Jiang Xingyan intentionally gave Yun Chunfeng and Taoist Priest Fuhai some time to catch up.
Using the excuse of needing to check on the little maid, she settled them in the study before turning to leave.
Even the young maid who had poured the tea withdrew after her task.
Taoist Priest Fuhai gave a slight nod. “It seems she is also sincere towards you. That puts Master and us, your senior brothers, more at ease.”
The tips of Yun Chunfeng’s ears turned red, and the hand holding his teacup paused mid-air. “How… how is the Old Master?”
Fuhai let out a heavy sigh. “You know his temper; where could he possibly swallow such indignity? He goes to challenge the Ninety-Ninth Heaven every single day, always ranting about the injustice of the Heavenly Dao, insisting on a one-on-one fight with the Celestial Lord Fuxi.”
A faint smile touched Yun Chunfeng’s lips. “Let him vent. It’s better than keeping it bottled up inside.”
Fuhai pulled out a gourd and placed it on the table. “These are the ‘Return to Origin and Guard the Heart’ pills refined by our eldest senior brother. Take one when the inner demons become hard to suppress. They can clarify the mind and guide you back from losing your way.”
Yun Chunfeng didn’t reply immediately. His heart stirred, and memories of training in the mountains with his eight senior brothers suddenly surfaced in his mind. He hadn’t thought of those old days in a long time, not since his immortal bones were stripped away. He never expected his ever-stern eldest senior brother, who was always scolding him, actually knew how to show care.
“Please tell my senior brothers not to worry. Chunfeng has no regrets.” He paused, then revealed a mischievous grin. “Well, Senior Brother Fuhai, you’ve seen for yourself – the young mistress is immensely wealthy, her riches could rival a nation’s. If you truly feel sorry for me, you could always bring me more gold, silver, or valuables next time. That would help me stand a little taller in the future.”
Fuhai choked mid-sip and awkwardly changed the subject. “Ahem! Well, anyway… I noticed many spies around the General’s Manor. Have you offended someone? Should your senior brother help you… discreetly remove them?”
Yun Chunfeng’s expression turned serious. “I’m aware of them. They’re just insignificant lackeys, and it’s useful to keep them around for now. But, Senior Brother, did you see the planetary conjunction with the moon tonight?”
Fuhai nodded. “Yes. I fear it foretells calamity for the Western Zhou region.”
“Fifth Senior Brother, could you assist me in divining when the young mistress’s soul might return to its rightful place? That person’s fate is tied to the safety of Western Zhou; I fear she might be implicated.”
Without another word, Fuhai formed hand seals, his gestures shifting rapidly until two fingers pressed together before his eyes. “Grant me divine power, to inquire of the Heavenly Secrets!”
A flash of white light erupted. Fuhai’s brow furrowed, and he spat out a mouthful of blood with a cry.
Yun Chunfeng shot to his feet, supporting his fifth senior brother and quickly feeding him a Cleansing Heart Pill.
Fuhai closed his eyes and began meditating to regulate his breathing. Spiritual energy cycled through his body, completing forty-nine minor cycles and eighty-one major cycles before he finally reopened his eyes.
“Fifth Senior Brother, what happened?” Yun Chunfeng asked urgently.
Fuhai exhaled a turbid breath and shook his head in shame. “The Heavenly Dao issued a warning. I cannot penetrate it.”
Yun Chunfeng’s expression became distant. Although he had begged for this opportunity at the cost of all his cultivation, he could only decide the beginning, not control the outcome.
“Never mind. We do our utmost and leave the rest to fate.” Not wanting his senior brother to worry, Yun Chunfeng suppressed his emotions and forced a smile back onto his lips.
Fuhai knew his junior brother was troubled, but being straightforward and resilient by nature, he didn’t know how to offer comfort and remained silent.
“Fifth Senior Brother, did you inform the Master before coming here?”
“No. The Master forbade us from coming down the mountain to help you again.”
Yun Chunfeng understood this was for his protection. If the Heavenly Dao were to punish him further, no one could save him.
Buzz! Buzz!
Fuhai’s identity jade tablet vibrated twice.
He probed it with his consciousness and jolted to his feet in alarm. “Oh no! Second Senior Brother says the Celestial Lord Fuxi is absent today, so the Master is returning early. I must hurry back.”
Yun Chunfeng rose with a light smile. “In that case, I will thank you for your help another day, Fifth Senior Brother.”
Fuhai waved a hand, not daring to say another word, and vanished instantly from the study.
——-
Jiang Xingyan changed her clothes and put on a headscarf to conceal the bandage on her head. Estimating that enough time had passed, she pushed the door open and entered, only to find Yun Chunfeng alone in the study, sipping tea.
“Hmm? Where is Priest Fuhai?”
Yun Chunfeng set down his teacup, his tone mysterious. “Probably… fleeing for his life.”
His words proved prophetic.
At that very moment, Fuhai was being hunted down from all directions by his seven other martial brothers. “Hand over the payment Little Junior Brother gave you!”
Fuhai clutched his storage pouch tightly. “No!”
One spirit stone per coin… need he say more about how many spirit stones one million taels amounted to? These damned brothers of his had actually calculated his illicit gains, tricked him into returning to the mountain, and now planned to rob him of everything!
Was there no justice left?
Was there no law?
Fuhai dodged and weaved desperately. One moment he evaded the Eldest Brother’s leg-binding array, the next he shook off the Second Brother’s flying sword. Spotting a cave on the mountainside, a plan formed. If he could hide inside, seal the entrance with an array, catch his brothers off guard, and use Earth Escape to slip away back to his junior brother’s place for a couple of days… Wouldn’t that be perfect? He could feed all the exchanged spirit stones to his beloved Canglong Sword before returning to the mountain.
Decision made, he repelled the attacking Seventh Brother, lured the Third Brother into the poison array the Fourth Brother had set earlier, and taunted the Eighth Brother behind him: “You couldn’t reach my level even if you practiced for another million years!”
Seeing the Eighth Brother instantly lose his temper, Fuhai’s Tranquil Heart Sword suddenly halted mid-air, nearly throwing him off. Abandoning the fight, he turned and fled.
Ten zhang, nine zhang, eight zhang…
Closer, almost there!
Thump!
Right at the entrance, just an inch from the cave, he slammed solidly into a barrier. His handsome face was nearly flattened by the impact.
Blinking, he saw a pale, tender, lotus-root-like arm extended before him. Clutching his nose, he promptly pulled out his storage bag and stuffed it into the person’s hand.
“Master, you’re back already! This… this is a humble offering for you! Waaah!”
Seeing Yun Chunfeng’s mischievous smile, Jiang Xingyan couldn’t help a laugh, shooting him an exasperated glance. This Yun Ge’er was becoming more and more glib.
“The priest helped us so much, and we didn’t even properly thank him. That was truly impolite.”
“Those who follow the Dao have long abstained from grains and sensual pleasures. The banknotes you gave, young mistress, are more than enough.”
Jiang Xingyan was speechless. “If you don’t desire food or beauty, what do you need silver for?”
The thought of his entire sect’s destitute state made Yun Chunfeng want to laugh. “Young Mistress, you may not know this, but cultivators are divided into Sword Cultivators, Art Cultivators, Alchemy Cultivators, Talisman Cultivators, Array Cultivators, and Artifact Cultivators. Among them, refining pills, making talismans, and inscribing arrays can all fetch a good price on the black market. Therefore, those four types are the wealthiest. Of the others, Art Cultivators only need to practice their techniques and don’t rely on specific weapons. Artifact Cultivators can use all sorts of ready-made magical treasures. Only Sword Cultivators need to constantly feed their divine swords with rare and precious materials. The daily polishing, maintenance, and cultivation all require a separate share of spirit stones. But once trained, they only have brute strength and nothing tangible to trade. Their expenses are like a hungry tiger’s maw, while their income is like a bee collecting honey. Thus, Sword Cultivators are the most impoverished. And my Master, a Sword Cultivator himself, took on nine disciples… all Sword Cultivators.”
Jiang Xingyan inwardly gasped. Although she didn’t know the exact value of the spirit stones needed for cultivation, comparing it to an ordinary family’s expenses was like having eighteen growing boys to feed. This wasn’t just about ‘eating the parents out of house and home’ – it was far worse.
“Your Master really had a hard time raising all of you.”
Yun Chunfeng thought about it. It really wasn’t easy. After all, holding a sword to their necks, forcing them to learn an additional skill like alchemy, talisman-making, or array inscription to earn money – and threatening to run them through if they failed – must have been quite exhausting too, right?
Yun Chunfeng smiled warmly, and Jiang Xingyan laughed aloud.
Creeak.
The door opened inopportunely. Both turned to see Huo Ci standing timidly in the doorway, his face full of shame and remorse.
Before he could speak, Jiang Xingyan’s face turned cold. “You’ve come at the right time. Now that matters are settled, sign the divorce agreement. Our souls will return to their rightful bodies. From then on, you take your bridge, I’ll take my road – no further entanglement.”
Huo Ci took an agitated step into the room. “No! A-Yan, I will never sign that divorce agreement. Unless you kill me.”