All along the way, Ye Feng wore a dark, sullen expression, his brow furrowed tight.
Li Guanqi found it awkward to press him with questions, so the two of them simply flew through the night in the direction of Ye Feng's home.
Meanwhile, back at the Great Xia Sword Sect.
All the peak lords and elders were gathered in the main sect hall, discussing grave matters.
Eventually, the peak lords and elders departed one by one.
Only Meng Linhai hurried off in haste toward Tu Kui's place of secluded cultivation.
It was not until the first rays of the morning sun broke that Li Guanqi and Ye Feng finally arrived in the skies above a picturesque range of mountains.
Sweeping down beneath the cloud layer, the dawn light spilled across the earth below.
In the morning mountains, birds occasionally chirped crisp melodies, mist curled lazily among the peaks, and mountain streams gurgled merrily as they wound downward.
Li Guanqi took a deep breath and murmured softly, "The spiritual energy in these mountains is quite abundant."
Ye Feng forced a faint smile and replied quietly, "We'll be there soon."
Not far before their arrival, they had passed a massive city, but Li Guanqi had not expected Ye Feng's home to actually be situated among the mountains.
Soon, Li Guanqi noticed that the spiritual energy of heaven and earth had grown even denser.
Rounding several tall mountains, he soon spotted a mountain villa sprawling across several thousand zhang.
Li Guanqi chuckled. "Didn't realize your family was this well-off."
Ye Feng merely gave a bitter smile in return. "Aside from my mother and sister, the only thing this family can give me is a bit of comfortable wealth. Come on, this is my first time bringing a guest home."
The two rode their swords down, landing before the main gates.
When the attendant at the gate saw that the immortal descending on a flying sword was none other than Ye Feng, he hurried forward with a deep bow. "Young Master Feng is back? Please, come right in!"
Li Guanqi looked up at the plaque above, which bore four large characters: Qiongtai Mountain Villa.
Ye Feng gave a slight nod and led Li Guanqi inside.
Stepping through the gate, the air inside the villa was infused with the fragrance of spiritual plants and medicinal herbs.
Ye Feng led Li Guanqi straight toward the rear of the villa. Along the way, numerous servants and maidservants stopped in their tracks and bowed as Ye Feng passed.
Ye Feng explained, "My family is in the medicinal herb business. We supply spiritual plants and herbs to alchemy pavilions and shops. I'm ranked third among my generation in the clan, with two older brothers above me."
Li Guanqi smiled. "Doesn't sound bad at all. What's there to be down about?"
Ye Feng's voice turned low. "I was born to a concubine."
Li Guanqi paused slightly and said no more, though he could guess that Ye Feng's earlier days had likely not been easy.
Soon, the two passed through numerous pavilions and walkways, reaching the back of the villa.
Upon arriving before a quiet little courtyard, the gloomy expression on Ye Feng's face finally gave way to a gentle, warm smile.
The morning sun fell softly across his features, making him appear full of youthful vigor.
Ye Feng quickened his pace and called out softly, "Mother, I'm back!"
Before long, a middle-aged woman wearing an apron around her waist emerged from the kitchen.
Even after the weathering of years, there were few wrinkles upon her face.
Dressed in a light green gown, she possessed a gentle, graceful countenance—perhaps not stunningly beautiful, but exuding an exceptionally warm demeanor and an indescribable tenderness between her brows.
The moment she saw Ye Feng, her almond eyes lit up slightly. Wiping her hands on her apron, she hurried toward him.
Behind him, Li Guanqi's steps slowed a little. Watching the scene, he could not help feeling a pang of envy.
"Feng'er, what brought you back?"
The woman soon noticed Li Guanqi entering behind him, her voice tinged with pleasant surprise as she asked, "And this is... your friend?"
Ye Feng scratched his head and said softly, "His name is Li Guanqi. He's a new friend I made in the sect. Extremely loyal and good to me."
Then, turning toward Li Guanqi, he introduced, "My mother, Su Xi."
Li Guanqi bowed respectfully. "Auntie Su."
Her eyes reddening slightly, the woman quickly helped Li Guanqi up, murmuring, "Good, good, good! Come, come inside and sit. Our Feng'er has a bit of a temper, so please bear with him as his friend. You haven't eaten yet, have you? The food is almost ready, just give me a moment. Goodness, why are you both so thin?"
Without giving them a chance to decline, she bustled the two of them into the room.
Watching his mother surreptitiously wipe away tears, Ye Feng said quietly, "I don't have any friends in this family."
Li Guanqi smiled. "Why is that?"
Ye Feng shrugged. "They look down on me, and I can't be bothered to fawn over people who give me the cold shoulder."
With that, Ye Feng raised an eyebrow at him and said, "Just wait, in a bit I'll introduce my sister, Ye Qing'er. She's an absolute stunner! Fair warning though, if you want to be my brother-in-law, you have to pass my test first."
Li Guanqi rolled his eyes playfully and laughed. "Who starts bragging about how pretty their sister is the moment a guest arrives?"
Ye Feng got up and said, "I'm going to help out in the kitchen. In a bit, you'll get to taste my mother's cooking—it's unbeatable! There are snacks and fruit on the table, make yourself at home and don't be polite."
Watching Ye Feng head into the kitchen, Li Guanqi could not help feeling a slight pang of melancholy.
Yet even long after the dishes were laid out on the table, Ye Feng's younger sister had still not returned.
There was also an unnatural stiffness in Mother Ye's expression. Taking note of it, Ye Feng asked softly, "Mother, where is Qing'er?"
The woman pressed her lips together, her throat bobbing slightly. Averting her gaze, she stammered, "She should... still be out playing. Let's wait a bit longer."
Seeing this, how could Ye Feng fail to realize his mother was hiding something? He said in a deep voice, "Mother, I've already joined an immortal sect and reached Foundation Establishment! I'm grown up now. Whatever it is, you don't have to shoulder it all alone. From the moment I arrived, I haven't asked a single question about what happened in the clan just so that I could bring my friend and have a meal together as a family. Tell me the truth."
Looking at Ye Feng's furrowed brow, Su Xi reached out to touch the space between his brows, her eyes reddening as she said softly, "You really have grown up."
Then, sighing, she whispered, "Qing'er should be with your father. Go have a look."
*Creak!*
Ye Feng sprang to his feet.
Su Xi hurried to add, "Don't fight with your father! He isn't truly the way you think he is! He's been overwhelmed with trouble lately too—talk it out calmly!"
Before she could finish, Ye Feng had already bolted out the door!
Li Guanqi picked up a bite of the food before him and praised, "Auntie Su, your cooking is delicious."
Rising to his feet, Li Guanqi comforted her softly, "Don't worry, Auntie Su. I'll keep an eye on him."
Su Xi nodded slightly as tears spilled from her eyes, as if all the grievances she had kept buried inside had suddenly burst forth.
Li Guanqi flickered out of the courtyard. Extending his divine sense, he sensed Ye Feng charging toward the main hall in the front courtyard at breakneck speed.
Just as he was about to pick up his pace to follow, his ears suddenly twitched, and he came to an immediate halt!
Several tens of zhang away, across a cluster of pavilions, Li Guanqi caught the sound of a man's voice.
"Heh heh, this time we've truly backed the Ye family into a corner."
"Ye Qing'er is as good as mine!"
"Haha, I told you, Young Master, fortune favors you! Who would have thought the daughter of the Ye family would be a perfect match!"
Li Guanqi narrowed his eyes. Moving with light, silent steps, he approached the outside of an opulent detached courtyard and pressed himself against the wall.
Thoughts raced through his mind. Having heard only those few scattered fragments before the other party moved inside the room, Li Guanqi muttered under his breath, "Who was that speaking? What exactly happened to the Ye family?"
Chapter 77