a person so unconditionally, give everything for them without reason, if not a close family member? But even with countless doubts, how could he dare to hope for such a beautiful, untouchable outcome?
"My child... my child..." Mu Yurou's voice was completely hoarse, her sobs so intense she seemed almost lost to herself. She was no ordinary woman—she was a revered Emperor Lord powerhouse, the matriarch of the Yun Clan. Her talent was extraordinary, her status noble, and her temperament far from weak. Back then, she had even ventured with her husband into the dreaded Tian Xuan Continent—a place that made everyone speak of it with fear. That kind of courage and determination was unmatched in the entire Huan Yao Realm.
But today, her tears flowed like an ocean. Over the years, under the torment of longing for her son, who knew how many tears she had shed? In this world, only one person could make this woman, who feared not even storming the Tian Xuan Continent, so fragile. Only one person could make her cry so many tears—the son she had held just after his birth, only to never see him again.
The clothes on Yun Che's chest were soon soaked through with tears. The warm, damp sensation pierced straight into his heart, making it tremble. Slowly, he raised his hand, touched her trembling shoulder, and said softly, "Father, Mother, your son is unfilial... For over twenty years, I have not been able to stay by your side..."
"It's good that you're back... good that you're back..."
After those eight short words, Yun Qinghong choked up, unable to speak further.
Yun Xiao stood there dumbfounded, completely stunned. In his mind, only one voice echoed again and again: Big Brother is Father and Mother's son... their biological son...
Then... what about me... I... am I really not... their biological child...
He had known this truth for a long time. The entire Yao Huang City knew it. The inability to use the power of the Arcane Firmament was irrefutable proof... But since Yun Qinghong and Mu Yurou had never admitted it, this widely known fact had always been covered by a veil in his heart, a veil he didn't want to lift...
And now, that last veil was completely torn away. His mind was in chaos, and he didn't know what to do, or even if he should still be standing here. Then, Yun Che's earlier words echoed in his mind.
"So this is what Big Brother meant by the 'fateful turning point' I had to face," he murmured softly.
Yun Che's words only made Mu Yurou cry even louder. Over the years, she had not only endured the pain of losing her son but also the torment of guilt. Back then, because of them, their son had to flee with them right after birth. Even before he was born, he had been poisoned by the Cold Poison. To remove it, his profound veins were destroyed, leaving him crippled for life. At that time, she had been devastated, filled with the utmost guilt. Her only thought was that if they could escape, she would do everything in her power to make it up to him, to protect him. But in the end, they returned to the Huan Yao Realm, while their son stayed behind in the Tian Xuan Continent, a place they could never return to, denying her even the chance to nurture and raise him.
Now, her child had returned—like a dream, back to her side. He bore no resentment, no complaint. He had healed her body, given her a second life. He had eliminated the troubles plaguing the Yun Clan... and knelt before them, calling himself "unfilial"...
Not only had her son returned, but he was so outstanding, and so kind.
For twenty-two years, she had cursed the heavens countless times, resented fate countless times. But at this moment, she was almost using all her heart and devotion to thank the heavens above...
Yun Che had thought that with two months to prepare, he could remain calm enough. But submerged in his mother's embrace, listening to her cries, feeling the tears she poured onto him, his own eyes grew completely moist. She held him tight, so warm. In that warmth, as a teardrop formed at the corner of his eye, a feeling of weakness slowly rose in his heart...
Over the years, he had endured so much suffering, gone through so many twists and turns, even life and death. His will had long been as tough as iron. The blood he had shed was millions of times more than the tears he had wept. He had once faced a huge clan alone, an empire alone, even an entire continent alone... Even when pushed to the brink of life and death, he would still stubbornly raise his head, a cold, unyielding smirk on his blood-stained lips.
But at this moment, that feeling of weakness was so clear and irresistible, making him want to cry out loud.
He knew—it was because he was in his mother's arms.
For two whole lifetimes, until today, he had finally known what it meant to be in a mother's embrace. No longer was he a rootless wanderer without father or mother, covered only in dust and dry blood.
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Time seemed to slow down. No one disturbed their family reunion. The whole world seemed to have faded away.
But Yun Qinghong was still Yun Qinghong. At some point, he managed to control his emotions, silently watching the mother and son embracing. Sometimes he smiled, sometimes he closed his eyes. Finally, Mu Yurou's sobs, now completely hoarse, began to subside. He let out a slight breath and said in as light a tone as possible, "Yurou, Heaven has sent our child back to us. This is the greatest joy. Look at you crying—you've scared Che'er and Xiao'er."
Mu Yurou lifted her head, her face completely stained with tears. She sniffled softly, holding Yun Che's face in her hands, her movements as gentle as if she were holding a fragile treasure. Her eyes were misty as she murmured, "It's so good... This is my son... Che'er... my son..."
Her body trembled as she pressed her face against her son's. Though she tried desperately not to cry out loud, the pearly tears continued to fall, unable to stop. Her hands holding her son refused to let go, as if she feared that if she released him, he would disappear from her world again.
There was no trace left of her usual noble and elegant demeanor.
Yun Qinghong stepped forward and placed his hand on Yun Che's shoulder. He smiled, but when he opened his mouth, his voice choked. After a long moment, amid a trembling smile, he said softly, "Che'er, welcome home... We have been waiting for you in our dreams for a very, very long time..."
Yun Che quietly wiped the tears from the corner of his eyes, looked up, and said gently, "Father, Mother, I'm sorry. Your son came back too late, making you suffer all these years."
"It's not too late." Yun Qinghong shook his head with a smile. "It's good that you're back."
The man before him—so outstanding that even he was amazed, so remarkable that Mu Yubai had been willing to lower his own seniority to swear brotherhood with him—was his own son. The pride, joy, and satisfaction were so intense that they defied description. He felt that even if he had to trade his life for the reality of this moment, he would go with a smile.
"Yurou, our son has returned, and he's already this grown up. He won't run away anymore. How long are you going to keep hugging him?" Yun Qinghong gently patted his wife's back. "Or do you want our son, just after coming home, to kneel here for the entire afternoon?"
His last words took immediate effect. Seeing Yun Che's kneeling posture that had remained unchanged for so long, Mu Yurou's heart ached so much she almost shed tears again. She quickly wiped her eyes and reached out to help Yun Che up. "Che'er, get up quickly. The ground is cold... It's all Mother's fault. I forgot you were still kneeling."
Supported by Mu Yurou's gentle hands, Yun Che stood up. He shook his head and said, "It's all right, Mother. I haven't been by your side all these years. I owe you so many bows that even kneeling for three days and three nights wouldn't make up for it."
This bond of flesh and blood was too precious, too warm. He was willing to show his most obedient side to bring them comfort and joy. Beside him, Yun Xiao hesitated for a long time, then stepped forward timidly. "Father, Mother, Big Brother... con... congratulations on your family reunion..."
"It's not 'your' family reunion—it's 'our' family reunion!" Yun Che pulled Yun Xiao over. "Saying it like that makes it sound as if we're not one family."
"But I... I..." Yun Xiao bit his lip, flustered for a moment. Then, facing Yun Qinghong and Mu Yurou, he lowered his head and said dejectedly, "I... I... from now on... can I still... call you... Father and Mother?"
His words made Yun Qinghong and Mu Yurou pause in surprise, then they both smiled. Mu Yurou said tenderly, "Silly child, you have always been Father and Mother's Xiao'er. You are the son we raised, the one we love most. Of course you can still call us Father and Mother."
"Hey, Yun Xiao! What's this all about? We're sworn brothers!" Yun Che smacked Yun Xiao on the head. "When we swore brotherhood, we took an oath: we would be brothers for life. Your parents are my parents, and my parents are your parents. It's only been two months, and you're already denying me as your big brother?"
"No... I..." Yun Xiao waved his hands, his eyes misty. At that moment, he suddenly understood why Yun Che had wanted to swear brotherhood with him... So that each other's parents would be their own parents—an unbreakable vow. And he had delayed the recognition by two whole months, all for him... just for him...
A warm current of overwhelming emotion spread through his body. Yun Xiao lifted his head, his face breaking into a brilliant smile. "I'm sorry, Father, Mother, Big Brother. I was thinking too much. My beloved parents have found another son, and my most respected big brother has found his birth parents. I should be the happiest person! Father, Mother, Big Brother... congratulations on our family reunion!"
Yun Qinghong and Mu Yurou exchanged smiles, and Yun Che laughed out loud. After the tears and sorrow, the only thing left on their faces was a heartfelt, warm smile.
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[During the second proofread, I noticed that "rootless wanderer" was written as "rootless pomelo"... It made me laugh so hard I fell over in the bathroom.]