Chapter 39: Reunion

The smoke of battle was slowly parted as if by an invisible giant hand, and the heavy gray haze gradually dissipated, revealing a scene both ruined and strangely surreal. High in the sky, the sunlight seemed to pale in comparison, eclipsed by a woman suspended in mid-air. Her posture was erect and striking, resembling a deity descended from the nine heavens, surrounded by a faint spiritual glow that formed a stark contrast with the war-torn earth below.

The demeanor of a king was displayed in full measure at this moment, involuntarily inspiring awe. Even the breeze seemed to gently detour around her, unwilling to disturb this transcendent tranquility.

"Mother..." Ye Heng's voice trembled, forcing the two words from the depths of his throat. Standing not far away, his eyes were filled with disbelief and shock, as if the scene before him transcended all his cognition and imagination. Around him, the air—previously quieted by battle—began to surge, every wisp of wind seeming to carry Ye Heng's complex emotions. He slowly took a step forward, each stride feeling as though it crossed thousands of mountains and rivers. In his heart, the joy of reunion was intertwined with astonishment and incomprehension at his mother's transformation.

Ye Heng remembered how gently his mother used to guard his side, holding up a sky for him with endless care and love. Yet now, she appeared on this battlefield with such a breathtaking posture. That composure and strength made him feel both proud and touched by an indescribable sorrow.

As the distance closed, Ye Heng could more clearly sense the ancient and mysterious aura emanating from his mother. It was the power of accumulated time, and the resilience forged after lingering countless times on the edge of life and death. He knew deep down that no matter what form his mother had taken, that deep love for him would never change.

"Mother, let's go home?" Ye Heng finally could not help but speak, his voice carrying a trace of a sob. His gaze remained locked on that figure in the air, longing for an answer—an answer that could untangle all the doubts in his heart.

And the king suspended in the air merely turned her head slightly, her gaze sweeping tenderly over Ye Heng. At that moment, the entire world seemed to stand still. In her eyes, there was both nostalgia for the past and infinite expectation for the future. Then, she smiled and nodded.

(Back at the Martial God Bureau)

"Brother..."

That soft yet slightly mischievous and insistent call was like a breeze brushing against the ear on an accidental spring day, yet it stirred layer upon layer of ripples in the lake of the heart. This voice traversed the silence of the corridor, penetrated the crack of the door, and reached the core of Lisa's office, causing Ye Heng—who was buried in a mountain of documents—to start violently. The pen in his hand slipped inadvertently, tracing a slightly abrupt arc in the quiet air.

"Ye Yun..." Ye Heng sighed inwardly. This name seemed to carry its own magic, always able to stir his calm heart when he least expected it. She was his younger sister, Ye Yun, seven years younger than him, yet possessing the vitality and wisdom of an elf. Her eyes sparkled with curiosity and rebelliousness toward the world. Beneath that seemingly childish face lay a talent and intelligence comparable to Ye Heng's own, though this talent was often masked by her playfulness and unconventional ways.

"Ah... the little princess is here again," Ye Heng whispered, the corners of his mouth rising involuntarily in a smile that was both helpless and doting. He knew well that whenever Ye Yun appeared, his life would be splashed with unpredictable colors—sometimes joyful, sometimes troubling, but always richly varied.

Aixi, standing nearby, witnessed this scene with a cunning gleam in her eyes. She lightly covered her mouth, desperately suppressing the laughter about to spill over. That tacit understanding allowed the two of them to communicate heart-to-heart without words.

"What are you laughing at?" Ye Heng feigned sternness, though his voice carried a touch of pampering and indulgence. He stood up and strode toward Aixi. The seemingly heavy tap landed lightly on Aixi's backside, and he immediately whistled with a breezy nonchalance. The gesture held a mix of smugness and childish provocation, resembling the exclusive intimate banter between the two.

Startled by this sudden "attack," Aixi quickly glanced around, her cheeks instantly flushing as brilliant as an evening glow. Her small hand swept like a gust of wind, landing accurately on Ye Heng's face and leaving a faint red mark, though it was laden with shyness and a reproachful glare.

Meanwhile, Xuanbing cleverly turned away. Using the excuse, "I'm a little thirsty, I'll go pour a glass of water," she quietly withdrew from this subtle interlude. In truth, the corners of her mouth had already curled into an imperceptible smile. In a corner where no one noticed, she quietly admired the warm yet slightly shy scene, her heart filled with warmth and amusement.

The door to Lisa's office was pushed open slowly, a beam of light filtering through the crack to land on Ye Heng's face and illuminate Ye Yun as she stepped into the room. Dressed in light clothing, her face radiated a brilliant smile, as if the entire world had grown brighter simply due to her arrival. At that moment, the air inside the office seemed to perk up instantly, and an ordinary sibling dynamic full of unknowns and challenges was about to quietly unfold in this small space.

"Hahahaha... Brother, you're finally back!" Ye Yun's words carried a sense of elation and anticipation. Before Ye Heng could steady himself, she leaped like a light swallow and buried herself directly into his warm embrace. Her small body contained endless joy, wriggling happily against his chest as if to release every bit of her longing.

Lisa stood to the side, coughing softly with a gentle yet dignified tone, timely recalling Ye Yun's slightly out-of-control emotions brought on by her excitement. Parting her lips, her voice was as gentle as a spring breeze: "Yun'er, slow down a bit, and come look at this esteemed adult here. Do you recognize her?"

Hearing this, Ye Yun immediately reined in her playful expression, a flash of curiosity crossing her eyes. Reluctantly pulling away from Ye Heng's embrace, her small hand gently wiped away the tears of excitement welling in the corners of her eyes, and she walked slowly toward where Lisa was looking.

Xuanbing stood there with a gentle expression and eyes shining with maternal radiance. She parted her lips, and a name that made Ye Yun's heart surge spilled slowly outward: "Yun'er..."

Merely two words, yet they acted like magic, touching the softest part of Ye Yun's heart. Her eyes instantly moistened, the bridge of her nose stinging slightly, and an unspeakable emotion welled up inside her.

"Mother... It's Mother!" Ye Yun's voice trembled, filled with incredulous surprise and excitement. She lunged forward, tightly hugging Xuanbing as tears slid down like broken pearls. Choking with sobs, she cried, "Mother, Yun'er has missed you so much, so, so much..."

Xuanbing held Ye Yun tightly, her own eyes reddening slightly. She gently stroked Ye Yun's slender yet resilient back, the warmth from her fingertips transmitting like the first rays of benevolent spring sunlight, gently brushing across every inch of skin and driving away all the haze and anxiety in Yun'er's heart. Xuanbing's voice was soft and firm, flowing like a mountain spring to soothe Yun'er's long-neglected soul: "Yun'er, Mother has missed you so much too. Every single day and night, my heart has been yearning for you. Now, we can finally be together, and we will never be separated by distance and time again."

Ye Yun looked up, her clear eyes sparkling with an incredulous gleam. Her voice carried a slight tremor, yet it was full of anticipation: "Really? Mother, are we truly never separating again?" Every word seemed to erupt from the deepest depths of her heart, laden with a craving for the warmth of family.

Ye Heng stood beside them, his gaze filled with firmness and warmth. He nodded slightly, his voice steady and warm: "Yes, Yun'er. Mom and Dad have properly arranged all our affairs, wishing only that from now on, our family of four can enjoy the spring flowers and autumn moon together, no longer easily scattered by the disturbances of the outside world."

"Heng'er, you are right." Xuanbing's voice carried a hint of a sob, yet it was exceptionally firm, every word flowing from the softest place in her heart with unquestionable strength. "The past six years represent our deep absence as parents during the growing years of you two siblings—a period of time that can never be made up for."

Her words held self-blame and the helplessness of a past that could not be undone, but even more so, they carried expectations and determination for the future. Hearing this, Heng'er flashed an imperceptible look of relief, then tightly grasped his mother's hand. That strength seemed to pass silently to Xuanbing, granting her infinite courage and power.

"Mother, I want to eat candied haws," she gently tugged at Xuanbing's sleeve, her soft and sweet voice carrying a trace of subtle spoiled affection.

Hearing this, the corners of Xuanbing's mouth curved into a tender arc. "Alright, alright, my precious daughter, Mother will go buy some for you right now, the biggest and sweetest skewer, so you can eat to your heart's content!" As she spoke, she gently rubbed little Ye Yun's head.

Xuanbing spun lightly, her skirt fluttering like flower petals swaying in the morning breeze. Every turn revealed an indescribable elegance and agility. Her steps were fast yet orderly, as if every stride had been precisely calculated for distance and speed. In an instant, she crossed the void to arrive at a bustling street, her gaze landing on an inconspicuous yet vibrant stall at the corner.

The sunlight seemed particularly fond of her at that moment, filtering through a few leisurely clouds in the distant sky to dapple her form, gilding her soft silhouette with a warm and mysterious golden halo, adding a dreamlike and cozy touch to this moment of reunion.

At the stall, various candied haws were neatly arranged like strings of colorful gemstones swaying in the breeze, glittering with alluring luster. Each hawthorn fruit was carefully selected—plump, round, and vividly red—coated with a layer of crystal-clear sugar syrup that looked even more translucent under the sunlight, emitting a tempting sweet fragrance. These were not merely food; they were like carefully carved artworks by an artisan, bringing immediate joy to anyone who laid eyes upon them.

Xuanbing's gaze searched carefully among the dazzling array of candied haws, her eyes focused and tender as if searching for a keepsake that could carry all her emotions. Finally, her gaze locked onto the most eye-catching skewer: not only were its hawthorns the largest, each nearly bursting through the sugar coating, but the sugar shell was exceptionally thick, bright, and alluring in color, resembling the earliest blooming flowers at dawn and exuding an irresistible sweet temptation.

She reached out a delicate hand and gingerly picked up that skewer of candied haws, her fingertips gently brushing across the chilly sugar coating as if sensing every drop of sweetness and love contained within. At that moment, she seemed to concentrate all her longing, anticipation, and happiness onto this single skewer of candied haws.

Returning to Ye Yun's side, she bent down and handed the candied haws to Ye Yun. Her smile was full of pampering and happiness: "Here, Yun'er, this is what Mother specially chose for you. Go ahead and taste it—is it just as sweet as the ones you ate when you were little?" Ye Yun accepted the candied haws, her eyes reddening slightly again. She took a light bite, and the sweetness instantly bloomed in her mouth, melting even her heart. She smiled brightly, as if the entire world stood still at that very moment.

"Mmm, Mother, it's just this taste, sweet and sour."

"And Mother picks the best ones, unlike Brother."

Though these words seemed simple enough, given the many years they had spent separated, this phrase—"Mother picks the best ones"—carried a heavy undertone of bitterness. For the sake of survival and guarding the peace of this world, they had been forced to relinquish too much; the ordinary everyday moments that should have been shared together had now become such a luxury.

Xuanbing embraced Ye Yun. "Starting from today, Mother and Father are not leaving anymore."

"Yes, we are not leaving anymore."

"That familiar voice... it's... it's Dad!" Ye Yun suddenly turned her head, leaped out of Xuanbing's embrace, and ran straight toward Ye Zhong.

Ye Zhong opened his arms and steadily caught Ye Yun as she dashed forward like an arrow. The scene was both warm and steadfast.

In contrast, although Ye Heng did not run about as unrestrainedly as Ye Yun, his inner world was already surging with overwhelming billows. He stood quietly, his gaze acting like a magnet, firmly fixed on the tightly embracing father and daughter, as if the entire world had frozen.

Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the treetops, casting mottled light and shadows onto his face, adding a touch of soft illumination while reflecting the complex emotions interweaving in his eyes.

Ye Heng's hands involuntarily clenched into fists, his muscles tightening, before he slowly and consciously relaxed them, as if silently wrestling with the waves in his heart and striving to restore calm to everything. A faint smile quietly climbed to the corners of his mouth—a smile subtle and profound, representing both sincere gratification at the warm scene before him and deep envy for that pure family affection.

His gaze swept tenderly across Ye Yun's figure, hiding endless warmth and understanding within that tenderness, as if at that moment, all emotions were gently wrapped by the warm sunlight and transformed into the softest part of his heart.

A breeze blew past, causing the locks of hair on his forehead to flutter lightly. He took a deep breath and instinctively stepped forward.

Sensing Ye Heng's unusual demeanor, Ye Zhong walked over and gently patted Ye Heng's shoulder. "Heng'er, you've grown up. Looking at you now, my heart is filled with gratification, yet mingled with an unspeakable guilt. Over these past six years, letting the two of you face the storms of life alone has been an eternal pain in your mother's heart and mine."

Hearing this, a flash of firmness and understanding crossed Ye Heng's gaze. He gently shook his head, his voice carrying a sense of release: "Dad, I've never blamed you, and I never will. I know your choice was for a greater mission, to protect more people. If we had truly stayed by your side, it not only would have inconvenienced your missions but could have placed us in even greater danger. Look at how well we've lived in the capital; far from the battlefield and the smoke of war, we only have the busy, bustling crowd every single day."