"It's actually the Southwest Chen Family. The three people I subdued earlier, that Chen Family Ancestor, can actually... be considered your ancestor too..."
Mu Jinyu felt a bit awkward while explaining, but he still braced himself and spoke.
"Him?"
Wen Rou had met those three people before but hadn't expected that the old man who was so submissive in front of Mu Jinyu would turn out to be her maternal ancestor.
"Yes, do you want to go see your mother?" Mu Jinyu asked.
Having opened up, Mu Jinyu also felt less awkward, as when he subdued the Chen Family Ancestor, he wasn't aware of the relation to Wen Rou. It was indeed the ancestor who first provoked him, leading to the subjugation as a servant; he couldn't be blamed.
He was rather grateful now, for not having killed those three people then, but leaving them alive.
Otherwise, if he accidentally killed the Chen Family Ancestor, although Wen Rou wouldn't blame him, he would still feel bad.
"Hmm..."
Upon hearing Mu Jinyu's inquiry, Wen Rou pondered for a moment, then looked up at Mu Jinyu and asked, "Our purpose of coming to the Kunlun Ruins is essentially accomplished, next we plan to go back home, right?"
"Yes." Mu Jinyu nodded.
Leaving Huaxia and coming to the Kunlun Ruins has taken more than a year.
His two objectives in coming to the Kunlun Ruins, to switch Wen Rou and Jian Ruyan back to their bodies and investigate Xiang Mantang's blood feud, have both been fulfilled now.
He had no reason to continue staying in the Kunlun Ruins without returning.
Although the Spiritual Energy here is more abundant, there are still more people he cannot forget back on the Huaxia side, Gu Xiyan, Mei Yinxue, Lin Qiaoxia, Yu Linglong, Xu Qingya, and his mother Su Zijin among others...
He separated from them for more than a year and has long wanted to go back to see them.
Moreover, when he took Wen Rou and Jian Ruyan away from Huaxia, the Earth was facing the transformation after the dark turmoil ended, amidst a Spiritual Energy Revival.
Countless beasts absorbing the essence of the Heaven, Earth, and the sun and moon turned into terrifying ferocious beasts and demon beasts, rampaging everywhere, creating chaos, and he doesn't know how it's over there now.
He did pass on a Cultivation Method to the authorities before leaving, implementing a plan of universal martial cultivation, but he can't guarantee no accidents will occur.
"Alright, since that's the case, let me go meet them then..."
Wen Rou pursed her lips and said softly.
She knows that after leaving the Kunlun Ruins, it's not impossible to come back, but certainly, she'll rarely return.
Avoiding the large-scale entry of cultivators from the Kunlun Ruins into Huaxia, causing unforeseen changes.
And since she's going to leave, she's also prepared to see her mother again completely, resolving her inner knot.
...
Half a day later.
Mu Jinyu took Wen Rou and Jian Ruyan, leaving the Heavenly Sword Faction, not bringing the sect leaders from the Wuji Sect and Baiyang Palace, but letting them return to their respective sects.
After all, his initial purpose in subduing them and keeping them by his side was to have assistance if the upper echelons of the Heavenly Palace came en masse to hunt him, preventing him from being unsupported.
But now the crises from the Heavenly Palace have ended in his favor, and there's nowhere in the Kunlun Ruins he cannot go, so there's no need to keep them any longer.
Returning to the mountain range where the Southwest Chen Family is located, the Chen Family Ancestor and others had already come ahead to greet them following Mu Jinyu's notification.
Of course, not wanting to become the focal point of the Chen Family's attention, Mu Jinyu only allowed the Chen Family Ancestor and a few top figures to come out—none of the Chen Family Descendants would be bothered.
"Welcome back, Master..."
The Chen Family Ancestor immediately led the ceremonial greeting, speaking respectfully upon seeing Mu Jinyu accompanied by the two women arriving at the Chen Family.
Mu Jinyu felt awkward hearing this, especially now the identity is already revealed that he's actually the ancestor of Wen Rou's maternal family, calling him Master just feels too awkward.
"You don't need to call me that anymore; I'll remove the Restriction for you."
Mu Jinyu couldn't stand it and took the initiative to remove the Restrictions from the Chen Family Ancestor, freeing his life from being tied to a single thought of his.
Wen Rou stood aside, casting a look of gratitude towards Mu Jinyu.
She knew the resentment between the Chen Family Ancestor and Mu Jinyu was quite substantial. He originally survived by serving, which was already lenient, but because of her, Mu Jinyu chose not to pursue the past grudge of chasing and killing and opted to completely let him go.
"Great thanks to Young Master Mu..."
The Chen Family Ancestor didn't act coyly, didn't say something like being a servant for life; if possible, why would he willingly let his life be controlled by another? He was only forced to be.
Thus, after Mu Jinyu lifted the Restrictions on him, he immediately changed his address from Master to Young Master Mu, though the tone was still full of gratitude.
Afterward, he also cast a grateful glance toward Wen Rou.
He understood that escaping the punishment of servitude was possible all because of his Chen Family descendant.
Wen Rou saw the Chen Family Ancestor's gaze turn towards her, forcing a smile, not knowing what to say.
After all, she wasn't raised in the Chen Family from childhood, she feels nothing for it, and if her mother wasn't a Chen Family member, she might not have come specifically.
The Chen Family Ancestor didn't mind; he promptly called them in.
Mu Jinyu held Wen Rou's hand, giving her an encouraging look.
Wen Rou took a deep breath, also gathering courage, following Mu Jinyu inside.
The Chen Family Ancestor was shrewd and obviously knew Mu Jinyu brought Wen Rou over, not to visit him or the Chen Family, but for Chen Shuyi.
Thus, he didn't fuss about leading them to the Chen Family Ancestral Ground, but directly took them to find Chen Shuyi.
Arriving at the entrance of Chen Shuyi's newly changed courtyard, the Chen Family Ancestor called out inside, then respectfully spoke to Mu Jinyu, courteously taking his leave.
"Creak."
The courtyard door opened. Chen Shuyi came out, with a slightly haggard face, looking at Wen Rou with extremely complex eyes.
There was regret, guilt, relief, and surprise...
"Xiaorou, I..."
Chen Shuyi opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but finally sighed deeply, her tone full of apology, "Mom is sorry."
She knows that whatever she says doesn't have much meaning, so it's better to simply apologize.
Different from Su Zijin's justified departure from Mu Jinyu, understandable once the truth was known.
She left Wen Rou's family not being able to stay in the Wen Family and truly chose to abandon Wen Rou, for more than ten years afterward not once returning to see Wen Rou, even missing her daughter infrequently, almost forgetting she actually still had a daughter.
If not for the Chen Family Clan Elder's divination, she wouldn't have gone out to find Wen Rou a year ago.
Knowing about the changes in Wen Rou and Mu Jinyu now, her heart is extremely conflicted, but she doesn't have a heart of exploitation, only filled with guilt.
"Mom..." Wen Rou opened her mouth, then also with a complex expression called out to Chen Shuyi.
Mu Jinyu looked at this scene, also detecting Chen Shuyi's genuine remorse, smiled slightly, and then quietly took Jian Ruyan away from here, not disturbing their mother and daughter's reunion.