The Wei family had promised action “soon,” yet weeks stretched into months with nothing but silence.
The Chu Qin Sect enjoyed an unexpected stretch of quiet days.
When the new year rolled around, the annual Immortal Ascension Ceremony brought in three more promising children. This ti, Qi Xiu himself suggested they make a proper fuss over his forty-fifth birthday.
When the headmaster gives the word, who’s going to argue?
The disciples threw themselves into preparations. Before long, the entire mountain gate of Immortal Forest Hollow was draped in lanterns and silk, bursting with flowers and color.
“From Mount Capital’s Wei family—Wei Liuxian offers congratulations!”
Shen Chang stood at the entrance with little Yu Shang, booming out the nas of arriving guests in his best ceremonial voice.
This ti Qi Xiu hadn’t just thrown an internal celebration—he’d sent invitations far and wide to neighboring sects.
A Wei family visitor couldn’t be slighted.
Qi Xiu took Wei Minniang by the arm and went out to greet them together.
“What’s gotten into you this year?” she asked, trailing behind him. “Forty-five isn’t a milestone. It’s not even a round number. Why throw a bigger party than you did at forty—and invite so many people?”
She was twenty-nine now, standing at the absolute peak of a woman’s bloom—mature, confident, radiating a quiet, sensual allure.
Qi Xiu reached back and gently scraped the tip of her nose.
He turned the question around.
“This coming appointnt with the Wei family… life or death could be decided in the blink of an eye. You’re coming with . Are you afraid?”
She t his eyes without hesitation.
“Not afraid. I’m a Wei too. As long as I’m with you, I’m not afraid of anything.”
They held each other’s gaze for a long heartbeat. No more words were needed.
The Wei envoy turned out to be a Qi Refining female cultivator—a familiar face. She’d co once before, years ago, to escort Wei Minniang to her wedding.
The two won linked arms at once, slipping into the easy intimacy of private gossip as they walked toward the banquet seats.
“From Zhen Yang Liu family—Liu Yi offers congratulations!”
Qi Xiu rubbed his temples.
Liu Yi again. Ever since Qi Xiu spared his life, the man had beco the Liu family’s permanent errand boy for every social call. And he still had zero sense of tact—pure headache fuel.
Qi Xiu shot a look at Yu Deno. The old man caught it imdiately. Together they went out to receive him.
Yu Deno, once he got comfortable, was just as loose-lipped as Liu Yi. Perfect match.
After that ca a steady stream of cultivators from smaller nearby sects.
They weren’t close friends, but every delegation sent the sa kind of person Yu Deno had beco over the years: the reliable, middle-aged type who handled weddings, funerals, and all the diplomatic grease-work.
The atmosphere stayed warm and lively—no awkward silences.
“From the Southern Chu Sect’s Chu family—Senior Chu Zhuangyuan has arrived!”
A Foundation Establishnt cultivator?
A ripple of murmurs spread through the already seated guests, whispers about the old rumors tying Chu Qin and Southern Chu together.
Why her?
Qi Xiu’s heart stuttered. After the briefest hesitation, he took Wei Minniang’s hand and went out to et her.
Chu Zhuangyuan was still breathtaking.
For a Foundation Establishnt cultivator, fourteen or fifteen years passed like seven or eight for soone stuck in Qi Refining. Ti had only brushed her face with the lightest touch.
“Long ti no see, Headmaster Qi. How have you been?”
The girlish innocence had faded, replaced by a riper, more dangerous beauty.
Her hairstyle still marked her as unmarried, yet her tone toward Qi Xiu carried an extra layer of polite distance.
“Senior Chu’s elegance hasn’t dimd in the slightest. anwhile, this old man has definitely aged.”
Where once he’d felt a flicker of infatuation, now only calm detachnt remained.
She gave a soft laugh.
“You’re too kind.”
And that was the end of the exchange.
Wei Minniang, blissfully unaware of the old sparks, stepped forward the mont the greetings finished. With perfect deference she guided Chu Zhuangyuan to the seat of honor among the guests.
Once everyone was seated, Qi Xiu gave the signal.
The banquet began.
Nothing extravagant—just a normal birthday gathering. Cultivators relaxed, laughed, drank, and chatted freely.
“Qin Sizhao, Qin Hu, Luo Du—wishing Headmaster great success on the path, and longevity like pine and crane!”
The three five-year-old boys who’d just entered the sect stepped forward to offer formal congratulations.
Qi Xiu smiled warmly and waved them up.
Wei Yue’er, cheeks pink, handed each boy a red envelope.
She was eleven now, growing more and more like her mother—and old enough to feel a little shy.
Qin Hu ca from the Right Mountain Qin clan.
Luo Du hailed from one of the tiny families inside their territory.
Both boys had mixed spiritual roots.
Qin Sizhao, though, was different.
Left Mountain Qin clan, youngest son of Qin Ji—and born with dual innate affinities and a single spiritual root. Genuine genius material.
Looking at him, Qi Xiu felt a quiet pang.
The na “Sizhao” had been Qin Ji’s private longing for his long-absent wife. That wild, pure-hearted Zhao girl who used to chase handso boys across the hills singing mountain songs—she had passed away from illness not long ago.
Qi Xiu pulled Qin Sizhao closer and spoke softly.
“Since you’ve ascended to immortality, I’ve already arranged for your father to be released. From now on, you’re part of Chu Qin. Cultivate hard.”
“Yes, sir.”
The boy was still small. He answered half-understanding.
Ming Jiu led the children off to their own table.
Chu Zhuangyuan rely wet her lips with wine, then rose to excuse herself.
Her presence alone had delivered the Chu family’s ssage. Lingering among a crowd of Qi Refiners held little appeal.
The mont Qi Xiu saw her off, Chu Duo’s voice transmission slid into his ear.
His stomach sank.
Making a quick excuse, he slipped away toward the private thatched hall at the back.
Chu Duo looked fully recovered—back to that lofty, cold, hawk-like deanor.
But he hadn’t co alone.
Lying unconscious beside him was a boy of five or six.
Qi Xiu nearly blacked out.
This bastard—wound barely healed and he was already back to his old tricks.
Keeping his voice to a furious whisper: “My dear ancestor! A child this age already has mories! This is asking for trouble!”
Chu Duo let out a lazy snort of laughter.
“This ti I’ve turned the tables. The boy is a reward—for your excellent performance. Special delivery, just for the Chu Qin Sect.”
Qi Xiu sucked in a sharp breath.
A gift? The sun rising in the west?
“Can I… decline?”
“No.”
Flat refusal.
“This child was one of the infants I stole from the White Mountains back then. Last ti you hid the sect’s secret vault from —it reminded I needed to tie you down even tighter. Accept the boy, and we’ll be… thoroughly bound together, won’t we?”
Qi Xiu ntally cursed Chu Duo for the ten-thousandth ti.
The Chu family played dirty.
Take in this child and he’d be shackled for good—no room left to maneuver.
A surge of regret: why hadn’t he just let this disaster kill himself back then and be done with it?
“Heh. Don’t bother cursing in your heart.”
Qi Xiu jolted.
But then reason kicked in—his thoughts couldn’t be spied on. Chu Duo was just fishing.
He hurriedly waved it off. “I wouldn’t dare.”
“The boy’s na is Chu Wuying. Single innate affinity, single spiritual root. Genius talent. A fitting thank-you for saving my life, I’d say. He only knows he’s a descendant of Chu Huixin, an orphan. I told him I was bringing him to Chu Qin Sect because you inherited Chu Huixin’s mantle—you’re her last true successor. So you’ve been entrusted with her bloodline. Rember that. Make sure your stories match.”
With that, Chu Duo stood, vanished with his usual ruthless efficiency, and left Qi Xiu alone with the sleeping Chu Wuying, clawing at his own hair in despair.
In the end, no better option presented itself.
He called Ming Jiu in, fed him the sa pack of lies Chu Duo had spun, and told him to take the child to be raised alongside Qin Sizhao and the others.
One more mouth to feed.
Future problems could wait for the future.
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