The sudden turn of events left the crowd stunned.
“Second Brother!”
Dragon One was the first to react, letting out a furious roar.
Instantly, everyone snapped out of their shock, looking up at Dragon Two.
Pinned to the city wall by a single sword, Dragon Two’s eyes were wide open, dead but unresigned.
“Second Master… is dead?”
“He was an immortal cultivator!”
“Who did this?”
A chill ran through the crowd.
The scene had unfolded too quickly. They hadn’t even seen what happened before Dragon Two was killed by a single strike.
The prominent family leaders present felt panic rising, their gazes instinctively turning to Dragon One.
Dragon One’s face was filled with grief and rage, staring at the Forbidden City’s gate, his eyes like lightning, soul-piercing.
At that moment—
“Thud!”
A footstep echoed from outside the Forbidden City’s gate.
The sound was earth-shaking, as if stomping on everyone’s hearts, oppressive and suffocating.
Instantly, all heads turned.
A howling wind swept through, and goose-feather snow swirled like torn cotton, scattering wildly.
Soon, a figure appeared at the gate.
It was a middle-aged man.
Aged between forty and fifty, tall and upright, with a handsome face, dressed in white robes fluttering in the wind.
A sword was strapped to his back.
The blade had been drawn, leaving an empty scabbard.
He walked forward step by step.
His pace was slow but steady and resolute, the wind and snow parting automatically around him, as if a divine king had descended.
“God of Slaughter, Ye Wushuang!”
Dragon One’s pupils shrank. He recognized the man.
“Wushuang…”
Old Master Ye’s lips trembled, his eyes locked on the familiar figure, tears welling up.
“Big Brother!”
Ye Wuwei, overcome with excitement or joy, couldn’t hold back his tears.
Yes, this man who appeared out of nowhere was none other than the world’s top master, missing for over twenty years—the God of Slaughter, Ye Wushuang!
At the same time.
The prominent family members, seeing Ye Wushuang, trembled uncontrollably.
“How is this possible?”
“Wasn’t Ye Wushuang dead? How is he back alive?”
“The God of Slaughter is back. We’re done for…”
Hearing these voices, Ye Qiu’s heart surged. He desperately wanted to stand and look, but his injuries were too severe to move. Helpless, he strained to turn his head.
The next second, a figure in white entered his view.
A handsome face, resolute features, and an otherworldly, peerless demeanor…
“Father!”
Ye Qiu’s eyes stung. He never expected to see his biological father at this moment.
“Father’s alive, still alive…”
Laughing through tears, Ye Qiu’s vision blurred.
“Big Brother!”
Ye Wudi shouted, ignoring his injuries, rushing forward to tightly embrace the white-robed figure, tears in his eyes. “Big Brother, is it really you?”
“Am I hallucinating?”
A trace of softness appeared on Ye Wushuang’s resolute face as he said gently, “Third Brother, I’m back!”
I’m back!
Four simple words, like a declaration.
The prominent family members’ hearts tightened, gripped by unease.
Ye Wudi suddenly remembered something, releasing Ye Wushuang and saying urgently, “Big Brother, check on Ye Qiu. He’s your son.”
“My son…”
Ye Wushuang’s calm eyes rippled with emotion. With a single step, he appeared before Ye Qiu.
Ye Wudi was stunned.
They were a hundred meters from Ye Qiu, yet Ye Wushuang crossed it in one step.
“What level is Big Brother at now? How is he so terrifying?”
Ye Wudi was shaken.
Standing before Ye Qiu, Ye Wushuang saw his son’s wounds, and killing intent flashed in his eyes.
Then, noticing the white robe with the embroidered “Ye,” his gaze softened.
Ye Qiu called weakly, “Father…”
Ye Wushuang quickly knelt, embracing Ye Qiu, saying, “Qiu’er, I’m back.”
“I’m sorry.”
“You’ve suffered.”
With those words, he pressed a palm to Ye Qiu’s shoulder.
A surge of immense power flowed from Ye Wushuang’s hand into Ye Qiu, rapidly healing his injuries.
In less than two minutes, Ye Qiu was mostly recovered.
“Father, stop healing me. I’m almost fine,” Ye Qiu said, standing and looking at Ye Wushuang, tears in his eyes, kneeling. “Your son pays respects to Father.”
His voice choked with genuine emotion.
“Get up.” Ye Wushuang lifted Ye Qiu, looking at the face so similar to his own, and said softly, “After twenty years apart, you’ve grown up. Time spares no one.”
“Where’s Jinglan?”
“Where is she?”
Ye Qiu said, “Mother’s in Jiangzhou. Since that incident years ago, we’ve been living there.”
“Is Jinglan well?” Ye Wudi asked again.
Ye Qiu replied, “Mother’s fine, but she misses Father deeply, often crying alone.”
“If she knew Father was back, she’d be overjoyed.”
“By the way, Father, where have you been all these years?”
“It’s a long story. We’ll talk later.” Ye Wushuang took Ye Qiu’s hand, leading him to Old Master Ye.
Thud!
Ye Wushuang knelt, respectfully kowtowing three times to Old Master Ye, then stood, saying, “Father, I’m back.”
Wiping a tear, Old Master Ye suppressed his excitement, smiling, “Good to have you back, good to have you back.”
Since that incident years ago, Old Master Ye carried guilt for not doing everything to help Ye Wushuang against the onslaught. He’d searched for him secretly but found no trace, eventually losing hope.
Tonight, Ye Wushuang’s sudden return was a massive surprise.
Ye Wuwei said, “Big Brother, why didn’t you come home all these years? Where were you?”
“We’ll discuss it later.” Ye Wushuang glanced at War God, Master Longbrow, Master Du’e, and Dragon Lady, saying, “Tend to your injuries. I’ll handle the rest.”
His voice was soft, but to the group, it was like a stabilizing pillar, deeply reassuring.
Then, Ye Wushuang turned to face Dragon One.
Dragon One met his gaze.
Their eyes clashed in the air, neither speaking.
But the crowd felt the tense atmosphere, holding their breath, hearts pounding.
They knew an epic battle was about to erupt.
Moments later.
Ye Wushuang spoke first to Dragon One.
“Long time no see, trash!”
