Village Chief Old Tom and the Beautiful Wife at Home

Beneath a clear blue sky,

Ye Qiu walked along the narrow path between the fields, breathing in the fragrance of the soil. Beaming, he strolled leisurely into Peach Blossom Village.

Before he had even spotted any houses,

an elderly man with white hair and a white beard came walking toward him.

His eyes were bright, and he was full of vigor. The way he walked, he seemed nothing like an old man.

He carried a cloth-covered bamboo basket, apparently bringing a meal to someone in the fields. When he saw Ye Qiu, a flicker of surprise crossed his eyes.

"Well, well! If it isn't Xiao Qiu'er~"

"Grandpa Tom, it's me."

Ye Qiu stopped and answered politely.

The old man before him was Old Tom, the chief of Peach Blossom Village. His Martial Soul was a blue cat.

Ye Qiu's eyes flickered.

Old Tom had come at just the right time!

As long as he let the village chief know he was a Soul Master, the whole village would soon know too.

"Tsk, tsk~"

Old Tom looked Ye Qiu up and down and couldn't help remarking, "You've really grown up, child. You're almost as tall as this old man now. Are you back on break again?"

Ye Qiu shook his head, deliberately straightened his back and puffed out his chest, then patted it with a triumphant smile. Pride filled his face as he said,

"Grandpa Tom, I've graduated from Nuoding Academy!"

"Graduated?"

Old Tom froze, then patted his head.

"Look at my memory. Six years really have flown by."

As his words fell,

Old Tom noticed something on Ye Qiu's chest glinting brightly. He narrowed his eyes and looked closer... When he saw the Soul Master badge, his eyes went wide.

The badge was identical to the one worn by the Spirit Hall deacon who had come to awaken their Martial Souls, except it had one fewer thorn pattern.

As the chief of Peach Blossom Village,

Old Tom naturally knew what the badge meant. He couldn't help exclaiming, "Xiao Qiu'er, have you become a Soul Master?"

"Yes, Grandpa Tom. Look."

Smiling, Ye Qiu lowered his eyelids against the dazzling sunlight. A flash of crimson passed through his half-closed eyes, and a yellow Soul Ring appeared beneath his feet.

"Hiss-!"

How could an outsider like Old Tom have noticed Ye Qiu's eyes?

Even if he had,

Old Tom wouldn't have connected them to a Martial Soul.

Just the sight of Ye Qiu's yellow Soul Ring made his eyes widen with excitement.

"It's yellow!"

Though Old Tom knew nothing about a Soul Master's cultivation,

he had seen the Soul Rings of the Battle Soul Master who had awakened their Martial Souls.

That Battle Soul Master's first Soul Ring had been white, and only his second had been yellow. That was enough to show how outstanding Ye Qiu was!

Perhaps he would become a Battle Soul Master someday too!

"Heavens, Xiao Qiu'er, you've brought honor to our village!"

Old Tom said excitedly.

"Haha, you flatter me, Grandpa Tom."

Ye Qiu quickly withdrew his Soul Ring, but three silver coins had already appeared in his hand.

His goal achieved, he was as eager to get home as an arrow speeding to its mark.

"Grandpa, here are three silver coins. Please accept them."

"Eh?!"

Old Tom hurriedly pulled his hand out of Ye Qiu's grasp, bristling as he glared. "Xiao Qiu'er, what are you doing? How can I, an old man, take money from a child like you?"

"Grandpa, please take it. If everyone hadn't looked after me back then, I would have starved to death long ago. This is a token of my gratitude, and it isn't much. For now, I can only offer it to you... When I'm able to in the future, I'll repay everyone."

Ye Qiu's face was earnest.

Ever since Sister Yun'er came into his life, he had never lacked food or clothing.

But he had never forgotten the bowls of porridge and meals the villagers had given him as a child.

As his words fell,

Ye Qiu stuffed the three silver coins straight into Old Tom's bamboo basket, then spun around and ran off in one smooth motion.

"Oh, Xiao Qiu'er, you child..."

By the time Old Tom had taken the coins out, Ye Qiu had already run far away.

"Grandpa Tom!"

Ye Qiu turned around in the distance and waved at Old Tom, smiling as he called, "While I'm away, sorry to trouble you to look after Sister Yun'er!"

"..."

As his words fell, Ye Qiu's figure receded once more.

Old Tom stood where he was, grinning from ear to ear. "Haha, good! Good! Don't you worry, Xiao Qiu'er. While you're away, Grandpa will treat Girl Yun just like his own granddaughter."

"That child has really made something of himself."

Old Tom looked at the three silver coins laid out in his hand, overcome with emotion.

Carrying the bamboo basket, he headed out of the village. He had to tell everyone the good news right away: Peach Blossom Village had finally produced another distinguished Soul Master!

Ye Qiu jogged all the way toward the eastern end of the village.

Only when the houses grew sparser and more and more peach trees appeared before him...

did he finally slow to a stop.

With the label of a harbinger of misfortune hanging over Su Yun'er's head, naturally, no one lived near her. While Father Su was still alive, he had simply planted peach trees all around the house...

The closer he drew to home, the more timid he felt.

Ye Qiu gradually slowed his steps and walked through a short stretch of peach grove.

Three buildings arranged around a courtyard came into view.

A large open space in the middle had been enclosed by a wooden fence, with chickens, ducks, and other domestic animals inside. Beyond the fence was a vegetable patch, and a clothesline was tied to the peach trees.

The sizable courtyard was clean, tidy, and neatly kept.

At that moment,

beside the clothesline, beneath the dappled shade of a peach tree, a graceful young woman was bending over to wring out some clothes.

Her beautiful black hair fell loose down her back.

She had a delicate, oval face, skin as smooth as clotted cream and soft enough to break at a touch, phoenix eyes, willow-leaf brows, a fine nose, and cherry lips.

Her somewhat petite figure was shapely, her curves perfectly developed.

A simple white dress fluttered in the breeze.

A slender waist, full breasts, rounded hips, and long legs.

Everything about her radiated the youthful innocence and purity of the girl next door.

This was Ye Qiu's only family!

His fiancée, Su Yun'er.

Ye Qiu walked over without a sound.

Fine beads of sweat dotted Su Yun'er's forehead as she hung Ye Qiu's clothes on the line, carefully smoothing them with slender jade fingers like tender scallion shoots.

Her eyes, clear as ice and snow, were full of tenderness. A smile touched her lips, making her look utterly enchanting.

She knew

her fiancé would be returning in the next few days.

At the sight,

warmth filled Ye Qiu's heart. At last, unable to hold back, he spoke softly.

"Sister Yun'er, I'm back."

"!!!"

Su Yun'er's delicate body trembled slightly, and she turned her lovely face. Sunlight fell across her features, and the black-clad youth's figure was reflected in her glassy eyes.

Only then did she notice the youth standing beside her!

"Xiao Qiu!"

Su Yun'er cried out, her voice sweet and melodious as an oriole's song. Her feet moved faster than her words, and she instinctively hurried toward him in quick little steps.

"Sister Yun'er!"

Ye Qiu strode forward and swept the beautiful woman who had waited so long at home into his arms.

"Xiao Qiu, you're finally back~"

Su Yun'er hugged Ye Qiu's waist tightly and rested her head on his shoulder. She took a deep breath, feeling his familiar warmth and the sense of security she had gone so long without.

"Sorry, Sister Yun'er. I was held up at the academy a little longer."

Ye Qiu wrapped his arms around Su Yun'er's slender waist, feeling her warm, soft body as he spoke with an apologetic look.

"..."

Su Yun'er stroked Ye Qiu's back, her voice gentle.

"It's all right. I'm just glad you're back."

"Sister Yun'er, I missed you so much."

"Mm, I missed you too."

Before Su Yun'er had even finished speaking, her face flushed red, and she couldn't help letting out a soft cry.

"Mm~"

Su Yun'er pursed her cherry lips and murmured Ye Qiu's name in a soft, feeble voice.

"Xiao Qiu~"

"Sister Yun'er~"

Ye Qiu rested one hand on Su Yun'er's rounded bottom and stroked her fair cheek with the other. A hint of heat kindled in his eyes, and his lips moved.

He gazed into Su Yun'er's limpid eyes, tinged with pink.

"Sister Yun'er~ may I?"

"Mm~"

Su Yun'er raised her eyes to meet Ye Qiu's and nodded slightly, her face red with shyness. Even the peach blossoms on the branches in spring would pale beside her.

Though she was terribly shy,

Su Yun'er still did her utmost to show Ye Qiu her love.

"Xiao Qiu, you can do whatever you want~"

Su Yun'er gazed at Ye Qiu, bashful and timid. Her glassy, pink-tinged eyes seemed ready to overflow with tears.

Ye Qiu said no more and lowered his head to kiss her.

"Mm~"

Su Yun'er gave a soft moan and quickly closed her eyes. Her jade hand clenched Ye Qiu's lapel as she responded awkwardly but with all her might.

Ye Qiu was the only person she could rely on,

and, ever since six years ago, he had been her whole life!