After the incident with Master Li Yun's arrival, Ye Chen's identity as the disciple of a Two-Star Alchemist was exposed.
This revelation directly changed everyone's attitude towards Ye Chen. No longer did they dare to look down on him with contempt; instead, they now regarded him with awe and dared not offend him.
Naturally, the happiest were still Ye Chen's parents, Huan'er, and Ye Zimei—those who truly cared for him.
Although they were still shocked by Ye Chen's status as a disciple of a Two-Star Alchemist, their primary emotion was joy. As for the mysterious Mr. Qian's true identity, they did not press for answers.
Every alchemist was arrogant, especially a Two-Star Alchemist. They would not tolerate others casually learning their identity, as it could easily lead to displeasure between parties.
It was precisely because of this identity that Ye Chen regained the true dignity of the family's young master. Now, wherever he went within the family, as long as there were people present, they would almost immediately put on bright smiles and greet him with reverence, even showing more respect than they did towards the several Elders.
However, he did not become arrogant, aloof, or dismissive. He simply treated it with indifference. For him, such an identity was more of a convenience, ensuring at least that he would no longer be bullied or troubled.
Even Ye Zhengyang, the Ye family's newly advanced Xiantian expert, had not come to cause trouble for Ye Chen these past days. Being warned by the Grand Elder was one thing; fearing Ye Chen's status as a disciple of a Two-Star Alchemist was another. But perhaps the most important reason was Ye Chen's own strength.
Their previous head-on confrontation, where Ye Chen was not the slightest bit inferior, had left Ye Zhengyang horrified and deeply wary of Ye Chen. Combined with other reasons, he no longer dared to seek trouble with Ye Chen.
Ye Chen was naturally happy to see this. In truth, he had never truly placed Ye Zhengyang in his eyes. For a supreme figure who had truly witnessed the vast and expansive greater world, a small place like Luo Feng City was not even worth a glance.
"Little Chen, what are your plans?" Elder Yan's figure drifted out and asked. "Luo Feng City is, after all, just a small city. You cannot stay in this small city for long. To truly become strong, you will eventually have to leave this place."
Ye Chen looked up at the azure sky, his gaze somewhat distant, and said softly, "I am naturally aware of this. Whether it's Luo Feng City, Xia Feng Kingdom, or even this Tian Du Continent, they are all too small for me. One day, I will leave this place, but the prerequisite is that I attain sufficient strength."
Elder Yan nodded. "Your current strength is too weak, completely insufficient for you to leave this Tian Du Continent. I estimate you'll need to wait a few more years."
Ye Chen said, "My cultivation here in Luo Feng City is basically sufficient. In a few more days, I will leave this small city and head to a new world to cultivate. But before I leave, I need to make some preparations."
Under the bright sunlight, Ye Chen strolled in the backyard. Suddenly, a clear, bell-like voice rang out—
"Brother Ye Chen, congratulations."
A graceful and charming figure appeared. It was Ye Zimei. She moved with light steps, wearing a purple dress that accentuated her dignified and graceful figure. A few jade-inlaid hairpins adorned her dark hair, and with light makeup, she appeared bright and captivating, her eyes sparkling and heart-stirring.
The girl congratulated him from the bottom of her heart. Seeing this brother of hers regain his glory once again, she too felt very happy.
"Zimei, thank you."
Ye Chen ruffled Ye Zimei's cloud-like hair that cascaded down to her lovely buttocks. Looking at this beautiful girl who, now at the age of sixteen, had already grown into a graceful and exceptionally charming young woman—in terms of looks, perhaps because she was still somewhat youthful, she might be slightly less stunning than the Yang family's genius girl Yang Yi, but she still appeared pure and lovely.
"Ah, Brother Ye Chen, you're so bad, messing up my hair," the girl muttered discontentedly, smoothing her hair that Ye Chen had ruffled. Dressed in purple today, she looked even more beautiful, like a begonia flower blooming in early March, exceptionally heart-stirring.
She lifted her delicate little face, a faint blush of shyness suddenly appearing on her cheeks. She lightly bit her red lips and said, "Brother Ye Chen, are you free today?"
Ye Chen glanced at her and said with a smile, "I don't need to cultivate for now. I'm free today. Why do you ask?"
The girl's tender hands twisted together behind her back. She suddenly seemed a bit shy, her eyelids fluttering as she softly parted her red lips. "Could Brother Ye Chen accompany Zimei for a day?"
Looking at the girl's pitifully charming little face, Ye Chen habitually reached out and pinched it, smiling slightly. "Since Sister Zimei has asked, if I, as your brother, don't give you face, that wouldn't do. Alright, whatever you say, I'll agree to it."
"Thank you, Brother!"
The girl's face immediately blossomed into a pure, charming smile, her eyes sparkling and drawing attention.
On the ancient ring, Elder Yan drifted out. Though he looked the part of an immortal with an air of transcendence, his words were anything but well-intentioned. He chuckled slyly, "Little Chen, you're really popular. I think this little lass has fallen for you."
Ye Chen directly gave this old man, who lacked the dignity of his age, a glare. This was his sister. He wasn't beastly enough to make a move on his own sister. At most, they were just a bit close.
Elder Yan shook his head and sighed helplessly. This guy was really a blockhead, completely lacking in romantic understanding...
Having received the beauty's invitation, the two chatted and laughed as they headed out of the family estate. Along the way, bell-like, crisp laughter and conversation drifted out from time to time, drawing sidelong glances.
When clansmen they encountered on the way saw Ye Chen and Ye Zimei chatting and laughing intimately, they couldn't help but show looks of envy.
The current Ye Zimei, whether in terms of beauty or talent, was the most dazzling pearl among the younger generation of the family.
Countless junior clansmen admired her, but unfortunately, the girl had always maintained a distance from everyone. Even the previously most outstanding Ye Zhengyang had been shut out by the girl.
It could be said that within the entire family, only Ye Chen could be this intimate with Ye Zimei. In the past, this would have inevitably caused jealousy, as Ye Chen was just a good-for-nothing. But after Master Li Yun's arrival, Ye Chen's secret identity was exposed—a disciple of a Two-Star Alchemist, what an honor.
Now, even the three family Elders treated Ye Chen politely, not daring in the slightest to suppress him with their senior status, let alone maintain their previous hostility. They were all very amicable.
Paying no heed to the expressions of the other clansmen, Ye Chen led Ye Zimei out of the mansion and leisurely wandered on the bustling streets...
Perhaps because of Ye Chen's company, after leaving the family, Ye Zimei became much more lively. She pulled Ye Chen along, constantly darting between various street vendors, like a gorgeous begonia flower, adding a touch of beautiful scenery to this small city.
Ye Chen walked behind, watching the girl giggling endlessly, lively and charming. He suddenly felt a bit dazed, as images of several figures deeply engraved in his soul surfaced before his eyes, and then he sighed sadly...
After some time playing, the girl began to feel tired and suggested resting. Ye Chen naturally agreed happily and led the girl into a quiet alleyway.
Suddenly, Ye Zimei's face turned crimson, so flushed it seemed about to drip blood, which puzzled Ye Chen beside her. He couldn't help but ask, "Zimei, what's wrong?"
"Does Brother Ye Chen really want to go in?" Ye Zimei asked, her face slightly red.
Ye Chen looked completely matter-of-fact. "Of course. The sun is so scorching. This place is the shadiest and coolest. It's best to go in. What's wrong? Don't you like it?"
Ye Zimei's face was quite red. She hesitated for a moment, then shook her head. Suddenly, her expression turned somewhat resolute. "As long as Brother Ye Chen likes it, it's fine."
Looking at the girl's suddenly strange expression, Ye Chen felt puzzled, not understanding the reason. But he still led the girl into the alley. Only Elder Yan's expression looked extremely odd, as if he was watching a good show.
They hadn't gone far in when suddenly, strange sounds came from deep within—
"Mmm, mmm, don't—"
"Don't, slower, gentler, you'll hurt me, oh—"
"Stop it—"
A strange female voice came out, vaguely carrying a sense of suppression, yet also seeming excited. It sounded very bizarre.
Then a suppressed male voice followed, panting heavily, mingling with the female voice, rising and falling together.
"What is that sound?" Ye Chen wondered suspiciously. After listening quietly for a moment, he was instantly dumbfounded.
My heavens, this was clearly someone engaging in furtive, illicit coupling here. To come to such a place to do this in broad daylight was too brazen.
Looking around again, he suddenly remembered that this was actually a famous spot in Luo Feng City for couples to have secret rendezvous and intimate moments. No wonder Ye Zimei's expression had been so strange. He rarely paid attention to such things and hadn't expected to bring his own sister into such a place. This was a huge blunder.
Looking back at Ye Zimei, her little face was now completely flushed, almost dripping with embarrassment. She hung her head low, her hands constantly tugging at the hem of her clothes, her fidgeting appearance exceptionally charming and shy.
Ye Chen was instantly dumbstruck. This was terrible. His lifelong reputation...
Elder Yan gave him a thumbs-up, a sly smile on his face. "Little Chen, you're awesome. Couldn't do it at home, so this place is more stimulating, huh? You don't need to say it; I understand."
Understand your big head.
Ye Chen cursed inwardly. After spending some time together, he already knew Elder Yan was not some transcendent immortal with an air of immortality; on the contrary, he was a rogue at heart. Now, without restraint, Ye Chen directly cursed him.
But looking at Ye Zimei, he said awkwardly, "Zimei, I'm sorry, this..."
Suddenly, Ye Zimei lifted her head, her face full of shyness, her eyes holding a spring-like tenderness, pitifully charming. She softly spoke, "Brother Ye Chen, do you... want it too?"
Ye Chen was instantly stunned, struck directly by Ye Zimei's words. He hurriedly said, "Zimei, don't misunderstand. I, your brother, didn't..."
Before he could finish, Ye Zimei immediately covered his mouth with a small hand and let out a soft giggle. "Brother Ye Chen, you don't need to say it. Zimei believes you're not that kind of person. I was just joking with you earlier."
However, he didn't notice that in the instant Ye Zimei turned away, deep in her eyes there was a flicker of relief, but also a trace of disappointment...
"It's good that you understand," Ye Chen breathed a sigh of relief. If Ye Zimei had misunderstood that he had intentionally brought her here to do those blush-inducing, illicit deeds, it would have ruined his lifelong reputation.
Elder Yan wore an expression of exasperation at his failure to meet expectations. This blockhead...
Ye Chen naturally didn't know what Elder Yan was thinking, but he also didn't dare to stay in this blush-inducing place any longer. He hurriedly pulled Ye Zimei and rushed out of the alley.
Only after returning to the mansion did Ye Chen habitually ruffle the girl's dark, silky hair, earning a discontented mutter from the girl, before he laughed heartily and strode back to his own courtyard.
He didn't notice that at the place where they parted, Ye Zimei stood gracefully, her bright eyes gazing at the young man's departing figure. There was shyness, determination, sadness, and disappointment in her gaze, appearing somewhat complex...
Brother Ye Chen, don't you understand Zimei's feelings yet...