Yuhu Xuanzong.

Xie Hongchen had traveled and not yet returned, but this had no impact whatsoever on Huang Rang.

She desperately practiced martial arts at night and squeezed out time during the day to go to Qilu Terrace for plant breeding. She was truly too busy. Aside from still reciting Xie Lingbi’s name daily, she rarely thought of other people.

But Xie Hongchen finally still returned.

On this day, Huang Rang brought the excellent seed varieties she had cultivated to the outer gate courier station to send them to He Xijin. When the immortal sect sent items, there were also fast and slow methods. Fast meant using transmission talismans—guaranteed arrival the same day. Slow meant manual transport, which would delay for quite some time.

Of course, the prices were also different.

Huang Rang was filling out the form when suddenly the courier station disciple said, “Senior Sister Huang, there’s a letter here for you.”

“A letter for me?” Huang Rang was baffled. Who would send her a letter?

She accepted that letter and casually opened it. A page of letter paper floated out—the three characters “Di Yiqiu” were still composed and unrestrained. Ah, so it’s you, you dog bastard.

Huang Rang looked at that letter paper several times before carefully folding it and placing it in the pouch at her waist.

For a moment, even the gloomy sky became much brighter.

—That dog bastard must have already received the seed she sent. Huang Rang dared bet he would definitely be curious about what it was. After all, such a large seed—who wouldn’t be curious?

Imagining the expression on that dog bastard’s face when the seed sprouted and gradually took shape, Huang Rang could not help but feel delighted in her heart.

The corners of her mouth bore a smile, and her steps were light as she exited the courier station. Just at this moment, someone entered from outside.

“Sect Master!” All the disciples saluted him, their voices uniform and synchronized.

Huang Rang raised her head to look. She saw Xie Hongchen dressed entirely in white like clouds. He wore a jade crown binding his hair, water-blue shoulder guards draped over his shoulders, and a matching waist sash that made him appear broad-shouldered and narrow-waisted, possessing a blade-like sharpness within his cool detachment.

Huang Rang also stood with the other disciples at the side of the path, yielding the way: “Master.” She said respectfully.

Xie Hongchen’s gaze did not look toward her. He only lightly acknowledged with a sound, then without stopping his steps, proceeded directly toward Diancui Peak.

As expected, he had grown much more distant again.

Huang Rang was not surprised. Previously outside the dream, when she and Xie Hongchen had just married, Xie Hongchen had been like this. Clearly, the first three days had still been the honeymoon period of newlyweds, emotions like honey. But after going out for three months, he became extremely cold and distant.

He habitually used separation to distance himself emotionally.

Huang Rang was not sad.

The truly sad days had long since passed.

She turned back into the courier station, thought for a moment, and sent another letter to another person—Huang Shu.

In the letter, Huang Rang exerted all her effort to describe her life in the immortal sect. She stated that those magical treasures Huang Shu would not even dare imagine were here merely commonplace trinkets seen daily.

Her words and sentences were sincere, stating that she had a master who taught her attentively and senior brothers who cared for and looked after her. Between the lines, all entreated her father not to worry about her.

The letter was quickly delivered to Xiancha Town.

When Huang Shu opened it and looked, he was immediately so angry his lungs nearly exploded!

This person had always been the most greedy and shortsighted. Now Huang Rang had entered the immortal sect herself, living like an immortal. But what had he gotten?!

The next day, Huang Shu set out from Xiancha Town, rushing all the way to Yuhu Xuanzong. Of course, he likewise could not afford the expensive transmission talismans and could only travel by fast horse.

By year’s end, he finally arrived at this legendary sacred ground of the immortal sect.

Yuhu Xuanzong was unlike the mundane world—there was no festive atmosphere at all. Huang Shu looked at those immortal mountains towering into the clouds and immediately also felt some reverence. He hesitated for quite a while before finally randomly finding a disciple to ask, “This immortal elder, this old man has a daughter cultivating here. She studies under Sect Master Xie and is named Huang Rang. I wonder if the immortal elder might know her?”

When that disciple heard this, how could he not know—the sect master only had three direct disciples in total.

He hastily said, “So you are Elder Huang. Have you come for the festival season to visit Senior Sister Huang?”

Huang Rang had entered the sect late, but she was the sect master’s disciple, so other disciples also addressed her as senior sister. Hearing this, Huang Shu hastily said, “Precisely so. I ask that the immortal elder convey this message on my behalf.”

This disciple hastily said, “Elder Huang need not be so polite. I will take Elder Huang to enter the inner gate first and arrange lodging.”

Huang Shu coming to see his daughter was actually not anything unusual. Many immortal sect disciples had parents who were worried and came to visit. The outer gate had specialized guest rooms. Staying for two days and exchanging a few words with their child was all there was to it.

But since Huang Rang was now the sect master’s direct disciple, her status was naturally different.

The sect’s disciples invited him into the inner gate and cleared out a room beside Huang Rang’s residence for him.

Aside from Xie Hongchen, no one in all of Yuhu Xuanzong knew the true relationship between Huang Shu and Huang Rang. In everyone’s eyes, they were still a kind father and filial daughter.

Therefore, the inner gate disciples, in order to curry favor with Huang Rang, naturally arranged her father in close proximity.

At that time, Huang Rang was at Qilu Terrace breeding plants. An outer gate disciple came to find her, delightedly informing her of this “terrible news.”

As expected, he had come.

Huang Rang smiled and thanked the disciple who came to relay the message. Then she lightly blinked once, and tears instantly gathered in her eyes. She drew out a silk handkerchief and lightly pressed the corners of her eyes as she passed through the training grounds.

Xie Li, Xie Hongchen’s second disciple and currently Huang Rang’s second senior brother, was practicing martial arts on the training grounds.

Xie Li saw Huang Rang at a glance and was about to call out to her when he suddenly saw her beautiful head bowed low, wiping her eyes with the handkerchief, as if crying.

What had happened? Could it be that someone dared bully junior sister?

Xie Li wanted to step forward and inquire, but seeing her face full of sorrow, he simply followed Huang Rang from neither too far nor too near, all the way to Huang Rang’s residence. Outside Huang Rang’s door, someone was already waiting—a man.

Xie Li then asked the disciple responsible for arranging personnel on Diancui Peak, “Who is this person?”

That disciple hastily said, “Replying to Second Senior Brother, that is Senior Sister Huang’s father. He just arrived from Xiancha Town to visit senior sister.”

Xie Li acknowledged with a sound but still felt it strange—why had junior sister been crying all along the way? Could it be that thinking of seeing her father, she was crying tears of extreme joy?!

That couldn’t be. Just now, Huang Rang’s expression had not looked at all like it should for happiness.

Xie Li thought for a while, then suddenly dismissed the disciples beside him. He lightly pressed close to the quiet dwelling to eavesdrop!

After all, he was more mischievous than Nie Qinglan. If Nie Qinglan were here, he certainly would not privately listen to a father and daughter’s conversation.

In the room, Huang Rang gracefully bowed and said, “Daughter has seen Father.”

But Huang Shu’s expression was not very good. Facing other disciples, he still knew to restrain himself. But upon entering the room with only Huang Rang present, his expression darkened.

“So you still know you have this father? You entered Yuhu Xuanzong several months ago,” Huang Shu said in a low voice, “yet haven’t returned even once. What, now that you’ve flown up to the branches, you think your wings are hard enough?”

This—Xie Li listened in complete bewilderment.

Junior sister’s father did not sound very loving. After all, they had not seen each other for several months, yet between his words there was not half a bit of feelings for his daughter.

Inside the room, Huang Shu’s cultivation was originally shallow, and these years he had been addicted to divine grass—when had he properly cultivated? How could he possibly detect Xie Li’s eavesdropping technique?

Huang Rang’s voice still held great respect as she said, “Where is Father saying such things? How could daughter forget you?”

Huang Shu sneered coldly, “Stop brushing me off with such words. Originally, if you had married the Eighty-Sixth Prince, the imperial court would have long since granted Xiancha Town to the Huang family. Now you’ve entered the immortal sect, but your father hasn’t gained a single benefit!”

Xie Li listened, dumbstruck.

Over these years, he had also seen many ignorant people, but this was the first time he had encountered such words.

Huang Rang still patiently poured tea for Huang Shu and said, “Father, please calm your anger first. Father is daughter’s blood relative. How could daughter not consider Father? When daughter cultivates immortal arts, naturally I will also protect Father and bless the common people.”

“Bless the common people?” Huang Shu was laughed to anger by this statement. He said furiously, “Have you gone mad in your heart? What do you think you are? Nothing but a bastard born of a lowly woman. Yet you still want to be like these immortal elders, bringing blessings to all living things?”

Hearing his abuse become increasingly unbearable, Xie Li immediately understood what was happening. Fury surged in his heart, but after all, considering that the other party was his junior sister’s biological father, he restrained himself and did not act.

But no matter what, this matter must be reported to Master!

Xie Li felt suffocated with anger in his heart.

Yet Huang Rang still said obediently, “Father, please calm your anger. When daughter left, I did not take any property from home. Now residing in the immortal sect, I also have empty hands. When daughter works hard at learning the arts and can forge implements and refine pills, I will certainly be filial to Father. Daughter guarantees that when that time comes, all gains will be entirely handed over to Father for safekeeping.”

She humbled herself to this extent, yet Huang Shu became even more enraged: “Empty hands?! Hmph, the imperial court promised me Xiancha Town. This Yuhu Xuanzong can’t give nothing and have me, Huang Shu, throw in a daughter for free, can they?”

He still wanted Xiancha Town. Huang Rang sneered coldly in her heart, but her face remained compliant as she said, “Father, daughter’s qualifications are mediocre. That the sect master accepted me is already heaven’s grace. How dare I seek anything else? Father only wants me to supplement the family—I’ll just do more plant breeding.”

Huang Rang’s face was full of impatience as he said, “How much money can you earn from that little bit of plant breeding?! That Sect Master Xie, no matter what, is still a man! You just need to climb into his bed—what won’t he give you if you ask?!”

These words he spoke as if they were perfectly natural. Xie Li listened, stupefied.

He immediately stopped eavesdropping and hurried to Yiyun Hall.

In the room, Huang Shu was still berating Huang Rang. Huang Rang also did not talk back, presenting an appearance of ultimate goodness and filial piety.

Yiyun Hall.

Xie Hongchen was organizing insights from this journey when Xie Li strode in, knelt on the ground, and said, “This disciple has matters to report to Master!”

“What matter makes you so reckless?” Xie Hongchen knew this second disciple’s temperament. He was not as steady as Nie Qinglan but had a rare warm heart. Moreover, Xie Li had also been abandoned at the mountain gate. His background was similar to Xie Hongchen’s, so Xie Hongchen treated him with particular affection.

Xie Li said, “Just now, junior sister’s father came to visit. This disciple saw junior sister’s expression was unusual, so I… eavesdropped on their conversation.”

“Huang Rang’s father?” Xie Hongchen’s heart paused. He had already resolved not to pay special attention to this disciple anymore. But hearing this, he still frowned. What kind of person Huang Shu was—he knew all too clearly.

“Eavesdropping is the act of petty people. How can you do such things?” He lightly rebuked.

Xie Li hastily said, “This disciple knows his guilt! But Master does not know—junior sister’s father is truly filthy and unbearable. He, he…” Xie Li was so angry he could not speak for quite a while. Xie Hongchen could only say, “Continue speaking.”

Xie Li then repeated before him word for word all the conversation he had heard in the room.

His memory was astonishing, and he spoke without missing a single word.

But when speaking the final sentence, both master and disciple inevitably felt very awkward.

—”How much money can you earn from that little bit of plant breeding?! That Sect Master Xie, no matter what, is still a man! You just need to climb into his bed—what won’t he give you if you ask?!”

Such words—who in Yuhu Xuanzong would dare speak them?

Xie Hongchen also paused slightly. Then he rose and left Yiyun Hall.

Xie Li followed him all the way, seeing he was indeed heading toward junior sister’s residence.

In the room, Huang Rang lowered her voice, sobbing.

Huang Shu also feared others would hear, angrily cursing in a low voice, “Crying? What face do you have to cry?”

Huang Rang disputed in a small voice, “What is Father saying? Master is a righteous gentleman. If you want to use such filthy words to debase your daughter, that’s one thing, but how can you slander that venerable elder…”

Hearing this, Huang Shu became even more furious. Only a loud crashing sound was heard—he seemed to have broken something.

Xie Li immediately became anxious. Xie Hongchen also no longer hesitated and pushed the door open!

In the room, Huang Shu’s face was full of rage, while Huang Rang knelt on the ground, covering her forehead with her hand. Blood was seeping from between her fingers. Her skin was pale, so the blood appeared especially red. Xie Hongchen’s gaze swept over her body once, then he said in a heavy voice, “What is Elder Huang doing?”

When his face grew cold, his voice carried威 without anger.

A small demon like Huang Shu—how could he withstand his pressure? Immediately, his legs went soft and he collapsed to the ground.

“Sect, Sect Master…” Huang Shu’s heart was in chaos. He hastily said, “This old man simply had not seen his daughter for a long time and missed her greatly, so I came to visit. Who knew this rebellious daughter—I only rebuked her a few sentences, telling her to respect teachers and the Dao and work diligently and hard, yet she dared talk back to me…”

“Shut up!” Xie Li supported Huang Rang. Seeing her forehead was badly wounded, and seeing a pebble rolled on the ground, fury arose in his heart. This pebble was used as a paperweight and was quite large in size.

For such a stone to strike the forehead—how could this be the action of a loving father?

Xie Li protected Huang Rang and said, “Master and senior brother are here. Don’t be afraid.”

Huang Rang looked toward him. In that instant, the concern and heartache in his eyes were quite moving.

Previously, they had treated Xie Jiu’er this way, hadn’t they?

Huang Rang suddenly thought.

“When did it become your turn to discipline disciples under this sect master’s tutelage?” Xie Hongchen sat down in a chair and asked.

His voice held no discernible joy or anger, but each word carried tremendous weight. Huang Shu was trembling. He hastily said, “Sect Master, she is after all this humble one’s biological daughter whom I personally raised. This humble one only said a few words…”

Xie Hongchen examined his own hand, as if making a decision. His hand was slender and beautiful, with thick calluses left from years of sword practice on his fingertips and palm. This made him appear not merely outwardly beautiful but also possessed of a kind of danger.

He asked, “Do you know what crime you should bear for wounding my sect’s disciple without cause?”

Beside him, Xie Li said, “His cultivation should be destroyed and his immortal root permanently severed!”

“Wh-what?” Huang Shu’s heart went cold. He still did not dare believe it.

Huang Rang also hastily crawled forward on her knees, placing her palm on Xie Hongchen’s knee, pleading, “Master… it’s all this disciple’s fault. I beg Master to forgive him. After all, he is this disciple’s biological father!”

However, Xie Hongchen’s mind was naturally already decided.

—Last time during the Xiancha Town trip, after learning of Huang Shu’s actions, he had already intended to punish him. But at that time, on account of Huang Rang, he had endured.

How could he show leniency now?!

He paid no attention to Huang Rang’s bitter pleading. His right hand formed a seal, and a thread of sword light shot straight toward Huang Shu!

“Father—” Huang Rang cried out in alarm and lunged forward violently, but was blocked by Xie Li. She still could not block that wisp of sword light. The sword light entered between his brows. Huang Shu screamed miserably, and blood slowly seeped from between his brows.

“Father…” Huang Rang held him. He pointed at Huang Rang, eyes wide, his mouth opening and closing. After a long moment, he transformed into a handful of golden soil.

Xie Hongchen had destroyed his cultivation but had not severed his immortal root—this could be considered leaving him a way to survive. But now he was only a handful of breathing soil. If he wanted to cultivate a human form again, it would probably take at least a hundred years?

Huang Rang held this handful of golden-colored earth, tears streaming down.

“Father, it’s all daughter who harmed you… As your daughter, I could only watch helplessly as you suffered here. I, I truly am…” Her voice was mournful, grief-stricken beyond measure, sobbing until she could not speak.

—I truly am… overjoyed to the extreme.