Returning Home with a New Identity

The five individuals soared through the sky at an altitude of over a thousand meters, weaving freely amidst the towering mountains and ridges, reveling in their newfound liberty.

“Hahaha, Pavilion Master,” Duan Ming exclaimed, his voice brimming with excitement.

“It is you who guided us onto the path of immortality.

Without becoming cultivators, one simply cannot experience the exhilaration of soaring through the heavens and burrowing through the earth.

No wonder they say cultivators are no less than deities to ordinary people; this statement truly holds water.”

Yan Yun, too, wore a broad smile, for the sensation of freely soaring through the air was indeed a pleasure ordinary mortals could never hope to experience.

This, in part, explained why common folk would go to such lengths to cultivate immortality.

“If you must thank someone, then thank that Yan Yun who made the poison cultivation technique public,” Yan Yun immediately interjected, subtly praising herself.

“Without her generosity, we wouldn’t be able to experience this sensation.”

“Indeed,” Mu Wenjie added, “if I ever had the chance to meet that Yan Yun, I would truly thank him.

It’s a pity I heard he fled to the neighboring Xiang Country, but now that the Immortal Alliance has lifted his warrant, he should have returned by now, shouldn’t he?”

However, Wen Meng held a dissenting opinion.

“I don’t think he’ll be back anytime soon,” she countered, “after all, he also offended the Lin family of the Royal Capital.”

At the mention of this, everyone fell silent.

“Enough of this discussion,” Yan Yun interjected, cutting short their conversation.

“Once we arrive in Qifeng City, we must first check on the preparations of the Yan family and Jiang family.

After our official business is concluded, if you wish to explore the mundane world, you are free to do so.

We anticipate staying in Qifeng City for a few days.”

Not long after, the five could already discern Qifeng City in the distance.

As she returned home this time, Yan Yun’s face held no trace of joy, only an intense, palpable killing intent.

****

Jiang Yao and Su Muyu, on the other hand, had stealthily returned to the Yan family and Jiang family compounds, preparing a grand surprise for the Lin family.

Yan Yun and her companions, naturally, had no need for stealth; the five of them descended directly at Qifeng City’s gates.

The common folk entering and exiting the city gates, witnessing people descend from the sky, collectively cast gazes of astonishment and curiosity.

Yan Yun paid no heed to the stares of these ordinary people; instead, she lifted her gaze to the city gates, her eyes sharpening with an unparalleled intensity.

Last time, she had fled in disarray; this time, she would stride in with utmost dignity.

****

Meanwhile, the sudden return of Su Muyu and Jiang Yao had equally astonished both families.

At that moment, Su Muyu sat composedly, sipping tea in the inner hall, while Yan Long, Yan Hua, and the others appeared noticeably awkward.

Yan Long, in particular, seemed utterly crestfallen; despite Su Muyu being his woman, he now projected an air of timidity and indecision, a stark reversal of their usual dynamic.

After Yan Long and Yan Hua exchanged glances, it was the nominal father-in-law who finally broke the silence.

“Little lass, why have you suddenly returned home, and so discreetly?

Is there some mission, perhaps something concerning the Purple Abyss Pavilion?”

Su Muyu cast a sidelong glance at Yan Long, and upon seeing his cowardly demeanor, she could not help but let out a soft huff.

“Father-in-law, Yao’er and I received news that the Lin family intends to strike at our two families,” Su Muyu replied.

“Therefore, Yao’er and I secretly returned home to make preparations.”

The moment these words left her lips, the Yan family members were startled.

Without a moment’s hesitation, Yan Hua immediately waved his hand, closing the inner hall’s main door, leaving only the key figures of the Yan family within.

“What? What exactly is going on?” Yan Hua demanded, his brow furrowed in concern.

“Why would the Lin family suddenly move against our two families?”

Su Muyu offered a faint smile.

“Naturally, they cannot bear to see the Yan and Jiang families profit,” she explained.

“The Sect Master has already explicitly expressed her displeasure with the Lin family, refusing to grant them even a single city’s agency during the allocation of proxy rights.

Coupled with the irreconcilable conflicts that already exist between us, they can no longer resist making a serious move.”

From the Lin family’s perspective, the Yan and Jiang families were thorns in their side, a constant source of irritation.

Moreover, since their sons were killed, an unresolvable blood feud already existed.

Previously, out of deference to the Yunhua Sect, they dared not go too far, but now that the Yunhua Sect had directly denied the Lin family proxy rights, this was tantamount to a complete break in relations.

“With relations completely severed, the Lin family naturally couldn’t sit idly by.”

“This? Then, what does Sect Master Yunshuang mean by this?” Yan Hua asked, a hint of urgency in his tone.

“Will her esteemed self dispatch powerful experts to protect our two families?”

Su Muyu pondered for a moment, then shook her head.

“The mundane world and the cultivation world do not interfere with each other; this is an agreement signed by all major sects,” she explained.

“It is impossible for the Yunhua Sect to send powerful experts to assist.

My master’s instruction for the two of us to return home first was, in fact, an expectation that we could repel them.

Of course, rest assured, we naturally wouldn’t place all our hopes on the sect.

Yao’er has already privately contacted members of the Dai family of the Royal Capital and reached an agreement with them.

They have already dispatched powerful experts to Qifeng City.”

Upon hearing about the Dai family of the Royal Capital, the anxious expressions on Yan Hua and the others’ faces eased considerably.

“Is that so? The Dai family will help? That, that’s truly wonderful, Muyu!” Yan Hua quickly expressed his gratitude.

“Thank you for still thinking of our family; I thank you on behalf of the Yan family.”

However, Su Muyu responded with a sarcastic remark.

“It is only right,” she retorted, her tone dripping with veiled accusation.

“I am not like certain people who, at a crucial moment, would rely on betraying their own child to secure their survival.

Truly, what a father.”

These words instantly plunged Yan Long and the others into an awkward silence.

Although she knew this was Yan Yun’s intention, being reported by one’s own father, while euphemistically called ‘sacrificing kin for righteousness,’ could also be bluntly described as ‘selling one’s child to survive.’

“Alas! I, I am indeed ashamed before Yun’er,” Yan Long said, a bitter smile spreading across his face.

“Had there been any other choice, I would not have acted this way.”

Su Muyu let out a cold snort.

“In your eyes, she was merely an unloved, expendable child,” she stated, her voice sharp.

“Of course, you would choose to sacrifice her.

What more is there to say?

Very well, I shall return to my residence now.”

Hearing Yan Long’s attitude, Su Muyu’s anger flared, and she immediately rose and departed.

“Eh?” Yan Hua began, intending to speak, but Su Muyu had already left.

Consequently, he could only quickly signal to Yan Long with his eyes, urging him to follow her.

Yan Long, understanding the unspoken command, quickly called out.

“Muyu, please listen to me!”

With that, the two departed the inner hall.

****

On the other side, Yan Yun had already arrived at the entrance of the Jiang family compound.

She first glanced at the adjacent Yan family residence but decided to return to the Jiang family first.

Mu Wenjie stepped forward and addressed the Jiang family guard.

“Please inform them,” he said, “that the person from the Purple Abyss Pavilion of the Yunhua Sect, here to deliver medicine, has arrived.”

Upon hearing that a disciple from the Yunhua Sect had arrived, the guard immediately dashed into the mansion with the utmost speed.

The Jiang family members were currently conversing with Jiang Yao.

“They say they are here to deliver medicine,” the guard reported.

Hearing that someone from the Purple Abyss Pavilion had arrived, Jiang Yuan knew that Yan Yun had already reached them.

He immediately signaled his people.

“Invite them in quickly!”

Jiang Yuan rose, personally leading the Jiang family members to the main entrance to greet them.

As for Jiang Yao, having returned home secretly, it was best for her not to appear in the sight of too many people, to avoid being noticed by the Zhou and Song families.

Once the Jiang family members arrived at the main entrance and saw the five figures standing there, Jiang Yuan’s gaze immediately fixed upon Yan Yun, who led the group.

As he saw Yan Yun, clad in a purple dress, it was hard for him to imagine that the person before him was his son-in-law.

Nevertheless, after a brief moment of being stunned, he quickly composed himself.

“You must be Miss Ziyun, the Pavilion Master of the Purple Abyss Pavilion, correct?” Jiang Yuan, the Family Head of the Jiang family, quickly greeted them, making a welcoming gesture.

“This old man is Jiang Yuan.

Miss Ziyun, and all of you, please come in quickly.”

Yan Yun immediately offered Jiang Yuan a slight smile and returned the bow.

“May I ask, Pavilion Master Ziyun, what brings you personally to Qifeng City?” Jiang Yuan inquired politely.

“Well, firstly, it is to deliver medicine,” Yan Yun replied.

“Secondly, it is to check on the preparations of your two families.

And thirdly, it is simply to observe the situation in Qifeng City.”

After exchanging pleasantries for several sentences, Jiang Yuan found an excuse to dismiss everyone else, leaving only Yan Yun.

Once everyone else had departed, Jiang Yao emerged from behind the screen in the living room.

“Oh! You’re quite fast,” Jiang Yao said, smiling at Yan Yun.

“I thought I’d have to wait for you for a while.”

Yan Yun chuckled.

“There was no other choice; with such a significant event unfolding, how could I dare to delay?” she replied.

“Father-in-law, it has been a long time.”

With no one else present, Yan Yun immediately revealed her true identity and greeted Jiang Yuan.

Jiang Yuan gazed at his son-in-law, who now appeared as beautiful as a flower, his heart filled with an exceedingly complex mix of emotions.

“Alas! You, you kept everyone in such bitter suspense,” Jiang Yuan said with a wry smile.