“Canghai.” Seeing his disciple’s expression still extremely strange, Peak Master Song He spoke. “What do you have to say?”

“I…” Canghai glanced sideways at Xiao Dong, who didn’t dare speak, then gritted his teeth and said, “Sect Master, this junior does have something to report.”

“What is it?” Seeing Canghai’s grave expression, Jin Yue put aside his joking attitude.

“Sect Master, I think Junior Brother might be going to Yunhua Sect as a live-in son-in-law.” Canghai swallowed. “Xiao Dong says he saw Junior Brother and Miss Kong Hou of Yunhua Sect in front of everyone, fingers intertwined, chatting happily.”

“Truly?” Jin Yue looked at Xiao Dong.

Xiao Dong nodded slightly. “When Master Uncle and Master Uncle Kong Hou emerged, many cultivators surrounded them. This junior didn’t notice anything amiss at first. Only when this junior approached did I see Master Uncle holding Miss Kong Hou’s hand, very intimately.”

The room suddenly fell silent. Cold sweat broke out on Xiao Dong’s back. In his anger, would Grand-Uncle Master run off to find Master Uncle and separate him from Miss Kong Hou?

“Song He.” After a long silence, Jin Yue turned to look at Song He. “Last month you spent over ten days discussing the Dao with Yunhua Sect’s Peak Master Wang Tong. Did you get along well?”

“Fellow Daoist Wang Tong is humorous with profound cultivation. I got along very well with him.” Song He recalled Wang Tong, who had accompanied him eating from one end of the street to the other, trying hard to ignore Wang Tong’s unreliable personality and searching with difficulty for his redeeming qualities among his usual words and actions.

“Since you and Peak Master Wang Tong are old friends, I can only trouble you to make a trip…”

“Peak Master.” Song He interrupted Jin Yue. “Miss Kong Hou is only seventeen. Even if I made ten trips, some words cannot be spoken.” With Wang Tong’s terrible temper, if he dared open his mouth, the other would dare raise a weapon and chase him all the way from Yunhua Sect to Liuguang Sect.

“Where has your mind wandered?” Jin Yue was stunned. “I’m asking you to go under the pretense of delivering gifts to Yunhua Sect, and bring another gift for Peak Master Wang Tong. I wonder whether Fellow Daoist Wang Tong prefers calligraphy, paintings, pills, magical artifacts, or talismans?”

“He doesn’t like any of those things.” Song He thought carefully, his tone uncertain. “As a peak master, Wang Tong shouldn’t lack pills, magical artifacts, or talismans. What he lacks is spirit stones.”

Jin Yue looked at Song He doubtfully. Did this really look like someone who got along well with Fellow Daoist Wang Tong?

“Sect Master, I’m not joking. Fellow Daoist Wang Tong’s fortune is somewhat special—he was born unable to keep spirit stones, so he doesn’t have many on him.” Though Wang Tong himself didn’t quite admit this, they were all men who often went out to eat delicious food together. As a fellow man, he could roughly guess what the other lacked and wanted.

“Then prepare some spirit stones, magical artifacts, and medicinal materials to bring together. Sending only spirit stones might make Fellow Daoist Wang Tong think we look down on him, which wouldn’t be good.” After giving these instructions, Jin Yue saw Song He still looking at him strangely and could only sigh. “In case decades from now Huan Zong really does marry into Yunhua Sect, I should at least help him curry favor with the bride’s elders first.”

Being a live-in son-in-law wasn’t easy.

Song He hadn’t expected the Sect Master to think so openly—willing to send such a talented disciple to become a live-in son-in-law at another sect.

“Alas.” Jin Yue sighed. “When he was young, I hoped he would maintain strict discipline and go higher and further on the sword path, breaking the deadlock of nearly a thousand years without anyone ascending in the Lingyou Realm. But…”

“The Lingyou Realm doesn’t belong to any one person. Such a heavy responsibility shouldn’t be borne by him alone.” Jin Yue’s expression eased, as if he’d thought through certain things. His entire spirit seemed renewed. “When he was still a young child, he came with me to Liuguang Sect. He has never disappointed me. As his master, how can I disappoint him?”

Most cultivators had no descendants. For them, personal disciples were their children. As a father, one should have more than just severity toward one’s child—there should also be affection.

“I only taught him the sword path but didn’t teach him normal human emotions. I didn’t teach him how to interact with people or understand emotional joys and sorrows, which led to problems with his mental state…”

“Sect Master, how can you blame yourself for this?” Hearing this, Song He felt something was wrong. “Even if Master Nephew heard this, he wouldn’t agree with you.”

“You needn’t be so nervous.” Seeing Song He like this, Jin Yue actually laughed. “I’m very grateful Huan Zong met someone who taught him about emotions. Heaven’s Will has left him a chance at life after all.”

Seeing that Jin Yue didn’t seem to have developed inner demons over this matter, Song He relaxed. “Miss Kong Hou is indeed a young woman who easily inspires affection.”

No one would dislike a pair of expressive eyes. Sword cultivators always valued inner character most when making friends. The more pure and clean someone’s thoughts, the more they attracted sword cultivators. Song He wasn’t at all surprised Kong Hou could be friends with his master nephew. The only surprise was that Huan Zong had actually developed romantic feelings for the young lady.

This matter was probably somewhat difficult. Those people at Yunhua Sect…

Yunhua Sect’s management seemed loose, but having stayed at Yunhua Sect for a period, he’d discovered that while their educational philosophy differed from theirs, it was most effective for Yunhua Sect disciples.

They could allow disciples to display their natural personalities while ensuring they remembered to act with propriety. Especially when he learned that after Foundation Establishment, Yunhua Sect disciples all had to visit the dungeon to observe the fate of evildoers—he was quite shocked.

Many sects, fearing disciples’ temperaments might change, kept them confined within the sect for ten years after Foundation Establishment to cultivate quietly, avoiding unnecessary sights and sounds. Yunhua Sect did the opposite, giving disciples direct shock education.

But upon further reflection, seemingly loose Yunhua Sect truly had very few disciples who betrayed the sect. Their strictly managed Liuguang Sect had no fewer traitorous disciples than Yunhua Sect.

Perhaps Yunhua Sect had taught disciples one word: fear.

With fear came respect. With respect came knowing what one should do.

Having Huan Zong become a live-in son-in-law at such a sect wasn’t bad. The only worry was… whether they’d even want him.

Ever since Gui Lin exposed the evil cultivators’ disguise and led everyone to successful escape, he could always feel the enthusiasm of his fellow sect members. When eating at the dining hall, they always saved him a seat. When they got something delicious, they shared half with him. Even that little junior sister with terrifying strength would carry him to the dining hall after he was tired from sword practice.

This enthusiasm was very troublesome for him. He’d hinted several times that they should stay away from him, but… this group seemed unable to understand his hints.

“Junior Brother Gui Lin, today we have fresh fruit sent from Kui City by Senior Sister Kong Hou.” Seeing Gui Lin dragged in by a junior sister, Gao Jianyan quickly waved at them both. “Rou Rou, come here, come here.”

Gui Lin couldn’t understand how Li Rou’s parents had thought—their daughter clearly had monstrous strength, yet they still named her Rou Rou (Soft Soft).

These newly admitted disciples hadn’t yet been ranked by generation, so they defaulted to the same generation as the Head Senior Brother and used those forms of address. After formally joining the inner sect in the future, their generational ranking might change, and what everyone needed to adapt to most was changing how they addressed each other.

“Senior Sister Kong Hou is amazing.” Hearing Kong Hou’s name, Rou Rou’s eyes lit up. “Advanced to the Heart Stirring Stage in just seven years, brought back so many fruits from the secret realm to share with us. I really want to marry her.”

Gui Lin glanced at her. Didn’t she know her own gender?

Taking a bite of the spirit fruit—sweet, delicious, and full of spiritual energy—it truly wasn’t ordinary fruit. Such good fruit, and Yunhua Sect was willing to share it with ordinary disciples. He turned to look at the others. Inner sect disciples and ordinary disciples alike each received only one, but these senior brothers and sisters didn’t seem to care about the amount, cheerfully gathering together to chat without any of the bearing sect disciples should have.

“Did you all see? Liuguang Sect’s Peak Master Song He has come.”

“Didn’t Peak Master Song He just return to Liuguang Sect not long ago?”

“I don’t know about that. Senior Brother Wu Chuan and Senior Brother Tan Feng personally went to receive him. I encountered them on the path just now. This time Peak Master Song He didn’t come alone—several disciples followed behind him, each with faces like ice, overflowing with sword energy. There’s no difference between them and living swords.”

“Sword cultivators—aren’t they all like that?”

“Liuguang Sect keeps coming to our sect every few days. Could they want to join forces with us on some major undertaking?”

“That’s not something we should worry about. Don’t go overthinking it.”

“Gui Lin, what are you spacing out about?” Gao Jianyan tapped his arm. “Come on, let’s get in line for food.”

Gui Lin silently stood and followed behind Gao Jianyan.

Liuguang Sect had been frequently showing goodwill to Yunhua Sect recently. Could it be for the merman scales Yunhua Sect was hiding? Both being major sects, even if Liuguang Sect knew Yunhua Sect had merman scales, they couldn’t openly break with them and could only appeal to emotion and reason.

However, looking at how they came every few days, one could judge that Yunhua Sect hadn’t relented on this matter.

Long-term, a rift would definitely grow between Liuguang Sect and Yunhua Sect.

Thinking this, Gui Lin frowned. Yunhua Sect offending the number one ranked major sect—he should be happy about this. But looking at these unknowing senior and junior brothers and sisters, he felt somewhat uncomfortable.

If Yunhua Sect lost power, would these not-so-clever fellow disciples who only cared about food all day be implicated?

Within Yuanji Sect, hearing that all disciples had returned safely, Zhenren Shuangqing’s face, dark for nearly a month, finally eased somewhat. After Jin Ling said they’d received much care from Immortal Kong Hou in the secret realm, Zhenren Shuangqing nodded. “I understand. You should rest first. We’ll discuss other matters tomorrow.”

Watching these disciples joyfully leave the main hall, Shuangqing leaned back against his chair.

“Sect Master.” The attendant who had followed him for hundreds of years appeared in a flash. “Sect Master, Young Master Xu Feng’s spirits have improved greatly recently. He can write now.”

A trace of a smile appeared on Shuangqing’s face. “That child was always best at calligraphy. Even after living so many years, I can’t compare to him.”

The attendant said, “Young Master Xu Feng has always been thus.”

Ever since that night when Immortal Kong Hou coaxed the young master by saying his mother hoped he would be good, the young master had quieted down considerably. But this wasn’t something he could tell the Sect Master.

The eldest young master was brought back from the mortal realm by the Sect Master. Back then, his birth mother had abandoned him in a pool, burning with fever all over. The soft-hearted Sect Master rescued him, then discovered the young master had spiritual roots and brought him back to the Lingyou Realm.

Taking his first disciple, the Sect Master had been very devoted, raising him like a child. Who knew Young Master Xu had always harbored an inner knot, dwelling on his birth mother’s abandonment. During a tribulation, he was invaded by inner demons and became confused and unknowing, like a three or four-year-old child.

Shuangqing also seemed to recall some matters concerning his eldest disciple. His expression mixed sadness and joy. After quite a while, he said, “Has there been any news from Yunhua Sect?”

“No.” The attendant said. “We’ve been receiving less and less information lately. Could it be…”

“No. I’ve seen that child’s eyes—they’re full of ambition. He absolutely cannot adapt to Yunhua Sect’s educational methods.”

“If it succeeds, do you truly plan to make him the head disciple?”

“He’s intelligent and talented, with good root bones, plus cunning and ambition. He’s more suitable for the position of head senior brother than Zhou Xiao.” Shuangqing said. “Zhou Xiao has done nothing wrong. His personality is gentle and his heart open, but he’s better suited to be a steward or an elder. He can’t be sect master.”

The attendant thought of Zhou Xiao’s filial devotion and honesty, feeling somewhat reluctant. However, the Sect Master had always been decisive, so he dared not say more.

“You…” Shuangqing thought for a moment. “Forget it, I’ll go see Zhou Xiao myself. That child always fears troubling me and won’t speak up when something happens. If I don’t go ask what happened in the secret realm, he definitely won’t say much. Don’t let him end up like Xu Feng, developing inner demons that ruin his whole life.”

Watching the Sect Master speak harsh words yet hurry outside, the attendant finally sighed.

Speaking cruel words but doing soft-hearted things—what was the point?

Outside Yuanji Sect, Kong Hou’s party of three encountered disciples from Zhaohan Sect. She noticed that disciple called Fang Yingzheng hadn’t come. Probably… he felt his name wasn’t good enough, so to maintain a mutually joyful and harmonious atmosphere, they didn’t let him come?

Their group had imposed on Zhaohan Sect for several days. Having left the secret realm, they couldn’t just turn and leave. The proper etiquette between major sects couldn’t be lacking in any respect.

Chang De and the others weren’t surprised to see Kong Hou’s group. After exchanging greetings, they saw Zhou Xiao come out to welcome them inside. Chang De thanked Zhou Xiao but secretly glanced at Huan Zong several times.

He didn’t know if it was his imagination, but didn’t Zhenren Huan Zong’s aura seem even more restrained?

After leaving the secret realm, Kong Hou and Huan Zong tried Heaven and Earth Dual Cultivation. The effects were even better than expected. Kong Hou deeply regretted that if Huan Zong were a Yunhua Sect disciple, the two of them could dual cultivate together every day.

When she said such things, Huan Zong didn’t contradict her, only poured her a cup of tea.

Lin Hu was very worried about this, fearing the young master truly had ideas about this matter. Then he would become Liuguang Sect’s first peak master to defect from the sect, which would certainly make the young master even more renowned, his name recorded in the Lingyou Realm for thousands of years.

Harboring a bellyful of concerns, Lin Hu followed behind the two and once again met Sect Master Shuangqing. Zhenren Shuangqing’s face was still as square as ever, but the smile on his face seemed a few degrees more genuine than last time.

At the banquet, Kong Hou looked at the table full of spirit fruits and spirit vegetables, speculating that the Yuanji Sect disciples who entered the secret realm might have obtained good items. Otherwise, why would Zhenren Shuangqing be so happy?

“Immortal Kong Hou, this cup of spirit tea is my humble offering to you.” Shuangqing stood and raised his cup to Kong Hou. “Thank you, Immortal.”

Kong Hou: “…”

Had someone discovered that she’d helped the Secret Realm Spirit devise schemes and betrayed her teammates?

—

**Author’s Note:** Spirit Tea: Friendship and loyalty are worth a thousand gold. Come, drink up.