Chapter 170
Chapter 170: Too Late for Regrets
Wei Ling Yue stumbled slightly as he stepped through the doorway, then hurried away without once looking back, his figure full of embarrassment and unease.
Yun Xi watched Wei Ling Yue leave with a calm and distant gaze. Only after his figure vanished did she rise and head toward the main courtyard where her mother had once lived. The courtyard had already been cleaned, her mother’s former belongings returned to their rightful places.
The servants moved swiftly and silently. When they saw Yun Xi, they paused their tasks to respectfully bow to her. Yun Xi casually waved her hand and said, “You may leave now.”
“Yes,” the servants replied, immediately leaving Radiant Brilliance Courtyard without a sound.
With another gentle wave of her sleeve, Yun Xi closed the gates of Radiant Brilliance Courtyard and released her fourth-level formation plate, ensuring no one would disturb her.
The Flying Rosy Cloud butterfly fluttered lightly from Yun Xi’s hair and perched on a pear blossom tree in the courtyard. Dian Dian cautiously poked its head out, waiting for Yun Xi’s approval, before boldly beginning its exploration of Radiant Brilliance Courtyard.
The entire courtyard was silent except for the gentle rustling of flowers and leaves in the breeze.
Yun Xi stretched lazily, feeling the tranquility around her. She sat at the stone table beneath the pear blossom tree and brewed herself a pot of fragrant Snow Moon Tea, letting herself relax fully.
Ten years was merely a blink of an eye for cultivators, but for mortals, it was enough for many things to change. The four young maidservants who once attended her had long since left the Wei family to lead their own lives.
Feng Xiu, sent by Feng Jia Qing to serve her, had returned to the Feng family soon after Yun Xi entered the sect. She heard that Feng Xiu had left Kunyu City three years ago, searching for an opportunity to break through to Foundation Establishment. Yun Xi felt a gentle sigh at the thought of how many things had changed in Kunyu City.
Unlike in the original story, she had now returned with honor and pride, successfully altering her fate. She stood firmly above Wei Yun Qing, confidently reclaiming what belonged to her from Wei Ling Yue. Yun Xi felt deeply satisfied with herself.
Meanwhile, Wei Ling Yue, shaken and frustrated after his encounter with Yun Xi, vented all his bitterness on Du Ruo Lan.
After moving out of Radiant Brilliance Courtyard, Du Ruo Lan had returned to Haitang Courtyard, where she’d lived as a concubine. The servants were busy cleaning when they saw Wei Ling Yue storm into the courtyard, furious. They quickly slipped away, making themselves invisible.
“Du Ruo Lan, look at the trouble you’ve caused!” Wei Ling Yue shouted angrily, flicking his sleeve and knocking the beautiful woman from her chair onto the ground.
Du Ruo Lan clenched her teeth silently. After a long pause, she stood and calmly asked, “Lord Husband, what mistake has Ruo Lan made to provoke such anger?”
Wei Ling Yue, seated now in the main chair, replied icily, “If you hadn’t insisted on occupying Radiant Brilliance Courtyard, Yun Xi and I would not be on such bad terms now!”
Du Ruo Lan’s breath caught, and she lowered her gaze, saying softly, “I’m your wife—isn’t living in Radiant Brilliance Courtyard only natural? You agreed to it yourself. And when Yun Xi returned, I immediately vacated the courtyard. How else have I wronged her? Father and daughter shouldn’t fight over such trivial matters.”
Wei Ling Yue, frustrated and unwilling to acknowledge his incompetence, grew even more annoyed by her reasoning. He impatiently waved his hand, “Enough of your excuses. Hand over the Beauty Retaining Pill I gave you earlier.”
Du Ruo Lan quickly raised her head in protest, “Lord Husband, I intended to leave that pill for Yun Qing.”
Wei Ling Yue frowned sharply. “I told you to give it back. I’ll get another one for Yun Qing.”
He couldn’t very well admit that pill was originally prepared by Feng Jia Yun for Yun Xi, and he’d selfishly claimed it. Now, facing Yun Xi’s demands, he could only comply.
Du Ruo Lan reluctantly retrieved the bottle and handed it over. Wei Ling Yue stored it in his storage bag before warning her sternly, “Yun Xi is now a Golden Core Daoist Master—show some respect. She already knows about the Spirit Melting Pill you tried to feed her back then. Behave yourself, or even I won’t be able to protect you.”
With that, Wei Ling Yue stormed out, leaving Du Ruo Lan slumped helplessly on the ground, trembling.
She hadn’t expected Yun Xi to know about the Spirit Melting Pill. Since Wei Ling Yue would never volunteer that information, Yun Xi must have known for quite some time. To think that the five-year-old Yun Xi had silently endured, only revealing the truth when she had grown powerful—she was far more terrifying than her seemingly gentle and indifferent mother.
Du Ruo Lan now bitterly regretted not having been ruthless enough. With Yun Qing far away at the sect, beyond immediate help, her only hope was that Wei Ling Yue would protect her for old times’ sake, and for Yun Qing’s sake.
Wei Yun Qing, whom Du Ruo Lan had just thought of, was currently recovering in Treasure Blossom City. After falling into Treasure Blossom Range, she’d luckily landed on the outer perimeter rather than deep inside.
In order to survive and escape, Wei Yun Qing fought fiercely, killing demonic beasts with her sword. On the very day Yun Xi returned triumphantly to Kunyu City, Wei Yun Qing stumbled out of Treasure Blossom Range battered and weary.
Though exhausted and wounded, Wei Yun Qing had made an unexpected breakthrough, reaching mid-stage Foundation Establishment. More importantly, she’d discovered a crimson bracelet inside a demonic beast’s belly. After dripping blood onto it, she’d bonded with the bracelet and was overjoyed to discover a small hidden space inside.
The space was small—less than three hundred square meters—but it could store living creatures, and even allow her own entry. The only downside was that, unlike Yun Xi’s wooden plaque space, the bracelet itself couldn’t disappear but had to remain visible.
Nevertheless, Wei Yun Qing saw this as a tremendous stroke of fortune. She’d collected several valuable materials from the outskirts of Treasure Blossom Mountain, carefully placing them into the bracelet’s space. After resting for a few days in Treasure Blossom City and decorating the space to her liking, she set off toward Kunyu City, determined to surpass Yun Xi this time.
Back in Kunyu City, Yun Xi, currently chatting with Wei Ling Tao, suddenly sneezed. [Someone must be talking about me behind my back,] she thought.
Wei Ling Tao asked with concern, “Yun Xi, are you feeling unwell?”
Yun Xi smiled softly, “It’s nothing. Someone’s probably just mentioning my name.”
They continued talking about Wei Zong Jin, Wei Ling Tao’s son. When Wei Ling Tao heard that Zong Jin was progressing steadily in his cultivation, he warmly thanked Yun Xi. His son would surely achieve Foundation Establishment with the pills Yun Xi provided; time spent refining his foundation would only improve his future prospects. Wei Ling Tao fully understood and deeply appreciated Yun Xi’s kindness.
Seeing the conversation nearly finished, Yun Xi pulled out a storage bag and gently pushed it toward Wei Ling Tao, saying, “Patriarch, these pills were refined by me. They can help our clan’s disciples improve their cultivation. There are also three Foundation Establishment Pills inside—you may allocate them as you see fit.”
She paused briefly, then continued, “I’ve already reached Golden Core, so I’ll soon receive another Golden Core Formation Pill from the sect. Once I return and collect it, I’ll send it back to you.”
Wei Ling Tao’s eyes immediately lit up. Feng Jia Qing’s recent breakthrough had caused him worry, but Yun Xi’s words instantly calmed him. With another Golden Core cultivator in the family, the Wei Clan could maintain their status as Kunyu City’s foremost clan.
Smiling warmly, Wei Ling Tao replied, “Second Uncle thanks you on behalf of the entire clan. Everyone sees your devotion. You’ve become our pillar of support, and the Wei Clan will always be your safe haven.”
Yun Xi smiled slightly. Her second uncle was indeed skillful with words. Still, she quietly added, “Patriarch, keep the Golden Core matter to yourself. This pill is meant only for you, and there’s no need to inform my father.”