Standing on the elevated platform, Ye Muo was still somewhat dazed. The trip back was much smoother than last time. At least he was still standing.
Norton pressed his hand down slightly harder on his shoulder, “Xavier, how is your psychic power?”
Ye Muo sensed it carefully, “A bit excited.”
Ano also came over to give him a proper look-down. Theodore followed suit after a moment of consideration.
Norton released his psychic power and carefully examined every inch of the child. He was fine aside from his psychic power appearing more active than usual, unlike Norton and Ano, who had nearly exhausted their psychic power.
Norton relaxed slightly.
Xavier was a child favoured by spacetime.
Ye Muo was still trying to control his psychic power, wanting to herd them back into his psychic domain. However, they seemed overly excited right now. That, combined with the fact the trip they just made, made him somewhat nauseous.
So Ye Muo gave up and relinquished control entirely, thinking that everything would be fine once they calmed down. A split second later, his psychic power surged out of his psychic domain, suffusing the entire sword collection hall before engulfing the entire palace.
It was somewhat impolite, almost like he was broadcasting to the world that he couldn’t control his psychic power. But right now, Ye Muo didn’t even have time to worry about Bert coming over to laugh at him again.
His eyes widened as all the swords in the room slowly floated up before beginning to hum.
The intricate patterns on these dim blade began to light up once more, followed by the names on their hilts. Each distinct name glowed softly.
These swords were all dead.
Yet now, having accepted Ye Muo’s psychic power, reclaimed their former edge.
Putting a dead sword to use involved a slow, painstaking bonding process. Even if one managed to use it in the end, it would never reach the same heights of power as it did with its original master. The moment psychic power wasn’t channeling through it anymore, the sword would revert to its former state.
For anyone other than its original master, there was only one shortcut to wield a dead sword: said master had to mix their psychic power with the other person’s and embed that bit by bit into the blade. It was still time consuming and labour intensive. Instead of going through the trouble of doing that, most Grantz usually chose to forge a new sword instead.
Yet now, every single sword in the entire hall responded to Ye Muo like greetings echoing across time and space.
Ano pointed to one sword and called out, “Xavier.”
Ye Muo looked in the direction he was pointed and saw Yinghui. After so much time had passed, the blade bore not a single scratch. The jewel embedded in its hilt continued to shine brilliantly. On its hilt–
Ye Muo paused. The name glowing softly on its hilt was his own. Passed down through countless generations to this day, the enduring jewel still contained his psychic power. The little lamp remained bright to this day.
Norton’s gaze travelled past many swords to a select few. Embedded on their hilts were jewels carved into small lions in various poses. The name inscribed on them was Ethan’s.
He made a note to put those swords away later before turing his attention to the door.
The heavy door had been kicked open with a single blow.
“Xavier!”
It was Bert, followed closely by the other Grantz. They stood in the doorway, looking this way across the countless swords floating between them.
While Bert let out a long sigh, Helene and Dylan were already on the move, leading the others to step past him.
He watched as they gathered around Ye Muo, Norton and Ano before slowly walking over to join them.
Bert shoved his way before pulling Helene off the child she was embracing. Then, amidst a chorus of protests and complaints, he hugged the child himself. The man didn’t retort for once, nor did he mess up Ye Muo’s hair, though it was already a mess.
He just silently stroked Ye Muo’s hair back to his nape again and again, as if comforting a startled kitten.
Ye Muo didn’t move. Resting his chin on Bert’s shoulder, he blinked, sensing the faint tremour in the man’s hand. He wasn’t the one who had been startled, Bert was.
So he hugged Bert back and patted his arm. “I missed you a bit, Bert.”
“Just a bit? You little scoundrel.”
“I would’ve missed you a lot given a few more days. However, Dad and Ano found me just before that happened. I missed a lot of things. I missed everyone here and even the beef dish Adlet makes.”
Ye Muo’s stomach growled at the mention of food, causing him to abruptly fall silent. Though he had just eaten at Ambrose’s place, he was feeling a bit peckish already.
Bert gradually let go of him. “Let’s go eat.”
Ye Muo made a sound of acknowledgement. He tried to set those swords back down to no avail.
After thinking for a moment, he started pushing them back down one by one. Theodore tried to help him. The two of them were soon stopped as Norton stepped in. Each sword fell silent once more, awaiting their next awakening.
Bert patted his head. “Dummy. How have you been outside? You didn’t starve, did you? Come, let’s go eat.”
……
Ye Muo buried his head and ate at the dining table.
The Grantz plus Sylvia just watched him eat. Ye Muo was unused to it at first, but he quickly learned to ignore their gazes, as well as the occasional psychic probe from one of the Grantz.
Ye Muo’s own psychic power was in somewhat of a bad mood, automatically swatting anyone who drew close. Even so, these big cats patiently went over to look. Even though they could swiftly draw back at any time, they insisted on taking a good, long look, almost as if they wanted to be swatted to begin with.
The game went on for a few more rounds before Norton’s psychic power put a complete stop to it.
Ye Muo peacefully enjoyed his meal.
Then his head suddenly shot up. He gulped down the food in his mouth. “What about Mom and–”
Adlet set the beef stew down in front of Ye Muo. “Rest assured, Your Little Highness. Commander Ye and Lady Ye have been informed that you are safe and sound. Commander Ye went to pick up your two older brothers and is currently on his way. I will notify you as soon as they arrive. If I’m not mistaken, you will be able to see them right after dinner.”
He pushed the roast chicken slightly toward Ye Muo, thoughtfully carving the meat for him before placing it onto Ye Muo’s plate.
Ye Muo wordlessly got back to eating before hurriedly adding, “This is delicious too, Adlet.”
Adlet expressed his gratitude with a smile. Instead of stepping away, for once, he ruffled Ye Muo’s hair. “Did you come across any foods you liked outside?”
“I did, Adlet, but none of them could hold a candle to your cooking. Some dishes weren’t even on the level of what our chefs can make either, though others were quite nice.”
“You can always let me know if there is anything you’d like to eat. I would be glad to give it a try.”
Ye Muo nodded as he continued eating.
Once he finished and started drinking his milk, Bert rose from his seat. “Alright, now spill your–”
He was slapped back into his seat by Sylvia, who embraced Ye Muo once more. “My Little Muo, my Xavier…you must’ve gone through so much. You’ve even become thin–”
Sylvia suddenly paused. She pinched Ye Muo’s cheeks and recalled what they used to feel like. “No, you don’t seem any thinner. Our Xavier is so capable and took good care of himself.”
Bert leaned over with a dissatisfied look on his face. “You can’t be like this when it comes to parenting, Sylvia. We need to present a united front, otherwise where will our pride as parents go?”
“Xavier has just come home. You’re being too harsh on him. Isn’t that right, Norton? It seems our Emperor Bert has regained some of his majesty after acting as emperor for a couple of days.”
“That’s right.” Helene was the first to chime in.
“But I still need to know what they’ve been up to.”
Dylan: “You can ask Big Brother and Ano.”
Adrian also played along, “Right? Xavier is still a child. He’s just come back too.”
Aria and Jacob crowded around Ye Muo once again, stroking his hair from time to time and examining his face and clothes for the umpteenth time.
Meanwhile, Ano had already crossed his arms. He was waiting for Bert to question him.
“My Little Ano isn’t of any use yet.”
“? What do you mean by that? Big Brother!”
Bert’s gaze bypassed Ano as he skillfully diverted his ill-tempered youngest son and his delayed tantrum, “They only went over at the very end. Only Xavier knows what he experienced before that.”
Theodore, who had been eating the pudding Ye Muo pushed over to him, raised his hand. “I know too.”
Realization dawned on the faces of several Grantz. Bert immediately pulled Theodore over, “Okay, Little Star. It’s up to you then. You’re certainly not young anymore. Grab your pudding and let’s head to the study to talk.”
Theodore blinked with pudding in hand. “I’d like to try the cake too.”
So Bert picked up a slice of cake for Theodore before glancing at Ye Muo. He seemed to still be debating over whether to take him along as well.
Adlet stepped into the room again. “Your Little Highness, Commander Ye and Lady Ye have arrived and are currently in the lounge closest to the dining room. Secretary-General Lin has also arrived and is waiting in the study.”
Ye Muo looked at Norton, who stood up and glanced down at him. Ye Muo quietly followed Norton out.
He rushed inside the moment Adlet opened the door to the lounge.
Ye Zhiyuan and Lady Ye were standing near the sofa nearby along with Ye He and Ye Yun.
They probably remained standing after Adlet led them in. Lady Ye caught Ye Muo as he dashed over. “As long as you’re home, Muomuo. I hope you weren’t feeling too down out there. Did you sleep well? Did you have enough to eat?”
Ye Zhiyuan saluted Norton before going straight to check on Ye Muo.
“I had food, and I met wonderful people. It was a good experience.”
“That’s wonderful. I’m so glad to hear that.”
She cupped Ye Muo’s face in her hands. Although it had only been a few months, this was still the longest period Ye Muo had ever been away from her, with zero news from him in between at that.
Lady Ye fussed over him, asking a barrage of questions, many of which Ye Muo had already answered before.
Still, he earnestly answered each and every one again.
Ye Zhiyuan also stayed close by, asking the occasional question. Whenever he couldn’t get a word in, he would stroke Ye Muo’s hair or gently pat his back.
Only after confirming that Ye Muo was completely fine did Lady Ye and Ye Zhiyuan turn their attention back to Norton. Adlet poured them some tea on the side.
The three exchanged pleasantries and eventually began chatting like ordinary parents, a dynamic they had long grown accustomed to.
Ye Muo was then surrounded again by Ye He and Ye Yun, who checked him over several times. Ye Yun hurriedly circled him a couple of times. “You seem to be in pretty good condition, with no wounds as well. Where did you go?”
Ye He gave Ye Yun a light pat on the head, causing him to mutter discontently, “I know, I know. I won’t ask, alright?”
The three of them sat on the sofa in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows, far away from the adults.
Ye Muo glanced between Ye He and Ye Yun before belatedly realizing something and asking the former, “Big Brother, why are you wearing a school uniform too?”
Ye Yun immediately burst into laughter. Meanwhile, Ye He’s expression cracked for once, obviously darkening a fraction.
“He’s been sent back to school along with a whole bunch of other people.” Ye Yun jeered, “Supposedly, our school system will be gradually integrated with the Alliance’s.”
“I heard there’ll be another decade of schooling? Or was it two or three decades? I can’t remember exactly, but it was a very long time…”
Ye Yun grew disheartened himself before crashing out in anger, “What’s there to learn from the schools of a weakass place like the Alliance? Those old geezers have truly gone senile.”
Ye Muo couldn’t help but huff in amusement, earning him a glare from Ye Yun along with a smack on the head. “Don’t laugh! You have to attend for just as long! You’ll be stuck there as long as me!”
Ye Muo clutched his head though it didn’t hurt. “But I like to go to school. Especially if I can take classes together with you, Big Brother.”
In the general elective courses they took together, Ye Yun always saved a seat for him. After leading him over, under everyone’s gazes, he would always nag him about paying attention to this and be on alert for that. Ye Muo liked that a lot.
Hearing this, Ye Yun instantly stopped being angry. Removing Ye Muo’s hands, he began gently rubbing the spot he had hit. “I guess I don’t dislike it that much either since, you know, taking classes together and all that. Also, are you an idiot? Why didn’t you even try to dodge?”
“It’s not like Big Brother would ever hit me for real.”
“I suppose you have your moments. It’s all Eldest Brother’s fault. He smacked me so much that I developed a bad habit.”
With that, both Ye Yun and Ye Muo turned to stare at Ye He.
As Ye He slowly raised his hand, the two of them instinctively clutched their heads and lowered their gazes in perfect unison.
Bowing one’s head in front of Eldest Brother was nothing to be ashamed about.
Author’s Corner
After Muomuo grasped the mysteries of time, he went back to visit Ambrose and the others. Upon feeling the sadness of parting when he came back that night, he went over for another visit the following day. This went on and on until Muomuo turned Ambrose’s place into a third home for himself. Whenever he had something delicious, he would ask Adlet for two more portions; one would go to the Ye family while the other would go to Ambrose’s.
With a smile, Ambrose ruffled Muomuo’s hair into a mess: Remember to bring some wine along next time
So Muomuo brought a bottle of wine over that afternoon
—
I probably won’t write about the future where everyone’s out and free. That’ll be a hell of its own with way too many characters that I have to keep track of and name. Let Muomuo gradually reach that point by himself. Advanced warning about Muomuo going bald due to having his hair ruffled too much. I might write some little stories about Muomuo’s frequent visits to Ambrose and the others after he grasps time travel in the extras.
