Ye Tian had suspected that Ye Weitian might ask about Elder Qing. Ye Feifei didn't know much herself, so it was possible she hadn't told him anything at all.
"Patriarch, there are some things I don't quite know how to explain to you at the moment. You only need to know one thing: Elder Qing is my subordinate. His duty is to protect me, which naturally makes Feifei his Young Madam," Ye Tian said after a moment of thought.
Ye Weitian didn't want to pressure Ye Tian. To have a supreme expert as a subordinate meant his identity must be extraordinary. 'Perhaps he's the young master of some Sect or a great family. His surname, Ye, might even be fake.' What he couldn't figure out, however, was why he would choose a small place like the Ye Family. He could rack his brains and still not come up with an answer.
Ye Feifei and Ye Tian clearly saw the suspicion on Ye Weitian's face, but neither wanted to explain further. Ye Tian possessed the Dragon Pearl, while she had the Divine Phoenix Feather. If knowledge of either item got out, it would be a world-shaking secret.
'It wasn't that I don't trust my own father,' Ye Feifei thought. 'But some things are better left unknown. It would just be a heavy burden on him. I don't want Father to worry about Ye Tian and me, or live in fear of our secrets being discovered.'
"Father, I know you still have many questions, but it's actually for the best that you don't know certain things right now. When the time is right, you'll understand everything," Ye Feifei said.
"Fine, I won't pry into that anymore. However, there's another matter that I need an answer from you on, Ye Tian," Ye Weitian said, glancing at him.
"Patriarch, what answer do you need from me?" Ye Tian asked, somewhat puzzled.
"When do you plan to be betrothed to Feifei? She has already given her entire self to you. Feifei is my only daughter. Her mother passed away from complications shortly after giving birth to her. I don't want to see my daughter get hurt in any way," Ye Weitian said with a very serious expression.
Ye Tian hadn't expected this to be the answer he was looking for. He replied at once, "Patriarch, please don't worry. My strength is still lacking right now, so it would be too early and too hasty to get engaged to Feifei. When I'm powerful enough one day, I will be sure to give her the grandest of weddings."
"So what you're saying is, you're refusing?" Ye Weitian's expression changed, a hint of anger coloring his tone.
Before Ye Tian could reply, Ye Feifei cut in, "Father, don't make things difficult for Brother Tian. You're not entirely unaware of his status. I'm more than content just to be by his side. As for whether I have a formal title someday, I really haven't given it much thought."
"A daughter will always leave the nest..." Ye Weitian sighed in frustration. "You're just letting him off the hook, don't you see? Even if he's a member of the Royal Family, he must give you a proper title. You're not less than any other woman, do you understand?"
"Patriarch, regardless of my status, I will always treat Feifei well. Please, trust me! Time will prove everything," Ye Tian declared.
After a long pause, Ye Weitian finally relented. "Fine. But remember what you said today. If you ever dare to do anything to wrong her, I will hunt you down even if it costs me my life!"
Ye Tian and Ye Feifei exchanged a glance, unsure of what to say. Not wanting to put Ye Tian in a more difficult position, Ye Feifei said, "Father, let's drop this for now. It's getting late, and we should go back and prepare. We'll be leaving in a few days."
"Go on, then. Close the door on your way out," Ye Weitian said simply.
Ye Tian and Ye Feifei quickly left the room. 'This is honestly more stressful than fighting a supreme expert,' Ye Tian thought. Beads of sweat had even formed on his forehead.
"Brother Tian, are you okay? My father didn't really mean it like that. Please don't be angry with him," Ye Feifei said at once.
"Feifei, I understand. Don't you worry," Ye Tian said with a smile. "If I'm not good to you, who else would I be good to? Just focus on resting for the next two days. Get your energy up so you're not exhausted on the road."
They each returned to their rooms, but with very different things on their minds.
「Three days passed in a flash.」
On this day, everyone in the Ye Family, from the highest to the lowest, gathered at the Martial Arts Training Ground. The vast field was packed with people, including disciples with other surnames who had been newly recruited in the past few days. Only now could the Ye Family be considered a truly great family.
Ye Weitian, Ye Feifei, and Ye Tian stood at the front. A table had been placed before Ye Weitian, upon which sat three wine bowls and a jar of wine.
"Today is an important day. It is the day our Ye Family's own genius, Ye Tian, and my beloved daughter, Ye Feifei, set off for Linyuan Academy! I have gathered all of you here for their farewell ceremony.
I'm sure you all know very well what Linyuan Academy represents. Anyone who can enter and complete their cultivation there will emerge with strength at the Second Vein or higher. The academy provides powerful Martial Skills and Spirit Stones. Simply by entering, one can make a great name for themselves.
However, the requirements for entering Linyuan Academy are incredibly strict. Of all the disciples in the Ye Family, only Ye Tian and Ye Feifei have qualified. But I believe that the next time Linyuan Academy recruits students, many more from our Ye Family will go! I have faith in all of you!" Ye Weitian's powerful voice carried clearly to everyone's ears.
The disciples on the Martial Arts Training Ground erupted into thunderous cheers, their faces filled with confidence. They were envious of Ye Tian and Ye Feifei, but more than that, they viewed the pair as role models—a goal to strive towards.
Ye Weitian then filled the wine bowls and raised one. "Ye Tian, Feifei, I wish you outstanding success at Linyuan Academy, and may you earn the chance to enter one of the academies in the Imperial City!"
"Don't worry, Patriarch, we will! As members of the Ye Family, it is our duty to bring it honor!" Ye Tian replied solemnly.
"Father, I won't let you down. Don't you worry!" Ye Feifei added.
The three of them then raised their bowls and drained them in one gulp. "Good! We will await your good news! I've already had provisions and water placed in the carriage. It will be a hard journey, so take care of yourselves."
"Don't worry, Patriarch. I'll take good care of Feifei," Ye Tian said with a smile.
Parting is always painful. This was the first time Ye Feifei would be away from Ye Weitian for so long, and the sorrow of their separation brought tears to her eyes. "Feifei, your father has faith that you will bring great honor to our family. It's getting late. You two should be on your way."
"Father, you take care too!" Ye Feifei choked out. She didn't dare to linger any longer, knowing it would only make her heart ache more. She quickly climbed into the carriage with Ye Tian.
As the carriage slowly rolled toward the estate gates, Ye Weitian's heart felt heavy with loss. But then, he thought of how his daughter and son-in-law would one day make a name for themselves, and his heart filled with joy. 'It's time for the fledgling to spread its wings and fly,' he thought, 'to find its own piece of the sky!'