Ye Chu had just stepped into the residence when White Leopard’s voice rang out. “Ye Chu, you’re finally back.” He could not help but breathe a sigh of relief. After Ye Chu rescued Yao Yao, he had disappeared without a trace. White Leopard had been worried that something had happened to him.
“I ran into some minor trouble, so it took a bit longer.” Ye Chu said to White Leopard. “The three cave masters from the Thirty-Six Caves are all dead. As long as no one else knows you entered the General’s Tomb, Uncle Bai should be safe from now on.”
“You killed them?” White Leopard was somewhat surprised. Had Ye Chu been gone so long just to kill those three cave masters? But those were three Innate Realm experts — could Ye Chu really have taken them down?
Ye Chu smiled without offering much explanation. “Where are Sister Bai Xuan and Yao Yao?”
“She’s coaxing Yao Yao to sleep right now!” White Leopard replied. Looking at Ye Chu’s somewhat dishevelled appearance, although he did not know how Ye Chu had managed to kill the three, their deaths did not ease the furrow in his brow. “Do you still remember the favour I asked of you? I hope you’ll take care of Yao Yao and Bai Xuan!”
Ye Chu paused in his steps towards Bai Xuan’s room and turned to look at White Leopard. “Are there still others who know you entered the General’s Tomb?”
“Quite a few people know. After all, many followed me into the tomb back then. This time, the arrival of the Thirty-Six Caves has drawn too much attention to Yao City. I cannot stay here long, or I’ll only bring danger to Yao Yao and Bai Xuan!” White Leopard sighed. “In the end, it’s because my strength is insufficient. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have to fear them.”
Ye Chu fell silent for a moment before asking, “What do you want me to do?”
White Leopard said nothing at first. He took out a notebook from his robe and handed it to Ye Chu. “The item I gave you last time was the structural diagram of the Great General’s Tomb — those winding lines. The thicker the line, the more dangerous that section, likely filled with traps. This notebook contains the experiences passed down through generations of my clan — records left by our ancestors who ventured into the Great General’s Tomb. Combined with the diagram I gave you earlier, it should be of great use to you.”
He paused, then continued, “None of you truly understand the Great General’s Tomb. Though the Great General died long ago, the terrifying power radiating from his corpse still protects the tomb. Without the proper method, even if your strength far exceeds that of the tomb, you cannot enter by force. Forcing your way in would only destroy it. And the Great General’s Tomb truly does hold a great secret — one that is immensely valuable to cultivators.”
Ye Chu did not take the notebook yet. “Uncle Bai, state your terms first.”
“Straight to the point!” White Leopard laughed. “This item should not be handed to outsiders, but since my clan has already retrieved what we needed from the tomb, giving it to you makes no difference now. I have only one condition: I hope you will take care of Bai Xuan and Yao Yao.”
Ye Chu rubbed his forehead and gave a wry smile. He naturally understood the value of the notebook in his hands — a priceless treasure that would drive others mad with desire. Even Ye Chu could not resist such temptation.
“Even if Uncle Bai hadn’t offered this in exchange, I would still take care of Bai Xuan and Yao Yao.” Ye Chu exhaled softly. “I won’t deny that my original reason for staying here was the Great General’s Tomb. But after spending so much time together, I truly have come to care for Sister Bai Xuan and Yao Yao.”
“I believe you.” White Leopard tossed the notebook into Ye Chu’s arms. “This is useless to my clan now. Take it. Yao Yao and Bai Xuan are entrusted to you.”
Without waiting for Ye Chu’s reply, White Leopard turned and walked away.
Ye Chu looked down at the notebook in his hands, watching White Leopard’s departing figure. There was no joy in his heart from obtaining such a valuable item.
After seeing White Leopard off, Ye Chu entered Bai Xuan’s room. When Bai Xuan saw him, joy lit up her eyes. She wanted to call out to him but, remembering Yao Yao had just fallen asleep, she lowered her voice. “You’re alright?”
Ye Chu looked at the alluring woman before him. His gaze swept over her proud, full chest, and he could not help recalling that glimpse from the other night — her flawless, snow-white skin, the perfect swell of her breasts, completely bare. Ye Chu felt a surge of heat rise within him.
Bai Xuan was undeniably a woman of immense charm and allure. Her beauty needed no words, but that gentle, graceful temperament alone was enough to captivate anyone.
Noticing the heat in Ye Chu’s gaze, Bai Xuan felt a flutter of panic. She moved to the other side and gestured for him to step outside to talk.
“Sister Bai Xuan!” Ye Chu followed her out. As she carefully closed the door, he could not help calling her name.
“Hm?” Bai Xuan turned to look at him, puzzled as to what he wanted to say.
“Uncle Bai has left.” Ye Chu told her. “He asked me to look after you and Yao Yao.”
Bai Xuan’s body stiffened. Her eyes suddenly reddened. Tears welled up, trembling on her long lashes before sliding down her fair, tender cheeks like dewdrops.
Crystalline tears clung to her flawless, exquisite face. Even Ye Chu felt a pang in his heart.
“Sister Bai Xuan!” Ye Chu reached out and pulled her into his arms. “Uncle Bai only left to avoid the storm for a while. You don’t need to be so sad.”
“You don’t understand!” Bai Xuan’s voice trembled with emotion. “How many of my clan have died in the Great General’s Tomb across the generations? I watched with my own eyes as Grandfather, uncles, brothers-in-law, sisters… one after another flew into the flame like moths and perished. Our family once had dozens of people. Now only the three of us remain. And now Father has suddenly left. He…”
Seeing Bai Xuan’s pale face and trembling body, as though endless fear gripped her heart, Ye Chu sighed inwardly. He understood exactly how terrified she was right now.
To watch one’s closest kin die helplessly before one’s eyes — the shadow that left in the heart was unimaginable. And now White Leopard had suddenly departed. How could Bai Xuan not fear that her last remaining family member would also leave forever?
He held her soft, mature, trembling body tightly and spoke gently, “Uncle Bai is different from them. At least he came out alive. He’s only gone to lie low for a while. He may not run into trouble. You don’t need to worry.”
“But…”
Bai Xuan started to speak, but Ye Chu interrupted softly. “Sister Bai Xuan, you’re just frightening yourself. There’s no need to be afraid. Isn’t there still me?”
Ye Chu gazed calmly at Bai Xuan, his eyes clear and bright. Looking into his deep, dark pupils, the fear in Bai Xuan’s heart gradually eased.
Seeing Ye Chu gently wipe the tears from her snow-white cheeks with his warm palm, Bai Xuan felt a sudden rush of shyness. She reached up to take his hand, whispering softly, “I’ll do it myself!”
Ye Chu smiled at her and ignored her words. He brushed aside the stray strands of hair falling across her face and carefully wiped away the tears clinging to her cheeks with his fingers.
Bai Xuan bit her lip. Her face burned hot. Her shimmering, beautiful eyes dared not meet Ye Chu’s smiling gaze. In this moment, her entire demeanour was so captivating it could intoxicate anyone.
Ye Chu felt that a woman’s greatest beauty lay in these sudden bursts of mature, shy charm. Right now, even compared to Lin Shixin and the others, no one could match Bai Xuan’s allure in this instant.
“Sister Bai Xuan! Come with me to the imperial capital!” The words slipped out of Ye Chu’s mouth before he could stop them.
Bai Xuan let out a surprised “Ah!” She had never expected Ye Chu to say such a thing.