After a pause, Yun Yun continued, "Still… I think you should bring Yanran with you. This is, after all, her engagement.
It may reflect poorly on our sect if you go alone."
Ye Chen hesitated.
That… would be difficult.
"Teacher, Yanran… might not be able to travel right now."
Yun Yun tilted her head. "What do you mean? Is she unwell?"
A knowing light gleamed in her eyes. "Have the two of you… gone too far in recent days? I warned you about overindulgence…"
Ye Chen cleared his throat and scratched the back of his head. "That's not it. She's… she's pregnant."
Yun Yun blinked.
Then her eyes slowly widened.
"Oh…"
She set her teacup down very gently.
There was a moment of total silence in the hall.
Pregnant.
So soon?
Yun Yun had suspected as much, but hearing it confirmed still made her heart jolt.
That girl… she'd truly stepped into adulthood.
And Ye Chen… he had crossed the line, and now there was no turning back.
Yun Yun sighed softly, rubbing her temples.
"You two are truly… reckless."
But beneath the exasperation in her tone, there was also a hint of something else.....resignation, perhaps. Or quiet acceptance.
After all, what was done, was done.
And if the child growing inside Yanran carried Ye Chen's bloodline… then so be it.
Perhaps… this was fate.
"Take care of her," Yun Yun finally said. "Don't let her feel neglected, not even for a day."
Ye Chen's expression turned solemn. "I will, Teacher. I promise."
Yun Yun's sigh lingered in the air like a wisp of cloud.
For a long moment, she stared into her teacup, as if seeking answers at the bottom.
"Pregnant…" she murmured again, this time softer—less as a rebuke, more as a reflection of how swiftly time had changed everything.
Her proud disciple, once a quiet girl barely stepping into her cultivation path, had now become a mother-to-be.
And the man responsible was sitting right in front of her...her own successor, the one she had groomed with care and trust.
Was she angry? A little. But more than that… she was worried.
"Feng'er…" Yun Yun said quietly, dropping all pretense of sternness. "Do you understand what this means?"
Ye Chen looked up. "Yes, Teacher. I'll take full responsibility."
Yun Yun shook her head lightly. "I'm not talking about responsibility. I'm asking if you're ready.
Ready to protect her. To raise that child. To face what may come."
She rose from her seat and stepped toward him, standing just a few feet away.
"You may think this is only about the Xiao Clan and an engagement.
But this… this is the start of a new chapter in your life.
Once you set foot outside these walls, you are no longer acting only as Yunlan Sect's disciple.
You are acting as someone's husband… and someone's father."
Ye Chen lowered his head. "I know. That's why I must go."
He clenched his fists.
"I can't let anyone insult Yanran. And I won't allow her child..our child....to enter the world burdened by some absurd old engagement."
Yun Yun studied him closely. What she saw was no longer the impetuous boy from years past, nor the cheeky disciple who once tested her patience.
Standing before her now was a man—resolute, steady, and unflinching in his choices.
Her heart softened.
She reached out and placed a hand gently on his shoulder.
"…Go then. Go and settle it."
Ye Chen looked up, eyes shining with gratitude.
"But," Yun Yun continued, her tone turning serious once more, "you must be careful.
The Xiao Clan may not take this lightly. Even if they are weak now, humiliating them too harshly could provoke unnecessary enemies. Always remember—you represent Yunlan Sect."
"I understand."
She smiled faintly. "And when it's over… bring her back safely. Both of them."
"I promise, Teacher."
Yun Yun finally let her hand fall and turned away.
As she walked back toward her seat, her voice floated gently across the hall.
"Don't forget to tell Yanran… I expect her to start cultivating again soon.
A child is no excuse to slack off. If she wants to become Sect Mistress in the future, she can't rely on you for everything."
Ye Chen couldn't help but smile. "Yes, Teacher."
He turned and walked out of the hall, his steps firm and confident.
The stars above Yunlan Mountain sparkled quietly.
Back in the quiet eastern courtyard, Nalan Yanran sat beside a lotus pond, gazing at the moon's reflection in the water.
Her hand rested gently over her abdomen. She could sense it faintly now....the little pulse of life within.
She wasn't afraid anymore.
Because he had promised to protect her. And she believed in him.
A breeze rustled the trees. A shadow appeared behind her.
She didn't turn....she didn't need to.
"You told her?" she asked softly.
Ye Chen nodded. "I did."
She lowered her head. "Was she angry?"
Ye Chen knelt beside her, lifting her hand into his. "She was… disappointed. But not surprised."
Yanran let out a breath, her shoulders easing slightly.
"And now?"
"She's letting me go. I leave in three days."
There was a pause.
"Take me with you," Yanran whispered.
Ye Chen looked at her, eyes filled with tenderness. "You can't travel now. It's too dangerous. I'll settle this. Alone."
She bit her lip. "But I want to stand with you."
He cupped her face gently. "You already are."
Their lips met under the moonlight, soft and lingering—filled with silent promises.
After a while, Ye Chen leaned his forehead against hers and murmured, "Rest.
You and our child are my greatest treasures now. I'll protect you both… no matter what."
Nalan Yanran's eyes shimmered.
She didn't speak. She didn't need to.
In that moment, nothing more needed to be said.
.......
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