Eternal Saber

In the pharmacy of Langya Pavilion, Su Li carefully applied medicine and bandaged Chen Tang’s wounds.

The others also received some basic treatment.

Shen Zhiyuan instructed the servants to bring a few sets of brand new clothes.

After the recent battle, everyone was drenched in sweat, and Chen Tang’s clothes were especially tattered, with an entire sleeve shredded, rendering them unwearable.

They changed into the new clothes and accompanied Chen Tang, Mei Zhenyu, and the other two to gather their belongings and moved to the guest quarters of Langya Pavilion.

Once everything was settled, they chatted for a while before getting up to visit Madam Su at the back mountain of Langya Pavilion.

Not far from their lodging, they saw a stern-looking man in a dark robe sitting under an octagonal pavilion, seemingly blending with the artificial hill, the pavilion, the flowers, and the trees nearby.

"Uncle?"

Shen Zhiyuan and the others were slightly taken aback when they saw the man in the dark robe.

Shen Zhiyuan felt a bit apprehensive.

In his heart, Ye Xuan was someone he respected but also feared.

Ye Xuan was stern and seldom smiled; when juniors made mistakes in his presence, he would scold them harshly without sparing their feelings.

He treated these juniors with the same strict discipline as soldiers in his camp.

As a child, Shen Zhiyuan had been reprimanded by Ye Xuan several times, which left him with lingering anxiety.

He had heard that Xiao Wuhen and Lin Mubai spoke boastfully in front of Ye Xuan.

Xiao Wuhen almost went blind from it!

Lin Mubai was scolded so severely that he didn’t dare make a sound.

This time, having been defeated by Xia Yuanxian and almost causing Langya Pavilion to lose face, he worried that the Marshal might scold him again.

Su Muzhe and the others wanted to greet him, but Shen Zhiyuan was anxious.

At that moment, Ye Xuan turned his head with piercing eyes, pointed towards Chen Tang, and calmly said, "You all wait over there, Chen Tang, come here, I have some questions for you."

"Me?"

Chen Tang was taken aback.

He had only heard of Ye Xuan’s name and had never met him before; today was their first encounter.

He wondered why this renowned figure sought him out.

As Chen Tang walked over, he carefully recalled the situation.

During his fight with Xia Yuanxian, he had been cautious and held back, not revealing his Entering the Divine State or any techniques of Emperor Wu, ensuring he left no flaws to be noticed.

Shen Zhiyuan discreetly wiped away a bead of sweat and felt relieved.

Thankfully it wasn’t him being called.

He internally sympathized with Chen Tang.

-----------------

"Chen Tang greets the Marshal."

Chen Tang approached Ye Xuan and clasped his hands in salutation.

"Sit down."

Ye Xuan nodded slightly, gesturing for Chen Tang to take a seat opposite him.

Chen Tang hesitated briefly but promptly sat down without pretense.

Ye Xuan nodded inwardly.

He detested those who dawdled and dragged their feet. This man’s straightforward demeanor was to his liking.

"How old are you this year?"

Ye Xuan inquired.

Chen Tang was somewhat puzzled but replied, "Nineteen."

Hmm, just the right age.

Ye Xuan mused inwardly.

"I know a bit about your situation."

Ye Xuan said, "Few in Great Xia know you, but in Beiqian, the fame of the Lion-Tiger Arhat, Demon Blade Chen Tang, is quite prominent."

Chen Tang was unsure of Ye Xuan’s intentions, so he remained silent.

Ye Xuan asked, "I heard you came from Celestial Cauldron Continent this time?"

"Yes."

Chen Tang nodded.

He had mentioned this to Shen Yuanlin; it was an easy fact to verify, no need to hide it.

Ye Xuan pondered slightly and asked, "Did you encounter anyone from Great Xia in Celestial Cauldron Continent?"

Chen Tang thought for a moment before saying, "I met the top of Great Xia’s Human Ranking, the Jade Flute Fairy."

Ye Xuan said, "Talk about what you went through in Celestial Cauldron Continent."

Chen Tang felt confused.

Where should he start from?

Besides, why should he discuss their matters with Ye Xuan?

"Not much happened."

Chen Tang replied ambiguously and nonchalantly.

Ye Xuan stared at him for a long time, then suddenly said, "You saved Yushi, right?"

"Huh?"

Chen Tang was shocked.

This was something that happened in the Qianzhu City of Hermit Continent; how did Ye Xuan know?

Logically, only he and Ye Yushi should have known about it.

Moreover, Ye Xuan clearly knew the Jade Flute Fairy’s name and called her ’Yushi’...

Ye Xuan, Ye Yushi...

Chen Tang suddenly thought of a possibility, and he was so startled he almost cried out.

Could it be...

Ye Xuan noticed Chen Tang’s odd expression and nodded, "You’re right, I’m Yushi’s father."

Indeed!

Previously, Chen Tang had never considered this connection, primarily because Ye Xuan and Ye Yushi were so famous in Great Xia that if they were related, it would have been public knowledge.

But since he arrived in Nanxia, he had never heard of this.

Now he realized it was probably because few in Jianghu knew the Jade Flute Fairy’s real name.

Initially, Chen Tang was calm and composed.

But now knowing the great figure before him was Ye Yushi’s father, he became fidgety and insecure.

Ye Xuan smiled slightly, "No need to be nervous, just a casual chat."

After a pause, Ye Xuan said solemnly, "I made some mistakes back then, and Yushi harbors resentment against me, unwilling to mention these matters. But I want to know more about her."

Chen Tang was moved.

These were very private matters between Ye Xuan and his daughter.

Yet, Ye Xuan shared them with him without reservation and with a hint of entreaty.

Perhaps to others, Ye Xuan was the renowned Marshal Xuan, but at this moment, this middle-aged man before him was merely a father concerned for his daughter and burdened with guilt.

"I wouldn’t dare to hide anything from you."

Chen Tang then recounted how he wandered to Hermit Continent, met Ye Yushi, and their experiences in Qianzhu City and Celestial Cauldron Continent.

He deliberately omitted the part where Ye Yushi applied medicine to his wounds.

That was not something he dared to mention in front of Ye Xuan.

When Chen Tang described how Ye Yushi was poisoned and almost killed in Shadow Tower, Ye Xuan couldn’t suppress his anger, snorted softly, and slammed his hand on the stone table, causing a loud thud!

Thinking of how Yushi, all alone and helpless, faced numerous enemies in a foreign land and was bullied to such an extent, he felt both heartbroken and guilty as well as furious!

Those Dongyi Race hermits were truly detestable!

After attentively listening to Chen Tang’s account, Ye Xuan let out a soft sigh, feeling a sense of gratitude towards Chen Tang.

If not for the man before him, he might never have had the chance to see Yushi again.

This thought filled him with a deep sense of fear.

Ye Xuan said, "Chen Tang, thank you for what you did at Hermit Continent."

Though Chen Tang spoke lightly, Ye Xuan could discern that in the perilous environment of Qianzhu City, Chen Tang must have risked his life to rescue Ye Yushi.

The kindness shown was immense indeed.

Chen Tang hurriedly replied, "Marshal, your words are too kind. Yushi and I were acquainted, and she has saved me before too."

"Oh?"

Ye Xuan seemed intrigued and asked, "You knew each other before?"

"Uh..."

Seeing Ye Xuan’s curious and expectant gaze, Chen Tang briefly recounted how he met Ye Yushi in Beiqian.

Ye Xuan nodded and said, "So, you both share a bond through life and death, enduring hardships together."

"In this vast Jianghu, to meet by chance yet share such experiences, it seems fate has destined it, indeed a connection ordained by heaven."

"Hmm..."

At first, Chen Tang thought little of it and nodded unconsciously.

But as he listened further, he felt something was amiss.