The gates of the Ye residence slowly swung open in the night.
A steward had been waiting inside. The moment he saw Xue Yao, he bowed deeply, a smile spreading across his face. "Viscount, you've arrived. The master and madam have been waiting in the main hall for some time. Please, follow me."
Xue Yao gave a slight nod and stepped into the Ye Family courtyard.
A winding gallery came into view, its eaves hung with rows of warm-colored palace lanterns that bathed the entire courtyard in a cozy, elegant glow.
In the flowerbeds, several carefully pruned rose bushes swayed gently in the night breeze. A faint fragrance drifted through the air, and Xue Yao found himself relaxing without even realizing it.
This was a residence far more refined than it appeared at first glance.
As he walked, Xue Yao discreetly took in the surrounding layout and furnishings, already piecing together a rough picture of the Ye Family's resources. They had strict family traditions, ample wealth, and an evident care for the finer things in life—not at all comparable to an ordinary merchant or official's household.
"Xue Yao, my dear nephew, you're here!"
Before the main hall door had even opened, a booming, hearty voice came through it. The man's voice held real force, with the distinctive penetrating quality of Soul Power released outward.
The moment Xue Yao crossed the threshold, he saw a burly middle-aged man striding toward him from the center of the hall.
The man looked to be around forty. He had thick brows and wide eyes, and years of cultivation had given his skin a healthy bronze hue. His muscles were sharply defined, and his every movement carried the rugged air of someone tempered on the battlefield.
Yet his eyes were remarkably bright, revealing a straightforward