After Helian Sheng left, Ye Tiancheng and his companions remained in the capital for over a month before Nie Chongyang finally completed his mission and returned.
Upon Nie Chongyang's return, he learned that Ye Tiancheng and the others had returned to the capital and immediately went to see Ye Tiancheng. After a period of catching up and exchanging pleasantries, Ye Tiancheng discussed the events of three years prior with Nie Chongyang, along with their future plans and arrangements.
Once both parties had reached a satisfactory agreement, Ye Tiancheng finally departed from the capital.
Following this, Ye Tiancheng's most pressing task was to visit the Hou family to provide an explanation and thoroughly stabilize the situation. Previously, the Hou family had been supported by Helian Yue and her associates. Now that Ye Tiancheng had returned, it was natural for him to take back the reins.
The Hou family undoubtedly harbored grievances towards Ye Tiancheng, and not everyone was willing to submit to him. Without Hou Mingzhu, stabilizing the Hou family's situation would not be an easy task for Ye Tiancheng.
Fortunately, Ye Tiancheng was not without capability, and he ultimately managed to control the situation and resolve the issues within the Hou family.
To avoid any misunderstandings with the Hou family, Ye Tiancheng did not bring Long Miaomiao with him when he went to address the Hou family's affairs. Instead, he had Long Miaomiao wait elsewhere. After resolving all matters and leaving the Hou family, Ye Tiancheng, along with the little fox, went to pick up Long Miaomiao.
Originally, Ye Tiancheng had planned to accelerate the collection of Fuxi Qin fragments as soon as the situation was under control.
However, just as the three of them were preparing to depart, Long Miaomiao suddenly asked Ye Tiancheng, "More than three years ago, to protect Qingcheng's child, you hid Qingcheng away. She was forced to stay in a secluded place, likely having not seen outsiders for many years. Now you have also been missing for three years. Shouldn't you go and see that child? Qingcheng's child already suffered the trauma of witnessing her mother's accident and was then left in a place isolated from the outside world. Even if she is sensible, I believe that as her father, you did this for her own good. But Qingcheng is still a child, not yet grown."
Upon hearing Long Miaomiao's words, Ye Tiancheng's expression immediately showed signs of wavering. Did he care about his daughter? The answer was undeniably yes. Long Miaomiao's suggestion could not help but stir his heart.
However, in the very next moment, Ye Tiancheng's mind was once again filled with numerous concerns. When he had chosen to hide Ye Qingcheng, it was for her protection, to prevent her whereabouts from being revealed and to shield her from danger. It was for this very reason that he had not seen his daughter again after hiding her. Not to mention, what happened later, when he was sucked into a black vortex in university and disappeared for a full three years.
Now, although Ye Tiancheng had returned to the world, everything had not yet concluded. Furthermore, his disappearance for three years and his sudden reappearance meant that news of his return would inevitably be discovered by those who were tracking his whereabouts. Consequently, Ye Tiancheng's every move during this period would be closely scrutinized by others. This led to Ye Tiancheng's increased concerns. If, at this moment, swayed by his emotions, he went to visit Ye Qingcheng, and her whereabouts were discovered, leading to attempts to threaten him by using Ye Qingcheng, the situation would become dire.
But, should he truly give up and not visit Ye Qingcheng? Ye Tiancheng could not bring himself to be so heartless. As Long Miaomiao had said, no matter how sensible Ye Qingcheng was, she was still just a little girl. Living such a life for an extended period would certainly not be good for her, especially since she was forced to be separated from her parents for so long. He had already failed his daughter too much.
Ye Tiancheng was torn. However, after much hesitation, his longing for his daughter ultimately prevailed, and Ye Tiancheng relented, deciding to go and see Ye Qingcheng. It had been over three years, and Ye Tiancheng was very concerned about his daughter's current condition. Fortunately, they had only returned recently and had been mindful of their movements. As long as they were careful and tried to conceal their itinerary, they could minimize unnecessary trouble.
On his way to pick up his daughter, Ye Tiancheng began to ponder what gifts would be appropriate to bring to see her, something that would make her happy. He thought for a moment and then asked Long Miaomiao, "Miaomiao, what about that sable that was with you? Long Zhaozhao, how is he now? Has he woken up?"
Long Miaomiao tilted her head and looked at Ye Tiancheng. "You're asking about Long Zhaozhao?"
The three of them had been trapped in that space for three years, and Long Zhaozhao had actually been with them for those three years. After all, Long Zhaozhao had always been with Long Miaomiao. However, Long Zhaozhao was indeed not a very powerful spirit creature, his strength was too weak. If he were released, it would slow down Ye Tiancheng and the others' escape. Fortunately, perhaps because Long Zhaozhao was not very powerful, the space was not as strict with him as it was with Ye Tiancheng and the others. At that time, they were in an unknown realm, so Long Miaomiao simply created a small space and carried it with her, allowing Long Zhaozhao to enter. Subsequently, Long Zhaozhao had basically been in seclusion and cultivation within that space, never coming out.
However, if Long Zhaozhao were to leave that space, Long Miaomiao would react and be aware of it. Long Zhaozhao also did not feel stifled or restricted in that space, and fearing that he would be a burden to Ye Tiancheng and Long Miaomiao, he gladly entered the space. But Long Zhaozhao had been in seclusion in that space and had not come out since entering. This caused Long Zhaozhao's presence to fade further and further. If Ye Tiancheng had not suddenly remembered, any one of them would likely not have remembered that they had such a being with them.
When they returned to the world a month ago, they were busy with various matters, and none of them remembered that Long Zhaozhao was still in seclusion. Because that space was created and controlled by Long Miaomiao, even though Long Miaomiao had almost forgotten about it, Ye Tiancheng's mention of it allowed Long Miaomiao to react immediately and sense the situation within the space.
Then, Long Miaomiao replied to Ye Tiancheng, "It seems he's not in strict seclusion anymore, but he also has no intention of coming out. But why are you asking about him? Do you need him for something?"
Ye Tiancheng said, "Oh, it's nothing major. We're going to see my daughter Qingcheng, aren't we? I was thinking about what to bring to see her and appease her, so I thought, could we ask that sable to come out and keep Qingcheng company to relieve her boredom?"
"It's possible," Ye Tiancheng's words were met with little objection from Long Miaomiao. "Long Zhaozhao probably won't have any objections."
"But now that you mention it, you've reminded me."
Ye Tiancheng looked at Long Miaomiao with some confusion. "Hmm? Reminded you of what?"
Long Miaomiao said to Ye Tiancheng, "Long Zhaozhao has been following us because I promised him beforehand that I would let him cultivate with me, which is why I brought him along. But in reality, Long Zhaozhao isn't of much help to us; he can only be a little follower. But now, you want him to appease Qingcheng, which actually gives me some ideas."
Ye Tiancheng hesitated slightly. "What ideas?"
Long Miaomiao told Ye Tiancheng, "It's actually inconvenient to bring Long Zhaozhao, and there's no significant benefit. I just have to bring him because I promised to help him cultivate. But since you want him to entertain Qingcheng, that's actually a good thing. Qingcheng has been feeling down, and having a little sable to accompany her would indeed be a good thing."
From this perspective, there was indeed nothing wrong with it, but Ye Tiancheng sounded somewhat hesitant. Ye Tiancheng said, "The logic is sound, but back then, you agreed to those conditions with Long Zhaozhao in exchange for Fuxi Qin fragments, and a contract was signed. If you leave him with Qingcheng, wouldn't that be a violation of your promise?" He said uncertainly. "Long Zhaozhao agreed to the exchange for the benefits of cultivating with you. If he's left with Qingcheng, he won't be able to enjoy those benefits."
Long Miaomiao heard Ye Tiancheng say this and shook her head. She said to Ye Tiancheng, "This matter is not difficult to resolve. What Long Zhaozhao wants is simply the benefits of cultivating alongside me, a dragon. And such benefits can still be provided to him even if he doesn't stay by my side, as long as there is enough dragon aura left in Qingcheng's living space. At that time, I only need to call Long Zhaozhao out and explain this to him. As long as he is willing to play with your daughter, there will be no other problems; it's not a difficult matter."
Ye Tiancheng hadn't expected the solution to be so simple, but it was indeed a good method. Ye Tiancheng finally nodded upon hearing this and said, "So it can be done this way. Then it's certainly worth considering. However, this matter should still be discussed with Long Zhaozhao, and he must be willing."
"We cannot force him. If Long Zhaozhao is unwilling, then this matter will be dropped, and we will pretend it was never mentioned." Ye Tiancheng felt that Long Zhaozhao's opinion should still be respected.
Long Miaomiao was indifferent to such matters. She herself hadn't thought that much about it. No matter how much she liked Ye Tiancheng, she was still a dragon. Although she wasn't one before, she had been a dragon for many years, and dragons naturally possessed a sense of superiority. Long Miaomiao was merely thinking of a solution and didn't consider whether others were willing. After all, when a dragon proposes something, and one receives a favor from a dragon, who would dare to speak of willingness or unwillingness?
However, since Ye Tiancheng brought it up, Long Miaomiao had no objections. She was willing to do as Ye Tiancheng wished. It was a trivial matter, and Long Miaomiao had no intention of going against Ye Tiancheng; there was no need for her to do so.