Yao Wuhen's expression darkened, her elegant countenance to turned heavy and filled with internal screams. Truly, she wished to scream out her mind. She had never felt so stifled before since her childhood, but this young man before her…
"Yan Zaizen? The one that died." Her voice was filled with deep frustration, as if Yan Zaizen was trying to play her for a fool. For one, this man barely had any physical features similar to the Yan Clan. As someone who've come across them, they all have specific hereditary traits and distinctions.
Originally, Yan Zaizen truly did have those traits, but the Immortal Herculean Method had remodeled his entire physique, even his originally average face was transformed. Unless one was exceptionally close to Yan Zaizen, they would never come to the conclusion that he was the same person. This could obviously be seen by Lin Feilin not recognizing him or even believing him afterwards.
Yan Zaizen helplessly smiled, shaking his head with a little shrug, "I'm not dead. However, believe what you will." In truth, he didn't have to prove anything to Yao Wuhen. It's already lucky that he doesn't cut her down for her attacks earlier. Seeing the doubt in her face, Yan Zaizen grew bored, "Take me to them."
Yao Wuhen eyes squinted slightly. She truly did not like being ordered around in her own backyard, but recalling the battle from earlier, she silently nodded in agreement. Currently, her bodily state was in a mess, and even flying was difficult for her. If it wasn't for her good poker face, she would be drenched in sweat and heaving out a lung.
Her cultivation base will most certainly suffer a drop due to this battle, and if she could keep her True Essence cultivation base, that would be a miracle in and of itself. This single battle, which occurred in the blink of an eye, had ruined a majority of her plans for the future.
She glanced at the skyship, seeing Lin Qinlin and Lin Feilin, her eyes radiated hints of anger. However, she didn't say anything, turned around and slowly flew away towards the west. Yan Zaizen followed, his eyes glancing towards the main palace to the north. Several battleships were flying through the skies with a unique insignia.
"The Mazu Guard?"
The Mazu Guard was an elite group of warriors from the Water Veil Sect, they knew how to formulate a profound formation that could rival a half-step True Essence cultivator. Due to this very army, the Water Veil Sect was given the title of a top first-tier force before their sudden rise. However, to Yan Zaizen?
They were ants.
Directly ignoring them, he continued following behind Yao Wuhen.
Yao Wuhen took out a talisman from her spatial ring and sent a message to the Mazu Guard. Earlier, the Mazu Guard was on their way, but the sudden calamitous exchange caused them to halt as they waited for their sectmaster to handle the situation. However, when they arrived, they could see a small skyship, their sectmaster, and an unknown youth following behind her.
When they received the talisman transmission from Yao Wuhen, they halted and realized the severity of the situation.
She only relayed a single word: Retreat!
Due to her injury, Yao Wuhen took several minutes before reaching a deep valley etched between two mountains. Unless one looked closely, they would be unable to see the cluster of people or makeshift houses within it. When Yan Zaizen scanned this place with his spiritual sense, his eyes widened with surprise.
Everyone was here.
"Uncle Lou, Aunt Qin…" He felt inwardly relieved at their health. They may not be living in the best conditions, but they were living. After his parents died, his talent was determined, and life hit an all-time low for him, these two showed kindness. He couldn't help but chuckle as he recalled his memories.
Oftentimes, he would steal Uncle Lou's wine and food for himself. As for Aunt Lin, as puberty hit, so did certain...urges. He would steal her undergarments for activities. He would even peek on her in the baths quite often, and many times the others wished to kill him, but she remained on his side always. Well, she still gave him beatings, but at least it wasn't castration.
Surprisingly, Aunt Lin wasn't related to the Yan Clan. She was an outsider that married into the Yan Clan. Even still, she was married into the 'Lan' family line. Despite this, she still treated Yan Zaizen like a nephew, despite his actions or failures. Uncle Lou was his true Uncle, a brother of his father, and son to his grandfather.
When his father died, Uncle Lou didn't try to replace him, but he comforted Yan Zaizen many times, such as teaching him how to be shameless and how to steal. A large majority of his desire for beautiful women, good wine, great food, and immense wealth stemmed from Uncle Lou. If there were anyone that the previous him remotely resembled, it'll be Uncle Lou.
They and his grandfather were the only people he cared about.
He chuckled at his nostalgic thoughts, not bothering about Yao Wuhen any longer. He wasn't apologetic for his actions earlier or her current state. However, he felt a little awkward considering the situation was more complex than he originally thought.
He glanced towards Yao Wuhen, who looked at him with cold eyes, and his originally happy chuckle transitioned into an awkward one.
Clearing his throat, "What happened?"
Yao Wuhen still felt unbearably stifled at this young individual who seemed to ignore the fact that they engaged in a battle where a single slip could've ended either of their lives - especially hers. She inwardly groaned, explaining with an indifferent voice, "The Yan Clan committed crimes against our subordinate family, the Ya Clan. However, instead of eliminating them, they were imprisoned in this valley and placed under close watch. Many in the Ya Clan advocated for their survival, and even my own disciple desired it as well."
She glanced towards the Yan Clan and couldn't help but be inwardly happy at their situation. With Yan Zaizen current prowess, he could threaten her and the Water Veil Sect's very existence. If they had handled the situation as she wanted it, eliminating all without mercy, then wouldn't she be running away with her life? However, could she escape Yan Zaizen?
"I see…I guess...they aren't traitors." There was a slight smile on his face. It seems that even when one rises, there were still people who remembered the favors given to them once before. In that case, everything was fine. This was all he wanted to verify, their safety and life.
"My Grandfather, Aunt Qinlan, and Uncle Louzen." He listed out three individuals, looking at her with a solemn expression.
How could Yao Wuhen, with her thousands of years of life, not recognize his meaning? He didn't care about the Yan Clan, but he cared about those three individuals and only those three individuals.
However, what Yao Wuhen didn't know, was that if she buried the Yan Clan, even if they were excluded, she would be buried alongside them. It wasn't because Yan Zaizen had any special feelings towards anyone else, but that he wouldn't be able to face his mother and father in the afterlife if he didn't get revenge.
His father and mother loved the clan.
"Fine." She responded flatly.
Yan Zaizen revealed a slight smile, waving his hand causing a small bottle to shot towards Yao Wuhen. Surprised, she instinctively caught it with her true-essence. Looking at this small bottle with only a single tiny pellet within caused her eyes to furrow in contemplation.
"It's a grand-tier Earthly Rejuvenation Pill. Make sure you take care of the clan, especially those three." He said, turning around and traveling back towards the skyship. He wasn't here to meet the Yan Clan or free them for their actions, he only cared about three people, and he made sure she knew this, but he couldn't leave them like this. If something happened to them or they weren't treated well, he would feel slight guilt towards his parents. However, he felt comfortable leaving them in the hands of a True Essence expert who he could threaten.
As for the Ya Clan? Who cares.
Ya Qinqan? He truly didn't give a shit.
Yao Wuhen eyes widened with an immense amount of shock. "Earthly Rejuvenation Pill?!" This was a grand-tier pill that could help a True Essence Realm cultivator heal their wounds after over exhaustion and damage. It was like a second life. With this, she would definitely recover within a few months of time. The worth of this pill was so extraordinary that a first-tier force could sell their roots and still be unable to obtain it.
Even those who've been crippled in the Origin Core Realm has a slight chance of recovery taking this pill. That was as hard as ascending the heavens! Typically, a grand-tier alchemist would never sell something so heaven-defying, especially if they were in the True Essence Realm. Who would sell another life?!
Unbeknownst to her, Yan Zaizen had taken several of these pills off the Xiāo City's Lord. When the Xiāo City's Lord learned that his spatial ring was stolen, he was so enraged he coughed up a body worth of blood and passed out in extreme indignation. He even swore to get revenge on Yan Zaizen for his actions one day, even if he was part of the Anima Syndicate.
Tao originally estimated the wealth of the total possessions to be three billion, but many things were just basic market price. A pill like this wouldn't be sold normally in the Fallen Stars Continent, but in auctions for far greater than its market price. In truth, many of the pills in his ring would have a worth far higher than originally estimated.
He was the greatest grand-tier alchemist of an entire country after all.
"Oh!" Yan Zaizen stopped his return, looking towards Yao Wuhen, "The marriage between Lin Feilin and Khan Saiyu, end it. With her status as my Senior Sister and me standing firmly behind her, he isn't even worthy to carry her shoes. If they refuse, tell them they can all be buried." He gave a cold grin and directly left.
"..."
Yao Wuhen felt surprised, but then a realization dawned on her. Lin Feilin? She recalled the two on the skyship and recognized the young girl at the mid-Essence Formation Realm. "I see…" Looking at the pill in her hand, she had a thought. Her eyes glowed brilliantly with intelligence.
She spoke loudly enough for Yan Zaizen's departing figure to hear, "Your identity?!"
Yan Zaizen laughed at her thoughts, shouting to the skies, "As long as those three are safe, as long as Lin Feilin is happy, my identity will protect them." This was indirectly agreeing to her request to reveal his identity to the world as well as his cultivation prowess. If anything, it should serve as an invisible barrier to protect the people he wanted without actually being there.
He would never have guessed that one day his very existence would shield others. This would also mean that as long as they were taken care of properly, he would back the Water Veil Sect. He threw a transmission talisman towards Yao Wuhen. Like a speeding bullet, it appeared before her instantly. She properly stored it and felt inwardly satisfied with all of these events.
Even if the situation was at a knife's edge, Yan Zaizen's prowess could take down grand-tier forces alone. In the country of Presba, he represented the equivalence of a mid-True Essence Cultivator. This level of deterrence would cause all to think three times before taking action.
At the end of the day, this was worth it. Of course, she had little intention of revealing who he was exactly, she needed to keep that a secret or else the Yan Clan may be a little too arrogant.