After staying in the old man's house for the night, Ye Jiao departed back to her own house. Thanks to the map she had, she managed to reach the destination after several days' walking. This time, she didn't encounter any powerful beast and also evaded those weaker ones because she didn't want the blood to attract more beasts on her way.
"I'm home."
Looking at the familiar house in front of her, a smile formed on the corner of her lips. This was the house that she built with her father. Well, she only watched while her father built it back then.
Stopping for a few seconds, Ye Jiao reminisced about the time she had with her father here. She really missed him, but there was no trace of him at all. Her mother said that he had died, so she knew that it would be hard for her to meet with him again.
'I'll go visit Mom first.'
Ye Jiao turned her legs to the side of the house. There was a grave she built a few months ago for her mother. Her eyes widened when she saw the lush flowers around her mother's grave.
"There are a lot of lilies flowers here," Ye Jiao recalled that she placed a stalk on top of the grave, but she didn't remember that she buried the seed. Perhaps they were all wild flowers that grew here.
Ye Jiao shook her head and sat down by the grave's side.
"Mom, Ye Jiao has returned back from my training. The training is hard, but it's not outside my capabilities," Ye Jiao started to tell her experience. She recounted everything that she could remember on the island. Even though her mother wouldn't be able to answer her anymore, she continued to tell her story.
"Mom, I really wish that you're still alive and can listen to my story," Ye Jiao muttered. "Ye Jiao missed you."
She gazed at the grave beside her before dropping her eyelids. Her eyes were wet, but no tears dropped down.
"Ye Jiao has become Eon Energy Master rank 1, Mom. I'll surely grow stronger faster and when the time comes, I'll head to the north and attend that academy for genius. I'll continue to pursue my path in martial arts and reach the peak," Ye Jiao added. "But before that, I want to repay the debt of blood that this kingdom has to you and dad, Mom.
Mom...
You won't stop me, right?" Ye Jiao asked hesitantly. She could feel that wind blow to her direction suddenly. It was gentle and comforting as if telling her that it would be fine for her to follow her path without the need to worry for her mother.
Ye Jiao raised her head to look at the sky. She smiled. "Thank you, Mom."
After staying there for another hour, Ye Jiao returned to the house and cooked for herself. There were a lot of wolves' meat in the bracelet, so she would not lack food. Well, the menu would always consist of meat, though.
The next day Ye Jiao woke up early and cleaned up the house. Since there was no one who stayed in the house, there were a lot of dust scattered around the area, making it dirty.
"Mom, I'll be going now. Next time I return, I'll be much stronger than now," Ye Jiao smiled brightly.
She turned around and started to walk towards the capital city. From her position, she couldn't see the city yet, but she knew the direction very well. There were some beasts around, but she evaded them by using another route and hid her presence.
After a long time walking, Ye Jiao could see the familiar wall in front of her. Her eyes were locked on the wall for some time.
'I have returned, Chen Kingdom Capital City.'
Ye Jiao was about to continue walking when she heard a faint voice of conversation not far from her. From the presence, she guessed that there must be two people coming to her direction.
Within seconds, she had hidden her body on the tree near her.
"Miss, please don't walk too fast."
The man's voice traveled to her ear. Ye Jiao's body trembled when she heard this voice. This was the same voice that she had heard countless times in the past when she was training with Mu Xin.
"Jun Ge, I'm already rank 1. It should be fine if it's just the area around the city," a girl retorted with annoyance.
Ye Jiao's eyes glistened when she heard the voice. There was no way she could forget Mu Xin's voice. The only person who treated her without regards to their difference in status was this person alone. After enduring harsh training together, she would always remember this young woman's voice.
"Miss, I know that you're anxious to search for her. But it's already 8 months and no one ever see her again," Wang Jun reasoned.
Mu Xin glared at the man behind her. "That's all the more reason for me to search for Jiao'er. The longer the time, the lesser the possibilities for her to survive."
Wang Jun felt the faint pressure coming from Mu Xin as he sighed to himself. After becoming Eon Energy Master rank 1, the cold aura around Mu Xin seemed to intensified further. Whenever this young girl was emotional, she would surely emanate invisible cold pressure to people around her.
"But searching blindly like this won't result in anything."
"Her old house is located not far from here. There's no sign that it's been used, but it should be the first place that she might visit after entering the forest. Unless I see her body, I won't be convinced that she's dead," Mu Xin replied coldly. Her eyes were showing her stubborn disposition.
Wang Jun smiled wryly. He knew that there would be no way for him to persuade Mu Xin anymore. The only thing that mattered for this girl was finding that girl. Her father managed to persuade her to wait and deployed the soldiers secretly, but who would have thought that this girl would reach rank 1 so quickly?
Ye Jiao felt warmth was spreading all over her body when she heard Mu Xin's words. After she lost her mother, she had completely forgotten that she had someone else who cared for her. Even though it was impossible for her to stay with Mu Xin forever, she was glad that there was someone who cared for her.
When everyone else wanted her dead, Mu Xin wanted to find her alive.
At this point, Ye Jiao stepped out of her hiding place and stood quietly. She could see Mu Xin walking not far from her with Wang Jun followed loyally.
The girl's long hair fluttered along with her large strides. It was apparent from her behavior how impatient she was.
"Senior Mu," Ye Jiao called out.
Mu Xin flinched.
She turned her head and looked to Ye Jiao's direction. Her eyes widened in disbelief as she stared intently at Ye Jiao.
Behind her, Wang Jun's condition was not any better. He looked straight to Ye Jiao's direction with his jaw dropped open. His current appearance showed them how surprised he was.
The three of them were locked in stalemate as they stared at one another, finding it hard to believe the situation.