Beastmaster of the Ages

Suishen Xiyue couldn’t help but be stunned at how her daughter had lost her Suishen Blood without doing the deed.

”Basically, don’t butt into it and leave it be. I don’t have any feelings for him at the moment,” Suishen Yao stubbornly said.

”You just can’t be honest with yourself!” Suishen Xiyue gave her cheeks a pinch as she chuckled, ”And you’re calling it a fake marriage? Everyone believes it’s real, so what’s the point if you don’t acknowledge it? Your love story’s already been spread all across Myriadpath Valley! How can there be no emotions involved? Don’t worry, you’ll realize them in time.”

”I don’t care! I’m not listening!” Suishen Yao said, clutching her ears.

”I guess your reaction’s only to be expected. You aren’t experienced with such things, after all.... I’ve looked into Li Tianming. In terms of talent and character, he’s pretty good, and definitely a match for you. I’m confident in your appearance, talent, and charm. You should be more daring and not be so shy, okay? Start dual cultivation as soon as possible, got it?”

Suishen Yao’s ears turned completely red. ”Alright, stop nagging! Are you going to comb my hair or not?”

”You little...!” Suishen Xiyue shook her head, smiling in resignation. Though she was worried about her daughter, she was still happy about the general situation. Until recently, she had only been worrying about returning to her daughter alive.

All of a sudden, the formation of the Jiguang Sea rippled.

”Is my son-in-law here?” Suishen Xiyue stopped combing her daughter’s hair; she had been looking forward to meeting Tianming for the first time.

”That fellow’s always disappearing somewhere! He’s finally back, hmph!” Suishen Yao pouted in a rather cute manner. When she was next to her mother or Eminent Jiguang, her youthful, mischievous vigor made her quite unique. One could feel the vibrancy of youth simply by looking at her.

The mother and daughter walked outside and saw two figures approaching from afar. One was a youth with white hair and eyes of black and gold. His left arm was covered in black hexagonal scales, and his eyes emanated an imperial aura.

The only person in Myriadpath Valley with a similar and comparable aura to Tianming was Eminent Ranxing alone. Nobody else looked the part of a ruler; it was another reason that Tianming and him simply didn’t get along. There was only room for one tiger on the mountain.

As for Yumo Diyan of House Yumo, he didn’t look like a ruler, but a savage despot. House Qitian, on the other hand, was even more different. They seemed righteous on the surface, but were heartless at their core. The valley lord who had killed his own wife was the epitome of that.

Suishen Xiyue’s eyes were immediately drawn to the youth. Her eyes shook for a moment before she dropped the jade comb in her hand to the ground.

”Mother, it’s him! That little crook!” Suishen Yao’s expression was furious, as if she wanted to completely devour him.

”Ohh....” Suishen Xiyue and her daughter stood by while Eminent Jiguang led Tianming to them.

Even though it wasn’t his first time seeing Suishen Xiyue, Tianming pretended it was. ”Mother-in-law, your son-in-law has come to pay his greetings.”

Right when he finished, Suishen Yao clicked her tongue and glared at him. ”Don’t pretend to be a goody-two-shoes before my mom! I already told her about all the bad things you’ve been up to!”

”Huh?” Tianming froze.

Suishen Xiyue gave her daughter an odd look and chuckled, ”What’re you talking about? Don’t listen to her nonsense. All I heard after coming back to Myriadpath Valley were tales of your glorious exploits. Nobody else has been able to come from an outer mundus at such a young age and rise to become a minor pathkeeper!”

Tianming awkwardly scratched his head. It was his first time having a mother-in-law of any kind, so he didn’t have any experience with such situations. All he could do was sheepishly smile.

Fortunately, Suishen Xiyue seemed rather gentle. She looked him up and down and asked, ”What cultivation level are you at right now?”

Tianming honestly answered, ”The third level of the Foundation stage.”

Before anyone else could react, Suishen Yao jumped and stared at him. ”You’ve surpassed me?! You’re just making things up.”

”Isn’t that expected?” Tianming asked.

”Hell! You’re not giving me any face even when my mom’s right here!” Suishen Yao’s mood immediately soured.

Suishen Xiyue couldn’t help but smile at the sight of the young couple bickering. That was what youth was like. Though she had four thousand years under her belt, she still looked healthy and young, much like a mature older sister. Time hadn’t left much of a mark on her. All three of the women looked like sisters, with Suishen Xiyue looking the oldest and most developed.

”Tianming, how many simulacra do your totems have?” Suishen Xiyue asked.

”Five! Only five!” Tianming was worried that she would ask him to show them one by one, so he unconsciously looked at Eminent Jiguang.

”Five? It’s decent compared to those of your age, but compared to the other skills in your arsenal, it seems a bit underwhelming. You have to work harder with Yaoyao, okay? Dual cultivate more! It’s hard work, but there’ll be results!” Suishen Xiyue earnestly said.

”Yes, Mother-in-law!” Tianming nodded.

”Dual cultivate my ass...” Suishen Yao whispered with her head looking down.

”Mother-in-law? That’s too stiff of an address. Just call me ’Mother’ like Yaoyao does.”

”Umm....” Even though Tianming called Eminent Jiguang Auntie the same way as Suishen Yao did, he felt that calling Suishen Xiyue Mother was a little much.

”Hmmm?” Even though Suishen Xiyue seemed gentle, her look was stern. Tianming timidly called her Mother and made her chuckle. Just like that, she had acknowledged him as her son-in-law. Tianming had officially joined their little faction within House Suishen.

”Alright, since you’re back home, don’t go running around without notice again, got it? Myriadpath Valley will be seeing much trouble ahead,” Suishen Xiyue warned.

”Of course!” Tianming nodded. With him there, Myriadpath Valley would be even more chaotic.

”Now go play with Yaoyao.”

”Roger that! Your son-in-law shall take his leave.” He grabbed Suishen Yao to make her follow him, albeit rather unwillingly.

”Hey, where’s the baleflame you promised me?” she asked.

”There’s no more. It’s all gone,” Tianming said.

”You little!” She glared at him, squabbling as they left.

”It’s so nice to be young,” Suishen Xiyue lamented as they left. Then, she turned to her sister. ”The Ancestral Worship Ceremony is tomorrow. Should we go over the plan again?”

”Okay,” Eminent Jiguang said.

”Many years ago, the valley lord killed his own wife during the ceremony and led the Three Exalted Houses against House Qingchuan. It’s finally time to worship our ancestors once again.”