The mansion was somewhat dilapidated; even the red paint on the main gate had peeled off in places. Having gone without repairs for many years, one could imagine how poor the living conditions inside must be. It appeared shabby and humble, a far cry from the grand palaces and pavilions of the other branches of the Ye Family.
This caused Ye Chen's expression to darken. Had his parents and clansmen been living in such a place all this time, so unwelcome by others?
Although he knew that the ancestor of the Tian Du lineage was originally a Saint who had been cast out by the Ye Family, it shouldn't have been to this extent. The Ye imperial clan was truly going too far.
"Cousin Ye Chen, you'd better prepare yourself mentally," Ye Zhengyang suddenly sighed softly, causing Ye Chen's heart to inexplicably sink.
He didn't ask, however, and instead walked inside with Ye Zhengyang.
Upon entering, they saw several slightly rundown pavilions within the mansion grounds. Strangely, it was eerily quiet, with few people about. Even the main gate lacked the imposing guards typical of other branch families.
Ye Zhengyang sighed. "Our Tian Du lineage branch is very unwelcome within the imperial clan. Originally, thanks to Young Master Ye Gucheng, we had a decent mansion with some servants and stewards to help manage it. But after he left, another powerful lineage within the imperial clan began to suppress us. We had no choice but to be driven out to live here. Many elders in our clan have been targeted and reassigned by that lineage, and some have even been secretly attacked, injuring several of our clansmen."
Ye Chen had learned from Ye Gucheng that the most fundamental reason why the Tian Du lineage's ancestor, Saint Ye Ruoxian, was expelled from the imperial clan was a dispute with a powerful branch lineage, during which he killed several people, leading to his exile.
The lineage Ye Zhengyang spoke of was likely that same one from back then, and it was very powerful, not much weaker than the main family head's lineage.
Ye Gucheng had once said he would take good care of this branch lineage, but perhaps because he had been away for too long, the people from that old lineage had begun their targeting.
Ye Chen frowned but didn't stop walking. Just as he was about to head towards the center of the mansion, a thin, small figure suddenly rushed out. In a flash, a fist struck fiercely towards Ye Chen's face, aiming directly for a vital spot.
"Xiao Qing, stop!" Ye Zhengyang hurriedly called out.
"No, Uncle Zhengyang! I'm going to beat up these bad guys who bully our family!"
The figure didn't stop; the fist was already descending, accompanied by a surge of Xiantian True Yuan.
"Don't hurt him." This sentence, however, was directed at Ye Chen.
Ye Chen raised his hand and intercepted the blow. With a light pat, he dispersed the Xiantian True Yuan on the fist without harming the attacker, only causing the figure to stagger back several steps. The boy looked at Ye Chen with a mix of shock and anger.
Upon closer inspection, the one who had attacked was a boy of about thirteen or fourteen. His handsome face still bore traces of childishness. Reaching the Xiantian realm at this age was quite impressive.
Thinking back, before his own awakening, he had also reached the Xiantian realm around this age.
Seeing a fellow clansman, Ye Chen felt particularly close and naturally wasn't angry. He said warmly, "What's your name?"
"I won't tell a bad guy like you who specializes in bullying our family!" the boy said stubbornly, widening his bright eyes with anger, defining Ye Chen as an enemy.
At this, Ye Zhengyang hurriedly explained, "Xiao Qing, don't misunderstand. He's not one of those bad guys. He's also from our lineage."
Hearing this, the boy named Xiao Qing looked at Ye Chen suspiciously. "Uncle Zhengyang, are you telling the truth? But why have I never seen him before?"
Ye Zhengyang said, "Of course you've never seen him. He left before you were born and has only just returned now."
Xiao Qing was somewhat stunned. To have left for so many years and only now return? Who could he be?
Before he could ponder further, Ye Chen extended his divine sense, covering the entire Ye Family mansion. Suddenly, his expression changed slightly. Without needing Ye Zhengyang to lead him, he vanished with a *whoosh*.
Watching Ye Chen disappear abruptly, Ye Qing stood dumbfounded. Ye Zhengyang hurriedly closed the family gate and instructed him to gather everyone from the Tian Du lineage branch in the main hall, as there was important news to announce.
Ye Zhengyang was now arguably the strongest among the younger generation of the Tian Du lineage branch and could almost be considered the strongest in the entire branch family, wielding significant authority. Xiao Qing naturally didn't dare to delay and rushed out to call the clansmen together.
Meanwhile, deep within the mansion, in a somewhat dilapidated pavilion, a middle-aged man lay on a bed. His face was pale, his hair half-gray, and he coughed violently from time to time, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth, appearing startling and eye-catching against his pallid complexion.
By the bedside sat a beautiful woman, gentle and lovely, though she also looked haggard, with a few crow's feet marring her fair face. Seeing her husband cough up blood, she hurriedly took a medicine bottle from beside the bed, poured out a few precious pills, and offered them. "Husband, take these pills quickly. Cousin Zimei went through great difficulty to get them from the main family. They will be very helpful for your injury recovery."
The middle-aged man, however, shook his head and refused. "Wife, return all the pills. Although Zimei managed to get these, she surely faced difficulties from the main family, perhaps even agreeing to some excessive conditions. We mustn't make things hard for Zimei."
Xia Wei very much wanted Ye Ao to take these precious healing pills, but thinking of that gentle, polite girl, she ultimately nodded painfully and instead offered the medicinal soup beside her for Ye Ao to drink.
The medicinal soup was bitter, but Ye Ao drank it without even frowning. The violent coughing subsided slightly. However, Xia Wei's eyes were red and swollen, for she knew this medicinal soup only treated the symptoms, not the root cause. It had little effect and could only provide slight recovery.
Ye Ao gently patted Xia Wei's hand. "Don't worry too much. Tomorrow is the family competition, and they will also reopen our Emperor's bloodline power. These injuries will be healed in an instant."
Due to their ancestor Ye Ruoxian, the Emperor's bloodline power within the Tian Du Continent branch of the Ye Family had been sealed. Tomorrow's family competition would also be the day chosen to reopen it, presenting an excellent opportunity for them all.
The moment the Emperor's bloodline power was activated, everyone would experience a sudden, significant boost, and any injuries within their bodies would be largely resolved.
"I hope so. But I heard the family might be planning to strip us of our bloodline power," Xia Wei said.
Ye Ao's expression changed slightly, and he hurriedly said, "Wife, don't speak nonsense."
He signaled for caution, fearing eavesdroppers. If members of that other imperial clan lineage heard, it would surely be bad for their Tian Du lineage branch.
"I'll go out to change the medicinal soup," Xia Wei naturally understood this principle and could only sigh softly, rising to walk towards the door.
But after only two or three steps, her entire body suddenly froze in place. Her bright eyes widened, filled with disbelief.
For before her had suddenly appeared a tall, straight figure—handsome, divine, with sword-like brows and starry eyes. That handsome face, mature yet bearing a profound familiarity that seemed to emanate from the depths of the soul, a familiarity rooted deep within their bloodline.
Xia Wei's body trembled uncontrollably as she looked at the handsome young man before her. She saw him reveal a mouthful of clean, white teeth in a smile. "Mother, aren't you happy to see your son?"
*Clatter—*
The medicine bowl shattered on the floor. Tears streamed down Xia Wei's face. Her son, who had been gone for so many years without a word, had finally returned!