Chapter 896: Hope (Part One)
Illusion Demon Realm, Demon Emperor City, Yun Family.
After Yun Che was sent into the Jinwu Thunder Flame Valley, there had been no news of him for nearly a month. The entire Yun Family had been shrouded in an extremely oppressive atmosphere. Xiao Yaohou and Feng Xue'er went to the Jinwu Thunder Flame Valley every day, but not only did they receive no information, they couldn't even enter.
As time passed, the tense atmosphere filling Demon Emperor City grew heavier and heavier. The clan heads and commandery princes were overwhelmed with anxiety and fear every day, and all forces remained on full alert, ready for battle at any moment.
Because with each passing day, the day of Xuanyuan Wentian's next arrival drew closer.
It was one thing to bear this physical and mental burden for ten days or half a month, but after such a long stretch, even before Xuanyuan Wentian arrived, Demon Emperor City was already on the verge of collapse. Even the determination of the profound practitioners to defend the city to the death was being rapidly worn away.
Directly above the Yun Family, ripples of space spread out in circles, and the Primordial Mystic Ark, which had traversed over nine million miles, appeared silently.
"Senior, Ling'er, this is the imperial city of the Illusion Demon Realm, and below is my home." Yun Che introduced to Su Ling'er and Yun Gu, his heart surging with emotion.
After more than half a month in the Jinwu Thunder Flame Valley, and then another ten-plus days in the Cang Yun Continent, they must have all been terribly worried.
And they definitely wouldn't imagine what he had experienced these days.
"What a huge city—I can't even see the edge." Su Ling'er was filled with amazement and curiosity, but even more so with nervousness. Because she was about to meet Yun Che's biological parents, and also…
"The aura here is vastly different from the Cang Yun Continent. I never thought I'd be fortunate enough to set foot in a new world in my lifetime."
Now that he had arrived, Yun Gu had also accepted all of this with complete calm.
"Senior, Xue'er, believe me, you'll soon come to like this place." Yun Che said with a smile. Then, taking a slight breath, he let out a shout from the depths of his lungs that carried far into the distance: "Grandfather! Father! Mother! Little Aunt! Xiao Yun! Caiyi! Yue'er! Xue'er… I'm back!!"
Yun Che's loud roar instantly stirred up a thousand waves in the Yun Family, which had been oppressive for so long.
The sounds of doors being violently pushed open overlapped with each other.
"Xiao Che!!"
"Hubby!!"
Cang Yue and Xiao Lingxi, who were in the main hall, rushed out and saw Yun Che descending from the air. Looking at them, Yun Che opened his arms wide and said with a beaming smile: "Lingxi, Yue'er, what are you standing there for? Hurry up and throw yourselves into my arms."
Cang Yue and Xiao Lingxi threw themselves onto Yun Che's chest, one on each side. The worry, fear, and longing of the past period caused Xiao Lingxi's emotions to burst, and she cried her heart out. Even Cang Yue, who had long cultivated enough strength, trembled all over and choked violently, unable to speak.
"…" Su Ling'er's lips parted as she quietly watched Yun Che's back, her emotions indescribably complex. But as a fellow woman, she could feel how intense the emotions of the two girls who had thrown themselves desperately into Yun Che's arms were for him.
"Big Brother… Big Brother!" Xiao Yun came running over with Xiao Lie, his steps hurried and disordered, followed by Tianxia Diqi, who was holding Xiao Yong'an tightly. During this time, the couple had still been staying at the Yun Family.
"Xiao Yun, Seventh Sister, thank you for taking care of Grandfather during this time." Yun Che said with a smile.
"Big Brother, you… it's good that you're okay." Xiao Yun's eyes trembled, his voice choked. During the days Yun Che was away, he had also been in a state of intense fear. After all, Yun Che's condition before being sent into the Jinwu Thunder Flame Valley that day was truly terrifying, and then there was no news for a long time. He and Tianxia Diqi had tried various ways to comfort Xiao Lie, saying that Yun Che's life was tougher than anyone's and nothing would happen, but they themselves were worried day and night.
"Young Master! Young Family Head!"
"Palace Master!"
The entire Yun Family, including all the women of the Ice Cloud who lived in the outer courtyard, gathered together. Every face was filled with profound excitement.
Before arriving, Yun Che had only briefly mentioned to Yun Gu and Su Ling'er that he was the Young Family Head of the Yun Family in the Illusion Demon Realm. But judging by the scene before them, his role for the entire Yun Family and these people was far more than just that of a Young Family Head. He was surrounded by layers of people, and everyone was uncontrollably excited by his safe return… He was only a young man in his twenties, but he seemed like an indispensable core of the entire world.
"Che'er! Che'er!"
Mu Yurou flew over with tears streaming, and beside her was Yun Qinghong, who was struggling to suppress his excitement. Yun Che quickly went to meet them and immediately knelt on both knees, saying guiltily: "Father, Mother, your son has been unfilial. During this time… I made you worry again."
"Che'er, quickly, get up." Mu Yurou, ignoring her tear-streaked face, hurriedly helped Yun Che up and looked him over again and again: "You're finally back. If you hadn't come back, Mother would have… Che'er, are you completely healed? Are you completely fine now? The Golden Crow Sacred God completely healed you this time, right?"
Every word Mu Yurou spoke was filled with deep, ocean-like concern. Yun Che looked into her eyes and nodded with great emphasis: "Mother, this time I am completely, utterly healed. So much so that it couldn't be better. What happened before will never happen again."
"Re… really?" Mu Yurou was so overjoyed she was almost incoherent: "That's good, that's good… wonderful…"
"Father, your son was unworthy during that time. With a great enemy at the gates, I was dispirited and must have worried and disappointed you. I promise it will never happen again." Yun Che said, looking at Yun Qinghong.
The moment he saw Yun Che today, Yun Qinghong sensed an enormous change in his demeanor… one could even call it a transformation.
The dullness was gone, the heaviness was gone, and not a trace of gloom remained. In their place was a brightness and excellence that surpassed even before. Compared to his state before being taken to the Jinwu Thunder Flame Valley, it was as if he had been thoroughly remolded.
Yun Qinghong gave a deeply relieved and satisfied laugh. He reached out and patted Yun Che heavily on the shoulder: "A real man can be dispirited for a time, but he will never be dispirited for a lifetime…"
Suddenly, his hand stopped on Yun Che's shoulder, and a look of profound surprise appeared on his face… because the profound force flowing through Yun Che was unmistakably at the Emperor Lord level!
"Che'er, your profound force…" Yun Qinghong looked up at him in disbelief.
"Father, later you can inform Grandfather and the others. The city protection formation can be kept temporarily, but as for the martial law state, it can be completely lifted." Yun Che said with a confident but not overbearing smile: "Right now, I actually hope Xuanyuan Wentian comes himself, so I don't have to waste effort going to the Tian Xuan Continent to find him."
"…" Yun Qinghong's hand on Yun Che's shoulder tightened, his eyes slightly rigid, and he was so excited he couldn't speak.
"Is Xue'er not home?" Yun Che didn't see Feng Xue'er's figure.
"She went to the Jinwu Thunder Flame Valley with Xiao Yaohou." Mu Yurou said: "During this time, they went there every day. But around now, they should be returning."
"Brother Yun!!"
Mu Yurou had barely finished speaking when an urgent shout came from the distance. Feng Xue'er, dressed in red, ignored the crowd around her and threw herself heavily onto Yun Che. Xiao Yaohou arrived afterward and quietly landed beside Yun Che, still with an expressionless face, and said coldly: "Yun Che, what happened in the Jinwu Thunder Flame Valley? Why were you gone so long, making so many people worry about you?"
She averted her gaze and then said indifferently: "How are you now?"
"Heh, of course I'm fine. You can tell just by looking at me." Yun Che said with a laugh.
"Oh, I forgot to introduce everyone." Yun Che went over to Su Ling'er and Yun Gu. First, he took Su Ling'er's little hand: "This is Ling'er, Su Ling'er. She came back with me from the Cang Yun Continent. Ling'er, these are my father and mother."
"Ling'er greets Uncle and Aunt." Su Ling'er stepped forward and gave a slight bow.
"What did you say? The Cang Yun Continent?" Xiao Yaohou suddenly turned around. Although few people knew of the Cang Yun Continent's existence, the Illusion Demon Realm did have ancient records of it, and Xiao Yaohou was one of those who knew of it… but that was all.
"Mm," Yun Che nodded: "Actually, I wasn't in the Jinwu Thunder Flame Valley during that time. I went to the Cang Yun Continent on the Mystic Ark… I'll explain the details to you all later."
"…" A deep shock appeared between Xiao Yaohou's brows, but she didn't press further in public.
Mu Yurou's focus, however, was not on some Cang Yun Continent. She saw the way Yun Che and Su Ling'er looked at each other, and her heart understood perfectly—she was definitely about to gain another daughter-in-law! Instantly, her face lit up with a smile as she actively went over and took Su Ling'er's hand, saying softly: "Ling'er, although Aunt doesn't know where the Cang Yun Continent is, since you're willing to come here with Che'er, from now on, this place is your home. If you need anything, just tell Aunt."
"Thank you, Aunt." Warm ripples welled up in Su Ling'er's heart.
"Che'er, who is this senior?" Yun Qinghong's gaze turned to Yun Gu. This white-haired old man had the demeanor of an immortal and carried an aura that deeply inspired admiration. He noticed that Yun Che looked at him with profound respect… and aside from his own elders, he had never seen Yun Che show such respect to anyone.
Yun Che quickly said: "This is Senior Medical Sage, also of the Yun surname. His medical skills can be said to be unparalleled through the ages. From now on, he will also be staying in our Illusion Demon Realm."
Yun Qinghong's heart shook violently. Yun Che's medical skills were already miraculous, and the phrase "unparalleled through the ages" came from his mouth—it was no small matter!
He quickly performed a salute and said: "So this is Senior Medical Sage! To have a remarkable person like Senior Medical Sage is truly a blessing for our Illusion Demon Realm."
"This old man is merely an ordinary physician. I am unworthy of such praise from Clan Head Yun." Yun Gu immediately returned the salute, but then his gaze fell on Xiao Yaohou. He spoke directly: "May I ask how this young lady is addressed?"
Xiao Yaohou's brow twitched slightly, and she turned around. Yun Che quickly introduced: "Senior Medical Sage, this is Xiao Yaohou, the Emperor of the Continent of the Illusion Demon Realm."
"I see." Yun Gu nodded slightly, his face not showing much fluctuation. As a physician, he almost never was moved by the status of the person he treated. He continued to examine Xiao Yaohou, and with others nearby, he hesitated to speak.
Yun Che's heart stirred violently. Aside from Yun Qinghong, only he and Xiao Yaohou were aware of Xiao Yaohou's condition. And her condition did not show on the outside; if he hadn't known in advance, even with his perceptiveness, he wouldn't have been able to detect anything wrong with her.
But Yun Gu's expression… he had clearly seen through it at a glance!
Yun Che's heart began to tremble with excitement. How could I have overlooked such an important point! I can't save Caiyi, but Master might have a way… because he is a master of medicine unprecedented and unsurpassed!
"Father! Please prepare a quiet place for us!" Yun Che suddenly said, then pulled Xiao Yaohou over: "Senior Medical Sage, may I trouble you to first… take Xiao Yaohou's pulse?"
Xiao Yaohou: "…?"
Yun Gu nodded slightly: "This old man will do his best."
Yun Qinghong finally reacted and quickly said: "Clear the main hall at once! Everyone immediately withdraw three hundred zhang from the main hall. Without my personal permission, no one is to approach!"