Conquest of Taboo and Debauchery

Chapter 95: 95. Subtle changes

"Sister, what's so urgent that you had to call me this early?" Liu Yiru asked, feeling slightly puzzled as she answered the phone. Although she had a close bond with her sister, their busy careers often kept them apart, and they usually only spoke in the evenings. A morning call was unusual.

"Oh, is it that early?" Liu Fengyi teased. "Normally, you'd be at the company by now. What, are you getting too comfortable cuddling your son in bed?"

Liu Yiru blushed. "Sister, I'm trying to have a serious conversation here. Why are you teasing me?"

Laughing, Liu Fengyi responded, "Since when did you start acting spoiled? I remember you stopped doing that when you were fifteen. Have you gotten so used to being playful with your son that you're slipping into it with me now?"

Liu Yiru was taken aback by her sister's observation. It was true; she had rarely acted spoiled, even as a child. And ever since growing up, she'd all but stopped. But lately, something had shifted. She recalled the incident at the school gate and now realized she was unconsciously adopting the same tone. Could her attitude towards him have changed?

As these thoughts crossed her mind, she glanced over at her son, who was still in bed but watching her closely. His gaze held a certain warmth that made her blush again and her heart race. Reminding herself she was still on the phone, she regained her composure. "What's the matter, Sister?" she asked in a more neutral tone.

Liu Fengyi's tone turned serious. "Someone from the Wu family is coming."

"The Wu family?" Liu Yiru paused, then asked in surprise, "You mean the Wu family from the Martial Alliance?"

"Yes, them," her sister confirmed, her voice heavy. "A representative came this morning, saying they had business to discuss with the Liu family. The Wu family's becoming more aggressive, and I'm worried this visit might have bad intentions. I've managed to stall them for now, but we need to talk strategy."

"Understood. I'll be there right away," Liu Yiru replied. As she turned to inform Ye Fei, she noticed he was already up and fully dressed.

She blinked in surprise. With her heightened senses from years of inner strength training, she should have noticed him getting up and dressing. Yet, somehow, he had done so without her sensing a thing. This level of subtlety was rare—even her most skilled sister would struggle to be this discreet. She knew from previous tests how powerful her son was, but this moment of silence left her in awe.

For the first time, she felt a sense of mystery surrounding her son, a desire to understand him better—not just as his mother, but as a woman intrigued.

Seeing his mother's curious expression, Ye Fei asked, "Mom, is something wrong?"

"Nothing," she said, shaking her head. "I have to step out for a bit. Why don't you head to Dan's place and hang out with your third sister?"

"Actually, I'd like to come with you," Ye Fei said, having overheard part of the conversation. He didn't know much about the Wu family or the Martial Alliance, but he sensed they weren't friendly. Despite knowing his mother and aunt were more than capable, he still felt concerned. It was a protectiveness akin to that of a husband worried about his wife.

Liu Yiru considered it briefly before nodding. Her son had grown up, and it was time for him to be exposed to more of the real world. Besides, with his strength, she felt confident nothing could harm him.

Since it was a Sunday, Miss Li hadn't come by, so Liu Yiru drove herself, with Ye Fei sitting in the front passenger seat. He wanted to stay close to his mother, feeling that even the back seat would be too distant.

"Mom, what does the Wu family actually do?" Ye Fei asked as they drove. He found himself unable to stop admiring her beauty but masked his interest with the question.

Focused on driving, Liu Yiru didn't notice her son's gaze. "How do you know about the Wu family?" she asked, a bit surprised.

"Aunt mentioned them on the phone," he answered casually.

Liu Yiru relaxed. It made sense that he would have overheard, given his sharp hearing. She wasn't avoiding him on purpose, after all. A warm feeling bloomed in her chest as she realized he wanted to accompany her out of concern. It was a sweetness that made her feel oddly youthful, almost like a girl being cared for.

"The Wu family is one of the two guardian families of the Martial Alliance," she explained. Knowing her son's strength, she didn't see any reason to withhold information. He would inevitably encounter such things as he grew stronger.

"Guardian families? Sounds like something out of a martial arts film," Ye Fei chuckled. "So, what's this Martial Alliance?"

Liu Yiru slowed the car a little as she began to recount the story her father had told her. "It started about forty years ago. The country was in turmoil back then, and many martial artists took advantage of the chaos. While some caused trouble, others, with a stronger sense of justice, remained passive due to the political situation. Then, one day, a remarkably powerful man appeared.

After defeating several rogue martial artists, he issued a challenge, inviting all the country's warriors to meet at Mount Tai."

"The Liu family was among those invited. Your grandfather, who was young and bold at the time, naturally couldn't resist such an opportunity, so he went. According to him, this man made a grand declaration that day, intending to establish rules for all martial artists. Many challenged him, but none could withstand more than three of his moves.

Despite his strength, he was merciful, and those defeated were unharmed. In the end, everyone accepted his leadership, and thus, the Martial Alliance was born."

As they drove, mother and son continued to talk, their conversation flowing as usual. Yet, neither of them noticed the subtle shifts in their relationship, changes that were quietly happening beneath the surface.