The misunderstanding cleared
Heavenly Court.
The Yaochi Immortal Realm.
A Golden Light streaked across the sky, and Haotian's figure appeared from the void, landing steadily on the white jade ground.
Yaochi had been waiting for him for a long time, and upon seeing his return, she immediately went to greet him.
"Senior brother, how is it?"
"Did the Old Master... agree?"
Haotian looked at Yaochi's worried expression and slowly nodded.
"The Old Master has agreed."
"But..."
Yaochi's heart sank suddenly.
"But what?"
Haotian raised his head and looked towards the direction of the Purple Cloud Palace in the Depths of Chaos, his expression complex.
"This time, we've exhausted the last bit of goodwill we have left with the Old Master."
"From now on, Old Master... will no longer help us."
Yaochi fell silent.
Since the birth of their intelligence, they have served by the side of the Dao Ancestor.
Purple Cloud Palace is their home, Dao Ancestor is their heaven.
Now, the sky has fallen.
A moment later, she suddenly smiled, stepped forward, and gently took Haotian's hand.
"It's alright!"
"Once it's used up, it's used up!"
Her voice contained not a trace of regret or hesitation, but rather an unprecedented firmness.
Rather than clinging to that illusory "affection" that may never be fulfilled, and being constantly constrained and living a stifled life.
It would be better to use it all at once and exchange it for true dignity and peace!
"Even without the Old Master, we still have ourselves, don't we?"
"At worst, we'll just completely submit to the Wu Clan Wu Clan and cling to their coattails!"
"I don't ask for anything else, I just want to live peacefully in this Heavenly Court and no longer suffer humiliation."
"It's enough that we no longer allow the disciples of the Saint to flaunt their power in front of us!"
Haotian listened to Yaochi's words, the last trace of melancholy in his heart vanished.
He smiled.
"That's what I think too."
The two exchanged a smile, their years of tacit understanding unspoken.
With the huge weight lifted from his heart, Haotian felt much lighter.
"Yaoji and the three children settling in well in Heavenly Court?"
When Yaoji and her son were mentioned, Yaochi's face lit up with a genuine smile.
"That's good. Although Yaoji can't leave the Heavenly Court, those three children can come up to keep her company often."
She's very content with her life now.
Haotian felt relieved upon hearing this.
"That's good."
Yaochi stepped forward and gently straightened the wrinkles in his imperial robe.
She winked at Haotian.
"Senior brother, you should go and see Yaoji."
"You and your sister haven't had a proper conversation in a long time."
"And... this time when you go to see her, there might be a surprise!"
"Oh?" Haotian asked curiously, "What surprise?"
Yaochi, however, kept him in suspense, simply taking his hand and leading him towards the Yunhua Palace, where Yaoji resided.
"You'll find out when you go."
Yunhua Palace.
Before we even got close, a clear and melodious girl's laughter rang out, adding a touch of vibrant warmth to the otherwise cold and austere palace.
Haotian and Yaochi moved quietly, so as not to disturb the people inside.
Through the open palace doors, he saw a heartwarming scene inside.
Yang Chan sat beside her mother, Yaoji, gesturing excitedly and chattering away.
Yaoji looked at her with doting eyes, occasionally smiling from her amusement.
On the other side, Yang Jiao and Yang Jian sat there with helpless expressions.
One person calmly sipped their tea, while the other wished they could disappear into the ground.
Haotian listened intently for a moment and understood.
It turned out that Yang Chan was vividly recounting the shameful things her two older brothers did while cultivating in the Huoyun Cave.
"... Second Brother was so angry his face turned green. He insisted that it wasn't that he couldn't beat that bear, but that he hadn't performed well!"
"As soon as the Martial Ancestor arrived, he immediately became obedient, hiding in a corner for a long time without daring to utter a sound..."
"And then there's my eldest brother. He practiced the transformation technique, and once he suffered a stroke."
"I turned myself into a pig and can't turn back no matter what I do. I spent the whole day rooting around in the Huoyun Cave!"
"Puff!"
Yang Jiao, who was standing to the side, finally couldn't hold back and spat out a mouthful of tea.
Yang Jian's face was as black as it could possibly be.
Yaoji couldn't help but laugh when she saw her embarrassed son.
Just then, out of the corner of her eye, Yaoji caught sight of two Dao Body standing at the palace entrance.
She quickly suppressed her smile and stood up.
"Elder Brother, you've come."
This sound instantly silenced the joyful atmosphere in the hall.
Yang Chan turned around, saw Haotian, her big eyes lit up, and she immediately ran over happily.
"Uncle! You're here!"
Yang Jiao and Yang Jian also stood up and bowed to Haotian.
"Uncle."
Yang Jiao's voice was loud and clear, while Yang Jian's voice was much softer, and his head was slightly lowered, as if he was somewhat embarrassed.
uncle?
Haotian was stunned.
He almost thought he had misheard.
He had imagined countless scenarios of their reunion, perhaps with the same resentful yet forced "Your Majesty," but he never imagined it would be addressed by that title.
Is this the surprise Yaochi spoke of?
"What... did you call me just now?"
Haotian could hardly believe his ears and couldn't help but ask again.
Yang Chan looked up at him with a puzzled expression.
"Uncle! Aren't you our uncle?"
"Right!"
"Yes! I am your uncle!"
Haotian snapped out of his daze, an indescribable surge of joy welling up inside him.
The majesty and indifference that belonged to the Heavenly Emperor on his face completely melted away at this moment.
Instead, they were replaced by genuine, radiant smiles.
He was even a little flustered, wanting to pat Yang Chan's head, but then feeling it would be too abrupt.
Yaoji walked over, her eyes slightly moist.
"Elder Brother, I have told all three of them everything."
"If it weren't for you, Elder Brother, withstanding the pressure from the Saint and mediating between us..."
"My son and I... would never have had the chance to be reunited today."
They all know how much you, their uncle, have sacrificed for them.
I see.
Heavenly Heart.
No wonder... no wonder Yang Jian, that stubborn boy who always glared at him, was willing to lower his head and call him uncle.
Although the voice was pitifully soft, it was still a shout.
He looked at Yaoji, and a warm feeling welled up in his heart.
"We're siblings, family, why are you saying these things?"
"As long as you and your child can be reunited and be alright, that's more important than anything else."
He took Yang Chan's hand and led her into the hall to sit down, then beckoned to Yang Jiao and Yang Jian.
"Please sit down, don't stand. Here with your uncle, there's no need for so many formalities."
Yang Jiao and Yang Jian exchanged a glance and sat down as instructed.
The atmosphere was no longer as awkward as before.
Haotian and Yaoji chatted about the past, while Yang Chan chirped on, adding to the interesting stories she had encountered in the Huoyun Cave.
Yang Jiao would occasionally say a few words, and even the most taciturn Yang Jian would give a serious answer when asked about cultivation.
Yunhua Palace was filled with the long-lost warmth of family.
After catching up, Haotian looked at Yang Jiao and his two siblings, regaining some of his elder's seriousness.
"You must remember this: atone for your mother's sins."
"This was jointly established by the three Saint Nuwa, Houtu, and Primordial Lord; it must not be neglected."
"You must diligently cultivate yourselves and accumulate Merit in your daily lives so that your mother can truly regain her freedom as soon as possible."
Yang Jiao, Yang Jian, and Yang Chan stood up together and bowed solemnly to Haotian.
"Yes, we will remember our uncle's teachings!"
Haotian nodded in satisfaction and continued.
"From now on, when you have free time, come and visit the Heavenly Court more often."
Spend more time with your mother.
"The gates of Heavenly Court are always open to you."
Yang Jiao and the other two felt a warmth in their hearts and responded in unison.
"Yes, Uncle!"
After talking for a while, Haotian and Yaochi got up and left.
Stepping out of the Yunhua Palace, Yaochi asked softly.
"Are you feeling better now?"
Haotian glanced back at the palace filled with laughter and joy, but when he turned back again, that warmth had been Dizang.
"Um."
He responded softly.
"Next, it's Primordial Lord's turn to suffer."