Chapter 39: Three Women, Reunited

Qin Yumuo had arrived early, and as soon as she reached the spot, she saw Qing Lan waiting nearby through the party information.

Her most immediate impression could be summed up in one word: "Beautiful! Simply breathtakingly beautiful!"

Even as a woman, she couldn't help but want to look at her again and again. Her tall stature and proud curves radiated the mature, seductive allure of a woman. Her classical, oval-shaped face featured perfectly sculpted eyebrows, eyes, a nose, and lips—as if crafted by a divine hand showing off its skill. She stood there with a gentle and tranquil air, charming yet not vixenish, a stark contrast to the bewitching aura of Ling Dian.

"Can such a beautiful woman really exist in this world?" Qin Yumuo couldn't help but sigh in her heart.

Just then, she saw Fu Chen rush over from the teleportation array, embrace Qing Lan, and speak with obvious excitement. Suddenly, Qin Yumuo felt her heart tighten painfully. Her senses seemed to vanish, and she could only stand there, dazed, watching the scene.

Qing Lan, caught in the embrace, reached out with a look of feigned annoyance and pinched Fu Chen’s ear, pulling him away from her. Fu Chen winced in pain, grinning as he begged for mercy while complaining stubbornly:

"Ouch! Ouch! Let go! Can't you let me have a proper hug after not seeing me for so long?"

Qing Lan didn't release her grip. With a cold face, she interrogated him: "You knew it had been so long, why didn't you think to call home? You didn't even tell me you were entering the Perfect World. Have you grown wings, or have I lost my edge with a blade?"

"I was wrong, I promise I won't do it again. From now on, I’ll report everything, no matter how small!"

Though Fu Chen acted pitifully on the surface, he felt a level of peace and contentment he had never known before. This was his own flesh and blood—his birth mother. Most importantly, the tragic ending of his past life had not come to pass; his mother was safe and sound!

Fu Chen couldn't help but glance at "Yao Si Qing Meng" in the party list. He swore to himself: "Yang Siyao, in this life, I will protect my mother and make you pay the price you deserve."

Qing Lan, unaware of the complex emotions swirling within her son, finally let go after hearing his promise. She gave a proud, haughty huff: "Hmph, remember what you just said, or you'll see how I deal with you."

Fu Chen offered repeated assurances before immediately sending a trade request. He placed the six profession experience manuals he had prepared early on into the window. Pleased with himself, he said coaxingly, "These are all the experience manuals I’ve collected. I saved them specifically for you."

***

Qing Lan felt quite touched and chuckled. "The purpose of experience skills is to help people choose the profession that suits them. I’ve read about it online and decided to awaken as a Feather Spirit. Just give me the magic-based experience manuals."

Fu Chen was not surprised by this choice. He smiled and replied, "Keep them all; if there are any you don't need, you can give them away."

After accepting the manuals, Qing Lan suddenly turned stern. "How did you reach level 15 in three days? Why are you being so reckless with yourself?"

Fu Chen looked confused. "What do you mean? I was just leveling up by fighting monsters and doing quests with my teammates."

Qing Lan frowned, annoyed. "Don't try to fool me. You might not really die here, but the sensory feedback is real." She stared directly into her son's eyes and asked sharply, "You’re leveling so fast—don’t you ever rest and recover after finishing a quest?"

Fu Chen finally understood. His mother was worried that his soul wouldn't be able to bear the damage from the monsters. He laughed and replied, "No, it's not like that. My teammates and I coordinate well; the monsters can barely touch me."

At this point, Fu Chen remembered his teammate, who had come over with him. He turned toward Qin Yumuo, who was still standing in the middle of the teleportation array, and called out, "Huang, come over here."

Qin Yumuo, who had been watching blankly, habitually followed Fu Chen’s instructions and rode her mount over to them. Fu Chen smiled and introduced them. First, he pointed to Qin Yumuo: "This is Huang, my teammate and partner for the past few days."

Then, he pointed to Qing Lan and explained, "This is Qing Lan, my..."

"Ahem!" Qing Lan gave a soft cough, shot him a swift warning look, and interrupted, "I am his family."

Fu Chen gave a wry smile and could only nod in agreement, adding, "Yes, this is my family—my biological family."

This introduction took Qin Yumuo completely by surprise. She froze for a moment, but her heart suddenly felt light and joyous. She quickly hopped off her mount and stepped forward with a sweet smile. "Hello, Sister Qing Lan, I’m Qin Yumuo. It’s a pleasure to meet you."

Qing Lan’s eyes lit up, and she smiled with great warmth. "Yumuo, what a lovely name. I’m very happy to meet you too." She looked Qin Yumuo over, clearly satisfied. "You also have the surname Qin; what a coincidence that we share a name. If Fu Chen ever causes you any trouble in the future, just let me know, and I’ll get revenge for you."

As the words left her lips, Qing Lan frowned, wondering to herself, "Wait, isn't Fu Chen's girlfriend named Yaoyao?"

Qin Yumuo blushed and replied demurely, "Thank you, Sister Qing Lan. Hong Chen—I mean, Fu Chen, is a very good person. He’s always looked after me."

By now, Qing Lan had pulled Fu Chen aside and whispered, "What’s going on? Did you change girlfriends?"

Before Fu Chen could answer, Yang Siyao’s voice echoed from the teleportation array: "I’m sorry, Auntie, I’m late."

***

Yang Siyao hurried over from the teleportation array, reached Fu Chen’s side, and stood before Qing Lan. Her demeanor was respectful and her expression sincere. "Hello, Auntie. I am Fu Chen’s girlfriend, Yang Siyao. I’m sorry I’m late."

Yang Siyao breathed a silent sigh of relief: "Thank goodness I made it in time."

Earlier, when she heard Fu Chen’s unique tone toward Qing Lan in the party chat, Yang Siyao had become suspicious and immediately rushed to the Sword Immortal City teleportation array. Before teleporting, she had heard Fu Chen introduce Qing Lan as "family, biological." Having dated Fu Chen for a year and lived together, she knew he came from a single-parent family and had been raised by his mother. The identity of the woman Fu Chen called "family" was obvious.

Before she could even feel relieved or happy, she realized Qing Lan seemed to have mistaken "Huang" for her. That wouldn't do! So, the moment she arrived, she took the initiative—apologizing first to admit her fault, then establishing her identity.

"I got it wrong!" Qing Lan glared at her son, then laughed awkwardly. "Hello, Yaoyao. I’ve often heard Fu Chen talk about you; it's nice to finally meet you in person."

Yang Siyao looped her arm through Fu Chen’s, feigning a look of shy anger. "Why didn't you tell me you were coming to meet your aunt? You made me late."

Fu Chen just smiled faintly, offering no explanation. Qing Lan watched their intimate display and began to size up her son’s girlfriend. She thought to herself: "She looks ordinary, but she’s quiet and pleasant. She’ll do. And she seems very anxious, so she clearly cares a lot about this brat."

Qin Yumuo, meanwhile, had been jolted awake by the word "Auntie," and her wits finally returned. "That’s right, Hong Chen’s surname is Fu, and Qing Lan shares my surname, Qin. And they are biological family—how could they be siblings?"

Embarrassed and ashamed, Qin Yumuo apologized in a panic: "A-Auntie, I’m so sorry. I misunderstood earlier."

Qing Lan laughed generously and said softly, "Don’t take it to heart; it was just a misunderstanding. This isn't Blue Star; just call me Qing Lan."

Qin Yumuo looked at Fu Chen, and upon seeing him nod, she smiled and said, "Then I think I’ll still call you Sister Qing Lan."

Fu Chen stepped in then. "Alright, now that everyone has been introduced, it’s time to get down to business."