Acknowledging Kinship

Ninth Mistress sat by the railing, her delicate hand waving gently. A surge of true essence flowed into Liu Xiaolou's body, unsealing his true essence. The force was soft, like spring rain nourishing all things.

"Tell me, how did you get to Dongting? How did you know I was here? And why were you talking nonsense, claiming to be my nephew?" As she spoke, Ninth Mistress couldn't hide a slight smile at the corner of her mouth.

Liu Xiaolou got up from the ground, his face a mask of misery, and sighed, "I am foolish and indeed mistook you for someone else. I originally thought the person in the sedan chair was my maternal aunt whom I've never met. Who knew it was you, what a coincidence."

He then added, "As the saying goes, the net of heaven is vast, but it misses nothing. Perhaps it's because I didn't fulfill a promise I made to you that day, and thus heaven has sent me before you again? I beg you, please give me your instructions. If there's anything I can do to help, I will not refuse."

Ninth Mistress looked at Liu Xiaolou and suddenly said, "Turn around. Turn away..."

Liu Xiaolou was bewildered. "Huh?" He still turned around as instructed.

You've turned too much. Turn back a bit, face the brocade pond.

"Oh."

Liu Xiaolou's side profile faced Ninth Mistress, and he kept turning his head to glance at her. What is this girl doing?

Ninth Mistress remained silent, her eyelashes fluttering, lost in thought.

After a long while, Ninth Mistress sighed, "Are you really Seventh Sister's nephew? How come I've never heard of her having a relative like you?"

Liu Xiaolou quickly said, "Are you my aunt's younger sister? Then it's not wrong for me to call you aunt."

Ninth Mistress shook her head. "I am not from the Zhou clan. I'm here to visit a friend, and that friend is your maternal aunt—if Seventh Sister is indeed your maternal aunt. Tell me..."

Seventh Mistress Zhou's birth mother was the legitimate wife of the Zhou clan patriarch. The couple had died prematurely due to unforeseen circumstances. Lord Xingde had arranged for Liu Xiaolou's cover identity to be related to Seventh Mistress Zhou's maternal family, specifically a very distant relative, so distant that even the Zhou clan patriarch wouldn't bother to investigate.

Upon hearing this connection, Ninth Mistress said coldly, "So that's how it is. Have things become difficult, and you've come to freeload?"

Liu Xiaolou put on a smiling face. "It's not quite like that. I am alone now, and my aunt is my last remaining relative. That's why I wanted to visit and see her."

Ninth Mistress snorted. "I can help you ask, but don't get any wrong ideas. If you're hoping to climb the social ladder and latch onto my Seventh Sister, and she can't do anything to you, I can make your life a living hell!"

Liu Xiaolou nodded. "Please rest assured, I'm just here to visit relatives. If my aunt gives me anything, I won't take a single cent."

Ninth Mistress's expression softened slightly. "Wait here."

Liu Xiaolou eagerly presented the sachet. "This is a token. My aunt will know immediately upon seeing it... Miss, may I turn back around now?"

"No need!" Ninth Mistress flicked her finger, knocking Liu Xiaolou down again, and then left the courtyard.

Liu Xiaolou lay in the pavilion for a while. Footsteps approached, and a woman rushed into the pavilion. She looked at Liu Xiaolou for a few moments, her eyes immediately reddening. "Nephew... it really is you!"

Ninth Mistress finally believed him. She unsealed Liu Xiaolou's meridians. Liu Xiaolou looked at the woman's appearance; she was indeed beautiful, but she looked significantly older than Ninth Mistress. This time, he was certain and quickly acknowledged her, "Aunt—"

Ninth Mistress watched the aunt and nephew embrace and cry, feeling a mix of emotions. She retreated outside the pavilion, giving them some space, but she had no intention of leaving. She worried that her Seventh Sister was too kind-hearted and might be taken advantage of without realizing it.

She had always maintained a high level of vigilance, and a hint of disdain, towards rogue cultivators from Wulong Mountain.

Her maid, Xiao Qin, brought tea into the pavilion. When she came out, she winked at Ninth Mistress with a strange expression. Although Xiao Qin was a maid, she was like a sister to Ninth Mistress. So, Ninth Mistress followed Xiao Qin outside the courtyard and asked, "What is it?"

Xiao Qin whispered, "Miss, have you noticed? This distant relative of Seventh Sister bears a slight resemblance to Young Master Jing Zhao."

Ninth Mistress scoffed, "How does he resemble him? They're worlds apart!"

Xiao Qin covered her mouth and chuckled. "His front profile isn't much, but his side profile... when I saw it just now, my heart skipped a beat..."

Ninth Mistress said, "Alright, stop talking about it."

Xiao Qin said, "Miss, it's been a long time since we heard any news of Young Master Jing Zhao..."

Ninth Mistress frowned. "Stop talking about it!"

Xiao Qin stuck out her tongue. "Okay. I'll go to the Zhou family kitchen and see about preparing some food and drinks."

Ninth Mistress shook her head. "No need... Let's wait and see what Seventh Sister says. There's no rush."

Not long after, Seventh Mistress Zhou and Liu Xiaolou emerged from the pavilion. Ninth Mistress stepped forward and asked, "Seventh Sister, your nephew..."

Seventh Mistress Zhou said, "Thank you, sister. Xiaolou is leaving now."

"Leaving?"

"He has other matters to attend to."

Ninth Mistress looked at Liu Xiaolou. Liu Xiaolou smiled. "There will be plenty of time in the future. Today, I was just here to pay a visit. We'll have many opportunities to interact later."

Seventh Mistress Zhou said, "Ninth Mistress, I cannot leave the house. Could you see Xiaolou off for me?"

Ninth Mistress readily agreed and escorted Liu Xiaolou out of the manor. Once they were outside the gate, her expression immediately turned grim. "Seventh Sister's parents passed away early. I absolutely will not allow her to suffer any grievances. You need to be mindful of that..."

After a moment of thought, she took out two silver ingots, weighing about twenty taels, and tossed them to Liu Xiaolou. "Take this. It's not like you came here for nothing. But this is where it ends, understand?"

Liu Xiaolou was stunned for a moment. He handed the silver ingots back. "Miss, you misunderstand. Although I am poor, I have relied on my own abilities since childhood to make a living. I only eat what I can earn, and I never accept charity."

He paused, then looked at Ninth Mistress with great sincerity. "Furthermore, I am a cultivator. Perhaps in your eyes, my cultivation is not worth mentioning, but I am devoted to the Dao. Such worldly wealth is not what I seek."

Ninth Mistress sneered, "Very well, then you must keep your word! If I find out you pester Seventh Sister, I will not let you off lightly!"

With that, she turned and entered the manor.

Liu Xiaolou rubbed his nose, deeply disappointed, and muttered to himself, Is this Ninth Mistress an idiot? Can't she understand what I mean? Or is she stingy, unwilling to part with spirit stones?

Late at night, Liu Xiaolou hid in an old pine tree outside the manor. As he grew agitated by the chirping of insects and croaking of frogs in the grass, a figure leaped over the courtyard wall and drifted towards him.

It was Seventh Mistress Zhou.

"Where is he?" Seventh Mistress Zhou asked, her voice trembling.

Liu Xiaolou waved his hand. "Follow me."

Taking advantage of the night, they headed northwest. After traveling less than five li, they entered a dense forest.

Lord Xingde had already been waiting there, holding Seventh Mistress Zhou's hands. The two stood in silent, tearful embrace.

Liu Xiaolou withdrew from the forest, climbed a small hill nearby, and guarded the path from a high vantage point, keeping watch for the couple.

He hadn't been guarding for long when his eyelids suddenly twitched. He sensed something behind him and turned around, startled. Who else could it be but Ninth Mistress?

Ninth Mistress, dressed in black, stood about three meters behind him and said coldly, "There really is a ghost!"

Liu Xiaolou broke out in a cold sweat and forced a smile. "You've arrived, Miss? It's truly... fate..."

Ninth Mistress asked, "What are you doing lurking around here in the dead of night?"

Liu Xiaolou swallowed. "It's just that... I had a sudden feeling and came here to cultivate for a bit. I was just about to break through a crucial acupoint when you arrived."

Ninth Mistress eyed him. "Smooth talker! I don't have time for your nonsense. Where is Seventh Sister? Where did you take her?"