Chapter 731: This Old Man Wants a Grand Birthday

"My father." Ye Qianning tucked the silver notes away.

Huo Feng was shocked yet again. ’He never expected that man was actually Ye Qianning’s father. But what about the other man, the one filled with killing intent?’

"Your father? Who was that guy yesterday?"

"He’s also my father."

Jiang Yue was completely floored. Her mind couldn’t quite process it. ’How can one person have two fathers?’

Huo Feng was beyond shocked...

’The man who beat Liran was also her father?’

’Just who is Miss Ye? None of those people seem ordinary.’

Jiang Chenyi stared at her, stunned. ’Someone with eyes as bright as stars could never be ordinary.’ A faint stir rose in his heart.

"Oh... I get it! He must be her godfather." It suddenly clicked for Jiang Yue.

Ye Qianning just smiled, offering no explanation.

The group headed toward the center of the street. Along the way, they passed many pastry shops, and the aromas were divine.

Jiang Yue bought a little something from every shop, praising them endlessly as she ate. "The food in Dayu City is so much better than in other cities! No wonder it’s always so bustling. Here, Sister Ye, try some."

Ye Qianning took a piece. The city’s pastries tasted very similar to the ones her aunt used to make for her. Although, without the water from her space, the flavor wasn’t quite as good as what she remembered.

But compared to pastries from anywhere else in the Four Kingdoms, the flavor was still incredible.

All the pastry shops in the city belonged to Gu Shuo. They were all named Nianyunjian, but each location sold a different variety of pastries.

"So? What do you think?" Jiang Yue asked while chewing.

Ye Qianning nodded.

Jiang Yue turned and held one out to Jiang Chenyi. "Second Brother, you should try one. The pastries in Dayu City are amazing."

Jiang Chenyi didn’t usually like sweets, but since Ye Qianning had nodded in approval, he wanted to try one. He took a piece and had a small bite, then gave a slight nod. "They really are quite good."

Huo Feng, walking alongside them, glanced at the pastries but remained silent. He was secretly observing Ye Qianning the entire time.

Ye Qianning noticed but paid him no mind. ’Her father did beat up his relative yesterday, so he’s probably still stewing over it.’ Just as that thought crossed her mind, she spotted a familiar figure in the crowd.

"Dad."

Xiang Minghou, leading two guards, had just stepped out of a shop when he heard the call. He looked up, and upon seeing his daughter, the coldness and hostility between his brows instantly vanished.

Huo Feng followed her gaze and saw the man up ahead. He froze in his tracks, not daring to take another step.

Ye Qianning jogged over.

"It’s crowded. Slow down, be careful not to bump into anyone." Xiang Minghou strode forward to meet her.

"Dad." Ye Qianning ran up to him, tilting her head up and smiling sweetly.

Xiang Minghou raised his hand and tucked a strand of her wind-blown hair behind her ear. "Be careful."

"Dad, are you buying clothes?" Ye Qianning asked, glancing at the shop her father had just exited before looking back at him inquisitively.

"Your master’s birthday celebration is in a few days. I can’t very well show up dressed like this." For years, Xiang Minghou had worn nothing but black robes and a cloak.

Ye Qianning looked her father up and down. His attire was a bit too grim. He was forty-two this year. She thought back to when they first met, and then looked at his weathered face, now marked with two deep scars. Her eyes began to well up.

"What is it?" Xiang Minghou sensed something was amiss.

Ye Qianning lowered her head, forcing back her tears. She sniffled, then looked up with a smile. "It’s nothing. I’ll help you pick something out, Dad."

Xiang Minghou met her tear-filled gaze, and his own eyes began to redden as well. He nodded. "Alright."

"Dad, wait for me. I’m just going to let my friends know."

"Mm."

Ye Qianning snapped out of it and walked back over to Jiang Yue and the others.

Xiang Minghou watched her walk away, his gaze softening. ’Ten years of waiting... it was all worth it. Nothing is more precious than this moment of having her back.’

’Seeing her run toward him with a smile... it felt like a dream.’

"Dad, let’s go." Ye Qianning ran over and took his arm.

"Alright."

Looking at her, Xiang Minghou’s lips curved into a smile of pure contentment and happiness.

Jiang Yue and the others stared blankly at Xiang Minghou. He was like a completely different person from the day before, and they were too stunned to react.

’Huo Feng couldn’t believe it either. How could that man, so full of cold, killing intent, smile like that? So much for them being two different people with the same name—it was him. I have to go back and warn Second Uncle and Liran. We absolutely, under no circumstances, can ever provoke Ye Qianning.’

「Three days later, a hundred li outside Dayu City.」

Gu Shuo, Elder Chen, and their party were hurrying toward Dayu City when they received news about a birthday celebration being held there.

Elder Chen looked at the invitation in his hand, a hint of displeasure on his face.

Gu Shuo saw the invitation as well and learned that Old Prince Feng of Nanyuan was also celebrating his birthday on the exact same day, at the exact same time and location. It was a clear provocation.

He was using the birthday celebration as a power play.

"What birthday celebration? Who said anything about a celebration?" Elder Chen tossed the invitation out of the carriage.

The young city guard who had delivered the message quickly dismounted, picked up the invitation, and got back on his horse.

"Who sent this invitation?" Gu Shuo asked, noticing it was unsigned.

"It was a Miss Ye. It’s all her fault for acting on her own accord..."

Gu Shuo was stunned. "What Miss Ye?"

"A young lady who came ashore at the port a month ago. She said she knew Elder Chen, and since his birthday was approaching, she insisted on throwing a grand celebration for him. Brother Luo warned her that Elder Chen dislikes such things, but she was adamant and had a whole bunch of invitations made..." the young guard said, still fuming.

Gu Shuo was stunned again, his whole body trembling.

Hearing this, Elder Chen immediately flung open the carriage curtain and stuck his head out, his expression agitated. "This Miss... what’s her full name?"

The young city guard thought for a moment. "Um, I think her name is Ye Qianning."

Elder Chen’s mind went blank with a deafening roar. Overcome with excitement, he stammered, "Where is she? Where is she staying...?"

"She’s staying at the Yan Hui Inn. But ever since Old Prince Feng of Nanyuan sent out his invitations, we haven’t seen Miss Ye. She’s most likely run off. Elder Chen, your invitations have already been sent. What are we going to do if no one shows up?" the young guard asked worriedly.

Gu Shuo’s hands tightened on the reins. ’She’s back? Is she really back?’

Elder Chen’s lips trembled. ’Yan Hui Inn... She’s staying at the Yan Hui Inn...’

"Old Prince Feng is obviously trying to humiliate you, Elder Chen. This Miss Ye has really put us in a bind. You need to come up with a plan... Elder Chen? Elder Chen?"

"Huh?"

"Elder Chen, what are you thinking about?"

"Thinking about celebrating my birthday."

"..."

"Are you serious, Elder Chen?" The young city guard was confused.

"Yes. What’s the date today?"

"The eighth day of the sixth month."

"Oh, it’s only the eighth? That means there are still four days until the twelfth. Tsk, tsk. It would be great if the celebration were tomorrow."

"..."

"Hurry up and send a message to your Sect Leader! Tell him I am having a grand birthday celebration! Send a message to everyone! I am having a grand birthday celebration!"

"..."

The young guard couldn’t keep up.

Seeing him just stand there, Elder Chen glared. "What are you gaping at? Go send the message! Your Sect Leader happens to be in a city just up ahead. Tell him to gather everyone he can and rush to Dayu City."

"Oh, oh, oh."

"What are you ’oh-ing’ about? Go, now!"

Spurred on like this, the young guard instinctively tightened his reins and galloped off.

"...Why are you galloping off? I told you to send a carrier pigeon."

"..."

The young guard hastily pulled his horse to a stop. He fumbled around for a moment before finally pulling out a whistle to summon a carrier pigeon.