Chapter ( 34 )
About an hour and a half later, Yuan Yuan said, "They're here..."
Zhen Chen and Yu Xue Yin immediately stood up and looked toward the door. Yu Xue Yin quickly stepped outside, while Yuan Yuan disappeared. Zhen Chen remained seated in the living room.
Soon, Yu Xue Yin returned with a tall, elegant woman. Zhen Chen stood up to greet her and introduced himself.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Zhen Chen."
The woman nodded and sat down. She observed Zhen Chen and said, "I'm Shan Mei. So, you two are..."
Zhen Chen smiled at Yu Xue Yin. Yu Xue Yin said to the woman, "He's my fiancé. He knows everything, so there's no need to hide anything. You can speak openly."
Shan Mei smiled in surprise. "Oh... I thought you were just a workaholic. I didn't expect you to have a lover."
"Show me the medicinal plant. I need to inspect it."
Zhen Chen handed her the box from the table. Shan Mei opened it and examined the plant, her face showing astonishment. At that moment, Yuan Yuan reappeared in the living room, sitting casually with her legs crossed.
Shan Mei was startled by Yuan Yuan's sudden appearance. Although Yuan Yuan wasn't fully releasing her spiritual pressure, Shan Mei was already struggling to breathe under the subtle force.
Yuan Yuan asked coldly, "Tell me, how do you know about this medicinal plant? This plant is exclusively cultivated by our organization. It's a secret. People on this planet shouldn't know about it."
Shan Mei looked at Yuan Yuan fearfully and apologized, "Senior, this is a misunderstanding. I had no ill intentions. I was asked to find this plant by Yu Xue Yin's father. I know nothing else."
Zhen Chen and Yu Xue Yin were shocked. *Yu Xue Yin's father himself asked her to find it?* But Zhen Chen didn't intervene. Yu Xue Yin also remained silent, deep in thought. Yuan Yuan continued to question Shan Mei.
"Then where is her father now?"
Shan Mei shook her head. "He has left this world."
Yuan Yuan stared at Shan Mei intently. Seeing no signs of deceit, she urged Shan Mei to explain everything from the beginning.
"Alright. Then tell me how this whole thing started."
---
Zhen Chen and Yu Xue Yin listened intently as Shan Mei began her story.
"This happened about twenty-nine years ago. I was a member of the Light Valley Alliance. Back then, I became friends with Senior Yu, Yu Xue Yin's father. He saved my life, so I owed him a great debt. Before I returned to the Light Valley, Senior Yu told me he had to leave. He asked me for a favor: to have his daughter find this medicinal plant before she turned thirty. He said the plant was in the Dark Abyss. If she found it, she could reunite with him. He emphasized how important this was and made me promise to help. I agreed and returned to the Light Valley. Unfortunately, nine years ago, I was severely injured and couldn't leave the valley. It wasn't until recently that I recovered and began searching for Yu Xue Yin to fulfill my promise. I told her the plant was in the Dark Abyss. Now that she's found it, I've fulfilled my promise and have no regrets."
Yuan Yuan thought for a moment and asked, "Do you know why Senior Yu left this world?"
"He left to rebuild. For the sake of our entire human race, he joined the Black Wing Organization. He's one of the people I respect the most in my life."
Yuan Yuan had learned what she needed and didn't ask further. She turned to Yu Xue Yin and said, "Senior Flame Hunter is definitely your father. He's the deputy leader of the Black Wing Organization and a general leading the Silver Mask Army against the Bone Shell creatures on the new human frontier, Khera. He's even a renowned hero in the Asura realm. You should be proud of him, Yu Xue Yin."
Tears welled up in Yu Xue Yin's eyes as she shook her head. "My father may be a hero to the human race, but to me and my mother, he's just a man in a photograph. I've only seen him in pictures with my mother. I wanted to find him to ask why it was so difficult for him to stay with us. But now that I know, let it be."
Zhen Chen hugged Yu Xue Yin as she buried her face in his chest and cried softly. Her thoughts were a mess. After years of longing, she finally had the full story about her father, but she felt an inexplicable emptiness. Still, knowing he was alive somewhere brought her some comfort. Zhen Chen didn't know how to console her, so he simply held her and let her cry.
---
After a while, Yu Xue Yin stopped crying and looked at Yuan Yuan. Yuan Yuan, feeling sorry for Yu Xue Yin, remained silent. Shan Mei, unsure of what to say, also sat quietly. Shan Mei was curious about Senior Yu but decided to wait for a better time to ask.
Yu Xue Yin suddenly asked, "Yuan Yuan, can we use the bloodline awakening formation for someone else?"
Yuan Yuan was puzzled. Her master had said that once the formation was built, their duty was done. However, if someone tried to destroy the formation, it was her duty to stop them. The organization wouldn't interfere with the formation's control. She shook her head and explained, "Our organization built the formation, but we don't control it. As long as no one tries to destroy it, we won't intervene."
Zhen Chen, confused, asked, "Yuan Yuan, why did your organization build the formation if you don't control it? If bad people misuse it, wouldn't that be dangerous?"
Yuan Yuan explained, "The human leaders ordered the formation's construction. After building it, we left it as it is. Think of this world as a breeding ground for beasts. The formation enhances their strength, so powerful beings will compete for it. Through competition, they'll grow stronger. The last one standing will be the strongest. That's what they need—the strongest individuals. Weak ones are just a burden to the human race's reconstruction. That's why we let them fight for control of the formation."
Zhen Chen shook his head. "Isn't that a cruel plan?"
Yuan Yuan looked at him dismissively. "In the universe, to grow stronger, you either devour others or get devoured. It's not cruelty; it's reality. If humans want to regain their former glory, they can't do it with a soft heart like yours. Only through blood and sacrifice can they achieve what they desire."
Zhen Chen frowned. "I can't keep up with their thinking. And I don't want to be as ruthless as you. Alright?"
Yuan Yuan also frowned. "Do you know how important strength is for survival among clans? You're soft because you've lived in a peaceful environment. If you were born in a bloody battlefield, would you still think this way?"
Yu Xue Yin interrupted, "Enough. These matters aren't important right now. I want my mother to use the bloodline awakening formation."
Zhen Chen nodded in agreement. Yuan Yuan remained silent. Shan Mei just listened quietly. Zhen Chen contacted Zi Mo and explained Yu Xue Yin's request, asking about the situation. Zi Mo thought for a moment and replied, "She's too old. I'm not sure. But one thing's certain: using the formation won't have any side effects. The only cost is the medicinal plants. Those plants are incredibly valuable. A single one is worth millions of energy stones. Clans wouldn't use them on the elderly."
Zhen Chen relayed this to Yu Xue Yin. "Yu Xue Yin, even if Auntie succeeds, there won't be any side effects."
Yu Xue Yin nodded in acceptance. She was eager to proceed and said to Zhen Chen, "Husband, let's go by car. I'll call my mother and Xin Lan. Xin Lan should also cultivate. We all need to grow stronger for the future."
Zhen Chen proudly said, "We won't go by car. Let's fly there directly."
Yu Xue Yin looked at Zhen Chen in surprise. "Husband, can you really fly now?"
Zhen Chen smiled and nodded. "Your husband..."
Before he could finish, Yuan Yuan interrupted, "Let me take you."
Yuan Yuan didn't want to let Zhen Chen show off in front of Yu Xue Yin, whom she now saw as a future sister. She decided to take charge.
After speaking, Yuan Yuan walked outside, and the others followed. Shan Mei bid farewell to Yu Xue Yin and Yuan Yuan before leaving. Only Yu Xue Yin, Zhen Chen, and Yuan Yuan remained in the yard. Yuan Yuan gently touched Yu Xue Yin's forehead and said, "Think of the place you want to go."
A moment later, she took their hands, and they disappeared.