"The wind soughs, oh, the Yi River is cold. A hero, once gone… Damn, wait, that's not the one."
Ye Tianling had wanted to sound cool by reciting a famous line, but after saying it, he felt it wasn't quite right.
"Kill a man in ten steps, leaving no trace for a thousand miles… That should be the one. Ah, whatever. There's no one around to see me act cool anyway. It's pointless."
Ye Tianling shook his head and then walked past the Ye Race's training grounds.
The training grounds, which had been buzzing with discussion, suddenly fell silent.
It wasn't hard for Ye Tianling to guess what these third-generation disciples were talking about. It was undoubtedly about him being expelled from the Ye Race and the shameful matter of Ye Yueling abandoning him. After all, that kind of information spread the fastest.
Ye Tianling's gaze swept across the training grounds, a hint of disappointment in his eyes. The girl who used to like him so much, Ye Yuemei—who could be considered his childhood sweetheart—hadn't appeared. She wasn't clinging to him like she always used to.
She hadn't even come to see him off.
Ye Tianling stood there blankly for a moment. No matter how ruthless and arrogant he had become, no matter how heaven-defying his transformation, he was, in the end, just a boy who had just turned fifteen.
For the 'home' he had lived in for fifteen years to be so vicious and cruel, he couldn't help but feel a bitter taste in his heart.
But the Dragon Soul Inheritance from Huaxia and its various influences allowed his obsessive Sword Intent to quickly sever that wisp of loss in his heart.
His gaze turned sharp and resolute once more, and at the same time, even more unrestrained and roguish.
...
Before leaving the Ye Race, Ye Tianling went to Forbidden Moon Cliff once more, to his father's broken stone tablet.
There, Ye Tianling saw Ye Yuemei.
"Brother Tianling, I knew you'd come here."
The moment Ye Yuemei saw Ye Tianling approach, she burst into tears. Her beautiful eyes were red and bloodshot.
Looking at her haggard yet beautiful appearance, Ye Tianling's cold heart couldn't help but stir slightly.
"What are you doing here? Hurry back to the training grounds, or you'll be punished."
Ye Tianling said softly.
"Brother Tianling, I... I want to give you something. This way, you'll have some protection after you leave the Ye Race."
As Ye Yuemei spoke, she glanced around furtively, like a thief. Then, she carefully took out a silver-white ring and stuffed it directly into Ye Tianling's hand, closing his fingers around it.
The ring carried a faint, fragrant scent, along with a trace of warmth.
"Brother Tianling, don't let them find it, or those bad people will steal it... This is a Qiankun Ring."
Holding the Qiankun Ring, Ye Tianling asked faintly, "Did you steal it?"
Ye Yuemei immediately shook her head like a rattle drum. "No, I didn't! It... it was a birthday present from my father. I'm about to turn fifteen."
Ye Tianling said, "If your father finds out you stole his Qiankun Ring to give to me, he'll punish you severely."
Ye Yuemei bit her lip, looking as if she was on the verge of tears, a sight that made Ye Tianling's heart flutter.
Ye Tianling said, "Mei'Er, I was so foolish before. You were so good to me, yet I ignored you. I'll be good to you from now on, but right now, I have to leave the Ye Race."
A blush crept onto Ye Yuemei's face. She looked happy, yet also worried. "Brother Tianling, I... after I turn sixteen, I'll be able to go out and train! I'll come find you then. I don't like the family, I only like you, Brother Tianling—even if you just see me as Sister Yueling's shadow, I don't mind."
Ye Tianling's expression turned cold. "You are you, and she is she. How can a bitch like her possibly compare to someone as beautiful and adorable as you? Let's not talk about that. Come, let your big brother have a good look at you."
Ye Yuemei lowered her head, a shy blush instantly blooming on her pretty face. "O-Okay, Brother Tianling."
Ye Tianling chuckled slyly and moved closer to Ye Yuemei.
...
Ye Yuemei was a very conservative girl.
In fact, the women of this Sword Dao World were all very conservative. Normally, even when facing someone they liked, just holding hands was a difficult thing to achieve.
But this time, even when some of Ye Tianling's actions went a bit too far, Ye Yuemei didn't refuse him. He was leaving, and for a very long time, he wouldn't be by her side.
Only when Ye Yuemei was nearly overcome with emotion did Ye Tianling stop his mischief and return the Qiankun Ring to her.
"Mei'Er, wait for me in the family. I'll come back for you soon! Before that, don't let anyone know about our relationship. That's the only way you can grow up safely."
Ye Tianling instructed in a solemn voice.
"Brother Tianling, I know."
Ye Yuemei was incredibly reluctant to part with him.
His mischievous actions hadn't made her feel violated. On the contrary, her heart was finally filled with confidence about her and Ye Tianling's future.
Many young girls in love foolishly believe that by giving themselves to their lover, they can tie down his heart.
In reality, most of the time, they can't.
But Ye Tianling was not one of the majority. He truly took Ye Yuemei's devotion to heart.
This girl was the only person in the Ye Race who was good to him, and the only one worthy of his concern and effort.
Her Talent was excellent, and her strength had reached the First Heaven of the Sword Beginning Realm. Her father, Ye Fenghan, held a position in the family on par with the Instructor Elder, possessing considerable power and influence.
Therefore, her safety was actually well-assured.
Ye Tianling wasn't actually worried.
After bidding farewell to Ye Yuemei and leaving Forbidden Moon Cliff, Ye Tianling left the Ye Race alone.
As he entered Celestial Language Mountain, one of the Desolate Mountains outside Qingyang Town, Ye Tianling suddenly stopped.
"You've been following me for a long time. Come out!"
Ye Tianling said coldly.
"Kid, your vigilance isn't half-bad."
Just then, a figure seemed to manifest from a state of transparency in the distance, appearing directly before him.
This person was, unexpectedly, Ye Yuemei's father—Ye Fenghan.
Seeing this man, Ye Tianling's heart sank slightly. 'Did he find out about the Qiankun Ring?'
In Ye Tianling's impression, Ye Fenghan was a man of few words, yet he held a very high status within the family.
Not only had he reached the Sword Essence Third Heaven Realm, but he had also frequently forbidden his daughter, Ye Yuemei, from associating with Ye Tianling.
"Elder Fenghan, for what reason have you followed me?"
Calming himself, Ye Tianling's tone carried a hint of coldness.
"No particular reason. I just came to tell you that Mei'Er has been noticed by an Elder from the Celestial Sword Sect and will be accepted as a Direct Disciple. She possesses the Extreme Cold Sword Body. She is destined to be a peerless Sword Dao genius. You and she will exist in two different worlds."
Ye Fenghan stated faintly.
Ye Tianling let out a self-deprecating laugh. "Oh? So Mei'Er's Talent is that good. In that case, wasn't I just deluding myself? I'm just a piece of trash, after all. A toad lusting after a swan's flesh, right? But what can I do when the swan's flesh delivers itself to my doorstep? If I don't eat it, I'd be hurting her. It really puts me in a difficult position."
Ye Fenghan ignored Ye Tianling's words and continued, "The Extreme Cold Sword Body requires one's heart to be content and free. That's why I generally don't object to what she wants to do. Otherwise, do you think she would have been able to steal my Qiankun Ring? Otherwise, after you took such liberties with her, how could I possibly stand by and do nothing?"
As Ye Fenghan spoke, a trace of anger appeared in his eyes, but he suppressed it.
Ye Tianling said, "That's right. If not for that, you wouldn't have held back. You definitely would have killed me with a single palm strike!"
Ye Fenghan grinned, his tone softening slightly. "It wouldn't have gone that far. After all, seeing my precious daughter taken advantage of like that, while I, as her father, can't interfere too much… it's truly a helpless and infuriating situation. Besides, your father was a good man. You could say he and I were acquaintances.
"In the past, you were just trash, but this time, you've shown some backbone. Otherwise, I would never have given Mei'Er the chance to see you."
Ye Tianling sneered. "In that case, I suppose I have to thank you for your great kindness and virtue, Elder Fenghan."