Chapter 57: Calamity Approaches

Xiao Ling gazed at Ye Kun before her, her beautiful eyes brimming with tears. Just look at this child—he must have suffered a great deal outside, his clothes so filthy. Ever since Kun Kun began following Miss, he had never endured any hardship, and now... Clearly, these past few days had not been easy on him. No matter how he tried to hide it, there was an unmistakable sadness about him.

Poor child...

At this very moment, what Kun Kun needed most was a warm embrace, to let him know that he was dearly loved by everyone...

Ye Kun stared blankly as Sister Xiao Ling wrapped him in a tight hug.

“Mmm, Xiao Ling, I can’t breathe…” Ye Kun felt a wave of suffocation overwhelm him.

Just then, Zhang Tiantian hurried over. Seeing Ye Kun return home safe and sound, he finally breathed a sigh of relief. But watching Xiao Ling hold Ye Kun like that, Zhang Tiantian swallowed nervously. How he wished he could experience such a hug himself—this feeling of being squeezed so tightly seemed oddly wonderful.

“Kun Kun!” Dongmen Meng emerged from behind the hall, her voice choked with tears. She had barely eaten for days, surviving on just a little porridge, which had left her frail and weak.

Seeing his mother in such a state made Ye Kun’s heart ache. He rushed into her arms, burying himself in her embrace.

In that moment, Ye Kun felt the motherly love he had long missed. Before, he had regarded Dongmen Meng as merely his adoptive mother, but now, in his heart, she was his only mother.

Feeling the warmth of her arms, Ye Kun’s eyes grew moist as well. The greatest fortune in his life was not some supreme cultivation, but being found by this mother on the day he was born, taken into this family, and given endless happiness.

“You rascal, where have you been these past days!” His father, Ye Ming, expressed his concern differently. After all, he was a man; though he appeared stern, the worry in his eyes was plain to see.

“Let Mother have a good look—are you hurt anywhere? Do you feel unwell? Tell Mother, were you bullied? If so, I’ll go teach them a lesson for you!”

Ye Kun looked at his mother, who had crouched down in front of him, her anxious expression as if she had lost her most precious treasure. Though he prided himself on being a man who could bleed but not cry, at the sight of his mother like this, he could no longer hold back.

“Mother!” Ye Kun hugged her tightly once more, overcome with emotion in that fleeting instant.

“Kun Kun, don’t cry, be good…” This was the first time Dongmen Meng had ever seen him cry—from childhood to now, her Kun Kun had never shed a tear. He must have been bullied outside. Damn it! Which scoundrel dared bully my Kun Kun? Tired of living, are they!

“Tell Mother, what happened?”

Ye Kun took a deep breath, steadying his emotions. “Mother, Ah Di and I ran into a cat demon. The cat demon kicked me away, and when I woke up, I was outside the Misty Forest. I don’t know what happened after that.”

Ye Kun thought it best to keep the matter of the two Celestial Lords transmitting their power to him a secret. After all, it was too absurd, and those two might still have enemies; if anyone found out, wouldn’t his family be dragged into danger as well? Such a terrifying secret—better he bear it alone.

“Speaking of the cat demon, I searched the depths of the Misty Forest these past few days and sensed no presence of any demon,” Ye Ming said gravely. The existence of such a powerful cat demon in the Misty Forest was unheard of.

Dongmen Meng finally felt the weight in her heart lift, and her complexion grew rosy again. “Perhaps this cat demon possesses some technique for concealing its aura. According to Wu Chi’s description, this isn’t an ordinary demon. It’s not surprising it knows how to hide itself.”

“But have you considered this? For a demon to cultivate to the point it can evade my detection, it will likely soon be able to take human form!” Ye Ming said worriedly. A demon transforming into a human meant disaster was coming!

Every ten thousand years, the legend of a demon taking human form would repeat, always ending in widespread calamity. Such was fate.

Recalling the cat demon and what his father had just said, Ye Kun felt chills run down his spine. He remembered the look in the cat demon’s eyes—they were almost human!

No wonder he’d found it strange at first glance. That cat demon was about to transform!

How terrifying. Would it come seeking revenge? But he, Kun, hadn’t done anything to it. Why would it want revenge… Maybe he was just overthinking.

“Brother!!!”

A wild, thunderous voice suddenly boomed out, making everyone’s scalp tingle.

Ye Kun turned around—Ah Di!

Tears streamed down his little brother’s face, and his nose was running so badly it nearly reached his mouth. As he ran over, the snot swung back and forth but stubbornly refused to fall.

All Kun could do was catch him.

“Ah Di, don’t cry. I’m fine—tough as nails,” Ye Kun patted Ye Qin’s back to comfort him. Having such an affectionate little brother made life worthwhile.

“Brother, I thought you were gone…”

“Your brother has had plenty of close calls—I’m not that easy to get rid of.” Ye Kun forced a wry smile. At this rate, he might never be gone.

“That’s true, Brother, you’re amazing.”

Dongmen Meng spoke coldly, “Thank goodness my Kun Kun’s alright. I must go teach Wu Chi a lesson! If not for him, would my Kun Kun have suffered so much?”

Mother, I’m not really suffering… Wait, I am suffering, but not for the reasons you think. I’m tying myself in knots.

“Mother, wait! Teacher Wu Chi didn’t have it easy either. Now that I’m back, please don’t go after him,” Ye Kun pleaded on behalf of his teacher, holding his mother back.

Dongmen Meng’s gaze was always gentle when she looked at Ye Kun. “Kun Kun, I know you’re kind, but we can’t let people bully us at will!”

Ye Kun almost wanted to say, Mother, those who bullied me are either in the dungeon or under the earth by now. Even two Celestial Lords have turned to dust—if you think about it, isn’t that terrifying? The fact that Teacher Wu Chi came out of this unscathed is already a blessing from the heavens. Or rather…

If he hadn’t stopped his mother just now, Teacher Wu Chi would have suffered too. How pitiful.

“Mother, I’m hungry~”

Teacher Wu Chi, for your sake, I, Kun, even acted spoiled with my mother. I’ve got goosebumps all over.

Dongmen Meng’s eyes lit up—this was the first time Kun Kun had ever whined to her. He finally seemed like a normal child; before, he always seemed a bit off.

“I’ll go make food right away. Kun Kun, go wash up first.”

“Alright, thank you, Mother.”

“Aren’t you going to give Mother a kiss?”

What else could he do? Sometimes, mothers liked a bit of pampering too. Ye Kun planted a big kiss on her cheek, making Dongmen Meng very pleased as she left for the kitchen with Xiao Ling.

“Brother, let’s go bathe.”

“Huh?”

“I’ll scrub your back and help you relax. You must be tired after these days.”

“Uh…”