Chapter Twenty-Two: Who Is He

The two women’s complexions had improved considerably. Upon being asked by their clansmen about their husband, both women’s cheeks tinged with a faint blush. They pointed toward Ye Wuyai and replied, “This is our husband.”

“What?” The members of the Ye family exclaimed in shock. They had heard clearly—Ye Ruyue had said “our,” not “my”! Didn’t this mean both sisters had married the white-haired man standing before them?

Given the family head’s affection for the two women, it was inconceivable that he would allow both to wed the same man.

Ruyue, seeing the astonishment in the crowd, asked, “How is the family faring now?”

The young man, too concerned to dwell on the private affairs of the two young ladies, hurriedly replied, “Eldest Miss, the Ye family is in dire straits. Yesterday, the Lu and Mu families stirred up trouble on a large scale in our marketplace. Early this morning, they attacked our family outright! Countless brothers have died! This area is just the outskirts; all experts above the Seventh Heaven are gathered on the Ye family’s main square. We’re not sure whether the fighting has started yet!”

Ruyue’s brow furrowed at his words. She turned to him and said, “Go help the others first. We’ll head to the main estate immediately!”

The young man nodded and led the other clan members away.

“Husband, let’s return to the family,” Ruyue urged.

Ye Wuyai nodded and followed the two women, hurrying back to the Ye family estate.

Along the way, whenever they encountered members of the Lu or Mu clans, the trio cut them down. Even now, Ye Wuyai still had no clear sense of his own strength—he did not know his limits.

At one point, they encountered a cultivator of roughly the Fifth Heaven. With a single punch—without even drawing a weapon—Ye Wuyai crippled him.

Everything was happening too quickly; he was having trouble adapting. As for his true power, he realized only at the Ye estate would he discover the extent of his abilities.

He activated his cultivation technique, maintaining a balanced state—avoiding a descent into mindless slaughter while keeping his body in peak condition. Absorbing the blood and energy that lingered in the air, Ye Wuyai felt his spirit rise.

How strange—why did absorbing the life force of the dead excite him so much? Was it something about this body, or was it the cultivation technique itself?

The Ye Estate appeared before them—a vast plaza stretching hundreds of meters wide. Four dueling platforms dotted the expanse, along with rows of wooden stakes and other training equipment.

On the largest open ground, several hundred people had gathered.

Three factions, weapons drawn, faced one another. The tension was palpable—the slightest spark could ignite a full-scale battle.

The forces of the Lu and Mu families stood together. At their forefront, a middle-aged man from the Lu family, around forty, stepped forward, brandishing a broadsword and laughing boisterously. “Ye Yunlong, your family’s luck has run out. Surrender, and I might spare your miserable life!”

The Ye family’s leader, also about forty, stood at the head of his people. His voice was deep and steady as he replied, “Lu Wushuang, you old dog. If you want a fight, then fight! Why waste words? Do you think the Ye family fears the combined might of Lu and Mu?”

Beside Lu Wushuang, another middle-aged man from the Mu family sneered. “I hope you’re thinking clearly! Even if your gathering of Spirit Convergence experts has brought your number up to eight, we have eleven! That’s three more than you. Killing you is only a matter of time. But if you surrender and pledge allegiance to us, for old times’ sake, we might let you live.”

Mu Qing, you senile fool, do you take me, Ye Yunlong, for a three-year-old? Surrender? You’ve mobilized your entire clans to attack my family, and now you expect me to yield? Did a woman crush your head with her thighs last night?” Ye Yunlong’s retort was merciless.

The Ye family erupted in laughter.

“You—!” Mu Qing was livid.

“You what? Mu Qing, you’re a brute who preys on the weak and commits every vice imaginable—a beast lower than swine or dog. Today, even if I die, I’ll drag you to hell with me!” Ye Yunlong swung his spear, the tip leveled straight at Mu Qing’s brow.

A tense silence fell. No one spoke. The atmosphere was taut as a drawn bow; every hand gripped a weapon tightly.

Just then, a startled cry rang out among the crowd.

“Look! Up in the sky! What is that—a giant bird?” someone shouted.

Heads turned skyward.

“It’s not a bird! It looks like three people! They’re flying!” another voice called.

“They’re coming this way—fall back!” Ye Yunlong ordered.

With a loud crash, dust billowed as the ground trembled. The three landed, leaving a gaping crater at their feet.

Ye Wuyai and the two women leapt out of the pit.

“Father, it’s us! We’ve returned!” Ruyue and Ruxue cried out.

As the dust settled and he recognized the two familiar faces, Ye Yunlong stood dazed and bewildered.

“How did you come back? That woman didn’t give you trouble, did she?” Ye Yunlong asked anxiously.

Ruyue and Ruxue shook their heads. “Sister Qing didn’t make things difficult for us.”

Hearing this, Ye Yunlong visibly relaxed. “You’re back, but she didn’t come with you?” He glanced around, searching for Xue Qing’s figure, but found no trace of her. He thought to himself, If that senior had come, this crisis could have been resolved. As for the month’s respite she promised the Ye family—who knows if she truly meant it. For a cultivator of her level, who could bestow a set of Heaven-grade techniques with a wave of her hand, how could she possibly care about our lives? In her eyes, we are probably ants she could crush without a thought—perhaps not even ants.

Then, noticing the protective spiritual aura enveloping his daughters, he was even more astonished. “Yue’er, Xue’er—have you reached the Spirit Convergence realm?”

When they left with Xue Qing, both were only at the Sixth Heaven. Now, in less than ten days, they had broken through to Spirit Convergence. How could Ye Yunlong not be shocked? He himself had trained for a lifetime and only managed to break through with the Heaven-grade technique Xue Qing had left behind. Yet his daughters, still so young, had already achieved this level. Given enough time, they might elevate the Ye family to unprecedented heights—even the Yan Kingdom would not be able to contain them.

The two sisters nodded as they led Ye Wuyai before Ye Yunlong.

“Why did you come back? Are you out of your minds?” Ye Yunlong scolded. With such talent, if they died here today, the Ye family would be doomed forever.

At that moment, Ye Wuyai also studied Ye Yunlong—around forty, broad-shouldered and thick-waisted, with a square face, ordinary features, dense black brows, and a shadow of stubble on his lips. His gaze was particularly deep at this moment.

Ye Yunlong, for his part, took note of the white-haired young man standing beside his daughters.

He looked at the two women and asked gravely, “Who is he?”