Dragon City, southeast of the Heaven Dou Empire, Douluo Continent.
As the ancestral home of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, Dragon City was as majestic and spectacular as ever. The towering city walls shimmered with lightning patterns, and the city within was bustling with carriages and crowds, a scene of pure prosperity. Yet today, the entire city was enveloped in an atmosphere of unusual celebration and excitement.
This was because their Young Sect Master—the legendary figure who led the human Coalition Army to counterattack the Demon Plane, personally slew four Great Demon Kings, and established "Demon Quelling City" in the otherworld—Yu Yuanchen, had returned!
When that restrained purple-gold stream of light, which seemed to have merged with the heavens and earth, tore through the sky and descended before the grand Main Hall of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, the entire sect erupted!
"Welcome back, Young Sect Master!"
Cheers like a tsunami resounded from every corner of the sect. Whether they were Elders, Deacons, or ordinary disciples and servants, everyone looked toward that figure with immense excitement, their eyes filled with unparalleled reverence and fanaticism. Yu Yuanchen had become the pride of the entire sect and a legend across the entire Douluo Continent!
Yu Yuanchen landed, his aura calm and a smile on his face as he nodded slightly to the crowd. As his gaze swept over the familiar halls, pavilions, and every blade of grass and tree, an indescribable warmth and peace welled up in his heart. This place was his root.
"Chen'er!"
A call filled with excitement and trembling reached him. Yu Yuanchen turned to look and saw his Grandfather, Yu Boxuan, walking quickly out of the Main Hall. The old man had shed his usual majesty as Sect Master; the irrepressible joy and pride on his face now were incredibly genuine. Behind him followed his father, Yu Mingfeng, and a woman with a gentle temperament and beautiful features, her eyes brimming with tears and joy—it was his stepmother, Madam Liu.
"Grandfather, Father, Mother." Yu Yuanchen stepped forward quickly, bowing to the three elders with a tone that was both respectful and affectionate.
"Good! Good! It's good that you're back!" Yu Boxuan's avatar laughed heartily, patting his grandson's shoulder firmly. Although he was only an energy construct, the force behind the gesture was not lacking at all. "Good kid! Level 99! A Titled Douluo, hahahaha! My Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan has produced a true dragon—no, a divine dragon!"
Yu Mingfeng's eyes were also slightly red. Looking at his son, who was now a head taller than him and possessed an aura as deep as the sea, he nodded heavily. A thousand words condensed into one: "You've worked hard, Chen'er."
Stepmother Madam Liu stepped forward, taking Yu Yuanchen's hand, her voice gentle: "Chen'er, you've finally returned! You must have suffered a lot out there, right? Look at you, you've lost so much weight..." Though the words were the typical nagging of a mother, they were filled with sincere care.
Yu Yuanchen felt a warmth in his heart. He had lost his mother at a young age, and after Madam Liu married into the sect, she had treated him as her own, caring for him meticulously without ever a word of reproach. He had always kept this familial love close to his heart. "I've made you worry, Mother. I am doing just fine."
As the family was immersed in the joy of reunion, a crisp sound of a baby crying suddenly drifted from the inner hall.
"Waa~ waa~"
Immediately following it, another slightly weaker cry rang out.
"Oh my, these two little ancestors must have heard the commotion of their big brother returning and started acting up too." Madam Liu hurriedly wiped the corners of her eyes, laughing with a mix of helplessness and doting affection.
Yu Yuanchen was slightly stunned. He looked at his father, Yu Mingfeng, and Madam Liu, a trace of confusion in his eyes. He had been away for a year; how did the sect suddenly have the sound of babies? And judging by the noise, there were two of them?
A flash of imperceptible embarrassment crossed Yu Mingfeng's face, which then transformed into the smug, glowing pride of a man who had fathered children in his later years. He coughed dryly and explained: "Ahem, Chen'er, this... your father hasn't had the chance to tell you yet. After your triumphant return from the expedition, I was overjoyed, and with your mother... well... so, you have two more younger brothers. They are twins, just over a month old."
Yu Yuanchen: "..."
He blinked, looking at his father's expression—which was slightly sheepish but mostly unable to hide his joy—and then at his stepmother Madam Liu's shy, happy smile, and finally recalling the vigorous baby cries from earlier...
In an instant, it dawned on Yu Yuanchen, and a bizarre expression appeared on his face—he wanted to laugh but was holding it back. This father of his... he was something else! Still vigorous in his old age! A great victory in the expedition, and in his joy, he just... added two more biological brothers for him? And they were twins?!
"Pfft..." Even with Yu Yuanchen's steady temperament, he couldn't help but laugh out loud. He looked at his father teasingly and joked: "Father... you really are... still sharp as a blade, vigorous as ever! This is quite a unique way to celebrate the victory of the expedition, isn't it?"
Yu Mingfeng's face flushed red. Being teased by his son made him feel a bit awkward, but seeing the playful look in his son's eyes, he steeled himself, stuck out his neck, and said: "What? Your father is still in excellent health! Having a child in one's later years is a joyous occasion! A great joy! These two brothers of yours have good talent, I see; they will surely be the pillars of our Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan in the future!"
The more he spoke, the prouder he became, pointing toward the inner hall: "The older one, your mother and I named Yu Yuanzhen, and the younger one is called Yu Luomian! How about that? The names are quite imposing, aren't they?"
Yu Yuanzhen? Yu Luomian? The corner of Yu Yuanchen's mouth twitched slightly. These names... they were truly full of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's unique style.
So it's these two guys. It looks like I, as the big brother, will have to 'discipline' them well in the future so they don't follow the old path from the original story. Thinking this, Yu Yuanchen forcibly suppressed the sinister smile at the corner of his mouth and cupped his hands: "Yes, yes, Father is right, it is a joyous occasion indeed! Congratulations, Father, congratulations, Mother! I will certainly take a good look at my two brothers another day."
Seeing that his son was not the least bit displeased and was offering genuine congratulations, both Yu Mingfeng and Madam Liu breathed a sigh of relief, their smiles becoming even brighter.
However, while Yu Mingfeng was feeling proud, he changed the subject, his gaze falling on Yu Yuanchen with a mix of reproach and expectation: "Chen'er, your father may be old, but I can still give you two younger brothers. But what about you? You are young and in your prime; it is the time to spread your branches and leaves! You and Zhilan have been married for some time now, but the days you've spent by her side can be counted on one's fingers! It's either seclusion or expeditions. That child Zhilan is so sensible and never complains, but you can't just leave her to keep an empty room all the time!"
He spoke earnestly, even with a hint of "why can't you be more ambitious" in his tone: "Your father is counting on holding a grandson soon! I can't exactly count on your two brothers who are still nursing, can I? You have achieved success and fame, and your cultivation has reached the peak; it is time to consider the important matter of passing on the family line! Since you're back this time, you must spend some quality time with Zhilan!"
Yu Yuanchen: "..."
He hadn't expected the "fire" to spread to him so quickly. Looking at his father's serious and urgent eyes, and then at his Grandfather Yu Boxuan's gaze—which was clearly enjoying the show and implicitly agreeing—Yu Yuanchen felt his head swell.
He quickly begged for mercy: "Father is right; it was my negligence. Since I am back this time, I will certainly spend plenty of time with Zhilan. My cultivation has reached a bottleneck, so closed-door training is of little use, and I have plenty of time."
Hearing his son's promise, Yu Mingfeng's expression finally softened, and he nodded with satisfaction: "That's more like it!"
At this moment, Yu Boxuan's avatar also chimed in with a smile: "Yuanchen, your father is right. The inheritance of the sect is a major matter. That child Zhilan has been very hardworking this past year, managing the herb garden and studying the Way of Beast Taming for you, and she often worries about you. Go and see her; she should be over at the herb garden."
"Yes, Grandfather, Father, Mother, then I shall take my leave." As if granted an amnesty, Yu Yuanchen bowed quickly and fled the Main Hall as if escaping, heading toward the herb garden on the back mountain of the sect.
Watching his son "fleeing in panic," Yu Mingfeng and Yu Boxuan looked at each other and couldn't help but burst into laughter. Madam Liu also covered her mouth and chuckled, and the hall was filled with a warm and joyful atmosphere.
Passing through familiar pavilions and winding stone paths, the herb garden on the back mountain, brimming with spiritual energy and planted with all kinds of rare medicinal herbs, came into view. Before he even got close, a faint, familiar scent mixed with the fragrance of a hundred herbs wafted toward him.
Yu Yuanchen lightened his footsteps and slowly entered the herb garden.
Under a pavilion surrounded by lush Blue Silver Grass, a slender, graceful silhouette was standing with her back to him, crouching on the ground and carefully loosening the soil for a rare Moonlight Lotus. She wore a simple, plain-colored long dress, her dark hair like a waterfall, held up loosely by a single wooden hairpin, revealing the beautifully curved, fair skin of her neck. The sunlight filtered through the leaves and spilled onto her, as if plating her in a soft halo. Who else could it be but Ye Zhilan?
She seemed completely immersed in tending to the herbs and did not notice the movement behind her. Yu Yuanchen stood there quietly, watching his wife's focused and gentle silhouette. The longing of the past year surged into his heart like a tide, filling him with peace and contentment.
It seemed his gaze was too focused; Ye Zhilan sensed something, her hand pausing slightly as she slowly turned her head.
When that beautiful, peerless face with a hint of scholarly grace came into view, and those clear, autumn-water-like eyes met his deep gaze, time seemed to stand still at this moment.
Ye Zhilan's pupils dilated slightly, and the small shovel in her hand fell to the ground with a "clatter." She seemed unable to believe her eyes, staring at him blankly, her red lips slightly parted, yet she could not make a sound. Only the moisture rapidly welling up in her eyes betrayed the huge turmoil in her heart.
"Zhilan." Yu Yuanchen called out softly, his voice so gentle it could melt. He stepped forward and walked up to her.
"Yuanchen... you... you're back?" Ye Zhilan finally regained her senses, her voice trembling. She stood up abruptly, seemingly wanting to throw herself into his arms, but hesitated due to her reserve, only looking up at him without blinking, as if to confirm this wasn't a dream.
"Mm, I'm back." Yu Yuanchen reached out, gently taking her slightly cold hands, and pulled her trembling body into his arms, holding her tightly. "I'm sorry for keeping you waiting so long."
Feeling that familiar and warm embrace, and smelling the scent on him—a mix of sunlight and a faint, refreshing aroma—the tears Ye Zhilan had been holding back finally broke through. She buried her face in his broad chest, her shoulders trembling slightly as she silently vented the worry and longing of the past year.
Yu Yuanchen did not speak, only holding her tighter, his large hand gently patting her back, silently conveying comfort and apology.
After a long while, Ye Zhilan's emotions finally began to settle. She looked up from his embrace, feeling somewhat embarrassed, her cheeks flushed crimson as she scrambled to wipe away her tears. "I... I was so uncomposed..."
Yu Yuanchen chuckled softly, using his finger to gently wipe the tear tracks from the corners of her eyes, teasing, "Why worry about composure in front of me? Could it be that after a year apart, my wife has grown distant from me?"
Ye Zhilan broke into a smile through her tears and gave him a light punch. "Who's grown distant from you! It's just... it was all so sudden..." She scrutinized Yu Yuanchen carefully, her eyes filled with heartache. "You must have had a very difficult time over there, right? I heard you had another breakthrough."
"It was fine; everything was worth it." Yu Yuanchen brushed it off briefly, not wanting to cause her unnecessary worry, and turned the conversation with a smile. "What about you? You've managed the herb garden so well while I was away, and your research into beast taming must have made great progress, too? Father was just praising how sensible and capable you are, though he did complain that I haven't spent enough time with you."
At the mention of this, two red clouds bloomed on Ye Zhilan's face, and she cast him a reproachful look. "Father is just concerned about us." She paused, her voice dropping a little, tinged with shyness and anticipation. "How long... can you stay this time?"
"I'm not leaving this time; I'll be here for a long while at least. With Tang Chen and Daoliu holding down the Demon Plane, there is no serious injury to worry about. My cultivation has also reached a stage that requires steady, patient effort, so there is no need for long-term seclusion." Yu Yuanchen squeezed her hand, his gaze firm and gentle. "From now on, I will stay by your side properly. I'll accompany you to the Star Dou Great Forest for your research, travel with you to see the scenery across the continent, and... it is also time to consider the matter of 'continuing the family line' that Father has been so set on."
Upon hearing this, Ye Zhilan was stunned for a moment, but she immediately understood the deep meaning behind his words. She was so shy that even her earlobes turned bright red, yet a brilliant, irrepressible glow of happiness bloomed in her watery, beautiful eyes. She rested her head back against his shoulder, her voice as soft as a mosquito, yet perfectly clear. "Mm... I'll listen to whatever you say."
The Afterglow of the Setting Sun stretched their shadows long, weaving them together in a scene that was warm and beautiful. The exotic flowers and rare herbs in the garden swayed gently in the breeze, as if offering their blessings to this couple reunited after a long separation.
Reunited in Dragon City, the joy of a growing family, and the deep affection between husband and wife. For Yu Yuanchen, this brief moment of peace and warmth would be the precious strength that sustained him to keep moving forward and face the greater Wind and Waves of the future. And the future that belonged to them would surely be even more magnificent.
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Translated by: randomtranslator.com
Proofread by: GodKun-Chan