Gift a Pill, Forge an Alliance

The speaker was Wei Yunting, who had just returned from the Cultivation Hall. She could tell that the two sisters from her eldest uncle's family were not getting along.

Wei Yunxi had kept Wei Yunqing outside the door, while Wei Yunqing seemed determined to talk to herself and enter, showing no regard for the other's wishes. She spoke up to interrupt their standoff.

Upon seeing Wei Yunting, Wei Yunxi immediately smiled.

"Yunting, you're back?"

"Mm! What's going on here?"

Wei Yunxi spoke before anyone else could.

"I bought talisman-making supplies at the Market today and was drawing talismans in my room. Sister Yunqing insisted on activating the array at this time and insisted on talking to me. I already told her I needed to draw talismans and didn't want to be disturbed."

Wei Yunqing immediately tried to patch things up.

"I didn't know you were drawing talismans."

"Don't try to fool Big Sister. You were the one who insisted on accompanying me to the Market to buy talisman-drawing tools today. Don't tell me you're that forgetful? Go on, what exactly do you want?"

Wei Yunxi asked, feigning impatience.

Could Wei Yunqing say that she sensed something here that she needed, so she wanted to seize it?

Wei Yunting watched Wei Yunqing hem and haw for a long while. She only said that she had grown distant from her younger sister and wanted to have a heart-to-heart with her, but she could not say anything more.

Wei Yunting was utterly speechless toward Wei Yunqing. She had the best aptitude among this batch of Wei family disciples, yet instead of focusing on cultivation and raising her realm, she kept getting surpassed by a younger sister whose aptitude was inferior to hers. Rather than reflecting on herself, she wanted to make trouble for her sister and used excuses to interrupt someone else's cultivation. It was truly harming others without benefiting herself.

Wei Yunting said with a stern face, "Yunqing, you are a cultivator now. You should know perfectly well that being interrupted during cultivation is no good thing. Besides, it's so late. If you really have something to say, you can make an appointment with Yunxi tomorrow and discuss it properly."

Wei Yunqing knew that her chance was gone. She could only nod obediently before turning around and returning to her own room.

Only after she had left did Wei Yunxi cup her hands toward Wei Yunting in thanks.

"Yunting, thank you for getting me out of that."

"Yunxi, you and Yunqing are sisters after all. Don't let your relationship grow too strained."

Wei Yunxi nodded. "I understand, but you saw it too, Yunting. She's far too overbearing. Without a word, she wanted to barge into my room. What if I happened to be advancing?"

After hearing this, Yunting knew that possibility was not impossible. Wei Yunqing relied on her superior aptitude and the fact that the Wei Family would not easily give up on her, so she faintly exuded a sense of superiority when dealing with the other Wei family disciples.

It was not only Yunting who felt that condescending attitude; Wei Zonghan felt it as well. That was why neither of them treated Wei Yunqing particularly well. Especially after going through the sect entrance examination, both of them had seen Wei Yunqing's selfish and self-serving nature clearly, and they had unanimously chosen to keep their distance from her.

However, they were still cultivating in the same courtyard, so some things could not be avoided. She cultivated diligently precisely so she could break through to the mid Qi Refining stage as soon as possible. Then she would have a reasonable excuse to leave this Outer Peak.

Wei Yunqing still did not know that the Wei family disciples had begun excluding her in secret. After returning to her room, she was still resentful that Wei Yunting had come back at such an inopportune time.

Wei Yunting comforted Wei Yunxi for a few moments, and then the two returned to their respective rooms.

After activating the Isolation Formation again, Wei Yunxi darkened her face and slammed the Talisman Brush onto the table.

"That Wei Yunqing is truly like a ghost that refuses to go away!"

If Wei Yunting had not spoken up in time just now, judging from Wei Yunqing's expression, she seemed prepared to force her way inside. Would the next step have been to snatch her Storage Pouch?

As the eldest sister, Wei Yunting could not say too much because of Wei Yunqing's excellent aptitude. She could only placate both sides to keep them from coming into conflict.

The more Wei Yunxi thought about it, the angrier she became. Especially since Wei Yunqing had grown increasingly domineering by relying on her superior aptitude. Even though the cultivation she displayed outwardly was equal to the other's, outsiders would still unconsciously favor Wei Yunqing simply because she possessed Dual Spiritual Roots.

"Hmph! Since you rely on your superior aptitude, I'll make sure to slap you across the face."

After thinking for a moment, Wei Yunxi took out a Message Talisman and sent a message to Wei Zonghao next door. She herself then headed to the neighboring courtyard beneath the moonlight.

When Wei Zonghao received Yunxi's Message Talisman, he was somewhat puzzled. There was only one wall between them, so why waste a Message Talisman? Still, he followed Yunxi's instructions, quietly opened the courtyard's ward, and pulled her into his room.

Once inside, Wei Zonghao activated the Isolation Formation and asked, "Sister Yunxi, what important matter brings you to me so late?"

Wei Yunxi did not beat around the bush. She directly told him how Wei Yunqing had come looking for her and tried to force her way into her room.

Wei Zonghao had already had a poor impression of Wei Yunqing. Hearing this made him dislike that younger sister even more. Frowning, he asked, "What exactly does she want?"

Wei Yunxi said bluntly, "She's like a dog. The moment she catches the scent of something good, she sticks to it."

"What good thing?"

Wei Zonghao asked curiously.

"Among the things we bought today, there was a treasure."

Wei Yunxi said directly.

Wei Zonghao thought back and suddenly understood. "That dressing box you bought?"

"No!"

Wei Yunxi shook her head and directly took a pill bottle out of her storage space, tossing it to Wei Zonghao.

Wei Zonghao caught it in a fluster and looked at the pill bottle. "An empty pill bottle?"

"Open it and take a look."

Wei Zonghao's heart began pounding wildly. Still, he suppressed the stirring in his chest and opened the bottle. A fragrance of pills drifted into his nostrils, and he immediately stoppered the bottle again before saying solemnly, "Sister Yunxi, although I don't know what kind of pill this is, judging from its fragrance, its grade is not low. You should keep it—"

Before Wei Zonghao could finish, Wei Yunxi waved her hand. "Brother Zonghao, I've already taken one. Its effects are excellent. This one is for you. I don't want to let Wei Yunqing benefit from it."

Wei Zonghao sucked in a sharp breath. Such a rare, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity was simply being handed to him. It felt unreal.

"Sister Yunxi, pinch me. Why do I feel like I'm dreaming?"

Wei Yunxi was very satisfied with Wei Zonghao's reaction. His eyes held shock and disbelief, but not a trace of greed. So she stepped forward and pinched his chubby cheek hard. She had wanted to do that for a long time; sure enough, it felt wonderful.

Wei Zonghao immediately cried out, "Ow! Sister, show mercy! I believe I'm not dreaming now."

Only then did Wei Yunxi reluctantly withdraw her hand.

Wei Zonghao rubbed his reddened face, his eyes even watering from the pain. He felt that his little sister had quite the grip—stronger and more painful than when his mother pinched him.

Wei Yunxi's almond eyes curved into a smile. "As long as you know it's real. Hurry up and take the pill. I'll stand guard for you. Only what you swallow into your own stomach truly belongs to you."

Wei Zonghao stopped clowning around. He solemnly bowed to Yunxi.

"Thank you, Sister Yunxi, for giving me such a precious pill. I owe you a favor. From now on, whenever you need me, I, Wei Zonghao, will brave boiling water and scorching fire without hesitation!"

"Good. I'll remember those words."

That was exactly what Wei Yunxi had been waiting for. She needed allies of her own within the Wei Family; after all, one tree could not make a forest.

Wei Zonghao took a deep breath, sat cross-legged on a meditation cushion, and adjusted himself to his best condition. Then, without the slightest hesitation, he swallowed the pill.