Watching the beam rice improved seeds gradually mature, the breeding families gradually fell silent.

The silence wasn’t due to compromise, but fear.

On this day, at the Xi family estate.

Old Master Xi sat in the seat of honor, his gaze coldly sinister.

Beside him sat in two rows some notable breeding families whose names carried weight.

Currently among the earth spirit clan, the descendants of Xi Rang were most revered.

All other branch lines looked up to Old Master Xi’s every breath.

“This thing, I presume you’ve all examined it.” Old Master Xi pointed at the beam rice improved seeds on the table. The others only nodded without speaking. The beam rice parent seeds, no one had. But these improved seeds and the mature seeds—everyone had studied them.

Old Master Xi’s gaze was grave. “This old man has also examined them.” Having said this, he waved his hand, and servants brought up a flower pot. Inside, the soil was cracked, with almost no moisture at all.

But the green seedlings in the pot were growing well.

Everyone’s gaze fell on the seedlings with their plump leaves and strong roots in the pot, each face turning iron-blue.

Old Master Xi unhurriedly played with the prayer beads in his hands. After a long while, he said, “What do you all think of this Di Sanmeng’s skills?”

Sha family head Sha Yuan said, “The improved seeds are stable with strong disease resistance, low dependence on fertilizer and soil—work of a great master.”

When he said this, no one around objected.

Another family head, Xi Jingcheng, said, “This person cannot possibly be an independent practitioner. He must come from a prestigious school.”

Once these words were out, everyone turned their gazes toward Old Master Xi.

Old Master Xi pondered for a long while. Finally, a clan elder from the Huang family said, “I’ve heard that this batch of beam rice was cultivated in Di Yiqiu’s fief. Moreover, it was tended by Huang Rang.”

“Huang Rang?” This name was quite unfamiliar—no one had any leads.

This Huang family clan elder nodded. “To be frank with everyone, this Huang Rang is Huang Shu’s daughter.”

When he mentioned Huang Rang, no one knew, but if he mentioned Huang Shu, these people had more or less heard of him.

Years ago, Old Master Xi’s youngest daughter Xi Yin, disregarding the family’s obstruction, insisted on marrying down to a young man from the Huang family.

Among earth spirits, the Xi family was supreme, but the Xi family also had many branch lines and divisions. Further out were the Huang family, Tu clan, Sha clan, and so on. If it had been legitimate pure bloodline from the Huang family’s main branch, Old Master Xi probably would have held his nose and accepted it.

But this young fellow Huang Shu came from Immortal Tea Town—he was a distant branch of the Huang family that couldn’t be reached with eight poles.

Old Master Xi flew into a rage. Everyone originally thought this marriage absolutely couldn’t happen. Who knew that in the end, the Xi family expelled Xi Yin from the family. Immortal sect genealogies always recorded both men and women without distinction.

After Xi Yin married Huang Shu, the Xi family struck her from the clan records and never acknowledged her again.

This matter had passed many years, yet it had caused a sensation at the time, so everyone still remembered.

Everyone looked toward Old Master Xi again. His face was somber as water. So this orthodox Huang family clan elder continued, “More than ten years ago, bandits broke into Huang Shu’s home. Not only did they rob gold and silver, but they also… Huang Shu…”

He glanced at Old Master Xi and said carefully, “Castrated.”

Everyone shuddered while simultaneously looking toward Old Master Xi.

This matter was truly strange, and inevitably everyone suspected he had orchestrated it behind the scenes.

Old Master Xi’s face showed no joy or anger. “Continue.”

That Huang clan elder said, “Afterward, the He Xijin couple brought Huang Jun, Huang Rang, and their mother all back to Ruyi Sword Sect together. From then on, the Huang sisters lived under the He Xijin couple’s care. In recent years, she simply went to study at Si Tianjian’s breeding institute.”

“The breeding institute?” At the mention of this place, everyone wore disdainful expressions.

What kind of good place could Si Tianjian’s breeding institute be?

As expected, Old Master Xi said coldly, “Disgraceful!”

“Isn’t it just!” That Huang clan elder hurriedly said, “She’s been enrolled for many years, but reportedly she idles about, not attending to proper duties. She has no achievements. The He Xijin couple let her do as she pleases and don’t really manage her.”

Old Master Xi’s eldest son Xi Feng couldn’t help but ask, “Why would she cultivate beam rice for Di Sanmeng?”

That Huang clan elder said, “Last time, we demanded that all farming households not rent out their land. Originally Di Sanmeng would have had no land to open fields. But Di Yiqiu forcefully took out his own fief. After making many inquiries, we discovered it’s precisely this woman who’s managing these improved seeds for Di Yiqiu.”

Old Master Xi’s gaze was sinister. “That this woman studies at Si Tianjian and is being used by the court isn’t strange. It’s just that this Di Sanmeng himself hides his head and shows his tail, pushing out a yellow-haired girl to do the work. Truly laughable.”

“Who says otherwise… This person is just a fame-seeking petty villain…” Everyone echoed in agreement.

Beside them, Xi Feng said, “Father, all the clan heads and elders. If we eliminate this Huang Rang, even if Si Tianjian obtains the parent seeds, it will be very difficult to open trial fields again.”

Everyone’s eyes lit up as they looked toward Old Master Xi in unison. Someone said with difficulty, “It’s just that this Huang Rang is after all Old Master Xi’s granddaughter. We have reservations and naturally must first consult the Xi family.”

Old Master Xi snorted coldly. “This old man once said—this old man has no daughter. Where would any granddaughter come from?”

“If that’s the case, then it’s easily handled.” Someone said quietly, “Huang Shu nowadays misses his wife and daughters terribly…”

Everyone exchanged smiling glances, while only Old Master Xi’s prayer beads spun in his hands, showing neither joy nor anger.

Ruyi Sword Sect.

He Xijin received an urgent letter. Opening it, he was immediately stunned.

Beside him, Qu Manying saw this and asked, “What’s wrong?”

“Huang, Huang Huang Shu!” Sect Master He spoke these two words, then simply handed the urgent letter to his wife.

Qu Manying glanced at it and even raised her voice, “Huang Shu is critically ill and wants Ayin to bring the daughters back to visit?!”

The couple exchanged glances. He Xijin said, “I’m, I’m afraid, it it can can only only be be so so.”

Qu Manying was furious. “Back then you should have just chopped off his neck!”

Sect Master He said, “It it was was this this husband’s husband’s fault fault.”

He admitted his mistake so quickly that Qu Manying could only say, “Can’t entirely blame you either. For such a beast to just die like that would have been too cheap. Better that he’s been sick these many years—only then is it satisfying.”

Sect Master He said, “The the two two sisters sisters must must go go back back. Other other otherwise wise people people will will criticize criticize them them for for being being unfilial unfilial!”

Qu Manying naturally understood this reasoning.

She said, “Then we must accompany the three of them—mother and daughters—back to Immortal Tea Town for a trip.”

“We we should should.” Sect Master He nodded.

So Qu Manying wrote a letter and sent it to Huang Rang, far away in the Capital.

At this time, at Si Tianjian.

Huang Rang had just finished making dinner and packed it in a food box, carrying it to Di Yiqiu’s study.

When Di Yiqiu saw her, he immediately stood up and began helping open the food box and set out the bowls and chopsticks. There were two sets of bowls and chopsticks—the two had long been accustomed to eating together.

When Li Lu came in, the Jianzheng was moving a chair for Huang Rang.

Uh, a bit awkward.

Jianfu Li hurriedly said, “Miss Arang, just now Sect Master He and his wife sent an urgent letter asking you to return to Ruyi Sword Sect for a trip.”

“Return to Ruyi Sword Sect?” Huang Rang was slightly startled.

Li Lu took out the letter and presented it with both hands. Naturally he wouldn’t need to be so respectful to others, but… well, times had changed.

Huang Rang took the letter. The more she read, the more serious her expression became.

Di Yiqiu asked, “What is it?”

Huang Rang said, “Uncle and aunt wrote saying my father is critically ill and want me to quickly return to the sword sect to go back to Immortal Tea Town with them to visit.”

“Your father is critically ill?” Di Yiqiu didn’t know Huang Shu’s character. At this time he said, “If this is truly the case, you indeed should return home to visit.”

Huang Rang pondered for a long while. Di Yiqiu asked, “Are you worried about your father?”

“Worried about my father?” Huang Rang sneered coldly. “No matter how that old bastard dies, I’ll applaud.”

Li Lu’s head immediately broke out in sweat. Di Yiqiu frowned and asked, “Why?”

Huang Rang glanced at Li Lu. Jianfu Li understood immediately. “This official will take his leave first.”

Jianfu Li not only tactfully left but also turned back to close the door.

Huang Rang stared at Di Yiqiu. After a long time, she suddenly set down her chopsticks and began narrating Huang Shu’s evil deeds.

She recounted Huang Shu’s transgressions one by one, item by item, without concealment or exaggeration.

Di Yiqiu listened carefully. When Huang Rang spoke of the harm suffered by her sister Huang Jun, he used force with his hand, and the cup between his fingers shattered with a crack into several porcelain shards.

Huang Rang continued all the way to the He Xijin couple’s rescue. Having finished, she stopped and met Di Yiqiu’s gaze.

She shouldn’t speak these words. Smart women shouldn’t mention such things.

Her father’s evil deeds—speaking of them made it seem like his fault. But what was ruined was the other daughters’ innocence.

Those ridiculed, misunderstood, and despised by the world would only be the daughters who had suffered all his cruelty.

How laughable the world was.

“Before, I didn’t dare speak these words.” Huang Rang’s voice suddenly became low. “I always felt that having such a father, if my beloved learned of it, he would probably become suspicious and doubtful, harboring suspicion for a lifetime. No matter how hard my sister and I tried, we would ultimately bear a lifetime of infamy. But… I don’t want us to have any more misunderstandings.”

She was about to continue when Di Yiqiu bent his head and continued eating.

Watching his reaction, Huang Rang couldn’t quite gauge what he was thinking. After all, he was too young—perhaps he couldn’t understand her words?

However, Di Yiqiu ate through his meal in a few bites, stood up, and said, “You stay at Si Tianjian. This official will make a trip to Immortal Tea Town.”

“You’re going to Immortal Tea Town?” Huang Rang stared at him. He said, “Sect Master He is too merciful. This master will go and pick out a way to die for that old beast.”

As he spoke, he was about to go out. Huang Rang laughed. “Wait a moment.”

Di Yiqiu turned back. Huang Rang asked, “Haven’t you considered keeping me here?”

She asked this question extremely seriously.

Di Yiqiu frowned and asked, “What do you mean—”

Before the last word left his mouth, Huang Rang suddenly stepped forward, her red lips lightly touching his cheek.

The Jianzheng was as if struck by lightning, electric current racing through his entire body, the whole person charred on the outside and tender inside, his hair standing on end.

Huang Rang’s lips were right by his ear, pressed against the outline of his left ear, asking softly, “Have you considered keeping me here? From now on, no one can take me away for any reason. I’ll stay by your side, forever and ever.”

In that moment, the Jianzheng only felt his ear tingling with numbness, his whole body powerless.

“Why, why would I keep a salted fish like you by my side?!” He suddenly turned his head away from Huang Rang and fled as if escaping, pushing the door open and leaving.

He ran all the way to the entrance of Xuanwu Si before discovering his heart was pounding like a drum.

For… forever stay by my side?

Behind him, Huang Rang laughed softly.

Really so young, doesn’t understand teasing at all. Eat well, grow stronger. Wait until the day this old lady plays something big on you. Right now with this physique, I’m afraid you couldn’t handle it…

Huang Rang lowered her head to collect the bowls and chopsticks. After a while, she thought of her “critically ill” loving father in Immortal Tea Town.

This time, whose instructions are you following, so determined to seek death?

My dear father.