"All masters, huh!" Ye Xiao looked toward the enemies at the gate and said to Weei Jie beside him with a smile.

Weei Jie said, "Yeah, all masters. It looks like we're in for a tough fight today."

"Meet the enemy head-on, and stem the tide with a dike—this principle is eternal," Ye Xiao said.

Weei Jie shifted his gaze to Ye Xiao and said, "Mr. Ling was a bit out of sorts just now, don't take it to heart."

"I didn't take it to heart!" Ye Xiao continued to look into the distance, but he said, "I'm just curious: Why did Uncle Ling seem so unhappy when he heard about Shuya practicing martial arts? Could there be some history there?"

"Weei Jie said, "Mr. Ling and I are both martial artists. Even if Mr. Ling's strength has declined now, he can still be a fine martial arts mentor. However, Miss Ling has not become a martial artist for eighteen years. Don't you think that's odd?"

"I've been puzzled by this for a while, just never mentioned it. Uncle Weei, what's going on? It seems to be Uncle Ling's sensitive area," Ye Xiao said.

"You're right, it's Mr. Ling's sensitive area, and one that must not be crossed." Saying this, Weei Jie couldn't help but think of an event sixteen years ago, but he just shook his head slightly.

"Ye Xiao!" Just then, Ling Hengyu walked out of the villa.

"Uncle Ling!" Ye Xiao looked at Ling Hengyu, feeling a bit embarrassed; after all, he had inadvertently broached Ling Hengyu's sensitive topic. Perhaps the restriction on Ling Shuya from practicing martial arts was deliberate by Ling Hengyu, or perhaps because of some significant reason.

Ling Hengyu said, "Ye Xiao, I was a bit out of sorts just now, don't mind it. You must be very curious about why I didn't let Shuya practice martial arts."

"Very curious," Ye Xiao said.

Ling Hengyu said, "Shuya's physique and talent are extremely suited for martial arts, but I have never let her practice. It all stems from her origins."

"Is she not your biological daughter?" Ye Xiao immediately guessed after hearing Ling Hengyu's words.

Ling Hengyu glanced at Ye Xiao and said, "Let me finish."

Ye Xiao chuckled.

Ling Hengyu continued, "Do you know why Zhou Yuyan and Yaya are good friends?"

"That?" Ye Xiao said, "I have always been curious. Shuya is from Minghai City, while Zhou Yuyan is a noble from the capital. How did the two of them meet?"

"The Ling family did not originally come from Minghai City. Fifty years ago, the Lings were also nobles in the capital. But due to some changes in the past generations, part of the family moved to Chu City, and that part is my branch of the Ling family. Twenty years ago, I was considered a martial arts prodigy, renowned in the capital, ready to lead my branch of the Ling family back to the capital. However, at that time, I met a woman, also a genius martial artist. We fell in love at first sight and eventually pledged our lives to each other. We left the capital to live in seclusion in Minghai City. Two years later, we had a daughter, named Shuya. But happiness did not last long. Shuya was only a year old when her mother was forced to leave us, and she has been gone for seventeen years," Ling Hengyu said with sadness in his expression.

"You mean, Shuya's mother isn't dead?" Ye Xiao had always thought that Ling Shuya's mother was dead, but now it seems the Ling family's secrets were quite numerous.

"Of course she's not dead. How many people in the world today could kill her? Have you ever heard the name Phoenix Flame Palace?" Ling Hengyu said.

Upon hearing this, Ye Xiao immediately said, "I heard about it when I was in Qiu Mountain. It's said to be an ancient female-only martial arts sect."

"Shuya's mother is the current master of the Phoenix Flame Palace, named 'Feng Lingzhi'," Ling Hengyu said.

Hearing Ling Hengyu, Ye Xiao was greatly astonished. So it turned out that Ling Shuya had such a formidable mother. When he was in Qiu Mountain, Ye Xiao had heard that the Phoenix Flame Palace had a long history, spanning a thousand years. For a thousand years, the palace had only accepted female disciples, and those who rose to be the palace master were absolutely forbidden to marry and have children, as were the female disciples designated as heirs to the palace master. The rules of the Phoenix Flame Palace were very strict, somewhat resembling those of the Cold Moon Sect.

"That's not right. The masters of the Phoenix Flame Palace are not allowed to marry and have children," Ye Xiao immediately said.

"Alas, it's a long story. Now, you must be very curious why I've told you about Shuya's heritage," Ling Hengyu said, looking at Ye Xiao.

Ye Xiao glanced at the people fighting in the distance and said, "Uncle Ling, you're not trying to entrust her to my care, are you?"

"You're very smart, but couldn't you have let me say it myself? Saying it like this only makes me feel more hopeless," Ling Hengyu glanced at Ye Xiao.

"Uncle Ling, 'Meet the enemy head-on, and stem the tide with a dike.' Who wins or loses today is still undecided," Ye Xiao said.

However, Ling Hengyu grabbed Ye Xiao's wrist with great earnestness and said, "Ye Xiao, you must promise me."

"Uncle Ling!" At that moment, seeing the earnestness in Ling Hengyu's eyes, Ye Xiao's heart was somewhat uneasy.

The disaster had not entirely arrived, but Ling Hengyu knew he had to prepare for the worst. At this moment, the strongest person here was Ye Xiao. Naturally, he was also the only one who could ensure Ling Shuya left safely.

Ling Hengyu looked at Ye Xiao and said, "Ye Xiao, Shuya cannot die. Otherwise, I will never be able to forgive myself for betraying her mother's trust. So, I implore you, if we truly face an insurmountable enemy, take Shuya and leave this place. All I want is for her to depart safely."

Ye Xiao didn't know how to respond to Ling Hengyu. Clearly, ever since the network signal and phone lines had been severed, Ling Hengyu had been preparing for the worst. Ye Xiao felt somewhat sad, possibly because of Ling Shuya. He didn't want her luxurious life to be disrupted.

Seeing that Ye Xiao hadn't spoken, Ling Hengyu thought he was pondering his own lineage.

Ling Hengyu could tell that the people approaching the gate were Xuan Rank experts. The adversary they faced today was incredibly strong, so if he didn't tell Ye Xiao some things today, he might not get another chance. Moreover, Ling Hengyu worried that if he didn't reveal the clues to Ye Xiao's origins, Ye Xiao might not rescue Ling Shuya.

"Ye Xiao, you want to ask about your origins, don't you? Since it has come to this, I'll tell you. I don't know who your parents are," Ling Hengyu looked at Ye Xiao and said.

Ye Xiao actually hadn't thought about it, but on hearing Ling Hengyu's words, his brows furrowed, and he immediately said, "What did you say?"

After hearing Ling Hengyu's words, Ye Xiao felt extremely uncomfortable. Had he been the target of deception all along? His master had told him that Ling Hengyu knew his origins, but now Ling Hengyu was claiming ignorance.

Feeling the malice emanating from Ye Xiao, Ling Hengyu quickly said, "Don't be angry. I can only tell you that your parents were no ordinary people. I don't know where they are now, but I know someone does."

"Oh?" Ye Xiao looked at Ling Hengyu and said, "Who is it? Don't deceive me."

"Relax, I definitely won't deceive you. There is a man named Wu Laoliu in Bird City who knows at least the whereabouts of one of your parents. However, Bird City is so large, it's hard to find Wu Laoliu!" Ling Hengyu said.

Ye Xiao immediately said, "You mean to suggest that I go to Bird City to search for my parents' whereabouts? You wouldn't be tricking me, would you? If you dare deceive me, I won't let it rest!"

"Of course, I wouldn't deceive you. Besides, I am asking a favor of you, so I'm even less likely to lie," Ling Hengyu said. "Your parents once helped me, and I promised them that if I were capable, I would repay them properly. Unfortunately, I'm not strong enough and haven't had the chance to repay that debt."

"So, who exactly are my parents?" Ye Xiao asked.

Ling Hengyu replied, "I can't tell you that. If you want to know, find Wu Laoliu; he might tell you."

"Wu Laoliu, damn, that name doesn't sound like a good person!" Ye Xiao cursed.

Ling Hengyu chuckled and said, "He used to be a subordinate of your father. Although I'm sure he's in Bird City, I can't say exactly where he is now, and he might not even go by Wu Laoliu anymore. So, if you want to find him, you'll have to search patiently."

"How do I feel like I've walked into someone's trap?" Ye Xiao frowned tightly!

When Ling Hengyu heard Ye Xiao, he immediately glanced at Weei Jie, who also looked back at him.

Obviously, they had a secret, but Ye Xiao missed that crucial exchange of looks.

Looking at the people ahead, Ye Xiao felt some irritation at this point. He had thought that he could get news of his parents directly from Ling Hengyu's mouth, but now Ling Hengyu had sent him on such a distant quest. When would he find his parents?

It was this irritation that caused Ye Xiao to sway slightly. He then dashed past Ling Hengyu and Weei Jie, arriving swiftly in front of the enemies.

Those engaged in battle were focused on their opponents, but suddenly, a shadow flashed before them, and a slender young man appeared.

"Who are you?" an opposing martial artist asked in surprise, clearly bewildered by Ye Xiao's sudden appearance.

"Are you here looking for Ye Xiao?" Ye Xiao said with a smile.

"Ah?" The man was taken aback. Who was this guy, and how did he know about the mission passed down from above?

Ye Xiao could tell from the man's expression that his guess was right.

"I am Ye Xiao!"

"Ah???"

The man was utterly shocked upon hearing what Ye Xiao said last, clearly not expecting to encounter their ultimate target among the first people.

"At the same time," Ye Xiao chuckled and continued, "I'm also your executioner!"

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