The Yuan Clan's Changes, Tianqin's Return to Xuanwei

When He Chang came out of the room, Kang Changxi was waiting for him in the outer room. When she saw him, she smiled and said, "Auntie guessed correctly. Father will not keep Brother Chang."

"Uncle is discussing important sect matters with Senior Martial Uncle Ye," He Chang said nonchalantly, adding with a smile, "Is Aunt still in seclusion?"

There are many female cultivators who can share a bed with the Sect Leader Kang Da, but only one can be called "aunt" by He Chang.

Kang Changxi knew who it was, and his smile faded considerably. He shook his head and sighed, "This is the first time I've seen Mother so serious about cultivation. I don't know why, but this seclusion has lasted for more than two years. It's probably much more arduous than when Mother Foundation Establishment."

"You brat," He Chang, also an only child, dared not speak ill of his mother behind her back.

He Wanying has changed a lot over the years. She has completely shed her girlish willfulness and become a strict mother. For the slightest mistake, she will beat and scold him. And that's not all. After hitting him with a ruler, He Wanying will often drag He Chang into a long lecture, which is really annoying.

Therefore, He Chang feared her even more than his uncles.

Over the years, the territory under the jurisdiction of the Chongming Sect has expanded by an unknown amount. The area around Little Ring Mountain is surrounded by magic arrays, and many outsiders traveling on the post road have difficulty finding a way out.

The courtyard where Ke Kang Dabao usually stayed was as compact as ever. After talking for a while, the two brothers arrived in front of Yuan Xiyue's dormitory after only a few steps.

Since returning from Xuanwei City, the eldest daughter of the Yuan Household has requested to move out of Green Lotus Courtyard and into the sect leader's courtyard.

The proper explanation was that they wanted to True Disciple their newly accepted disciple, Han Xundao; it would be improper to allow men from outside the family to frequently enter such a quiet place as Green Lotus Courtyard.

After hearing Yuan Xiyue's words, Fei Shuhe, being a very agreeable woman, readily agreed.

Although Yuan Xiyue moved to the sect leader's courtyard a long time ago, Han Xundao still seemed to be left unattended.

In the past year or two, let alone teaching, he has rarely even seen Yuan Xiyue. He has gotten used to it, and still tries to audit classes at various sects when they are teaching.

On the contrary, Yuan Xiyue seemed to be nurtured even more beautifully, and gave birth to twins after only one year of age.

Whether you say this eldest daughter of the Yuan Household has resigned herself to her fate or submitted, just look at how she took the initiative to plead for mercy and started to change her Cultivation Method in the past year or two, and you'll know that she wants to put an end to that past experience.

After all, even from a purely pragmatic perspective, focusing on serving Sect Leader Kang Da and having children with him wouldn't be a bad choice.

With the imminent birth of Kang Changyan and Kang Changzhao's two sons, the Jingnan Yuan Household, who had already declared their intention to sever ties with Yuan Xiyue, began sending them more supplies.

Even though the gifts were not intended for her personally, but merely to lay the foundation for her two young sons, they were still encouraging for Yuan Xiyue. This was because the future support of her maternal family for her children was of paramount importance.

Yuan Xiyue thought to herself that she was different from that foolish woman Huo Ying. The latter was harmless in this inner quarters, but no one could respect her. Yuan Xiyue could place all her hopes for the future of her children on the generosity of the first wife.

Yuan Xiyue did not believe that Fei Shuhe was truly without any suspicion towards her and Zhang Qingran.

Even if she were to completely dissipate the Cultivation Method of the Buddha Mother Wisdom Consort Dao, Yuan Xiyue's bedchamber skills, which she had painstakingly studied for many years, would only become more refined. In the eyes of ordinary people, how many wives wouldn't be disgusted and wary of such a seductive and alluring concubine?

It is true that Kang Changyi was lucky to become Dao Foundation, but Yuan Xiyue did not believe that Fei Shuhe would treat every illegitimate son as his own.

On the contrary, judging from the fact that the latter specifically sought out the Heart-Boring Worm from Han Ningyue to control her and Zhang Qingran, this beautiful Fei Household heiress has indeed mastered all the ruthless methods used in the inner quarters of the household, and can definitely be called a ruthless person.

It should be noted that although the name "Heart-Boring Worm" is vulgar and uncultured, and differs from the "Heart-Eating Worm" commonly used by Evil Cultivator by only one character, the two are worlds apart.

Ordinary late-stage cultivators can eliminate the Heart-Eating Worm by learning the Purifying Spirit Technique, but the Heart-Boring Worm is much more dangerous.

Legend has it that the Heart-Boring Worm originated from the Mountain Barbarians tribe. The barbarian women were jealous and kept spirit worms to lock away their lovers, so that unfaithful men would be devoured by the spirit worms and die.

Later, a curious cultivator brought it out, and finding its uses quite interesting, it spread widely. Many years passed, and through generations of propagation and cultivation, the Heart-Boring Worm had become far more wondrous.

These tiny creatures, with bodies as thin as cow hair, are indeed very fragile, but after being refined through special methods, they can take root and cultivate their inner chambers through acupoints and pores.

Once it takes effect, the pain is excruciating, often making the recipient wish for death but unable to.

It is worth pondering that this spirit insect, which was once painstakingly raised by a mountain barbarian woman in her quest for fidelity, ended up in the hands of a noblewoman in the Immortal Dynasty, and instead became a tool for jealousy and managing the inner quarters of the household. It is quite ironic, really.

According to rumors, even within the Mystic Firmament Palace, imperial concubines and palace women have lost their lives in every generation, which is truly lamentable.

Fortunately, Fei Shuhe, the first wife, was quite upright and not particularly unruly. Moreover, Yuan and Zhang, the two women, were not particularly resolute either. They hadn't experienced the torment of the Heart-Boring Worm many times before being thoroughly disciplined and obedient.

As time went by, both women gradually forgot what it felt like.

Yuan Xiyue only remembered the absurd humiliation of being forced by Fei Shuhe to sleep with Sect Leader Kang Da when she was occasionally startled awake from her sleep.

She had the courage to actively seek out the Funeng to become a Mingfei (a high-ranking concubine), so she wouldn't hold a grudge over such matters between men and women, nor would she insist on competing with Fei Shuhe, the legitimate daughter of a wealthy family, in the inner quarters of the Double Brightness Sect.

But the feeling of being at someone's mercy was truly unpleasant, and she didn't want to experience it again in the future.

After all, whether she cultivates diligently to obtain the False Core or the Golden Core, or hopes to gain favor with Kang Dabao through her son and thus make a way in front of Fei Shuhe, the odds of winning are not high for Yuan Xiyue, except for the Heart-Boring Worm in her body. But she still has to try.

Sitting idly by and waiting for death is not something Yuan Xiyue, who has already faced death several times, can tolerate now.

Although He Wanying, who sat opposite her, had a low cultivation level, her mind had become much clearer after Feng Wan died at the hands of Linghu Nu. When the former Sect Leader He was alive, he was often praised by the Ming Household patriarch for his quick wit, He Wanying, as his only daughter, was no less so.

She knew perfectly well why this younger sister-in-law had been coming to talk to her so often in the past year or two; even after Lin'er was born, she would ask her to come to her room to keep her company and relieve her boredom.

However He Wanying felt that Yuan Xiyue had miscalculated; she didn't want to get involved in her sect leader's family affairs.

Unlike the other women who worry about their own situation, He Wanying's status as "Grandma" is as secure as a rock as long as she stops causing trouble.

After all, whether it was out of consideration for his teacher, the bond between siblings, or the concerns for the old members of the sect, Sect Leader Kang Da was determined to support the He Household of Double Brightness.

However, He Wanying felt that it would be good to maintain a good relationship with Yuan Xiyue. After all, the latter came from a good family and had a solid cultivation level. She often came to listen to Yuan Xiyue's lectures, which also helped He Wanying's cultivation.

This doesn't mean He Wanying still has hope of Foundation Establishment; it's just that she needs to maintain a strict motherly image in front of her only son, so she must abandon her past timidity and laziness to set a good example.

When Kang Changxi and He Chang came in to pay their respects, the two women were playing with two babies in a stroller. Each of the two brothers wore a golden lock to ward off evil spirits, which was a gift from Yuan Buwen when he last visited Little Ring Mountain.

The Jingnan Yuan Household has completely abandoned their ancestral home in Jingnan Prefecture, where they have lived for thousands of years, and moved to Le County, Ding Prefecture to establish their clan.

Having left a familiar place for a new and unfamiliar one, the Yuan Jingnan Yuan Household will likely have to work hard for many years to regain their former prosperity.

But being away from the front lines of war means the people don't have to be constantly on edge and on the verge of battle, which is a good thing.

While they gained some stability, it's hard for anyone to say whether this deal was right or wrong, given that they went from dominating a state to being reduced to a county.

It was only because Yuan Buwen finally set aside his pride and came to Little Ring Mountain that this matter was able to be accomplished.

It was only through a suggestion from his old Sect Leader Kang Da Zhou Yun to his master Senior Cultivator Wufeng that the Jingnan Yuan Household was able to extricate themselves from the murderous intent land of Jingnan Prefecture and change their family name to Le County Yuan Household.

Even the old cultivator Yuan Buwen hadn't expected Kang Dabao to have such power. To repay this favor, he even proposed that the Chongming Yuan Household and the Le County Yuan Household be united as relatives.

However, after careful consideration, Yuan Jin declined Yuan Buwen's kind offer.

Not only Yuan Buwen displeased, but even the Sect Leader Kang Da curiously asked Yuan Jin what he thought. The latter then said the following:

"Junior brother still remembers that when Master was alive, he once taught us this: 'Mountains may crumble, rivers may flow, but only by relying on yourself will you have no worries.' After merging with the Liang family of Bianzhou, it is certainly a good thing for the Chongming Yuan Household, but it may not be so for the sect."

Besides, what others can easily promise, they can easily take back in the future. So why risk disloyalty from the clan and alienation from the sect just to receive such a benefit?

Upon hearing Yuan Jin's words, Kang Dabao felt that Yuan Jin seemed to have matured considerably over the years, and he was quite gratified.

The phrase "consider righteousness when faced with profit" seems simple, but countless leaders find it difficult to live by. The cultivation world is extremely cruel, and those who fail to do so will most likely implicate their sect and Lineage.

If in the past, when Sect Leader Kang Da wanted Yuan Jin to temporarily take over the clan affairs, it was because he still harbored sectarian biases and had some selfish motives, then now Yuan Jin should be able to sit in this position well.

However, Yuan Xiyue still felt a little regretful that she could not become a member of the same clan as Yuan Jin, Kang Dabao's junior brother. After all, if this matter had been accomplished, Fei Shuhe might have removed her Heart-Boring Worm on the spot out of consideration for their relationship.

"Greetings, young lady and aunt."

"Greetings to Mother and Madam Yuan."

Upon seeing the two enter, Yuan Xiyue smiled sweetly, while He Wanying forced a serious expression and said with a stiff face, "Chang'er, why aren't you taking Brother Xi to cultivate properly? What are you doing here?"

He Chang's face fell. His cultivation level was now inferior to Kang Changxi's, so why would the latter need him to guide his cultivation?

Facing He Wanying, Kang Changxi was much more composed than He Chang, his own son, and said with a smile, "Aunt, please don't be offended. Father asked his nephew to bring Brother Chang to meet Brother Yan and Brother Zhao."

The atmosphere in the room immediately eased. Yuan Xiyue saw that Kang Changxi's eyes showed genuine affection for his two younger brothers, and she felt relieved. If this son truly inherited his father's kind and benevolent manner, with brotherly love and respect, her two sons might be able to follow in his footsteps and compete for a better future.

The group was enjoying themselves in the somewhat cramped dormitory when Han Xundao came over with an exquisite food box to visit them.

The number of disciples in the Chongming Sect is increasing, and batches of disciples are emerging from the Nurturing Qilin Hall. As the head disciple of the Merit Points Hall, he is no longer able to have a moment's rest.

Han Xundao, who was stuck at the age of thirty-nine and only just advanced to the late stage and became a True Disciple, was not considered to have outstanding talent. If it weren't for the fact that his teachers and elders took care of their old friendship, he would have had a hard time keeping his lucrative position. Therefore, when there was a rare opportunity to ascertain Yuan Xiyue's whereabouts, he, as her disciple, naturally had to come and pay his respects.

"Chongming Small Pavilion has recently hired a First-Tier Superior-Grade chef from Capital Circuit. Although his skills are only mediocre, he is quite adept at making Central Prefecture cuisine. In particular, he makes a dish called 'Red Jade Paste' that is exceptionally good. It is not only fragrant and delicious, but also soothes the meridians and promotes blood circulation. It can also be used externally to nourish the complexion, making it rosy and radiant. Therefore, I have specially brought it to present to Master and Martial Uncle He."

He Wanying could tell that Han Xundao's gift came from the bottom of his heart, so she accepted it generously, not wanting to disappoint the latter's filial piety.

However, He Wanying didn't gain any benefits for nothing. Although she had no power or influence, her words carried weight within the Chongming Sect. What seemed like an insurmountable task to ordinary disciples could be accomplished with just a word from her.

He Wanying parted her red lips slightly, bit off a small piece of the red paste, chewed it for a while, and a look of pleasure appeared on her face. "Indeed, it's not bad."

Seeing that her apprentice had pleased the young lady, Yuan Xiyue smiled and said, "Don't forget to send over what's prepared for Madam and Zhang Xiaoniang as well."

Upon hearing the instructions, Han Xundao didn't even hesitate; he immediately understood and respectfully replied, "Disciple understands."

After putting down the Red Jade Ointment, He Wanying turned her gaze to Han Xundao. After thinking for a while, she asked, "Junior Nephew Han, are there any tasks suitable for Chang'er to do at the Merit Points Hall lately?"

"Oh, this," He Chang hadn't even finished handing over his tasks when his mother suddenly asked him to find another job, leaving him somewhat at a loss.

Han Xundao hesitated for a moment when He Wanying asked him a question. He knew the latter's temperament and knew that if He Chang was given easy and Merit Points jobs, he might not only not get any benefits, but also be scolded. That would be a loss.

Han Xundao had come unprepared, but fortunately, he was very conscientious in this task. After examining the Jade Slip, he said, "The garrison commander of Chongming City, Senior Brother Jin, has a son named Tang Jiu. Some time ago, the resentment in the river outside the town increased, which must be caused by a few water demons. We need to find someone to exorcise them."

Over the years, Jin Shilun had been taking on tasks at the Merit Points Hall to earn Merit Points and exchange them for Foundation Establishment resources. Even for this tenth anniversary celebration, he only made a hurried trip and had no time to deal with such trivial matters.

Although He Wanying found the assignment rather uninteresting, it was her own suggestion, and it seemed like a suitable job, so she couldn't very well refuse Han Xundao's proposal. She turned to He Chang and said, "In that case, after you and your Chang'er have heard about what you've seen and heard at Cold Crow Mountain, go to Chongming City. Besides business, you can also check on the recent situation of the clan."

He Chang dared not disobey, and after receiving the dispatch warrant from Han Xundao, he and Kang Changxi left the room. The latter had never been short of supplies before and had never experienced being dispatched before, so he found it quite novel. He stood on tiptoe and hooked his arm around He Chang, excitedly saying, "Then I'll trouble Brother Chang to take me with me."

"That's fine too."

---- Cold Crow Mountain

At this moment, blood was flowing around Fei Tianqin's wings, making him look quite disheveled.

"Damn it, this mere border prefecture with Golden Core formed using who-knows-how-many crippled Evil Method is actually quite troublesome!"

A ghostly banner of Ten Thousand Souls Banner flashed through the old bird's mind, making it feel a little scared. If it hadn't had so much experience fighting its peers, it might have capsized in this rural place it had always looked down upon.

It should be noted that Fei Tianqin comes from a great clan and has been cultivating to the peak of the Third Tier rank for over a thousand years. Within the Great Wei Immortal Dynasty Nascent Soul, few below the Nascent Soul stage can rival him. Although the black-robed Golden Core cultivator is not weak, he still fought this old bird for a long time before being defeated. He can hardly be considered an ordinary person.

Logically speaking, such a being is rare even in Capital Circuit, and should at least have some reputation in this prefecture.

"A top-grade third-tier magic weapon extremely close to a spiritual treasure, a peak Golden Core cultivator, practicing the Blood Path... When did such a person emerge in the vicinity of Shannan Dao? Is he a rogue cultivator? It's unlikely that a rogue cultivator could possess such a background; even the personal disciples of three rogue cultivator masters couldn't possibly have it."

Upon reading this, Fei Tianqin's sharp eyes flashed with regret. He sighed inwardly, "I was still careless. If I hadn't been so overconfident, even if I hadn't been able to capture it alive when the lion pounced on the rabbit, I should have at least had a 30% chance of killing it."

Releasing such a wealthy and unknown Evil Cultivator back into the wild is certainly not a good choice.

However, that fellow used the Blood Escape Technique, so swift that even Fei Tianqin, a top member of the Juntian Bird Clan, had difficulty catching up; he was also decisive.

"Very well, having been bitten by my ancestor and subjected to forbidden techniques, you may not survive. Let's see what fate has in store. Alas, all that effort for nothing, and you haven't even found the Golden Core. This debt is hard to repay, and my heart is uneasy. Those cowardly clowns hiding in their shells are unwilling to surrender and lack the courage to rebel. How unpleasant! It would have been better if they had come and fought me sooner."

Just as the old bird flapped its wings and landed back in Xuanwei City, on the other side of the sky, a swift black shadow suddenly Movement Method, its Divine Sense blurred. Unable to hold on any longer, it fell from the sky.