4: Snowflakes are visiting

The air in the small courtyard seemed to have frozen.

Ye Qingxue's appearance was like a drop of icy water falling into boiling oil, making the originally tense atmosphere subtle and complex. The torchlight flickered on her exceptionally beautiful face, reflecting a composure and majesty that belied her age.

Cold sweat poured down Ye Xiong's forehead. He clutched his still numb and stinging wrist, bowing even lower. His tone carried an unprecedented respect and a hint of subtle panic: "I... I wouldn't dare trouble the Eldest Young Miss with this. It's just... it's just that this Ye Chen injured a servant and violated the clan rules. I was about to take him back to the Law Enforcement Hall for questioning."

"Questioning?" Ye Qingxue's gaze swept indifferently over the guards wailing on the ground, finally landing on Ye Xiong's empty, trembling right hand and the steel sword lying not far away. "Deploying the law enforcement team, Deacon Ye personally taking action, and even blood being shed... such a commotion, and it's just 'questioning'?"

Her voice wasn't loud, but every word was clear, carrying an invisible pressure that made Ye Xiong's scalp tingle.

"This... he violently resisted the law!" Ye Xiong hurriedly defended himself, pointing at Ye Chen, a flash of malice in his eyes. "This boy used some unknown evil technique to not only injure the guards but also... also sneak attack me! May the Eldest Young Miss be the judge; such a vicious person must not be treated leniently!"

Hearing this, Ye Chen only gave a cold smile and didn't speak up to defend himself. In the face of absolute strength and status, pale explanations were meaningless. He wanted to see what this sudden "Cousin" intended to do.

Ye Qingxue didn't look at Ye Xiong. Her gaze remained on Ye Chen, filled with scrutiny and a hint of curiosity. She could feel that this once weak and lowly distant Cousin had undergone a world-shaking change. That composure, that calmness, especially those eyes as deep as a sea of stars, seemingly containing endless stories, were definitely not something an ordinary youth could possess.

"I have heard a bit about Ye Fu's matter." Ye Qingxue finally spoke again, her voice steady, but it made Ye Xiong's heart sink. "A servant, disrespecting his superiors and repeatedly bullying the main Family's children. According to clan rules, breaking one of his legs is already a light punishment."

Ye Xiong's face turned pale instantly.

"As for you," Ye Qingxue turned her gaze toward the guards struggling to stand and the pale-faced Ye Xiong, "conducting a private lynching without a detailed investigation, besieging a member of the main Family, and even using lethal moves... Deacon Ye Xiong, do you know what crime this constitutes?"

"Eldest Young Miss! I..." Ye Xiong fell to his knees with a thud, his whole body trembling. He knew very well the status and methods of this Eldest Young Miss within the Family; if she truly wanted to hold him accountable, he would definitely be in for a rough time.

"Considering your years of service to the Family, this time will be a small punishment as a warning." Ye Qingxue's tone turned cold. "Your cultivation resources for half a year will be docked, and you are grounded for a month to reflect on your mistakes. Take your people and get out."

"Yes! Yes! Thank you for your mercy, Eldest Young Miss! Thank you for your mercy!" Ye Xiong felt as if he had been granted a grand pardon, kowtowing repeatedly. He didn't dare show any dissatisfaction and hurriedly called the guards who could still move to carry the wounded and Ye Fu on his stretcher, scurrying away in disgrace. He didn't even dare pick up the sword he had dropped on the ground.

In the blink of an eye, the noisy courtyard returned to silence, leaving only Ye Chen, Ye Qingxue, and the elderly man behind her who had remained silent, his aura as deep as an abyss.

Ye Chen looked at Ye Qingxue, feeling little gratitude but much more vigilance. There was no such thing as a free lunch in this world; this esteemed Eldest Young Miss would never stand up for a "trash" like him for no reason.

"Thank you," he said calmly, his tone distant.

Ye Qingxue didn't seem to mind his attitude. She took a few light steps closer, her clear gaze sweeping over him. "You have changed a lot."

"People always change," Ye Chen said indifferently. "Especially after experiencing certain things."

Ye Qingxue nodded slightly, seemingly agreeing with this statement. She was silent for a moment before suddenly asking, "Your martial veins... seem to have recovered somewhat?"

Ye Chen's heart stirred, but his expression remained unchanged. "Just luck, nothing worth mentioning." Naturally, he wouldn't reveal the existence of the System.

Ye Qingxue didn't press further; everyone has their own Opportunity and secrets. She changed the subject. "The matter of Ye Chenfeng extracting your martial veins is not unknown within the Family, it's just... there are many complications involved."

A mocking curve curled at the corner of Ye Chen's mouth. "Strength is respected; I understand."

His calmness and transparency caused a flash of admiration in Ye Qingxue's eyes. She pondered for a moment and said, "Ye Chenfeng has been favored by an outer court Elder of the 'Tianxuan Sword Sect.' He will be leaving Qingyun City soon to go to the Sect for cultivation."

Tianxuan Sword Sect? Ye Chen's gaze narrowed. That was one of the overlord-level powers in this region, far beyond what the Qingyun City Ye Family could compare to. No wonder the Ye Family's higher-ups turned a blind eye to Ye Chenfeng's actions.

"Telling me this, are you reminding me not to think about revenge for now?" Ye Chen looked at Ye Qingxue.

"It's a reminder and also a warning," Ye Qingxue said frankly. "The Tianxuan Sword Sect is not something you can contend with right now. Lying low sometimes requires more courage and wisdom than being impulsive."

"I know what I'm doing." Ye Chen's tone was still calm, but the pride hidden deep in his bones made both Ye Qingxue and the elderly man behind her look at him sideways.

"Very well." Ye Qingxue nodded and took a small jade bottle from her sleeve, handing it over. "Inside are three 'essence nurturing pills.' They might be of some help in stabilizing your current Realm. Consider it... a small token of my regard as your Cousin."

essence nurturing pills were expensive, far beyond what an ordinary Quenching Body Realm Cultivator could afford. This "token of regard" was not light.

Ye Chen didn't take it immediately but looked into Ye Qingxue's eyes. "What do I need to pay?"

He didn't believe in unconditional kindness.

Ye Qingxue seemed to have expected him to ask this and smiled softly, like melting snow. "I don't need you to pay anything right now. I just feel that having one more potential talent in the Ye Family's younger generation is better than having one more enemy. Perhaps in the future, we will have an Opportunity to cooperate."

She was very frank, stating her purpose for the investment.

Hearing this, Ye Chen reached out and took the jade bottle. "I'll keep that in mind."

He accepted this favor. As for whether they would cooperate in the future, that would depend on the situation then.

"It's no longer suitable to stay here." Ye Qingxue looked at the dilapidated courtyard. "Although Ye Xiong was dismissed, there's no guarantee no one else will come looking for trouble. I have a vacant Villa in the west of the city that is relatively quiet; you can stay there for the time being."

This time, Ye Chen didn't refuse. He indeed needed a safe and undisturbed place to Cultivate and improve his strength.

"Then, thank you."

Ye Qingxue signaled slightly to the elderly man behind her. The elderly man stepped forward and handed a Jade Slip with the address and a key to Ye Chen.

"Uncle Fu will take you there." After Ye Qingxue finished speaking, she didn't stay any longer and turned to leave. Her white clothes were as bright as snow, and her figure soon disappeared into the night.

The elderly man called Uncle Fu made a gesture of invitation to Ye Chen, his attitude neither humble nor arrogant. "Young Master Chen, please follow this old servant."

Ye Chen took one last look at this dilapidated courtyard that held countless humiliating memories of the original host. Without any lingering attachment, he strode after Uncle Fu.

A new journey would officially begin from that Villa in the west of the city.

Sitting in the carriage heading to the Villa, Ye Chen's consciousness sank into the System space.

[Detected that the host has successfully resolved the crisis and obtained a temporary shelter. The living environment has improved.]

[Triggered Phase Mission: Hidden Dragon in the Abyss]

[Mission Content: Within one month, raise your cultivation to the Body Tempering Seventh Level or above, and initially master a Sword Technique provided by the System.]

[Mission Reward: 300 System Points, 1x Random Basic Sword Technique Draw, Unlock Elementary Exploration Rights for the Myriad Worlds Sword Tomb.]

[Failure Penalty: System energy drain, Realm drops by one level.]

Looking at the mission, fighting spirit ignited in Ye Chen's eyes.

Body Tempering Seventh Level? Sword Technique? Myriad Worlds Sword Tomb?

Excellent!

Ye Chenfeng, Tianxuan Sword Sect... just you wait. On the day I, the hidden Dragon, emerge from the abyss, I will surely settle all scores with the sword in my hand!

The carriage rumbled, driving into the darkness, and toward an unknown future filled with infinite possibilities.