Chapter 197: A Family's Return to Tang Sect
At that moment, the door to the adjacent room creaked open.
Still drowsy from sleep, Jiang Nannan walked out rubbing her eyes, a small yawn escaping her lips.
She had indeed been exhausted the previous night. Though she was now awake, a soft blush still faintly lingered on her face, glowing with the tenderness of morning.
Her golden hair lay loose and slightly messy over her shoulders. She wore only Ye Chen's white outer robe, the oversized garment barely covering her thighs and revealing a pair of smooth, slender legs and pale feet beneath.
"Mom, Ye Chen, what are you two doing up so early…? Huh? Ye Chen, who is she?"
Still half-asleep, Jiang Nannan's gaze fell on the young woman standing beside Ye Chen—a stranger who, despite the shy smile and tears glistening in her eyes, looked strangely familiar.
The room fell silent for a moment.
The only sound was the quiet crackle of firewood.
Ye Yunxi froze, immediately recalling the events of the previous night. A faint redness spread across her cheeks, making her appear even younger and more radiant—so much so that Jiang Nannan suddenly stiffened, confusion and disbelief filling her heart.
Ye Yunxi instinctively stepped back slightly from Ye Chen, fearing her daughter might misunderstand.
But Jiang Nannan stood frozen in place.
Her brain stuttered for several seconds before a completely impossible thought struck her with startling clarity.
Her bright blue eyes widened in disbelief, her mouth opening in shock.
"M-Mom?!"
"Nan Nan…" Ye Yunxi answered softly. Her voice, clear and gentle, had regained the tone it had carried in her youth.
"Ah—!"
Jiang Nannan gasped aloud, clapping a hand over her mouth as her other hand trembled, pointing at the flawless young woman before her.
"I-It's really you?! Oh my god! What… what happened?! Ye Chen! What did you do to my mother?!"
Jiang Nannan turned to Ye Chen, her expression darting between astonishment and panic. Her mother's appearance—her youthful skin, glowing eyes, and radiant beauty—was beyond understanding.
Ye Chen couldn't help laughing calmly.
"Nothing happened," he replied with a shrug. "The pill I gave Auntie just has a strong rejuvenation effect."
"This medicine is… miraculous." Ye Yunxi looked down at her own hands—smooth, pale, flawless—then touched her face again in awe. The youthful color in her cheeks seemed to bloom like spring roses.
Her joy was almost blinding. "I feel… like I've been reborn!" she said happily.
She twirled lightly where she stood, her movements graceful and full of vitality.
"Mom! So you really are cured?"
Jiang Nannan rushed forward, laughter breaking from her lips as she threw her arms around her mother's neck. Tears of joy welled in her eyes. "That's wonderful! You look so beautiful!"
Ye Yunxi hugged her daughter back gently, smiling brighter than ever.
After some time, Jiang Nannan finally caught her breath and turned to Ye Chen, cheeks flushed. "Ye Chen… that pill of yours—do you have any left?"
"Of course." Ye Chen smiled lightly. "But this medicine only preserves youth. You're already in your prime, Nannan-jie—you don't need it yet. Later, if you ever feel your skin needs a little help, I'll make more for you."
Although the Seed of Life was a powerful healing treasure, Ye Chen's immense lifespan made its use trivial for him. For others, it was a miracle—he could easily use it as a beauty elixir if he chose.
If auctioned publicly, such a creation would sell for unimaginable prices.
But revealing it now would be risky—and Ye Chen wasn't desperate enough to exchange his life force for money. He would wait. When the next Continental Advanced Soul Master Tournament arrived, even one such pill sold then would be worth a fortune.
That fortune could then be used to acquire other rare treasures.
"I… see." Jiang Nannan blushed, embarrassed by her own curiosity.
The pill's power was beyond anything she'd ever imagined. Beyond healing, it could literally turn back time. Even women with modest means, she thought, would trade their fortunes for such a gift of youth.
…
Ye Chen stayed in the Jiang household for several more days, deepening—well, strengthening—his relationship with Jiang Nannan before they finally returned to Shrek City together.
He didn't leave Ye Yunxi behind either.
Now that she was his future mother-in-law, Ye Chen wouldn't let her live alone in a small, remote town where she could be vulnerable. There was also the risk of the Xuanming Sect discovering her whereabouts.
Shrek City offered safety—and comfort.
At first, Ye Yunxi had refused, insisting she didn't want to trouble him. No amount of persuasion worked until Ye Chen finally offered her employment, and only then did she relent.
…
Shrek City.
Tang Sect Headquarters.
Ye Chen returned to the main compound with Jiang Nannan and Ye Yunxi.
Nannan helped her mother out of habit, holding her arm gently though Ye Yunxi now seemed perfectly strong, her energy more vibrant than ever.
Ye Yunxi marveled quietly as they approached the Tang Sect's entrance.
The surrounding walls were not tall, but the entire courtyard exuded a sense of calm dignity. Two sturdy wooden gates marked the entrance, simple yet enduring.
"This… is the Tang Sect headquarters?" she asked in wonder.
In her imagination, the center of a sect should have been towering, bustling, filled with power. This elegant compound, lush and quiet, felt far too modest.
Ye Chen smiled, coughing softly. "Auntie, the Tang Sect is still in its early stages. We don't have many members yet. It's peaceful here—better for cultivation and living quietly."
He pushed the gate open with an inviting gesture. "Come on in. From now on, this will be your home. You can help look after the courtyard and prepare meals occasionally. Nothing too difficult."
Her new "job" was exactly that—a caretaker role to maintain the residence.
Ye Chen already had staff come by periodically to clean and prune the grounds, but having a trusted person like Ye Yunxi watching over the place put him more at ease.
Besides, it was quite convenient.
Now, whenever he returned, there would always be someone to welcome him—and food ready on the table.
What satisfied him the most, however, was Ye Yunxi's attitude.
She was open-minded and understanding.
Ye Chen knew he would bring more people to live here in the future, and with someone like Ye Yunxi around—calm, gentle, accepting—it made everything much easier.
Truly, it was reassuring to have her here.
(END CHAPTER)
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