Chapter 614: Indebtedness

Chen Yu fell into silence; he truly felt guilty. In fact, this time, it was Ye Qingning who had saved him.

He only remembered being trapped in the Fallen Demon Tribulation, unable to extricate himself. If not for Ye Qingning using her virgin body, preserved for over twenty years, to help him break free from the demonic obsession, he really did not know if he could have pulled through.

But things had reached this point; Ye Qingning was unwilling to acknowledge the matter, and he could not ask, so he could only take it slowly and deal with things as they came.

"Chen Yu, you must treat my sister well in the future," Ye Qinglong said with reddened eyes.

"You're overthinking it," Chen Yu gave a bitter smile. "Let's head back first; there are many things that still need to be handled."

The group returned to the village. The remains from the Mountain Ghost's old lair had all been transported out. Most of the remains had been claimed by their families, but a portion was so ancient that they could no longer be identified.

After this battle, Wuming and the several great Life-Commanders under his name were all brought to justice. Moreover, after being counseled, the villagers gradually came to recognize this fact.

Officials sent from Ning City tried to persuade this mysterious and ancient tribe, wanting to lead them out of the mountains to see the world and live in places with better environments and more people. However, the people of the village had lived here for generations and were unwilling to go elsewhere; the officials talked until their mouths were dry, but it was to no avail.

"Wuming was hateful, but now that he is dead, our heritage is severed," an old man wept bitterly.

The Witch Clan lineage could be traced back to the ancient Nine Li period. Although their heritage was weak, at least the things of their ancestors had been preserved. Now that Wuming had been executed, the heritage was truly severed.

"Who says the heritage is severed?" Following a shout, an old man walked into the village with a girl.

"Fan Lao? Zhenzhen?" Chen Yu was startled. He recognized both of them; the old man was the Miao Medicine practitioner Fan Lao who had pointed him toward the Witch Clan last time, and the girl was Fan Zhen, the tour guide Xia Tian had introduced when he came to Ning City.

"Old Patriarch?" The group of elders were all startled when they saw Fan Lao.

There were intricate connections between Fan Lao and the Witch Clan, but Chen Yu had never imagined that he was actually the former patriarch of the Witch Clan.

And when he first met Fan Zhen, he had seen the Witch Clan mark on her wrist; Chen Yu had even suspected at the time that she was someone sent by the Witch Clan to deal with him.

"Old Patriarch, where have you been all these years?" A white-haired old man stepped forward, gripping Fan Lao's hand with an emotional expression. "We truly regret not listening to you."

"That's right, Old Patriarch. We were all used by Wuming, and our poor children are all gone." A group of people crowded around, sobbing uncontrollably.

"Back then, you were blinded by Wuming's demonic words, intending to strengthen the Witch Clan and dominate this world," Fan Lao said with a bitter expression. "I tried my best to stop you, but not a single person listened to me, so I could only take my granddaughter and leave the Witch Clan to seek another path."

"If you all had listened to my advice back then, how could your families have been torn apart and your own children thrown to feed the Mountain Ghost?"

"Old Patriarch, we were wrong. Please come back; our Witch Clan cannot be without you." A group of people crowded around, weeping and repenting.

"I will not come back. The comrades from the official side are right; this place is cut off from the world, living a primitive life. A difficult childbirth can cost two lives, and a cold or fever can turn a child into an idiot."

Fan Lao sighed and said, "You should go out and walk around, accept modern life, and see to what extent modern technology has developed. Walking out of the mountains is the only way for the future of our Witch Clan. If we stay here, we will be wiped out sooner or later."

"But, but our ancestors have all lived here," someone still could not step out of this trap. "If we leave, what will happen to our heritage?"

"What is heritage?" Chen Yu suddenly spoke up. He walked before the crowd and said, "Heritage is a belief; it is a spirit hidden deep within the heart."

"The Witch Clan originates from the Nine Li and has a history of thousands of years of heritage. But do not forget, the reason you lived here back then was because you were defeated in war," Chen Yu said. "The modern era is different from any era in the past."

"So there is no need for you to guard this place for generations. The reason heritage is called heritage is because someone guards the faith in their hearts. If in a hundred years you have completely disappeared here, then what is there to speak of regarding heritage? In this world, who else would know of your Witch Clan lineage?"

"The years Fan Lao spent outside were actually to find a new place for you to survive. He understood this modern society, which is why he returned. You failed Fan Lao's painstaking efforts many years ago; are you going to continue to fail him now?"

Chen Yu's words left everyone in silence. Yes, the reason heritage is heritage is because someone guards the faith in their hearts.

If the Witch Clan were gone, no one would know that such a race had ever existed in this world. In that case, what would be the point of guarding this place?

"Come with me. There will be people who will handle our affairs well. My grandfather has lived outside for many years; he will not deceive everyone," Fan Zhen also said.

The villagers looked at each other; they were still struggling to think it through.

Seeing that these people were wavering, official personnel immediately came over to persuade them. As long as one person showed signs of loosening, everyone would agree to leave this place.

However, these matters were for the aftermath. Chen Yu had other things to do. After greeting Fan Zhen and chatting for a few sentences, the group drove back.

A road had already been cleared through the Wugu Forest, so there was no need to take the small path on the way back; the group followed the regular road.

Although the road here was quite difficult to travel, compared to the dangers on the path they took when they arrived, it was already relatively easy.

"I need a few days to refine this thing. You all head back to Shengjing first, and I will come to Shengjing to find you later," Chen Yu said to Ye Qingning.

"I'll wait a few days as well; we'll go together then," Ye Qingning said. She actually did not want to be separated from Chen Yu. After having relations with Chen Yu that day, her heart, which had been like an iceberg, had long since melted.

She now instinctively wanted to be close to Chen Yu and did not want to be too far from him.

"Sister, home called and said Grandfather wants to see us." Ye Qinglong, who was driving, looked at his sister through the rearview mirror.

"Grandfather's consciousness has cleared?" Ye Qingning was both surprised and happy.

"Yes, let's go back first and find us after Chen Yu finishes processing the medicine. Grandfather has been in a half-awake, half-asleep state for these past few years and doesn't recognize anyone at all. Let's hurry back and see him," Ye Qinglong said.

"That's good. Book the tickets immediately; we're going back. Chen Yu, we'll wait for you in Shengjing," Ye Qingning said.

"Fine, it won't take me long. I'll gather the necessary things in a day or two, and I guarantee I'll save your grandfather," Chen Yu nodded and said.

"Then I'll leave it to you, Chen Yu," Ye Qingning looked at him with a complex expression.

"Rest assured, with me here, it will be fine," Chen Yu held her hand.

The moment Chen Yu's hand touched Ye Qingning, her body gave a slight shudder. She looked up at Chen Yu in surprise, yet she was unwilling to pull her hand away from him.