Xu Mansion

After the morning training, Chu Yan returned to his courtyard and pushed open the door, only to be greeted by a faint, refreshing fragrance.

Inside the room, a woman dressed in a moon-white gown sat by the table, holding a bowl of steaming white fungus and lotus seed soup. Seeing Chu Yan enter, she set the bowl down and stood up.

The woman looked to be only in her twenties, with skin like congealed fat and features as delicate as a painting. Her dark hair was casually pinned up, with a few stray strands falling by her ears, adding a touch of languid beauty.

She was Chu Yan's mother, Qin Mengyao.

Although she was over thirty, as a powerful Soul Saint, she maintained her appearance exceptionally well. Her skin was smooth and firm, her figure graceful and lithe; standing there, she resembled a blooming peony, elegant and noble yet gentle and refined.

"Yan'er, are you finished training?" Qin Mengyao walked forward, pulled out a silk handkerchief, and wiped the sweat from her son's forehead. Her tone was full of heartache as she said, "Your father is really something, being so harsh on the very first day. Look at how sweaty you are."

"Mother, I'm not tired." Chu Yan smiled slightly, letting his mother wipe his sweat.

Such care was something he, an orphan in his past life, had never experienced.

In this life, having parents and a home, he cherished this warmth dearly.

Qin Mengyao gave her son a reproachful look and said, "Not tired? Look at your training clothes; you could wring water out of them. Come, drink this bowl of white fungus and lotus seed soup first. I had the kitchen stew it for an hour; it's the best thing for nourishing your energy and spirit."

Chu Yan walked to the table, sat down, and picked up the bowl, sipping it slowly.

The soup was warm and smooth, melting in his mouth; it was sweet but not cloying, truly delicious.

"Drink slowly, don't burn yourself." Qin Mengyao sat opposite her son, resting her chin on her hands, watching him with a smile. Her eyes were filled with love and pride as she added, "I heard from your father that you did well this morning? Your comprehension is quite high?"

"Father is too kind." Chu Yan set down the bowl and said modestly, "I have only just begun; I still need much more practice."

"You, you've had this temperament since you were small." Qin Mengyao reached out and tapped her son's forehead. "Why be modest with your mother? Don't I know your father's temper? If he thought you were doing poorly, he would have been lecturing you with a stern face long ago. If he could praise you, it means you truly did well."

Chu Yan smiled and didn't reply.

"Oh, right." Qin Mengyao suddenly remembered something. She took a pale blue pendant from her sleeve, placed it on the table, and pushed it toward Chu Yan. "This is something I prepared for you. Put it on."

Chu Yan picked up the pendant and examined it closely.

The pendant was pale blue and crystal clear, with a faint luster flowing within. Holding it in his palm, he could feel a cool sensation seeping into his skin, slowly spreading along his meridians, making his entire body feel invigorated.

"This is... Ice Heart Jade Marrow?" Chu Yan was slightly startled.

He recognized this item.

He had seen it recorded in the Chu Clan's archives. Ice Heart Jade Marrow was an extremely rare natural soul-guiding material, produced beneath the ten-thousand-year ice layers of the Far North. It had the effect of clearing the mind, sharpening the senses, and calming the spirit.

Wearing it could increase the recovery speed of one's spiritual power and provide a certain degree of resistance against mental attacks.

"You certainly know your goods." Qin Mengyao nodded with satisfaction. "This Ice Heart Jade Marrow pendant was left to me by your grandfather. I've never been able to bear using it. Now that you've awakened your martial soul and need to cultivate your spiritual power, it's the perfect time for you to use it."

"Mother, this is too valuable." Chu Yan wanted to decline.

He knew the value of Ice Heart Jade Marrow.

Such an item was priceless; on the black market, a single piece could sell for at least a million federal credits, and even then, it was rarely available.

"What's so valuable about it?" Qin Mengyao waved her hand, her tone brooking no refusal. "You are my son; if I don't give my things to you, who would I give them to? Besides, as an auxiliary-type soul master, this thing isn't of much use to me. Giving it to you is putting it to its best use."

Looking into his mother's gentle and firm eyes, a warm current surged in Chu Yan's heart.

He stopped refusing and put the pendant around his neck.

As the pale blue pendant rested against his chest, a cool sensation instantly flooded his entire body. The spiritual power in his mind felt as if it had been gently brushed by an invisible hand, becoming exceptionally clear.

"Thank you, Mother." Chu Yan said sincerely.

"What are you thanking me for, you silly child." Qin Mengyao laughed and ruffled her son's hair. "Alright, you've finished the soup, go take a bath and change your clothes. Aren't you going to the Xu Clan to see Xiao Yan this afternoon?"

Chu Yan nodded and stood up. Just as he was about to head to the bath, he remembered something, stopped, and turned back to look at his mother.

"Mother, do you... not want to ask me about my martial soul?"

From the awakening until now, his mother hadn't asked him about the specifics of his martial soul.

Qin Mengyao smiled slightly upon hearing this. "Why would I need to ask? Your father is such a blabbermouth; he came back last night and boasted to me about it, talking about innate full soul power and an unknown, powerful martial soul, praising you as if you were the best thing in the world."

Chu Yan: "..."

He should have known his father couldn't keep a secret.

But then again, Qin Mengyao was Chu Yuntian's wife, and the two were very close; it was impossible for his father to hide such things from her.

"However, your father also said that your martial soul is somewhat special and that the details should be kept secret." Qin Mengyao stood up, walked over to Chu Yan, and crouched down to look him in the eye. Her gaze was gentle and earnest. "Yan'er, I don't care what your martial soul is, nor do I care what you do in the future. I only hope that you stay safe and sound, do you understand?"

Looking into his mother's clear, water-like eyes, a soft spot in his heart was gently touched.

In his past life, he was an orphan who had never felt a mother's love.

In this life, having a mother, he finally understood what the word "Mom" truly meant.

"Don't worry, Mother, I will." He said softly.

Qin Mengyao nodded with satisfaction, stood up, and patted her son's shoulder. "Alright, go take your bath. You smell all sweaty; don't go offending Xiao Yan when you get to the Xu Clan later."

Chu Yan smiled helplessly and turned toward the bathroom.

Behind him, Qin Mengyao watched her son's retreating figure, a complex look flashing in her eyes.

Although she said she wouldn't ask, how could she not be worried in her heart?

Innate full soul power, an unknown martial soul... with these labels combined, her son was destined not to be ordinary.

In this era, being extraordinary often meant being in danger.

But she believed in her son.

From the age of three, she had seen that this child was different; he was too steady, too sensible—so sensible that it made her heart ache.

Yan'er, no matter how far you go in the future, Mother will always be watching over you from behind, she said silently in her heart.

In the afternoon, Chu Yan changed into a light cyan robe and wore the pale blue Ice Heart Jade Marrow pendant around his neck. He looked refined and handsome, not at all like a six-year-old child.

He walked out of the Chu Clan residence and headed toward the Xu Clan, following the main street of East Sea City.

The Xu Clan was located in the East District of East Sea City, only a few miles away from the North District where the Chu Clan resided.

Chu Yan did not take a soul-guided vehicle, choosing to walk instead.

As he wove through the streets of East Sea City, watching the rows of buildings and the bustling crowds, a strange sense of emotion welled up in his heart.

Although East Sea City was merely a coastal town, as an important port on the eastern coast of the Sun Moon Federation, its prosperity far exceeded that of an ordinary city.

From time to time, soul-guided flying cars whistled across the sky, leaving trails of light in their wake.

On the distant sea, massive cargo ships sailed slowly by, the faint sound of their whistles drifting over.

Everything told him that this was a real world, a world filled with both opportunities and challenges.

After walking for about half an hour, Chu Yan arrived in front of a magnificent mansion.

The estate occupied even more land than the Chu Clan's, with vermilion gates standing three zhang high. A massive plaque hung above the lintel, inscribed with two gilded characters: Xu Mansion.

Two guards clad in armor stood before the gate, and upon seeing Chu Yan, they recognized him immediately.

"Young Master Chu is here!" one of the guards greeted with a smile.

"Mm." Chu Yan nodded at them and stepped inside.

The layout of the Xu Mansion was slightly different from the Chu Clan's, leaning more toward a garden style.

Pavilions, small bridges over flowing water, and rockeries of strange stones—everywhere exuded elegance.

Passing through the front courtyard and rounding the screen wall, Chu Yan had just stepped into the central courtyard when he heard a crisp, melodious voice call out.

"Brother Yan!"