Chapter 527: Confession

"Yurou, brother-in-law, you've both recovered... Are you really completely recovered?" The future head of the prestigious Mu family was so excited that he was waving his hands and dancing like a child.

Yun Che had gotten a general understanding of Mu Yaobai's temperament today. He was someone whose emotions were clearly visible, straightforward, and unwilling to suppress his feelings. At this moment, the excitement and surprise in his heart were fully displayed on his face.

"We fully recovered ten days ago. These past few days, we've been wearing Profound Sealing Clasps to conceal our profound energy," Mu Yurou said with a gentle smile. After more than twenty years, watching the man she had spent her life with stand up from his wheelchair and regain his former might, she had several times been on the verge of tears of joy. No one knew better than her the immense pain this proud man had endured daily during the twenty-two years of his disability.

"Both my body and profound energy have fully recovered, and it's not just a fleeting recovery," Yun Qinghong said, raising his palm with a faint smile. "All of this is thanks to Che'er. It took less than two months. I, Yun Qinghong, consider myself well-traveled and knowledgeable, but if it hadn't happened to me personally, I would never have believed it. Che'er's divine medical skills are such that even all the miracle doctors in the Illusory Demon Realm combined couldn't compare to a single one of his fingers. Even the legendary Da Luo Golden Immortals might not be more capable than him, hehe."

This evaluation was undoubtedly extremely high, especially coming from Yun Qinghong. However, Mu Yaobai didn't find it exaggerated at all. He knew better than anyone the extent of Yun Qinghong and Mu Yurou's former disabilities. For the past twenty years, no one in the entire Illusory Demon Realm believed they could recover—not even to the state of a normal person.

What appeared before his eyes at this moment could be called a miracle without exaggeration!

And it only took less than two months!

Mu Yaobai grabbed Yun Che's shoulder, his eyes wide, and exclaimed excitedly, "Good kid... I, Mu Yaobai, have lived for over 180 years, and the only person I truly admired was my brother-in-law, Yun Qinghong. But now, I admire you ten times more! I'm absolutely prostrate with admiration. You saved my brother-in-law, which means you saved the entire Yun family. And by saving my sister Yurou, you've become a great benefactor to my Mu family. Hmm..."

Mu Yaobai's eyes suddenly lit up, and his grip on Yun Che's hand tightened even further... This was the strength of an Emperor, making Yun Che wince in pain. "Kid... Oh no, no, little brother Yun, how about we become sworn brothers? From now on, I'll be your elder brother, and you'll be my younger brother. Your affairs will be my affairs! If anyone dares to bully you, I'll punch their head until it explodes!"

The young master of the Mu family actively seeking to become sworn brothers—if this news spread, it would probably make an entire city's jaws drop. Under normal circumstances, Yun Che would have gladly agreed... With such a powerful backer, Yun Che could practically walk sideways through Demon Imperial City. But Mu Yaobai's words sent a cold sweat down Yun Che's back, and he quickly waved his hands, "Senior Mu Mu Mu Mu, you mustn't! I am but a junior; how could I dare to become sworn brothers with Senior Mu?"

The difference in seniority wasn't actually a big problem, but the crucial point was that Mu Yaobai was his biological maternal uncle! If they became sworn brothers, once their true family connection was revealed, Mu Yaobai might well seek out a block of tofu to smash his head against in embarrassment.

"Hmph!" Mu Yaobai waved his hand dismissively. "Senior, junior—it's all nonsense. Although you're younger and your profound energy is a bit weaker, your medical skills and the courage you showed today make me willing to call you 'Big Brother'! Hmm... if you don't want to be the younger brother, I can call you 'Big Brother' instead! It's no big deal!"

Mu Yaobai wasn't just being polite with these words. Yun Qinghong and Mu Yurou, who had been crippled to such an extent, could fully recover in just two months. In Mu Yaobai's eyes, Yun Che was practically a god! If such a person could become one of their own, no price would be too great. As profound practitioners, who could avoid illness, disaster, injury, or affliction? With Yun Che around, it was like having countless extra lives; it would probably be difficult even to die. Even if one were crippled like a dog, they could be fully restored... If Mu Yaobai had to choose between ten Emperors and one Yun Che, he would absolutely choose Yun Che without hesitation.

Yun Che said with a troubled expression, "Senior Mu, I truly... I truly..."

Mu Yaobai's face immediately fell. He said displeased, "What? Are you looking down on me, Mu Yaobai, thinking I'm not worthy of becoming sworn brothers with you?"

"Of course not," Yun Che waved his hand. "I am naturally delighted that Senior Mu Yaobai is willing to form such a bond with me. But the problem is, I am already sworn brothers with Yun Xiao, and your sister and brother-in-law are my adoptive parents. If I were to become sworn brothers with you, the seniority would be completely messed up. That wouldn't be fair to you, Senior, and it would also be a bit unfair to my adoptive father and mother."

"What's the big deal? We'll just address each other as we please; it's no problem. I know you're already sworn brothers with that Yun Xiao kid," Mu Yaobai said, waving his hand dismissively and shouting carelessly. His heart was truly as big as they come.

"Alright, Big Brother, don't make things difficult for Che'er," Mu Yurou said with amusement. "Even if you disregard seniority and insist on becoming sworn brothers with Che'er, you should at least show some sincerity. How can you be so aggressive right from the start? It's a wonder you haven't scared Che'er away."

Mu Yaobai blinked, then slapped his forehead and said in annoyance, "You're right! Look at me, if someone suddenly came up and demanded to become sworn brothers with me, I wouldn't want to either... Listen, Yun Che kid... oh no, little brother Yun, I was too abrupt just now. The next time you visit my Mu family, I will definitely show you my sincerity. I, Mu Yaobai, guarantee you, it will absolutely be worth your while to become sworn brothers!"

"Alright, alright, let's talk about this another time. Big Brother, you should go back and tell Father what happened today so he can be prepared. Something big is definitely going to happen at the Demon Emperor's Grand Ceremony in a month. In a couple of days, Qinghong and I will return home," Mu Yurou said.

"Hmm, if the old man knows you and brother-in-law have fully recovered, he'll probably be so happy he won't sleep for three days... Oh! When you and brother-in-law return, you must bring this kid along!" Mu Yaobai emphasized.

"Xiao'er, go with your mother and see your uncle off," Yun Qinghong said.

"Huh? Yes, Father," Yun Xiao said, still a bit dazed. He clearly hadn't fully accepted and processed everything that had happened today.

Mu Yaobai glanced at Yun Qinghong. He understood that Yun Qinghong wanted Mu Yurou and Yun Xiao to see him off because he had something to say to Yun Che alone. Without declining, he waved his hand and strode away.

"Father, did you want to talk to me?" After they left, only Yun Qinghong and Yun Che remained in the courtyard.

"Yes," Yun Qinghong nodded, then said with a faint smile, "Che'er, we truly owe you so much this time. If not for you, the Yun family's ten thousand years of loyalty would have been ruined, and we might have been doomed forever."

Yun Che grinned. "Hehe, Father, you're being too modest. I'm practically half a Yun family member anyway, and besides, the one who truly holds sway is you, Father. With your wisdom, even without me, you would have surely seen through everything already."

Yun Qinghong shook his head. "These past years, because of my physical disability, I knew I was unable to support the Yun family anymore, so I had intentionally closed myself off from information. Although I had long sensed King Huai's disloyalty and suspected his hidden hand might have begun reaching into the Yun family, I didn't know where it extended. Furthermore, if you hadn't restored my wife's and my body and profound energy, I would have been powerless to reverse the situation, even if I knew everything."

Yun Che pondered for a moment and said, "Father, I have a guess... I think, among the elders of your generation, they didn't abandon you because of your disability all these years, did they? Was your being completely ignored all these years something you intentionally orchestrated?"

Yun Qinghong smiled, looking at him with approval. "Indeed. Although I absolutely did not want to relinquish the position of head of our family lineage to another, at that time, my body was completely ruined, and Xiao'er was not my biological son. Rather than burden the Yun family with my crippled body, it was better to hand over authority to Yun Waitian. After all, though the glory of my family lineage is significant, how could it compare to the future of the Yun clan? If you hadn't helped me recover, Che'er, I would have been prepared to witness Yun Waitian's succession as family head today. Now that I have recovered and have enough strength to bear the heavy responsibilities of the family, I will certainly not yield the position of family head to anyone else. Che'er, you have truly changed the destiny of our entire Yun family. This great kindness is enough for our Yun family to remember for a thousand generations."

"The reason I wanted to be alone with you is that I have something to confess," Yun Qinghong said with a slight sigh, a hint of wistfulness in his voice. "Yun Xinyue was actually killed by Venerable Yanlong at my intentional orchestration."

"I know," Yun Che replied directly, to Yun Qinghong's surprise, without a trace of astonishment. He continued, "With your abilities, Father, and being so close at the time, protecting Yun Xinyue when Venerable Yanlong made his move would have been as easy as turning your hand over."

"...Then do you think I was too ruthless or malicious?"

"No!" Yun Che shook his head. "Quite the opposite, I strongly agree with your decision, Father. Once Yun Xinyue had revealed 'Helian' and 'King Huai,' there was no need to question him further. Although he was poisoned by a *gu* and coerced, he secretly harmed his fellow clansmen for his own survival and for the promised positions of 'Family Head' and 'King.' What's even more detestable is that he was willing to bring disaster upon the entire family! Such a grave crime would not be excessive even if he died ten thousand times! If the family had executed him, Yun Waitian, though he might have nothing to say, would still harbor resentment. But for him to be 'silenced at the right moment' by Prince Huiye, that was truly perfect. Firstly, it instilled in Yun Waitian a hatred for the King Huai lineage due to his son's death. Secondly, your comfort and forgiveness towards him would make him deeply grateful and filled with guilt, ensuring his unwavering loyalty to you and the Yun family, with no dissenting thoughts. After all, Yun Waitian is the Yun family's Grand Elder, a major pillar of the Yun family besides you, Father, and cannot be lost. This outcome is truly the most perfect."

Yun Qinghong looked deeply at Yun Che, then burst out laughing. "Hahahaha... Che'er, I truly underestimated you. I find it hard to believe you are only twenty-two years old this year. With your talent and temperament, I wouldn't doubt it even if you claimed to have a thousand years of experience."

Yun Che also chuckled, sighing softly to himself... The things I've encountered, the life-and-death situations and dangers I've experienced, probably couldn't be matched even if others accumulated them over a thousand years...