The several disciples from Zhaohan Sect remained silent. They all knew that Kong Hou had been brought from the mortal realm by Yunhua Sect’s Peak Master Wang Tong. Now Master Shuangqing was saying right in front of her that people born in the mortal realm weren’t suitable for cultivation—wasn’t this deliberate provocation?

Even Lingbo, who found Kong Hou somewhat displeasing, felt these words were inappropriate. Heroes don’t care about origins. No matter where Kong Hou came from, her five spiritual roots aptitude alone was enough to make many cultivators envious. As both women and both five spiritual root cultivators, Lingbo and Kong Hou naturally had a unified position, so she unhappily used voice transmission to say to Chang De: “What did this Master Shuangqing rely on to become sect leader? He’s so incapable of speaking properly.”

Chang De frowned: “Sit properly and don’t say too much.”

Lingbo rolled her eyes, picked up her teacup to drink water, disguising her true emotions. She found Kong Hou displeasing, but what was this square-headed Shuangqing? How dare he mock their five spiritual root cultivators with innuendo?

“Master Shuangqing originally had a senior brother. Later, this senior brother suddenly felt that cultivation wasn’t interesting and wanted to become a skilled carpenter, so he abandoned Yuanji Sect and ran off. As the sect leader’s second disciple, Shuangqing was forced into becoming sect leader.” Chang De sat upright and proper, the expression on his face couldn’t be more serious. No one could tell he was currently gossiping about the person in question with his junior sister.

“So he became sect leader by luck.” Lingbo sneered inwardly. No wonder he had such character.

Although he was somewhat confused by Huan Zong’s cold attitude, Shuangqing, who was determined to curry favor with Liuguang Sect and Zhaohan Sect, didn’t become discouraged by this setback. He enthusiastically arranged lodgings for everyone and invited them all to lunch together.

Wine and food were brought to the table. The dishes were excellent fare full of spiritual energy, the wine was fine vintage brewed from spirit fruits. Every dish was priceless—this wasn’t just a table of food, but clearly Shuangqing’s enthusiasm for entertaining guests.

“My apologies, I don’t drink alcohol.” Huan Zong blocked the wine cup Shuangqing handed over. “Tea is fine.”

“I misunderstood. I often hear people say things like ‘one sword, one wine, wandering the world,’ so I thought Master Huan Zong was also like that.” Seeing that the others also had no intention of drinking, Shuangqing put the wine pot back.

“Sect Leader Shuangqing has misunderstood. The most important thing for sword cultivators is a clear mind and bright eyes, unity of sword and body. How can someone drunk on wine control the sword in their hand?” Lingbo raised her chin slightly, her face full of arrogance. “The so-called ‘one sword, one wine, wandering the world’ is just wild scholars entertaining themselves. We cultivation practitioners cannot be so capricious. So unless it’s an important occasion or there’s a major matter, we try our best not to drink alcohol.”

Not an important occasion.

No major matter.

Kong Hou felt that this aloof Lingbo Immortal really knew how to draw hatred when she spoke. She tried a few bites of the dishes. Having grown accustomed to her sect’s food and having stayed at Wuwei Manor for several days, eating this table of food now, she always felt it was elaborate but lacking in flavor.

Could this be what Master Bai An had called lacking soul?

With Wuwei Manor joining them, from now on, their Yunhua Sect disciples could also be considered refined people when it came to eating.

At this very moment, Yunhua Sect had already added Kong Hou’s name to the sect’s record of major achievements, with the notation “made significant contributions to the sect.”

Returning the record of major sect achievements to the jade box on the altar, Heng Yan performed a grand salute before the memorial tablets of past sect leaders and strode out of the ceremonial hall.

“Sect Leader Martial Uncle, Master sent back word saying both sides have already agreed on the date for holding the affiliation ceremony. However, Master feels that where Wuwei Manor is located, the spiritual energy is poor and unsuitable for Wuwei Manor disciples to cultivate. He suggests we organize one of our vacant peaks and let Master Bai An become a peak master.” Seeing Heng Yan emerge, Ling Hui reported the newly received information to him.

“We’re only accepting Wuwei Manor’s affiliation, we don’t want to annex them. I’m afraid this move would be inappropriate.” Although Heng Yan very much wanted all of Wuwei Manor to move over, if Wuwei Manor misunderstood their intentions, it would be counterproductive instead.

Ling Hui was thinking that Wuwei Manor disciples and sect disciples might not necessarily get along well. If conflicts arose between the two sides, it would be difficult to handle.

“However, Wuwei Manor’s current environment is indeed too harsh.” Heng Yan thought for a moment. “How about we build a manor at the foot of the mountain and have Wuwei Manor move in there?”

“This junior understands. I’ll immediately send a message to Master.” Ling Hui agreed with a smile and quickly walked away.

Watching his martial nephew’s hurriedly departing figure, Heng Yan shook his head and laughed helplessly. Ever since learning that Wuwei Manor was willing to affiliate, these disciples had all acted like they’d picked up a huge bargain, wishing they could immediately move all of Wuwei Manor over.

When Qingyuan received his disciple’s message, he brought up this matter with Wuwei Manor. He thought Wuwei Manor would hesitate or ask about their plans, but who knew the other party would agree without even thinking.

Faced with such an agreeable Master Bai An, Qingyuan really had to wonder—just what had the sect leader done back then to make the normally mild-tempered Master Bai An say that Yunhua Sect’s food had no soul?

After hearing this news, all the Wuwei Manor disciples were dumbfounded.

That Yunhua Sect was accepting them as an affiliated sect was already shocking enough, but they were even building a beautiful manor for them to move into? They were doing all this for what? Could it really just be to eat a few meals they cooked?

Could it be they had too many spirit stones with nowhere to spend them?

The secret realm hadn’t yet opened, and Kong Hou and the others wanted to return to the inn to stay, but Master Shuangqing was truly too enthusiastic—so enthusiastic that it gave people the illusion that not staying at Yuanji Sect would weigh on their conscience.

The wealthy and powerful Yuanji Sect arranged a courtyard for each sect’s people. Even though Yunhua Sect only had Kong Hou by herself, Yuanji Sect still arranged a beautiful independent small courtyard for her, with attendants to help with bathing and grooming.

After bathing and changing clothes, Kong Hou heard a man crying outside the courtyard. She asked the maid lighting incense: “May I go out for a walk?”

“The immortal is an honored guest of our sect. Please feel free to do as you wish.” The maid curtsied, her skirt swaying in the candlelight like blooming flowers. She glanced out the window and said quietly: “Did the immortal hear crying?”

Seeing her calm expression, Kong Hou had thought she hadn’t heard it, but unexpectedly not only had she heard it, she was already accustomed to it.

“The one crying is Young Master Xu Feng. He’s the sect leader’s first eldest disciple. I heard he was personally raised by the sect leader.” The maid didn’t feel it appropriate to mention too much about the sect leader’s affairs, smiling as she said: “Young Master Xu Feng is currently ill. If there are any improprieties, please be understanding, Immortal.”

Kong Hou thought of that man who had cut his hand and called Shuangqing grandfather, and nodded slightly.

“Just letting him cry like this—wouldn’t that be inappropriate?” Kong Hou pushed open the door. The night was deep and the dew heavy. Xu Feng was a person who had lost his sanity—his body probably couldn’t withstand the cold.

The maid’s face showed a troubled expression: “The sect leader doesn’t really like us getting close to Young Master Xu Feng.”

“I understand.” Kong Hou sighed. It wasn’t good to meddle in other people’s private affairs. She closed the door, preparing to rest.

There was a knocking sound at the door.

“Mother, open the door. Don’t abandon me.”

“Mother, I’m begging you, please open the door.”

The maid didn’t dare speak. Listening to the increasingly sorrowful crying outside the courtyard, she became somewhat flustered.

“I’ll go take a look. You go find someone to report this matter.” Kong Hou pushed open the door and walked out. Walking into the courtyard, she opened the gate. A man in wrinkled brocade clothing stood outside, missing one of the shoes on his feet, his jade crown sitting askew with several strands of hair tangled in it, a messy clump.

The other party had a handsome, rugged face, but his expression was like that of a three or four-year-old child.

“Mother.” He crouched on the ground, looking up at Kong Hou. “Have you come to take me away with you?”

Kong Hou lifted her skirt hem and crouched down as well: “What are you doing here?”

“I’m looking for Mother.” The man reached out to grab Kong Hou’s newly changed clothes, the dirt on his hands smudging onto her garments. “You’re not my mother. My mother is prettier than you. Have you seen her?”

“Your mother said you must cultivate well with your master. She’s still waiting for you to grow up and come get her.” Kong Hou took out a blanket from her storage ring and covered the man with it. “Xu Feng, have you forgotten her instructions?”

This was a patient whose mind wasn’t clear, with abnormal aesthetics. She couldn’t hold it against him. Children all think their own mother is the most beautiful woman in the world. She would endure it.

Confusion showed in the man’s expression. He stared blankly at Kong Hou: “Mother didn’t abandon me?”

“That’s right. You remembered wrong. She didn’t abandon you, she just wanted you to cultivate well with your master.” Kong Hou sat on the steps hugging her knees. “The mortal realm is so bitter—birth, old age, sickness and death, love, hate, and separation. How can it compare to the goodness of immortal cultivation? Cultivation can grant you longevity.”

“But I want Mother…” Xu Feng’s eyes filled with tears. “I don’t want longevity.”

“But your mother wants you to have longevity. You’re a good child. You must work hard to fulfill her hopes, otherwise she’ll be sad.” Kong Hou suppressed her distaste and patted Xu Feng’s messy, dirty head. “Understand?”

Xu Feng burst into tears again with a wail.

“Your mother is so beautiful, she definitely doesn’t like children who cry.”

The loud crying changed to sobbing.

“Good children must obediently go to sleep, and they especially can’t wander around at night.” Kong Hou saw several maids approaching from not far away and waved to them. “Quickly go back to sleep with them.”

“Thank you, Auntie. I understand.” Xu Feng wiped his tears with the back of his hand, smiling at Kong Hou with a tear-streaked face.

Get lost, get lost, hurry up and get lost! She was a beautiful sixteen-year-old maiden fresh as flowers and jade—where did she get such a big nephew? Who was taking advantage of whom here?

“Mm, go obediently to sleep.”

Forget it, he’s a patient. Endure it a bit more.

Watching as the maids coaxed and persuaded Xu Feng away, Kong Hou let out a long breath and reached up to touch her face. Fortunately, it was still smooth and unblemished.

The maid had said that Master Shuangqing didn’t like others getting close to this Xu Feng. She had thought Shuangqing was disgusted by his disciple’s crazy, foolish appearance and found it shameful, but Xu Feng’s clothes were covered with talisman patterns, and even the jade crown binding his hair was a defensive magical tool. It didn’t look like he was being mistreated.

Could Yuanji Sect already be wealthy enough that even if they were disgusted by a certain disciple, they would still make sure he wore good clothes and ate well?

“Thank you, Kong Hou Immortal. My unworthy disciple doesn’t understand things and has troubled you.”

Kong Hou turned around to discover Shuangqing standing not far away. It was just that his cultivation was higher than hers, so she didn’t even know when he had appeared.

“You’re too kind, Master. Fellow Daoist Xu Feng will recover.” Kong Hou replied dryly.

“I accept your auspicious words, Immortal.” Shuangqing glanced at the stains on Kong Hou’s robe and cupped his hands to her. “I won’t disturb your rest, Immortal. Farewell.”

“Take care, Master.” Kong Hou stared at Shuangqing’s retreating back, frowning after a long while.

No matter how she looked at it, that head still looked like a brick.