Chapter 5: 5. Revealed to the Public, the Rebellious Manor Mistress!

"He is your older brother!"

Liu Qingmei's voice was very low.

Yet this seemingly casual remark instantly caused ripples of disbelief to bloom within A Yin's innocent, flawless, and crystalline eyes! Immediately after.

It was full of confusion and astonishment!

And a hint of anger! "Mother! What are you saying? Who is he?"

A Yin's voice suddenly rose by an octave; she pouted, glared at Liu Qingmei in a huff, and her tone was full of questioning.

And just at this moment.

"Good!"

"Qigu is mighty!"

Suddenly.

The disciples of Cangjian Villa erupted in boisterous cheers.

On the arena.

One could see Ye Qingxian like a fairy, her sleeves fluttering, moving without wind, her forehead dense with fragrant sweat, yet her brows and eyes revealed a cold, thin chill, glancing sideways at her opponent, the fine, soft tip of her sword still dripping with blood.

And opposite her.

Li Qingxiao had collapsed to the ground, his face pale as paper, his hawk-like eyes filled with deep horror, his hand clutching his chest as blood continuously seeped out.

"You... you are actually a Grandmaster!"

Li Qingxiao's eyes were full of disbelief.

The Ye Family already had two Grandmasters, and now another Grandmaster-level powerhouse had emerged! And this woman before him was only in her early twenties, yet she had already reached the realm of Sitting and Forgetting Perfection. Given time, if she were given the opportunity to develop, wouldn't she soar into the sky? Could it be... that Cangjian Villa was going to break the five-hundred-year curse of being unable to produce a True Person? Li Qingxiao was unwilling to accept this, but facing Ye Qingxian, whose strength surpassed his own, he could only sigh in helplessness.

"No need for more words. One thousand taels of gold and the Great River shipping route—Sword Master Li, do not forget to present them!"

Ye Qingxian glanced at him, her tone cold.

Then she flew down directly and arrived at the high platform.

"Sister-in-law, the matter has been handled. I am returning to the ancestral hall. The Elder asked me to tell you that he hopes you will take care of my brother's injuries and everything regarding the Ye Family."

Facing Liu Qingmei, Ye Qingxian's attitude softened slightly as she cupped her hands and bowed respectfully.

"Don't worry, little sister-in-law, I will certainly do my utmost!"

Liu Qingmei nodded at Ye Qingxian with a firm expression.

The reason she was so certain.

Was because just now, when her daughter voiced her questioning.

The notification sound of the 'Outer Realm Heavenly Demon' system rang in her mind.

【Notification: Congratulations to the Host for completing Task One. Reward: 50 Xia Lu points, 200 Cultivation Points, and 4 Low-grade Spirit Returning Pill Fragments!】

She didn't care much about Xia Lu points or Cultivation Points.

But the Low-grade Spirit Returning Pill was something she urgently needed right now!

With this pill, perhaps her husband could be brought back from the brink of death! Even if the hope was slim, she had to try with all her might! And to obtain the complete pill, the two tasks that followed were equally crucial!

And almost at the same time.

The moment Liu Qingmei received the reward.

Watching the Fengmo Sword Sect members leave in a sorry state, a system notification also rang in Ning Mu's mind.

【Notification: The owner of the Couple Number One Sub-system, Liu Qingmei, has completed Task One. Feedback task reward: You have gained 100 Cultivation Points!】

After seeing off her little sister-in-law, Ye Qingxian.

Liu Qingmei looked at her daughter, A Yin, who was full of confusion and still in a huff.

Then, she beckoned to Ning Mu.

"Ning Mu, come here."

Her attitude was gentle, and her tone even carried a hint of subtle doting.

This intimate attitude instantly caused all the Cangjian Villa disciples present to hold their breath, looking in disbelief at the Manor Mistress and this young man named Ning Mu. "Master!"

Ning Mu hurried forward, feigning an expression of being flattered, carrying a hint of just the right amount of shyness and nervousness.

【Notification: Your gentle doting has made your Binding Companion Ning Mu feel flattered and extremely excited. Strategy Value increased by 5 points. Current Strategy Value: 15 points!】

Seeing this expression of his, combined with the reminder from the Outer Realm Heavenly Demon in her mind, the misgivings in Liu Qingmei's heart dissipated significantly without her realizing it, and a touch of maternal love welled up in her eyes.

When Ning Mu came forward, she affectionately took his arm and then looked at the crowd.

"All disciples of my Cangjian Villa, and you, A Yin."

Liu Qingmei's gaze swept over the faces of Feng Zhien and the other inner-sect disciples, then looked at her daughter, emphasizing her reminder.

"Today, here, I formally announce to you all: his name is Ning Mu. He was originally from the Ye Family estate. Through a twist of fate, I have decided to take him as my Personal Disciple... Of course, this is only his status to the outside world. I regard him as my own; he is like my own son. From this day forward, he shall enjoy the treatment and respect he is due."

"I hope everyone can help him integrate quickly, rather than disparaging him behind his back."

"A Yin, Ning Mu is two years older than you. Haven't you always been clamoring for an older brother to dote on you? Now you have one. Starting today, he is your own older brother. You must treat him well. Do you understand?"

Whoosh! Liu Qingmei's voice was calm, but she used her internal energy to carry her seemingly soft voice to the ears of every Cangjian Villa disciple in the plaza.

Instantly, it stirred up waves of shock in the hearts of all the disciples and followers.

Everyone looked at each other in disbelief.

Some even rubbed their ears vigorously, suspecting they had misheard.

But seeing their Master's wife, or the Manor Mistress, affectionately holding the young man named Ning Mu, the reality was something they could not help but believe!

What was going on?

The Master had just been severely injured, lying in bed unconscious, and the Manor Mistress had taken a Personal Disciple, and furthermore... regarded him as her own child?

Even more shocked were A Yin and Feng Zhien, who stood behind her.

Feng Zhien was the First Disciple of Cangjian Villa Villa Master Ye Bufan.

His status within the sect is of great importance.

As for Ye Yin, it goes without saying; as the only daughter of Ye Bufan, she is like the apple of his eye, and everyone in Cangjian Villa treats her as a precious treasure.

But now, this.

Not only has an older brother appeared out of thin air.

He is not only sharing the resources she had in the villa, but also taking away her mother's affection!

She did want an older brother to dote on her!

But not like this, where someone just pops up out of nowhere, gets labeled as an older brother, and she is expected to show him respect!

"Mother, what are you saying?"

"How can such a major matter be decided so rashly? Without the proper rites—acknowledging heaven and earth, the ancestors, and the ancestral hall—the name is not justified and the words are not proper. Wouldn't it be bad for your reputation if this got out?"

"Besides, Father is bedridden. If I suddenly have an older brother, I fear... it will be difficult to explain to the ancestral hall!"

Ye Yin could not understand and did not know why her mother was acting this way, but in front of everyone, she could not make her lose face, so she could only remind her mother in an uncertain tone, asking her to reconsider and retract her order.

How could Liu Qingmei not understand? Her daughter's words seemed to be a reminder to pay attention to etiquette, implying that if she were to raise Ning Mu as a son, she should naturally have him acknowledge his ancestors, report to the gods of heaven and earth and the ancestors, and seek the blessings of the elders and the protection of the ancestors.

But in reality, she was merely using this excuse to reject this suddenly appeared older brother.

If they really were to go through with the proper rites, let alone heaven, earth, and the ancestors, the elders at the ancestral hall would never agree to it!

The Ye Family is not without heirs.

When has it ever fallen to the point of needing to adopt a foster son to continue the family line?

If this were to spread, it would become a laughingstock among their peers in the martial arts world.

But...

【Notification: Congratulations to the Host for completing Task Two. Reward: 400 Xia Lu points, 250 Cultivation Points, and Strategy Value increased by 8 points. Current Strategy Value: 23 points!】

Hearing the notification that the task was complete, Liu Qingmei felt a trace of rebellion quietly sprouting in her heart, though she did not know why.

Already signed, please keep reading~ please vote! (End of chapter)