Chapter 17: Sync between Mother and Daughter

Ling Yue's eyes were drawn to a jade piece with an emerald green hue that lay on the floor. Despite its plain carvings, the item seemed significant. Why would Ye Qing hold so much value over this seemingly ordinary piece of jade?

As Ling Yue pondered this, she felt a subtle vibration from the cauldron mark on her hand, similar to the sensation she had felt when handling the refined green liquid from the spirit grass. Something was unusual about the jade.

"Ye Qing, back when you humiliated me and bullied me, did you ever consider us as cousins? Or is this how Ye Huang Cheng teaches his son to break promises?" Ling Yue's eyes shifted to Ye Huang Cheng, who stood at the side, watching her intently. If his son couldn't uphold his word, how could Ye Qing possibly be a candidate for the next family head?

Though angry, Ye Huang Cheng remained silent, his pride keeping him from reacting.

Ling Yue, however, didn't feel the need to escalate things further. "But then again, this matter is open to negotiation," she said, her tone casual.

If she pushed Ye Qing into publicly insulting his own father in front of the entire family, it would reflect badly on Ye Gu. The father and son pair might not realize it, but Ling Yue was fully aware of the implications.

Internally satisfied, Ye Qing falsely assumed that Ling Yue didn't have the nerve to challenge him. "The wager has changed. You can crawl like a dog, and this jade will be your compensation," she taunted, moving swiftly to snatch the jade from the floor.

Ling Yue was quick to act, snatching up the jade herself. Ye Qing's expression immediately shifted to one of alarm.

This jade was no ordinary trinket. It was Xuan Yuan Jade, an invaluable item that enhanced the speed of absorbing Yuan energy when kept close to the body. For a martial artist at the lower celestial rank, it was a priceless treasure.

Ye Qing's sister had specifically sent it to him to aid in his progress in the competition, and it was because of this jade that he could unleash four lightning streaks from his punches.

"I'll pay you twelve silver to return the jade," Ye Qing said, his nervousness evident.

Ling Yue's expression darkened. "Do you think I'm some beggar to be dismissed so easily?"

"Lowly child, give me back the Xuan Yuan Jade!" Ye Huang Cheng shouted in anger, rushing at Ling Yue with lightning speed. His fingers locked around her shoulder, sending a bone-chilling energy into her body.

The crowd gasped, unsure how to react to his sudden outburst.

"Ye Huang Cheng, release her!" a voice rang out from below the stage.

The figure that charged forward was none other than Ye Huang Yu, the third miss of the Ye family. With a wave of her hand, she unleashed her full Yuan energy, engulfing the entire arena. Ling Yue, caught in the energy, trembled as if caught in an icy grip.

"Ye Huang Yu, on what grounds do you act so arrogantly?" Ye Huang Cheng snarled.

"On the grounds that I sent you flying with one slap across your face all those years ago," Ye Huang Yu retorted sharply, her eyes glinting with defiance.

Both Ye Huang Cheng and Ye Huang Yu's Yuan energy clashed, shaking the stage violently. The tension in the air was palpable, as if a battle was imminent.

The spectators watched with bated breath, eager to see how this conflict would unfold. The Third Miss of the Ye family had been absent for years, but now, she was back with a vengeance.

As the two forces collided, the ground beneath them cracked, and the arena seemed on the verge of collapsing. Ye Gu, the patriarch of the family, appeared in the midst of the chaos, his energy radiating like a storm, forcing both Ye Huang Cheng and Ye Huang Yu to step back.

"What is the meaning of this?" Ye Gu's voice was cold and sharp as he scanned the crowd, his gaze finally resting on Ling Yue and Ye Qing. Ye Qing's face went pale under the weight of his grandfather's stare.

Ling Yue, undeterred, calmly explained the wager and how the events unfolded. "The martial hall can testify," she added.

"Father, this is just a trivial joke between the children. We shouldn't take it so seriously," Ye Huang Cheng quickly intervened, trying to downplay the situation.

"Joke? Ye Huang Cheng, you call it a joke when your son has lost, but if my daughter lost the wager, wouldn't she be humiliated? Would you say the same words then? So your son is precious, but my daughter is trash?" Ye Huang Yu's voice rose in anger.

"Enough. Ye Qing lost this time. A bet is a bet. If you agree to it, you must accept the consequences," Ye Gu interjected, his tone firm. He was clearly disappointed in Ye Qing's rash behavior earlier.

"Grandfather!" Ye Qing pleaded desperately, unwilling to accept the outcome. He had always been spoiled and never imagined being treated this way.

Ignoring his grandson, Ye Gu turned away, shaking his head. Ye Huang Cheng could only silently scold his son, knowing that his status in the family had been compromised.

Ye Qing, humiliated and defeated, kneeled on the cold ground, his body aching from the rough treatment. His knees scraped against the gravel, causing sweat to pour down his forehead. For someone who had lived a life of luxury, this was the worst humiliation he had ever faced.

"That's what he gets for bullying others and relying on his father's power," the people around him whispered, enjoying the sight of his downfall.

Ling Yue, however, remained indifferent to the spectacle, as if she had accomplished nothing. She showed no joy in her victory, and her calm demeanor only further emphasized her strength of character.

Ye Gu, observing Ling Yue closely, noted her composure. This child, he thought, didn't gloat in victory nor bend under pressure. Her demeanor was unyielding, tougher than even her mother's.