After all, Yue Qingshan was a Child of Destiny—at such a critical juncture, stumbling upon an Ancient Ruin seemed entirely plausible.
Great Saint Realm existences were rare even in the Immortal Realm. Every cultivator who reached that pinnacle possessed not only immense power but often commanded a terrifying force.
Ye Qian refused to believe a Great Saint lacked reserves or contingencies.
Throughout the Immortal Realm, powerful experts left behind inheritances before their deaths, ensuring their legacies endured.
Countless Ancient Ruins and Legacies lay hidden in unknown places—some even containing Demonic Legacies. Yet if any major power discovered a Demonic inheritance, they spared no effort to eradicate it.
Demons were existences of absolute terror. The Immortal Realm could tolerate no demonic presence. Should Demons run rampant, instability would spread throughout the entire realm like wildfire through dry grass.
Ye Qian considered this for a moment before addressing Yun Lan.
"Continue monitoring him. Observe his intentions. Should he enter an Ancient Ruin, follow him inside if possible.
Report any developments to me immediately—but if you encounter an irresistible force, your safety takes priority."
Yun Lan froze.
She'd expected him to declare the mission paramount. Instead, he'd told her to prioritize her own survival. The words left her momentarily stunned, wondering if she'd misheard.
Silence stretched between them.
Ye Qian's frown deepened. "Yun Lan? Did you hear me?"
"Yes, Young Master."
The words came quickly now, a small warmth kindling in her chest.
"I'll keep close watch on him."
The communication ended.
Yun Lan moved to the window, her gaze settling on the inn across the street.
She didn't know which room housed Yue Qingshan, but one certainty remained—he was there, still within those walls. This vantage point offered a clear view of the inn's entrance.
The moment he emerged, she would know.
She settled in to wait, stillness her companion.
For cultivators of sufficient realm, meditation replaced sleep entirely. Though her eyes remained fixed on the inn, her thoughts drifted elsewhere.
Ye Qian had changed dramatically since his Qi Deviation—showing concern for subordinates, considering their wellbeing. The old Ye Qian would never have spoken such words.
Such a profound transformation following Qi Deviation defied understanding.
Yet she felt certain this was still her Young Master. Perhaps the Qi Deviation had cleared the fog from his mind, revealing a truer self beneath.
Regardless, she preferred this version—far superior to the pampered, arrogant youth he'd been before.
...
The next day arrived at the Yue Family grounds.
Two full days had passed without a single sighting of Yue Qingshan. If he'd entered seclusion to cultivate, he should have informed someone. Instead, he'd simply vanished.
The irregularity was glaring. Yue Bo dispatched searchers throughout the surrounding area, but they found nothing—no trace, no clue.
Then Yue Bo recalled Yue Qingshan's fury upon learning that Yue Ming had been sent to Ye Qian. His heart plummeted.
Could that fool have gone to confront Ye Qian?
Given the boy's stubborn temperament, such recklessness was entirely possible.
The Young Master of the Ye Family wasn't someone a mere genius disciple of the Yue Family could provoke.
If Yue Qingshan had provoked Ye Qian's wrath and brought calamity upon the entire family, the loss would be catastrophic.
Anxiety clawing at him, Yue Bo immediately sent a message to his daughter through the communication stone. He needed to know what Yue Qingshan had done—if anything.
After several failed attempts, he finally reached her.
"Father, is something urgent?"
Yue Ming's puzzled voice filtered through the stone.
Yue Bo swallowed hard.
"Yue Ming, I must ask you something. Where has Yue Qingshan been these past two days?
Did he... did he go to the Young Master?"
Fear tinged his words. He desperately hoped his imagination had conjured horrors that didn't exist. If his fears proved accurate, the Yue Family would be deeply implicated.
Ye Qian might not punish them immediately—but if he remembered the offense later, the Yue Family couldn't bear the consequences.
Silence stretched across the connection.
"Yue Qingshan did come," Yue Ming said finally.
"He came to challenge the Young Master."
The word 'challenge' struck like lightning. Yue Bo's breathing accelerated, eyes widening in disbelief.
At that moment, he wanted nothing more than to drag Yue Qingshan before him and deliver a savage beating.
"What was the result?! Was the Young Master injured?!
That brat actually dared commit such an act without consulting me!
When I catch him, I'll make him pay dearly!"
Worry consumed him now. If this incident implicated the Yue Family, wouldn't everything be ruined?
He'd personally sent his daughter to Ye Qian specifically to appease any potential anger. But Yue Qingshan's recklessness had rendered all his efforts meaningless.
How could rage not burn within him?
Yue Ming understood his concerns completely. She held nothing back.
"It's fine, Father. The Young Master harbors no anger toward our family because of this.
He has no intention of punishing the Yue Family."
The crushing weight lifted from Yue Bo's chest. Relief flooded through him like water breaking through a dam.
If this incident had earned Ye Qian's hatred for the entire Yue Family, the consequences would have been unthinkable.
Fortunately, the Young Master possessed magnanimity. He hadn't vented his anger upon the entire clan for one fool's actions.
"I understand, Yue Ming...
Continue serving the Young Master well. If you serve him diligently, you'll surely earn a place by his side in the future."
He paused, and when he spoke again, his voice had turned cold.
"As for Yue Qingshan—since he dared commit an act that endangered the family, he has no place remaining within it."
A frigid glint flashed through Yue Bo's eyes. Though he'd greatly admired Yue Qingshan's talent, admiration didn't mean tolerance for betrayal.