Chapter 126: This Life's Wish Tied with Red Thread

  "At first, the Ye family was a prominent clan in the Xiwu Empire, at least ranking among the top ten. At that time, the two brothers were the strongest in the family, both being earth-respected strongmen. The Ye family had offended two other prominent clans for some reason and suffered from their joint suppression. The two brothers had differing opinions, with the younger brother wanting to persuade his older brother to lead the Ye family out of the Xiwu Empire and head to the distant Central Empire. However, the older brother, who was the clan leader at the time, refused to agree, saying that the Central Empire was the center of the Eastern Continent, where experts gathered and prominent clans stood tall. If the Ye family were to move there, they would probably not even be considered a third-rate clan. Although they were suppressed in the Xiwu Empire, they were still a top-ten ranked family. Later, the two brothers had a fierce argument, with the younger brother storming off in anger, leading hundreds of clansmen away from the Xiwu Empire. The older brother was furious and, with a stroke of his brush, erased the younger brother's branch from the clan records." Ye Cangxuan recounted in detail.

  When Ye Chen heard Ye Cangxuan's words, his heart tightened. The people of this world attached great importance to their clans, and removing his brother from the clan register was a hatred that was too great.

  "At that time, my brother thought that our younger brother's branch would surely suffer a miserable fate in the Central Empire and would return soon. But unexpectedly, due to repeated suppression, our family gradually weakened, and thirty years later, our glorious days were gone forever. On the other hand, after our younger brother arrived at the Central Empire, he joined a large sect, cultivated new martial arts skills, and after thirty years of struggling, finally became the leader of that sect. With one move, he became one of the top five powers in the Central Empire. In a place where aristocratic families were as common as trees, this was already an impressive achievement.

  Leaf Canxuan sighed, "Thirty years on the east bank, thirty years on the west bank, it's really pitiful and lamentable. Sometimes people think that they would rather be the head of a chicken than the tail of a phoenix, but in reality, those who think they are the head of a chicken become lazy and complacent, and eventually can't even become the head of a chicken. Those who want to be the tail of a phoenix struggle in adversity, compete with countless strong enemies, and progress day by day, finally becoming the head of a phoenix. To rather be the tail of a phoenix than the head of a chicken is truly a wise saying!"

  It's better to be a phoenix's tail than a chicken's head. Ye Cangxuan's words left Ye Chen with a deep impression.

  "What happened afterwards?"

  Later, my brother's branch in the Western Wu Empire became more and more miserable, several times narrowly escaping extinction. It wasn't until later that we realized our regret was too late. When we were being attacked by two powerful families, my younger brother's branch stepped in and saved us, but they took away a copy of our family tree and established their own branch. My brother wanted to make amends with his younger brother, but the difference in status between them made it impossible. To this day, there is still much resentment between the Western Wu Empire's Ye family branch and the Central Empire's Ye family branch. For nearly a thousand years, they have always looked down on us.

  When Ye Canxuan heard Ye Chen's words, he understood.

  "Xiaor has left, and those people from the Xia family will definitely not allow Xiaor to come back to Yejia Fortress again. Chen'er, aren't you heartbroken?" Ye Zhantian asked, seeing that Ye Chen's reaction was calm and collected. Xiaor and Chen'er had grown up together since childhood, their feelings for each other were extremely deep. Now that Xiaor has left, why didn't Chen'er show any signs of sadness?

  Ye Chen smiled calmly, looking at his father and uncle, saying: "What's there to be sad about, Father, Uncle? How can we let those people always look down on us? Uncle also said that thirty years ago, the river was in the east, thirty years later, the river is in the west. Our Western Wu Empire Ye family lineage, can't we keep up with the Central Empire Ye family lineage? Sooner or later, they will come begging us to repair our old relationship! Hua'er will still return to the Ye Family Fortress, if they are stubborn and refuse to change, then we'll make them thoroughly convinced of our strength!" When Ye Chen spoke, he was overflowing with great confidence, this confidence came from his increasingly refined skills in martial arts. One day, he would join the ranks of the strongest in the world!

  Ye Chen's words left Ye Cangxuan and Ye Zhantian stunned, and immediately a restless commotion arose in their hearts. How many years had it been? Would the day really come for our Western Wu Empire's Ye family line? For so many years, they didn't dare to have such expectations, but Ye Chen's appearance made them feel an irrepressible hope. Ye Chen was only seventeen years old, and his strength was already comparable to that of a mid-tier tenth-stage expert, and he had even tamed so many tenth-stage demon beasts. They had never felt like they did today, firmly believing in the existence of miracles!

  If one day I can be on par with the Central Empire's Ye family, our ancestors will surely feel honored from beneath the springs!

  "Chen Er, your father believes in you. No matter what you want to do, your father and all the Ye family members will support you!" Ye Zhan Tian said firmly, his heart full of love.

  "Uh-huh." Ye Chen nodded heavily. This was the dream of the Ye family, a branch of the Western Wu Empire, for generations. One day, it would be him who would make it come true!

  "Chen Er, this is what Hua Er left for you. Hua Er said that you must open it personally!" Ye Zhan Tian took out the thing left by Hua Er from the Qian Kun bag and handed it to Ye Chen.

  Looking at the embroidered lotus leaf handkerchief, Ye Chen's figure paused, and a faint thought arose in his heart, wondering how Xiao'er was doing now. He took the object from Ye Zhan Tian's hand, and a faint, familiar fragrance wafted up, which was the scent that Xiao'er always had on her body. After more than ten years of being together day and night, suddenly parting ways, even though Ye Chen was somewhat heartless, his heart still rose with thick feelings of separation and longing.

  Undo the knot on the silk cloth, and what comes into view is that piece of jade pendant, with a phoenix carved on it, vivid and lifelike, exuding a rich aura. This jade pendant has been worn by her all along, never leaving her side. Apart from the jade pendant, there is also a letter left behind by her. Open the letter, and you see her elegant handwriting.

  "Brother Ye Chen, I'm leaving for the distant Central Empire. I hope this jade pendant can keep me company and remind you of me... When I was very young, I had a wish to be Brother Ye Chen's most beautiful bride, but now it may never come true... I only like Brother Ye Chen, forever... This life's wish is tied to the red thread, when I wake up from my dream, we'll already be separated by the vast sky..."

  She wrote intermittently, as if she had a thousand words to say but didn't know where to start, leaving behind only a few sentences on the letter paper, with faint tear stains still visible.

  "Foolish girl." Ye Chen's heart felt a pang of sadness, muttering to himself, "This life's wish is tied to the red thread, when the dream wakes up it will be at the end of the world." In Donglin County, when getting married, every groom would tie a red thread for his beloved wife, to express love and hope to bind her, never to part in this life or the next.

  "Yechen, what did Y'er say in her letter?" Ye Zhantian asked from the side, seeing Yechen so sorrowful.

  Ye Chen suppressed his sentimental emotions, looked up at Ye Zhan Tian and smiled brightly: "Hua'er said that she would take me to the Central Empire to play, and also said that she wanted to marry into the Ye family's castle, to be your daughter-in-law." Ye Chen clenched the letter tightly, secretly vowing: "Stupid girl, you didn't even say goodbye when you left. I'll wait for you in the Central Empire, I will definitely go to the Central Empire and take you back!"

  It's better to be the tail of a phoenix than the head of a chicken. Fantasy is a bigger stage for snails, and snails hope that one day their fantasy will shine like their online games. Please give snails a precious vote.