After crushing the rebellious elders, Li Dalong swept his hand, turning the blood mist into ash and blowing it into the distance. Then a voice sounded in everyone's mind once more: "All right, the little bugs have been cleared away. Let the wedding continue!"
Hearing Li Dalong's voice, Zhou Yong took Princess Yun Yao by the hand and bowed toward the forbidden grounds! He then instructed the elders and disciples to take the wounded elders away for treatment, while other disciples cleaned up the traces of the battle inside the hall. The wedding ceremony resumed, and after that interruption, the celebrations grew even livelier. The guests, in particular, became all the more enthusiastic after witnessing the strength the Righteous Qi Sect still possessed!
The wedding celebrations lasted several days, filled with laughter and the ringing of drums and music. A festive atmosphere enveloped both the Righteous Qi Sect and Cloudmist Palace, and hosts and guests alike enjoyed themselves to the fullest!
A year later, Zhou Yong's daughter was born, and he named her Zhou Xue. Her birth brought him tremendous joy and happiness. Whenever he saw his daughter smile, his heart filled with boundless love and care. He was not only her father, but also her protector and guide. Zhou Yong looked forward eagerly to his daughter's growth, hoping to give her the best life and education possible.
As Zhou Xue gradually grew older, the Righteous Qi Sect became livelier, and the sect's spirit birds and beasts began to suffer. She was either hurting one or plucking feathers from another. Whenever she misbehaved, only her mother, Yun Yao, could rein her in. Yet whenever Yun Yao tried to punish her, she cleverly sought her father's help to escape punishment.
When Zhou Xue turned four, Yun Yao saw that she was becoming increasingly mischievous. Afraid that Zhou Yong was spoiling her too much and would ruin her if this continued, she suggested sending Zhou Xue to Cloudmist Palace to cultivate under her maternal grandmother, its palace master. The moment Zhou Yong heard that she wanted to send Zhou Xue to distant Cloudmist Palace, his hackles rose, and he firmly opposed it.
Yun Yao, too, could hardly bear to have Zhou Xue leave her side at such a young age. But if Zhou Xue was raised in the Righteous Qi Sect, she might only become more mischievous and headstrong as she grew older. Zhou Yong and everyone in the sect doted on this eldest princess. Having inherited Yun Yao's beauty as well, Zhou Xue often sent the entire sect into a frenzy of squawking chickens and barking dogs. This time, Yun Yao was determined to send her away to be educated at Cloudmist Palace. Its disciples were all women, and its rules were extremely strict. There, Zhou Xue's temperament would change.
"My dear, why don't we wait until Xue’er is a little older before discussing this?"
"Husband, Xue’er is a girl. It's time she learned some proper manners. Mother will look after her at Cloudmist Palace, and there are so many senior and junior sisters there. You can rest easy!"
When Zhou Yong heard that Zhou Xue would soon be sent to Cloudmist Palace, he felt as though his heart were breaking. He also sensed Yun Yao's determination this time. After pondering for a moment, he thought that since his wife feared Zhou Xue would become too unruly for her own good, yet he did not want his daughter too far from him, it would be wonderful if there were a way to satisfy them both.
Could I have Zhou Xue cultivate under Senior Brother? She could go to him during the day for instruction and come home at night. Wouldn't that solve the problem of her education without making her leave our side? Besides, Senior Brother's cultivation is so high, and he must be lonely cultivating by himself all the time. Xue'er could keep him company while learning from him. What a wonderful idea! I'm a genius! At this thought, Zhou Yong felt his eyes light up and inwardly praised himself.
Then another thought occurred to him. I wonder whether Senior Brother will agree. Will he find Zhou Xue troublesome? I'd better go and ask him. If worse comes to worst, I'll beg him. Having made up his mind, Zhou Yong said to Yun Yao, "My dear, I've thought of a way to satisfy us both. Don't rush into anything. We'll discuss it when I return!"
Without waiting for Yun Yao's reply, he leaped into the air. A flying sword instantly appeared beneath his feet, carrying him toward the Back Mountain.
At that moment, Li Dalong was immersed in cultivation. Zhou Yong arrived at the entrance to the forbidden grounds and cast a spell, opening the gate. He stepped inside and called loudly, "Senior Brother, I've come to see you!"
As soon as Zhou Yong reached the entrance to the forbidden grounds, Li Dalong sensed his arrival with his divine sense and stopped circulating his cultivation technique. When Zhou Yong's shout rang out, he rose and walked out of his cave abode.
"Junior Brother, what brings you here today? Have a seat."
Looking at Zhou Yong as he hurried over, Li Dalong pointed to a stool outside the cave abode.
"Senior Brother, I've come to ask you a favor."
Zhou Yong got straight to the point.
"Junior Brother, there's no need to be so formal. Tell me what it is."
"Senior Brother, Xue’er is four now. Yun Yao says I spoil her too much, and she's afraid Xue’er will become too unruly in the future. She wants to send her to Cloudmist Palace for her grandmother to teach her."
"Senior Brother, Xue’er is still so young. I can't bear to send her to Cloudmist Palace at this age. In truth, Yun Yao can't bear to part with her either."
"Senior Brother, you've been cultivating alone all these years. I'd like to ask you to help teach Xue’er. She could cultivate with you during the day and spend the evenings with Yun Yao and me. That way, she could keep you company, and you could temper her disposition."
"Senior Brother, please help me!"
Zhou Yong stood and bowed to Li Dalong.
"Sit down first. We're fellow disciples; there's no need for this," Li Dalong said with a wave of his hand.
"Senior Brother, I have no other choice. Yun Yao is truly determined this time. If I refuse to send Xue’er to Cloudmist Palace, she'll quarrel with me! I really can't bear to have Xue’er leave."
"Senior Brother, please help me!" Zhou Yong pleaded again.
Li Dalong was fairly familiar with Zhou Xue's temperament and how much Zhou Yong usually spoiled her. During breaks from cultivation, he would extend his divine sense to observe the Righteous Qi Sect, and sometimes her mischievous antics made him smile knowingly. Though mischievous, she was not bad-hearted. Much of it came from a child's curiosity and restless energy. Everyone in the sect adored the rosy-cheeked little girl, and Li Dalong was not averse to her either.
After considering it for a moment, Li Dalong said to Zhou Yong, "All right! I agree!"
"But you only need to bring her to your cultivation quarters each day. I'll pick her up myself and bring her back in the evening."
"If she cultivates with me, you mustn't go softhearted. Cultivation means enduring hardship!"
Li Dalong said this to Zhou Yong.
"Senior Brother, if Xue’er doesn't listen, feel free to discipline her!" Zhou Yong told Li Dalong.
"All right, we'll start tomorrow! Go back and make sure your wife agrees too, so this doesn't cause a dispute between the two of you."
"Thank you, Senior Brother. I'll head back now." With that, Zhou Yong rose and took his leave of Li Dalong.
Li Dalong said nothing more, merely waving him off.
Zhou Yong immediately hurried out of the forbidden grounds to discuss Xue’er cultivating under his senior brother with his wife, Yun Yao.
At that moment, Yun Yao was still angry over Zhou Yong's refusal to let Zhou Xue go to Cloudmist Palace. Normally, Zhou Yong and Yun Yao were deeply affectionate, and he indulged her in everything. But when it came to sending Xue’er to Cloudmist Palace, he simply would not agree, which left Yun Yao rather upset.
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