Chapter 10

Chapter 10: An Uncertain Future

This time, the Wei Family tested the spiritual roots of fifty-four children age five and up. Only sixteen had spiritual roots, not even half, but the Wei Family was already very satisfied. At the very least, they had produced Wei Yun Qing, who had water-and-wood dual spiritual roots, and that kind of aptitude was already considered pretty good in Kun Yu City.

Afterward, all the children who tested with spiritual roots stayed at the Wei Family’s main residence. The next year was the time that would decide their fate, and it was also the last chance they could grab to change their destiny.

Don’t think that having spiritual roots meant everything would be fine. Only after succeeding at Qi Induction could they truly begin cultivating. Only after reaching the Foundation Establishment Stage could they be called cultivators, and only then would they have a chance to pursue the Great Dao.

That was why this year was so important. These Wei Family children had to cross the threshold of Qi Induction first, and then, based on their cultivation speed and individual strengths, their next path would be decided.

But none of that had anything to do with Wei Yun Qing, because Wei Ling Yue had already decided to send his eldest daughter to cultivate at the Hao Ran Sect.

When Du Ruo Lan learned the news, she was happy inside, and it showed on her face enough for Wei Yun Qing to notice.

Wei Yun Qing asked, “Mother, why are you so happy today?”

Du Ruo Lan stroked her daughter’s hair and smiled sincerely as she said, “Of course Mother is happy. Your father told me in private that he’s sending you to the Hao Ran Sect to cultivate. The next three months are very important. You must succeed at Qi Induction as soon as possible, and it’s best if you can raise your cultivation to Qi Refining level three. That way, you’ll have a better chance when you enter the Hao Ran Sect, and you might even be able to take a good master. With a master’s guidance, your cultivation will advance by leaps and bounds. With the sect as your backing, Mother’s position in the Wei Family will be even more secure. Then the Wei Family can pour all its effort into nurturing you.”

Wei Yun Qing nodded at once. “Mother, don’t worry. Your daughter knows what to do.”

After saying that, she thought for a moment and added, “Mother, I want to bring Wei Yun Xi with me to the Hao Ran Sect.”

Du Ruo Lan froze for a moment, then frowned and asked, “Qing’er, did someone say something to you? Why do you want to bring Yun Xi with you to the Hao Ran Sect?”

Wei Yun Qing was still young, so she couldn’t really explain it. She just felt she should keep Wei Yun Xi close, and that it would benefit her. It had to be said, the female lead’s instinct for seeking advantage and avoiding harm was very sharp.

But Du Ruo Lan didn’t see it that way. In her eyes, the Hao Ran Sect was the third-ranked sect in the western region, and the Wei Family had only a limited number of slots. Why should they give that chance to Wei Yun Xi? She didn’t want to do all the work just to benefit Feng Jia Yun’s daughter.

The reason the Wei Family could get those few slots in the first place was because the Wei Family’s ancestors had old ties with a Nascent Soul Stage senior of the Hao Ran Sect. That was why the other party showed the Wei Family a bit of care, but it was only by offering slots to enter the Hao Ran Sect. As for whether they could officially join the sect and how far they could go, that senior would not interfere.

Wei Yun Qing seemed to see her mother’s hesitation, so she immediately tugged on the hem of Du Ruo Lan’s robe and said, “Mother, I want to bring Wei Yun Xi. She has good things on her.”

Du Ruo Lan’s eyes shifted, and she immediately thought of the hairpin her daughter had wanted earlier. She patted her daughter’s hand and said, “Don’t worry, my child. Mother understands what you mean, but we still have to see what your father thinks. Her aptitude is not as good as yours, and your father might not be willing to send her into the sect to cultivate.”

Wei Yun Qing said anxiously, “Mother, hurry and think of a way.”

“My child, don’t rush. Mother will go talk to your father about this,” Du Ruo Lan replied as she soothed her daughter.

After calming her daughter down, Du Ruo Lan arranged for a trusted aide to go and ask around for news from Zhuo Hua Courtyard.

At this moment, Wei Yun Xi still didn’t know she had already been targeted by Wei Yun Qing, who wanted her to keep being a little money-bringing kid. Right then, she was organizing her storage pendant and packing what she needed for the clan school tomorrow.

Chun Yu and the other three maids silently helped from the side. They all understood that once their young miss started cultivating, she wouldn’t need them anymore, and the things they could do for her would only get fewer and fewer.

Just then, the Wei Family steward brought an ordinary-looking maid into Zhuo Hua Courtyard and said respectfully to Wei Yun Xi, “Miss, this is the attendant the Eldest Master assigned you. She has Qi Refining level three. Starting today, she will stay close and guard you. She will pick you up and take you to the Cultivation Hall every day, and when you cultivate normally, she will also protect you and watch over you.”

Wei Yun Xi frowned a little, then smiled and nodded. “Grandpa Steward, please thank Father for me.”

Then she turned to the woman standing beside the steward with her eyes lowered and asked sweetly, “How should I address this older sister?”

The woman replied at once, “This servant is called Zhen Zhu. I don’t deserve Miss calling me ‘older sister’.”

Wei Yun Xi didn’t know where this maid had come from, and the other party was also at Qi Refining level three, so she said politely, “Then I’ll call you Zhen Zhu from now on. Go with Chun Yu to settle in the side courtyard first, and come pick me up early tomorrow to go to the Cultivation Hall.”

“Yes, Miss,” Zhen Zhu replied.

Zhen Zhu had good judgment and followed Chun Yu as she turned and left the main courtyard.

The steward had delivered the person, so he cupped his hands and took his leave. He had plenty of work to do, and the fact that he had come in person also showed how much the Eldest Master valued this daughter.

After the steward left, Wei Yun Xi said to the remaining three maids, “That Zhen Zhu looks a bit unfamiliar. Have any of you seen her before?”

The three of them shook their heads together, but a trace of hesitation flashed across Dong Mei’s face. Wei Yun Xi caught it right away and asked, “Dong Mei, do you recognize her?”

Dong Mei shook her head. “Replying to Miss, this servant doesn’t recognize Zhen Zhu, but I saw her talking with Liu Xu from Du… Madam’s courtyard. I didn’t hear what they said. It was a bit far.”

The moment Wei Yun Xi heard that, alarm bells started ringing in her head. That was not good news. If Zhen Zhu was Du Ruo Lan’s person, then having her by Wei Yun Xi’s side was definitely not good. It was the same as being watched.

When Xia Mo and Qiu Tao heard this, they both looked at their young miss with worried faces. Zhen Zhu had cultivation, unlike them. Even if they wanted to help Miss, they didn’t know what they could do.

Wei Yun Xi held up her small chubby hand and rubbed her equally chubby chin. She immediately beckoned Dong Mei over and whispered a couple of sentences into her ear. Dong Mei’s eyes lit up, and she hurried out of Zhuo Hua Courtyard, leaving through the Wei residence’s back gate this time.

Wei Yun Xi acted like everything was normal. That night, after dinner, she went to bed early.

When everything was silent, a shadow slipped into Zhuo Hua Courtyard’s main yard and came to Wei Yun Xi’s bedside. It first grabbed the storage pendant by her pillow and checked what was inside, then put the pendant back where it had been.

After that, the shadow searched the entire bedroom, but in the end it found nothing. It could only leave the room in the dark.

The next day, Wei Yun Xi yawned as Chun Yu dug her out of the blankets. She checked the storage pendant by her pillow right away. When she saw everything was still there, she finally let out a breath, but as soon as she held it in her hand, she noticed the storage pendant had been moved.

“Chun Yu, who stood night watch last night?” Wei Yun Xi asked.

“Replying to Miss, it was Xia Mo,” Chun Yu answered.

“Call her in.”