Happy Troubles

On the day after the investiture ceremony drew to a close, the lingering excitement of the grand event still filled every corner of the Qinglan Sword Sect.

As soon as the ceremony ended yesterday, the elders from the other three major sects who had come to observe did not stay a moment longer, quickly taking their leave.

Some of the influential nobles who had traveled from afar also set off on their return journeys in groups, while many of the remaining guests who had no pressing matters decided to stay behind and tour the sect.

Everyone harbored the exact same thought.

If they were lucky enough to run into the newly appointed Tenth True Disciple, Ye Ling, or establish a connection with the Ye family, it would be an immense stroke of good fortune.

At this moment, along the mountain path of the Sect Master Peak, Ye Ling was taking a leisurely stroll with her father, Ye Qingxuan, and her mother, Wu Wanmei.

Before long, the three of them reached the small courtyard nestled in the bamboo forest halfway up the mountain, which belonged to Ye Ling.

Wu Wanmei paused to look around, her eyes filled with warmth and deep emotion.

“We came over in a hurry late the night before last, and it was too dark to see the surroundings clearly,” she said. “Now that I can take a proper look today, I see your courtyard is hidden within a sea of green bamboo.”

“With a clear stream flowing gently beside it, the scenery is so elegant and serene. It truly suits your temperament perfectly.”

Ye Qingxuan nodded in agreement beside her. “Quiet and peaceful, it is indeed perfect for you to focus on your cultivation.”

With a slight smile, Ye Ling led the two of them to tour several of the other main peaks.

Along the way, whenever they encountered passing sect disciples—whether they were outer sect, inner sect, or personal disciples—they would stop in their tracks, bow, cup their hands, and greet her respectfully.

“Greetings, True Disciple.”

Ye Ling would nod gently in response to each of them.

Seeing this, Ye Qingxuan and Wu Wanmei could hardly conceal their pride. Their postures straightened unconsciously, their hearts overflowing with joy and pride for their daughter's achievements.

At the same time, inside the VIP guest courtyard where the sect had arranged for the Ye family to stay, the atmosphere was fraught with a completely different kind of anxiety.

The Ye family head and their Xiantian ancestor were filled with worry as they received wave after wave of visiting guests.

In the past, these were top-tier noble clans with deep foundations and Tongxuan Realm experts, families where the Ye family would not even have had the right to send a formal visitation card to speak with them.

Now, however, they arrived in an endless stream, presenting gifts, exchanging pleasantries, and showing goodwill in every possible way.

Every word they spoke revolved around Ye Ling, hoping to use the Ye family to establish a connection with the newly appointed True Disciple.

The family head and the ancestor understood this perfectly. These people were not seeking genuine friendship; they were entirely after the supreme backing that Ye Ling represented.

Since it involved Ye Ling's personal favors, they did not dare to make any promises lightly and could only decline politely and cautiously.

Exhausted both physically and mentally from the socializing, they could only hope that Ye Qingxuan and his wife would return soon to help share this troublesome burden.

But how could they have known that Ye Qingxuan and Wu Wanmei had long anticipated this clamor for connections following the ceremony?

The couple had deliberately used the excuse of accompanying their daughter to tour the peaks to temporarily escape the endless socializing at the guest courtyard, enjoying a moment of peace.

Accompanied by Ye Ling, the parents toured the various peaks, chatting, enjoying the scenery, and sharing interesting stories about the sect. Before they knew it, the sun began to sink behind the mountains, and twilight draped itself over the entire Qinglan Sword Sect.

Seeing that it was getting late, Ye Qingxuan and Wu Wanmei softly bid farewell to Ye Ling.

“Ling'er, it's getting late, so we should head back to the guest courtyard. Go back to your courtyard and rest early. Don't worry about us.”

The two of them thought to themselves that since night had fallen, the various forces that had spent the day trying to curry favor would surely have dispersed by now, and the guest courtyard would be quiet and peaceful.

But they never expected that this hope would be completely dashed.

When the couple returned to the VIP guest courtyard where the Ye family was staying, they saw from a distance that the area inside and outside the courtyard was still bustling with people and brightly lit.

Stewards from various major families, branch elders, and even several family heads themselves were still waiting patiently in the corridors outside the guest courtyard. Not a single person had left.

They saw the situation with absolute clarity. Trying to win over Ye Ling, the Tenth True Disciple who was single-mindedly devoted to the Dao, was as difficult as ascending to the heavens.

However, forming a good relationship with Ye Ling's biological parents was the most direct and reliable path.

Waiting for the Ye family parents was far more likely to yield a favor than waiting for the Ye family head or ancestor.

The moment Ye Qingxuan and Wu Wanmei stepped into the courtyard, they were instantly surrounded by a dense crowd of people.

Inside, the Ye family head and the ancestor, who had been tormented by the continuous visits for an entire day, were already physically and mentally exhausted.

Seeing the couple finally return, they exchanged a glance and let out a wry smile of relief. They were finally back. At last, someone could share this pressure.

Trapped in the center of the crowd, Ye Qingxuan and Wu Wanmei listened to the endless stream of polite flatteries.

Their scalps went numb, and they instantly understood the torment the family head and the ancestor had endured all day.

They had hoped for some quiet rest, but they were so entangled by the various forces that they could not escape. They were kept busy until late at night before they finally managed to send everyone away.

The night passed in the blink of an eye. The next day, just as dawn broke and the first morning light appeared, the four of them, having endured a day and a night of social torment, were eager to return home.

They packed their bags early and went to the sect gate to bid farewell to Ye Ling, preparing to return to the Ye family main residence in Baiyun City.

The news quickly reached the ears of Sect Master Leng Zhiwei.

Upon learning that the Ye family members were about to return, Leng Zhiwei personally appeared at the sect gate to see them off.

This time, Ye Ling had attained unparalleled glory, and the Ye family had completely transformed because of it.

However, a tall tree attracts the wind, and countless forces were watching them greedily. There was no guarantee that someone would not plot against them in secret.

To ensure the safety of Ye Ling's family, Leng Zhiwei had already formed a plan.

She raised her hand and summoned a black-robed Tongxuan Realm elder who possessed a steady aura and a dense Dao charm, issuing her orders in front of everyone.

“Accompany the Ye family members back to their main residence and guard them for ten years,” she commanded. “Within these ten years, ensure the peace and safety of the entire Ye family, shielding them from all conflicts, disasters, and secret schemes.”

“Remember, unless it is a life-or-death matter of sect-level importance, you must not show yourself needlessly.”

Turning to the four members of the Ye family, she added, “The Ye family must also conduct themselves properly, strictly uphold their principles, and not abuse their power to become overbearing or commit wrongdoings.”

“Furthermore, you must not act recklessly by leveraging your connection to the sect, lest you damage Ye Ling's reputation.”

The Tongxuan Realm elder bowed his head and replied solemnly, “This subordinate obeys your command.”

Hearing this, the four members of the Ye family were both shocked and overjoyed. They quickly bowed together in respect.

“We shall respectfully obey the Sect Master's decree. We will surely abide by the rules and not fail the sect's deep kindness.”

Having a Tongxuan Realm expert stationed in their family for ten years was a form of protection that countless noble clans dreamed of.

It was the ultimate display of respect and backing that the Qinglan Sword Sect could grant to Ye Ling and the Ye family.

With such a powerful figure guarding them, from now on, no one within the Qingyun Kingdom or any territory under Qinglan's jurisdiction would ever dare to offend the Ye family.

After paying their respects, the four of them reluctantly bid a solemn farewell to Ye Ling.

With this parting, the daughter in the mountains would soar high in pursuit of the Dao, while the family members back home would peacefully guard their roots.

The four turned and, accompanied by the Tongxuan Realm guardian elder, slowly stepped out of the Qinglan Sword Sect's mountain gate. They departed in a flurry of dust, heading toward the Ye family ancestral home thousands of miles away.

The various noble families who had remained at the Qinglan Sword Sect over the past few days stood on both sides of the mountain gate, silently watching the entire send-off.

Seeing the four members of the Ye family officially depart the sect, everyone understood the situation immediately.

Since the Ye family had already gone, there was no point in them staying any longer.

One after another, they straightened their robes and took their leave from the sect.

The mountain gate square, which had been bustling with activity just moments ago, cleared out in an instant as the crowds dispersed and carriages set off.