Xia He and Qiu Lan were not mere ornamental servants. They were Ye Qian's bodyguards, trained from childhood to protect him with their lives.
Despite being only twenty years old—barely two years his senior—both had already reached the Early Stage of the Enlightenment Realm. Their talent and strength rivaled the core disciples of major powers. Yet here, in the Ye Family, they served as nothing more than personal maids.
The subtle worry etched into their brows stemmed from genuine concern. They had grown up alongside Ye Qian, attending to him since they were children.
They understood their place in the world with crystal clarity: Ye Qian was not merely their Young Master, but their Master—the one they would follow until death.
Several days ago, Ye Qian had forcefully attempted to break through to the Holy Induction Realm. The result was catastrophic. His Heart Demon erupted, triggering severe Qi Deviation that left him comatose.
Panicked, the two maids immediately informed the Family Head.
The Family Head's fury was volcanic. He reprimanded them with crushing severity, yet stopped short of execution. These two had been with his son since infancy; they were his companions, his shadows. Only Ye Qian himself held the authority to punish them. Even as Family Head and father, he could not arbitrarily decide their fates.
He summoned the finest immortal physicians to examine Ye Qian. Their diagnosis was grim: the Heart Demon's interference had caused severe Qi Deviation. There was no immediate cure. They could only wait for Ye Qian to awaken naturally before attempting treatment.
Helpless, the Family Head ordered his son returned to his personal palace to recuperate.
As for Xia He and Qiu Lan, they had stood vigil outside his chamber for days and nights without rest. Their eyes were faintly red-rimmed, betraying exhaustion they refused to acknowledge.
When the door creaked open, both women froze, convinced they were hallucinating. Yet they still turned toward the sound.
The moment they saw Ye Qian standing in the doorway, their eyes widened in disbelief.
Such a catastrophic incident had befallen their Young Master, and they, as his personal attendants, had failed in their duties. The guilt had gnawed at them relentlessly. They had prepared themselves for weeks, perhaps months, of waiting.
Yet here he stood.
"Young Master!" they cried in unison.
Joy flooded their faces. They rushed to his side, hands fluttering over him—checking his complexion, his posture, his eyes—terrified of missing any lingering sign of injury.
Ye Qian clearly remembered his two personal maids. The System helpfully provided their detailed information.
[Name]: Xia He
[Age]: 20
[Identity]: Host's Personal Maid
[Cultivation]: Early Stage of Enlightenment Realm
[Physique]: Profound Yin Physique
[Cultivation Technique]: Profound Yin Cultivation Technique, Breaking Kill Sword Art
[Magic Treasure]: Soul Turning Sword (Divine Artifact)
[Luck Value]: 10
[Loyalty]: 100 (Betrayal Impossible)
…
[Name]: Qiu Lan
[Age]: 20
[Identity]: Host's Personal Maid
[Cultivation]: Early Stage of Enlightenment Realm
[Physique]: Profound Yin Physique
[Cultivation Technique]: Profound Yin Cultivation Technique, Breaking Kill Sword Art
[Magic Treasure]: Soul Extinguishing Sword (Divine Artifact)
[Luck Value]: 12
[Loyalty]: 100 (Betrayal Impossible)
Ye Qian was pleasantly surprised. He could actually inspect their detailed status.
Both possessed the Profound Yin Physique—a rare constitution comparable to powerful blessed physiques. In any other sect or power, individuals with such talent would be groomed as core disciples, showered with resources, and revered.
Yet here, in the Ye Family, they were merely his maids.
The depth of the Ye Family's foundation was staggering.
What caught Ye Qian's attention most, however, was the Loyalty value: 100, with the additional notation "Betrayal Impossible."
His mood lifted considerably. These two were utterly devoted to him.
If either of them stepped outside, they'd be revered as goddesses, pursued by countless suitors. Yet here, they serve me without question.
The thought brought a faint, satisfied smile to his lips.
Xia He suddenly paled, realization striking her like cold water. "Young Master, are you alright? Why did you leave your bed? You should be resting! Your condition—"
Qiu Lan's voice overlapped hers, trembling with urgency. "Yes, Young Master! You suffered severe Qi Deviation. You must rest. If something happens again..."
Their devotion was absolute, their concern heartfelt. They genuinely feared for his wellbeing.
To the outside world, Ye Qian was a notorious scoundrel who relied on his family's overwhelming power to act with impunity. Others could only silently endure his tyranny, too terrified of the Ye Family to resist.
But to Xia He and Qiu Lan, Ye Qian was the best person in existence. There was no logical reason for it; it was simply an unshakable truth they had carried since childhood.
No matter how the world viewed him, in their eyes, Ye Qian was Ye Qian. Nothing could change that.
Seeing their genuine worry, Ye Qian felt an unexpected warmth bloom in his chest.
He gently pulled them into an embrace, his voice soft and reassuring. "Alright, alright. Do I look like someone on death's door? Don't worry. I'm perfectly fine—lively as a dragon."
Xia He and Qiu Lan froze, utterly overwhelmed.
They had never imagined being treated with such tenderness. The previous Ye Qian had never even looked at them this way.
Reviewing his predecessor's memories, Ye Qian understood why. The original owner had shown zero interest in these two stunning beauties. His attention had been fixated elsewhere, on a specific target he relentlessly pursued.
It was because of that obsession that his predecessor had remained cold and indifferent to his own maids, despite their devotion and beauty.
As for who that previous pursuit had been, Ye Qian had no interest in dwelling on it. He was no longer that person. The past could remain buried.