CHAPTER 749: CHAPTER 749: THE INTRODUCTION

"My name is Noah," he said, voice even, with the quiet confidence of a calm sea hiding unfathomable depths. "Apologies for the surprise. We decided to drop by and visit Yu Ming without any invitation. This is my partner, Xin Yan, and that is Wen Ji, our traveling companion."

At his words, Xin Yan beside him stepped forward with a graceful composure that rivaled any noblewoman.

She gave a small, courteous nod, her features serene, lips curved in a warm, enigmatic smile.

Her beauty was mature and elegant—like still moonlight on a lake. "A pleasure to meet you, Matriarch Yu," Xin Yan said softly, her tone carrying a smooth warmth that neither overstepped nor bowed too deeply.

Ye Meilin nodded back curtly before turning her attention back to Noah and narrowing her eyes. Her thoughts were in a spiral for many reasons, but she let none of that show on her face.

Mo Ji also greeted the woman with grace, but there was a hint of doubt in her eyes. She wondered if the matriarch of the Yu family would recognize her, but her doubts were unfounded as the woman was more focused on Noah.

The green-eyed matriarch glanced at her daughter and said admonishingly, "Can’t you show your guests more proper hospitality?. For heaven’s sake, you are the Young Miss of the Yu Clan."

Yu Ming pouted at being berated by her mother in front of Noah and Xin Yan, whom she considered closer than friends.

Because of this, she got instantly embarrassed inwardly. ’What are you doing, Mom? Leave me alone for once.’

"Mom, these are the friends I told you about. The ones I met ’outside’ during my stay at one of the branches of the guild." Yu Ming hid her embarrassment under the introduction and smiled.

That made Yu Meilin look at Noah in a new light; a hint of gratitude, wariness, and uncertainty flashed through her eyes.

She would have thought he was getting closer to her daughter for a reason, but someone who could give away a technique like that without blinking was not someone who would be needing to take advantage of them.

"Did my daughter tell you how to enter this realm? I am surprised that someone from the outside world could enter this place without the token needed. If they had tried, they would have been caught on the spot." She asked with a practiced yet inquisitive calmness.

Yu Ming, trapped in her little body, looked enlightened all of a sudden and turned to look at Noah in shock. "Yeah, how did you come here? I never told you where I lived or which family I belonged to..."

She even sounded a bit doubtful of herself.

Hearing her daughter’s idiotic words made the beautiful matriarch feel like slapping her right there.

Yu Meilin slowly turned her head to stare at her daughter with an expression that said, Really?

Her raised brow and the slight twitch of her lips were the only hints of emotion she showed—but Yu Ming instantly felt the heat rising to her cheeks.

Before she could scold her daughter for being so trusting, the matriarch’s gaze returned to Noah—sharpened now, no longer just curious but cautious.

There was a flicker of energy behind her eyes, as though her soul sense had coiled, ready to strike at the slightest hint of danger.

But before she could speak—

Ai, the silent maid, appeared again in the room like a shadow walking out of the walls.

She gave the matriarch a slight bow, then stood still. For a brief second, nothing was said aloud.

A metal-thread transmission passed between servant and mistress—silent, invisible to others, but not unnoticed by Noah.

His lips quirked faintly as he muttered under his breath. "That was fast."

Yu Meilin’s eyes narrowed, unreadable. Her thoughts were racing, ’What did he mean by that?’

"We meet again, Ai." Noah waved at the maid, and Xin Yan also smiled. The maid looked at Noah in a faint confusion that vanished as soon as it appeared, recognizing his voice, and also saw Xin Yan.

She connected the dots in her mind as she had only seen Noah as Long Tian.

While Noah had already told Yu Ming that he was in a disguise at that time, she accepted it without thinking, feeling the sense of familiarity from him.

"Greetings to you as well, Master Noah and Mistress Xin Yan." She bowed politely in greeting like a proper maid.

Noah smiled back and continued, "It was us who entered the barrier unannounced. It was easier than entering this realm. I did not want to be rude, so I left a trace of energy just in case to let you know."

Hearing Noah’s reason, Meiling and the maid, Ai, stared at him without blinking, probably thinking negative things about him. Yu Ming, on the other hand, stared at him with her mouth open.

"Is that even legal...? Since Noah did it, there should be nothing to worry about." She muttered to herself in worry, but everyone heard her words.

Her mother looked at her, thinking she had found the reason why her daughter suddenly became so dumb. The corners of her lips twitched as she forced herself to stay calm, clenching her fists on the side.

In her annoyance, she turned to look at Noah and asked with a sharp smile. "You are aware if I report you, you will be captured for the forced entry?"

Noah simply smiled back at her without saying anything.

Yu Meilin suddenly felt a chill running down her spine. She turned her eyes slightly and saw Xin Yan coldly smiling at her. Even though she could not sense any energy coming from her, she felt that the woman was not any less strong than her.

The woman suddenly changed her tone and spoke, "Of course, since you all are my daughter’s friends and have not done anything to harm her or anyone else, there is no way I would do something like that."

Her words were like a faint warning as well as taking a step back, like she was showing her bottom line to them.

Mo Ji was sweating on the side and felt fortunate she was being ignored and kept her presence to the lowest. If not for the tedious ritual she needed, she would have lunged into the nearest mirror already.