Chapter 169

Chapter 169: There Is Always a Reason

Du Ruo Lan stopped in her tracks and glanced toward Wei Ling Yue, silently urging him to ask the question in her stead. Wei Ling Yue gave a light cough, then inquired gently, “Yun Xi, why didn’t Yun Qing return to Kunyu City with you?”

Yun Xi glanced calmly at the two before slowly replying, “Ever since we joined the sect, we’ve rarely seen each other. Yun Qing spends most of her time at Alchemy Peak, especially with a certain Senior Brother Ye. After reaching Foundation Establishment, she entered the Inner Sect’s Alchemy Peak. Before I left the sect, she had become a named disciple under Alchemy Peak’s peak master, though she hasn’t formally apprenticed yet.”

She paused, adding gently, “When I was accepted as a disciple, I even invited Wei clan’s disciples to visit Frostridge Peak. Yun Qing knew I was returning home, but she never mentioned returning with me. I didn’t want to disturb elder sister’s training, so I came back alone.”

Yun Xi’s words were brief yet contained every crucial detail.

Hearing this, Du Ruo Lan instinctively pressed her nails into her palms. Yun Xi’s meaning was clear: her daughter’s situation in the sect was merely average. Even after nearly ten years, she hadn’t secured a formal master.

In contrast, Wei Ling Yue was overjoyed. His face couldn’t hide his smile. This second daughter of his was truly remarkable—at such a young age, she was already a Golden Core Daoist Master and had even taken on a master. Her master must be at least a Nascent Soul True Lord. This was an immense source of pride for him.

Eagerly, Wei Ling Yue asked, “Yun Xi, which True Lord took you as a disciple?”

Yun Xi replied warmly, “I apprenticed under True Lord Yu Ling of Frostridge Peak. He’s the senior brother of our Sect Master. Before I left, Master was attempting to break through to Divine Transformation. If everything goes smoothly, he will become a Divine Transformation Venerable within a few years.”

“Wonderful! Wonderful!” Wei Ling Yue’s joy was genuine as he continued, “Yun Xi, you truly bring honor to your father. With a True Lord teaching you, your path will surely extend further than mine.”

Yun Xi smiled gently, agreeing softly, “Indeed. As Master’s only disciple, he takes my cultivation seriously. Before entering seclusion, he personally passed down cultivation techniques and prepared ample resources for me, considering everything I might need.”

Wei Ling Yue’s delight grew, and the warmth in his eyes deepened.

Du Ruo Lan’s heart, however, sank further with each word. Her daughter clearly had better talent than this three-spiritual-rooted waste, yet she lagged behind at every step. Until now, Yun Qing barely managed Foundation Establishment and couldn’t even find a chance to return home.

Watching the happy father and daughter converse, Du Ruo Lan quietly lowered her gaze and left the main hall. She understood clearly: whether she wanted to or not, she had to vacate Radiant Brilliance Courtyard. Leaving voluntarily would at least save her some dignity; being forcibly removed would only embarrass her.

Once Du Ruo Lan had gone, Wei Ling Yue continued warmly chatting with Yun Xi, “Yun Xi, how long do you plan to stay in the clan this time?”

“I returned mainly to visit Father, and to reclaim some things temporarily kept with Uncle Feng’s family. Afterward, I must return to the sect. The sect competition is approaching, and I cannot disappoint Master.”

Wei Ling Yue immediately nodded, “Of course, that’s as it should be.”

Yun Xi continued, “By the way, when Uncle Feng helped gather Mother’s possessions, he mentioned that the storage bag hidden in the secret compartment of her white jade bed had likely been taken by Father. At the time, I was young and trusted Father and Uncle Feng to keep it safe. But now that I am a Golden Core Daoist Master, I can guard these things myself. Father, do you have any objection?”

Yun Xi’s clear eyes rested on Wei Ling Yue’s face, watching as his expression stiffened. He obviously hadn’t anticipated needing to return something already pocketed. After an awkward cough, he explained, “Yun Xi, that storage bag was something your mother and I—”

But Yun Xi bluntly interrupted, “Father, please don’t claim it’s something you and Mother accumulated together. From as far back as I remember, aside from asking Mother for pills, you rarely entered Radiant Brilliance Courtyard. Everything Mother owned belonged solely to her. Now that she’s gone, naturally, these items belong to me, her only daughter.”

Knowing he couldn’t deceive her, Wei Ling Yue sighed, “Yun Xi, are you blaming Father?”

Yun Xi refused to follow his lead, continuing instead, “Uncle Feng told me clearly: your marriage to my mother was solely for the clan’s benefit, without any genuine affection. After I was born, you barely visited Mother, or else Du Ruo Lan and an older Wei Yun Qing wouldn’t exist.”

She paused, eyes sharp as blades, “These are matters of the older generation, and as your daughter, I have no right to interfere. But after Mother’s ‘passing,’ you immediately elevated Concubine Du to Madam Wei. That was disrespectful to Mother and dismissive of me. Had you considered my position, would Wei Yun Qing dare openly snatch Mother’s possessions? Or slip a Spirit Dissolving Pill into my food? Wasn’t that all because you didn’t care enough about me? Did you think blaming it all on Zhen Zhu would deceive me?”

Yun Xi’s voice was steady but merciless, striking Wei Ling Yue like a fierce slap. He saw clearly, perhaps for the first time, the daughter he had overlooked. Face shifting between pale and flushed, he murmured after a long silence, “It’s true your mother and I shared no affection, but I never mistreated you.”

Yun Xi laughed bitterly, “Indeed, Father never mistreated me—you only treated me differently. Wei Yun Qing and I are both your daughters, yet you lifted one and stepped on the other. When she bullied me, you pretended ignorance.”

Her tone grew colder, “On my fifth birthday, you gave me a dead egg as a gift, tricking me into believing it was a spirit beast egg that would hatch into my contracted beast. But after so many years, it remains an egg. Would Father care to see it?”

Wei Ling Yue’s lips tightened as Yun Xi continued mercilessly, “Father, I was always precocious and clearly remember the day I heard Mother had fallen. I cried myself unconscious. When I awoke, only a maid was by my side. I begged them to carry me to Mother’s room and happened upon you leaving. You were annoyed to see me and immediately knocked me out, instructing the maids to take me away. If I’m not mistaken, that was when you took Mother’s storage bag.”

Unable to find a plausible denial, Wei Ling Yue replied stiffly, “I did use some of the items inside, but I’ll replace them by tomorrow and return them to you.”

Yun Xi curled her lips, “Very well. I trust Father won’t withhold what isn’t his.”

Feeling utterly exposed, Wei Ling Yue stood abruptly, “Yun Xi, rest well. I’ll come again tomorrow.”

She didn’t stop him, calmly adding, “Father, our distant relationship wasn’t formed overnight. My disappointment has accumulated enough, and I no longer yearn for fatherly affection. From now on, our father-daughter bond will be only this. Don’t expect more. Fortunately, you still have another daughter. May she fulfill all your expectations.”