Urban Seduction: Housewives Club Chapter 2214 - 535: Saving the Uncle-in-Law 4

"My designation is Wang Yue. It is an honor to make your acquaintance," Wang Yue stated, offering a formal cupped-hand salute. His straightforward introduction quickly dispelled the lingering unease Yang Lin had felt.

Once Yang Lin had finished his explanation, the heavy atmosphere lifted. The cautious gazes of the elders softened into warmth, tinged with a hint of deep appreciation.

The man at the forefront returned the gesture. "A pleasure to meet you, young hero Wang. I am Yang Guang, the current Patriarch of Yang Village. Words cannot express my gratitude for your life-saving intervention.

"You are too kind, Patriarch," Wang Yue responded courteously. "It was a minor deed."

"Perhaps minor to a man of your exceptional abilities, but to my son, it was a debt of life itself," Yang Guang insisted, bowing slightly once more before gesturing towards the village.

"Please, allow us to continue this conversation indoors."

The father and son then guided Wang Yue into a modest courtyard.

Despite holding the position of Patriarch, Yang Guang’s residence was indistinguishable from any other dwelling in the village—a fact that only amplified Wang Yue’s respect for the man.

The remainder of the group followed close behind. While their hearts were filled with genuine thankfulness for the savior of their young master, their minds also buzzed with curiosity about this young cultivator.

Although they could not precisely ascertain his level of Qi cultivation, his physical build suggested he was certainly under the age of twenty.

To have rescued Yang Lin from a beast at the peak of the Transcendence realm and to have earned the title of "Senior" from him, this youngster had to possess a cultivation level at least equivalent to his own.

They couldn’t help but wonder what kind of colossal organization could possibly nurture such a prodigy at such a tender age.

As the house was rather cramped for their entire party, Yang Guang had his household staff bring out over a dozen chairs. The group then made themselves comfortable in the courtyard to keep Wang Yue company.

"Young hero Wang," Yang Guang began, his voice imbued with profound sincerity, "such a monumental kindness cannot be repaid with mere platitudes. Should you ever find yourself in need of anything, do not hesitate to ask. While I cannot pledge for the entire Yang clan, my son and I will move heaven and earth to assist you."

"Now, Patriarch, that won’t do," one of the other elders, who had also achieved Transcendence, interjected without missing a beat. "Young hero Wang saved our future Patriarch; he is a benefactor to our entire village. If he has but a single request, we are all prepared to lend our aid."

"Precisely!" echoed the others, their heads nodding in unanimous agreement.

Wang Yue observed them intently.

Thanks to the exceptional purity of his True Qi, he could perceive every minute fluctuation in their spiritual energy and decipher the subtle nuances of their expressions. He recognized that their sincerity was absolute—not a shred of deceit could be detected within the confines of the yard.

This was a rare discovery indeed. In his extensive experience, vast factions were typically breeding grounds for scheming and internecine power struggles.

Even his own family back in Jinling would not have exhibited such profound harmony had fate not designated him as the sole male heir. Yet, the notion of "moral decay" clearly did not extend to the inhabitants of Yang Village.

While they were speaking, Wang Yue subtly extended his divine sense, allowing it to permeate the entire village.

Given the settlement’s modest size, the process took mere moments. He did not locate any woman whose features resembled his mother’s, nor even anyone who bore even a passing likeness.

A shadow of doubt and growing concern flickered across his mind. The Yang family, unaware of his true purpose, could not possibly have orchestrated her disappearance.

If she was not present here, could some unfortunate incident have befallen her years ago?

The gloom in his heart intensified. He set aside the polite niceties and proceeded directly to the crux of the matter.

"To be perfectly candid, I did come here with a specific request. My encounter with Brother Yang Lin was not a matter of chance; I was already en route to seek out the Yang family."

"Oh?" Yang Guang inquired, a spark of interest in his eyes. "And what pressing business does the young hero Wang have with our modest family?"

"Permit me to reintroduce myself," Wang Yue stated, his expression turning grave. "I am Wang Yue, a member of the Wang family—one of the three esteemed Great Families of Jinling."

"The three Great Families of Jinling?" Yang Guang and the others exchanged puzzled glances. It was evident that this name held no significance in this region, or perhaps it was a title they had long since consigned to memory.

Wang Yue felt a fleeting sting of embarrassment but pressed onward. "My mother is Su Mengyan. She possesses a twin sister, named Su Mengchen."

"What?! You are Mengchen’s nephew?!"

The reaction was immediate and overwhelming. Several men actually sprang to their feet from their chairs, and Yang Lin’s gaze shifted towards Wang Yue, now filled with an unfathomable complexity.

"So, you do recall her?" Wang Yue inquired, his eyes narrowing slightly. A cold, dangerous edge entered his voice.

His aunt had been sent to this place at the tender age of six; their astonished reactions confirmed this much at least.

However, if she was no longer in the village at this present time, the most probable explanation was that something untoward had occurred.

While it might not necessarily be the Yangs’ culpability, Wang Yue had a propensity for misdirecting his anger—his fierce loyalty to family invariably superseded cold logic.

"We definitely recall her," Yang Guang responded, a somber smile gracing his lips. "To be frank, my son, Yang Lin, was the one who was promised to her in marriage."

Wang Yue’s eyes widened in astonishment. He hadn’t anticipated that by rescuing an unknown stranger, he would inadvertently be saving his own prospective relative by marriage. Fate truly spun a peculiar web.

However, his mind wasn't on coincidences; it was focused on his aunt. "Then where is she now?"

"She vanished," Yang Guang stated, his tone steeped in sorrow. "Shortly after her arrival at the Yang estate, she was taken by the Mystic Maiden Palace."

"Taken? They abducted her!" one of the middle-aged Yang clan members exclaimed, indignation coloring his words.

Wang Yue’s brow creased. "Could you elaborate on what transpired?"

"It’s a rather long and complicated story..." Yang Guang let out a sigh, commencing the narrative that began over three decades prior.

At that time, Yang Guang, who had not yet ascended to the position of Patriarch, had ventured out into the world on a personal venture.

Having been raised in the tranquil environment of Yang Village, he was woefully unprepared for the ruthless realities of the secular world and soon found himself in dire straits. It was then that he encountered Su Yixuan, who extricated him from several precarious situations, leading to the formation of their friendship.

Upon learning that Yang Guang was a high-ranking member of a martial arts Sacred Land and possessed a son who was ten years old, Su Yixuan immediately conceived a plan to cement their families' ties through a marriage alliance.

Although the Yang clan adhered to traditions, they did not endorse forced unions. Nevertheless, Yang Guang, being young and inexperienced in declining a friend's request, gave his consent.

His initial intention was to visit the Su family and devise a plausible reason to dissolve the engagement. However, upon beholding the six-year-old girl, he was immediately captivated by her extraordinary talent. Consequently, he decided to proceed with the arranged marriage.

When the young girl finally arrived in Yang Village, a wave of joy swept through the clan. Not only was her potential astonishing, but she was also a charming and well-behaved child, quickly endearing herself to everyone. Yang Lin, then ten years old, treated her as if she were his own younger sister.

It was only much later that the family discerned the girl Su Yixuan had presented was not the one Yang Guang had initially met, but rather her identical twin. However, given that both young ladies displayed comparable brilliance, the deception was accepted.

Yang Guang also eventually discovered that Su Yixuan had coerced Su Mengyan into becoming a child bride, disregarding her wishes and those of others, solely to secure the matrimonial connection.

His regard for Su Yixuan diminished significantly, and he severed all contact.

He even contemplated taking the other twin under his protection as well, to shield her from such a father. Yet, understanding that Su Mengchen had made a sacrifice so her sister could remain with their mother, he ultimately refrained from interfering further.

The arrival of a disciple possessing such remarkable talent was indeed a cause for immense celebration. The Yangs extended invitations to esteemed guests from other Sacred Lands, and envy radiated from all who attended. For a period, the village was enveloped in an atmosphere of pure delight.

Yet, this tranquility proved ephemeral. Word of the girl's exceptional abilities circulated rapidly among the influential circles of the Sacred Lands.

A year hence, a formidable practitioner from the Mystic Maiden Palace made an appearance.

After rigorously assessing Su Mengchen’s aptitude, they unceremoniously escorted her away, leaving behind only a cache of cultivation resources as a purported form of 'recompense.' This event transpired nearly twenty-nine years ago.

Wang Yue’s frown deepened considerably. "If you are both considered Sacred Lands, did the Yang family simply acquiesce without resistance?"

"What other recourse did we possess?" Yang Guang responded with a mirthless chuckle. "Just as the secular world has its strata of power, so too do the Sacred Lands possess their ranks. The Yang family commands respect, but the Mystic Maiden Palace stands among the Ten Supreme Powers."

"The Ten Supreme Powers?" This information was entirely new to Wang Yue.

"Indeed," Yang Guang elaborated, providing further details.

"It comprises the One Palace, Two Halls, Three Sects, and Four Families. The designation 'One Palace' refers to the Mystic Maiden Palace. The 'Two Halls' are known as the God of War Hall and the Beast God Hall. The 'Three Sects' include the Lingxiao, Elysium, and Fast Blade Sects. Lastly, the 'Four Families' are the Liu, Li, Zhao, and Zhu clans."

"So, the Mystic Maiden Palace holds the premier position amongst the Supremes?"

A heavy feeling settled in Wang Yue’s chest. He had witnessed the formidable strength of the Yang family today—and they were likely concealing their ultimate capabilities—yet even they had been powerless. If his desire to bring his aunt back was to be realized, would it prove to be an insurmountable objective?

"Not precisely. The ranking of the Ten Supreme Powers is not strictly based on martial strength," Yang Guang clarified.

"That particular order is merely for rhetorical effect. It is widely rumored that the Beast God Hall is, in actuality, the most potent, but their notoriously unfavorable reputation prevents them from being placed at the apex."

Wang Yue leaned forward, his interest piqued. "And the Mystic Maiden Palace? What is their general reputation? Are they perceived as righteous or malevolent?"