Brothers in Misfortune

The two of them embracing drew quite a few looks from those around them.

Especially the male outer disciples standing guard outside the mountain gate, who kept glancing their way.

Seedling naturally noticed those gazes as well.

Her cheeks reddened slightly, and she hurriedly released Jiang Fu'an's arm, saying softly:

"Dad, there are too many people here... Let's take a walk around Melodious Sound City."

"Alright!"

Jiang Fu'an immediately nodded. He did not want to be gawked at with his daughter either.

The two of them then turned and walked side by side down the mountain path.

As they walked, Jiang Fu'an asked:

"Seedling, are you taking part in the Melodious Sound Sect's grand competition this time?"

Seedling shook her head and explained:

"No. Only senior brothers and sisters at Qi Refining Late-Stage are qualified to compete.

"We newcomers who have only just entered the sect spend every day cultivating."

Before coming here, Jiang Fu'an had looked over Seedling's panel.

He knew that her cultivation had now reached the Qi Refining Second Layer.

Jiang Fu'an did not know whether that pace was fast or slow, so he followed up:

"Has cultivation here been going smoothly, then? Have you run into any difficulties?"

"Yes."

Seedling's voice suddenly lowered:

"I'm not used to it here... I miss home."

Jiang Fu'an's throat tightened, and for a moment, he did not know how to respond.

But Seedling suddenly laughed:

"Though I only miss it once in a while! Dad, let me tell you, this place is actually quite interesting.

"On the first day of every month, a Foundation Establishment True Person gives lectures at the Dao Teaching Platform. Anyone can go listen.

"The first time I went, I couldn't even snatch a meditation cushion. I had no choice but to squat on the stone steps at the very back..."

The more she spoke, the more cheerful she became, as though she wanted to pour out all the words she had stored up over the past two years in one breath.

Only then did Jiang Fu'an learn that Seedling's life here was actually very simple. Nearly every day revolved around cultivation.

She rose at dawn to the sound of bells, meditated and circulated her breath, practiced basic spells in the afternoon, then continued meditating and circulating her breath in the evening.

Once his daughter had said nearly all she wanted to say, he began telling her about what had happened at home over the past two years.

The newly built residence, how Seedling had gained another little brother, how Yue'er had been found to have no Spiritual Root...

They chatted as they walked, passing through bustling markets and quiet alleyways.

Jiang Fu'an's thoughts were entirely on his daughter. The surrounding scenery and crowds left no impression on him.

Before they knew it, the sun had already slanted westward.

When they reached a fork in the road, Seedling suddenly stopped and turned to look at him:

"Dad, shall we go to where you're staying? I have a gift for you."

Jiang Fu'an had been considering finding somewhere quiet to let her try opening the Storage Ring.

At those words, he immediately raised a hand and pointed south of the city:

"Alright, let's leave the city. The inn we're staying at is outside."

Although Melodious Sound City was home to both cultivators and mortals, most inns within the city were meant for cultivators, and their prices were exorbitant.

Sun Xiuyuan had not managed to book rooms inside the city. Fortunately, many houses had been built around the city walls outside it, and the Four Seas Inn where they were staying was not far from the southern gate.

The inn was a two-story wooden building, with several dim yellow lanterns hanging from its eaves, flickering in the darkening sky.

The moment the two reached the entrance, someone inside happened to lift the curtain and step out—

It was Sun Xiuyuan.

Seeing him alone, Jiang Fu'an was somewhat surprised:

"Brother Sun, where's your daughter?"

"She went back to the sect. The sect's rules are strict, so she can't return too late..."

Halfway through speaking, he noticed the young woman beside Jiang Fu'an. He froze for a moment, then said in surprise:

"This is... Seedling, isn't it?"

Seedling stepped half a pace forward and bowed with a smile:

"Hello, Uncle Sun. I often hear Sister Zhiwei mention you."

Sun Xiuyuan nodded repeatedly:

"Good, good. Seedling, you and Zhiwei are both in the sect, so you must look after each other."

As he spoke, he glanced at the sky again and asked curiously:

"But it's getting late. Why haven't you returned to the sect yet?"

Seedling was briefly taken aback, then replied gently:

"Don't worry, Uncle Sun. I've already informed the elder in charge. I'll be spending these next few days properly keeping my father company."

Those words dimmed the smile on Sun Xiuyuan's face by several degrees.

He suddenly understood that the Melodious Sound Sect's rules were not actually so strict. What his daughter had said when she bid him farewell earlier was probably just an excuse.

But he did not reveal much. He merely smiled and led Jiang Fu'an and his daughter into the inn, bringing them to the door of their reserved room on the second floor.

Seedling politely invited him in. "Uncle Sun, would you like to come in and sit for a while?"

"No, no. You father and daughter should have a good talk. I was just about to go for a walk."

With that, he turned toward the staircase, his back looking somewhat lonely.

He had originally been delighted to see his daughter.

Though Zhiwei's attitude had been somewhat distant, he could understand.

After all, they had not seen each other for more than two years. His daughter was now a cultivator, no longer as she had been before.

But compared to the way Seedling had just treated Jiang Fu'an, the difference became apparent in an instant.

It left his heart suddenly hollow and empty.

With his head lowered, he walked out of the inn. Just as he was lost in a daze, a shadowy figure approached from ahead.

Squinting, Sun Xiuyuan saw that it was Ma Ping.

Sun Xiuyuan stopped in his tracks:

"Brother Ma, why are you back? Didn't you stay with your daughter for a few more days?"

At that, Ma Ping shook his head:

"Zhaoyi needs to prepare for the grand competition, so she does not have much free time.

"Besides, the Melodious Sound Sect's rules are strict. It isn't appropriate to keep guests around casually."

As he spoke, he saw that Sun Xiuyuan was alone as well and asked with concern:

"Brother Sun, did you and Brother Jiang get to see your daughters? I delivered all the messages back then."

"We saw them. Zhiwei just went back. Brother Fu'an is in the room talking with Seedling right now."

Hearing the words "rules are strict," Sun Xiuyuan felt an inexplicable surge of joy, as though he had found someone who shared his illness and misery.

He stepped forward twice and patted the other man's shoulder:

"Come, Brother Ma, I'll treat you to a drink! I hear Melodious Sound City's Daughter Red is peerless. If we come all this way and don't taste it, wouldn't the trip be for nothing?"

The lanterns stretched their shadows long, layering them together as they swayed into the night.

Inside the Heaven-class room on the second floor of the inn.

Seedling lifted the clay teapot from the table and poured Jiang Fu'an a cup of tea.

"Dad, you came so suddenly this time that I didn't have time to prepare anything decent. I only got a few small gifts for you, my little brother, and little sister."

Jiang Fu'an's heart stirred. He suddenly remembered that while waiting outside the mountain gate that afternoon, Seedling had appeared nearly half an hour later than Sun Xiuyuan's daughter.

Only then did he realize that during that time, his daughter had hurried off to arrange the gifts.

Thinking of that, warmth immediately filled his heart:

"Silly girl, the thought is what matters. You've only just entered the sect—how could you have much spare money?"

Seedling smiled, untied a white cloth pouch from her waist, and gently placed it on the table.

"This is... a Storage Pouch?"

Jiang Fu'an leaned closer, examining it curiously.

"Yes, the sect gave it to us when we entered."

Seedling nodded and lightly brushed the pouch's opening with her fingertip.

A faint glimmer flashed at the mouth of the pouch, and two objects appeared out of thin air on the table:

A small milky-white porcelain bottle, and a thin booklet with a blue cover.