Zhongli Wu was stunned by Ye Xishui's slap. From as far back as he could remember, his mother had never struck him.
Although he was an evil soul master, he wasn't without parents, and he had always deeply respected Ye Xishui.
"Mother, I was just distracted. I didn't harm that boy," Zhongli Wu muttered bitterly. He was her son—what was Qian Ran to her? Why did she care so much about that man?
Wasn't Qian Ran supposed to be someone the Holy Spirit Cult needed to eliminate?
This only fueled Zhongli Wu's resentment toward Qian Ran.
Ye Xishui, perhaps realizing she had been overly harsh, softened her tone.
"Qian Ran is useful to me. You are forbidden from touching him. As for all the Sun Moon Empire's plans against Qian Ran, we will not participate."
"But, Mother, Qian Ran is a Six-Winged Angel!" Zhongli Wu exclaimed, shocked by her decision.
"I know what I'm doing. If necessary, I'll handle it myself. You don't need to concern yourself with him or Spirit Hall—I will take full responsibility for these matters," Ye Xishui said, her tone turning impatient.
"Yes, Mother," Zhongli Wu replied, his spirits deflated. He didn't argue further; Ye Xishui's strength far surpassed his own, and as his mother, her authority was unquestionable.
Although Zhongli Wu held the title of Sect Master of the Holy Spirit Cult, Ye Xishui was its Supreme Pontiff, the true stabilizing force of the cult.
Ye Xishui's influence extended far beyond the cult. One of Mingdu's three major underground factions, the Xishui Alliance, was deeply tied to her. Even Long Xiaoyao had joined the Holy Spirit Cult solely because of her presence.
Thus, despite being the cult's leader, Zhongli Wu had little room to assert dominance over his mother.
If not for Ye Xishui's support, Zhongli Wu would never have reached Level 98 so quickly.
"Don't worry. If there are benefits, I won't exclude you," Ye Xishui added with a softer tone, seeing her son's obedience.
She had invested much in Zhongli Wu, her emotions intertwined with his well-being.
Her other child, Yan Shaozhe, had been raised in Shrek Academy, largely unaware of his true lineage. In the original story, Yan Shaozhe only learned the truth as Ye Xishui and Long Xiaoyao approached death.
Unlike Yan Shaozhe, Zhongli Wu had always been by her side. After Zhongli Laogui's death, she stayed in the Holy Spirit Cult largely for her son's sake.
"Mother… I'm curious about your appearance. How…" Zhongli Wu hesitated, marveling at Ye Xishui's youthful beauty but also concerned. Was this some sort of last burst of vitality?
Zhongli Wu understood there was no such thing as a free lunch. His own strength had come at the cost of countless lives.
Maintaining her appearance through sheer cultivation had already taken a tremendous toll on Ye Xishui. Reversing time to restore her youthful visage must have come at an even greater cost.
"You're overthinking it. Qian Ran gave me a rare elixir. It doesn't have as many side effects as you might imagine. On the contrary, my body has returned to its state from fifty years ago," Ye Xishui explained.
"So that's it." Zhongli Wu was astounded. Qian Ran possessed treasures of such extraordinary value?
Clearly, his suspicions were correct. Qian Ran harbored great secrets, or else his mother wouldn't protect him so fervently. A single consumed elixir wasn't enough to warrant such high regard—there had to be more to Qian Ran than met the eye.
"Mother, I'll take my leave," Zhongli Wu said, unable to piece together the puzzle. Not wanting to test Ye Xishui's patience, he left after stealing a few more glances at her youthful face, marveling at her transformation.
His mother looked far younger than he did—so stunningly beautiful that it was no wonder Long Xiaoyao had stayed by her side for decades.
Before long, however, Zhongli Wu returned.
"Mother, about that elixir… Can I ask for one too? Not for myself, but for Feng Ling," Zhongli Wu said, thinking of his wife. A treasure of this rarity would surely be limited in supply. If only one existed, he would rather it benefit his wife.
"You and your wife can ask him yourselves," Ye Xishui snapped, her expression icy.
She had originally intended to negotiate with Qian Ran for a few more pills for Zhongli Wu. But seeing him so eager to hand them over to Feng Ling, she abandoned the idea entirely. Her relationship with Feng Ling wasn't nearly strong enough to justify such a significant sacrifice.
After a brief meeting with Xu Tianran, Zhongli Wu left the estate, abandoning any plans to secretly harm Qian Ran.
Meanwhile, back in the room, Juzi pinched Qian Ran's waist hard when a stunningly beautiful woman suddenly appeared.
Ye Xishui, at her peak, was breathtaking. Even Juzi, clad in her risqué black swimsuit and stockings, felt her confidence waver. It wasn't just Ye Xishui's beauty but her commanding aura that made Juzi feel overshadowed.
Not even Snow Empress or Ice Empress had given Juzi this sense of intense rivalry.
Snow Empress and Ice Empress typically kept a low profile around Qian Ran, blending in as ordinary women. Ye Xishui, however, exuded an indomitable presence that couldn't be hidden, no matter how much she tried.
Ye Xishui's gaze swept over Juzi's attire, her sharp eyes brimming with authority, instantly pressuring Qian Ran.
A powerhouse like Ye Xishui naturally disdained using beauty or charm to win a man's favor. Seeing Juzi's obvious attempts to please Qian Ran with her seductive outfit left her unimpressed and slightly irked.
After all, Ye Xishui had little interest in such overtly provocative clothing. But since meeting Qian Ran, she had been forced to confront such sights constantly. Whether it was skimpy skirts or barely-there bodysuits, Qian Ran seemed perpetually surrounded by such indulgence.
"Juzi, stay here. I need to step out for a moment," Qian Ran said to her, releasing his martial soul.
The Gate of the Undead appeared before him.
Ye Xishui raised an eyebrow, intrigued.
"This is… spatial power?" she murmured, recognizing the ominous aura emanating from the gate.
"Senior, would you join me inside? There are some matters best discussed privately," Qian Ran said with a polite smile.
"Very well."
Ye Xishui was not one to shy away. In the original story, she had dared to walk directly into Xu Tianran's trap. What was there to fear now? She doubted Qian Ran could outwit her.
(End of Chapter)