Chapter 765: Birthday Banquet 10

"Brother, is that really Sister Ye? She... she’s so beautiful." Jiang Yue clutched her brother’s arm tightly.

She was.

Miss Ye was beautiful. It would be impossible to find another woman in the world more stunning.

Huo Feng, pulling Huo Liran along, was completely dumbstruck. ’Ye Qianning... It’s really Ye Qianning...’

Huo Liran stared, her eyes nearly popping out of her head. ’Impossible. How can she be Ye Qianning? Ye Qianning is so ugly. How could it be...’

Huo Feng retracted his gaze and looked at his sister, his eyes filled with nothing but mockery and disgust. ’Whether Ye Qianning was ugly or beautiful, his sister had no right to be compared to her.’

’This journey had made him see with perfect clarity the chasm between people, the nature of the human heart, and... what it meant to be utterly clueless of one’s own limitations!’

The rims of Elder Chen’s eyes reddened. His gaze fixed, seeing nothing and no one but her. Trembling from head to toe, he staggered forward, step by agonizing step.

"Pangtuan," he choked out, his voice trembling. He bent down, his hands shaking as he helped her up. "Is it really you?"

He couldn’t quite believe it.

"Master, it’s me." Ye Qianning rose, the rims of her eyes also turning red.

Elder Chen gripped her shoulders tightly. With red-rimmed eyes, he looked her over from head to toe, his heart aching. "How did you get so thin?"

Hearing his familiar words, a smile touched Ye Qianning’s lips. "Because Pangtuan grew up."

"Yes, yes. You’ve grown up. All grown up."

’Ten years. Just how much must she have suffered to lose so much weight?’

"Master, you can’t cry on your birthday," Ye Qianning said, looping her arm through his.

Elder Chen was overcome with emotion and raised a hand to wipe the corner of his eye. "I’m not crying. Your master is just happy, that’s all. Just happy."

"Your subordinates greet you, Young Miss."

Luo Wen, Luo Xuan, Du Ying, and Du Yi all stepped forward in unison and knelt in salute.

"We greet the Sect Leader!"

The members of the Xianyue Sect behind them followed suit, their voices thundering as they saluted in unison.

The thunderous cry snapped the onlookers out of their trance. Mouths that had been hanging open snapped shut and opened again, yet they were all too stunned to utter a single word.

’The stunning beauty before our eyes is Elder Chen’s apprentice?’

’The head of the Xianyue Sect?’

’She looks like she’s only fifteen or sixteen. How could she possibly be the master of the Xianyue Sect?’

"All of you may rise." Ye Qianning looked at her subordinates.

’Over the years, they had handled the tasks she’d assigned them exceptionally well—even better than she’d expected. The sect’s younger generation was also truly outstanding, already possessing some of their seniors’ poise.’

"Yes, Young Miss."

"Yes, Sect Leader."

Luo Xuan and the others rose, their eyes shining with excitement and elation. ’Our Young Miss is back. She’s really back.’

Chen Lai was still so overwhelmed with emotion that he couldn’t compose himself, once again rubbing his aching eyes.

"Luo Xuan, bring in the birthday gift for my master."

"Yes."

"You silly girl, why bring so many valuable birthday gifts for your master? Your return is worth more than anything." Elder Chen gripped her hand tightly; no treasure could ever be more precious than her coming home.

"It’s nothing, really. I just grabbed a few things. I had originally prepared several cartloads, but we were short on hands, so I just had everyone carry one item. The rest is still in the carriages. I’ll have someone bring them over to the Immortal Sea Building in a bit," Ye Qianning said nonchalantly.

Her words were spoken lightly, but they sent shockwaves through the crowd.

’These peerless treasures before our eyes are "just a few things grabbed at random"?’

’Several cartloads?’

’Good heavens! How can she be so extravagant?’

The guests on Old Prince Feng’s side, who were there to celebrate his birthday, could only stare wide-eyed. The people congratulating Elder Chen seemed to have increasingly distinguished statuses, and their gifts grew more and more precious.

And now, a peerless beauty had appeared, presenting a gift that instantly overshadowed all the rest.

’All the gifts they had brought for Old Prince Feng, combined, probably couldn’t even compare to a single one of hers.’

At this realization, their thoughts turned to Old Prince Feng, and they all looked toward him in unison.