?33: Chapter 33: Strangers When We Meet 33: Chapter 33: Strangers When We Meet “True, no matter what, you are a descendant of the Ye Family.

    Your father wouldn’t have watched you die either, he must have found the best doctor for you, right?” Xia Qingzhu’s eyes lit up as if she guessed the reason why Ye Xuan had survived.

    Unfortunately, Ye Xuan remained silent, which in Xia Qingzhu’s eyes was an implicit agreement.

    Four years later at their reunion, the two seemed to have forgotten the time they parted at the hospital.

    In a few mundane greetings, Xia Qingzhu’s original turbulent emotions gradually settled down.

    Because Xia Qingzhu realized that they could never go back to the past, interacting like strangers with each question and response, it also made her come to terms with treating Ye Xuan as just a regular friend.

    Her naturally cold demeanor started to stand out gradually.

    “Qingzhu, who is this friend?

    Can you introduce me?” Pan Ziyu approached the two, his gaze at Ye Xuan subtly hostile.

    “Ye Xuan, this is the eldest son of the Pan Family.

    Today I am discussing some family business with him, and I didn’t expect to run into you again,” Xia Qingzhu said softly.

    “Hello, Brother Ye, my name is Pan Ziyu.

    It’s nice to meet you.” Pan Ziyu smiled, stretching out his hand wanting to shake hands with Ye Xuan.

    Unfortunately, Ye Xuan didn’t move, not even sparing Pan Ziyu a glance, which made Pan Ziyu’s expression stiffen, a flicker of humiliation and anger passing through his eyes as he awkwardly withdrew his hand.

    Observing Ye Xuan’s demeanor, Xia Qingzhu slightly furrowed her brows but said nothing.

    Instead, she turned to Pan Ziyu, “Brother Pan, I have some matters to attend to today, perhaps we can talk another day?”

    As the goddess spoke, Pan Ziyu naturally didn’t dare to insist.

    He could only force a smile before saying goodbye to Xia Qingzhu; however, as he left, his eyes conveyed a shade of jealousy towards Ye Xuan.

    “I didn’t expect that four years have passed, and you still have this unruly demeanor,” Xia Qingzhu sighed helplessly.

    “Unruly?”

    Ye Xuan muttered, then looked at Xia Qingzhu, calmly saying, “Wasn’t it this unruly character that you fell for back when you disregarded your family’s advice to be with me?”

    “You...”

    Mentioning the past made Xia Qingzhu’s face flush red, but then she quickly reverted to her aloof demeanor, “We were just children then; in retrospect, it was all but child’s play.”

    “Child’s play, was it?

    Perhaps so.”

    Ye Xuan gave a nonchalant smile, the image of Xia Qingzhu in his memories gradually blurring, casting an awkward atmosphere.

    “What is your current occupation?”

    “Are you managing your Uncle Ye’s company?” Xia Qingzhu broke the silence.

    Ye Xuan shook his head slowly, “I’m in a nominal position in a department in Xia Country; it’s hardly a career.

    If there’s nothing else, I should leave now.”

    After saying this, Ye Xuan stood up from his seat, preparing to end this reunion after four years.

    “Ye Xuan!”

    Before Ye Xuan had walked a few steps, Xia Qingzhu’s voice came from behind him, making him halt, though he did not turn around.

    “Ye Xuan, I know these years have been hard for you.

    Even though you can’t inherit the position of Family Head of the Ye Family, you should not resign yourself to mediocrity.

    You need to pull yourself together and show your Uncle, prove that his son is not just someone who drifts through life aimlessly.”

    In Xia Qingzhu’s eyes, Ye Xuan had survived thanks to the world’s best doctor brought by the Ye Family.

    And over these four years, since Ye Xuan hadn’t appeared before her, he must have been relegated by the Ye Family to a nominal position in some minor company, aimlessly passing the time.

    Clack, clack, clack!

    The sound of high heels approached as Xia Qingzhu came up beside Ye Xuan and said solemnly, “Ye Xuan, no matter what, you are my friend.

    I hope you can pull yourself together and show your uncle just how outstanding his son is.”

    As she spoke, Xia Qingzhu took a Golden Card out of her bag and inserted it into Ye Xuan’s hand, saying, “You must be back in the Capital City to celebrate your grandfather’s birthday.

    There’s five million in this card.

    Tomorrow is the old man’s birthday; you can use this money to buy some gifts.

    This might also help ease the tension between you and the Ye Family.”

    Throughout this exchange, Ye Xuan remained silent, watching the Golden Card in his hand with a trace of disdain crossing his eyes.

    To Xia Qingzhu’s astonishment, Ye Xuan casually placed the Golden Card into a charity donation box set up in the restaurant, then leisurely walked outside.

    “I have accepted your five million, but let’s give this money to the children in the impoverished mountainous areas.”

    Ye Xuan walked away, showing no inclination to explain to Xia Qingzhu, leaving her watching his retreating figure with an extremely complicated expression in her eyes.

    In the hotel room,

    Ye Xuan sat cross-legged.

    As he breathed in and out, a faint bloody light shimmered.

    Suddenly, Ye Xuan opened his eyes, and a terrifying streak of blood light crossed them, followed by a loud bang through the air.

    “Phew!”

    A dirty breath was expelled as Ye Xuan got off the bed and gazed at the high moon in the sky, his cold voice resonating in the room.

    “So, tomorrow is that old man’s birthday.

    It seems my timing couldn’t be more perfect.” Ye Xuan smiled eerily, his smile sending a chilling sensation.

    Today’s accidental meeting with Xia Qingzhu, though fluctuating Ye Xuan’s mind and causing her to misjudge him as a despondent failure, had led Ye Xuan to sever any connection with Xia Qingzhu, ensuring they would never cross paths again.

    Ye Xuan certainly wouldn’t explain that he was a Cultivator, transcending the ordinary; doing so would merely make him feel like a brainless fool.

    If he didn’t care, why say more?

    And this was Ye Xuan’s truest thought.

    ...

    The following morning,

    A set of black ancient robes and a blood-colored sword lay across a coffee table.

    The rising sun from the east shone through the hotel’s windows and doors, casting a mystical glow on these two items.

    The robe, known as the Blood Sea Battle Armor, and the sword, the Bloodthirsty Demon Sword.

    These items were forged by Ye Xuan on the Blood Sea Battlefield.

    Whenever Ye Xuan was about to slaughter beings, he would don the Blood Sea Battle Armor and wield the Bloodthirsty Demon Sword, standing atop a pile of endless corpses beneath his feet.

    Ye Family!

    These simple words encapsulated an obsession in Ye Xuan’s heart.

    After he and his mother were disgracefully expelled, enduring countless mocks and taunts, Ye Xuan, a man who always avenged slights, had never forgotten this grudge.

    Dressed in the Blood Sea Battle Armor, holding the Bloodthirsty Demon Sword, with his ash-white hair hanging loose, Ye Xuan seemed to transform back into the Undying Venerable of the Blood Sea Battlefield.

    He pushed open the door, stepped out of the hotel, and strolled along the bustling streets.

    His appearance stood out starkly from others, drawing many curious glances.

    With an unruffled demeanor, Ye Xuan moved forward, indifferent to the surrounding gazes, heading towards the familiar Ye Family compound etched in his memory.