To lighten the heavy mood, Zhao Yurou changed the subject.
"Guyi, what do you think of that Wang Chen? If he's suitable, you should spend more time with him. A girl should be reserved, yes—but when you meet someone you truly like, you also need to take the initiative."
During the past three years, Ye Guyi had often gone to look for Wang Chen.
Since Ye Guyi and Zhao Yurou were very close, she never hid anything from her.
So naturally, Zhao Yurou knew who Wang Chen was. Not only that, she could tell that Ye Guyi's feelings for Wang Chen had gradually deepened.
That shy, absentminded, blushing look she sometimes had—anyone who wasn't blind could see that Ye Guyi already had someone in her heart.
Being poked right where it hurt, Ye Guyi quickly raised her head and denied it.
"No, no, I don't! Wang Chen and I are just ordinary friends. And besides, Wang Chen already has a girlfriend."
When she mentioned that Wang Chen had a girlfriend, the light in Ye Guyi's beautiful eyes dimmed noticeably.
Zhao Yurou looked at the discouraged girl before her, and couldn't help but chuckle—Ye Guyi looked just like a golden retriever that had been scolded.
After taking care of Ye Guyi for so many years, Zhao Yurou understood her very well.
Ye Guyi was kind-hearted and proud by nature—too shy to take the initiative, too dignified to fight or compete.
Because of that, she would easily suffer losses when it came to matters of love.
As her aunt, Zhao Yurou naturally had to help Ye Guyi a little. She couldn't just watch her own child get hurt.
Zhao Yurou reached out and pinched Ye Guyi's soft, delicate cheek.
"So what if he has a girlfriend? As long as he's not married and doesn't have children, it's no big deal.
Love is something you have to fight for—you can't afford to be humble about it.
There are only so many good men in this world.
When you meet someone you like and who suits you, you absolutely cannot let him slip away."
Hearing this, Ye Guyi's mind went blank, and her face instantly flushed bright red.
She lowered her head and murmured softly, "Aunt Zhao… Wang Chen and I really are just friends."
Zhao Yurou looked at her shy expression and couldn't help but laugh.
"Silly girl, feelings aren't so easy to explain clearly. If you truly like him, don't let yourself regret it later.
Didn't you say Wang Chen is even stronger than you? His talent must be outstanding—his future limitless.
And he's handsome too.
A boy who's excellent inside and out—if you miss him, you'll regret it for the rest of your life."
Ye Guyi bit her lip, a flicker of hesitation in her eyes.
Of course she knew how extraordinary Wang Chen was, and she also knew she liked him.
But Wang Chen already had a girlfriend—she truly didn't know how she could pursue him.
"Aunt Zhao… I… I don't know what to do," Ye Guyi said in a voice barely above a whisper.
Zhao Yurou gently patted Ye Guyi's hand and said softly,
"If you like him, then go after him bravely, with all your heart.
Even if you fail in the end, at least you won't regret it.
And your aunt will teach you how to win Wang Chen over."
As a high-ranking member of the Ordinary Alliance, Zhao Yurou might be gentle toward Ye Guyi,
but toward outsiders, she was always ruthless and decisive.
Ye Guyi lifted her head, her eyes flickering—clearly moved.
Inside her heart, two little angels began to argue.
The cute white angel flapped her wings and said,
"Ye Guyi, wake up! How could you do something like stealing someone else's love?
Wang Chen and Meng Hongchen are childhood sweethearts—how awful would it be to ruin their relationship?"
The black angel retorted,
"What's so awful about it? That toad Meng Hongchen just met Wang Chen a few years earlier, that's all.
It's no big deal. You and Meng Hongchen can compete fairly,
and whoever Wang Chen chooses in the end—that's his freedom!"
The white angel swung her holy sword at the black angel.
"Villain! Taste my blade!"
The black angel snorted.
"Naïve fool! I've been annoyed with you for a long time—die!"
Then the black angel drew her own black holy sword,
and the two of them began fighting furiously.
Ye Guyi's heart was in complete turmoil—she didn't know what to do.
In the end, she could only turn to her Aunt Zhao for help.
"But Wang Chen already has a girlfriend… wouldn't that be wrong of me?"
Zhao Yurou smiled.
"What's wrong with that? Love isn't like other things—it doesn't follow so many rules.
As long as he's not married, you still have a chance.
Besides, feelings are personal—you can't give up your own happiness for the sake of some stranger you don't even know, right?"
Ye Guyi was silent for a while.
Then the dullness in her eyes vanished, replaced by determination.
"Aunt Zhao, I understand. I'll give it my all."
Zhao Yurou nodded in satisfaction.
"That's the Ye Guyi I know. Be brave—don't let yourself have regrets."
Ye Guyi took a deep breath, her eyes firm.
She knew Aunt Zhao was right—love wasn't something to shrink away from.
Since she liked Wang Chen, she had to be brave enough to fight for him.
Even if she failed, at least she would have tried.
Inside her heart, the black angel burst into triumphant laughter,
pulling out a whip and lashing the white angel mercilessly until she crouched on the ground, covering her head and crying.
"Naïve fool! I'm the one who truly wants what's best for our master!"
The white angel whimpered,
"Stop hitting me! I surrender, okay?"
Seeing Ye Guyi's mindset change, Zhao Yurou smiled.
"When I've recovered a bit more, you can take me to meet Wang Chen.
I want to see for myself just how amazing he is—to think he could charm my proud little Guyi so deeply."
Ye Guyi blushed furiously.
She and Wang Chen didn't even have an official relationship yet—meeting the family already was way too early!
Feeling her weakened body, Zhao Yurou sighed inwardly.
For a soul master, the meridians were everything.
With them severed, soul power couldn't flow.
Forget soul skills—even the body itself would gradually deteriorate without the nourishment of soul power.
Now, she only wanted to see what kind of man Wang Chen was.
If he was truly worthy, she would entrust Ye Guyi to him.
As for Wang Chen already having a girlfriend and possibly rejecting Guyi—that possibility was, in her mind, practically nonexistent.
After living so long, Zhao Yurou understood men all too well—there was no such thing as a man who wasn't fickle.
A stunning, talented young beauty like Ye Guyi—no man could resist her.
Just then, faint footsteps came from outside the door.
Ye Guyi instinctively drew her soul tool longsword from her storage soul device, taking a battle stance.
But Zhao Yurou patted her hand, signaling her to put the weapon away.
"Come in," Zhao Yurou said calmly.
The door opened, and an unbelievably beautiful woman appeared—
dressed in a seductive crimson off-shoulder gown.
Shangguan Weier's exquisite face wore a gentle, charming smile.
Her gaze swept over Zhao Yurou and Ye Guyi before resting on Zhao Yurou.
"Elder Zhao, I came to see you," Shangguan Weier said, her lovely face carrying a hint of a smile.
Ye Guyi looked at her—her mature, voluptuous figure and alluring aura—and thought to herself,
The leader of the Ordinary Alliance, Shangguan Weier… I wonder why she's here.
Seeing Shangguan Weier, Zhao Yurou struggled to sit up and offer a salute,
but her weak body wouldn't allow it.
She could only nod slightly. "Thank you for your concern, Alliance Leader."
Shangguan Weier waved a hand. "No need. Elder Zhao has contributed greatly to the Ordinary Alliance.
Now that you've been injured, of course the alliance won't neglect you."
With that, Shangguan Weier took a small box from the storage soul tool bracelet on her wrist and handed it to Zhao Yurou.
"There are five million gold soul coins in this box," she said,
"along with some healing pills.
They won't be able to repair your meridians,
but they'll help your body recover more quickly.
From now on, the Ordinary Alliance will issue you a fixed pension each year,
to be delivered to your family.
We'll also ensure their protection."
Zhao Yurou smiled faintly. "Thank you, Alliance Leader."
Shangguan Weier nodded, her gaze turning toward Ye Guyi.
A glint of surprise flickered in her eyes.
As a Title Douluo, her perception was extraordinary.
With just a glance, she could roughly gauge Ye Guyi's age and cultivation.
Her body might have been well-developed,
but she couldn't be older than sixteen—perhaps even younger.
Yet she already possessed power close to the Soul King level.
A true prodigy—and with such stunning looks to match.
If she could be recruited and trained, she would surely become a formidable force.
Smiling, Shangguan Weier said, "You must be Ye Guyi? What a beautiful young lady."
Ye Guyi lifted her head and bowed respectfully. "Greetings, Alliance Leader."
Shangguan Weier smiled and extended an olive branch.
"No need for formality.
Elder Zhao was injured serving the Ordinary Alliance—we won't ignore that.
If you're willing, you can join the alliance as well.
We'll provide you with the best resources and training."
Ye Guyi was silent for a moment, then shook her head.
"Thank you for your kindness, Alliance Leader. But right now, I just want to take care of Aunt Zhao."
Shangguan Weier's eyes softened with appreciation.
"I see. I won't force you.
But if you ever change your mind, come find me anytime.
The doors of the Ordinary Alliance will always be open to you."
As leader of the Ordinary Alliance and a Title Douluo powerhouse,
Shangguan Weier had met many geniuses.
Although she admired Ye Guyi greatly, she wouldn't force her to join.
After all, someone who joined unwillingly couldn't be trusted or controlled.
If resentment grew and that person became powerful, she might simply leave one day.
A smart leader never forced loyalty.
Besides, with Zhao Yurou as a connection between them,
if Ye Guyi ever decided to join a faction in the future,
the Ordinary Alliance would naturally be her first choice.
That was enough.
Having said that, Shangguan Weier turned and left the room, leaving Zhao Yurou and Ye Guyi alone.
Zhao Yurou watched Ye Guyi, knowing that Shangguan Weier had probably already seen through her cultivation level.
Even though she had given Ye Guyi a soul tool to conceal her aura,
before a Title Douluo like Shangguan Weier, it was practically useless.
Still, since her Angel Spirit hadn't been exposed, there was no real harm done.
Zhao Yurou took out one of the healing pills Shangguan Weier had given her and swallowed it.
Ye Guyi immediately extended her fair, slender hand, pressing it against Zhao Yurou's lower abdomen,
helping her refine the medicine's power.
After a while, Zhao Yurou's injuries visibly improved,
and some color returned to her pale face.
Ye Guyi said, "Aunt Zhao, there are still a few pills left.
Once you finish them, your external injuries should be mostly healed.
Then I'll look for medicinal ingredients that can repair your meridians and help you regain your cultivation."
Zhao Yurou didn't discourage her. She just smiled.
"There's no rush. We'll take it slowly.
When I've recovered in a few days, you can take me to meet Wang Chen."
Ye Guyi blushed deeply and nodded.
——————————
A few days later—morning.
The sun rose slowly from the horizon, cutting through the darkness and lighting up the sky.
In the central hall of the Wang Family,
Wang Chen sat cross-legged, cultivating his Tongmai Gong technique.
After using the second crystal imprint of the black book to refine his cultivation method,
he could now temper his body and his spiritual sea between his brows while cultivating soul power—
without slowing his cultivation progress at all.
Simply put, he was training body, soul power, and spirit—the three aspects—in unison.
After a full night of cultivation, Wang Chen felt soreness throughout his body—
a sign he had reached his limit. It was time to relax.
He slowly opened his eyes.
Sunlight streamed through the window, and he smiled faintly.
Clenching his fists, Wang Chen thought,
"This new cultivation method is incredible.
If I continue training this way,
by the time I reach Rank 70, the Soul Sage level,
I'll definitely be able to absorb a hundred-thousand-year spirit ring.
And my spiritual power will reach the tangible-yet-formless realm—
something only Title Douluo can achieve."
Taking a deep breath, he stretched lazily, then pressed a button on the soul tool by his bedside.
Moments later, five beautiful maids entered the room to help him wash and massage.
One wiped his face, another massaged his legs, another his shoulders,
while another held mouthwash up to his lips.
In two words—pure comfort.
Just as Wang Chen was enjoying their service,
a maid entered and said,
"Master, there's a young woman named Ye Guyi here to see you.
She's waiting in the reception hall. What are your instructions?"
Hearing that Ye Guyi had come, Wang Chen waved his hand, dismissing the maids.
Then, in a flash, his figure disappeared—reappearing in the reception hall.
There, he saw a breathtakingly beautiful young woman with a slender, graceful figure
and dazzling golden hair.
Smiling, Wang Chen said, "Guyi, long time no see. How have you been lately?"
Ye Guyi blushed, her face crimson.
Then Wang Chen noticed something unusual—
behind Ye Guyi stood a charming, middle-aged beauty,
smiling as she studied him closely.