“If Old Thirteenth knew, he might be able to make up for the regret caused by Qingqing’s mistake back then,”
“Qingqing was reckless, but the child she bore seems quite promising. Let’s talk to the family head later. Such an exceptional talent, even if an exception is to be made, should be accommodated…”
Ji Tian Chao and a few old brothers said to Ji Yun Ge.
In their lineage, seeing such an exceptional talent born, they felt consoled and joyful.
Ji Yun Ge smiled, believing that as long as Li Hao demonstrated his talents and contended for the top spot among the exceptional young talents, he would definitely be able to find a place in the Ji Family.
After all, the Ji Family was relatively tolerant towards top demon talents.
Besides, that child was also considered half a member of the Ji Family.
“Where is the child? Why haven’t I seen him?”
“He’s at the foot of the mountain. I told him to wait there. Send someone to bring him up later, but this matter needs to be reported to the family head first,”
Ji Yun Ge said.
The others nodded slightly, agreeing that it was indeed best to obtain the family head’s permission for such an important matter.
Soon, they arrived at the ancestral hall, only to see that the current head of the Ji Family, Ji Daoxin, was already waiting there.
He was Ji Yun Ge’s uncle, from his father’s generation, dressed in luxurious clothes, with snow-white hair and beard, standing there quietly like a tranquil snow mountain Qinglian, giving off a sense of detachment from the world.
Ji Daoxin had a kind face, deep eye sockets, and warm eyes, resembling a benevolent ordinary old grandfather.
But the Ji Family was the Ancient Holy Clan, established through martial prowess, and in the Great Wilderness Heaven, strength reigned supreme. To be the family head, you must be the strongest in the Ji Family.
At that moment, Ji Daoxin looked from afar at Ji Yun Ge who was being escorted over by the crowd. He showed a smile, but it quickly disappeared as his eyes tensed slightly and his expression changed.
Ji Yun Ge also saw him. As their eyes met, Ji Yun Ge noticed the change in his expression and immediately realized that his own situation had most likely been discovered.
“Yun Ge pays respects to the family head!”
Approaching, Ji Yun Ge bowed deeply.
Ji Tian Chao and the others by his side also hurriedly followed suit with their bows.
The younger members went as far as to kneel and bow.
Instantly, everyone except Ji Daoxin was bending or kneeling in the presence of the family head.
Ji Daoxin gazed intently at Ji Yun Ge for a long while before letting out a gentle sigh, “In these final moments, do whatever you wish to do. There’s no need for such formalities.”
Ji Yun Ge’s eyes tensed slightly as he nodded, “Thank you, family head.” Discover exclusive tales on empire
Their conversation, falling in the silent hall, was like a thunderclap in a quiet sky!
Standing beside Ji Yun Ge, Ji Tian Chao, and his true brothers trembled violently, all of them shockingly staring at the family head.
“Family head, what are you saying…”
When they saw Ji Daoxin slightly shaking his head, Ji Tian Chao’s heart quivered, and turning to Ji Yun Ge he asked, “Third brother, what final moments? Weren’t you always with us since you came back?”
With a silent sigh, Ji Yun Ge knew he could no longer hide the truth, and he explained his situation.
When everyone heard that Ji Yun Ge was deeply corroded by the Mo River and would soon dissipate, they were all shocked. Those who were crying tears of joy now began to cover their faces and weep.
“No, impossible!”
Ji Tian Chao bellowed, his whole body shaking, unable to accept this reality.
Having just reunited, they now faced parting again—forever?
It was then that he suddenly thought of Ji Yun Ge’s previous words about looking after that child.
Why wouldn’t he look after the child himself?
So it was that he would completely dissipate…
Realizing this all too late, Ji Tian Chao’s eyes instantly reddened, his face filled with grief, he asked, “Third brother, why, why has this happened?”
Ji Yun Ge let out a silent sigh, softly patting his shoulder, “Tian Chao, after I’m gone, you must assist the family head well, protect the Ji Family, and don’t be as reckless as I was.”
“But third brother, you’ve always been the calm one, I’m the reckless one…”
Ji Tian Chao’s voice choked.
Ji Yun Ge smiled, “We’re both old now, why do you still cry so easily?”
With that, he patted his shoulder again, signaling that it was time to maintain some composure—after all, the two of them were the venerable War Gods of the Ji Family. Such sorrow was unbecoming.
Turning his head to look at the family head Ji Daoxin, Ji Yun Ge then recounted the matter of Li Hao.
Ji Daoxin’s face showed a hint of surprise, but when he saw the earnestness in Ji Yun Ge’s eyes, he knew this was the other’s dying request.
Sighing inwardly, he nodded slightly, “I will consider this matter. If the child is as outstanding as you say, he can indeed become a genius of our Ji Family, but if his strength is lacking… I can only spare his life at most.”
Seeing the patriarch make such a promise in person, Ji Yun Ge breathed a sigh of relief, knowing this was the greatest concession he could expect.
“Thank you, patriarch.”
Ji Yun Ge bowed deeply.
“During these last moments, you actually plead for a child. Don’t you have any other wishes?”
Ji Daoxin said, “When you died in battle, you performed great services for our Ji Family. Whatever you want, just say it.”
Ji Yun Ge smiled, “The things I wanted, the patriarch must have already granted, right? The children are all doing well, and that puts my mind at ease.”
Seeing this, Ji Daoxin gave him a deep look, “Go ahead, offer incense to our ancestors, do whatever you wish to do.”
Ji Yun Ge nodded, then once again bowed deeply, as a gesture of gratitude to his uncle.
Afterward, he glanced over his brothers, seeing that they all had faces filled with grief, he smiled and said:
“I rarely come back, don’t all look so mournful. Shedding tears for me twice is not worth it…”
“Big brother!”
Upon hearing this, they felt an even deeper heartache.
His son stepped forward, his voice choked with emotion:
“Dad, you are always the pride of my heart. Mother has washed her face with tears night and day, far more than just twice!”
Ji Yun Ge’s heart trembled slightly, looking at his wife, seeing those tearful, misty eyes, the other didn’t say anything, but he understood that he had deeply hurt her once again.
Suddenly feeling an ache in his heart as if it was being torn apart, he tried to show a carefree smile, but he couldn’t muster it.
In the end, he had to turn away, facing away from everyone, and murmured softly, “I’ll go and have a few words with Old Thirteenth first.”
With that, he walked into the ancestral hall.
…
…
As the news of Ji Yun Ge’s return spread, more and more people gathered atop Sacred Mountain.
Soon, they learned that although Ji Yun Ge had come back, he could not return to the ancestral hall and would soon dissipate.
Moreover, this soul of the War God of the Ji Family that was trapped in Mo River was sent back by a young man.
The words of high praise Ji Yun Ge had for Li Hao had also spread throughout the Ji Family, all knew the young man was an extraordinary genius.
Before long, a group of young figures flew down the mountain, rushing down the snowy steps to the vast mountain gate.
Quickly, they saw a teenager standing in the grass outside the gate, seemingly taking a walk, looking around curiously.
“Hey!”
One of the youths clad in luxurious clothes shouted, addressing Li Hao, “Are you the one who brought back the War God Yunge? What are you looking around for?”
Upon hearing this, Li Hao slowly turned his head. He wanted to say that his name wasn’t “hey” nor was it Chu Yu Qian.
But seeing the opponent’s piercing eyes, he lost the mood for further words and chose not to respond.
At that moment, more figures came rushing from behind, among them a middle-aged man. As he saw the teenager who was being surrounded and scrutinized by the younger generation of the Ji Family outside the mountain gate, he quickly approached.
“Have you been waiting long? I was sent to escort you up the mountain,” he said.
The middle-aged man revealed a warm smile upon seeing Li Hao; he was one of Ji Yun Ge’s younger brothers sent to meet Li Hao.
“Not really.”
Li Hao saw the courteous attitude and smiled back in response.
Although he had waited a while, he didn’t feel bored, rather he took the time to meticulously observe the holy land of the Ji Family.
The grass and trees here, this was the place where his mother lived…
He found it very intriguing.
“Just call me Ji Boduan, and how shall I address you?” Ji Boduan inquired.
Li Hao was about to speak when he paused. He thought about saying Ji Hao, but suddenly recalling the youth around who seemed to harbor ill intentions, he figured it best to conceal his identity, being new and unaware of the full circumstances.
He thought of another name, the one that the woman had prepared for him but never used.
“You can call me Ji Le Ping,”
said Li Hao.