Chapter 784: What

Back then, Ye Qingran's name caused a huge stir, drawing the attention of cultivators in the Floating Life Realm; the Zhai Xing Pavilion and the Suspended King Hall, two top sects, dispatched their peak forces to spar, but when they arrived, Ye Qingran had vanished.

Since then, Jade Autumn Sect's reputation plummeted; the world regarded it as hypocritical, and many young prodigies no longer considered Jade Autumn Sect, opting instead to cultivate at either Zhai Xing Pavilion or Suspended King Hall.

If Jade Autumn Sect weren't so deeply rooted, it would likely have fallen to a second‑tier sect.

The impact of that incident on Jade Autumn Sect back then is easy to imagine.

Ye Qingran heard that and couldn't help but gasp.

Although it's not yet 100 % certain that this Ye Qingran is the same Ye Qingran, if she is, she has indeed let Jade Autumn Sect down, hasn't she?

The Greatsword cleaved the sky, with a dozen or so people standing or sitting upon it.

Ye Qingran toyed with the Ruinous King's Sword in her hand; while she kept it sheathed, the Ruinous King's Sword was so unassuming it resembled scrap metal.

"Boss, why does the hilt of your sword feel like something's missing?"

Bai Pang, standing nearby, pointed to the hilt of the Ruinous King's Sword, where a groove suggested something had once been inlaid but had been removed.

Since Bai Pang didn't mention it, Ye Qingran hadn't noticed it herself.

"I don't know either. It was like that when I got it."

Ye Qingran recalled that the Ruinous King's Sword seemed to have looked like that when it emerged from the Sword Tomb.

Bai Pang didn't ask further; to him, it was just an ordinary sword.

Lu Fei had been watching Ye Qingran the whole time, yet never initiated a word with her.

Lu Fei was a tall, thin boy, outgoing yet taciturn, strikingly handsome with a chiseled face and healthy bronze skin.

"Is there something on my face?" Ye Qingran finally couldn't help but look at him, offering a faint smile.

Called out, Lu Fei quickly lowered his head, a blush spreading across his cheek, "No, nothing..."

Now Ye Qingran was surprised, realizing Lu Fei was shy—she hadn't expected him to be so shy.

Qing Lan sat with knees drawn up; seeing the scene, she curved her lips and couldn't help feeling a satisfying sense of peaceful years.

Although Ran Jie had been missing for seven years and only returned last night, it felt to her as if she had never left during those seven years.

"Ran Jie, you're still the same as before, enjoying teasing Lu Fei."

"Is that so?" Ye Qingran raised an eyebrow.

Bai Pang replied, "Yes, but boss, you seem... gentler than before."

"Bai Pang, what do you mean? Are you saying boss wasn't gentle before?" Yingsu patted Bai Pang's arm, and when she said this she didn't look at Ye Qingran—indeed, since Ye Qingran's return she has barely spoken to her of her own accord.

Qing Lan and the others took note of Yingsu's odd behavior.

It should be known that Yingsu is lively and used to talk the most when she was with Ye Qingran back then.

"Gentler now?"

Ye Qingran's eyes flashed, her lips curving, "Perhaps it's because I have children now..."

Thinking of Xiao Hu Xiao Chen, Ye Qingran's gaze softened to watery gentleness.

She just wonders, if she's not there, will they worry about her?

She tightened her grip on her skirt, silently resolving to find a way back as soon as possible.

"What? You already have children?" Ji Rufeng shouted from ahead.

"Yes," Ye Qingran brushed the wind‑tousled hair, "One is called Xiao Chen, the other Xiao Hu; they're both six years old this year."

Qing Lan and the others exchanged looks, each seeing shock in the other's eyes.

After years apart, they were still single, and the boss's children would be old enough to buy soy sauce.

"Hmph! You are clever, running away and going to have children..."

Ji Rufeng's tone was sour.

"Ran Jie, your children must be adorable!" Qing Lan, surprised, couldn't help but look forward to them.

Ran Jie is so beautiful; the children she bears must be outstanding!

"Yes. When there's a chance, I'll let you meet them..."

"No, I don't want to see them—kids are the worst!"

Ji Rufeng said disdainfully.

Soon, Jade Autumn Sect came into view.

"Boss, we're here."

Ye Qingran rose and looked down; the ancient sect, hidden among the mountains like a coiled dragon, filled her heart with a familiar sensation.

Is this Jade Autumn Sect?

Jade Autumn Sect forbids disciples from flying swords above the sect, so they had to stop at the foot of the mountain and walk up.

The gate‑keeping disciples, seeing members of the Lingyun Team and the Black Iron Team, treated them with great respect.

"Senior brothers and sisters, please."

When they saw Ye Qingran, their faces flushed, "Who is this?"

Qing Lan was about to speak, but Ji Rufeng cut in, "This is the captain of the Lingyun Team, Ye Qingran!"

His tone was indignant.

"What?"

The gate disciples were all stunned.

"Lingyun Team?"

"Ye Qingran?"

Among cultivators of the Floating Life Realm, who hasn't heard of the Lingyun Team and Ye Qingran?

As captain of the Lingyun Team, Ye Qingran single‑handedly propelled Jade Autumn Sect to flourish, nearly preventing it from falling into the second‑tier sects!

But hadn't she gone missing seven years ago?

Why did you suddenly come back?

The gate‑keeping disciple chuckled and said to Ji Rufeng, "Senior Brother Ji, please stop joking with us..."

Ji Rufeng's face darkened, "Do I look idle?"

The gate disciple shook his head. Senior Brother Ji handles countless affairs daily; he's very busy.

"Then that's it."

The gate disciple was dumbfounded, so the stunningly beautiful woman before him was really the captain of the Lingyun Team, the super‑genius Ye Qingran once praised by the sect master as capable of suppressing an entire era?

No way!

"Senior Sister Ye, you probably can't go in."

Upon learning it was Ye Qingran, the gate disciple blocked her at the entrance.

"Why?"

"Because you're a criminal of the Jade Autumn Sect; no one there welcomes you. If I let you in, you'll inevitably be rebuked by the other sect disciples."

Since it's the main gate of the Jade Autumn Sect, many people come and go. At the sound of the name Ye Qingran, everyone gathered around. Soon, the news that Ye Qingran had returned spread throughout the sect, alarming its higher‑ups!

"I heard Ye Qingran's back? Is it true?"

"I don't know! It's said she returned with members of the Lingyun Team; they wouldn't mistake her, would they?"

"Where? I'll go take a look; I really want to see what the legendary Ye Qingran looks like!"

The Jade Autumn Sect disciples showed great curiosity toward Ye Qingran.

It should be noted that Ye Qingran has been away from the Jade Autumn Sect for seven years; many disciples have already graduated, and most current sect members have never seen her.

Compared to curiosity, there was more anger.

"On what grounds does Ye Qingran return? Does she think the Jade Autumn Sect is a place she can come and go at will?"

"Exactly—if it weren't for her, would the Jade Autumn Sect have fallen into such a state?"

"We firmly oppose Ye Qingran's return to the Jade Autumn Sect!"

The crowd's emotions flared; after a few stirred the pot, more and more people's already poor impression of Ye Qingran grew ever worse.

Ji Rufeng frowned; he didn't realize his offhand remark would have such a huge impact.

Since he had promised Ye Qingran a chance, he never intended to turn her away at the gate, let alone humiliate her.

But now that things have escalated like this, he doesn't know what to do.

As the one involved, Ye Qingran felt little inner turmoil; instead, she keenly sensed the Jade Autumn Sect disciples' hatred and hostility toward her.

"Just as I thought, once you step out into the world, you always have to pay back!" Ye Qingran shook her head, and as she was contemplating how to resolve the matter, a figure appeared atop the Jade Autumn Sect's main gate.