Xiyin was helped onto the carriage. He Xijin stood below the carriage, bidding farewell to Xie Hongchen.

Xie Hongchen watched the mother and two daughters in the carriage, seemingly lost in thought. He had doubts in his heart, but didn’t show them on his face.

——What kind of people the Xi family were, the people of Immortal Tea Town didn’t know, but Xie Hongchen understood all too clearly.

Old Master Xi would not take Xiyin back, and would absolutely never entrust anyone to help Xiyin.

Qu Manying was one thing, but He Xijin’s words vaguely conveyed such a meaning.

He had hinted to everyone that the Xi family had asked him to come handle this matter. He was lying. Why?

Given He Xijin’s hatred of evil, even if this bandit had no leads, he absolutely wouldn’t leave so easily.

Xie Hongchen’s heart filled with suspicion. Upon returning to the Yuhu Immortal Sect, he began examining the Eyes of the Cave World.

From the Ruyi Sword Sect to Immortal Tea Town, he pieced together images from several Eyes of the Cave World.

Although he couldn’t see other things, he could clearly know that the tiny Huang Rang had gone to the Ruyi Sword Sect. Subsequently, Sect Leader He and his wife took a carriage with her and rushed to Immortal Tea Town.

That carriage was naturally not an ordinary carriage. Calculating based on this type of carriage’s speed, they should have arrived at Immortal Tea Town long ago.

Where had Sect Leader He and the others gone during that night in between?

Having investigated this far, Xie Hongchen was already very suspicious.

But He Xijin was not someone who made trouble without reason. He surely wouldn’t harm Huang Shu over a bit of money.

Then was the problem with Huang Shu himself?

Had he committed a grave crime that enraged He Xijin, yet couldn’t be made public?

Xie Hongchen wasn’t surprised. He had already seen far too many such cases.

He ordered people to thoroughly investigate Huang Shu, and truly uncovered that this person had done many filthy things.

Xie Hongchen frowned as he flipped through page after page.

Two days later, the Yuhu Immortal Sect established an Eye of the Cave World in the center of Immortal Tea Town, and using the unsolved case as justification, shelved the matter of the bandits injuring people.

Ruyi Sword Sect.

The carriage stopped smoothly. He Xijin got off first.

Qu Manying helped Xiyin down as well. Huang Rang had just poked out her little head when He Xijin extended one foot. Huang Rang didn’t understand. He Xijin pointed at his foot, indicating for her to step on it.

Step on your foot?

Huang Rang hesitantly stepped on it. He Xijin’s foot was as steady as a mountain.

He lightly lifted his foot and lowered Huang Rang from the carriage step to the ground.

It took Huang Rang a long while to realize—he was playing with her!

She giggled. Behind her, Huang Jun got off the carriage. She pulled out a handkerchief and stepped forward to wipe the dust from He Xijin’s foot.

——Just now when Huang Rang stepped on it, she had left a shoe print.

He Xijin was stunned. But seeing she was silent and reticent, and an eighteen-year-old young lady, he couldn’t joke with her.

He said: “G-g-go h-h-home.”

Only then did Huang Jun take Huang Rang’s hand and silently follow the couple, stepping together into the Ruyi Sword Sect.

The Ruyi Sword Sect, compared to the Huang family in Immortal Tea Town, was like heaven and earth.

The small Huang family had dirt walls and gray bricks, but in Immortal Tea Town it was already considered a wealthy household. But the Ruyi Sword Sect had vermillion gates and high walls, glazed tiles and gold-painted beams. Following the steps inside the gate, one could only see countless disciples at the training ground.

And inside, the buildings stretched on endlessly, impossible to see the end at a glance.

Huang Jun’s hand holding Huang Rang’s tightened—she was a bit nervous.

Huang Rang naturally didn’t mind. She had lived several lives and had seen everything.

“Children, come with Aunt.” Qu Manying called out. Huang Jun then pulled Huang Rang and quickened her steps, afraid of getting lost.

Qu Manying brought them to find a quieter courtyard, saying: “The Ruyi Sword Sect has many disciples, so it’s inevitably noisy. Younger sister Xiyin will live here first. When your health improves, we’ll go outside and pick a livelier courtyard to bring in some human warmth.”

Xiyin had been silent all along the way, and even now her expression was very dazed.

She had been crazed in the Huang family. Having left the Huang family, she became silent.

Xiyin was very worried, saying: “Younger sister, rest first. I’ll take the two children to walk around.” Xiyin neither nodded nor objected. So Qu Manying brought Huang Jun and Huang Rang out.

She was very careful, only worried that after she left, Xiyin would go crazy again.

And the two sisters would get beaten again.

She took Huang Jun and Huang Rang’s hands, left the room, saying: “Come, Aunt will take you to meet your older brothers and younger brother.”

The three came all the way to another courtyard. They saw two boys—the older one reading under a tree, the younger one practicing swordplay.

Qu Manying pointed at the one reading, saying: “This is Aunt’s eldest son, He Cui. This is Aunt’s second son, He Dan. You two come over and meet your older sister and younger sister.”

The four met each other. Huang Jun appeared very constrained. Huang Rang was more lively.

Qu Manying said: “Cui’er is twenty-four this year, the eldest brother. Jun’er is eighteen, ranked second. Dan’er is nine, ranked third. A’Rang is the youngest, eight years old. You must take good care of your younger sister and not bully her, understand?”

He Cui and He Dan both agreed.

Qu Manying was very satisfied: “Go, go, go. Take your younger sister for a tour around the sect. Remember to come back for dinner later. Mother still needs to find a physician for your aunt.”

So He Cui and He Dan took Huang Jun and Huang Rang to familiarize them with the entire Ruyi Sword Sect.

Huang Jun also had several older brothers in the Huang family. Because they really hadn’t left any good impressions, she was especially nervous now.

He Cui noticed this. He brought the two sisters first to the valley where the sect kept small animals.

Huang Jun saw at a glance several puppies drinking water by the pond. She couldn’t help but exclaim.

He Cui said: “These are small beasts adopted by the Ruyi Sword Sect—both cats and dogs. Younger sister, go play. They won’t bite.”

Indeed, girls liked these things.

Huang Jun then went down to the valley. Because sect disciples often fed them here, the squirrels, wild dogs, puppies and such all gathered around.

He Dan also ran down to play together, introducing each small beast’s name and origin.

The children quickly became familiar with each other.

Qu Manying was a decisive person. She quickly found a physician to treat Xiyin.

But in fact, over these years, Xiyin suffered from a heart ailment.

Heart diseases were difficult to cure. One could only slowly administer medicine and provide much comfort.

Qu Manying wasn’t surprised—her original intention was also to let Xiyin properly rest and recuperate.

In any case, as long as she left that den of tigers and wolves that was the Huang family, life would always get better.

In the afternoon, Huang Rang held a white rabbit and returned with Huang Jun, He Cui, and He Dan.

That big white rabbit had red eyes but was very well-behaved in her arms, occasionally twitching its ears.

The four had just reached the entrance when they saw a guest had arrived at home.

The Ruyi Sword Sect often had guests, so this wasn’t strange. However, the person who came today was obviously very unusual.

“It’s Chief Disciple Xie!” He Dan was very excited. Even He Cui couldn’t help but quicken his pace. The group walked forward, with He Cui taking the lead in paying respects.

Chief Disciple Xie.

Xie Hongchen.

He and He Xijin conversed very happily, displaying remarkable patience and not minding He Xijin’s speech impediment at all.

Seeing He Cui and He Dan now, he also nodded and smiled: “Sect Leader He’s two young masters are truly dignified in appearance and uncommonly heroic.”

“Ch-ch-chief D-d-disciple is t-t-too k-k-kind!” Sect Leader He was routinely modest.

Only then did Xie Hongchen shift his gaze to Huang Jun and Huang Rang.

His gaze was modest. Huang Jun still couldn’t help but retreat a step. Knowing she was constrained, Xie Hongchen said warmly: “These are the two sisters from the Huang family?”

He Xijin said: “Th-th-that’s r-r-right. The ch-ch-children are sh-sh-shy.” He smiled. “Ch-ch-chief D-d-disciple Xie sh-sh-should v-v-visit m-m-more. Wh-wh-when th-th-they’re f-f-familiar it’ll b-b-be f-f-fine.”

Huang Jun’s gaze briefly glanced at He Xijin. Before in the Huang family, if guests came and they stood there like this, Huang Shu would definitely give them a severe beating and scolding, only despising them for losing face.

But now, He Xijin was asking the guest to visit more often.

“Sect Leader He speaks correctly.” Xie Hongchen also didn’t mind. He said: “This disciple came in haste this time and didn’t prepare anything. Some small trinkets—I hope they’ll find them useful.”

With that, he took out some texts and distributed them to the four children.

He Cui and He Dan were naturally excited and thanked him. Huang Rang, holding the big white rabbit and bringing Huang Jun along, gave him a light salute.

“A’Rang… thanks Chief Disciple.” She received the text Xie Hongchen handed over, bowed lightly, and said with a smile.

In the cycle of human life, old affections were completely gone, and old grievances naturally also turned to dust.

Xie Hongchen nodded. He felt that Huang Rang looked familiar. But how could such a small girl look familiar?

He withdrew his gaze, saying: “You two sisters are descendants of the Xirang clan. I hope you can continue to cultivate excellent seeds and not waste your talents.”

“We humbly remember Chief Disciple Xie’s teachings,” Huang Rang saluted him again. The tiny person pretending to be an adult looked innocent and adorable.

He Xijin saw that Huang Jun was nervous, so he said: “G-g-go p-p-play.”

He Cui then led his younger siblings elsewhere.

Xie Hongchen’s gaze followed them for a long time before finally withdrawing.

He Xijin didn’t mention Huang Shu’s matter, so he didn’t ask either.

The two tacitly let this matter pass.

As expected, the Xi family heard about Huang Shu’s matter and also knew that Xiyin had been taken away by Qu Manying.

But from beginning to end, they had no reaction whatsoever.

Xiyin was after all the Xi family’s legitimate daughter. With such a thing happening at the Huang family, people in the immortal sects naturally spread rumors. But the Xi family didn’t inquire. The Xi family placed extreme importance on face. With such a thing happening, they probably wished this daughter would die. Naturally they couldn’t possibly inquire.

Instead, some of Xiyin’s old friends quietly sent many things through intermediaries. This wasn’t a glorious matter, so everyone found it inconvenient to meet. They didn’t visit each other, only waiting for the rumors to subside and the storm to pass.

The mother and two daughters settled into the Ruyi Immortal Sect, but this obviously wasn’t a long-term plan.

The texts Xie Hongchen gave to the sisters Huang Rang and Huang Jun were cultivation manuals on seed breeding. Using this matter, Huang Rang begged Qu Manying to help rent farmland.

Qu Manying couldn’t resist Huang Rang’s coaxing and also thought it was just a child’s nature. She agreed to Huang Rang’s request and allocated her a plot from the Ruyi Sword Sect’s land.

This was originally just an idea to let the child play. She didn’t expect Huang Rang could really accomplish anything.

——She was just a child without any helpers. What could she do?

But Huang Jun didn’t like seed breeding. She often watched the disciples practice swordplay at the training ground.

Seeing this, Qu Manying intentionally or unintentionally taught her a few moves.

Huang Jun took things seriously. After practicing a set of sword techniques, she actually had some semblance of skill.

Seeing this, Qu Manying was delighted and simply took her as a disciple.

——Not to say she’d become some peerless master, but it was always good for the child to have something to do.

Huang Rang busied herself on this plot of land, and the land did not betray her.

On this day, He Xijin personally stir-fried candied chestnuts for everyone. Huang Rang and Huang Jun gathered around Qu Manying, He Cui and He Dan stayed close to He Xijin. The family made a pot of good tea, eating chestnuts while chatting leisurely.

Xiyin didn’t come over.

In fact, since moving into the Ruyi Sword Sect, she rarely went out.

Fortunately, she also didn’t hit or curse people, only stared blankly.

Huang Jun kept peeling chestnuts for everyone. Huang Rang ate while tugging at He Xijin’s sleeve, saying: “Uncle, I want to commission you with something.”

“C-c-commission?” He Xijin laughed upon hearing this. “Sp-sp-speak up and l-l-let m-m-me h-h-hear.”

Qu Manying made tea for Huang Rang: “Drink some water, don’t choke.”

Huang Rang said seriously: “Yes, I want you to help me sell a batch of excellent seeds.”

“Oh, oh?” He Xijin nodded, saying: “Our f-f-family A’R-R-Rang’s ex-ex-excellent s-s-seeds, th-th-they m-m-must s-s-sell for a h-h-high p-p-price!”

Hearing this, Qu Manying and the others laughed. But Huang Rang nodded seriously: “Must be high price!”

They originally thought she was just joking, but who would have thought she was extremely serious.

That very afternoon, she brought a package of excellent seeds and found He Xijin.

“These are wheat seeds, can be planted in all four seasons. Uncle, help me sell them.” Huang Rang handed the seeds to He Xijin. There weren’t many seeds, because her plot of land was small.

He Xijin took this bag of seeds and nodded: “Good!”

Although he agreed to Huang Rang’s request, He Xijin understood very clearly that these seeds would be difficult to sell.

After all, things like seeds related to next year’s harvest. Who would dare buy such unknown excellent seeds with no reputation?

But He Xijin also wasn’t an elder who would casually waste a child’s hard work. Huang Rang was so young, and born an earth demon. Her willingness to cultivate excellent seeds was in itself something that benefited the people.

He Xijin even felt he should send her to the court’s Seed Breeding Academy to study.

Currently the court urgently needed excellent seeds. They had established their own Seed Breeding Academy and also recruited students from outside.

Of course, the results were minimal.

Seed breeding masters had the best talent among earth demons, and most earth demons had ancestral inheritances.

Who would go learn at the court?

And besides earth demons, when others wanted to breed seeds, the results were greatly diminished.

Sect Leader He held this bag of seeds, thought for a long time, and instructed his sect’s tenant farmers to carefully plant these seeds.

The Ruyi Sword Sect, such a large sect, couldn’t entirely rely on tuition paid by disciples to survive.

They not only had their own land, but also protective talismans imbued with sword techniques, body-strengthening sword methods for mortals to practice, and so on.

Opening up income sources and reducing expenses—even immortal sects couldn’t avoid being worldly.

Sect Leader He used his own private funds to pay for Huang Rang’s excellent seeds.

He thought he had already paid quite generously, but Huang Rang wasn’t very satisfied and told him not to sell them cheaply next time.

Sect Leader He smiled bitterly—continuing this way, would his private savings be enough?

About three or four months passed, and Sect Leader He had long forgotten this matter.

Suddenly a tenant farmer told him that the wheat excellent seeds from last time had matured.

Sect Leader He placed great importance on the child’s hard work. Regardless of quality, he decided to personally go look.

Subsequently, Sect Leader He stood before this farmland, stunned.

“Th-th-this is… the wh-wh-wheat s-s-seeds from l-l-last t-t-time?” he asked.

“Replying to Sect Leader, yes.” The tenant farmer answered tremblingly. “It’s all this lowly one’s fault. This lowly one thought there weren’t many of these wheat seeds, so didn’t fertilize according to the seed breeding master’s instructions on the bag! Please punish me, Sect Leader!”

That tenant farmer regretted it deeply. For people like them who made their living farming, excellent seeds were most precious.

He was very pained.

Sect Leader He stood at the field’s edge, his entire person shocked.

Although he didn’t farm, he wasn’t someone who couldn’t distinguish the five grains. These wheat plants were short, but the ears were plump. He Xijin could tell at a glance that this was absolutely no inferior to some expensive famous varieties on the market!

Yet the tenant farmer said he hadn’t fertilized according to the seed breeding master’s instructions.

For many excellent seed varieties, this was taboo.

In other words, if fertilized correctly, then this wheat seed’s yield…

He Xijin was secretly alarmed: “Y-y-you d-d-delayed m-m-matters!”

He scolded that tenant farmer, then hurriedly rushed home.

Huang Rang wasn’t there, so He Xijin went to the field to find her.

Indeed, Huang Rang sat at the field’s edge, hands supporting her chin, dozing off.

In the field, golden wheat swayed in the wind, looking smugly abundant.

He Xijin rubbed an ear of wheat. He saw that the golden wheat kernels were thick and solid, feeling heavy in his hand, like jade, like pearls.

Truly good stuff.

“A’R-R-Rang!” Sect Leader He called Huang Rang awake.

Huang Rang was sleepy-eyed. Seeing it was him, she then got up: “Uncle!”

Sect Leader He took her hand, saying: “Un-Un-Uncle will s-s-send you to the S-S-Seed Br-Br-Breeding Ac-Ac-Academy to st-st-study, g-g-good or n-n-not?”

“Seed Breeding Academy?” Huang Rang, because she liked him, didn’t even mind his stutter. Sometimes she quite enjoyed talking with He Xijin. She said: “What kind of place is that? I’m not going.”

He Xijin said: “It’s, it’s the c-c-court’s, of-of-official sc-sc-school.”

“The court?!” Huang Rang’s eyes lit up. She tugged at He Xijin’s sleeve, asking: “Is it in the capital?”

“N-n-not in… the c-c-capital…” He Xijin said.

Huang Rang was greatly disappointed: “Then I’m not going.”

He Xijin then added the second half of his sentence: “Wh-wh-where else c-c-could it b-b-be?”

“…” Huang Rang looked up, her face full of resentment: “Uncle, next time you speak can you not gasp so dramatically?”

He Xijin laughed heartily. Only then did Huang Rang grab him, saying: “I want to go! You and Aunt will send me, all right?”

“G-g-good!” Having gained such a talented niece, Sect Leader He naturally loved her dearly.

This matter was better done sooner than later. After discussing with Qu Manying, he decided to send Huang Rang to the capital.

The court’s official school not only had great scholars lecturing, but also vast fields available for experimentation.

For Huang Rang, this kind of “ignorant country bumpkin,” this was indeed the best education. If she were still in the Huang family, she might have someone to guide her. Now that she had come out, she could only rely on school.

He Xijin and Qu Manying didn’t delay. The couple took Huang Rang and headed straight for the capital.

Huang Rang’s heart was incomparably joyful, naturally not because of any official school’s Seed Breeding Academy.

——The capital, this place, was always connected by blood to Di Yiqiu.

She closed her eyes. Even the sound of the carriage traveling felt pleasant to hear.

The Ruyi Sword Sect’s carriage was naturally fast.

The group quickly entered the capital city. Huang Rang carefully observed along the streets all the way, but the scene at this time was actually very different from when Di Yiqiu took her shopping in reality.

Although the capital was prosperous with a large population, compared to the immortal sects, it revealed a secular sense of backwardness.

It was difficult to see immortal sect people here. Occasionally some magical treasures sold by the roadside were also crudely made and not worth mentioning.

It seemed that at this time, the court’s power was indeed weakened and couldn’t compare with the immortal sects.

When the carriage entered the inner city, there were slightly fewer people, but the towers and buildings were more refined.

Qu Manying stroked Huang Rang’s head, saying: “When you arrive here, you must study well. You cannot talk back to your teachers, understand?” Her tone changed, and she said again, “But if you’re bullied, you must also tell Aunt and Uncle. You cannot silently endure it yourself.”

Even Huang Rang could hear the reluctance in her words.

In that instant, she had the illusion that her parents were sending her to school.

The carriage stopped at the Seed Breeding Academy entrance. Qu Manying lifted Huang Rang down.

He Xijin brought them inside. With his status, appearing personally, the Seed Breeding Academy naturally also attached great importance. Academy Director Zong Zigui personally led the family into his study and received them warmly.

But learning that He Xijin had brought such a small child to study, Zong Zigui still couldn’t help but furrow his brow.

——Huang Rang was currently not yet nine years old. And being an earth demon, her enlightenment would probably be later than ordinary people.

Zong Zigui was very troubled.

Qu Manying naturally noticed. Just at this time, someone outside said: “Academy Director Zong, someone from the palace has come. It’s a senior palace maid from beside the Empress.”

Hearing this, Zong Zigui’s brow furrowed even more tightly. He said: “Invite her in.”

Before long, the palace maid’s footsteps pattered. She quickly arrived at the study.

“Academy Director Zong.” She greeted the academy director, then turned to Qu Manying with a beaming smile: “Greetings to Sect Leader He and Madam He.”

Qu Manying nodded and asked with a smile: “It’s been long since I’ve seen your lady. Is her health well?”

That palace maid said: “Thanks to Madam He’s inquiry, not long ago, Her Ladyship joyfully added an imperial prince. Everyone above and below the palace is busy celebrating. As it happens that you and Sect Leader He have honored us with your presence, Her Ladyship commanded this servant to come ask. We wonder if the young prince might have the fortune of requesting you both to grace us with your presence for his full moon celebration?”

“This is natural.” Qu Manying said. “We are honored.”

Hearing this, the palace maid presented the invitation, then happily departed.

Seeing this, Zong Zigui knew that no matter what, he couldn’t embarrass He Xijin and his wife.

He could only say: “Sect Leader He and Madam have brought the child from so far away to place in this old one’s hands. Naturally you also trust this old one. This child, this old one will certainly teach with full effort and not fail your trust.”

He Xijin and Qu Manying naturally thanked him again profusely.

In fact, everyone understood the Empress’s meaning. There was no need to expose it.

She specifically sent the palace maid at this time. Her intention was already more than clear.

Qu Manying was originally reluctant to part with Huang Rang, so she stayed in the capital for several more days.

Until this day—the young prince’s full moon celebration.

He Xijin and Qu Manying prepared a longevity lock and brought Huang Rang together to attend the banquet.

Actually this wasn’t any great joyous occasion.

The current emperor had many children. A small imperial prince wasn’t worth universal celebration.

But the current Empress had only this one son under her knee, which was why she made such elaborate arrangements.

For the young prince’s full moon celebration, all court officials were present.

Huang Rang followed Qu Manying. Not caring about anything else, she picked out delicious food and prepared to eat her fill.

The current imperial palace was also quite different from reality.

Huang Rang curiously examined her surroundings—she didn’t know how many imperial princes Shi Wenyu had fathered.

When would it be Di Yiqiu’s turn?

She sighed and drank a mouthful of tea, preparing to wash down the pastries in her mouth.

Suddenly someone beside her said: “The Eighty-Sixth Prince truly has a fortunate appearance. Just looking at him makes one feel fond.”

“Pfft—” Huang Rang sprayed all the tea in her mouth onto the ground.

…Never in ten thousand years would I have imagined I’d also become someone who drank at my own husband’s full moon celebration.