Chapter 81: An Invitation from the War God Temple

Ye Tiansi looked at the middle-aged man with a calm expression.

Their gazes collided in the air.

It was as if sparks flew.

A mighty aura surged up from the middle-aged man, brimming with overwhelming power, pressing down on Ye Tiansi.

The corners of Ye Tiansi's mouth lifted slightly. He made no move at all, merely watching the man with quiet eyes.

His hair was whipped back and forth by the man's aura, and his robe snapped and fluttered, yet his face remained as serene as still water.

The middle-aged man's eyes narrowed, and blazing fighting spirit flared in his gaze as his aura rose once more.

Tang Qiong could not help but step back. Her lips parted, but the words on the tip of her tongue were swallowed again. She could only watch the two men with bright eyes.

The curtains in the distance swayed in the wind.

A loud rustle.

Books on the table were blown to the floor.

The air in the room seemed on the verge of bursting.

At this critical moment, the middle-aged man suddenly withdrew his aura, and everything returned to calm.

"Hahaha!"

The man laughed heartily, looking at Ye Tiansi with a trace of satisfaction in his eyes.

"What are you laughing at?" Ye Tiansi asked indifferently.

"I am very pleased with you," the middle-aged man said with a faint smile.

Ye Tiansi's lips curved slightly. "What a pity you did not please me."

The middle-aged man was the first person Ye Tiansi had met after coming down the mountain who truly deserved the title of master. Unfortunately, the other's aura had not yet reached its peak before he withdrew, leaving Ye Tiansi still wanting more.

The man did not get angry, and still spoke with a faint smile. "Let me speak plainly. I came to see you for one thing."

"To invite you to join the God of War Hall of Great Xia."

After a brief hesitation, Ye Tiansi shook his head. "Not interested."

The man stared into Ye Tiansi's eyes and said with a smile, "Do you know that joining the God of War Hall and serving the nation is the dream of countless martial artists?"

"Many people want to join but never get the chance, yet you refuse so decisively."

With hands behind his back, Ye Tiansi said coolly, "I have my own matters to attend to."

"Ye Tiansi, no one has ever dared refuse an invitation from the God of War Hall. Do you know what consequences your words and actions will bring?" The man's expression turned cold.

Ye Tiansi's brows tightened, his gaze turning sharp. "What consequences?"

Tang Qiong was afraid the two would truly come to blows, so she hurriedly said, "Mr. Ye, this is Great Xia's South King, Gu Yanzong of the God of War Hall. He is one of the hall's four war gods and has earned countless military merits for our Great Xia!"

"South King, Mr. Ye he..." Tang Qiong started to say, but Gu Yanzong raised a hand to cut her off.

With a faint smile, he said, "Don't worry. I won't fight him. I have a few words to say to him. Please step out for a moment."

Tang Qiong had no choice but to leave the room and wait outside, though before leaving she cast a worried glance at Ye Tiansi.

A brief silence fell in the room.

Gu Yanzong studied Ye Tiansi, his gaze flicking over the ring of the sect master on his finger. Then he broke the silence. "Ye Tiansi, what you just said was arrogant, but you do have the right to be arrogant. Let me explain."

"Since childhood, you studied under Old Mister Ghost Hand and lived in seclusion in the mountains for fifteen years. Now, after finally descending the mountain, you have taken over the banner of the Heavenly Gate from Old Mister Ghost Hand."

Ye Tiansi lifted a brow, surprised that Gu Yanzong knew so much.

But what came next shocked him even more.

"You are a member of the Ye family of Jade Capital. Your father, Ye Xiaoyao, is the Ye family's second son."

"The Ye family has four sons. Fifteen years ago, in the struggle for succession, your father was framed, and you and your mother were forced to flee to Shu City."

"Your mother was named Yan Xiuru. She was once the eldest daughter of the Yan family of Luo City in Jiangbei. Because she conceived you before marriage with your father and was not accepted by the Yan family, she had no choice but to take you to Shu City in Jiangnan to seek refuge with her close friend Qi Yan."

"But Qi Yan and her father, Qi Changling, framed your mother and you."

"Am I right about all this?"

As soon as his words fell, Ye Tiansi's eyes turned cold, as though facing a great enemy. "Who exactly are you? How do you know everything about me?"

Gu Yanzong's gaze grew gentle as he slowly said, "I have an eight-part sworn bond with your father, Ye Xiaoyao. He is my elder brother."

"Tiansi, after fifteen years, you have finally grown up."

"If Brother Ye and Sister-in-law Yan knew their son was now so outstanding, I think they would be very happy."

As he spoke, Gu Yanzong took out a photograph and handed it to Ye Tiansi.

It was a group photo of four people.

A young man and woman were holding a child together.

Ye Tiansi recognized his mother at a glance.

His father's face had long since blurred in memory, yet the present Ye Xiaoyao looked as though he had been carved from the same mold as the young man in the photo.

Standing beside his father, Gu Yanzong's appearance had not changed much even after more than ten years.

This photograph was more than enough to prove his identity.

"This photo is for you," Gu Yanzong said.

Ye Tiansi's expression shifted, and he hurried forward to bow. "Tiansi greets Uncle Gu!"

"I was presumptuous just now. I hope Uncle Gu will not take offense."

Gu Yanzong smiled and supported him, patting his shoulder. "I like that spirit of yours! It's almost exactly the same as your father's back then."

"Bold is good!"

Ye Tiansi touched the bridge of his nose. "Uncle Gu, do you know where my father is now?"

"Back then, in order to protect your mother and you, your father was forced to withdraw from the struggle for succession. But your eldest uncle went back on his word, set a trap, and imprisoned him."

"I brought men to Jade Capital to rescue him, but I was injured by your eldest uncle's people. Fortunately, the Hall Master of the God of War Hall saved my life and later took me through years of campaigning, allowing me to become one of the hall's four war gods."

"These past few years, I have searched many places for Brother Ye's whereabouts. But the Ye family is too powerful. Even as a war god, I am powerless against them, and to this day I still do not know how Brother Ye is faring," Gu Yanzong said helplessly.

"And my mother?"

Gu Yanzong lowered his voice. "Old Mister Ghost Hand spoke to me and told me not to interfere or inquire about your mother. I think he must have his reasons for that instruction."

Ye Tiansi cupped his fists toward Gu Yanzong. "Thank you, Uncle Gu, for telling me all this."

"Tiansi, I suspect there is a great hidden hand behind all of this. Otherwise, Old Mister Ghost Hand would not have acted so strangely. Though you are now the sect master of Heavenly Gate, Heavenly Gate has been silent for over ten years and is no longer as powerful as it once was."

"If you join the God of War Hall, with your abilities, you could quickly grow into an important figure there."

"By then, with both the Heavenly Gate and the God of War Hall behind you, it will be much easier to investigate your parents' whereabouts."

Ye Tiansi nodded. Gu Yanzong smiled and asked, "Can you accept my invitation now?"

Ye Tiansi blinked, the corners of his mouth lifting into a faint smile. "Uncle Gu, the day after tomorrow is the seventieth birthday of the head of the Qi family, Qi Changling. I plan to pay him a birthday visit. By then, I will give you my answer."

"Good. Then you must not go back on your word."

With that, Gu Yanzong took out a token and handed it to Ye Tiansi. "This is my South King Token. In the God of War Hall, apart from the Hall Master and the other three war gods, anyone who sees my South King Token must obey it."

"Take it."

Ye Tiansi put away the token, and Gu Yanzong turned and left.

A moment later, Tang Qiong returned to the room.

At once, she spotted the South King Token in Ye Tiansi's hand, and her face was full of astonishment. "Sect Master, the South King actually gave you his token?"

"Just a token. What's so strange about that?" Ye Tiansi said with a faint smile.

"Sect Master, you may not yet understand the importance of the South King Token, nor grasp the South King's intentions," Tang Qiong said, still shaken.