469: Chapter 469 A Troublesome Woman

"Oh my, what a fine scene of fragrant sleeves and beautiful maidens bidding farewell."

"What a pity, what a pity. The journey to the Northern Barrens is extremely perilous. I fear your lovely companions here won't be able to wait for your return."

Ye Tian's pupils constricted!

He turned around abruptly and discovered a figure perched on the tree branches outside the courtyard wall, though he hadn't noticed when she arrived.

She was a woman so beautiful that just one glance would make one's bones feel weak.

Yet, Ye Tian dared not underestimate her.

Because he had suffered at the hands of this woman more than once!

She leaned against the branch, her black gauze dress swaying gently in the breeze. A segment of her ankle, white as jade, was exposed beneath the hem of her skirt. Her bare feet hung in the air, toes swaying lightly.

Her face was veiled by a layer of faint mist, obscuring the details of her features, yet that vague silhouette alone surpassed all the scenery in the world.

Everyone present, regardless of gender, fell into a momentary trance at that instant.

"Tsk tsk, beauties accompany you wherever you go. Your romantic luck is truly flourishing."

Yun Zhiying chuckled, her voice soft and bone-melting.

She raised a slender finger and tapped lightly in the air towards Ye Tian. An invisible ripple spread out. "Little one, if you stare at me like that, I'll be shy."

Ye Tian snapped back to reality, his gaze narrowing slightly.

He had seen many beauties.

Shui Qingdie's gentleness, Ye Ruyi's heroic spirit, Chen Xue's elegance, and Mu Sisi's ethereal grace—each had their own unique charm.

But he had to admit, in front of this woman, they would all likely lose a bit of their luster.

"Is this how you sneak into other people's courtyards?" Ye Tian suppressed the ripples that had flashed through his heart.

"Sneak in?" Yun Zhiying covered her lips and chuckled, brimming with charm. "Wherever I want to go, I always walk openly; there is no need for sneaking."

"It's just that… you people were too focused on saying your goodbyes and didn't notice me."

As she spoke, she drifted down from the treetop, landing without a sound.

Her bare feet touched the ground, and lotus flowers bloomed with every step; with each stride, a black lotus appeared beneath her feet, only to vanish immediately.

She walked straight to Ye Tian and stopped less than a foot away from him.

This distance was too close.

Close enough for Ye Tian to smell the faint fragrance emanating from her.

It was not the scent of rouge or powder, but a crisp, clear fragrance similar to a night-blooming cereus in the depth of night—ethereal, yet lingering persistently.

Yun Zhiying tilted her head slightly, looking straight at Ye Tian, her eyes filled with playfulness.

She extended her index finger and lightly tapped on Ye Tian's chest, drawing circles: "Your heart is beating so fast, and you still say you weren't dazed?"

Ye Tian raised an eyebrow slightly and reached out to grab her wrist: "Your Excellency, if you have nothing else, please excuse yourself. I have important matters to attend to."

"Important matters?"

Yun Zhiying didn't struggle, letting him hold her wrist. Instead, she leaned forward another half-step, almost pressing against his ear, and blew a breath of fragrance: "What important matter is more important than chatting with me? Hmm?"

The breath brushed across his earlobe, carrying a faint fragrance. Even with Ye Tian's Heart-Nature, the roots of his ears couldn't help but heat up.

He released her wrist, stepped back, and put distance between them, saying coldly: "Traveling."

Yun Zhiying looked at his slightly reddened ears, the smile in her eyes deepening, as if she had discovered something interesting.

She straightened up, arms crossed, her chest swaying slightly. She tilted her head and examined him for a long while before letting out a meaningful "Oh," drawing out the end of the sound: "So, you can be shy too."

Ye Tian's expression grew even tighter.

Behind him, Shui Qingdie watched this scene, her lips pursed, but she ultimately restrained herself from speaking.

Ye Ruyi kept her head lowered, not knowing what she was thinking.

Chen Xue, however, widened her eyes, with an expression that said, "This woman is so bold."

Yun Zhiying knew when to stop and didn't continue teasing him. Instead, she changed the subject, her tone suddenly becoming a bit more serious: "Alright, I won't tease you anymore. I came today to tell you something."

"That ancient altar in the Northern Barrens—you had best not go there!"

Ye Tian's eyes didn't flicker at all: "Reason?"

"The reason, well…"

Yun Zhiying straightened up, stepped back twice, and spread her hands: "The thing suppressed beneath that altar is far more terrifying than you imagine. What you think is an Opportunity is actually a cage. Once opened, the consequences are not something you can bear."

"How do you know I will definitely open it?" Ye Tian asked.

Yun Zhiying tilted her head, her eyes curving into crescents: "Because you are a person with too much curiosity, too much courage, and yet, a bit of self-righteous sense of justice. Even if I told you that Hell was underneath, you wouldn't be able to resist lifting the lid to take a look, would you?"

Ye Tian was silent for a moment, then slowly spoke: "You're right."

Yun Zhiying heard this and, far from being angry, laughed out loud. "You are still so interesting."

She stopped laughing and looked deeply at Ye Tian: "Since I can't persuade you, I will give you this—"

She raised her hand, her index finger drawing a circle in the Void Realm. The circle transformed into a pale golden ring of light in the air, then suddenly contracted, sinking into the center of Ye Tian's brow.

Ye Tian shuddered, feeling a new connection in his mind, like an invisible thread extending from his Sea of Consciousness into the distance.

"What is this?" he asked, frowning.

"A life."

Yun Zhiying turned around, waving her hand with her back to him: "When you truly encounter that choice which must not be opened, it will help you once. No need to thank me; just consider it a bit of amusement in my boring days."

Before her words finished, her figure shattered like bubbles, turning into countless black petals that scattered and drifted away, leaving no trace.

Only after her presence completely vanished did the people present breathe a sigh of relief.

Ye Ruyi and Chen Xue's faces were somewhat pale, and Shui Qingdie clenched her fists, her palms slick with cold sweat.

That woman's cultivation was unfathomable; if she had suddenly attacked just now, the consequences would have been unimaginable.

"Tian'er, who was that person just now?" Liu Qinglan asked worriedly.

"A very troublesome woman."

Ye Tian rubbed his brow, feeling that faint, lingering connection in his mind, his mood somewhat complex.

Yun Zhiying had come today without attacking or threatening him; instead, she had given him a trump card to save his life.

This did not seem like the style of an enemy.

What exactly was she plotting?

And how did she know he was going to the Northern Barrens to search for the ancient altar?

The layout of the Nether Abyss—could Shadow Calamity Tower also be involved in it?

Question after question swirled in Ye Tian's heart, but he knew this was not the time to delve deep into them.

He took a deep breath, turned to everyone, and bowed: "Everyone, even a thousand-mile journey must come to an end. I am off to the Northern Barrens; it will take a few months at the shortest, and half a year at the longest. I entrust the affairs of the household to you all."

Chen Xue bit her lip and nodded forcefully.

Ye Ruyi's eyes were red, and she shook her fist: "If you come back missing even a single hair, I won't forgive you!"

Liu Qinglan stepped forward, straightened Ye Tian's collar, and said softly: "Go on, Mother will wait for your return."

Ye Tian took a deep look at his mother, then at Ye Ruyi and Chen Xue, then bowed to Ye Qingtian, Great Elder Ye Zhengyuan, and the others to the side: "Family Head, Grand Elder, everyone, take care. If any remnants of the Peng Family or suspicious individuals come to attack, crush this jade talisman, and I will sense it."

He handed a communication jade talisman to Ye Qingtian. Ye Qingtian took the talisman, stored it solemnly, and sighed with emotion: "Tian'er, the Ye Family's current standing is all thanks to you. Go with peace of mind; we are here to hold down the fort."

Ye Tian nodded, his gaze finally landing on Shui Qingdie: "Let's go."

Shui Qingdie nodded and followed his footsteps.

The two walked side by side out of the courtyard gate, heading along the main street of Luo City towards the city gate.

After leaving Luo City, Ye Tian took out the little void boat and injected True Qi into it. The boat body rapidly expanded to three zhang in length, hovering three feet above the ground.

"Come on up." Ye Tian jumped onto the boat first.

Shui Qingdie followed closely behind, curiously examining the Magical Artifact beneath her feet: "You actually have such a treasure?"

"Yes, although its grade isn't high, it excels in stealth, and its speed isn't slow either."