Sidekick Fights Back (Married The Protagonist’s Mother) 104. Zhu Zhihao’s Arrival

The vast sky of the world was filled with white clouds. Below them lay the mortal realm. But high above that white expanse, in the deep blue of the upper sky, another scene existed.It was a violent place. The chaotic energy here was unpredictable. Most of the ti, it was dangerous. Sotis, it was calm. But when the storms ca, they were terrifying. Cultivators caught in its fury would be torn apart. Even a mountain would be turned to dust.This was the Severing Tempest Layer.So Core Formation cultivators used this layer to travel. The air was thin. Low-realm cultivators did not exist here. It was a fast, empty road through the sky. But even they had to flee when the storms gathered. They never flew too deep into the thick layer. If a storm appeared suddenly, they would have to travel a long way to escape. If they failed, they would die. So they remained near the edges, always ready to retreat.But there was another layer even higher than this one. It was a place free of any energy. There was no air. There were no storms. It was a silent, empty void. Cultivators used this realm to travel vast distances with incredible speed. But it was not accessible to just anyone. Only those who could withstand the full fury of the Severing Tempest Layer could reach this place. Only those who were truly respected and feared could travel here. One had to be a Nascent Soul cultivator to even enter this layer.Its na was the Tranquil Void.In this big, empty sky, a single carriage was flying very fast.It was a beautiful carriage, made from a shiny, dark purple wood. Thin silver lines ford shapes of birds and lucky clouds on the wood. It was not a war machine. It was a carriage for a noble, a sign of great importance.Inside, the carriage was quiet. A beautiful woman sat by herself, looking at a jade scroll in her lap. She wore a simple black robe. Her long black hair was held back with a jade pin. Her deep violet eyes moved over the old words on the scroll. More scrolls were on the table in front of her, stacked in a neat pile.Another woman sat across from her. She was very pretty and had a sweet smile that was always on her face. Her every movent carried effortless grace, yet sothing in her calm gaze hinted at unspoken depth."What is wrong, Lady Zhu?" the smiling woman asked, her voice soft. "You are frowning."The woman did not look up. "It is nothing.""You were thinking hard," the other woman said softly. "I thought sothing serious was wrong."The woman finally put the scroll down and looked up. "I was just looking at so old historical records," she said in a calm voice. "I was trying to find sothing useful.”"Were you looking for anything specific?" the charming woman asked, her smile widening with curiosity.Zhu Zhihao's gaze remained distant for a mont. "Fei Yan," she said, using the woman's familiar na, "in our line of business, it is important to always be looking. We must read about old records and books. One day, we might see such a treasure, and we must be able to recognize its value."The woman, Fei Yan, nodded politely, not asking anything more. "Lady Zhu is right."Zhu Zhihao gathered the scrolls from the table. She put them back into her storage ring with a single touch, making the table empty. "We are almost there," she said.The flying carriage started to descend. It left the quiet, black sky of the Tranquil Void and entered the wild winds of the Severing Tempest. A bright, golden shield appeared around the carriage. The ssy energy outside was loud. It sounded like a thousand angry animals. But inside the carriage, everything was perfectly still. They passed through the storm without being touched.A few hours later, the purple carriage appeared in the sky over Liyun City.Then, with a faint shimr, it vanished. Zhu Zhihao had put it away. She stood in the air, her cultivation realm suppressed to the level of a mid-stage Foundation Building cultivator. Fei Yan did the sa.Fei Yan looked down at the city below. She saw the towering buildings, the grand pavilions, the wide, crowded streets. It was a prosperous city, the grandest in this small state. But to her, it lacked any real attraction.She frowned, her voice filled with confusion. "Little i is living here?" she asked, very surprised. Why was Yue i sent to such a small place for so long? she thought.Zhu Zhihao's face did not change. She just nodded. "Keep your power hidden," she ordered, her voice calm but strong. "We will et her soon.”She took out a small, white jade talisman. She held it for a mont as she channeled a brief stream of spiritual energy into it. The talisman glowed faintly, then dimd. "Let us find a place to wait," she said.They descended from the sky. They entered the city and walked through the bustling streets. They found a quiet teahouse with private rooms.anwhile, in her secluded courtyard within the Su Manor, Yue i was deep in her own cultivation. The dual auras of red and gold swirled around her. Suddenly, she felt a small vibration. It was a familiar feeling. It ca from her storage ring.Her eyes opened, filled with surprise. She reached into her storage ring and took out a jade talisman with an expectant look. It was glowing with a soft, white light.As she read the ssage in her mind, a bright, happy smile blood on her lips. She did not waste a mont. She imdiately left her courtyard, her steps light and hurried like a graceful bird.Soti later, she arrived at the pavilion. An attendant, clearly given prior instructions, led her directly to the top floor. She slid open the door to the private room and stepped inside. Her eyes imdiately found the two won at the table."Aunt Zhu! Aunt Yan!" she cried out, her voice filled with joy.Yue i rushed forward. She threw her arms around Zhu Zhihao in a tight embrace, the kind of hug that spoke of long absence and deep longing.Zhu Zhihao's stern expression softened. Sothing gentle flickered in her eyes as she raised a hand to stroke Yue i's hair. "Little i," she murmured. "Have you been well?""I have," the words ca muffled against her aunt's shoulder.When they finally pulled apart, Yue i turned to the other woman. Her smile remained warm and bright. "Aunt Fei Yan, it's so good to see you."Fei Yan's expression lit up. "It's good to see you too, Little i." She looked her up and down with obvious delight. "Look at you! You've grown even more beautiful. This little city must be treating you well."Yue i laughed softly. "I suppose so. I've been taking care of myself."They settled at the table. Fei Yan poured fresh tea for Yue i while a comfortable warmth filled the room.Zhu Zhihao studied her niece, her face growing serious once more. "Tell about your ti here. Has anyone given you trouble?"Yue i shook her head. "No, Aunt Zhu. The Su family has been good to ." A brief pause. "No one has bothered at all.""What about your physique?" Zhu Zhihao's voice dropped. "Have you noticed any changes in these months?""Yes, there have been so changes." Yue i's brow furrowed slightly. "Actually, sothing happened recently. I wanted to ask your opinion."Zhu Zhihao leaned in, her attention sharpening.Yue i t her aunt's gaze directly. "When I cultivate deeply now, two distinct energies manifest around . They circle each other in perfect balance." Her hands moved to illustrate. "One is the blood-red aura from my physique. The other is a brilliant golden light. I don't understand where it cos from or what it ans."Confusion rippled across Zhu Zhihao's composed features. "Two separate energies?" She went quiet, clearly turning the matter over in her mind. "I'll need to observe it directly before offering any conclusions."Fei Yan's smile faded. Her eyes darted between Yue i and Zhu Zhihao, unease creeping into her expression. "Lady Zhu, forgive , but what does Yue i's unique body have to do with this remote place?"A knowing smile touched Yue i's lips. She glanced at her aunt. "Aunt Zhu," she said, her tone carrying gentle reproach, "you still haven't told her?"Zhu Zhihao sighed. "Not yet." She regarded Fei Yan with sothing between fondness and exasperation. "I brought you along because you insisted on coming. You wouldn't take no for an answer when it ca to Yue i."Fei Yan's expression tightened. Worry settled over her features. "What haven't you told ?" Her gaze bounced between them.Yue i lifted her teacup and took a slow sip before explaining everything—the divination ritual, the cryptic lead pointing to this backwater state, her chance eting with Su Ting in the secret realm, and the inexplicable way her body resonated in his presence.Fei Yan listened in silence. Her face shifted through confusion, shock, and finally a complicated understanding. When Yue i finished, Fei Yan simply stared into her tea."So," her voice erged barely above a whisper, raw with hurt. "When you both left for so 'rare treasure hunt'… this was the real reason." She raised her eyes, the brightness gone from them. "anwhile, I stayed behind in the Xuantian Empire, handling everything, knowing nothing."Guilt shadowed Yue i's face. "Sister Yan, I'm sorry. I didn't expect things to unfold this way." She hesitated. "We couldn't predict what we'd discover."Fei Yan shook her head slowly. Her focus shifted entirely to Zhu Zhihao. "I'm not upset with you, Little i." Though quiet, her voice now carried unmistakable pain. "It's Lady Zhu. Months have passed, and she's said nothing to ." Her fingers curled tight in her lap."I've followed you from the very beginning, Lady Zhu." The faintest tremor entered Fei Yan's words. "Yet apparently, I still can't be trusted with the truth."