Chapter 8: Arrival at the Ye Family, Mockery and Sarcasm

The Ye Family was established within a major cultivation city.

The city itself stretched for hundreds of miles, a vast territory with expansive internal districts. It was home not only to a multitude of cultivators but also to countless ordinary mortals.

Half a day later, the group successfully arrived.

Once Ye Tong produced the passage token, the spirit boat flew straight toward the main family compound.

All around, buildings stood in dense, orderly rows, and pedestrians streamed past in an endless flow, creating a scene of bustling prosperity.

Shen Xian leaned against the boat’s railing, gazing at the picturesque scenery below as he lazily let out a yawn.

The Ye Family’s main compound was located in the city center. The area was enveloped by a grand formation, suffused with spiritual light that made it resemble an immortal realm.

The spirit boat slowly descended before the entrance to the main compound. However, not a single person of status was waiting to greet them at the gate; only two Ye Family disciples on guard duty approached.

“Deacon!” The two clasped their hands in salute.

“What are the family’s arrangements?” Ye Tong asked with a frown.

He hadn’t expected the family to send absolutely no one to receive them. As an escort, his duty was merely to deliver them safely; he didn’t know what the protocol was for the next step.

As he spoke, he couldn’t help but glance at Shen Xian.

The incident on the spirit boat had made him realize that this direct descendant of the Shen Family had a temper. If things escalated into a conflict right at the gate, it would look bad for both families.

“Reporting to the Deacon,” one of the guards replied. “The Family Head is occupied. He only instructed that upon their return, they are to settle in first. Matters will be discussed during the Matriarch’s millennium birthday celebration.”

Hearing this, Ye Tong inwardly sighed in relief.

“If that is the case, Young Miss, I shall take my leave,” Ye Tong said, bowing with clasped hands toward Ye Qingxian.

As a member of a branch family, he was not permitted to enter the main compound without specific orders.

However, before leaving, he slipped a transmission token to Shen Xian. “If Third Young Master requires assistance, you may contact me directly.”

For a branch family member like himself, offending anyone was unwise.

Previously, he had thought Shen Xian was nothing but a pretty face—all show and no substance. But after the incident on the spirit boat, he realized that none of these direct descendants from major families were simple to deal with.

Since he couldn’t afford to provoke them, it was better to establish good relations now.

Shen Xian gave a slight nod. Seeing that Ye Qingxian had already stepped through the gates, he followed suit.

The Ye Family paying him no mind was actually fine by him. It saved him from having to deal with all sorts of social niceties and hypocritical obligations.

Though, if they were holding a millennium birthday celebration, it probably meant he wouldn’t be returning home for a while.

No matter. Wasn’t lying down just lying down, wherever you did it?

Entering the main compound, the couple walked ahead while servants carrying the Shen Family’s gifts trailed behind, passing through layer upon layer of courtyards.

Every Ye Family disciple they encountered along the way cast strange glances in their direction…

Some held contempt, some pity, but most harbored schadenfreude.

“Is that the Shen Family’s useless Third Young Master?”

“Shh, keep your voice down. He is our brother-in-law, after all.”

“Hah. A brother-in-law at only the second layer of Qi Refining? He really brings honor to our Ye Family.”

…

These discussions reached his ears without any attempt at concealment, yet Shen Xian acted as if he heard nothing. He continued his leisurely stroll, even pausing occasionally to admire the flowers and trees lining the path.

He wasn’t someone who took insults lying down, but he also understood the principle of biding one’s time and hiding one’s capabilities.

It wasn’t until they reached the corridor of a large mansion that sharp whispers drifted from behind a rockery:

“If you ask me, that girl Qingxian just isn’t striving hard enough.”

“Isn’t that right? She was originally matched with that Shen Xing from the Shen Family—the one with the Innate Dao Body. A figure with the potential to achieve Immortal Venerable status in the future.”

“And now look. Not only has she lost all her cultivation, but she’s been paired with trash instead. She’s utterly disgraced our Ye Family.”

“I heard that Shen Xian is over twenty years old and still only at the second layer of Qi Refining. Tsk tsk tsk…”

“If I were her, I’d just end it all.”

…

Ye Qingxian’s footsteps halted. Her expression remained impassive as she suddenly changed direction, walking straight toward the rockery.

The servants behind her hurried to follow.

Shen Xian’s eyes glinted slightly, and a faint smile touched his lips as he tagged along.

Provoking this Empress… it looked like there was going to be quite a show.

…

Ye Qingxian slowly rounded the rockery, her plain white skirt trailing over the bluestone pavement.

Behind the rockery, five or six women dressed in luxurious clothes were chatting animatedly. Seeing Ye Qingxian appear suddenly, they fell silent immediately.

“Qingxian?” The woman at their head was momentarily stunned but showed not a trace of shame. Instead, she lifted her chin with displeasure. “Who taught you manners? Eavesdropping on your elders?”

Ye Qingxian gazed coldly at her. She glanced at a servant beside her and uttered one icy command: “Slap her face.”

A deathly silence instantly fell over the pavilion area.

The leading woman’s face changed slightly; her fingertips, painted with rouge, turned pale white as she clenched her hands.

“The Fifth Young Miss has quite an imposing manner,” she said slowly as she rose to her feet, the jade ornaments at her waist tinkling softly. “May I ask which family rule this aunt has broken?”

This woman was named Liu Hong’er. She was a favored concubine of Fourth Master Ye and deeply beloved by him. Among the women in the main compound, she held considerable status.

However… Ye Qingxian did not care in the slightest.

In her previous life, she had lived in absolute luxury and privilege; born an Immortal Emperor, she was not someone who tolerated disrespect or swallowed insults quietly.

Seeing that her servant dared not act on her order, she suddenly stepped forward herself.

Witnessing this posture from her opponent, Liu Hong’er’s expression shifted again. She continued speaking: “This aunt is merely concerned about your marriage prospects—after all…”

Slap!

Before she could finish speaking, an unexpected slap landed squarely on her face!

Liu Hong’er staggered backward and knocked over a stone stool—clang! The golden hairpin in her hair snapped cleanly in two!

Ye Qingxian looked down at her from above with utter indifference plastered across her face.

“You!” Clutching her cheek, Liu Hong’er glared up at this suddenly violent version of her niece incredulously. “How dare you—”

“I hit you,” said Ye Qingxian calmly, taking out a silk handkerchief to wipe away any trace left by the contact before asking simply, “So what?”

Liu Hong’er’s face flushed crimson red. She stared daggers back yet was unable to utter a single word for a long time. Deep down, she knew the truth: She was merely a concubine, whereas the other party was a direct daughter born into the main line. Even though Ye Qingxian had lost all her cultivation, she was still far beyond the reach of someone like Liu Hong’er to physically retaliate against without severe consequences.

With complete indifference written across her features once more, Ye Qingxian turned around and walked away without sparing another glance, disappearing entirely from sight.

Only a hysterical shriek echoed after them: “Damnable waste! Just wait! I’ll tell the Master everything!”

…

Meanwhile, elsewhere, the group passed through winding corridors, arriving before a tranquil courtyard gate bearing an inscription that read ‘Clear Frost Pavilion.’ The characters were written in bold, forceful strokes, yet carried a subtle chill within them.

Ye Qingxian pushed open the door and entered.

Inside the courtyard, the bluestone paving stones were spotlessly clean. A few winter plum blossoms bloomed quietly in the corner, clearly meticulously maintained.

Shen Xian ambled along behind, hands tucked into his sleeves, the very picture of a leisurely stroll.

The courtyard itself was not large, and moreover, it was devoid of maids or attendants. Since Ye Qingxian was accustomed to solitude—plus she held certain secrets that couldn’t risk exposure—she had never requested any servants be assigned here.

When both entered the room, Xiang’er had already finished making the bed neatly. She was currently burning incense nearby, smiling brightly as she said, “Young Master, Young Mistress, this calming incense is beneficial for cultivation practice…”

Ye Qingxian remained silent while Xiang’er prepared to continue tidying up the room, but the maid was stopped by Shen Xian, who spoke up with a gentle smile. “Xiang’er, that is enough. Now go prepare the other side chamber; I need to sleep.”

Xiang’er’s eyes flickered, and she inwardly sighed softly before acknowledging the request and leaving the room promptly.

“I shall cultivate,” declared Ye Qingxian suddenly, her voice cool and clear. “Do not disturb unless necessary.”

Her cultivation activities were already known to Shen Xian long ago, so there was no worry about exposure here. Even if word got out, people would simply assume she was trying hard to recover her former strength.

Having said that, she headed toward the room’s meditation platform—the place where she had previously practiced.

Shen Xian, unsurprised, turned and walked out into the courtyard. Seeing a reclining chair placed there comfortably, he lay down upon it, releasing a contented sigh of satisfaction soon after.