At this moment, Ye Qingcheng, through surveillance, also saw the man lingering outside.
"Who are you?"
Ye Qingcheng watched him warily. With Ye Ji having already departed for the hidden sects, she was the only expert left to guard the Ye family.
Upon seeing Ye Qingcheng up close, the man's face softened with affection.
"Everyone calls me League Leader Zuo!"
"League Leader Zuo?"
In an instant, Ye Qingcheng felt as though she was facing a formidable enemy. This man was a paramount figure among the hidden sects. She hadn't expected such a powerful individual to venture into the secular world, let alone come to the Ye family.
League Leader Zuo then reassured her, "Don't worry, I'm not here to kill you!"
"Then why are you here?"
Ye Qingcheng asked, her expression unwavering.
League Leader Zuo sighed, "I've come to acknowledge my kin!"
"Don't you find that ridiculous?"
Ye Qingcheng questioned with disdain.
League Leader Zuo replied, "It's not ridiculous. I've come to see my daughter, what's so funny about that!"
"What did you say?"
Ye Qingcheng was instantly struck with horror.
League Leader Zuo continued, "You are my daughter!"
"You're talking nonsense!"
Ye Qingcheng adamantly denied, "I am not your daughter, don't go around claiming relatives!"
Finally, League Leader Zuo patiently explained, "You are Zhu Lian's daughter, aren't you?"
"Huh?"
Ye Qingcheng was inwardly shocked. She was indeed Zhu Lian's daughter. She hadn't known before, but Ye Ji had told her later.
League Leader Zuo went on, "More than twenty years ago, our hidden sects were still one with the secular world. At that time, the hidden sects, the Guigu Sect, and even the ruling powers had not yet gone to war!"
"And then?"
Ye Qingcheng asked coldly.
League Leader Zuo explained, "I had just become the League Leader of the hidden sects. I was full of ambition. To celebrate my success, they arranged a celebratory banquet for me at Heaven on Earth!"
"Heaven on Earth?"
Ye Qingcheng was no stranger to the name. More than twenty years ago, her mother, Zhu Lian, had often worked at Heaven on Earth and Da Fugui, singing and entertaining guests.
"That day, I was very drunk. In my hazy state, someone arranged for a hostess to accompany me. That person was your mother, Zhu Lian!"
League Leader Zuo spoke with deep emotion, "At the time, I only thought she was very beautiful. Although she was just a woman of the night, I was moved. So, I dismissed everyone else and kept her to sing for me. After that night of passion, I never saw her again!"
Upon hearing this, Ye Qingcheng felt a stir in her heart. This seemingly absurd and bizarre story was happening with such a coincidence.
"Later, I found out she was pregnant after that night. I intended to bring her back, but then the war between the Guigu Sect and the hidden sects began. In that battle, the Deputy League Leader who had promoted me died, and I was severely wounded by the old Heavenly Master of Guigu. In humiliation and unwillingness, I led the hidden sects away from the secular world. A year later, I heard that she had died of illness, and my child with her had disappeared. I thought I would never see you again in this life. But as the Guigu Sect declined, I had the opportunity to send people to search the secular world. After much investigation, I finally confirmed that you are my daughter!"
After hearing this, Ye Qingcheng stood frozen, unable to calm her emotions. However, she truly wanted no connection with League Leader Zuo.
"How do you know the child she was carrying was yours?"
Ye Qingcheng asked sarcastically.
League Leader Zuo confidently replied, "Although she had fallen into hardship, she never took on other clients. Her child must be mine!"
In truth, that night wasn't exactly a paid encounter, as he hadn't paid. Zhu Lian had been attracted to him, which led to that event.
At this moment, Ye Qingcheng seemed to understand.
In reality, League Leader Zuo still felt a great deal of guilt, as he had no feelings for Zhu Lian. After all, at that time, the woman he liked was Shui Qianqian.
It was a pity that Shui Qianqian did not like him and had instead married Long Aotian of the secular world. Devastated, he had made such a foolish mistake. Sudan Novel Network.
Now, he only wished to win back Ye Qingcheng as his daughter, for she was his only kin.
At this, Ye Qingcheng said, "Leave. I will not acknowledge you."
Ye Qingcheng made her stance clear. If Ye Ji hadn't adopted her, she would have died long ago. Furthermore, League Leader Zuo had never cared for her after his mistake back then, so she had no affection for him.
League Leader Zuo sincerely stated, "Qingcheng, I will repay the debt of the past a hundredfold! I only beg for your forgiveness!"
Ye Qingcheng replied, "If you want my forgiveness, you must promise not to pursue the dream of leading the hidden sects to dominate the secular world. Then, I will agree!"
Yun Fan had been working tirelessly in this regard. Ye Qingcheng knew that if the hidden sects returned to the secular world, it would be an endless nightmare for the secular world. Having grown up in the secular world, she naturally loved everything about it and the current peace. She absolutely would not allow it to be destroyed.
Unexpectedly, League Leader Zuo directly refused, "Impossible!"
"Qingcheng, allowing the hidden sects to enter the world and return to their peak has been my dream for many years. However, it's different now. Before, it was my dream alone. Now, it is our dream, the dream of father and daughter. I will defeat Guigu, annihilate the ruling powers, and make you the sole queen of Huaxia! I will make you the most radiant person."
This was League Leader Zuo's true objective.
Ye Qingcheng, upon hearing this, found League Leader Zuo to be too insane for such aspirations. Setting aside the question of how many people would die, the era itself would not permit it. Thus, she immediately told League Leader Zuo, "I'm sorry, I have no interest in your ambitions. We are not on the same path. Please leave!"
Hearing this, League Leader Zuo was filled with disappointment. He then said to Ye Qingcheng, "Qingcheng, you are ultimately too young. When you grow older, you will understand how tempting power and control are!"
Ye Qingcheng could see that League Leader Zuo was beyond saving.
"I will never become such a puppet!"
"I understand that you don't understand now. You don't need to do anything. Just wait for your father's good news!"
League Leader Zuo did not intend to persuade Ye Qingcheng further. Once he accomplished all this for Ye Qingcheng, he was confident she would readily accept it and eventually come to love such a pinnacle of power.
"Are you going to make a move against Yun Fan?"
Ye Qingcheng asked coldly.
League Leader Zuo nodded, "That's right. This brat is the direct disciple of the old Heavenly Master. If he continues to grow, he will surely become a threat to me. Therefore, he must die!"
League Leader Zuo stated with conviction.
Upon hearing this, Ye Qingcheng's face turned ashen. She immediately declared, "He is my man. If you kill him, I will never forgive you!"
This was Ye Qingcheng's final bottom line.
However, League Leader Zuo said, "When you sit in that position, you will realize that so-called love is purely nonsense. As long as you are willing, what kind of man can't you have!"
At this moment, League Leader Zuo's resolve to kill Yun Fan became even stronger. In his opinion, Yun Fan was the culprit behind Ye Qingcheng's wavering will and constant rejections. Once Yun Fan was dead, he was convinced Ye Qingcheng would adopt his viewpoint.
"You dare! If you kill him, I won't let you go!"
Ye Qingcheng was frantic. Although Yun Fan was powerful, he was still far from matching the experience of a seasoned veteran like League Leader Zuo.
"One day, you will thank me!"
With that, League Leader Zuo left. For him, meeting Ye Qingcheng and revealing the truth was enough. The rest was up to him to handle.
Ye Qingcheng was filled with worry and quickly dialed Yun Fan's number, only to find there was no signal. She then tried Ye Ji's number, but the result was equally disappointing. After all, the hidden sects had been secluded for too long, so a lack of signal was understandable.
With no other options, Ye Qingcheng decided to personally enter the hidden sects. She hoped it wasn't too late, otherwise, things would truly become dire.
...
Upon returning to the Zhao family, Yun Fan sought out the Zhao family head and the Valley Master of Peach Blossom Valley, persuading them to abandon the idea of a marriage alliance. With Zhao Lingyue and Li Taohua also expressing their opinions, neither family persisted. However, they presented Yun Fan with a challenge: they would only agree if Zhao Feiyue consented; otherwise, the alliance would proceed as planned.
During this period, Yun Fan was truly astounded by Li Taohua's actions. Her tears, tantrums, and threats of self-harm were all in vain, leading to a resounding slap from the Valley Master of Peach Blossom Valley. The reason they sought Zhao Feiyue's opinion was simple: although Zhao Feiyue had announced Yun Fan as the successor to the League Leader position upon their return, everyone knew that Yun Fan was only the nominal leader; Zhao Feiyue was the true decision-maker.
Thus, Yun Fan had no choice but to seek out Zhao Feiyue to discuss the matter.
"Absolutely not. There is no room for negotiation on this matter!"
Zhao Feiyue directly rejected Yun Fan's proposal. Yun Fan was speechless. Why was his third senior sister so insistent? As he tried to persuade her again, Zhao Feiyue stared at him coldly.
"Junior brother, you're so insistent and worried. Do you truly have a thing going on with my sister?"
Yun Fan quickly replied, "Third senior sister, that is absolutely not the case. You must believe me!"
"Hmph!"
Zhao Feiyue snorted, "This matter is settled. No one can change it!"
However, at that moment, a teasing voice interjected, "Zhao Feiyue, you are truly foolish. The young man has feelings for the maiden, and the maiden reciprocates. Are you really going to break them apart?"
"Who?"
Zhao Feiyue was shocked. She had been so consumed by anger that she hadn't noticed anyone approaching. Then, a graceful figure descended.
"It's you!"
Zhao Feiyue looked at Ye Ji. That's right, after arriving at the hidden sects, Ye Ji hadn't returned to her ancestral home but had gone directly to the Zhao family.
"Little brother!"
"Sister!"
Yun Fan also quickly greeted her. At this, Zhao Feiyue's expression soured. She looked down on Ye Ji, thinking that at her age, she was still chasing after younger men. It wasn't just her; the entire hidden sect looked down on Ye Ji. Although Ye Ji and she were the two most beautiful women in the hidden sects.
"You are welcome here, but please leave!"
She directly ordered Ye Ji to leave. However, Ye Ji calmly replied, "I think you're just jealous because you can't have him. You act so high and mighty, as if I want to be here! If it weren't for my little man's sake, I wouldn't bother coming."
"You..."
Zhao Feiyue said directly to Yun Fan, "Junior brother, tell this old woman to get lost. We can handle things here ourselves!"
"Third senior sister, please don't be like this!"
Yun Fan earnestly pleaded. At this, Ye Ji responded teasingly, "Zhao Feiyue, I have a secret to tell you!"
"Spit it out if you have something to say!"
Zhao Feiyue asked, suppressing her anger.
"Your junior brother is very moist, oh no, very capable!"
Hearing this, Yun Fan was instantly embarrassed. Such intimate matters, why would Ye Ji reveal them so casually! He felt his privacy had been exposed.
Upon hearing this, Zhao Feiyue's eyes turned green. She hated Ye Ji to the bone, her rage reaching its peak, beyond her control. She immediately yelled at Ye Ji:
"You're asking for death!"
As Zhao Feiyue and Ye Ji were about to fight, Yun Fan quickly said, "Both of you, stop arguing!"
"Can you two stop bickering all day? It's so annoying!"
The two women froze. Yun Fan then said, "League Leader Zuo's faction is very strong. At a time like this, we should be united. After all, we will all be family in the future. We'll see each other often, so there's no need to make things so unpleasant!"
His words caused the two women, who felt a sense of guilt, to temporarily set aside their hostility. Ye Ji said, "Little brother, for your sake, I won't argue with her. Anyway, I'm the biggest winner!"
That's right, if she thought about it, she was indeed the biggest winner. With so many wolves circling one piece of meat, she was the first to get a taste. What else could she be but a winner? Zhao Feiyue was very upset by this, as she had intended to be the first wolf, and the fiercest one at that. She had perfectly missed out simply because she wasn't present. Thus, she said, "You can stay, but during this time, you are not allowed to seduce him!"
"Don't worry, I'm not that kind of person without integrity!"
Even Ye Ji herself probably wouldn't believe that statement. However, it didn't matter. After all, during this period, Yun Fan was no different from a eunuch. People should understand to be content with what they have. Since she had gotten the first taste of the meat, she knew when to know her limits.
After this farce, Yun Fan went to his room alone and opened the fourth task left by his master. The fourth task was largely as he had guessed: to suppress the hidden sects. However, this was a colossal task.
[My dear disciple, by the time you read this, you must have already clashed with the hidden sects. That's right, you should do so. Destroy them. However, the hidden sects are no small force. Be extremely careful. Fortunately, your master has left your third senior sister to help you, which should alleviate some of your pressure. But it's not enough. As for how to solve this, that's up to you. There is a way to solve this task, but your master just won't tell you. Don't expect your master to help you either. If you can resolve this task perfectly, then you will truly be able to shoulder great responsibility. At that time, your master will bestow upon you a great fortune!]
After reading this letter, Yun Fan reluctantly burned it. He was puzzled, feeling that almost everything he had experienced seemed to have been pre-arranged by his master. Moreover, it seemed his master had predicted his every step. If his master hadn't disappeared, he would have suspected his master was secretly watching him. The current situation seemed insurmountable, yet his master said there was a solution. Of course, none of that was important. What was important was that his master said he would bestow a great fortune upon him if he resolved the task. He was very curious about what this fortune would be. It had to be said that each of his master's tasks, while seemingly arranged casually, flowed remarkably smoothly when connected.
So, Yun Fan stopped overthinking. Fortunately, Ye Ji's arrival had relieved some of their pressure. If Ye Ji had arrived two days earlier, then during the trip to the Heaven Alliance, the three of them working together would have been enough to deal with League Leader Zuo's experts, leaving League Leader Zuo to return as a lone commander. However, just as he fell asleep, Zhao Lingyue suddenly rushed in.
"Brother Yun, something terrible has happened!"
"What is it?"
Yun Fan asked. Zhao Lingyue quickly said, "The Heaven Alliance has launched a surprise attack. My sister has already gone to the front lines!"
"What?"
Yun Fan hadn't expected them to move so ferociously. He immediately said, "I understand. I'll be there right away!"
"Yes, yes!"
At this moment, the battle had already begun on the front lines. And the one leading the Heaven Alliance's assault was none other than League Leader Zuo, who had come from the secular world. What was puzzling was that while everyone from the Heaven Alliance had arrived, the Four Great Vajras were conspicuously absent.