chapter 7
Chapter 7
Ye Liaozhai was so furious that smoke seemed to pour from the top of his head.
This Aunt Liu had always been so good at pleasing him, treating him like the sky itself, looking up to him with worshipful eyes, gentle, pitiful, and wholeheartedly devoted in her appearance of affectionate virtue…
Who would have thought it was all an act? This venomous woman was actually harboring hopes that he would drop dead!
Ye Liaozhai’s defenses crumbled in an instant.
“You wretch!”
Ye Liaozhai cursed loudly, swinging his whip viciously, lashing it hard across Aunt Liu!
“Ah-”
Aunt Liu screamed in pain, her face drained of all color. She collapsed to the ground, wailing hoarsely, “Master, spare me, every word I just said was true-”
Halfway through her sentence, she hurriedly clamped her hands over her mouth in terror.
But her mouth no longer listened to her commands. Even though it was covered, she still tried desperately to mumble out:
“I really just wanted you because you’re old, hoping you would die soon…”
“Shut up!”
Ye Liaozhai was almost driven mad with rage. His whip struck down like a raging storm, and within a few blows Aunt Liu’s flesh was torn open.
Aunt Liu rolled on the ground, howling miserably, the whip lashing her like a venomous snake, each blow harder than the last, as if he wouldn’t stop until she was dead.
“Ah-ah ah ah-”
Aunt Liu screamed, rolling over and over. Her body was quickly covered in bloody marks, and finally, her head hit the base of the wall by accident, knocking her out cold. For now, she was released from her torment.
Even seeing Aunt Liu faint, Ye Liaozhai’s anger was not appeased. The whip in his hand continued to fall without mercy.
Crack! Crack! Crack!
He lashed her a few more times before finally stopping.
He tossed aside the whip, his face twisted, rage pouring from every pore as he stood there.
After a long moment, he pointed at Aunt Liu and said, “Drag her away and watch her carefully. Speaking such mad nonsense, I’m afraid she’s possessed by something unclean!”
If it weren’t for the strange circumstances, Ye Liaozhai truly wanted to have this venomous woman drowned.
But he also knew there must be some reason Aunt Liu had suddenly gone mad; otherwise, she wouldn’t dare spout such wild talk, not even if she had a hundred times the courage.
The most infuriating thing was, she even publicly claimed he was impotent…
That kind of thing, it’s fine if only he knows-but how can it be told to others?!
The household servants, seeing the Master so enraged, didn’t dare make a sound. They quickly and efficiently carried Aunt Liu away.
Once Ye Liaozhai had calmed down, he glanced at Ye Piaoling with disgust.
He had originally come today to discipline this rebellious daughter, but now, after Aunt Liu’s hateful actions, he had lost any interest in protecting Ye Tianbao.
So, he glared impatiently at Ye Piaoling:
“And you, you unfilial daughter, from today onward you’ll be confined to your rooms to reflect on your misdeeds. If you dare cause trouble again, don’t blame me for forgetting our father-daughter bond!”
He then instructed the servants nearby, “During the Eldest Miss’s confinement, bring her only plain porridge and pickled vegetables three times a day-let her reflect properly!”
With that, he left in a huff, sleeves flaring.
Suddenly, Ye Piaoling spoke.
“Father, aren’t you going to ask me why I came back?”
Ye Liaozhai stopped in his tracks.
“What?”
Back when Ye Piaoling had insisted on becoming a nun, it was said that she encountered Demon Beasts halfway out of the city. The two attendants with her had perished in the wilderness, and only she had survived by a stroke of luck, fleeing back to Ye Mansion in terror…
A useless daughter-Ye Liaozhai had not cared much about whether she stayed or left.
But now, since she brought it up, Ye Liaozhai casually asked, “Why?”
Ye Piaoling grinned slyly, ready to start scamming:
“Because my Immortal Vein is about to recover.”
Ye Liaozhai spun around abruptly.
“What did you say?!”
The Immortal Vein was a very special existence on the Glazed Continent!
The so-called Immortal Vein was an extra mystical meridian that appeared naturally, with a unique swastika-shaped red mark on the meridian gate.
Although cultivation was possible on the Glazed Continent, the path was arduous, and true adepts were as rare as phoenix feathers. Most people were ordinary, never possessing much magic power in their lifetime. But those with an Immortal Vein had outstanding talent-they were born geniuses.
Moreover, the appearance of the Immortal Vein was considered an auspicious omen, signaling national prosperity-akin to a living talisman of good fortune!
The Dali Kingdom had originally had three Immortal Vein Bearers, known throughout the Imperial City as the three great prodigies. Ye Piaoling was once one of them, which brought the Ye Mansion royal favor and countless rewards.
But three years ago, Ye Piaoling had suddenly lost all her cultivation overnight, and the swastika mark on her meridian gate vanished!
She had no idea what had happened that night-why her Immortal Vein had disappeared, why her spiritual power was gone, and why cultivation became as difficult as climbing to heaven. She went from genius to useless overnight…
And now, she was claiming that her Immortal Vein was going to recover?!
Ye Liaozhai was beside himself with excitement, rushing a few steps to stand before Ye Piaoling: “What’s going on? Is it true your Immortal Vein can recover?”
“Mm!” Ye Piaoling nodded. “After I left the city, I passed by the Hundred Demon Mountain and was attacked by Demon Beasts. A deity saved me and told me that my Immortal Vein had not disappeared-it was only damaged, and would need three years to repair itself!”
“Three years…” Ye Liaozhai did a quick calculation, and exclaimed excitedly, “So that means, in one more month, your Immortal Vein will recover?”
“That’s right!” Ye Piaoling said. “I thought, since my Immortal Vein is about to recover, why become a nun? Of course I had to come back.”
Ye Liaozhai was overjoyed by her words.
If Ye Piaoling’s Immortal Vein truly recovered, the Ye family would once again reap countless benefits!
With an Immortal Vein Bearer as the direct daughter of the house, he too would enjoy untold advantages!
As for the story she told-although it sounded strange, Ye Liaozhai had no reason to doubt her.
First, the Hundred Demon Mountain was crawling with Demon Beasts. Two strong male attendants hadn’t survived, yet Ye Piaoling, a useless girl, made it back. If not for incredible luck, she must have been helped by a great cultivator.
Second, after returning, Ye Piaoling was completely changed: no longer gloomy or listless, standing up straighter, looking more at ease-not only daring to hit her brother, but also to talk back to him… Clearly, she now had confidence to be so arrogant!
Third, the matter of the Immortal Vein concerned the very fate of the nation-no one would dare to lie about it!
“Ling’er, what a rare fortune you have encountered. Father is truly happy for you!”
Ye Liaozhai instantly became the doting father, his face full of concerned smiles. “You must rest well this month and take good care of yourself-do not, under any circumstances, delay your Immortal Vein’s recovery!”
Ye Piaoling sighed, looking troubled: “Then… do I still have to stay confined? Still eat plain porridge and pickled vegetables?”