Qin Chuan and Qin Yao both used a lot of strength in their hugs and involuntarily patted Qin Wentian's back as they stated with gratification, "It's good that you've returned, it's good that you've returned."
"Father, this son is unfilial. It has been so many years, yet I hadn't return to pay you a visit." Qin Wentian felt some guilt and remorse when he saw Qin Chuan.
"You have to pursue the martial path outside, everything is fine at home, there's nothing for you to long about here." Qin Chuan released Qin Wentian from his hug yet Qin Yao was reluctant to do so, she was still tightly embracing this brother of hers.
"Sis, let me see if you have put on weight." Qin Wentian lowered his head and stared at the eyes of Qin Yao which tears are flowing from. Amidst the low-sounding shriek of Qin Yao, Qin Wentian swung her behind his back in a piggyback. His actions causing Qin Yao to glare at him, yet soon after, a heart-warming smile flashed on her face.
"Sis, you are still as slim as ever, there's no pressure on me at all." Qin Wentian teased before putting Qin Yao back on the ground. He then asked, "Have I a chance to meet my brother-in-law yet?"
"Go to hell! You came back just to tease me? My little brother is so outstanding, how can I ever fall in love with ordinary people? But as for you, you better be honest now, did you bring a girl back?" Qin Yao pointed her finger at Qin Wentian. Although the two of them hadn't met each other for ten years, they were still as close as ever. The bond between them wouldn't fade with the passing of time, the instant Qin Yao and Qin Wentian saw each other, they seemed to have been transported back to the time of their youths, as close as ever to each other.
They were carefree and without worries back then. Both capable of laughing without restraint.
"Mhm, I brought a sister-in-law back for you. This time around, I still need to trouble father to help me to propose a marriage," Qin Wentian smiled.
"For real?" Qin Yao started.
"Wentian, is what you saying true?" Qin Chuan was also shocked.
"Father, sister, you guys don't need to suspect me like this right?" Qin Wentian shrugged.
"Where is she from? Why didn't you bring her over to our home?" Qin Chuan asked.
"She just came back to Chu and initially, she wanted to come back with me but I told her to stay with her family instead," Qin Wentian replied.
"A woman from Chu?" Qin Chuan and Qin Yao spoke at the same time as they exchanged glances. Qin Yao then laughed, "What a good fellow. Tell me now, is my future sister-in-law, the then number one beauty in Chu, Mo Qingcheng?"
"Sis, you are too intelligent." Qin Wentian smiled as he admitted, his words causing Qin Chuan to laugh uproariously. "Fine, I knew long ago you would definitely succeed in pursuing her. You have truly accomplished it. When do you want me to propose? I will go make the arrangement to move out right away."
"Father, why are you so agitated?" Qin Wentian shook his head as he bitterly smiled. Asking Qin Chuan to propose was a sign of respect to elders of both clans. Qin Wentian naturally hoped for his wedding to be as perfect as possible.
Bai Qingsong and Autumn Snow, who were standing by the side, couldn't help but feel their hearts filled with sorrow and regret when they heard the news that Qin Wentian was about to get married. Even the light in Autumn Snow's eyes dimmed as she recalled that back then, she was one of the top few females in the Sky Harmony City and because of a chance to marry into the Ye Clan, she ended the relationship between herself and Qin Wentian. In the blink of an eye, ten years passed. Only then did she discover that how narrow her and her father's judgement was back then.
Time could truly changed a lot of things. Initially, their vision only saw Chu. But to the present Qin Wentian, even the entire Grand Xia couldn't restrict him.
"Wentian, congrats!" Bai Qingsong still offered his blessings despite the feeling of regret in his heart.
"Many thanks Uncle Bai." Qin Wentian nodded to Bai Qingsong. After which, he turned to Autumn Snow, "Are you doing well?"
Staring at the bright and clean eyes of Qin Wentian that flickered with smiles as they gazed upon her, Autumn Snow actually felt an unknown panic, she didn't dare to meet Qin Wentian's eyes hence she merely nodded her head in silence.
Right now, Autumn Snow was no longer the young girl she had been. However, she was still as beautiful and now her beauty had hints of a matureness in it.
"Autumn Snow, Father hasn't finished his game of chess yet?" A voice drifted over. After which, a young man around thirty years of age walked in. This person was instantly stunned as he saw the handsome-looking silhouette before Autumn Snow. After that, he walked to the side of Autumn Snow and linked his arms with her. Although his face was filled with a smile, Qin Wentian could faintly sense a hint of enmity in the eyes of this young man.
Autumn Snow stiffened, as her body spasmed somewhat awkwardly at this coincidence. Although her relationship with Qin Wentian was long severed, she still couldn't achieve a heart as calm as water when facing him.
"Autumn Snow, what's wrong?" That young man asked gently.
"Nothing." Autumn Snow shook her head as a strange glow flashed in the young man's eyes. He then smiled at Qin Wentian, "Hi, how do you do? My name is Bu Xiao, I came from the Greencloud Imperial Empire and Autumn Snow is my fiancee."
"My name is Qin Wentian." Qin Wentian naturally understood where the enmity in this young man's eyes came from. He paid no attention to it and smiled, "I'm a friend of Autumn Snow."
"Uncle Bai, Autumn Snow, congratulations too." Qin Wentian smiled. Autumn Snow lowered her head, feeling extremely complex in her heart.
Bai Qingsong stared at Bu Xiao before turning to glance at Qin Wentian. Although a smile was on his face, he sighed again in his heart. The Greencloud Imperial Empire? Although they had ten countries under them and was the direct subordinate of the Greencloud Pavilion, Bai Qingsong knew the true reason of why the Nine Mystical Palace was destroyed. Even if the current master of the Greencloud Pavilion was here, he wouldn't dare to show any disrespect once he knew of Qin Wentian's identity.
"Brother Qin is the son of Wu King?" Bu Xiao asked.
"Mhm." Qin Wentian nodded and after which, Bu Xiao's smile flashed with understanding. Merely the son of the Wu King? He truly didn't understand why the status of this man would make Autumn Snow feel this way.
"Right now, the Chu Country is a country under the Greencloud Imperial Empire. If Brother Qin is interested in expanding his horizons, I, Bu, is more than willing to arrange the position of a government official for brother Qin." Bu Xiao laughed, his words causing the others here to be dumbstruck. Was this Bu Xiao intentionally trying to show off in front of Qin Wentian?
"Many thanks for the well intentions of Brother Xiao. However, I, Qin, don't have any interest in that." Qin Wentian smiled as he shook his head. Bu Xiao then added, "Ah, that's truly a pity."
"Alright Brother Qin Chuan, we will drop by next time and shall make a move first." Right now, in order to avoid any more awkwardness, Bai Qingsong initiated to leave. Qin Chuan naturally had no objections to it.
"Who is that Bu Xiao?" Qin Wentian stared at Qin Chuan as he asked.
"He's a high-ranking military officer of the troops the Greencloud Imperial Empire stationed in Chu. His father is a general of the Greencloud Imperial Empire and right now, the Greencloud Imperial Empire has control over the countries which used to be under the administration of the Nine Mystical Palace. They are stepping in, and enforcing their rule even more strictly." Qin Chuan shook his head. However, he couldn't be bothered with this thing.
Qin Wentian frowned when he heard Qin Chuan's words. Back then, he allied with the Greencloud Pavilion to destroy the Nine Mystical Palace. After which, he didn't even mind when the Greencloud Pavilion took over the territories which belonged to the Nine Mystical Palace. But the Greencloud Pavilion should know very well that his hometown was in Chu, did they not instruct the Greencloud Imperial Empire properly? Let's hope that he's thinking too much about this.
"Wentian, after all these years, how have you been doing when you were roaming the world? Quickly tell me some stories." Qin Yao pulled on Qin Wentian's arm as she smiled.
"Sis, just like before, you love my company too much, right?" Qin Wentian teased as he continued, "Wait for me, let me go pay respect to foster-mother and the other uncles first."
"Mhm, that's only natural. Let's talk as we move, I will get mother to prepare the most deliciously scrumptious meal ever for you." Qin Yao pranced about while leading the way. Qin Chuan followed behind both of them. When he saw how deep the bond between this pair of siblings was, he couldn't help but shake his head as warmth flooded his heart.
"It's about time for our family to eat a reunion dinner." Qin Chuan clasped his hands behind his back as he hummed a melody. It has been a long long time since he was in such high spirits.
It was inevitable for the Qin Residence to be extremely lively today. After that, they still had to prepare to head over to the Mo Residence to formally propose a marriage.
Qin Chuan, Qin He and Qin Ye, even his cousins Qin Shang and Qin Zhi also arrived. Right now, both his cousins were already married. Qin Shang even had a six-year old daughter named Qin Xin.
Back then in the chaotic battles of Chu, Qin He and Qin Ye were both injured, and after that, they wanted nothing more for their children to start a family. Qin He won the race, he was the first to become a grandfather.
"Xin`er, quickly call me Uncle." Qin Wentian hugged Qin Xin as Qin Yao teased the lovely child. Qin Xin was a beautiful child whose looks somewhat resembled a porcelain doll.
"Uncle!" Qin Xin's child-like voice rang out, causing Qin Wentian to laugh happily as he tenderly pinched her cheeks. Qin Yao by the side went silly-eyed as she spoke, "Back then you did this to me, now you are doing the same thing to our niece!"
"This is called a form of doting." Qin Wentian laughed, causing Qin Yao to roll her eyes. A young brother pinching the cheeks of his elder sister, can that even be called 'doting'?
"Uncle, why hasn't Xin`er seen you before?" Qin Xin's arms hugged Qin Wentian's neck, she seemed to like this uncle of hers a lot. She felt that the eyes of her uncle were very nice to look at, much cleaner and more beautiful compared to her parents.
"Uncle went to a far away place, I only came back just today," Qin Wentian smiled.
"Oh? A very far away place? Is it fun there?" Xin Qin's little eyes shimmered with a light, filled with childlike curiosity.
"Of course, it's very fun there!"
"Then, can uncle bring Xin`er there to play?"
"Of course, Uncle shall bring Xin`er to wherever she wants to play." Qin Wentian stared at the innocent Qin Xin as he felt a warmth coursing through his heart. He then called out, "Big brother Qin Shang, you are really so blessed."
"You quickly go have a child of your own. Wentian, your wife is the number one beauty in Chu, Mo Qingcheng. If the child born to you both is a daughter, I wonder how beautiful she would be." Qin Shang now had already matured. When he stared at the bearing of Qin Wentian, he knew how talented his younger brother was. Qin Wentian would definitely have extraordinary accomplishments in the future.
"It's still too early for me." Qin Wentian smiled and shook his head. He was truly fond of little Qin Xin but if he had a child of his own, he would have an attachment that he had to fulfil. If he roamed the world outside, he would no longer have the same mentality as he has now.
"Brother Qin Shang, I wish to bring Xin`er out to Chu to play. Is it possible for me to do so?" Qin Wentian laughed.
"Xin`er is still so young, would she be unused to traveling?" Qin Shang's wife was very young, only around twenty five to twenty six of age and was also a beauty in her own right.
"Mother, Xin`er likes Uncle a lot, there will be no problems." Xin`er sat on Qin Wentian's knee, she had already bonded with Qin Wentian on such a deep level.
"Of course there's no problem. Xin`er, do not throw tantrums or make any trouble for your uncle when he brings you out to play, okay?" Qin Shang stared at his daughter as he warned in a stern tone. Since Qin Wentian wants to bring Xin`er out to play, he was worried that Xin`er would be too mischievous to handle.
"Mhm. Wentian, this little doll is extremely naughty at times. If you find her troublesome, just send her back to our residence." Qin Shang pinched his wife's hands lightly, hinting to her not to disagree. After all, this was the first time his wife has met Qin Wentian. How could she be willing to entrust their daughter to someone she has never met before. It was only normal that she would be worried.
Qin Wentian also naturally understood this point. The reason why he wanted to bring Qin Xin out to play was actually because he planned to adjust Qin Xin's constitution. Seeing how young Qin Xin was, her energy channels and meridians weren't 'fixed' yet, it was easier to adjust now compared to after she has grown up.
Back then when the Ye Clan brought their men to kill him, his uncle Qin He, the father of Qin Shang, had walked out to draw attention away and faced the danger for him. Qin Wentian could never forget the back view of Qin He back then. This debt of gratitude was something he had to repay and what's more, he was also truly fond of this little doll Qin Xin!
Author's Note:
I've read through the comments of many readers and I have something to say. In fact, Wuhen (author), is more proficient in writing fighting scenes and the events which builds up the climax. These emotions that I want to portray took a long time and much effort for me to plan before I wrote them out. Although this is a Xuanhuan novel, Wuhen hopes for my readers to read a story with flesh and blood that are filled with emotions rather than an empty husk of a story with fights and more fights of hot-bloodedness. Brothers and sisters, tell me how do you all feel regarding this way of writing?
Translator's Thoughts Lordbluefire
Translator's Note:
Although some readers might feel that these few chapters are filler content, interactions with characters of the past are something the authors of many chinese Xuanhuan novels failed to even consider about. Just like what the author has stated, he wants to write a story of flesh and blood. All I can say is that this arc of family and kinship now is a build up for an even more explosive climax in the future. This is the second last story arc before he (Qin Wentian) heads to the immortal realms.