Chapter 5 - Cousin Ye Xuan (1/2)

Ye Chen rushed out of his cabin and headed straight to the Patriarch’s Residency, his steps light and fast as he was beyond excited to inform his father of the miracle that has happened.

There was already a crowd as he arrived. In the great hall, Ye Zhantian, Ye Zhanlong, and Ye Zhanxiong were present. Joining them were Ye Moyang, Ye Kongyan and Ye Zhanxiong’s daughter, Ye Xuan.

Ye Chen’s eyes scanned the hall and noticed Ye Rou standing close by. Her mysterious origin may have placed her in an awkward standing among the clan but most of Ye Chen’s uncles and clan elders had always treated her as if she was their daughter.

Something was brewing in the midst of the crowd, the biggest giveaway was how flustered and red with rage everyone seemed to look. Ye Rou waved at the young man and Ye Chen walked quietly toward Ye Rou, taking his place next to her.

“Tell me, Ye Zhanxiong, as to why my son is unfit for your daughter.” Ye Moyang demanded. “Ye Kongyan is one of the most superb in character and talents within their generation in the House of Ye! Or is it the fact that you’ve always secretly looked down upon me and that is the reason for your refusal??”

Ye Chen looked to the side and spotted Ye Xuan hiding behind Ye Zhanxiong, her head hung low and nearly in tears.

Ye Xuan was his third uncle’s daughter and his cousin. She was easy on the eyes and also a gifted fighter who was on the brink of crossing into the Sixth Stage.

Ye Kongyan stood next to Ye Moyang, his nervousness showed.

“Your wish does not trump theirs when it comes to our children’s relationship! If there are no feelings between them, there would not be happiness after all. Dear Xuan, do you wish to be Ye Kongyan’s wife?” Ye Zhanxiong turned to look at his daughter whilst adding. “It’s okay to be honest, dear.”

“Oh, for goodness sake! All marriages require are the parents’ agreement and the matchmaker’s blessing. You don’t always begin with love – people work on it after marriage anyway! Ye Zhanxiong, you are just making up excuses as you go at this point!” Ye Moyang bellowed.

Xuan was a kind-hearted, gentle soul but found herself not having an opinion of her own most of the time. On the other hand, Ye Kongyan was calculative and deceitful – a carbon copy of his father. It did not take much to deduce that there was no happiness in store for Xuan if she ever married Ye Kongyan. So, what was the underlying scheme that this proposal would serve?

Ye Xuan raised her head and scanned the room filled with adults. When she finally rested her gaze on Ye Kongyan, she took a determined breath and said, “My esteemed uncles and elders, I…have just broken into the Sixth Stage.”

Sixth Stage?

The crowd assembled in the hall froze. Ye Zhanxiong, who could barely conceal his joy, probed his daughter. “Did you really, Xuan?”

She nodded.

Ye Zhanxiong gripped her by the hand, using his Celestial Chi to sense the change in her. Soon, he nodded in affirmation to her claim. “She had really attained the Sixth Stage!”

“Congratulations, Brother!” Ye Zhantian and the rest immediately offered their cheers, their mind appeased by the fact that the younger generations were finally showing some promises.

“With all due respect to my clan-brother Ye Kongyan, I enrolled in Emerald Cloud Sect three days ago and had passed their entrance examination. I would like to train under the sect for two years, so I apologize that we will have to push back the prospect of marriage until then.” Ye Xuan finished, giving her suitor a not-so-subtle rejection of his proposal.

In response, Ye Kongyan cast a nasty glance at the girl. Her public rejection of his offer had humiliated him in front of the others.

“Emerald Cloud Sect’s approval of Xuan’s capabilities is an honorable achievement. It is certainly significant enough to postpone the marriage proposal, don’t you agree, Great Elder?” Ye Zhantian turned to Ye Moyang.

Ye Moyang remained silent. It was true that Ye Xuan’s two years of training with the sect would not have hindered his plan, yet to have the proposal denied right there dampened his mood considerably. He heaved a cold sneer and snapped. “We shall see what other excuses you come up with in two years’ time. In the meantime, please excuse me.”

The man turned sharply on his heels, his sleeves flailing in the air before he hurried out of the hall. Ye Kongyan followed behind.

Those who remained in the hall sent them off with quiet stares.

“Helping Ye Kongyan propose for Ye Xuan’s hand in marriage at this very moment? What are his motives?” Ye Zhanlong’s eyebrows furrowed.

‘There’s always a scheme whenever that sly fox is involved.’ He thought to himself.

“The Ancestral Worship Ceremony would be held seven days from now. It’s been three years since Chen had his meridian channels damaged which was why he had to give up the role as the Successor Patriarch.” Ye Zhantian gave a brooding sigh.