Chapter 509: Close Kin

It can be said without exaggeration that, below the Divine Profound Realm, Yun Che’s recovery ability was unmatched. When Yun Che awoke, the sky was already dim. His mental and profound energy, which had been almost completely depleted, were now mostly restored. After getting up, he found himself lying on a soft, small bed. The surroundings were quiet, and the room’s furnishings were simple yet elegant. Looking out the window, Yun Che immediately recognized that he was still in Yun Qinghong’s courtyard, likely the bedroom next to the main hall.

Yun Che strained his ears and faintly heard Yun Qinghong and Mu Yurou conversing softly in the adjacent room, their voices hushed so as not to disturb his rest. Yun Che got off the bed, quickly gathered his thoughts, then picked up the sound transmission jade and located the mark he had previously saved for First Under Heaven.

“Brother Tianxia, there’s something I need your help with,” Yun Che transmitted.

Soon, the sound transmission jade glowed with profound light, and First Under Heaven’s hearty voice came through the spinning profound formation: “Brother Yun, just say it.”

Yun Che went straight to the point: “Two months from now, the Yun family will hold a grand family competition to prepare for the Demon Empress’s Grand Ceremony, which is three months away. I hope Brother Tianxia can be there… As for the reason, please forgive me, but it’s inconvenient to disclose it now. Brother Tianxia will know when the time comes.”

Yun Che did not have to wait long before First Under Heaven’s voice came through again: “The reason doesn’t matter. Compared to you saving my younger sister’s life, this is a small matter not worth mentioning. I will definitely be there, I won’t break my word.”

First Under Heaven was a very straightforward person, and the entire process went even smoother than Yun Che had anticipated. After all, Yun Che had previously saved Seventh Under Heaven’s life, and First Under Heaven was naturally proud and would never wish to owe anyone a favor. He had also given his word beforehand, so he would certainly not refuse, even if Yun Che had not explained the reason.

The door opened, and Yun Xiao, who had heard voices, rushed in. Seeing Yun Che, he exclaimed with surprise, “Brother Yun, you’re awake!”

“Yes,” Yun Che nodded. “Yun Xiao, you’ve come at the perfect time. We can begin the ceremony.”

“A ceremony?”

Yun Che pulled Yun Xiao, drawing him down to kneel beside him. Then, pointing a finger to the heavens, he solemnly declared: “I, Yun Che, and Yun Xiao become sworn brothers today. I am the elder, Yun Xiao the younger. From this day forward, we shall share both joy and sorrow. Yun Xiao’s kin shall be my kin, and my kin shall be Yun Xiao’s kin. May Heaven bear witness to these words; if I ever break them, may I be destroyed by the heavens and the earth!”

Yun Xiao stood frozen, completely bewildered. After Yun Che finished his vow, he tapped Yun Xiao’s shoulder. “All right, it’s your turn.”

Yun Xiao turned, his face a picture of bewilderment. He moved his lips, then suddenly said, “Brother Yun, I… I…”

“What’s wrong? You don’t want to become sworn brothers with me?” Yun Che asked with a smile.

“No, of course not.” Yun Xiao shook his head, looking Yun Che directly in the eye and speaking sincerely. “Brother Yun, your talent is extremely high, and your medical skills are terrifyingly strong. You’ve also shown immense kindness to me and my parents. As for me… although I’m nominally the young master of the Yun family, you saw my true standing today. Even after spending just one day with you, your brilliance is so dazzling that I dare not look directly at it. Before you, I’m like a firefly before a bright moon. I don’t understand… why would Brother Yun be willing to become sworn brothers with me? And to initiate it yourself…”

Yun Xiao was gentle by nature and always acted with patience and caution, but he was certainly not foolish. Yun Che was not surprised by his questions. He looked at Yun Xiao and spoke in an even more sincere voice: “Yun Xiao, it’s perfectly normal for you to have such doubts. Your father’s suspicions are much greater than yours. Indeed, in this world, no one is good to another without reason, and I am no exception. However, Yun Xiao, please believe me, I will never have any ulterior motives or ill intentions towards you or your family, not now, and certainly not in the future. I genuinely want to be a brother to you, like family, and I sincerely wish to treat your family as my own… I cannot explain the reason for this yet, but within… at most six months, I will make it perfectly clear to you. If there is a single false word in what I have said, may I, Yun Che, die a terrible death!”

“Ah!” Yun Che’s final four words, cursing himself, startled Yun Xiao greatly. If he had harbored any slight suspicion before, Yun Che’s resolute words and firm, sincere gaze instantly dispelled even the slightest trace of doubt or wariness. He nodded, then faced forward, raised a finger to the sky, and recited the same vow as Yun Che: “I, Yun Xiao, today become sworn brothers with Brother Yun Che. Brother Yun Che is the elder, I am the younger. From this day forward, we shall share both joy and sorrow. Brother Yun Che’s kin shall be my kin, and my kin shall be Brother Yun Che’s kin. May Heaven bear witness to these words; if I ever break them, may I be destroyed by the heavens and the earth!”

Yun Xiao’s emotions were far more stirred than Yun Che’s. Although Yun Che told him there was a true reason behind his actions, what Yun Xiao felt more keenly was Yun Che’s profound sincerity. Furthermore, Yun Che’s eagerness and concern when clearing Mu Yurou’s meridians earlier were palpable, so much so that he had even fainted from excessive mental exertion…

Although he didn’t understand the full reason, he now utterly believed that Yun Che would never harm him or his family. Perhaps he truly was a divine son sent by Heaven to save their family.

“Your younger brother, Yun Xiao, greets elder brother.” Yun Xiao knelt on one knee and bowed to Yun Che with fervent sincerity.

Yun Che accepted his bow, then helped him up. Once Yun Xiao stood, they smiled and nodded to each other. Yun Che said, “From now on, we are brothers, just like blood kin. Whatever happens in the future, we will rely on each other, and neither of us should ever be formal with the other.”

“Good! Hehe… I have an elder brother now, and such a capable one at that; it feels like a dream!” Yun Xiao’s face was flushed, still immersed in excitement. “It’s just, as a younger brother, I’m quite unaccomplished. I don’t know how much I’ll end up owing big brother in the future.”

“Haha, we’re brothers now, there’s no need to speak so formally,” Yun Che laughed heartily. Looking at Yun Xiao’s excited expression, he sighed inwardly: *Yun Xiao, you think you owe me, but the people I’ve saved are my own birth parents. Your parents and your grandmother all died because of me. Your grandfather endured the pain of separation and painstakingly raised me. Your young aunt was my warmest spiritual pillar during my youth. Even you, because of me, have borne cold stares and humiliation for twenty-two years…*

*If there’s any debt, I owe you, I owe your entire family… a debt that can never be repaid, not even for all eternity. All I can do is ensure you’re no longer bullied, reunite you with your grandfather and young aunt, and find the true culprit who killed my foster father… and that is all…*

“Let’s go. Your parents’ meridians are already largely clear, so we can begin removing the cold poison now,” Yun Che said, walking towards the door.

“Now?” Yun Xiao asked, concerned. “But Brother, you fainted from exhaustion earlier and just woke up. What if you injure yourself again from overwork? You should rest properly; we don’t have to rush to start tomorrow.”

“Do I look tired?” Yun Che stretched his neck, then said sternly, “I already told you, your parents are my parents. Your mother’s condition, in particular, is very dangerous. You might be willing to wait until tomorrow, but I am not. Let’s go.”

“Ah… alright.”

They pushed open the door to the main hall together and saw Yun Qinghong and Mu Yurou sitting there, smiling as they watched them. Yun Xiao looked slightly embarrassed, then chuckled, “Dad, Mom, you must have heard what my elder brother and I were just saying, right?”

The two rooms were separated by only a thin wall, and since their voices hadn’t been lowered, even an ordinary person could have heard everything clearly.

“Hehe, we didn’t miss a single word,” Yun Qinghong said with a gentle smile. “Xiao’er, congratulations on gaining such a good elder brother. Your father also senses that Yun Che absolutely harbors no ill will towards our family. As for the so-called ‘reason,’ it’s no longer important.”

Mu Yurou’s eyes, soft as water, shone with joy. “Husband,” she said happily, “since they have become sworn brothers, how about we adopt this child as our son?”

Yun Qinghong chuckled, “If we could have another son as outstanding as him, it would certainly be a wonderful thing. But of course, we must first see what Yun Che thinks.”

Yun Che’s chest heaved violently. He took a step forward, then knelt on the ground, bowing. “Your child, Yun Che, greets his adopted father and adopted mother!”

Mu Yurou and Yun Qinghong exchanged glances, their faces lighting up with joyful smiles. Yun Qinghong clasped his hands lightly, sighing with clear emotion, “Good… good… I, Yun Qinghong, have resented heaven for decades, but today, it has finally compensated our family by giving me another son.”

“Child, get up, the ground is cold,” Mu Yurou said, rising and gently helping Yun Che to his feet. Gazing at the warmth in her eyes, a warmth that could melt anything, Yun Che almost uncontrollably asked, “May I… not call you adopted father and adopted mother, but rather call you ‘Dad’ and ‘Mom,’ just like Yun Xiao?”

The words had barely left Yun Che’s lips when he regretted them… In just one day, he had sworn brotherhood with Yun Xiao and now recognized them as his adopted parents; it was far too hasty, and these words were even more overzealous. He quickly explained, “From a young age, my birth parents left me. My adopted parents also passed away soon after I was born, so I never even had the chance to truly see them. My grandfather always raised me. Because of this, I’ve never known what it feels like to call someone ‘Dad’ or ‘Mom,’ so…”

Yun Che’s words unintentionally struck a chord with Mu Yurou, and her eyes instantly grew misty. “You poor child… Che’er, as long as you don’t mind, from now on, we are your parents. We will love and cherish you as our own son. You can call us whatever you wish.”

Yun Qinghong also nodded gently.

Yun Che’s heart pounded violently. He bowed down again, looked at them, and softly called out, “Dad… Mom…”

Though he tried his best to control it, both calls were still heavy with a tremor.

This was the first time in both of his lives that he had uttered these titles, so familiar to ordinary people… and he was saying them to his own birth parents…

Finally, I have parents… Yun Che closed his eyes, savoring the feeling of kneeling before his parents. In that moment, he felt his life become much, much more complete. A certain emptiness, a sense of something missing that had quietly existed within him, silently vanished. It was in this moment that he fully understood what that lingering sense of incompleteness had truly been…