“Money is a small matter!”
Li Lingsu tapped his fingers on the desk and chuckled, “Xu Ning Yan’s wedding is the main event. Think about it, who is his dual cultivation partner?”
“The National Preceptor,” Yang Qianxuan replied without hesitation.
The fact that Xu Ning Yan and Luo Yuheng had become dual cultivation partners wasn’t a secret among Da Feng’s upper echelons. If not for their partnership, during the Yun Province rebellion, the National Preceptor would have already left the capital with the disciples of the Human Sect.
After all, the Human Sect was different from the Bureau of Astronomy. The Bureau was part of the imperial court, while the Human Sect merely maintained a cooperative relationship with it.
Who would risk their life for a mere cooperative partner?
The National Preceptor certainly wouldn’t have wanted to. She didn’t do it for Da Feng but for the Xu surname bearer.
Yang Qianxuan wasn’t clear about the outside rumors regarding this matter, but he knew that the practitioners at the Bureau of Astronomy often remarked on how fortunate Xu was. Even his sworn brother beside him would become distressed whenever this topic came up.
Yang Qianxuan couldn’t quite understand—no matter how beautiful a woman was, she was still just a skeleton wrapped in red powder. What was there to admire?
In this aspect, Song Qing, who was obsessed with life alchemy, shared Yang Qianxuan’s view.
“Luo Yuheng is the leader of the Human Sect, a Tier One Terrestrial Immortal. How could she tolerate sharing her husband with other women?” Li Lingsu smiled and continued:
“Besides, apart from Luo Yuheng, there’s also the former Northern Garrison Commander’s wife, Da Feng’s most beautiful woman Mu Nanchi, who has something going on with Xu. And what’s more, although I hate to admit it as his senior brother, there’s likely mutual attraction between Miao Zhen and Xu Ning Yan.
“Brother Yang, can you imagine what scene will unfold on Xu Ning Yan’s wedding day?”
Yang Qianxuan grew excited upon hearing this but then shook his head:
“Xu Ning Yan isn’t what he used to be. What’s marrying Lin’an to him? Even if he took three wives and four concubines, the National Preceptor would probably turn a blind eye.”
Li Lingsu shook his head:
“No, no, no, you don’t understand Luo Yuheng. From my vast experience with women, whether it’s the National Preceptor or the Commander’s wife, they’re all proud women who would never compromise. Moreover, if ordinary wealthy households have daggers drawn and hidden struggles, how much more so with them?”
He took a sip of tea with a slurping sound and winked:
“Besides, we’re here too. I’m most skilled at stirring up trouble. I’ll make sure Xu Ning Yan feels like he’s sitting on pins and needles on his wedding day, making a complete fool of himself.”
The wedding probably couldn’t be stopped—with Xu Qian’s current status and position, if he was determined to marry Lin’an, even the National Preceptor couldn’t prevent it. The Holy Son wasn’t planning to ruin the wedding either; he just wanted to make Xu Ning Yan lose face.
Yang Qianxuan became excited and clapped his hands:
“Good idea!”
Hmph, always showing off, now karma’s coming… Yang Qianxuan suddenly began looking forward to the wedding day.
…
In the Southern Borderlands.
At the Empress of Ten Thousand Demons’ palace, Night Ji, wearing an intricate black gauze dress, crossed the high threshold as her dress hem fluttered, entering the luxurious hall filled with floating incense and tall red candles.
On the throne-like soft couch, an incomparably beautiful figure reclined with her jade legs crossed. Her tall, voluptuous jade body exuded allure from every angle. She supported her delicate head with a snow-white wrist while appreciating the fox women’s dance.
Eight fox women in light gauze twisted their hips and waists, performing the demons’ passionate and bold dance.
Several other fox women played waist drums and pipa among other instruments.
“Your Majesty,” Night Ji bowed.
The Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox waved her hand and said indifferently:
“Withdraw!”
The fox women in the hall curtsied and retreated.
The Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox gazed at Night Ji while playing with her fox tail, speaking in a soft and deep voice unhurriedly:
“Have you made any progress with the matter I asked you to investigate?”
Night Ji replied:
“I’ve met the Scorpion King’s descendants. Through them, I learned that during the Buddhist-Demon War, the ‘Great Sun Tathagata Dharma Body’ emerged from Master Shen Shu’s body.
“According to the Scorpion King’s later recollections, the country’s ruler and various demon kings were caught off guard, suffering numerous casualties. Although Shen Shu later fought fiercely against Buddhist powerhouses and killed countless enemies, he could no longer reverse the tide.”
That Scorpion King, being slightly farther away, only suffered severe injuries. He later led some of his clan members to escape into the Central Plains, living in obscurity from then on.
However, the injuries caused by the Great Sun Tathagata Dharma Body gradually consumed his vitality, and after sixty years, that Transcendent Realm demon king perished.
The Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox muttered:
“The Great Sun Tathagata Dharma Body came from within Shen Shu, from within Shen Shu…”
After a long while, she took a deep breath and said:
“In a few days, it will be Xu Qian’s wedding day with the Da Feng princess. Take some gifts and go congratulate them on behalf of the Demon Nation, then stay by his side.”
Then, the silver-haired demoness smiled and said:
“He’s now a Tier One warrior with abundant blood energy, a unique supreme-grade crucible in this world. Cultivate dual practice with him well and ascend to the Transcendent Realm soon, so I can also unite my nine tails and advance to Tier One.
“I’m only giving you three months. After three months, I want to see progress in your cultivation. Otherwise, I’ll send Clear Ji Snow Ji, and other tails over. Someone among them should be able to reach the Transcendent Realm.”
Night Ji smiled bitterly and said: “Yes!”
She didn’t want to join the crowd. The more intense a man’s harem struggles became, the more he liked to keep songbirds outside.
Therefore, eagerly pushing into the Xu household might not be a good thing.
The Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox sighed and said:
“It’s a pity that during the last sea voyage, we couldn’t find any of our kind. Otherwise, taking their spiritual essence would have been enough to advance to Tier One. Mother said there should still be Nine-Tailed Celestial Foxes existing overseas, why can’t we find them?”
The spiritual essence of Nine-Tailed Celestial Foxes could be “inherited,” and the ability to inherit meant it could be seized between members of the same clan.
When she told Xu Qian she was looking for her kind to reproduce, that was just casual deception.
They weren’t close back then, so there was no need to tell him the secret of the Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox clan.
…
At the Xu residence.
In a side courtyard far from the main residence, Xu Yuanhuai was bare-chested, holding a large spear in his right hand. He maintained this posture for half an hour, sweat flowing along his strong, proportioned muscles.
On the other side of the courtyard, Ji Baiqing was leisurely planting flowers in the flower bed.
Spring had arrived, and if she planted the flowers now, the courtyard would be full of beautiful blooms in a few months.
Xu Yuanshuang brought over a bowl of ginseng soup, placed it on the stone table, and said:
“Don’t force yourself. Tier Four is a threshold for warriors, countless geniuses have been stuck at this barrier.”
Xu Yuanhuai ignored her.
Xu Yuanshuang shook her head:
“Stop comparing yourself to him. His current position isn’t solely due to that half portion of national fortune. What he’s experienced these past two years is more than you’ll experience in a lifetime.
“He fought his way out of mountains of corpses and seas of blood. Isn’t it natural that he’s stronger than someone like you who hasn’t suffered much hardship?”
Xu Yuanhuai put down the spear, his expression cold, and said flatly:
“I stopped competing with him long ago. I have that much self-awareness. I just don’t want to appear too inferior.”
Xu Yuanshuang frowned:
“What kind of talk is that!”
Xu Yuanhuai’s talent was exceptional, even their father had praised this before.
Xu Yuanhuai shook his head slightly:
“A few days ago, I saw Xu Lingyue practicing object control and asked about her cultivation. Guess how she answered?”
Xu Yuanshuang followed up:
“How?”
Xu Yuanhuai said in a muffled voice:
“In half a year of cultivation, she went from an ordinary person with no foundation to a Tier Seven Qi-gathering cultivator.”
Xu Yuanshuang’s small mouth gaped slightly, full of surprise.
Xu Yuanhuai continued:
“I’ve carefully inquired about the talents of the Second House’s members. Xu Xinnian is a Tier Six Confucian scholar, but the Confucian system emphasizes gradual progress. To cultivate, one must first study and reach a certain level of proficiency before making vigorous progress in the Confucian system.
“Xu Xinnian reached Tier Nine Enlightenment early on but didn’t advance for many years. However, after passing the provincial examination, he advanced from Tier Nine to Tier Five in two years, showing extremely strong talent.
“I can’t compare to Xu Qian, but I can’t fall behind these two. I must reach Tier Four before them.”
This was competition and comparison between peers.
Xu Yuanshuang sighed:
“The brother and sister of the Second House truly have astonishing talent. Yet Second Uncle Xu’s talent was merely average…”
Of course, Second Uncle Xu’s average talent didn’t mean the Xu family’s talent was average. Their father, Xu Pingfeng, was a rarely seen genius.
Ji Baiqing stood up, patting the dirt from her palms, and said softly:
“The Second House has another youngest child. I heard from the servants that she’s a simple-minded child, far less intelligent than her brother and sister.”
Xu Yuanshuang remembered something and agreed:
“I heard about that too. At seven years old, she hasn’t started her education yet and can only recite two lines of the Three Character Classic. They say even the teachers from Cloud Deer Academy and the current Imperial Tutor are at their wits’ end. She has no talent for martial arts either, just plays around all day.”
Such dullness was truly rare.
“Later I heard that because of her strong physique, she went to learn insect arts with a girl from the Southern Borderlands,” Xu Yuanshuang said.
Ji Baiqing washed her hands and said:
“It would be strange if everyone had exceptional talent. Among nine dragon children, each is different. There are clever ones, so there must be dull ones. This child is fortunate—even if she’s a bit slow, with her siblings’ care, she’s destined for wealth and status.
“I heard from your aunt that she’ll be brought back before Ning Yan’s wedding. You should put some effort into this, teach her to read and write, and Yuanhuai can teach her martial arts.”
The siblings understood their mother’s meaning—this was a chance to quickly integrate into the Xu household.
Given the Xu household’s current status, the siblings had no other opportunities. Their only chance was through the Second House’s dull youngest child. Whether teaching her to read and write or practicing martial arts, it could win the Second House’s favor.
If they achieved some success, the effect would be even better.
Xu Yuanshuang smiled, “Teaching a child the basics isn’t difficult. If there’s a chance, I’d like to meet this little sister.”
To think she could stump even the teachers of Cloud Deer Academy and the Imperial Tutor.
She really couldn’t believe it.
Xu Yuanhuai shook his head:
“Martial arts requires perseverance and talent. Since she has no talent, there’s no need to teach her. When I was seven, I had already started tempering my sinews and bones, cultivating blood energy. The hardships involved cannot be endured by a child who only knows how to play.”
Xu Yuanshuang took the handkerchief from her mother and said quietly:
“Mother, with Brother’s wedding approaching, Aunt isn’t letting you help with the preparations. She’s telling you that she’s the true mistress of the Xu household.”
Ji Baiqing smiled:
“She doesn’t have such subtle thoughts. You’re thinking too much about it.
“Either she doesn’t want me to tire myself, or she hasn’t thought about it, or perhaps Lingyue doesn’t want me involved.”
That girl has been particularly diligent in managing affairs lately, holding onto her mother’s authority as housekeeper—she’s a formidable opponent who leaves no openings.
Just then, a maid came from outside the courtyard, stood at a distance, and said softly:
“First Madam, Miss Ling Yin has returned. Madam asked this servant to invite you over for tea.”
The mother and children exchanged glances—they had just been talking about this youngest child.
What a coincidence!
…
In the spacious hall sat many people. Except for Second Uncle and Second Young Master who were on duty at the ministry, the whole family was present.
Xu Qian sat at the table, playing with the thick invitation cards.
Mu Nanchi held a cup of tea, drinking it angrily.
The Flower Goddess wrote beautiful characters but didn’t like helping Xu Qian write invitation cards.
Lingyue also wrote beautifully, but regretfully said she had scalded her hand while drinking tea yesterday and couldn’t hold a brush.
In any case, they just didn’t want to help.
Xu Ling Yin sat in a large chair, her feet dangling, focused entirely on eating pastries. Beside her sat the half-white Lina, also munching on pastries, but sparing some attention to observe the mother and children entering the inner hall.
“Yuanshuang is here!”
First Young Master’s eyes lit up as he waved to his lovely sister:
“Come, help your elder brother write invitation cards.”
Xu Yuanshuang was about to agree when she felt two murderous gazes fall upon her.
Xu Yuanshuang maintained her composure and smiled gracefully:
“Alright, Elder Brother.”
She glanced at Xu Lingyue and Mu Nanchi, feigning surprise:
“Can’t Lingyue and Aunt Mu write?”
Though somewhat confused, she could tell these two seemed unwilling to help her elder brother write invitation cards.