Chapter 18: The Beautiful Mother-in-Law

"Senior brother, that kid has been in the Library Pavilion the whole time; apart from occasionally heading to the Flying Cloud Pavilion, he almost never goes out. Along the way, Xuan Ye of the Yan Family Fortress has even had the Martial Arts Hall disciples keep a strict watch, terrified that if something happens to him, all the Yan Family Fortress's years of hard work will have been in vain."

"Therefore, if we want to assassinate him, we can only wait until he leaves the Yan Family Fortress to head to the Yanyue Sect for cultivation. At that time, if the Elder makes a move, I believe it won't be a difficult task. He has now broken through to the thirteenth level of Qi Refining; I believe it won't be long before he heads to the Yanyue Sect for cultivation. Even if he is unwilling, and the Yan Family Fortress is reluctant, the Yanyue Sect will not agree to it."

"Moreover, even if we succeed inside the Yan Family Fortress, I fear it would be impossible to leave the Yan Family Fortress alive."

Another man spoke up.

"I know, but if we don't resolve this before he leaves the Yan Family Fortress, our fate will be worse than dying in the Yan Family Fortress. You should be clear about the Elder's methods."

"Yes, this younger brother understands."

They had exhausted many means, entering the Yan Family Fortress by replacing identities, yet for over a full year, they hadn't even seen Yan Taibai more than a few times.

Even when they did see him, it was from a distance; anyone who approached closely was a disciple of the Yan Family Fortress's Martial Arts Hall.

These people were the Yan Family Fortress's most core and important disciples, and every single one was a Foundation Establishment Stage cultivator.

Furthermore, they had all successfully reached Foundation Establishment before the age of thirty and possessed immense potential, so they were entirely the foundation and bedrock of the Yan Family Fortress.

Therefore, wanting to bypass these people to kill Yan Taibai was almost impossible.

It is easy to imagine how highly the Yan Family Fortress valued Yan Taibai, this Heavenly Spirit Root.

It was mainly because Mr. Xuan Ye discovered it.

……

Regarding the Ghost Spirit Sect cultivators who had infiltrated the Yan Family Fortress, although Yan Taibai had his suspicions, he did not know exactly where the other party was.

After all, the Yan Family Fortress was too large; it was almost like a small city, and everything could be found within the city.

And just as he left the Library Pavilion holding Yan Ruyan, a faint yet slightly icy fragrance wafted toward his face.

Subsequently, coming into view was a beautiful woman who appeared to be only about twenty years old.

This beautiful woman had a tall and slender figure, graceful curves, and a swaying, elegant gait.

A pair of bright eyes were crystalline and charming, revealing a clear, tranquil, and soft light; her dark hair was like clouds, coiled up with a wooden hairpin, simple and refined, and her long, jade-like neck revealed an elegant and moving grace.

A moon-white palace dress wrapped around her graceful body, revealing it to the fullest, indescribably alluring and intoxicating.

Outside, she wore a snow-white fur coat, which further highlighted the nobility of her status; this beautiful woman was none other than Yan Ruyan's mother.

At this moment, the beautiful woman's jade face wore a hint of anger as she stared at Yan Ruyan in Yan Taibai's arms.

And the moment Yan Ruyan saw the beautiful woman.

"Ah, Mother!" With an exclamation, her little face buried itself directly into Yan Taibai's arms, not daring to look at all.

Seeing this, Yan Taibai knew what was going on; he smiled helplessly, held Yan Ruyan, and bowed slightly to the beautiful woman, saying respectfully.

"Taibai greets Xueyi!"

"Hmm, give Ruyan to me; I have something to discuss with her."

Seeing this, the beautiful woman smiled sweetly and looked at Yan Taibai with eyes full of gentleness, quite like a mother-in-law looking at a son-in-law, the more she looked, the more pleased she was.

"Brother Taibai, no, Yan'er is going to get scolded."

Hearing this, before Yan Taibai could speak, Yan Ruyan in his arms muttered in a low voice.

"Xueyi must be here because of the Metal-attribute Intermediate Spirit Stones you sent me for Yan'er! Taibai will return them to Xueyi now, please do not blame Yan'er, Xueyi."

Hearing this, Yan Taibai sighed inwardly, feeling somewhat moved; he held Yan Ruyan tighter with one hand, and as his other hand moved to his Storage Bag to take out the Spirit Stones.

The beautiful woman "Xueyi" shook her head slightly, her tone revealing a hint of sadness as she said.

"No need, it's just ten Intermediate Grade Spirit Stones, it's nothing; keep them for your cultivation. I didn't come to find Yan'er for this matter. It's just that her father was injured while out on a mission some time ago, so I'm taking her to see him."

"What? Isn't Father's injury almost healed?"

Hearing that "Father" had met with an accident, Yan Ruyan jumped down directly from Yan Taibai's arms, her little face full of worry as she looked at "Xueyi" with her big, watery eyes.

"It's fine, it's just that his injury has mostly recovered, so he wanted to see you. I didn't expect you to run off to Taibai's place so quickly."

Seeing this, "Xueyi" forced a smile, picked up Yan Ruyan, and said softly.

Seeing "Xueyi's" expression, Yan Taibai felt a sense of unease.

In the original plot, Yan Ruyan's parents never appeared, so he did not know much about this.

"Yan'er heard that Brother Taibai needed Metal-attribute Intermediate Spirit Stones for cultivation, so I took ten from the Storage Bag Mother left in the room; I didn't take any more."

Yan Ruyan's little face flushed red, and she hurriedly explained in a flustered manner.

"Alright, Mother, let's go see Father! I haven't seen Father for a long time. What kind of mission did Father go on to get injured?"

Yan Ruyan then changed the subject.

"Hmm! Taibai, come along too! Your uncle hasn't seen you for a long time either."

"Xueyi" nodded slightly and looked at Yan Taibai to ask for his opinion.

"Alright, then I will trouble Xueyi to lead the way."

Hearing this, Yan Taibai naturally would not refuse.

He had naturally met Yan Ruyan's father; like Mr. Xuan Ye, he was dressed as a Confucian scholar, and the two had a very good relationship. It was also Yan Ruyan's father who had invited Mr. Xuan Ye to the Yan Family Fortress to serve as a guest elder.

Because he had repeatedly helped the Yan Family resolve suppression by the Seven Sects and other difficult dilemmas, the Yan Family Ancestor had ordered all Yan Family members to respectfully address him as Mr. Xuan Ye.

He treated Yan Ruyan as his own flesh and blood, which was also the reason why he treated Yan Taibai so well.

Subsequently, Yan Taibai followed "Xueyi" and the mother and daughter, Yan Ruyan, toward the core area of the Yan Family Fortress.

That was a courtyard where only Foundation Establishment Stage cultivators could reside in the Yan Family Fortress; every day, Martial Arts Hall disciples patrolled and kept watch, even within the Yan Family Fortress.

Ordinary secular Yan Family members were not allowed to step foot there at all; Yan Taibai and Yan Yun's courtyard was also among them.

Although neither of them were Foundation Establishment Stage cultivators, Yan Taibai was a Heavenly Spirit Root cultivator, so he naturally enjoyed the same treatment.

Besides that, there was a Spirit Eye Spring in the central area, which, with the help of an array, made the Heaven and Earth Qi in the entire area very dense, suitable for cultivation.

Before long, the three of them entered a courtyard that was elegantly decorated yet not lacking in luxury.

And at this moment, there were more than just the three of them in the courtyard; on the contrary, the most core group of people in the entire Yan Family Fortress had arrived, and their expressions were all quite grim.

Seeing this scene, let alone Yan Taibai, even Yan Ruyan had anticipated and understood something.

The small face that had originally worn an expectant look now turned pale, and her cherry lips moved slightly as she whispered in a voice as soft as a mosquito's hum.

"Father!"

(End of chapter)