Chapter 37: Lan'e's Entrustment

Zhao Chun pulled another object from her sleeve. It was crystal clear and lustrous—the White Jade Talisman, the eye of the Tu Family's Heaven-Reaching Lightning Attraction Array.

"The head of the Tu family has entrusted this disciple to present this item, expressing their wish to relocate to the Hidden Valley and return to the protection of the sect."

Li Shu took the talisman, looking uninterested. He said indifferently, "Then send word to them; let the Tu family make their own way here."

"Reporting to Master, the Tu family is suffering from internal strife. Currently, only a second-layer Qi Refinement cultivator is in charge. Fearing the journey is too long for them to relocate, they wish to request the sect to provide guidance at Mount Song..." After finishing her words, Zhao Chun felt she had done all she could; as for how the sect would handle it, it was beyond her interference.

"Unacceptable!" Li Shu rejected the request immediately, speaking with displeasure. "This is a turbulent time. We do not even know if the Tu family is untainted, and the sect has few idle hands. How can we accommodate others when we are facing our own difficulties?"

After rebuking her, he lectured Zhao Chun: "Though you are my registered disciple, you are considered under the lineage of an Elder. You should focus on your cultivation and strive to reach the Foundation Establishment stage as soon as possible to be of benefit to the sect. Being entangled in worldly affairs is detrimental to your cultivation; you must settle your mind!"

Zhao Chun knew he was venting his frustration on her. She did not argue, but instead nodded obediently, only sighing for the Tu family in her heart.

The Lingzhen Sect, which spoke of benevolence and compassion under Tu Cunshan, would likely find it difficult to fulfill his dying wish...

After leaving Suhong Hall, she went to visit the members of Xuan Cao Garden.

When she lived in the garden before, she hadn't thought much of it. Now that she had entered the inner sect and reached the middle stage of Qi Refinement, she finally understood the concept of distance.

Even among cultivators as close as parent and child or husband and wife, it was difficult to spend every day together. The Great Dao of longevity is mostly a solitary path; individual talents differ, and thus the realms one can reach vary. A Foundation Establishment cultivator lives for two hundred years, which is enough to see two or three generations pass away.

Furthermore, cultivators often enter secluded cultivation, lasting from a few months to decades or even a century. Meeting face-to-face was already difficult, let alone living together.

Even as a Qi Refinement cultivator, Zhao Chun found it hard to meet the members of Xuan Cao Garden even once. If her cultivation continued to progress, she feared they would become even more distant.

Living separations and deaths were things most cultivators had grown accustomed to. Zhao Chun cherished her feelings for them and was willing to do her best to maintain them; as for what the future held, she would leave it to the future.

Though her heart felt melancholy, her expression remained normal as she stepped into the courtyard.

She chose a later hour when the senior sisters on duty had all returned to the courtyard. Seeing her enter, they welcomed her joyfully.

Zhao Chun only spoke of the Four-Eyed Demon Moth incident in general terms; she kept the matters regarding the Renyang Sect a secret.

Even so, the women in the courtyard were deeply worried.

Among them, even though Lian Jing was at the fourth layer of Qi Refinement, she did not have to undergo the minor examinations because she was a handyman disciple. Cui Lan'e sighed, "Fortune and misfortune are intertwined. We only thought the handyman duties were hard, but we didn't know the disciples' examinations were so strict. One mistake could mean death."

Lian Jing disagreed, frowning. "In the pursuit of the Great Dao, how can things ever go smoothly? If I had broken through a year earlier, I would have gone to see what it feels like to hunt demons myself!"

The two had opposing views, each with their own reasons. Zhao Chun smiled and said, "The sect wouldn't put disciples in actual danger. They are just easy-to-handle monsters, meant to test one's skills."

Cui Lan'e repeatedly agreed, and the group chatted about daily trivialities. It wasn't until the night grew heavy that she spoke hesitantly, "A-Chun, your senior sister has a favor to ask..."

Zhao Chun was straightforward. She steadied herself and said, "Please speak, Senior Sister Cui."

Cui Lan'e took Hu Wanzhi's hand and sighed. "Actually, this matter was already settled, and I didn't want to tell you. But some changes occurred recently, which is why I have come to you."

"Do you remember a man named Xu Kuangrui?"

Zhao Chun froze, instantly remembering. She replied, "I remember. I had a rift with him before, and because of our conflict, I was confined for three months. Did he do something?"

Cui Lan'e looked at Hu Wanzhi and let out a long sigh before saying, "He harbors resentment, but he didn't dare direct it at you. Since Ah Jing and Pianran were at the Luhe Medicine Garden, he couldn't interfere there, so he harassed Wanzhi instead."

"When did this start? Why didn't you tell me?" Zhao Chun asked indignantly.

"When he finished his confinement, you had just left for City 集. He harassed Wanzhi for a few days, but fortunately, once you became an inner sect disciple, he stopped. Seeing that he hadn't caused trouble for several months, I didn't tell you, fearing it would disturb your cultivation..."

Zhao Chun was moved and said sincerely, "How could your matters be a disturbance? Besides, this matter arose because of me; it is only right that I resolve it!" Her thoughts shifted, and she asked, "You said there were changes—has Xu Kuangrui caused trouble again?"

Cui Lan'e's expression turned solemn as she nodded. "Before, he was wary of your status as an inner sect disciple. But half a month ago, his father, Xu Feng, achieved Foundation Establishment and was ranked 'Upper B' in the grand examination. This has made him arrogant, and he has struck again."

The grand examinations were ranked Jia, Yi, Bing, Shang, Zhong, and Xia—nine grades in total. 'Upper B' was considered quite high. Hearing Lian Jing add that Xu Feng was only in his early thirties and had an infinite future, he was not someone they could afford to provoke once he reached full maturity.

Zhao Chun, however, gave a light laugh. "Since he only recently achieved Foundation Establishment, Xu Kuangrui must have been at the ninth layer of Qi Refinement, about to break through, when he was punished. Back then, I was just a disciple who had just guided Qi, and he still didn't stand up for his son. Now that we are both in the inner sect, he might not even act on his behalf. In my view, he likely doesn't value Xu Kuangrui much."

Cui Lan'e seemed to remember something and let out a soft gasp of surprise. "Hearing you say that, I remember now. That Xu Feng indeed comes from a small world. He must have had an arranged marriage in his youth, which should have been forgotten when he was selected for the sect. But unexpectedly, his parents forced him into the marriage, which is how he had such a grown son."

Most cultivators do not indulge in private affairs; they focus on cultivation in their youth and only choose to leave descendants in their twilight years when there is no hope for further progress. Conversely, the deeper one's cultivation, the more difficult it becomes to have children. Thus, in cultivation families, there are those with outstanding talent who were forced to leave a bloodline in their youth.

In Xu Feng's original small world, spiritual energy still remained, and cultivators were often selected for the upper realms. After entering the sect, he became a formal disciple in just two and a half years. His family, sensing his extraordinary talent, tricked him into returning to the clan to marry before he could gain influence, resulting in Xu Kuangrui.

"That is also why he dislikes this son immensely. Yet, Xu Kuangrui happens to possess a spiritual root and entered the sect, though he failed to inherit his father's talent. He has been hovering at the first layer of Qi Refinement for four years without any progress."

Zhao Chun looked up and said with certainty, "Others are merely afraid of his father, but I am not. Besides, a person like that shouldn't be allowed to nurture a cancer. If Xu Kuangrui acts improperly, he will face his own consequences."

"Even so, we handymen wouldn't dare actually go to his door. Wanzhi has a soft temperament and might suffer again. I was thinking of sending her to stay with you for a few days until this matter is resolved."

Zhao Chun had no reason to refuse. She nodded in agreement and then asked, "Under what pretext should Senior Sister visit me?" Handyman disciples could not enter the inner sect at will, and Zhao Chun could not show favoritism.

Cui Lan'e smiled. "That is simple. Just say you brought a mortal servant, and others won't care."

"How can I call Senior Sister my servant?"

"Would you let Wanzhi act as a servant?"

Zhao Chun shook her head; she certainly would not.

"Then it is settled. With Wanzhi at your place, we will be most at ease. You don't need to worry too much. Actually, among the mortal servants in the inner sect, many are handyman disciples with cultivation. To some, serving as a maid or servant beside certain people is actually better than being a handyman."

Zhao Chun was unaware of this; it was only because Cui Lan'e had been in the sect for a long time that she knew such trivial matters.