Chapter 72: Ye Xixi
The young girl's attire was clearly of the highest quality, even finer than what Ye Wen and Ah Yin wore, suggesting her association with a prominent noble family. Yet her once elegant clothes were now torn and dirty, indicating she had endured a difficult journey. When she mentioned she was an auxiliary spirit master who had become separated from her group, the reason for her disheveled state became apparent.
High ranking spirit master families often held noble titles, recognized by the empire according to the strength of the family's most powerful spirit master. Despite her worn appearance, traces of a Nine Heart Begonia symbol could be glimpsed on the fabric of her clothing. Calmly sipping his soup, Ye Wen gave the girl an untroubled look. With no enmity between them, he saw no reason to fear any hidden schemes.
"Young lady, are you from the Ye family of the Nine Heart Begonia?" he asked.
The girl nodded, looking a little sad.
"Come, sit down," Ye Wen said, gesturing to a seat. "Looks like the ruckus earlier today was due to your family running into that King Kong Gorilla. You've had a run of bad luck, haven't you? Encountering such a high level spirit beast."
The warmth in Ye Wen's voice seemed to soothe her anxiety, and she approached hesitantly, finally taking a seat nearby. Ah Yin kindly ladled a bowl of hot soup for her, which she accepted with a delicate nod and sipped gracefully, her noble bearing shining through despite her bedraggled state. Watching her, Ye Wen was reminded of his past life's classmates from wealthy families, all meticulously raised.
"Your name?" he asked casually, stirring the campfire embers.
"Ye Xixi."
"Would you like to freshen up? You must feel uncomfortable with all that dirt on you."
"Thank you," she murmured politely.
"Ah Yin, could you help her?"
"Of course."
Nearby, a secluded valley held a clear, warm spring that Ye Wen had heated in advance for Ah Yin's comfort. While Ye Wen could go a few days without a bath if necessary, Ah Yin, with her refined nature, preferred to stay fresh and clean.
Women took their time bathing, and even after half an hour, Ye Wen could still hear Ah Yin and Ye Xixi chatting and laughing in the distance. Just then, he heard approaching footsteps from the underbrush, and Ye Wen turned warily toward the sound.
A massive, broad shouldered man with a bushy beard and mane like hair emerged from the shadows, looking very much like a lion. Behind him stood a young man with a bruised cheek and a dignified woman. Neither Ye Wen nor the new arrivals spoke at first, each sizing the other up. After a moment, the burly man broke the silence.
"Hey, kid, have you seen a girl about fifteen or sixteen years old around here?"
"Senior Chen Gang?" Ye Wen replied.
The man frowned. Indeed, he was Chen Gang, the Lion King Spirit Douluo who had fought the King Kong Gorilla earlier. But he had no recollection of meeting Ye Wen. "Who are you?"
Ye Wen gave him a calm smile, gesturing to a nearby chair. "Please, sit, Senior. No need to stand while we talk."
Chen Gang sat down, his eyes fixed on Ye Wen with a hint of suspicion, while the young man and woman followed suit.
"It's only natural that you don't know me, Senior. I've merely read about you in some records. That display earlier today made it hard for anyone to miss the fact that the famous Lion King Chen Gang was nearby. As for the girl you're looking for, she's with my wife, freshening up in a nearby valley. She should be back soon."
Chen Gang remained unfazed by Ye Wen's polite praise he was used to flattery as a powerful Spirit Douluo. But hearing that his daughter, Ye Xixi, was nearby helped put his mind at ease.
"Thank you."
In the perilous Sunset Forest, trust was a rare commodity among spirit masters, and it was no small thing for Ye Wen to have welcomed his daughter and ensured her safety. Chen Gang, who had seen his share of vile spirit masters, knew well the horrors his daughter could have faced.
"Have you eaten, Senior? I have some extra bread here if you'd like," Ye Wen offered.
Only then did Chen Gang and his companions realize they had skipped their meal in their search for Ye Xixi. Accepting the bread gratefully, they began chatting with Ye Wen.
After a while, Ah Yin and Ye Xixi finally returned to the camp.
"Father! Mother!"
Freshly bathed and in high spirits, Ye Xixi was momentarily overcome with emotion upon seeing her family. She dashed over to embrace her mother, Ye Yingying, tears welling up in her eyes. Chen Gang's face softened with relief, though he gave his son, Chen Lie, a light smack on the head, knowing that his son had failed to protect his sister.
Chen Lie's eyes, however, were drawn to Ah Yin, who exuded a graceful aura even more striking now. Despite the pain of his father's smack, he couldn't help but stare, his expression as if in a trance.
Ye Wen chuckled, knowing Ah Yin's charm was irresistible, and introduced her, "This is my wife, Ah Yin."
This reminder jolted Chen Gang, realizing that they had yet to introduce themselves properly. With a dignified tone, he said, "I am Chen Gang of the Nine Heart Begonia family. This is my wife, Ye Yingying, and my son, Chen Lie. You've already met my daughter."
(Note: According to the original Douluo Dalu lore, in prestigious spirit master families, children whose spirits match that of the mother's family are often registered under the mother's family name to preserve lineage, as is the case here. Later, this rule is seen taken to extreme lengths in the Body Sect, where anyone with a body spirit is forcibly absorbed into the sect.)
"I'm Ye Wen, head of Tianxing Advanced Spirit Master Academy."
This revelation visibly shocked the Nine Heart Begonia family. They hadn't expected that this mild mannered young man was the same Ye Wen whose theories had become famous across the continent.
"We're honored to meet you, Master Ye Wen," Chen Gang said, surprised. If Ye Wen had merely been an ordinary spirit master, Chen Gang would have been courteous but casual. Knowing now that this was the renowned spirit theory master with titles from both empires, however, he regarded Ye Wen with newfound respect.
"The honor is mine, Senior Chen. Your strength is widely admired," Ye Wen replied.
With this, the conversation turned to the polite exchanges and mutual admiration characteristic of adults in powerful circles. Ah Yin, however, could barely stifle her yawns, and soon, Ye Yingying and her daughter excused themselves, exhausted from their ordeal and eager for rest. They retired to the tents, leaving the three men on night watch.
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