Jinyan City, Main City of the Second Continent · Rear Court of the Archive Pavilion
On the third day after the trial, the morning breeze carried a faint chill.
Wrapped in a plain robe, Ge Ruifeng stepped slowly into the Hall of Yao Court, supported by Ge Zhiyao. Once a general who swept across battlefields in full armor, he now appeared aged and worn—yet the dignity of the Ge family still lingered unmistakably between his brows.
He dropped to both knees and bowed deeply before Tie Ye.
"Your servant thanks the Yao Lord for clearing the name of the Ge family."
Tie Ye's voice was low and steady.
"You have rendered great service to the Yao Realm. You should never have suffered such injustice. This delayed vindication is my responsibility—you owe me no thanks."
Ge Ruifeng shook his head, his tone respectful yet resolute.
"Though much has been lost, our lineage endures and our people remain. I wish to return to our estate, restore our clan, revise our military doctrines, and reforge our oaths. Should the Yao Realm ever call for arms again, the Ge family will not fail its name."
Tie Ye rose and personally helped him to his feet.
"As long as the Ge family stands, the Yao Realm shall not fall."
Standing nearby, Ge Zhiyao watched the two elders. For the first time in a long while, a sense of quiet peace stirred within her. She departed alongside her father, preparing to return to the Ge estate—to rebuild, to restore, and to begin again.
Inner Residence of Jinyan City · Study Room
Afternoon sunlight streamed quietly through the tall windows, reflecting softly across the jade floor.
Luo Yan stood before the bookshelves, his fingers brushing over volumes of military strategy, political discourse, and scattered records. Behind the desk, Tie Ye observed him in silence—this young man who had once been a stranger, yet now felt increasingly familiar.
"Your mother… loved these books," Tie Ye finally said, his voice deep.
"She believed only words could bring her peace."
Luo Yan gave a slight nod.
"Is that so? I… can barely remember what she looked like."
Tie Ye fell silent for a moment before speaking again.
"…Her name was Luo Junyan."
Luo Yan stiffened, stunned into silence.
Tie Ye's voice seemed forced from deep within his chest, hoarse and heavy.
"That year, I was stationed at the northern front. The war was critical—I could not leave. She stayed behind to care for you… and then… she fell victim to Lin Qingyuan, the former Yao Lord."
Though he had heard fragments of this story before from Han Yunkun, hearing it now from Tie Ye himself tightened Luo Yan's chest. The name—Luo Junyan—lingered in his mind like a soft light he had never truly possessed, yet one etched into his soul.
Tie Ye clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white.
"That man abused his royal bloodline. Under the pretense of searching for rebel forces, he forced his way into our inner residence… set fire, abducted her—destroyed the most important person in my life."
Luo Yan trembled slightly, his throat tight.
"And the fire…?"
Tie Ye nodded slowly, his eyes reddening.
"She believed you had died in the flames. Her child gone… her dignity shattered… She waited for me, but I never returned in time. So she… threw herself into a well."
The study fell into suffocating silence.
Luo Yan took a deep breath and straightened, his expression unreadable.
"Before, Gu Ying said something that stayed with me. She said this Yao Realm needs reform—that there are too many nobles unworthy of their positions, abusing power. How can such a court inspire loyalty?"
Tie Ye remained silent for a long moment, his fingers tracing the edge of a black ironwood paperweight. When he spoke, his voice was like fractured steel.
"She's right."
His gaze hardened, no longer avoiding the truth.
"This world is sick. Those in power rely on bloodline, not merit. Nobility has become a wall of privilege. Commoners don't even have the right to speak."
He lifted his head and looked directly at Luo Yan—not as a father, but as a veteran who had survived the brutality of an old order, entrusting the future to the next generation.
"All these years, I endured and compromised just to keep the Yao Realm from collapsing. But if your generation can forge a path that truly belongs to the Five Yao… then I am willing to become the past."
He paused.
"But what must change is not only the system—it is the human heart. They must understand this—"
"It is not only those named Lin who deserve to stand at the top."
"Anyone with the will and worth may enter the court."
Luo Yan listened quietly, his chest rising like a tide. Never had he imagined that one day he would stand here, speaking with the father who had never been part of his life—discussing belief, responsibility, and the future.
"So back then… you chose not to put Lin Qingyuan on trial, but killed him yourself?" Luo Yan asked softly—not accusing, but seeking understanding.
Tie Ye's gaze was deep as an iron well.
"I am no saint. If I had handed him over, would the court have sentenced him to death? He was royal. His crimes would have been buried layer upon layer."
"I chose to end it myself—for your mother… and to stop him from ever harming anyone again."
"And I knew… once I did it, there would be no turning back."
Luo Yan lowered his voice.
"So you remained silent all these years… letting people believe it was a coup, an illness, an accident?"
Tie Ye let out a cold chuckle.
"Let them believe whatever they want—as long as he can never hurt anyone again."
Luo Yan clenched his fists. At that moment, he understood—this iron-blooded father was not without emotion. He had simply buried all his pain within unyielding resolve.
"I will remember your words," Luo Yan said finally, calm yet firm.
"But the path of reform I seek is not revenge, nor merely the overthrow of an old system. I want a world where everyone can live with dignity—without depending on noble houses, without being oppressed at will."
Tie Ye truly looked at him for the first time—seeing a light he had never dared hope for.
"What you wish to change… is not just the court."
"It is the soul of this entire world."
Silence passed between them—and slowly, the distance that had once frozen them apart began to melt.
Tie Ye spoke softly, almost a whisper.
"If you can truly achieve that… then you will surpass me."
Luo Yan gave a faint smile, then turned his gaze toward the starlit sky beyond the window.
After a long silence, he spoke again.
"I am willing to acknowledge my lineage. From today onward… I will take the surname Tie."
Tie Ye's gaze flickered, but he did not interrupt.
"But I wish to keep my name—Luo Yan."
His voice was firm.
"That name was given to me by Uncle Fu. Without him, I would not have survived… nor become who I am today."
Tie Ye stood in silence for a long while, emotion rising in his eyes.
He stepped forward and placed a heavy hand on Luo Yan's shoulder.
"Very well. From this day on, you are my son—Tie Luoyan."
"You carry the blood of the Tie family… and you do not forget the one who raised you."
A faint light flickered in Luo Yan's eyes.
"Yes."
After a brief pause, he added:
"There is one more thing I wish you to know."
Tie Ye nodded.
"Zhiyao is the woman I intend to marry." Luo Yan's voice was steady, unwavering.
"But she now bears the responsibility of the Ge family, and we still have a duty to stand beside Yaochen in searching for the Five Yao. When our mission is complete… I will ask for her hand."
Tie Ye was momentarily stunned, then studied him deeply.
This child… was more composed, more resolute than he himself had been.
"Zhiyao is a good woman. If she feels the same, then you are worthy of her," he said gently.
"But remember—love is not just passion. It is whether you can walk a lifetime together. To endure hardship… and to share the ordinary."
Luo Yan nodded.
"I understand. This is not impulse, nor will I let emotion hinder my duty. I will shoulder everything I must… and one day, build her a peaceful world."
Tie Ye nodded slowly.
"Go. The world is in turmoil. If the Five Yao unite, you will be the ones to reshape it."
"And if one day the Yao Realm knows peace again…"
"I will personally officiate your wedding."
Luo Yan felt something stir deep within his chest. He bowed deeply.
"Thank you… Father."