Chapter 529: Family Reunion

Yun Che's soft words struck Yun Qinghong's ears like thunderclaps. His upper body swayed violently, his vision blurred, and his mind felt as if it would explode from the surging blood.

"My child... you are my child... my child!"

Mu Yurou let out a heart-wrenching cry, broke free from Yun Xiao's support, and threw herself onto Yun Che, holding him tightly and sobbing uncontrollably. Her arms wrapped around him, tightening more and more, as if she wanted to mold him into her own body. Her cries were so sorrowful and piercing that they seemed to envelop the entire world in grief.

Yun Qinghong reached out his hand, but it stopped in mid-air. He wanted to speak, but felt a lump in his throat. The moment he opened his mouth, the tears he had held back for so long threatened to overflow.

The Samsara Mirror—that was what they had placed around their son's neck during their escape, begging for this sacred artifact, guarded by the Demon Emperor family for generations and coveted by the Profound Sky Continent, to unleash its divine power and protect their infant son, who had been forced to flee with them. The profound energy was also irrefutable proof. What he said—Profound Sky Continent, Azure Cloud Nation, Flowing Cloud City, Xiao Ying—were names they had uttered countless times. Yun Qinghong had mentioned some of these names to Yun Che when speaking of Yun Xiao's origins, but he had definitely never mentioned the name "Xiao Lie."

There was also his resemblance to Yun Qinghong's younger self, that feeling of déjà vu despite it being their first meeting, and that almost inexplicable, irresistible sense of closeness and trust.

So this was it... this was it.

No wonder he wanted to come to the Yun family... No wonder he fought so hard, even to the point of collapse, to heal their disabled bodies... No wonder he was so good to the couple... No wonder he risked offending such powerful enemies to quell the Yun family's troubles... No wonder he wanted to become sworn brothers with Yun Xiao... No wonder he suggested calling them "Father" and "Mother" instead of "Foster Father" and "Foster Mother."

So, he was their child... their biological son... Heaven had returned their biological son, lost for over twenty years, back to their side.

He should have realized it sooner... In this world, who else but one's closest kin would show such inexplicable care and unwavering kindness to someone? Yet, despite countless doubts, how could he dare to entertain a thought so beautiful it seemed almost untouchable?

"My child... my child..." Mu Yurou's voice was completely hoarse, her weeping almost driving her to distraction. She was no ordinary woman; she was a revered Emperor-level expert, the matriarch of the Yun family. Her talent was extraordinary, her status noble, and her character far from weak. Years ago, she had even ventured with her husband into the Profound Sky Continent, a place feared by all! Such courage and determination were unmatched in the entire Illusory Demon Realm.

But today, her tears flowed like a river. Over the years, she had shed countless tears tormented by her longing for her son. In this world, only one person could make this woman, who feared not even trespassing into the Profound Sky Continent, so vulnerable; only one person could bring forth such a torrent of tears from her: the son she had given birth to not long before, and whom she had never been able to see again.

Yun Che's clothes quickly became soaked with tears. The wet warmth penetrated deep into his heart, making it tremble. He slowly raised his hands, gently holding her trembling shoulders, and softly said, "Father, Mother, your son has been unfilial... For over twenty years, I haven't been by your side..."

"It's good you're back... just... good you're back..."

Having uttered just eight short words, Yun Qinghong choked back a sob, unable to speak further.

Yun Xiao stood there dazed, completely stunned. In his mind, only one voice echoed repeatedly: *Brother, is Father and Mother's son... is Father and Mother's biological son...*

Then... what about me... Am I... truly not Father and Mother's... biological child...?

He had actually known this fact for a long time, and even the entire Demon Imperial City was aware of it. The inability to use profound energy was irrefutable proof. But because Yun Qinghong and Mu Yurou had never acknowledged it, this widely known truth had always been veiled by a layer of gauze in his heart that he didn't want to lift.

Now, this final veil had been completely lifted. His mind was in utter turmoil, lost and unsure, not even knowing if he should continue standing there. Just then, Yun Che's earlier words to him echoed in his mind...

"So, this is the 'turning point of destiny' Big Brother wanted me to face," he murmured softly.

Yun Che's words made Mu Yurou cry even louder. Over the years, she had endured not only the pain of losing her son but also the torment of guilt. It was because of them that their son, shortly after birth, had been forced to flee with them. Even while still in her womb, he had been afflicted with a cold poison. To remove it, his profound veins had been completely destroyed, ruining his life. At that time, she had been in unbearable pain, consumed by guilt, thinking that if they could escape, she would do everything in her power to compensate, cherish, and protect him. But they eventually returned to the Illusory Demon Realm, while their son remained in the Profound Sky Continent, a place she could not return to, leaving her unable to even accompany or nurture him.

Now, her child had returned, like a dream, back to her side. He harbored no resentment, not a single complaint. He had healed her body, allowing her to be reborn, and eradicated the Yun family's troubles... He even knelt before them, calling himself "unfilial"...

Not only had her son returned, but he was also so exceptional and kind...

For twenty-two years, she had cursed the heavens countless times and resented fate countless times. But at this moment, she was almost using all her heart and devotion to express gratitude to the heavens.

Yun Che had thought that with two months of preparation, he could remain composed enough. But engulfed in his mother's embrace, listening to her sobs, and feeling the tears she shed for him, his eyes were still completely wet. Her embrace was tight and warm, and in that warmth, as moisture gathered into a tear at the corner of his eye, a feeling of vulnerability slowly rose within his heart.

Over the years, he had endured too much hardship, experienced too many twists of fate, even life and death. His will had long become as tough as iron. He had shed millions of times more blood than tears. He had faced a colossal family alone, an empire alone, and even an entire continent alone. Even when pushed to the brink of death, he would stubbornly lift his head, a blood-stained sneer on his lips, never yielding...

But at this moment, that feeling of vulnerability was so clear and irresistible, giving him an urge to burst into tears.

He knew it was because he was in his mother's embrace.

For two entire lifetimes, it was only today that he truly understood what a mother's embrace felt like. He was finally no longer a rootless wanderer, without parents, covered only in dust and dried blood.

Time seemed to slow down. No one disturbed their family reunion; it was as if nothing else existed in the entire world.

Yun Qinghong, after all, was Yun Qinghong. At some point, he finally managed to control his emotions, silently watching the mother and son embrace, sometimes smiling, sometimes closing his eyes. Finally, Mu Yurou's utterly hoarse sobs subsided. He let out a small sigh of relief and said in the most relaxed tone he could muster, "Yurou, heaven has returned our child to us. This is a great joy. Look at you crying, you've scared both Che'er and Xiao'er."

Mu Yurou lifted her head, her entire face streaked with tears. She sobbed softly, holding Yun Che's face gently in her hands, her movements as delicate as if cradling fragile jewels. With misty eyes, she whispered, "It's so good... this is my son... Che'er... my son..."

Her body trembled uncontrollably as she pressed her face against her son's. Though she tried her best not to cry aloud again, tears still streamed endlessly from her eyes. She refused to loosen her embrace on her son, as if afraid that if she let go, he would vanish from her world once more.

In that moment, there was no trace of her usual noble and graceful demeanor.

Yun Qinghong stepped forward and placed a hand on Yun Che's shoulder. He smiled, but when he opened his mouth, his voice caught. After a long moment, he managed to speak with a slight tremor in his smile, softly saying, "Che'er, welcome home... We have been waiting for you in our dreams for a very, very long time..."

Yun Che quietly wiped away the tear stains from his eyes, looked up, and softly said, "Father, Mother, I am sorry. Your son returned late and made you suffer for so many years."

"It's not too late," Yun Qinghong said, smiling and shaking his head. "It's good that you're back."

The man before him, so exceptional that he marveled at him, the man whom Mu Yubai had even lowered his status to be sworn brothers with, was actually his own biological son. The pride, joy, and contentment he felt were too intense to describe. He even felt that if he had to exchange this moment's reality for his own death, he would depart with a smile.

"Yurou, our son is back, and he's already this grown; he won't run away again. How much longer will you hold him?" Yun Qinghong lovingly patted his wife's back. "Do you want our son to spend his first afternoon back kneeling there?"

Yun Qinghong's last remark had an immediate effect. Seeing Yun Che kneeling motionless for so long, Mu Yurou instantly felt remorseful and heartbroken, nearly shedding tears again. She quickly wiped her eyes and reached out to help Yun Che up. "Che'er, quickly get up, the ground is cold... It's all Mother's fault, I completely forgot you were still kneeling."

Yun Che stood up with Mu Yurou's gentle help. He shook his head and said, "It's alright, Mother. I haven't been by your side for all these years. The kowtows I owe you couldn't be repaid even if I knelt for three days and three nights."

This blood-bound kinship was too precious, too warm. He wanted to show his most obedient side to bring them comfort and joy. Beside them, Yun Xiao hesitated for a long while, then timidly stepped forward and said, "Father, Mother, Big Brother, con... congratulations on your family reunion..."

"Not *your* family; it's *our* family reunion!" Yun Che pulled Yun Xiao closer. "The way you say that makes it sound like we're not one family."

"But, I... I..." Yun Xiao bit his lip lightly. After a moment of bewilderment, he turned to Yun Qinghong and Mu Yurou, lowering his head, and forlornly asked, "Can I... can I... still call you... Father and Mother... in the future?"

His words slightly surprised Yun Qinghong and Mu Yurou, who then smiled simultaneously. Mu Yurou said softly, "My foolish child, you have always been our Xiao'er, our most beloved son whom we watched grow up. How could you not call us Father and Mother?"

"Hey, Yun Xiao! What's with you? We're sworn brothers!" Yun Che lightly slapped Yun Xiao's head. "We swore an oath when we became sworn brothers, that we would be brothers for life. Your Father and Mother are my Father and Mother, and my Father and Mother are your Father and Mother. It's only been two months, and you're already disowning your Big Brother?"

"No... I..." Yun Xiao waved his hand, his eyes clouded. At this moment, he suddenly understood why Yun Che had wanted to become sworn brothers with him... because their parents would become each other's parents... This was an unbreakable oath. Moreover, Yun Che had only reunited with his parents two months later, and it was all for him... just for him...

A warm current, filled with deep emotion, spread through his body. Yun Xiao looked up, a bright smile on his face. "I'm sorry, Father, Mother, Big Brother, I was overthinking. My most beloved Father and Mother have found another son, and my most respected Big Brother has found his biological parents. I should be the happiest person! Father, Mother, Big Brother... congratulations on our family reunion!"

Yun Qinghong and Mu Yurou exchanged smiles, and Yun Che burst into laughter. After the tears and sorrow, all that remained on their faces was a heartfelt, warm smile.