True Sibling Relationship (5k)

Over the past three days, You Su has mainly done three things.

The first thing he did was to conserve his energy and shorten his sleep time each night to practice the Sun Yang Sword Nurturing Art.

Initially, he was very confident in his combat abilities. He was young and strong, proficient in dual cultivation Cultivation Method, and also had the blessing of the Sun Yang Sword Nurturing Art. He was sure he could defeat the female enemy and make her beg for mercy.

But he forgot that this female enemy was no ordinary person either. Not only was she young and strong and well-versed in dual cultivation Cultivation Method, but she also possessed the alluring physique of a snake demon.

Shyness and coyness are merely a girl's disguise. When emotions run deep, she sheds her disguise and becomes like a coiling green python, determined to ensnare her opponent and leave them lost in a mesmerizing abyss.

Fortunately, You Su still has the upper hand and has temporarily subdued the stubborn female snake demon.

You Su felt he needed to continue improving, otherwise he would eventually find himself unable to keep up.

However, he also felt fortunate that his junior sister was not a delicate girl who couldn't even withstand a single blow from him, but rather an opponent who could fight him to his heart's content and was growing rapidly.

A good opponent makes you stronger. With such an opponent who helps you improve, everyone would be captivated by the battles of the night.

The second thing was to play chess with my senior sister.

You Su doesn't know the difference between black and white pieces, so he can only remember the placement of the pieces by memory. The complexity of Gomoku is just leisure for him, but playing Go with his senior sister, which covers the entire board, would be quite a torment.

As Wangshu's chess skills improved rapidly, he gradually fell behind, but he found that losing was far better than winning in front of his senior sister.

If you beat your senior sister, she will go back and work a hundred times harder, determined to thoroughly study that game so that you can fight again next time; but if you lose to your senior sister, you will receive a gentle pat on the head from her as a sign of comfort.

You Su understood that this was not out of the competitive spirit of an innocent young girl; theoretically, someone with Innate Pure Heart her shouldn't have such a mentality.

The reason was precisely because the girl wanted to gain her junior brother's approval. A simple "Senior sister is really amazing" from You Su was enough to make the girl happy for a long time.

As for the third matter, You Su had been secretly investigating matters concerning He Kongyue and the Purification Sect.

Unfortunately, You Su gained absolutely no information about the Purification Sect, as He Kongyue described it as a small-scale hobby group.

He Kongyue, on the other hand, uncovered some very interesting information during a casual conversation with Shi Yan.

This young man has an excellent reputation among the sons of prominent families, not only because he is talented and handsome, but also because he is humble and polite. He ranks among the top in the list of prodigies that can only be made under the age of fifty, and is regarded as the rightful heir of the He family.

The only flaw might be his penchant for prostitutes rather than respectable women.

But there is a secret known to very few: he is not actually as young as he looks.

When he suddenly appeared in the public eye 25 years ago, he claimed to be 18 years old, and his bone age was indeed 18, but his actual age was at least 170 years old.

Rumor has it that in order to ensure that their hard-won son could enter the Void Glimpse Realm and lead the family in the future, the He family paid a great price by using Secret Method of freezing and nourishing him, sealing his growth when He Kongyue was born.

It was precisely this foundation laid during his infancy over the past hundred years that allowed him to instantly become a standout among his peers after birth.

At only forty-three years old, He Kongyue had already Water Condensation Perfection, and was regarded as the most promising genius to break the record of Wangshu Fairy's forty-five-year-old Feather Transformation Realm.

This secret was naturally learned by Ye Qingchen Shi Yan, who was also a well-known young nobleman in Henggao City.

Ye Qingchen became enraged simply because Shi Yan asked him why he, at the Transformation Realm, was inferior to He Kongyue, at the Condensing Water Realm Feather Transformation Realm, in the latest version of the Prodigy Ranking. He let Shi Yan punch him several times and told him this secret.

You Su walked down the streets of Henggao City, he was secretly amazed that he had actually become sworn brothers with a man over a hundred years old. But then he wondered if those hundred-plus years of frozen growth could really be considered his age.

The cultivator was quite old, but age wasn't actually the key factor. What was crucial was that He Kongyue's age gave You Su a vague idea of his identity.

The Mistress was only two hundred years old, and her rapid growth in cultivation began more than one hundred and seventy years ago when she went on a journey. According to her story, the reason she passed by her home without entering before traveling the Five Continents was because her mother had given birth to a son.

Considering He Kongyue's strange reaction to the name He Shutong, he is very likely to be his Mistress's younger brother!

As the only male heir of the main branch, He Kongyue has not yet inherited the family business, which means that the old patriarch He is still alive!

You Su secretly felt fortunate for his Mistress, thankfully her father and brother were still alive; otherwise, he wouldn't know which grave to look for to mend their relationship.

Before long, You Su arrived at the magnificent gate once again.

It was the same guard who greeted You Su warmly upon seeing her:

"Young Master You, are you here to see my young master?"

You Su nodded; it seemed He Kongyue had already made arrangements for his arrival.

Then, the guard led him into the pavilion and jade tree.

This was different from the study that You Su remembered visiting last time; it was clearly a more private meeting place within the He Manor.

Along the way, many women from the He family's collateral branches were curious about this handsome, unfamiliar man. You Su didn't want to bother them, but the guard couldn't resist the questions from his masters.

Upon learning that the young man in black was the legendary You Su, the women's enthusiasm soared even higher, and they flocked to chat and make his acquaintance. It wasn't that they hadn't seen talented young men before, but You Su was truly exceptional among all the prodigies. Not only did he come from humble beginnings, but he also had a physical disability, yet he had risen to become the disciple of the aloof and elegant Lotus Sword Venerable.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I have an appointment with Young Master He Kongyue, and I cannot keep my host waiting any longer, so please excuse me."

Surrounded by women, You Su felt less like Granny Liu visiting the Grand View Garden and more like Jia Baoyu returning to the Rongguo Mansion.

"Kongyue went out on Kongyue, how could he be back so soon? You're the one waiting for him, not the other way around. Instead of waiting there, you should chat with your sisters."

"Blind dates? Brother Kongyue needs blind Kongyue too?"

You Su was puzzled. Why would a top noble young master from the number one city in the Central Yuan Continent need to go on blind dates?

"Alas, the old patriarch is anxious. The higher a cultivator's cultivation level, the more difficult it is for them to conceive. The old patriarch can't wait to hold his own grandson, but Kongyue just won't settle down. How can the old patriarch not be anxious? That's why he keeps arranging marriages for Kongyue."

"I see..."

You Su nodded secretly, digesting the information in the words.

"Hey, little brother You Su, if you ask me, don't let Kongyue lead you astray. Dao companion is a matter of course, don't listen to those old men who can't find dao companion spouting nonsense like 'men are like wine, the longer they're aged, the better they become.'"

Exhausted from dealing with the situation, You Su could only nod with an awkward smile. The guard, isolated outside, also looked helpless.

Just then, an exceptionally handsome young man walked in, his every step evoking the image of a gentleman as refined as jade.

"Aunties, please don't frighten my distinguished guests."

He Kongyue, with his handsome appearance, walked up to You Su and helped him out of his predicament.

You Su raised an eyebrow. He had actually been calling several of He Kongyue's aunts "sister" for so long. He had thought they were all young and beautiful women. It was unfair to treat a blind man like this.

"Brother He seems to be in a good mood. Is there some good news?"

You Su accepted the tea from He Kongyue and keenly noticed the cheerful tune that the other woman was humming from time to time.

"Excellent, I've successfully made another innocent woman give up on me. Isn't that delightful?"

Seeing You Su surrounded by a group of gossipy women, He Kongyue knew that her blind date couldn't be kept secret.

Upon hearing this, You Su gave a wry smile, "Brother He, are you so resistant to finding a dao companion?"

"Brother You, are you going to lecture me like those old men? Life is short, so we should enjoy it while we can. I haven't had enough fun yet, why would I need dao companion?"

He Kongyue was not ashamed of frequenting brothels.

"Among those who frequent brothels, there are quite a few married men."

He Kongyue was amused by You Su's words, which made him appear even more handsome. He shook his head.

"I never realized Brother You was such a philanderer."

You Su looked slightly embarrassed. "It was just a joke, how could you take it seriously?"

"I understand, I understand." He Kongyue's smile faded, and he became serious. "Brother You is one of the few people who truly understands me, so I will speak frankly to you as well. I, He Kongyue, may seem amorous, but I am an extremely devoted person. If I were to find dao companion, I would be faithful to that person forever."

For some reason, You Su couldn't help but forget that the speaker was a regular at a brothel.

"No wonder you said it's a good thing to make a woman you don't like give up on you."

He Kongyue chuckled twice, then sat up straight and said:

"Getting back to the point, I've found the woman named He Shutong for you."

Where is she? Who is she?

"She's my older sister, whom I've never met before."

You Su raised an eyebrow, surprised that the other party was so frank and direct this time.

"Brother He, are you joking...?"

You Su pretended not to believe it.

He Kongyue sighed softly:

Why would I lie to you? She's still alive.

Did he really not know that the Lotus Sword Venerable was He Shutong?

You Su pondered for a moment:

Generally, once someone becomes a Venerable, their real name is mostly forgotten, and they are only remembered by their title. Lotus Sword Venerable was a Venerable from the moment he was born, so naturally no one knew his real name.

She left home at a young age and rarely showed her face. She was detached from emotions and never revealed her name. Even if the He family wanted to find their daughter, they probably never imagined that she would become the foremost female sword immortal. Not to mention, judging from the He family's attitude, they had probably deliberately forgotten about her long ago.

"Um."

Knowing he shouldn't reveal his Mistress's identity too hastily, You Su silently nodded.

"She's still alive and well..."

He Kongyue asked in a resentful tone, "What kindness has she done for you?"

You Su thought for a moment. His Mistress's wife's Lotus Immortal Seed had indeed benefited him greatly, so he said, "It's a life-saving grace."

"No wonder you're so eager to find her, but I advise you to give up; you won't find her."

Why?

"My father has been searching for her for almost two hundred years, but he still hasn't found her. We even thought she was dead."

He Kongyue sneered, seemingly showing extreme disgust for her own sister.

"Since she is Brother He's own sister, why didn't Brother He mention it when I asked last time?"

"I was shocked when I heard her name. For so many years, our He family has been trying to erase all evidence of her existence. Even many members of the He Lineage have forgotten that I ever had an older sister. Of course, I didn't dare to acknowledge her when I heard her name. It wasn't until I investigated all the He Lineage in the Central Continent and found no one named He Shutong that I dared to be sure."

"What... did she do wrong that made the He family want to erase her memories?"

You Su couldn't help but worry about his Mistress. This treatment was as if she were a stain on his reputation, which was why she was trying so hard to distance herself from it.

"She secretly learned our clan's forbidden martial arts, which angered my mother so much that she developed a heart condition. She showed no remorse and ran away from home, causing my mother to suffer from chronic illness and die young. What's even more infuriating is that for nearly two hundred years since she left home, she has vanished as if she had disappeared from the face of the earth, not even attending my mother's funeral. She has no regard for the He family, so why should the He family still care about her?"

He Kongyue's tone was icy, making no attempt to hide her hatred. "I thought she had died outside and didn't hold much resentment towards her. But now I know she's still alive and well, which means she hasn't remembered her surname He for the past two hundred years! She has time to save others, but not her own mother!"

The dashing young man became very emotional when talking about He Shutong. You Su sighed inwardly, realizing that the misunderstanding was quite deep and would be difficult to clear up in a short time.

The scene fell silent for a moment. He Kongyue seemed to have exerted too much force just now, her face flushed, like white jade dyed with rosy clouds. Although she had an angry expression, she looked like a person in a painting.

He Kongyue took a few deep breaths, her tone softening slightly:

"I didn't mean anything by it, Brother You. I just lost my temper for a moment. I hope you'll forgive me."

"I understand," You Su replied, bowing slightly.

"I truly cannot find any trace of her, and I deeply regret not being able to help my brother upstream."

"Brother He, why do you say that? Your information has already helped me a great deal."

He Kongyue raised her eyes and suddenly said, "Brother You, if you have the opportunity to see her again in the future, please let us know as soon as possible. I... I also want to see her."

"Is it... seeking revenge against her?" You Su asked tentatively.

He Kongyue shook her head upon hearing this and sighed:

"I just want to ask her in person if she has any difficulties... although I know the hope is slim."

You Su also sighed, seemingly melancholy, but a glimmer of hope rose in her heart.

He Kongyue had never met his Mistress before, so his dislike for Mistress shouldn't be that severe; it was more the result of the influence of those around him. Therefore, He Kongyue naturally became the most suitable person to address the misunderstanding between his Mistress and his family.

"Every family has its own troubles, and I believe she had her reasons. After all, when she saved me, she didn't seem like a cold-blooded person."

You Su comforted her, saying that reconciling her Mistress and family was not something that could be done overnight, especially given the Resentment Qi that had accumulated over a century. Rashly revealing Mistress true identity would only make things worse, You Su certainly didn't want to see Mistress heartbroken.

The best course of action now is to subtly influence people.

"Fine, she may be a bad person in my eyes, but that doesn't stop her from being a good person in Brother You's eyes."

He Kongyue, however, remained rational and changed the subject, saying, "By the way, Brother You, are you really not planning to join our Purification Sect?"

"Brother He has helped me so much; if I didn't even help you with this small favor, I'd be restless and unable to eat or sleep."

You Su smiled nonchalantly and surprisingly chose to join the Purification Sect.

He Kongyue's bright eyes lit up instantly, her previous gloomy mood swept away by this sudden surprise.

"You really want to join? But I couldn't help you."

"No, Brother He has already helped me."

You Su raised his teacup and took a meaningful sip.

He Kongyue frowned slightly, then suddenly understood and said, "Brother You, don't worry. Not for you, but for myself, I will definitely increase manpower to find her!"

"Brother He, you are very kind. I wonder when I can join the church, and what preparations I need to make?"

You Su feigned hesitation and asked, "This Purification Sect must be full of hidden talents; am I really qualified to join?"

Seeing He Kongyue You Su had this suspicion meant he genuinely wanted to help him, so he said:

"Brother You, rest assured, with your talent, there's no need for any preparations. Our Purification Sect will welcome you with open arms. As for the timing, that's not something to be taken lightly. How about this, after I report back and receive the notification, I will personally go to the Xuanxiao Sect to find you!"

He Kongyue was very excited about being able to recruit a talent like You Su smiled and reminded her:

"My Lotus Peak is difficult for outsiders to reach, so it would be best if Brother He came around mealtime. That way, I can see you as soon as I come down the mountain for lunch."

He Kongyue shook his head and smiled, "Judging from Brother You's words, you're not satisfied until you've made another killing off me."

You Su smiled without saying a word, raised his teacup and lightly clinked it against He Kongyue's, as if he were drinking wine rather than tea.

The reason why You Su changed his mind and chose to join the Purification Sect is actually not complicated.

If this isn't some strange sect, there's nothing wrong with him joining. He can even get closer to He Kongyue, so he can act as a mediator to ease the tension between him and his Mistress later.

If this is indeed a malicious organization, he must rescue He Kongyue, his Mistress's younger brother, from it and not watch him fall into the abyss. Moreover, he is the divine son of the Evil Warding Department and has the obligation to eradicate evil cults.

Mistress is trapped in the Lotus Birth Pool, at a crucial moment in refining her Destiny Item. You Su secretly resolved to pave the way for Mistress so that she could cultivate in peace.

That's right, it's a disciple's duty.

Just as You Su returned to Lotus Peak and was about to take the Heavenly Ladder, Ji Lingruo also returned to the peak.

You Su raised an eyebrow. His junior sister never went out alone. What was she up to all this time?

Before he could even ask a question, Ji Lingruo preemptively spoke:

"They went to Henggao City?"

"How did you know, junior sister?"

"Hmph." Ji Lingruo had a mischievous look on her face, as if she knew everything. "Don't I know you? I already told you, you can't buy them in Henggao City."

That You Su tore off another pair of stockings, leaving her with only a handful.

You Su was surprised that his junior sister was so understanding, even guessing the excuse he had prepared.

"It's alright, I'll ride my little flying stick to Jinhua City to buy it myself."

"You're not afraid of going through all that trouble... but it's alright, I've already found a way."

The girl had her arms crossed behind her back, looking like she wanted some praise.

You Su's heart instantly burned with desire, and he gripped the girl's shoulders, saying excitedly:

"Really? Then we can tear them up however we want from now on?!"

"Pah, you wish..."

Tomorrow, at least 5k