“Follow me!”

Xu Qi’an didn’t notice his sister’s emotional changes, and even if he had, he wouldn’t have taken them to heart.

He led Yuan Shuang and Xu Yuanhuai through the mansion’s main gate, across the front courtyard and corridors, straight to the rear courtyard where family members resided.

In the spacious inner hall, everyone except Xu Pingzhi, who was on duty, was present. Second Young Master Xu had also been scheduled for duty at the Hanlin Academy, but since Xu Qi’an had mentioned yesterday morning that he would bring their younger siblings back to the mansion, he had taken leave to meet his cousins.

The two primary seats were occupied by Second Madam and their birth mother.

On Second Madam’s side sat Xu Xinnian, Xu Lingyue, and Mu Nanzhi as guests.

The guest seats on their birth mother Ji Baiqing’s side were completely empty, with no one seated there yet.

When the Second Madam saw Xu Qi’an leading the siblings from the elder branch, she pressed her lips together, barely restraining herself from rolling her eyes.

She had only allowed these two cubs into the mansion out of consideration for her nephew and sister-in-law.

Ever since Xu Lingyue’s instigation last time, Second Madam had taken issue with the siblings Yuan Shuang and Xu Yuanhuai.

Xu Xinnian and Xu Lingyue, being deeply calculating, maintained expressionless faces.

“Mother!”

Indeed seeing their mother, Yuan Shuang became somewhat emotional.

Xu Yuanhuai’s tense expression softened slightly.

Ji Baiqing, seeing her children finally reunited, had slightly reddened eyes and showed a smile that mixed both bitterness and joy.

“Come pay your respects to your Second Aunt.”

She consistently positioned herself as a “guest,” viewing Second Madam as the true mistress of the Xu household, maintaining perfect propriety that neither offended nor left room for criticism.

Of course, Second Madam couldn’t perceive these subtle manipulations. She simply instinctively felt that her sister-in-law was still as gentle and considerate as years ago, making interactions with her as refreshing as a spring breeze.

“Yuan Shuang greets Second Aunt!”

Yuan Shuang obediently gave her greeting, her cool and beautiful face blooming into a smile.

“Greetings, Second Aunt.”

Xu Yuanhuai’s greeting came out stiff.

“Mm!”

Second Madam nodded slightly, responding neutrally.

She had initially planned to give them a stern warning, to show her authority, but seeing her sister-in-law’s tearful expression, her heart softened.

Ji Baiqing immediately said:

“From now on, you’ll live in the mansion. Your elder brother has already arranged accommodations. Let me take you there.”

Second Young Master Xu frowned slightly and glanced at Xu Lingyue.

Xu Lingyue rose with a smile, approaching Yuan Shuang while saying:

“No need to trouble Aunt, let Lingyue handle these small matters.”

As she spoke, Xu Lingyue had already taken Yuan Shuang’s hand, smiling warmly:

“Sister Yuan Shuang, I’ve long admired your reputation. Meeting you today, you truly live up to it. And Brother Yuanhuai, such a distinguished bearing, truly as Elder Brother said, exceptionally gifted.”

Xu Xinnian shook his head with a smile:

“Lingyue, there’s no need for such formalities among family. You barely leave the house, how could you have long admired’ anyone’s reputation?”

Xu Lingyue turned back to pout:

“Second Brother is making fun of me.”

“Elder Brother mentioned it before, didn’t he? Sister Yuan Shuang and Brother Yuanhuai, one an artificer and one a warrior, nearly gave Elder Brother trouble when they tested their skills in Yongzhou. Elder Brother is a rare genius, now a Tier One warrior.”

“So Second Brother, wouldn’t you say Sister Yuan Shuang and Brother Yuanhuai deserve my words of admiration?”

Hearing this, Xu Xinnian nodded:

“Indeed exceptionally gifted. Ah, I heard Yuanhuai is almost at Tier Four now. How humbling, how humbling.”

Yuan Shuang froze awkwardly, unsure what expression to make.

Xu Yuanhuai lowered his head further, increasingly ashamed.

This was blatantly exposing their past attempts to deal with Xu Qi’an.

Before, they had sided with Ji Xuan and others against Xu Qi’an, but now that Yunzhou had fallen, they came seeking refuge… Anyone with any sense of face would be embarrassed and ashamed enough to want to dig a hole and crawl into it.

Ji Baiqing’s expression turned awkward as she forced a smile:

“Yuan Shuang and Yuanhuai were ignorant then, they indeed made many mistakes.”

Xu Lingyue said softly:

“An apology would suffice.”

Mu Nanzhi, holding a fox cub in her arms, watched with great interest.

She could certainly see that Xu Lingyue was putting that beast’s younger siblings in their place, and while enjoying the show, she was also somewhat confused – in her impression, Xu Lingyue shouldn’t be so assertive.

Mm, it must be Second Young Master Xu’s teaching. As a scholar, he excels at scheming… Mu Nanzhi made her judgment.

Xu Qi’an glanced at Yuan Shuang and Xu Yuanhuai’s suddenly reddened faces and gave them an out, saying indifferently:

“You two go take a bath first and change into clean clothes.”

Xu Lingyue cast a reproachful look at her elder brother before following up:

“I’ll take them.”

Yuan Shuang and Xu Yuanhuai’s quarters were arranged in adjacent buildings, separate from where the others lived.

How could Ji Baiqing let Xu Lingyue continue bullying her children? She quickly said:

“No need, I’ll take them.”

Then, to Xu Qi’an, she said:

“Ning Yan, come to… come to my place for the evening meal. I’ll cook you some Yunzhou dishes.”

Her contradictory mindset of wanting to be close to her eldest son while not daring to approach him was evident.

Mainly because Xu Qi’an had never called her mother.

So she didn’t dare assume the role of mother.

Xu Qi’an nodded:

“Alright.”

After watching his birth mother leave with his younger siblings, Xu Qi’an turned to his little brother and said:

“Come to the study, I have something to discuss with you.”

Once the brothers arrived at Xu Qi’an’s study and closed the door, Xu Qi’an said:

“Tomorrow, write a memorial asking Her Majesty if she wants to appoint a new Observatory Master. The Observatory Master’s disciples are competing for the position.”

He related the “competition” between Yang Qianhuan and the others.

Xu Xinnian stroked his chin and said:

“I suddenly have an idea. The Ministry of Revenue is worried about the compensation for the Gu tribe’s fallen soldiers. Why not have the Celestial Observatory provide these funds? Tell them whoever contributes more money will have Her Majesty’s favor.”

“Of course, favor is just favor, it doesn’t necessarily mean they’ll be appointed Observatory Master.”

After all, the Celestial Observatory is wealthy.

This is planning to fleece the Celestial Observatory… Xu Qi’an thought about it and decided it was a good idea.

“Perfect, I’ll be heading to the Southern Borders soon to bring Lingyin back, I can deliver the compensation funds then.”

“What do you think of those two?” Second Young Master Xu asked abruptly.

“Let them stay by my mother’s side. Fortunately, they’re just naive children.” Xu Qi’an stroked his chin. “I suspect Xu Pingfeng deliberately sent them to the capital for peace talks. This way, if Great Feng wins, they’d have a place to belong. If Great Feng loses, Yunzhou could still rescue them. They’d be safe either way.”

“Perhaps!” Second Young Master Xu offered no further comment.

After discussing official matters, Xu Qi’an let out a “heh” and said:

“There’ll be entertainment to watch from now on. My birth mother is no pushover. Right now she’s not focused on household politics, only wanting to repair her relationship with me, at least until she adapts to life in the Xu mansion.”

“Her struggle with Sister Lingyue will be particularly interesting. Oh right, Wang Simu isn’t simple either. After you two marry – tsk tsk, I won’t need to visit brothels for entertainment anymore. Just watching the women of this household fight will be endless amusement.”

“This is how a proper noble household should be. What kind of great family doesn’t have internal struggles?”

“Before, it was like the monkey claiming to be king when there was no tiger in the mountain – Second Aunt was having it too easy.”

Xu Xinnian chuckled:

“Indeed, and before Simu, there was Princess Lin’an and Luo Yuhen. It’ll be quite lively. Brother, I’m particularly looking forward to your wedding with Princess Lin’an. Do you think the National Preceptor will storm in with her sword?”

No, there’s also Mu Nanzhi, and even more… Xu Qi’an’s gleeful expression gradually disappeared. He waved his sleeve:

“Sharp-tongued!”

“You talentless waste, second-to-last in aptitude.”

Xu Xinnian struck at his weak point and also waved his sleeve with a cold snort.

In his heart, he muttered: At least I’m better than Lingyin.

…

After Ji Baiqing led her children to their quarters and arranged their rooms, she ordered servants to heat water for their baths.

“From now on, don’t go over there unnecessarily, and avoid provoking Lingyue. She remembers how you two were hostile to Ning Yan before. The Second Branch siblings are very protective of him. How did someone as simple as Little Ru raise such a formidable daughter?”

Ji Baiqing warned them, then said:

“Yunzhou is gone, don’t mention it anymore. Since Ning Yan brought you back, it means the past is forgiven, he won’t hold it against you. Live well in the capital from now on, he won’t mistreat you.”

She glanced at Xu Yuanhuai and said softly:

“Mother knows you have talent and don’t need to rely on your elder brother, but how can that compare to wandering the martial world? If you want to advance in martial arts, guidance from a Tier One warrior is better than anything else. He might not be willing to accept you now, but with time, that barrier will disappear.”

“And Yuan Shuang, if you want to continue on the path of an artificer, you can’t leave the capital, can’t leave the Celestial Observatory.”

Yuan Shuang said quietly:

“Mother, if Yuan Shuai and I were to leave, would you come with us?”

Ji Baiqing shook her head slightly:

“Mother has accompanied you for almost twenty years. From now on, I want to spend more time with him, just watching him will make me content.”

Xu Yuanhuai couldn’t help but ask:

“Has he advanced to Tier One? What about Uncle? Father? And Ji Xuan? What happened to them, where did they escape to?”

In his view, his father was like a divine immortal. Even if his elder brother had become a Tier One warrior, his father would be fine. Father always had a backup plan, and would never be trapped in a desperate situation.

And Ji Xuan was a Tier Three warrior, a master of the transcendent realm.

They might have lost the war, but surely escaping wouldn’t be a problem.

Ji Baiqing shook her head and sighed:

“They’re all dead.”

“Ji Xuan was beheaded by Ning Yan himself in the capital. After the defeat, your father tried to escape but failed, killed by Ning Yan overseas. Your uncle met the same fate.”

“The clan members are all dead too, wiped out by a heavy cavalry unit, killed completely clean.”

“Mother should have died too, but I couldn’t bear to leave you, to leave him.”

In twenty years of confinement, her marriage bond with Xu Pingfeng had long since dissolved, and her ties to the clan had been severed even earlier.

Rather than die with them, staying alive to watch over her three children was more important.

“Dead… they’re all dead…”

Xu Yuanhuai muttered, standing frozen in place.

Not one had escaped, all were killed clean by Xu Qi’an, including their father whom he had revered like a deity.

This wasn’t how he had imagined it. In his mind, though the Yunzhou army was defeated, the core figures should have gone into hiding.

Xu Yuanhuai found it hard to believe. How could his almighty father possibly die?

But Mother wouldn’t lie to him.

At this moment, he gained a deeper understanding of the words “Tier One warrior.”

This was a rank that even his god-like father could only die resenting.

He finally reached this step. Starting from Zhen De’s death, their father’s schemes against him failed one after another, until he could no longer control this fierce beast and suffered the backlash… Yuan Shuang’s expression was complex, filled with sighs, melancholy, sorrow, and resignation.

Father had “created” him, gave birth to him, and implanted the nation’s fate in him, paving the way for his imperial ambitions.

But in the end, this chess piece took his life.

Karmic cycle, destiny’s way.

As an artificer, Yuan Shuang deeply understood the terror of karma.

…

Xu Lingyue entered carrying a bowl of ginseng soup, looked around, and finding only Second Young Master Xu, frowned and asked:

“Where’s Elder Brother?”

“He went out on business.”

Second Young Master Xu’s gaze fell on the soup, and he sighed: “This soup certainly wasn’t cooked for Second Brother, ah, Second Brother doesn’t have such fortune.”

Xu Lingyue quickly displayed a gentle smile:

“Second Brother’s words are too distant. Lingyue knows you work yourself to exhaustion, so I specially brewed this ginseng soup to nourish you. Elder Brother doesn’t need this at all.”

Xu Xinnian nodded:

“Leave it here.”

Watching his sister’s retreating figure carrying the wooden tray, Second Young Master Xu stroked his chin and hummed:

“Little devil, getting one over on you.”

“Always thinking of Elder Brother first, who’s your blood brother?”

He took a pleased sip of the ginseng soup, then frowned and cursed:

“Wretched girl, roundabout way of saying I’m weak?”

…

At Lingbao Temple.

In the meditation room, there were two meditation cushions, one occupied, and one empty.

Xu Qi’an sat cross-legged on the cushion and said gravely:

“After advancing to Tier One, my cultivation has stagnated. Breathing exercises are almost useless, and even dual cultivation shows slow progress.”

Luo Yuhen frowned slightly, seeming to be in some pain. She took a breath before saying:

“After Tier One, essence, energy, and spirit unite as one. If you want to improve, you must enhance all three together. Of course, breathing exercises have no effect, they can only temper qi.”

This must be why Tier One warriors hit bottlenecks… Xu Qi’an’s waist muscles tensed as he continuously exerted force, saying:

“Then, could simultaneously doing breathing exercises, meditation, and tempering the body break through the bottleneck?”

Normal warriors cultivate qi through breathing and circulation, but once essence, energy, and spirit unite, breathing exercises become ineffective. To improve, all three must be enhanced simultaneously.

The unity of essence, energy, and spirit was both the most special and strongest aspect of Tier One warriors, yet it also became their constraint.

Luo Yuhen bit her lip tightly, speechless, her cheeks flushed.

“N-never heard of… such a… cultivation method,” she said haltingly.

“Currently, the most effective method is dual cultivation with the National Preceptor.”

Xu Qi’an smiled: “I implore the National Preceptor’s mercy.”

“Who wants to dual cultivate with you? I told you long ago, after advancing to Terrestrial Immortal, there would be nothing between us.”

Luo Yuhen let out a light snort.

“Yes, yes, yes, I was presumptuous. I only wish to come to listen to the National Preceptor’s teachings for an hour each day, please don’t refuse.”

Xu Qi’an readily agreed.

Luo Yuhen gave a dignified “mm.”

At this moment, Xu Qi’an stopped all movement and pulled out the Earth Book fragment from his bosom to check the message.

[Five: Xu Ningyan, can you come to the Southern Borders?]

[Four: Don’t rush, Lina. There’s still some time before Ningyan and Lin’an’s wedding. You won’t be forgotten when the banquet is set.]

Chu Yuanzhen teased in his message.

Luo Yuhen, who had leaned over to look at the messages, suddenly darkened her expression.

Bringing up the worst possible topic! Xu Qi’an cursed inwardly, then saw Lina’s message:

[This is terrible, Lingyin dreamed of the Gu God.]

Dreamed of the Gu God… Xu Qi’an’s eyebrows rose as his expression changed slightly.