Our Family Has Money Now

The woman suddenly felt a chill run down her spine.

"Master, are you saying Qi Shiyun deliberately left you a way to survive?"

"If I were captured so easily, how could the Nine Heavens' sharp edge cow all of Jiangzhou? Every day I remain at large gives the Nine Heavens a reason to trample Jiangzhou beneath their horses' hooves and sweep through its officialdom and martial world."

Those who knew others were wise; those who knew themselves were enlightened.

Clearly, Thousand Faces was someone who knew himself very well.

The woman was far from reconciled to this. "Aren't the Nine Heavens afraid of raising a tiger that will become a menace?"

"The Nine Heavens are too powerful. Arrogance is an inevitable problem, and it is also my true chance to defeat the Heavenly Sword."

Thousand Faces sounded quite calm, without any anger at being underestimated. "We should be grateful that the Nine Heavens are arrogant, divided internally, and deliberately making mistakes. Otherwise, we would have no chance at all. The strongest fortress often falls to rot from within. My disciple, your task is to lie low within the academy and look for an opportunity to join the Nine Heavens. Ideally, become Qi Shiyun's trusted confidante. Do not approach the Heavenly Sword for now. The gap between you is too great, and I fear you would give yourself away."

"I understand."

"Investigate the young man walking with Qi Shiyun carefully as well," Thousand Faces instructed.

"Master, his name is Lianshan Xin, and he is close to Kong Ningyuan. Had nothing unexpected happened, he would have joined the academy through Kong Ningyuan's recommendation."

The woman actually knew of Lianshan Xin.

And she was not the only one. Hearing her words, Thousand Faces remembered as well. "It was him. I remember Ningyuan recommending him to me, and I agreed. But after what happened to me, he should have had no further chance of joining the academy."

"Perhaps the Kong Family discovered President Qu's shady dealings and told Lianshan Xin, using him to wash away their connection to our Holy Cult," the woman speculated.

Thousand Faces pondered for a moment, then nodded slightly.

He found it all quite reasonable.

"Master, Lianshan Xin's father is a Master Physician with something of a reputation in Jiangzhou City. Would you like him to examine your injuries?" the woman suggested.

"There is no need. Only a Millennium Snow Lotus can heal my injuries immediately. Otherwise, I can only recover through secluded meditation and a great deal of time. There is no better way. Even an ordinary miracle doctor cannot turn back the heavens."

Thousand Faces had no idea how close he was to a Millennium Snow Lotus at that very moment.

"If Lianshan Xin has won Qi Shiyun's favor, perhaps you can use him to approach her," Thousand Faces advised.

The woman nodded. "I will be careful not to overstep."

"That will be all for today, then."

"Master, how should I contact you if I need to?"

"Do not contact me lightly. If something important arises, I will contact you myself. If you have a reason that makes contacting me unavoidable, go to the Eastern Grove Temple on Kuang Mountain to worship the Buddha, and leave your information beneath a prayer cushion."

The woman was both surprised and delighted. "Master, does the Holy Cult have ties to Kuang Mountain as well? Was the person who rescued you at the academy that day a secluded master from Kuang Mountain?"

The White Deer Grotto Academy held the reins of the Jiangzhou Martial World, but aside from the academy, Jiangzhou had another sacred martial site: Kuang Mountain.

Kuang Mountain sheltered six faiths on a single mountain, a rarity under heaven.

Even more remarkably, the current Celestial Master, one of the Nine Heavens, had emerged from Kuang Mountain.

Rumor in the martial world had it that immortals lived on Kuang Mountain. The Celestial Master was only one of its lofty masters, not the entirety of them, and might not even be the greatest among them.

The woman knew more of the inside story than outsiders did. She knew that Thousand Faces had escaped the Heavenly Sword's blade not only through his own terrifying strength, but also with the help of a mysterious master.

That mysterious master had suddenly appeared, blocked the Heavenly Sword's deadliest strike, and even broken the Heavenly Sword's divine sword, giving Thousand Faces a chance to escape alive.

The Heavenly Sword had not dared to continue the pursuit, either.

But she did not know who that mysterious master was.

Thousand Faces glanced at the woman and warned her, "Do not ask what you should not ask."

The woman immediately grew solemn and lowered her head in apology. "I let my delight go to my head. Please punish me, Master."

Thousand Faces neither punished her nor made any sound.

Only when the woman raised her head did she discover that Thousand Faces had long since vanished, like a wild goose disappearing into the distant skies.

Looking at the empty space opposite her, the woman's feelings were immensely complicated.

"The situation in Jiangzhou is growing more and more chaotic."

The White Deer Grotto Academy, the Nine Heavens, Kuang Mountain, the Demon Cult... she had been swept into this tangled chess game, with no idea how to break free.

"Things have come this far. A pawn that has crossed the river can only take one step at a time."

Meanwhile, elsewhere.

Lianshan Xin was having a wonderful time.

"Young Master Xin, we're rich! We've struck it truly rich this time!"

Du Jiu and Qi Wenbin could barely control their emotions.

Anyone who had never suddenly come into a fortune would struggle to understand how they felt.

Lianshan Xin understood, because today, he was one of those who had struck it rich.

Even so, he did his best to keep his greed in check.

"Distribute half and keep half. Brother Jiu, Brother Qi, pick out everything you need first, then divide the rest among the other brothers."

"What about you, Young Master Xin?" Du Jiu asked of his own accord.

Lianshan Xin answered honestly. "I've already taken my share."

Qi Shiyun had selected it for him personally.

It consisted of fine things he would need for a long time to come, along with gold, silver, and treasures that would always be useful.

Of course, there was also the Millennium Snow Lotus, which was of no use to him but worth a fortune.

Lianshan Xin had Qi Wenbin and Du Jiu handle the distribution of the money. He did not oversee it himself, because he had something more important to do:

Go home to see his family!

Half an hour later.

Lianshan Xin returned to the rear courtyard of his home.

He headed straight for his parents' room.

"Mother, how are you feeling? Are you any better?"

Lianshan Jingcheng was feeding He Miaojun her medicine.

Seeing her son return, He Miaojun's eyes immediately lit up. "Did you fail to get into the White Deer Grotto Academy?"

Lianshan Xin smiled. "Mother, our family has money now."

The light in He Miaojun's eyes visibly dimmed.

Lianshan Jingcheng also realized the crucial point. "You successfully joined the White Deer Grotto Academy?"

"Of course. I'm your son, after all. How could I fail at such a little thing?" Lianshan Xin said confidently.

Lianshan Jingcheng said, "...If only you really took after me. Ah, I honestly don't know whether this is a blessing or a curse."

"Definitely a curse."

"Definitely a blessing."

He Miaojun and Lianshan Xin spoke at the same time.

Lianshan Xin took out an exquisitely wrapped gift box and said mysteriously to He Miaojun, "Mother, I prepared a gift for you. Guess what's inside?"

"What? Surely it isn't your admission letter from the White Deer Grotto Academy?"

He Miaojun had yet to recover from her serious illness and had no interest in anything other than Lianshan Xin not being admitted to the White Deer Grotto Academy.

But Lianshan Jingcheng shot up from his stool.

He even knocked the medicine bowl onto the floor.

"Xin, this is..."

Lianshan Jingcheng's voice and eyes were filled with disbelief.

Lianshan Xin was also somewhat surprised. "Father, your medical skills are better than I thought."

Qi Shiyun cultivated immortality, so her senses were keen. Lianshan Xin could understand her noticing the Millennium Snow Lotus immediately.

But Lianshan Jingcheng being able to guess that it was a Millennium Snow Lotus through the box truly impressed him.

It seemed his father was not lacking in effort; he had simply directed that effort the wrong way. Studying medicine could not save Great Yu.

While these thoughts passed through Lianshan Xin's mind, Lianshan Jingcheng exclaimed delightedly, "It really is a hundred-year-old Heavenly Mountain Snow Lotus! My dear, there is hope for your illness. You won't have to suffer anymore for the next year."

Lianshan Xin said, "...Father, I take back what I just said."

Cultivating immortality was still the only way to have a future.

Qi Shiyun had identified the Millennium Snow Lotus's age and quality in an instant.

Lianshan Jingcheng simply had not dared to think boldly enough.

With his own parents, Lianshan Xin did not keep them in suspense. He opened the gift box directly.

"Mother, you gave birth to me and raised me for eighteen years, swallowing bitterness and enduring hardship. Now your son has grown up. This is my first great gift to repay you."

Placing the Millennium Snow Lotus in Lianshan Jingcheng's hands, Lianshan Xin wore an expression that plainly awaited praise. "Father, tell Mother about it. Just how old is this snow lotus?"

Lianshan Jingcheng's eyes instantly reddened.

A moment later, his tears burst their banks.

"A thou... thousand years..."

"What?"

He Miaojun sat straight up in bed as well.

"Husband, say that again?"

Lianshan Jingcheng said nothing.

He hurried to the front hall and shut the doors of the Spring Revival Hall.

Then he returned to the rear courtyard and locked the bedroom door tight.

After that, his gaze fixed unwaveringly on the Millennium Snow Lotus.

"White as snow, a lotus with an extraordinary fragrance, its flower bearing twenty-nine petals. A Millennium Snow Lotus. There can be no mistake."

He Miaojun drew a deep breath.

"Xin, what is going on?"

Lianshan Xin did not want to explain and did not answer. Instead, he said to Lianshan Jingcheng, "Father, you told me that as long as you had a Millennium Snow Lotus, you could cure Mother's illness. Is that true?"

"It is."

Lianshan Jingcheng's voice was low, but Lianshan Xin could fully share the excitement and certainty it conveyed.

"Then that settles it. Father, I'll leave the rest to you."

"No. Where exactly did this Millennium Snow Lotus come from? His Majesty is searching the entire world for a Millennium Snow Lotus to treat the Crown Prince. Xin, how did you get it? Does anyone else know? This is a grave crime that could get our property confiscated and our entire clan exterminated. However wise His Majesty may be, he would never accept something like this."

He Miaojun's tone was stern.

But neither Lianshan Xin nor Lianshan Jingcheng was swayed.

Lianshan Xin smiled and asked, "Father, are you afraid of a grave crime that could get our property confiscated and our entire clan exterminated?"

Lianshan Jingcheng gritted his teeth. "What I fear most is your mother having no cure."

"Then that settles it. Even if our property is confiscated and our clan exterminated, at least our family will all be together. Mother, lie down. Father is the head of this household. What are you throwing your weight around for? Father has the final say in this."

"That's right. I have the final say."

Lianshan Jingcheng swiftly formed a united front with Lianshan Xin.

"Xin, keep an eye on your mother. Whatever you do, don't let her do anything foolish. I'll go prepare the medicine right now."

A long night invited troublesome dreams.

The Millennium Snow Lotus was simply too precious.

So precious that he did not want to wait another moment.

Naturally, Lianshan Xin had no objection.

"Father, go do what you need to. Leave Mother to me. Even if the sky falls, I won't let her leave this room."

Given He Miaojun's love for him and her lifelong fear of trouble, Lianshan Xin was absolutely certain she would tell him to return the Millennium Snow Lotus to wherever he had obtained it.

But that was impossible.

After Lianshan Jingcheng left the room, Lianshan Xin sat beside the bed, held He Miaojun's hand, and said proudly, "Mother, your son has turned out pretty well, hasn't he?"

He Miaojun's eyes reddened too.

"Even a woman like me, who stays in the inner quarters and rarely shows her face outside, knows that the Crown Prince needs a Millennium Snow Lotus. Didn't you know?"

Lianshan Xin shrugged. "I don't know the Crown Prince. You're my mother."

"He is the Crown Prince."

"Even His Majesty isn't more important than my mother."

Lianshan Xin said it openly and without shame.

Having lived two lives and received an education from the Party and the nation, how could he possibly place a feudal emperor ahead of his own parents?

Not even the wisest emperor would do.

But in this era, such thinking was outrageously rebellious and challenged every accepted belief.

"Xin, if you offer up the Millennium Snow Lotus, you'll have wealth and glory for the rest of your life, not to mention the Qi Condensation Pill you've always wanted."

"I pursue wealth and glory for myself, but also so that you and Father won't be bullied by others in the future. Mother, your health matters most. Besides, even without the Millennium Snow Lotus, your son will still have opportunities."

"How exactly did you get the Millennium Snow Lotus?"

"The inside story is complicated, so please don't ask. In any case, I'll do my best to handle it. If I can't, our whole family will suffer together. Just don't blame me when the time comes."

Lianshan Xin was utterly brazen.

He angered He Miaojun enough that she gave him a hard smack.

Then she suddenly hugged him tightly.

"Xin, all the love Mother gave you wasn't wasted."

Lianshan Xin said gently, "Mother, you and Father still have to grow old together, and I haven't married or had children yet. You have to stay well. Our family's good days are still ahead."

"We all have to stay well."

"All right."

It was a promise neither of them was certain they could fulfill.

But once adults made a promise, they had to strive to live up to it.