#289 - I know you will come again (4000 words, two in one)

When Xu Ming's gaze settled on Ye Ye in front of him, he was stunned.

Xu Ming clearly saw the demonic aura lingering on Ye Ye's body, but he couldn't discern Ye Ye's true form.

"A Nascent Soul Realm Great Demon!"

Xu Ming concluded in his heart.

After this evolution, Xu Ming's Dao Pattern Eyes had gained a certain ability to see through the essence of things.

For example, he could clearly see the illusions of ghosts and the anthropomorphism of demons.

As long as the demons were in or below the Golden Core Realm, Xu Ming was confident that he could see through their true forms with these Dao Pattern Eyes.

But now, he could only see the demonic aura surrounding her, and nothing else.

This was enough to show that her realm was at least in the Nascent Soul Realm.

Ye Ye sensed something and turned around.

When Ye Ye looked at Xu Ming, Xu Ming had already retracted his Dao Pattern Eyes, and everything returned to normal.

"Sister Ye, what's wrong?" Xu Ming asked with a smile.

"It's nothing…" Ye Ye shook her head. "I thought someone was knocking on the door, but it seems I misheard."

With that, Ye Ye turned around and continued to lead Xu Ming into the house.

Ye Ye led Xu Ming into the house and poured him a cup of tea: "There are many children in the outer courtyard, so it's a bit noisy. If you don't mind, Young Master, you can wait here for a while. Li Han should be back soon."

"You're too kind, Sister Ye." Xu Ming took the tea and took a sip.

"Hmm? This tea feels familiar." Xu Ming looked at the tea leaves in the cup.

Ye Ye nodded: "This tea is Dragon Leaf Sprout that Li Han brought back from the military camp."

"No wonder it feels so familiar." Xu Ming smiled. "Dragon Leaf Sprout is the military tea of the Blood Floating Pagoda. It has the effects of strengthening blood, quenching thirst, relieving heat, and regulating breathing. We all drink several large pots of it every day and are used to it. I used to think this tea was a bit bitter and not very fragrant, but after not drinking it for so long, I think it's quite delicious."

Ye Ye smiled and said softly: "Dragon Leaf Sprout is not cheap. Although it is sold outside, it costs a lot of silver per pound. I told him not to bring things back, or he would be punished, but Li Han never listened. Every time Li Han brings things back from the military camp, I am always worried. I usually don't dare to drink it, and only brew it when guests from the military camp come.

However, for Young Master Xu's status, this tea is nothing, but it is the most expensive tea in our family. Please forgive us.

If the military camp investigates this tea, please help us say a word."

"What status do I have? If I had to say, I'm just Li Han's brother. Besides, many people take this tea out, so there's nothing to worry about." Xu Ming comforted, "Dragon Leaf Sprout is grabbed by the handful in our military camp. Soldiers often take some home, and most of the officers in the military camp turn a blind eye, unless they take too much to sell for money, most of the time they won't investigate."

Listening to Xu Ming's words, Ye Ye just nodded and didn't say much, silently adding tea for Xu Ming.

"Speaking of which, judging from Sister Ye's accent, you shouldn't be a native of Wudu, right?" Xu Ming asked.

"That's right." Ye Ye nodded. "I came from Baihe Kingdom. I fled to Wu Kingdom when Baihe Kingdom was in turmoil."

"I see." Xu Ming had heard of Baihe Kingdom when he was a child.

Baihe Kingdom was actually a small country next to Wu Kingdom.

Because it was a small country and served as a buffer zone between Wei Kingdom, it had always been peaceful. As long as Baihe Kingdom didn't provoke either side or rely on either side, and maintained a neutral attitude, it could live quite well.

However, the King of Baihe Kingdom insisted on causing trouble. He was clearly an emperor, but he still wanted to seek longevity like a cultivator.

The King of Baihe Kingdom even worshiped a Demon Sect leader as his national advisor.

From then on, the King of Baihe Kingdom focused on cultivating immortality and didn't care about state affairs. The entire Baihe Kingdom was filled with treacherous officials, and the people were living in misery.

Five years ago, Baihe Kingdom broke out in internal strife, and the entire country collapsed. Half of it merged into Wei Kingdom, and half of it merged into Wu Kingdom.

"Then who are these children in the courtyard?" Xu Ming asked again.

"Most of them are children from Baihe Kingdom, and many are orphans from Wudu." Ye Ye explained.

"Sister Ye has the heart of a Bodhisattva."

If the other party didn't have any strange ideas and was really just doing good deeds, then this Miss Ye really had the heart of a Bodhisattva, no doubt about it.

But Xu Ming was afraid that this demon was up to something else.

"What Bodhisattva's heart? It's just doing what I can do, and it's not just me taking care of these children.

Some of the children grow up, leave here, and become self-reliant. Some become shop assistants, some become tailors, and some become cooks.

The most promising one is Li Han, who was selected into the Blood Floating Pagoda and even became a centurion.

They will occasionally send some clothes, food, or money, and will come back to visit when they have time.

So this place is not just being taken care of by me alone."

Ye Ye looked at the children playing outside the window and couldn't help but smile.

Xu Ming nodded, didn't say anything, just quietly drank tea.

"Sister Ye, I'm back."

Before long, a familiar male voice came from the courtyard.

Ye Ye and Xu Ming walked out together.

When Li Han saw Sister Ye, especially Xu Ming standing next to her, his eyes lit up: "Brother Ming! Why are you here!"

Xu Ming said with a smile: "I just returned to Wudu yesterday. What's wrong, aren't you happy to see me?"

"How could that be!" Li Han quickly put down the things in his hand and walked forward happily, pinching Xu Ming's arms and shoulders. "Brother Ming, you've become even stronger! Although I've been in the military camp, I've been seeing you on the Azure Cloud Ranking, and I feel very proud!"

"The Azure Cloud Ranking is nothing. My ranking is just a fluke." Xu Ming said.

"Oh, right, Sister Ye, I forgot to introduce you. This is my good brother—Xu Ming, the one I've always mentioned to you." Li Han said with a smile.

"I know." Ye Ye smiled and nodded. "Young Master Xu has already introduced himself."

"Then you two can catch up. I'll go make dinner. If Young Master Xu doesn't mind, please stay for a meal." Ye Ye invited.

"Then I won't be polite. Thank you, Sister Ye." Xu Ming cupped his fist in salute.

"You're welcome."

Ye Ye bowed slightly and walked into the kitchen.

"Do you want to go out for a walk?" Xu Ming suggested, also wanting to ask about Ye Ye.

"Of course, and we can buy some wine on the way back." Li Han said with a smile, "But wait a moment, Brother Ming, I'll distribute these things to the children first."

Xu Ming nodded: "Okay, I'll help you too."

Li Han didn't refuse, and the two of them distributed the things Li Han had bought home in the courtyard.

Some of the older children also came to help with the distribution.

Most of the children in the courtyard were very sensible. The older ones took care of the younger ones, and the younger ones took care of the even younger ones. Everyone was doing what they could.

After the distribution, Li Han went out with Xu Ming for a stroll.

The two of them just walked casually along the streets.

It was just dusk, and the streets and alleys hadn't closed yet. There were stalls and vendors everywhere, as well as acrobats, cheering crowds, and brothel girls welcoming guests.

There was even the voice of a storyteller coming from the teahouse, telling the story of Xu Ming's travels abroad this year.

To be honest, he didn't bring a camera when he traveled outside. Even if there were rumors, they shouldn't know it so clearly. It should be three parts true and seven parts false.

But what the storyteller said was "seven parts true and three parts false."

If Xu Ming wasn't mistaken, these stories of his should have been deliberately spread by the Martial Emperor to build momentum for him.

"Listening to your rumors these days, Brother Ming, all of us old brothers feel proud." Li Han said to Xu Ming.

Xu Ming smiled: "Why are you old brothers? You're only just over twenty."

Li Han smiled sheepishly: "We've known each other for so many years, aren't we old brothers?"

Xu Ming nodded: "Indeed, that's true."

Xu Ming carried his hands on his back: "How have you guys been these years?"

Li Han thought for a while: "How else could we be? Just like that. Our Blood Floating Pagoda is a business where we hang our heads on our belts. We go on all kinds of missions. It's just that all of us have become centurions. Many people in our class are still just privates.

We've always thought that it's because of you and Her Highness the Princess."

As he spoke, a few glimmers of reminiscence flashed in Li Han's eyes: "Who could have imagined that one of the companions who fought alongside us was the current princess, and the other was the future champion, the second on the Azure Cloud Ranking, and the Prince Consort of Wu Kingdom."

"Don't talk nonsense. The words 'Prince Consort of Wu Kingdom' are still too early." Xu Ming quickly said.

Li Han smiled: "It's not too early, it's not too early. You and Her Highness the Princess are both of marriageable age, how can you say it's too early? Besides, in our opinion, you and Her Highness the Princess are really very suitable.

Not to mention that everyone has experienced life and death together. You know Her Highness the Princess's character like the back of your hand, and Her Highness the Princess knows you too.

If you two aren't together, it really won't work out."

Xu Ming smiled and said, "You're one to talk! What about you? You're already twenty, and still not married? Besides, the Blood Slaughter is the kind of place where you might not have a tomorrow. Didn't you used to constantly talk about wanting to carry on the family line? Aren't you afraid of having no descendants?"

"Hehe he," Li Han scratched the back of his head. "I'd like to, but people don't want me."

Xu Ming looked at Li Han's simple and honest smile, and already had a guess in his mind: "The person you like is Ye Ye."

Li Han was stunned for a moment, not expecting his thoughts to be seen through so quickly, but he didn't hide it and nodded.

Xu Ming: "."

"What's wrong? I always feel like you have some opinions about Sister Ye Ye?" Li Han asked, looking at Xu Ming, whose expression was a bit complicated.

"What opinions could I have?" Xu Ming shook his head with a smile. "I also feel that Sister Ye Ye is a good girl, very suitable for you."

"Speaking the plain truth." Li Han punched Xu Ming in the chest, wiped his nose, "Then, when things are done in the future, I'll treat you to a drink."

Xu Ming nodded with a smile: "Okay."

In the end, Xu Ming still didn't tell Li Han that Ye Ye was a demon.

Feeling that the time was almost right, Xu Ming and Li Han returned to the courtyard.

The meal was almost ready.

All were ordinary home-style dishes.

The children ate two dishes and a soup, one meat and one vegetable, and a meat soup. The food was not bad.

However, to entertain Xu Ming, Ye Ye made a separate table of dishes for Xu Ming and Li Han.

The children in the courtyard saw that Xu Ming was eating better than them, but they didn't say anything. They all felt that guests should eat better, it was only right, and this person was Brother Li's good friend.

After finishing dinner, Xu Ming chatted with Li Han to reminisce about the old days.

Night gradually fell, Xu Ming felt it was about time, so he bid farewell and left. Li Han sent him off for two streets before returning.

"Sister Ye Ye, let me help you clean up."

After Li Han returned to the courtyard, he went into the kitchen and washed the dishes with Ye Ye.

"Young Master Xu has returned?" Ye Ye asked.

"Yeah." Li Han said with a smile, "I originally thought that Brother Ming was already an immortal and wouldn't bother with me. I was worried that his temperament had changed, but I was overthinking it. Brother Ming is still the same as before."

Ye Ye nodded: "Young Master Xu is indeed a friend worth making."

"Isn't he?" Li Han said proudly, "We are brothers who have gone through life and death together."

Ye Ye just nodded, then silently washed the dishes. After a long time, Ye Ye opened her mouth and said: "Didn't Young Master Xu say anything to you?"

Li Han looked at Ye Ye curiously: "Say what?"

Ye Ye shook her head: "Nothing."

Ye Ye didn't say anything, and Li Han didn't ask any further.

In Li Han's opinion, Sister Ye Ye had always been like this, always having something to say but not saying it.

The night gradually deepened, and the children returned to their rooms to rest. Li Han also returned to his bedroom and fell into a deep sleep. Li Han and Xu Ming had agreed to get up early tomorrow morning to see the other brothers.

After bathing, Ye Ye didn't return to her room to sleep, but just sat quietly in the courtyard, as if waiting for someone.

As a gust of breeze brushed past.

Ye Ye tucked the long hair beside her ear and slowly opened her mouth: "This humble one knew that Young Master would come again."

Ye Ye turned around and bowed.

The long sword in Xu Ming's hand pointed at Ye Ye's throat, glinting in the moonlight.

… …

… …

[Got off work, got off work.

Today was originally the last day of work this week, but I ended up working overtime until 8 o'clock, and it was already after 9 o'clock when I got back.

I rushed to finish this chapter, and I'll go out with friends for a meal later.

I'm really too tired. The typos in this chapter may not have been checked so carefully. Readers, please point them out, and I will correct them immediately when I get back.]