Chapter 020

Chapter 20: Secret Dealings

Zhen Zhu’s throat was suddenly seized. She instinctively struggled, only to realize the hand gripping her belonged to Wei Ling Yue. Her face instantly turned pale as snow, and she squeezed out two trembling words: “Master!”

Wei Ling Yue stared down coldly and accused, “It was you who slipped the Spirit Dissolving Pill into Yun Xi’s spiritual meal!”

Zhen Zhu desperately shook her head, but Wei Ling Yue’s grip was like an iron clamp, tightening bit by bit.

“Master… spare… me…!” Zhen Zhu’s will to survive was fierce, and she used all her remaining strength to push these pleading words from her throat.

Seeing it was enough, Wei Ling Yue threw her forcefully onto the ground, then swiftly destroyed her cultivation. Dragging her by the collar, he strode directly into Haitang Court.

From the moment he appeared, Du Ruo Lan’s eyelids had been twitching uncontrollably, an ill omen gnawing at her heart. Her fears came true the instant Wei Ling Yue flung the crippled Zhen Zhu at her feet.

Wei Ling Yue’s face was icy, and with a flick of his sleeve, he knocked Du Ruo Lan from her seat to the floor. His voice dripped with chilling fury as he said, “Du Ruo Lan, have I been too lenient with you? You dare to harm my own flesh and blood?”

Du Ruo Lan clenched her teeth, replying shakily, “Master, what are you talking about? Ruo Lan doesn’t understand!”

Wei Ling Yue sneered coldly, “Du Ruo Lan, I allowed your petty schemes, even letting you plant your own people by Yun Xi’s side. But your greatest mistake was daring to ruin her spiritual root.”

“I—” Du Ruo Lan managed only a single word before Wei Ling Yue raised his hand sharply.

“Don’t bother denying it, or I’ll directly search your soul!”

Du Ruo Lan’s complexion turned as deathly white as Zhen Zhu’s beside her. Soul-searching meant Wei Ling Yue would learn all her secrets—and she herself would become a mindless fool.

Wei Ling Yue took one glance at Du Ruo Lan’s terrified expression and understood immediately. Indeed, she was behind everything, and he easily guessed her motive.

Without hesitation, he struck a palm atop Zhen Zhu’s head. She didn’t even have time to cry out, collapsing lifelessly to the ground with blood streaming from her seven orifices. Even in death, her eyes glared accusingly at Du Ruo Lan.

“Ah!” Du Ruo Lan shrieked briefly, immediately clamping her mouth shut.

Wei Ling Yue calmly brushed off his sleeves and took a seat. “Du Ruo Lan, just as I could elevate you to Madam Wei, I can also make you vanish without a trace like Feng Jia Yun. You’d best abandon your petty plotting. Yun Xi is my daughter, the bond between the Wei and Feng clans. Until the Feng clan’s alchemy arts are in my hands, nothing must happen to her.”

Seeing Du Ruo Lan trembling, he continued, “Aren’t you worried Yun Xi will split the cultivation resources meant for Yun Qing? Let me tell you plainly, their paths differ entirely. But before Yun Xi fulfills her role for the Wei clan, if anything happens to her, you alone will pay the price. Do I make myself clear?”

Du Ruo Lan’s heart pounded wildly. She quickly nodded, not daring to defy him in the slightest.

Wei Ling Yue rose decisively. “Zhen Zhu was your subordinate—clean up the mess yourself.” He left Haitang Court swiftly and without looking back.

Only after he was gone did Du Ruo Lan stagger to her feet, gripping the chair as tears welled in her eyes. Only now did she realize how little she truly meant to Wei Ling Yue. To him, clan interests and his own cultivation came first. She was merely decorative, valued only for giving birth to a talented daughter.

She collapsed into the chair, laughing bitterly to herself, and quietly stored Zhen Zhu’s body in her storage pouch. Only then did she call out weakly, “Someone, come here!”

Meanwhile, in Brilliant Bloom Court—

Wei Yun Xi obediently stayed in her room reading. She knew Wei Ling Yue would soon come to offer her an explanation—one meant equally for the Feng family.

After Wei Ling Yue took Zhen Zhu away, Feng Xiu carefully explained to Wei Yun Xi what had happened, adding in a whisper her own guesses: “Young Miss, Zhen Zhu put a Spirit Dissolving Pill in your meal. Once consumed, it silently melts away a cultivator’s spiritual root. It’s extremely vicious—a forbidden pill in the cultivation world.”

Wei Yun Xi’s eyes widened. She’d only read about such pills in novels; she never imagined they existed in this Lofty Cosmos realm. She swallowed nervously, asking, “Elder Sister Feng, if I’d eaten that pill, wouldn’t I lose all chance at cultivation?”

“Yes. Spiritual roots are gifts of the Heavenly Dao. If damaged, they can never be restored unless…” Feng Xiu abruptly fell silent, fearing she’d frighten the young girl.

Wei Yun Xi, however, knew exactly what remained unspoken: unless she stole another’s spiritual root to replace her own.

“In any case,” Feng Xiu urged gently, “Young Miss must be extremely cautious from now on—especially since you’ve not yet begun fasting. Carefully examine everything you eat.”

Feng Xiu didn’t reveal that this was precisely why the Feng clan had sent her here: as a First Grade Alchemist, she would protect Yun Xi while instructing her in foundational alchemy. But now, hearing the Wei clan had gained three new spots in Grand Righteous Sect, she worried things might soon change.

Having settled Zhen Zhu’s matter, Wei Ling Yue soon arrived at Brilliant Bloom Court.

Wei Yun Xi carefully put down her book, respectfully greeted her father, and timidly asked, “Father, have you found out who wished me harm?”

Wei Ling Yue sighed softly, taking a seat. “Yun Xi, it’s Father’s fault for being careless and letting such a treacherous maid by your side.”

Wei Yun Xi’s face wore just the right amount of surprise and confusion, though inwardly she was fiercely complaining: [Keep lying! Let’s see what kind of story you can spin!]

Seeing her reaction was manageable, Wei Ling Yue continued, “It was Zhen Zhu.”

“What? Why? Why would she poison me?” Wei Yun Xi obediently played along.

“She envied your preference for Feng Xiu and resented being sent to the outer courtyard. She poisoned your meal hoping you’d fall ill. Then she planned to blame Feng Xiu for negligence, thereby regaining your favor.”

Feng Xiu struggled mightily to keep a straight face. She absolutely mustn’t sabotage the Young Miss, lest her earlier pretense of ignorance regarding the pill become exposed.

Wei Yun Xi imagined an entire herd of llamas racing past her eyes, though outwardly she expressed innocent surprise, saying, “Father, how could she harbor such wicked thoughts? Elder Sister Feng’s cultivation is higher, of course I’d choose her as my protector! Elder Sister Feng always patiently explains cultivation to me, and I succeeded in Qi induction as soon as she arrived. Clearly, Zhen Zhu was useless—how could she blame me? Even Yun Qing’s maid Yue Ying is better!”

Her small mouth rattled on indignantly. Finally, she threw a childish tantrum. “Father, I don’t want that maid anymore! Make her leave!”

Wei Ling Yue nodded reassuringly. “Don’t worry, Yun Xi. That maid with evil intentions has already been dealt with. Such a person cannot stay in the Wei clan. Moreover, I have good news for you: you’ll join Yun Qing at the Grand Righteous Sect to cultivate.”

This news was exactly what Feng Xiu expected. Wei Yun Xi froze briefly before breaking into a sweet smile.