The next morning, when Ye Chu saw Bai Xuan, her eyes had faint dark circles. Clearly, she had not slept well last night. This made Ye Chu smile. He had not expected Bai Xuan to lose sleep over his impending departure from Yao City.
“Brother Ye Chu! What are we playing today?” Yao Yao jumped to Ye Chu’s side. Her soft, pink little mouth planted a kiss on his cheek. Yao Yao especially loved clinging to Ye Chu. Seeing this, Bai Xuan could not help thinking, “Once Ye Chu leaves, Yao Yao will probably feel sad for quite a while too!”
“How about I build you a little house out of mud today?” Ye Chu lifted Yao Yao up and gently pinched her soft, tender cheeks. They were pink and adorable.
“No way! I’m not a three-year-old baby anymore. I don’t play with mud!” Yao Yao pouted. Her clear eyes showed dissatisfaction. “I’m already four years old! I’m not playing with mud anymore.”
Those words stunned Ye Chu for a moment. Then he burst into hearty laughter. He could not help glancing at Bai Xuan. Sure enough, her face had turned slightly flushed.
Bai Xuan had seen how obsessed Yao Yao was with playing in the mud and how patiently Ye Chu always accompanied her. People often mocked him for being slow-witted because of it. Not wanting Ye Chu to be wrongly labelled as an idiot, Bai Xuan had put in great effort to wean Yao Yao off the habit.
“What are you looking at me for?” Bai Xuan noticed Ye Chu’s gaze lingering on her. She gave him a quick glare, her tone carrying a hint of shyness.
“I was just wondering if Sister Bai Xuan is feeling tired!” Ye Chu smiled. His eyes drifted to her full breasts that seemed ready to burst out of her clothes. His mind could not help recalling that fleeting glimpse from that night.
Bai Xuan clearly remembered that night too. Her pretty face instantly flushed hot. She hurriedly looked away in panic and gave a soft tsk. She thought to herself that Ye Chu really was thoroughly bad.
Seeing Bai Bao approaching from that direction, Bai Xuan shot Ye Chu a fierce glare. Then she dragged Yao Yao away to play in the courtyard.
“I heard about what happened yesterday. I never imagined you had reached such a realm!” Bai Bao had just returned from outside. The entire Yao City was abuzz with talk about yesterday’s battle. When he learned the central figure was Ye Chu, even he had been shocked.
“Just a minor scuffle!” Ye Chu laughed. “Looking at Uncle Bai’s energy and spirit, your body should be fully recovered now.”
Bai Bao nodded. “I owe you a great deal for this. Thanks to this baleful qi crisis, I vaguely glimpsed the shadow of the third level. I had thought I would never reach it in this lifetime. Who knew misfortune would turn into fortune?”
Ye Chu was already accustomed to such situations. “Then congratulations to Uncle Bai. Stepping into the Innate Realm already makes you one of the absolute top figures in Yao Kingdom.”
“Yao Kingdom is just a small kingdom. Even becoming the strongest here is nothing to be proud of!” Bai Bao laughed. “Even after entering the Innate Realm, I would not dare think myself particularly strong.”
Ye Chu knew Bai Bao’s vision and experience far exceeded what people from a small kingdom like Yao could comprehend. Naturally, he would not mock Bai Bao for speaking boldly.
“By the way! I heard you clashed head-on with an Innate Realm palm strike yesterday?” Bai Bao asked curiously. “Is that true?”
“Uncle Bai heard about it too?” Ye Chu smiled. “Yes, it happened. But Uncle Bai, please do not try it lightly. The gap between the Innate Realm and the Intent Transformation Realm is enormous. It is very easy to suffer severe injuries, and hidden ailments could linger.”
“I know that!” Bai Bao said. “That is exactly why I am curious how you managed to block his strike without any harm.”
This truly astonished Bai Bao. In his view, the Innate Realm was like a mighty lion, while the Intent Transformation Realm was merely a wolf. A wolf might be fierce, but it could never match a lion. Even blocking one lion’s strike was difficult.
Yet Ye Chu had not only blocked it but stood here completely unscathed.
“I really cannot see through you!” Bai Bao shook his head. “But I know your master must be extraordinary. I will not ask further.”
“Uncle Bai is the same, isn’t he? With your knowledge and methods, yet you choose to stay hidden in a small place like Yao City. Won’t Uncle Bai tell me your secrets?” Ye Chu laughed heartily.
“Hahaha! Keep guessing slowly!” Bai Bao laughed loudly. Then he thought of something. “How about helping me with one thing?”
“Hm?” Ye Chu asked curiously.
“Suddenly, many forces have emerged in the empire. They are searching everywhere for those who entered the Great General’s Tomb this time! Although I was careful last time, no wall in the world is completely airtight. If you could find me, others surely can too.” Bai Bao let out a soft sigh. “The only ones I worry about are Bai Xuan and Yao Yao. Yao Yao is still too young, and you know my daughter’s beauty. Many people have their eyes on her. So I hope you can help look after them.”
Ye Chu smiled. “Uncle Bai isn’t afraid I might have designs on them?”
“Hahaha! Though you have a notorious reputation and are indeed not a good person, at least you would not resort to despicable means. As for whether you have the ability to make Bai Xuan agree, that is none of my business.”
Hearing Bai Bao say this, Ye Chu could not help laughing. He thought to himself that Bai Bao really underestimated him. Did Bai Bao truly believe his daughter would never look at him?
“Then you had better take care of them yourself. I have no interest. Besides, in a little while, I will be leaving Yao City anyway.” Ye Chu smiled.
“You are leaving?” Bai Bao frowned. After a moment of silence, he did not press further. “Very well! I know you are after the method to enter the General’s Tomb. Then I will tell you everything!”
With that, Bai Bao suddenly took out a yellowed book from his robes. “This has been passed down from our ancestors. Once you fully understand what is inside, you can attempt to enter the Great General’s Tomb.”
Ye Chu took it with some doubt. He casually flipped through it and saw various curved lines drawn inside. Just as he was about to ask something, Bai Bao interrupted. “After you have looked through it, come ask me if there is anything you do not understand.”
Ye Chu nodded and put the book away.
“What I just said is just preparing for the worst. If something truly happens to me one day, I hope you can help Bai Xuan when the time comes.” Bai Bao suddenly sighed and patted Ye Chu’s shoulder.
Seeing Bai Bao speak so seriously, Ye Chu paused for a moment before nodding. “Even if Uncle Bai had not said it, I would still do it!”
“I know your background is not simple. I could tell from the way you helped me dispel the baleful qi from the Great General’s Tomb! With your word, I feel much more at ease.” Bai Bao said, “There really are good things inside the Great General’s Tomb, but do not be reckless. Even with my ancestral method, the slightest mistake means nine chances of death and one of survival.”
Ye Chu had personally witnessed the dangers inside and naturally understood this truth.
“Grandfather! Brother Ye Chu! What are you talking about? Come play with me quickly!” While Ye Chu and Bai Bao were speaking, Yao Yao ran out from the courtyard and hugged Ye Chu’s leg, shaking it back and forth.
“Alright! How about we play eagle catches the chicks today?” Ye Chu smiled at Yao Yao. “Let your little aunt be the chick?”
With that, Ye Chu’s gaze could not help drifting once more to Bai Xuan’s full, plump breasts. He thought to himself that if he accidentally brushed against them during the game later, it could not be blamed on him. That would just be an honest mistake!
Bai Xuan clearly noticed Ye Chu’s gaze. Being clever and quick-witted, how could she not understand what he was scheming? She hurriedly pulled Yao Yao close. “Yao Yao, didn’t you want to play horsey? Go find your Brother Ye Chu!”
“…”