Chapter 8

Chapter 8: Preparing for a Rainy Day

Every morning, Wei Yun Xi studied with Feng Family children at the clan school, receiving basic cultivation lessons and learning about the Cultivation World. Some of this knowledge had been taught to her by Feng Jia Yun before, but the original body hadn’t understood, or remembered it clearly. Now, Wei Yun Xi-who had transmigrated in-digested it all, so her days in the Feng Family felt full and meaningful.

The afternoon lessons were what the kids liked most. Feng Family cultivators lectured on content from the “Illustrated Bestiary of Demonic Beasts” and the “Complete Guide to Spirit Plants.”

As they put it, if you were attacked by a demonic beast, you had to recognize what kind it was and know its weakness. And if you found a spirit plant, you had to at least understand its value, so you wouldn’t miss a rare treasure and beat your chest with regret afterward.

The Feng Family had risen through alchemy. Identifying spirit plants and spirit herbs was a required course for every Feng Family disciple, and they had to score excellent before moving on to the next stage. So these past few days, Wei Yun Xi had been flipping through the thick “Complete Guide to Spirit Plants,” memorizing it.

Every night after returning to her residence, Wei Yun Xi took a body-tempering pill before soaking in a hot spring, so the pill’s medicinal effects could be fully absorbed.

The first time she took one, she only felt a mild numbness through her body, without pain.

From the Feng Family Head, she learned that most children her age screamed in agony the first time they took a body-tempering pill, only gradually adapting later.

From that, it could be inferred that Feng Jia Yun had secretly fed her daughter body-tempering pills before, without letting her know.

Wei Yun Xi sighed inwardly. Feng Jia Yun had truly been a competent mother. She probably never imagined she would suddenly be separated from her daughter and be forced to leave her with Wei Ling Yue, that hypocrite.

While Wei Yun Xi stayed at the Feng Family, her news wasn’t completely cut off. She learned Du Ruo Lan had officially become Madam Wei, and Wei Yun Qing had become the Wei Family’s legitimate daughter. The mother and daughter were probably feeling very pleased with themselves right now.

Not long after, Wei Ling Yue sent someone to the Feng Family to fetch his younger daughter. He claimed it was because Yun Xi was about to celebrate her fifth birthday. After her birthday, the spirit-root test would happen, and then she would start cultivating. The Wei Family had other plans for Yun Xi.

This time, the Feng Family Head couldn’t block it. He explained the situation to Wei Yun Xi and prepared some items suitable for Qi Refining Stage cultivation, placing them all in a beginner storage pouch for her to carry.

After thinking for a moment, Wei Yun Xi handed the storage pendant she always wore to Feng Jia Qing and said seriously, “Uncle, please help Yun Xi keep Mother’s belongings for now. When I can cultivate, you can give them back to me.”

The Feng Family Head looked surprised. He hadn’t expected the little one to trust him so much, handing over everything his sister had left her. He smiled and asked, “Yun Xi, you trust Uncle that much? Why don’t you keep it yourself?”

Wei Yun Xi pretended to frown and think for a while before answering, “Wei Yun Qing always likes stealing my things. When I go back and test my spirit roots, if her aptitude is better than mine, she’ll definitely use the fact that her mother is Madam Wei to snatch my things. I don’t want to give treasures to her.”

The Feng Family Head immediately understood. The little girl was still holding a grudge over Wei Yun Qing stealing her mother’s hairpin before. But he also knew her decision was correct. Their reasons were different, but the goal was the same: to protect what Feng Jia Yun had left behind.

Now that the Feng Family had stepped in to conceal Wei Yun Xi’s spirit roots, it meant that once Wei Ling Yue learned his daughter only had average to below average aptitude, he definitely wouldn’t pour resources into cultivating Wei Yun Xi, nor would he tilt the family’s cultivation resources toward the younger daughter.

Or Wei Ling Yue might be even more shameless and coax Yun Xi into transferring everything her mother left into his own storage pouch. He had done it before. So the Feng Family Head strongly supported Yun Xi’s decision.

That day was Wei Yun Xi’s fifth birthday. The Feng Family Head gave Wei Yun Xi a Rank 1 defensive wristband. It activated passively. When its owner suffered a fatal injury, it would trigger automatically. Even without cultivation, Yun Xi could use it.

Wei Yun Xi thought it was a great item. She immediately bonded it with a drop of blood and slipped it onto her wrist. Then, delighted, she returned to the Wei Family with her four maids, escorted by the Feng Family Head.

Wei Ling Yue naturally came out to welcome her in person. He exchanged some polite, empty words with the Feng Family Head, and the two sides separated with formal courtesy.

Wei Yun Xi thought she would be moved to a side courtyard, but she returned smoothly to Zhuo Hua Courtyard. That was another difference from the novel.

Back at Zhuo Hua Courtyard, Wei Yun Xi washed up, changed into a fresh dress, and was carried by a maid to greet her scumbag father-and to meet the concubine the Wei Family had elevated.

“Yun Xi greets Father. May Father be well.”

Wei Yun Xi bowed in her childish voice, ignoring Du Ruo Lan sitting to the side.

Du Ruo Lan didn’t mind at all. Her gaze toward Wei Yun Xi was full of affection, and she said with a smile, “Looks like the Feng Family took good care of Yun Xi. Her little face is even rounder.”

Wei Yun Xi didn’t respond. This woman’s smile looked so fake, and it was obvious she didn’t mean well. So she simply stared with wide, round eyes at Wei Ling Yue.

Wei Ling Yue grew a little uncomfortable under his younger daughter’s gaze. He cleared his throat and said, “Yun Xi, from now on, Consort Du is Madam Wei. You must respect her.”

Since her scumbag father had spoken, Wei Yun Xi didn’t argue. She turned and saluted Du Ruo Lan. “Yun Xi greets Madam Wei.”

Du Ruo Lan’s mouth twitched. She only nodded slightly, then said tactfully, “You father and daughter haven’t seen each other for a long time. You must have much to say. I won’t stand here in the way. You talk first. I’ll go check on Yun Qing.”

With that, she swayed away from the reception hall.

After Du Ruo Lan left, Wei Ling Yue put on a loving-father face and asked how Wei Yun Xi had lived at the Feng Family, whether she had been bullied, and so on.

Wei Yun Xi wasn’t stupid. She only said what she could say. She talked about Feng Family children playing with her, eating good food, and Feng Family elders giving her many little gifts.

After that, she patted the beginner storage pouch at her waist and said with a hint of bragging, “Father, this is a gift Uncle gave me. He said the things inside can be used after I test my spirit roots and can cultivate.”

Wei Ling Yue’s gaze flickered. He sent a thread of divine sense into the storage pouch and saw its space was only three square meters. Inside were a black iron sword, a few bottles of Rank 1 pills, and a defensive hairpin, all suitable for beginners. There was nothing else.

Wei Ling Yue secretly thought the Feng Family was stingy, then said, “Yun Xi, did you thank your uncle?”

“Father, don’t worry. Yun Xi thanked Uncle properly.”

“Good. Go back early tonight and rest. Tomorrow the clan will test spirit roots for your batch of children who have turned five.”

“Yes.”

Wei Yun Xi answered quickly, but she still lingered and didn’t leave.

Wei Ling Yue frowned. “Yun Xi, what else is it?”

Wei Yun Xi asked with a face full of anticipation, “Father, today is my birthday. What gift did you prepare for me?”