Chapter 81: Homeward Bound

Che Wuyou wiped away the tears on his face, and a smile crept onto his lips, then suddenly blossomed into a radiant, sunlit laughter... He laughed so freely, so brightly, that there was a peculiar beauty about it, subtle and touching.

He carefully wrapped the black bundle, tucked it close to his chest, and patted his chest as if still uneasy. He tore a strip from his already tattered coat and tied it tightly around his waist. Once everything was settled, he finally set off toward the direction of Old River City.

It took Che Wuyou less than an hour to reach the city walls. He gazed up at the towering, ancient city where he had once lived, recalling the day he left, and couldn't help but shake his head in wonder. Those memories felt distant now. Six years had passed, and he found himself back in the place of his birth, a pang of sadness rising within him.

He looked up at the faded flags fluttering above the city, then at the guards dozing at the gate. For some reason, anxiety and fear crept into his heart. Six years had gone by with no news from his family; he wondered what changes might have taken place, whether all was well, if his parents’ health still held.

Lost in thought, he instinctively walked toward the city. He wandered for some time, but encountered no one checking his identity. This seemed at odds with his hazy memories—he remembered that strangers or suspicious figures would always be questioned by guards. Had the order of Old River City changed, or was his memory simply unreliable?

Che Wuyou made his way quickly toward the Che family estate, and after a long walk, finally arrived at the main gate.

The gate stood open, and he could vaguely see familiar sights in the front courtyard. Remembering his childhood games there, his mood relaxed a little.

He looked at the four guards stationed at the gate—strangers, all of them. Of course, more than six years had passed; the guards from his youth had likely been promoted or moved on to better things. How could they remain guards forever?

The guards eyed the ragged child at the gate. Seeing him peering curiously into the courtyard, one guard stepped forward and asked suspiciously, “Hey, what are you doing here? Why are you snooping around? If you have no business here, go play somewhere else. This isn’t a place for fun.”

“Do you know where you are? Get out, get out, get out. This isn’t a place for you—go far away,” the guard said impatiently, waving his hand as the boy ignored him and continued to gaze inside.

“Uh...” Che Wuyou glanced at the guard, feeling awkward. The guard had mistaken him for a beggar, and as he opened his mouth to explain, he found himself at a loss for words. Bitterness and sorrow welled up in his heart—he was being blocked from his own family’s door. He had never imagined that coming home would require a reason.

“I just want to go inside for a moment. I’ll only look and then leave.” After thinking for a while, Che Wuyou saw the guard sneering at him and realized he’d said the wrong thing. He hastily added, “I’m actually quite familiar with the family—they all know me.”

“You think this is just any place? This is the Che family, do you understand? The Che family of Jizhou! How could they know a little beggar like you?” The guard regretted speaking so much—would a clueless beggar even understand what kind of place this is? “Get out. The charity hall is nearby, that's where you beg for food. Hurry up and go, or I’ll break your legs.”

Though the Che family was charitable, the guard felt the boy was being unreasonable, trying to visit as if the estate were a playground. Threats seemed the only way to deal with such beggars—he’d seen plenty, and they always fled when frightened.

“I’m not a beggar. I want to see Ye Hongyu. Sir, I wish to speak with Ye Hongyu; I have something important to discuss with her.” Che Wuyou’s voice grew agitated. What identity should he use to visit his mother? As the second son of the Che family? Yet he felt a resistance to that.

“Oh, bold brat! How dare you address the lady of the house by name? There’s a charity hall for beggars, but you insist on causing trouble here.” To call the mistress by her name when visiting was pure provocation or arrogance.

The guard could not forgive such insolence. He stepped forward and shoved Che Wuyou, expecting him to fall, but the boy stood firm, unmoved.

“Well now, seems this little beggar is trained—no wonder he dares make trouble here. Brothers, come over and help entertain him!” The guard saw Che Wuyou’s steadiness and dared not take him lightly, drawing his weapon and calling to his fellows.

The others found it strange that their comrade couldn’t drive away a mere ten-year-old beggar. Still, they didn’t dare slack off. After all, the saying goes, ‘heroes often emerge young’—even beggars could surprise. Guarding the gate was dull, so entertaining this beggar could be a welcome distraction.

“Stop this at once! What are you all doing?” Suddenly, a gentle yet angry female voice rang out.

“Madam, a beggar appeared at the gate. He refuses to state his name or purpose, and even addresses you by name, insisting on seeing you and trying to force his way in,” one guard explained quickly as the lady approached.

Ye Hongyu’s mood had already been soured by Xian’er’s illness, and this news made it worse. She frowned, thinking, “What kind of child is this, so lacking in manners? Did his mother never teach him proper conduct? To seek me out, he should have sent a calling card. Even without one, he ought to explain his purpose and politely ask the guards to announce him.

But this child neither explained himself nor refrained from calling the mistress by name at the Che family gate. Since marrying into the Che family, such things rarely happened. Cultivators shouldn’t be fussed over trifles, but this was extreme discourtesy.”

Ye Hongyu pondered, then couldn’t help but study Che Wuyou more closely. She saw his dirt-streaked face, tattered clothing, and the strange, pungent odor he emitted. Yet the young face bore an age-old sorrow, utterly at odds with his years. A flash of familiarity struck her—she felt she’d seen this child somewhere before.

She searched her memory but found nothing, yet inexplicably, a sense of kinship stirred within her. The annoyance from his rudeness vanished in an instant.

“Young man, what is your name, and why do you seek me?” Ye Hongyu stepped forward, naturally taking the filthy hand of the little beggar. “You look so familiar, as if I’ve seen you somewhere. Whose child are you? Perhaps I know your parents well.”

The guards stared in shock at Ye Hongyu’s unusual behavior. Their mistress, kind though she was, prized cleanliness and even had a touch of obsession about it. Normally, she would avoid such dirty, unkempt beggars, but now she held his hand and spoke gently—a sight beyond belief.

Che Wuyou gazed intently at Ye Hongyu. Six years had passed, yet her appearance was unchanged—still as beautiful and serene as ever. Only now, her once lively eyes seemed shadowed by sorrow, as if some unresolved trouble cloaked her spirit, stirring pain in the heart of any who looked.

This was his mother, the woman he had dreamed of countless nights. Tears welled in his eyes, his heart surging with emotion. He wanted to rush into her arms and weep freely, to tell her everything he’d endured over the years, to call out to her—“Mother”...

His lips trembled, but the word never came. He remembered her coldness, her harshness when he left, her years of silence. No matter how he tried, he could not utter “mother.”

“You wretched child, get away from me. I, Ye Hongyu, would never have such a foolish, dull son!” That sentence was like a blade, one that had awakened him from nightmares countless nights. He longed to forget it, but the harder he tried, the deeper it etched itself. How he wished that sentence had never entered his memory.

Ye Hongyu saw the boy’s tears brimming, his face full of grievance, and her heart ached for him. “Child, what’s wrong? What have you suffered? Don’t worry, tell me what’s troubling you. I’ll stand up for you. What happened? Did they bully you?” she asked, pointing at the guards behind her.