Knock, knock.
Two light taps sounded at the door.
Mo Tiange halted her cultivation. A sweep of her divine sense, and she withdrew the restriction outside: "Please come in."
The one who pushed the door open was Ye Zhenji's mother, Madam Yan.
This Madam Yan was accompanied by four maidservants, smiling before she even spoke: "Senior, I hope I haven't disturbed you?"
Mo Tiange held a bit of goodwill toward this Madam Yan, likely because her maternal love for Ye Zhenji reminded her of her own mother.
"It's nothing. Did Madam have something to discuss?"
"Oh, it's like this. Our guest quarters are humble, and I was afraid you might not be accustomed..." As she spoke, she gestured for the maidservants to set down the items they carried.
Mo Tiange glanced at them—they were all extravagant, impractical things used by wealthy people—and shook her head: "Madam need not be so polite. We cultivators, if we place too much importance on external things, it can actually be detrimental. These items are of no use to me; please don't trouble yourself."
"This... Senior is an honored guest of our Ye Family. I fear I haven't been a good host..."
Mo Tiange gave a faint smile: "I understand your intentions, Madam, but these external things truly aren't necessary."
Seeing her so resolute, Madam Yan had no choice but to order all the maidservants to withdraw.
However, after hesitating a moment, Madam Yan still smiled and said, "I have some words I'd like to share with you, Senior. I wonder if it would be convenient..."
"Madam, please speak directly."
With her permission, Madam Yan instructed the maidservants to leave first, remaining alone.
"Senior, by rights, I shouldn't disturb your cultivation with such trivial matters, but... I am a mother. When it comes to my son's affairs, I always want to ask more." After saying this, Madam Yan paused nervously before continuing, "You are Zhen'er's martial aunt, and you've spent a great deal of time with him these past ten years. Yet all this time, I haven't even been able to see him... Senior, would you be willing to tell me about Zhen'er? How has he been these years? Has he suffered any grievances? How is he living now..."
Such a small request. Mo Tiange had no reason to refuse. A mother whose child had been away for eleven years naturally longed to learn more about her child.
"Madam need not worry. Zhenji is doing very well. He is an inner disciple of a Core Formation cultivator; in all matters, we seniors in the sect take care of him. Nothing will happen."
"Is that so? Does he have friends within the sect? Has anyone bullied him?"
At this question, Mo Tiange smiled: "His martial grandfather is Dao Lord Jinghe. Who would dare bully him? Furthermore, if anyone tried, I wouldn't stand idly by. Rest assured, Madam. This child has a gentle and honest nature; he gets along well with others."
"That's good then." Madam Yan was relieved. "Zhen'er has been sensible since he was little. If anything was wrong, he definitely wouldn't tell us. That's precisely what I worried about, which is why I disturbed you, Senior. Senior, Zhen'er is currently at Qi Refining Level 10. Why did he choose to leave the sect at this time?"
Seeing the worry on Madam Yan's face, Mo Tiange explained: "I originally thought to wait until he established his Foundation before letting him return on his own, but Zhenji truly missed you all. He pleaded for a long time. It also happened by chance that I was ordered by my master to leave the mountain, so I simply brought him directly."
"So that's how it was..." Madam Yan's gaze swept over Mo Tiange, and she suddenly asked, "Senior looks so young. May I ask how old you are?"
This question was indeed somewhat abrupt. Mo Tiange was taken aback for a moment, but her age wasn't anything she couldn't disclose, so she answered, "I am currently thirty-seven."
"Oh? Senior is around the same age as me, yet you look like a girl of seventeen or eighteen. It truly makes a mortal woman like me envious."
In truth, Madam Yan's appearance was already quite youthful. Ye Zhenji was exactly twenty, and Madam Yan was his birth mother, so she must be over thirty-five. Yet, well-maintained, with not a single wrinkle on her face, she looked only about thirty—the time when a woman possesses the most mature charm.
Mo Tiange, however, did not return the compliment. Instead, her gaze sharpened as it swept over Madam Yan's face, and she asked coolly, "What does Madam mean by that?"
If she couldn't detect the underlying implication in Madam Yan's words, she would be far too slow-witted. This Madam Yan's purpose in coming was indeed not that simple.
Under her gaze, Madam Yan grew somewhat embarrassed, stammering, "...Nothing. It's just that Senior is about my age, yet you look about the same size as Zhen'er... It's truly hard to tell... you're his elder. I imagine if someone said you were siblings, others would believe it..."
Mo Tiange suddenly felt a mix of amusement and exasperation. This Madam Yan was clearly worried that there was some unclear relationship between her and Ye Zhenji!
But she kept her expression neutral, simply staring directly at Madam Yan.
Madam Yan, merely a mortal, had no resistance under her inadvertent pressure. Cold sweat broke out. She hurriedly grabbed a handkerchief to wipe it but couldn't even lift her hand, struggling to speak: "Senior, I... if I have offended in any way, I beg... I beg your forgiveness."
The other party's casual speculation about her relationship with Ye Zhenji, even as Ye Zhenji's mother, displeased her, which was why she had deliberately applied pressure. Now, seeing her yield, Mo Tiange withdrew the pressure and said coldly, "For us cultivators, appearance is merely skin over bones. Madam would do well not to speak such words in the future."
How would Madam Yan dare to argue? Remembering the family head's instruction to entertain this Senior well, and realizing her behavior might have already offended her, she repeatedly apologized: "Senior, please forgive my offense. I am but an ignorant woman, unaware of cultivators' taboos, speaking nonsense..."
But Mo Tiange interrupted her: "Madam, you are Zhenji's mother. You have the right to clarify some matters. If you don't clarify, I imagine you wouldn't be at ease, would you? Since that's the case, if you have something to say, just say it outright."
Hearing no anger in her tone, Madam Yan calmed somewhat. Seeing her composed demeanor, she couldn't help but feel ashamed: "Senior, please forgive me. I truly saw how close you were with Zhenji and feared that child might take a wrong step. You are his martial aunt. If... if that child were ignorant, wouldn't it implicate you and ruin your reputation?"
These words were polite; this Madam Yan wasn't entirely ignorant. Mo Tiange softened her tone: "Madam, the Ye Family has been in the mortal world for over twenty years now, hasn't it? Have you never been to Kunwu?"
Madam Yan was startled, then nodded. When she married into the Ye Family, they were already the Marquis of Changning in the Wei Kingdom. Naturally, she had never been to Kunwu.
"No wonder you're unclear about matters of the cultivation world. In the cultivation world, there are no mortal concepts of ethics. Everything is based on cultivation level. Matters of dual cultivation, seniority, age—none have anything to do with others. Whomever Zhenji likes will not affect his future." Noticing Madam Yan's face suddenly turn pale, Mo Tiange continued with a smile, "Moreover, can external appearance and age be relied upon? My master is over eight hundred years old yet looks no more than thirty. Zhenji's master also appears to be about the same age as Zhenji—Madam, Zhenji respects me as a teacher. How could there be anything unspeakable? Please don't overthink it, or if Zhenji finds out, he'll surely be hurt and embarrassed."
"..." Madam Yan's face turned alternately green and pale, but she couldn't say anything. She was merely a mortal woman; how could she know about the cultivation world? She was just a mother, worried for her child. Mo Tiange's bluntness left her utterly mortified.
"Alright, I need to continue cultivating. Madam, Zhenji rarely returns home. You should spend more time with him." Directly seeing her guest out, Mo Tiange sat cross-legged and closed her eyes, showing no desire to speak further.
Embarrassed, Madam Yan curtseyed and retreated.
Mo Tiange didn't pay this matter much mind. This Madam Yan was a mortal woman; it was natural she didn't understand. Mortals always assumed that between a man and a woman, if they were similar in age, even if seniority differed, something was bound to happen. They didn't know that in the cultivation world, judging people by outward age was the most absurd thing.
She cultivated until evening, when the Ye Family head, Ye Cheng, sent someone to invite her, saying that since she had come from afar, they were holding a gratitude banquet for Zhenji's teacher.
Mo Tiange thought for a moment and decided to attend.
Before her Second Uncle passed, he had entrusted her to look after the Ye Family once she had the ability. Now that she was here, it was only right to do what she could.
"Senior, you've finally arrived. Please, have a seat." As soon as Mo Tiange entered the banquet hall, Ye Cheng warmly welcomed her. A feast was already laid out in the hall, with golden cups and silver vessels, resplendent and magnificent.
"...Martial Aunt!" Ye Zhenji also came over. Mo Tiange gave him a slight smile.
This was a private banquet, so not many were present. Besides Ye Cheng, Ye Zhenji, and Ye Zhenji's father Ye Zhun, there were four others, all cultivators with only the first or second level of cultivation—two middle-aged men, one young man, and one youth.
Ye Cheng introduced them one by one: "Senior, these are the unpromising juniors of our Ye Family: Ye Mou, Ye Yu, Ye Bing, Ye Dun."
Ye Mou and Ye Yu were the two middle-aged men, sounding like they were of Ye Cheng's generation; Ye Bing was the young man, his name suggesting the same generation as Ye Zhun; Ye Dun's generation was unclear. However, according to the Ye Family's naming rules, Ye Zhenji seemed an exception, perhaps because great hopes had been placed on him since childhood.
"Greetings, Senior."
The Ye Family cultivators were extremely respectful.
Mo Tiange had no patience for such formalities and said, "We are all cultivators. Let's dispense with these mortal courtesies."
Seeing her displeasure, Ye Cheng quickly stopped them and smiled, "Then we shall follow the Senior's words. Please, take your seats."
The Ye Family members sat according to their positions. Ye Cheng ordered the banquet to begin, and maidservants came forward to uncover the dishes—delicacies from land and sea, extravagance to the extreme.
Ye Cheng said humbly, "This old man knows that Senior no longer partakes of mortal fare, but we have been in the mortal world for so long and cannot offer anything better. Although these foods are mundane, they are still quite delicious..."
Mo Tiange smiled faintly: "Family Head Ye need not be so polite."
"Yes, Grandfather." Ye Zhenji took over, "Martial Aunt won't mind."
Seeing this, Ye Cheng couldn't help but chide him: "You child, too much courtesy never offends!"
Ye Zhenji was about to argue discontent, but Mo Tiange stopped him, smiling, "Your grandfather is right. When dealing with others, it's best to be like that. But today it's unnecessary. Family Head Ye, I watched Zhenji grow up, and I don't consider you outsiders. Let's skip these empty formalities."
Hearing the words "don't consider you outsiders," Ye Cheng immediately felt at ease, his face full of smiles as he nodded repeatedly: "Yes, yes. Since Senior says so, we respectfully comply."
Afterward, everyone toasted a couple of times and began casual conversation with Mo Tiange.
The Ye Family had left Kunwu decades ago. Now, suddenly encountering a Foundation Establishment Senior, they naturally had many questions about cultivation. Especially the youth named Ye Dun, still childlike and less reserved than the adults, asked whatever came to mind. His elders scolded him a few times, but seeing Mo Tiange patiently answer each question, they let him be. Gradually, with Ye Dun and Ye Zhenji lightening the atmosphere, the adults also relaxed, creating a truly joyful gathering of host and guest.
"By the way, Senior," Ye Cheng suddenly said once cultivation topics were mostly exhausted, "there is one matter this junior is unclear about. May I ask presumptuously?"
"Please go ahead."
Ye Cheng's face showed hesitation, but he finally asked, "I noticed the spiritual artifact you bestowed upon Zhen'er seems extraordinary. May I ask where you obtained it?"
Mo Tiange paused, immediately understanding what he wanted to ask. The spiritual artifact in Ye Zhenji's possession likely referred to the Azure Wood Sword, right? This sword came from the Ye Family; this Family Head Ye had probably seen it before.
Glancing at Ye Zhenji, who gave a slight shake of his head indicating he had said nothing, Mo Tiange smiled and said, "This item came from a good friend of mine. It is a family heirloom of hers."
"Oh?" Surprise flashed across Ye Cheng's face as he asked eagerly, "Dare I ask, Senior, what is the name of that friend, and where is she now?"
Mo Tiange showed slight surprise: "Her surname is Ye, given name Xiaotian—why? Does Family Head Ye know her?"
Ye Cheng was stunned again. The surname Ye was correct, but why the given name Xiaotian? There had never been such a person in the family!
"Then, what about your friend's age and cultivation level?"
"...About my age. She has also established her Foundation now."
The more Ye Cheng asked, the stranger it seemed. This... didn't match at all! If the Azure Wood Sword had been bought somewhere, he wouldn't find it odd, but to say it was a family heirloom of this Ye Xiaotian, who was also a young Foundation Establishment cultivator...
As if suddenly remembering, Mo Tiange said, "Ah, right. My friend originally came from a cultivation family. Later, the family declined and moved to the mortal world. Could it be..."
Ye Cheng's eyes lit up: "That sounds like our family, but I'm not familiar with that name."
Mo Tiange thought for a moment, then continued: "She originally had an uncle, surname Ye, given name Jiang. Does Family Head Ye know of him?"
Hearing her say this name, the Ye Family members immediately became agitated. They exchanged glances, finding both delight and doubt in each other's eyes. Finally, Ye Cheng asked, "Senior, Ye Jiang? Are you certain that was the name?"
"Naturally." Knowing perfectly well in her heart, Mo Tiange maintained a calm expression. "I remember her saying the Ye Family was originally a cultivation family from Qingmeng Mountain. Her father was once the most talented cultivator of the Ye Family, renowned throughout West Kunwu in his time, succeeding in Core Formation at only a little over a hundred years old—Family Head Ye, is there such a matter?"
"The Ye Family's most talented cultivator, succeeding in Core Formation at a little over a hundred..." Ye Cheng murmured, a fanatical light appearing in his eyes. Of course he remembered. When he was born, it was the Ye Family's most prosperous period. That genius cultivator had brought the Ye Family unprecedented honor, but later...
Ye Zhun took over: "That was the most outstanding cultivator of our Ye Family, with the single-character given name Hai."
"Correct." Mo Tiange smiled slightly. "So it seems what my friend described is your Ye Family. What a coincidence. Unfortunately, I haven't seen that friend for a long time, and I don't know where she is now, so I can't tell her."
After the initial excitement, Ye Cheng, as the family head, was now full of doubts: "But... that granduncle of ours left no descendants at all..."
"That I don't know." Mo Tiange straightforwardly pushed the matter aside. She needed to play the role of an outsider; naturally, she couldn't say too much about certain things.
The Ye Family members exchanged glances, gradually calming down. Indeed, that granduncle had left no descendants. Where would a Ye Family cultivator come from?
In the end, Ye Cheng said, "Senior, do you know how that friend's uncle is now? Can you contact him?"
At this question, a hidden trace of sorrow flashed through Mo Tiange's eyes as she replied calmly, "Her uncle has already passed away in meditation."
"What?" The Ye Family members all rose in shock.
Ye Zhun cried out involuntarily: "How could that be? That granduncle is only a little over three hundred years old now, right? Given a Foundation Establishment cultivator's lifespan, he should still be alive."
"Correct. It would be more appropriate to say her uncle met his demise." Mo Tiange's gaze fell into empty space, her expression indifferent. "Uncle and niece were pursued by other cultivators. Her uncle, protecting her, sustained severe injuries, which drastically reduced his lifespan. That's why he passed away in meditation."
After these words, silence fell in the hall.
Ye Cheng's face shifted between gloom and uncertainty. Such things happened all too commonly in the cultivation world. UnaffiliatedLoose Cultivator without backing were very likely to encounter such events. So, did this mean the Ye Family's last true cultivator was gone? Had the Ye Family truly become an insignificant family in the mortal world?
Even when forced to leave Qingmeng Mountain, Ye Cheng hadn't felt as desolate as he did now. He had always believed the Ye Family was different from these so-called cultivation families in the mortal world because they still had a Foundation Establishment elder alive! But now he knew that Foundation Establishment elder had long since perished...
After thinking for a long time, Ye Cheng finally closed his eyes and sighed. He was already over seventy. Although as a cultivator he could live to over a hundred, he was still old. He had thought that if Zhen'er achieved something and could reconnect with that granduncle, there was still hope for the Ye Family to return to Kunwu. But now it seemed that even if Zhen'er could establish his Foundation, without an experienced cultivator overseeing things, how could the Ye Family return to Kunwu? Besides, whether Zhen'er could even establish his Foundation was still unknown.
Was the Ye Family truly going to decline under his watch?
"Senior, is this true?"
"Of course it's true." Mo Tiange's expression was impassive, revealing nothing. Only Ye Zhenji noticed the sorrow beneath her calm exterior, gently nudging her and whispering, "...Martial Aunt?"
Mo Tiange turned her gaze to him, giving a slight smile—a smile containing something Ye Zhenji couldn't comprehend.
Ye Cheng murmured, "So, our Ye Family... cannot return to Qingmeng Mountain..." Suddenly rallying, he asked, "Senior, that friend of yours... has she truly established her Foundation now? Can you contact her?"
"No." Mo Tiange refused outright. "Family Head Ye, my friend said she promised her uncle that when she formed her Core, she would offer the Ye Family some assistance. However, it's best the Ye Family does not return to Kunwu. You must understand, enjoying wealth and honor in the mortal world is far happier than being weak in Kunwu, living day to day with no security."