Yun Li instinctively caught the jade vial. It felt warm and smooth in his hand, and a trace of crisp medicinal fragrance still lingered on its surface. He looked at Yun Qing in disbelief. These pills were precisely what he had dreamed of obtaining! He had lingered outside the Steward Hall several times, only to leave in dejection. Never had he imagined that the one who finally reached out to pull him up would be this elder brother, born of a concubine like himself, whom he had once secretly envied and resented.
The man already stood high among the clouds, trusted by the Young Lord and possessed of unfathomable strength. Why would he spare a thought for someone sunk deep in the mire, harboring ill intent?
While Yun Li stood there in a daze, a languid, teasing voice sounded through a telepathic transmission in Yun Qing's sea of consciousness:
[Oh? How generous you are, elder brother, toward someone who disrespects me. Do you know that this boy bears a deep grudge against you, his envy and resentment far from settled?]
He had disdained the varied faces of the crowd below the platform on the day of the Spirit-Appraisal Ceremony. Yet his divine sense was so vast that a casual sweep had reflected everything like a mirror, laying bare Yun Li's twisted envy and hopes.
Yun Qing's expression remained unchanged. He replied telepathically, his words carrying the lucid composure of one who had seen the ways of the world: "Young blood runs hot. A wrong step is inevitable; for a moment, the demons in his heart merely clouded his eyes. Who wasn't competitive in their youth, even jealous or extreme at times? From what I've seen of his conduct, he may be somewhat gloomy and stubborn, but he hasn't lost his moral boundaries. He still has the heart to protect the weak. That clash just now was probably mostly for the sake of protecting the concubine-born boy who came onto the platform earlier, wasn't it?"
He paused briefly, then pleaded on Yun Li's behalf. "I was thoughtless as well. I never imagined that calling that boy onto the platform would make him a target for the main line. Young Lord, with your noble standing and dignity, why trouble yourself over a boy struggling to survive?"
Yun Qing had entered the Primordial Chaos Ancient Cave to cultivate in seclusion from an early age. After returning, he had devoted almost all his attention to finding a way to survive against impossible odds under this "younger brother," the Reincarnated Immortal Emperor. Shamefully enough, he had shown little concern for Yun Shuo, his own younger brother born of the same mother. Moreover, he had only just returned to the clan and lacked a firm footing. Before this, Yun Shuo and the other concubine-born children had often received discreet protection from Yun Li in the Sunshine Court.
His thanks in the Discipline Hall that day had not been empty courtesy.
At the other end of the connection, Yun Huang said nothing. Whether he could not be bothered to respond or had tacitly approved this seemingly "partial" request was unclear.
In the courtyard, Yun Li gripped the jade vial tightly and gazed at Yun Qing before him, whose bearing was calm and refined, his presence as distinguished as fine jade. His double pupils were deep and tranquil, holding neither contempt nor pity.
An indescribable surge of shame and inferiority welled up in Yun Li's heart. Before the other man's openhearted generosity, his earlier dark thoughts seemed so base and laughable. Clutching the vial with trembling hands, he lowered his head and spoke in a dry, hoarse voice. "...Thank you, Eldest Young Master."
Yun Qing helped Yun Li to his feet, then turned his gaze toward all the children in the courtyard. His clear voice suddenly grew solemn, carrying an invisible pressure as it reached every one of their ears. "The Clan School is a place for quiet cultivation, not for contests of aggression. Talent and character are the foundations of the Great Dao. Every child of the Yun Clan, whether born of the main wife or a concubine, must prioritize progress in cultivation and harmony among kin. Anyone who again bullies a fellow clansman without cause and disregards the rules will be punished severely, regardless of birth!"
Every word weighed a thousand tons! Together with Yun Qing's unfathomable strength and the Young Lord sitting nearby with his eyes closed, whom no one dared ignore, his declaration instantly silenced the entire Sunshine Court. All the children bowed in unison, their voices joining into a tide:
"We shall abide by your teachings, Eldest Young Master!"
The provocative boy from the main line turned deathly pale, cold sweat streaming down his face. He stole a glance at Yun Huang, who showed no intention of expressing an opinion. No longer daring to cling to any hope of escaping punishment, he bowed deeply with everyone else and did not dare lift his head.
While everyone's attention was drawn to the clash, Yun Chi, who had been watching Yun Qing intently all along, finally saw exactly what he had been waiting for!
The instant Yun Qing swept his sleeve to dissolve the force of the palm strike, the aura around him had faltered almost imperceptibly once again! Though he concealed it perfectly in a flash, to Yun Chi, whose Spirit-Devouring Body was extraordinarily sensitive to fluctuations in energy, these were two unmistakable signals!
I knew it, I knew it, I knew it! Wild joy surged through Yun Chi's heart like a rising tide. He could barely suppress the urge to act at once. His Spirit-Devouring Body could not possibly have sensed wrong!
No matter how violently Yun Chi's thoughts churned, Yun Qing continued the day's lesson in an orderly fashion. His words were witty, his comparisons vivid and apt. The tension left by the earlier incident gradually gave way to a fervent thirst for knowledge. The young disciples' eyes shone brighter and brighter, and some began working up the courage to raise their hands and ask questions.
"Eldest Young Master, if we encounter an opponent whose spiritual energy attribute counters our own, how should we handle it in close combat?"
"Eldest Young Master, when moving at high speed with a movement technique, how can we keep our core spiritual energy circulating smoothly without obstruction?"
Yun Qing answered each question patiently, his precise words striking straight at the heart of the matter. Occasionally, he introduced distinctive comparisons drawn from ideas in his previous life, prompting bursts of enlightened exclamations from the youths. Easy laughter filled the Sunshine Court. For the moment, distinctions of legitimate and concubine birth, rank, and faction seemed to dissolve in this harmonious atmosphere.
Yun Qing stood before them all, black-robed and dark-haired, his tall figure upright as jade. His expression was gentle and focused, and a radiance like warm spring sunlight surrounded him as he patiently nurtured these young seedlings of the Lineage.
The figure in the Martial Arena whose sharp edge had been fully bared, whose battle spirit had soared into the heavens, and the deferential yet sly man before Yun Huang seemed to overlap with yet another captivating side of him.
On the raised platform, Yun Huang remained seated quietly with his eyes closed, like a statue of a deity. It was as though all the quarrels, clashes, and shifting hearts below were merely an inconsequential play enacted in the dust.
Only now, as the lesson drew to a close, did he open his eyes a fraction. His pale golden pupils swept over Yun Qing, then across the children from the various factions engaged in excited discussion below.
It seemed... he really was somewhat more... pleasing to the eye than a mere sharp blade or an interesting vessel.
When Yun Qing announced the end of class, many of the children still wanted more. Nevertheless, they could only rise, straighten their robes, and bow respectfully in his direction, their voices crisp and united. "Thank you for your guidance, Eldest Young Master!"
Yun Qing clasped his hands and calmly returned their bows in every direction.
Then he walked briskly to the foot of the platform and bowed to Yun Huang, who had opened his eyes at some point. "Young Lord, the lesson is finished."
Yun Huang gave a faint "Mm." His black sleeves stirred as he rose and walked away.
Yun Qing followed close behind, his steps unhurried.
As Yun Huang left the valley housing the Clan School, he did not look back at Yun Qing, who followed his every step. A clear telepathic transmission simply sounded deep within Yun Qing's sea of consciousness like an icy stream:
"A fine performance." He paused briefly, a rare hint of interest in his tone. "Do you need me to play along a little?"
Yun Qing's steps faltered almost imperceptibly before returning to normal. He lowered his eyes, bewilderment and deference appearing on his handsome, refined face. "I am slow-witted and do not understand your meaning, Young Lord. Was there something improper about the lesson I just gave?"
Yun Huang gave a low, amused snort, full of mockery that saw through everything, then said no more.
Only after the two figures had vanished beyond the courtyard gate did the Clan School erupt in irrepressibly excited chatter.
"Heavens! The Young Lord and the Eldest Young Master really came!"
"The Eldest Young Master explained everything so well! I really learned it!"
"Did the Young Lord just glance at me...?"
At the edge of the crowd, Yun Li watched Yun Qing's tall, straight figure recede into the distance. Admiration that even he himself did not yet fully recognize quietly took root.
Crack-crack-
Along the Fateful Threads, beyond the sight of ordinary people.
It seemed someone else's fate was quietly veering toward a direction unknown, yet destined to be different...
--
Thank you all for the gifts of love! Hugs~
Darlings, if there are chapters you haven't read, could you flip through them too? Apparently, a poor completion rate affects future recommendations QAQ.
Look at this author, daring to make demands just because everyone spoils her! [pointing-and-scolding.jpg] (Just kidding.)
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