As Ye Qiu emerged from the secret chamber, he was immediately surrounded by Ye Wudi and others waiting outside.
“Ye Qiu, how’s Big Brother?”
“Has he woken up?”
“What’s his condition?”
Ye Qiu raised his hand, signalling for silence, then said, “Father fought beyond his level and suffered a severe backlash. He’s now hanging on by his last breath.”
Hearing this, everyone’s faces showed grief.
They hadn’t seen Ye Wushuang in over twenty years, and now, their reunion might soon turn into a permanent farewell.
“Ye Qiu, you can save Big Brother, right?” Ye Wudi asked, his eyes red.
“Yes,” Ye Qiu replied firmly.
At once, everyone felt a slight relief.
Ye Qiu said, “I need your help with some things now.”
“Third Uncle, Third Aunt, please stay here and protect my father’s safety.”
“Though this is the Underworld Palace base with tight security, we must be cautious.”
Ye Wudi and Dragon Lady nodded immediately, “Alright!”
Ye Qiu turned to Ye Wuwei, “Second Uncle, please find a clean set of clothes for my father. Also, I need as many hundred-year-old medicinal herbs as possible.”
“No problem,” Ye Wuwei agreed.
Master Duer asked, “Donor Ye, is there anything this old monk can do to help?”
Ye Qiu shook his head, “Not for now, Master. You can rest.”
“This old monk will stay here to pray for Donor Ye’s father,” Master Duer said, sitting cross-legged on the ground nearby, softly chanting scriptures.
“Thank you, Master.”
Ye Qiu expressed his gratitude, then said to Tang Fei and Long Ye, “You two, come with me.”
As the three took a few steps, they ran into the War God.
“Ye Qiu, where are you off to?” the War God asked.
“I need Tang Fei and Long Ye’s help with something,” Ye Qiu replied, then added, “I’d like you to arrange a fighter jet to pick up my mother from Jiangzhou.”
“A small matter, I’ll arrange it right away,” the War God said, then asked, “How’s Wushuang doing?”
“Not optimistic. Whether he lives or dies depends on tomorrow night’s treatment,” Ye Qiu said. “War God, I have urgent matters to handle, I’ll go now.”
The War God waved his hand, “Go ahead!”
Ye Qiu led Tang Fei and Long Ye out of the Underworld Palace base and began assigning tasks.
“Old Tang, you know the capital well. I need you to find a craftsman to make forty-nine lanterns, the plainest kind, nothing fancy. Also, get me some yellow paper for drawing talismans.”
“Long Ye, find me a black dog and a white rooster, both without a single stray hair.”
“I need these by tomorrow evening.”
“Any problems?”
Tang Fei and Long Ye replied in unison, “No problem.”
“Good, thank you for your efforts,” Ye Qiu said, then drove straight to the Forbidden City.
On the way, he called Cao Qingcheng.
At Dragon Gate headquarters, Cao Qingcheng, Qinglong, and others led three thousand elite Dragon Gate members, fully prepared to leave the capital at any moment.
Seeing Ye Qiu’s call, Cao Qingcheng’s heart leapt with joy, and she quickly answered, “Hello, Ye Qiu…”
“Qingcheng, no need to leave the capital. Dragon One is dead,” Ye Qiu said.
Cao Qingcheng was both shocked and excited, asking, “How did Dragon One die?”
“I’ll explain later. Right now, I need your help with something urgent,” Ye Qiu instructed. “I need hundred-year-old medicinal herbs, as many as possible, by tomorrow afternoon. Have Xiao Zhan deliver them to the Underworld Palace base.”
Cao Qingcheng replied, “Yes.”
“I have other matters, I’ll hang up now,” Ye Qiu said, ending the call and dialling Qian Jinglan.
…
In Jiangzhou, at Ye Qiu’s home, Qian Jinglan, Lin Jingzhi, Bai Bing, Qin Wan, Su Luoying, and Su Xiaoxiao were sitting on the living room sofa, watching the Spring Festival Gala.
It was New Year’s Eve, a time for family reunions.
Though Lin Jingzhi tried to lighten the mood, everyone was forcing smiles, their brows heavy with worry.
They all knew that Ye Qiu, far away in the capital, was facing a life-or-death battle.
They didn’t know if he would return alive.
Suddenly, Qian Jinglan’s eyelid twitched violently, and a strong sense of unease surged in her heart.
“Qiu’er…”
Qian Jinglan murmured, tears sliding down her cheeks.
A mother worries when her son travels far, especially when Ye Qiu’s journey was fraught with danger.
“Auntie, what’s wrong?” Lin Jingzhi, the most attentive, had been watching Qian Jinglan’s emotions. Seeing her tears, she asked urgently.
At the same time, a sense of foreboding rose in her heart.
“I just felt an overwhelming sense of unease, my heart’s racing. I have a feeling something’s happened to Qiu’er,” Qian Jinglan said, tears streaming down uncontrollably.
The other women’s eyes also glistened with tears.
Lin Jingzhi, relatively calm, comforted, “Auntie, don’t worry, maybe your feeling is wrong.”
“It’s not wrong,” Qian Jinglan said, wiping her tears. “Over twenty years ago, the night something happened to Qiu’er’s father, I felt this same unease.”
“They say blood relatives are connected, and when life and death are at stake, family members sense it.”
“I think Qiu’er, he…”
Beep beep beep—
The phone on the table suddenly rang, interrupting Qian Jinglan.
Lin Jingzhi glanced at it and saw the caller ID: Son!
“It’s Ye Qiu!”
Lin Jingzhi exclaimed, quickly grabbing the phone and handing it to Qian Jinglan.
Qian Jinglan took the phone, staring at the caller ID, hesitated, then shakily pressed the answer button and put it on speaker.
“Is it Qiu’er?” Qian Jinglan’s voice trembled as she spoke.
The other women held their breath, fearing they’d hear news of Ye Qiu’s death.
“Mum, it’s me.”
The familiar voice brought tears of joy to everyone.
Lin Jingzhi and Bai Bing exchanged a glance, then hugged each other, crying.
Ye Qiu’s voice came again, “Mum, the Forbidden City is gone, we’re all alive, and I have good news: Father’s back.”
“What did you say?” Qian Jinglan stood up, stunned, and asked loudly.
Ye Qiu said, “Father’s alive, he’s back.”
At this, Qian Jinglan cried even harder. After waiting over twenty years, the one she longed for had finally returned.
Ye Qiu continued, “Father destroyed the Forbidden City, but he was injured in the battle. He’s now recovering at the Underworld Palace.”
“I’ve asked the War God to send a fighter jet to Jiangzhou to pick you up.”
“Mum, get ready and come to the capital quickly!”
