Chapter 38: Family Discipline
Silence settled over the plain. A breeze stirred, but it wasn’t strong enough to rustle even a single blade of grass. Time seemed to stand still.
After an unknown amount of time, Luo Jinxiao coughed, her eyelids fluttering open.
The sky above was a dull, washed-out grey. She took a deep breath, ignoring the throbbing pain that radiated through her body as she slowly sat up.
The three cultivators from the Shengsi Sect were scattered around her, still unconscious. One of them, the leader, was in a particularly dire state. Blood oozed from his eyes, nose, ears, and mouth. Chi Yi lay a short distance away, her back to Luo Jinxiao, leaving her fate uncertain.
Luo Jinxiao’s head swam. She pushed herself to her feet and stumbled over to Chi Yi. Gently, she rolled her over and checked for a pulse. Relief washed over her. Alive.
She vaguely recalled Qu Weiyin’s appearance before she blacked out, but it felt like a dream. Yet, the faint floral scent lingering on her sleeves told her it was real.
“Little Sweetie?” she called, her voice hoarse.
There was no response.
The realization dawned slowly, absurd yet undeniable. Qu Weiyin had disguised herself as the Qiongqi, staying by her side all along. That explains why it was acting so strangely.
Luo Jinxiao shook her head, emotions swirling within her—gratitude tangled with embarrassment. Does that mean… I kissed Junior Shishu?
She quickly rubbed her cheeks, lost in thought once again. Had Qu Weiyin been following her all this time just to protect her?
A sudden cough pulled her from her musings. Chi Yi’s eyes fluttered open, and Luo Jinxiao quickly knelt beside her, helping her sit up.
Chi Yi wiped her face with her dirty sleeve and looked around, her eyes widening in surprise. “Did… did you kill them?”
Luo Jinxiao shook her head, unsure how to answer. Concern tugged at her. She walked over to the unconscious men and checked their injuries, probing them with her spiritual energy.
The leader, who had suffered the brunt of Qu Weiyin’s anger, was clinging to life. The other two were less severely injured, but it was clear that even if they survived, their cultivation would be crippled.
Qu Weiyin had shown them mercy. A strange sense of pride bloomed in Luo Jinxiao’s chest. It seemed Qu Weiyin had listened to her plea.
She never wanted Qu Weiyin to kill again.
Chi Yi limped over and kicked the unconscious men with a grim expression. “What now? They destroyed the third gate. How will you get to the fourth trial?”
“I don’t know,” Luo Jinxiao sighed. An idea struck her. She crouched down and began searching the men, her fingers brushing against something tucked inside one of their robes. She pulled it out – an unopened envelope.
She met Chi Yi’s eyes, and they both grinned. Luo Jinxiao unfolded the letter. It was blank.
At that moment, a stone gate rose from the ground before them, bathed in a blinding white light that banished the gloom of the plain.
“We…” Luo Jinxiao began, but Chi Yi cut her off.
“Fellow Cultivator Luo, the fourth trial is a duel. In my current state, I wouldn’t stand a chance against you. There’s no need for us to fight. You’re the only one left. Go. Claim the pill, and we’ll both be free.”
Luo Jinxiao hesitated. It felt wrong, somehow, to advance like this.
“Don’t overthink it. Life isn’t always fair. I’m not yielding out of courtesy but out of self-preservation. Besides, it’s always better to have one more friend than one more enemy.” Chi Yi smiled, giving Luo Jinxiao a gentle push towards the gate.
“I’ll await your good news, Fellow Cultivator Luo.”
Luo Jinxiao felt a surge of warmth in her heart. She reached out to return the gesture. As the white light flashed and the world turned upside down, she found herself standing in a grand hall.
The hall was built in a style that strongly resembled the Wuhui Palace. In the center stood a tall platform made of white jade. Resting atop it was a small, unassuming rosewood box, emanating a soft, warm glow.
Luo Jinxiao approached cautiously, wary of further surprises. But the hall remained quiet. She reached out and picked up the box. It was warm to the touch, radiating a comforting heat that she suspected came from the pill inside. The moment her fingers closed around the box, a pleasant warmth spread through her body.
As expected of a pill refined by the former Wuhui Sect Leader. Luo Jinxiao wondered just how much her cultivation would increase after consuming it.
In the blink of an eye, the grand hall disappeared. The smooth jade beneath her feet shifted to rough stone, and a cool breeze, a stark contrast to the stillness of the hall, brushed against her skin. Cheers erupted around her, and before she could react, someone rushed forward, pulling her into a tight embrace.
“Sister! I knew it was you!” Luo Ning cried, tears welling up in her eyes. Luo Jinxiao staggered slightly, caught off guard by her sister’s enthusiasm.
Lu Fanzhi, who was standing nearby, swatted Luo Ning on the back, grinning. “Jinxiao, you did it!”
“You just said Sister would fail at the first gate,” Luo Ning scoffed at Lu Fanzhi.
The cheers were deafening. Luo Jinxiao forced a smile, ignoring the lingering aches in her body. The crowd seemed even larger than it had been that morning. Several people pushed forward, eager to befriend the victor of the Ten Direction Grand Gathering, but they were quickly ushered away by the Xumi Mountain elders, along with Luo Ning and Lu Fanzhi.
“Most impressive, most impressive,” the elder who had searched her earlier said, approaching with a respectful bow.
“Thank you, Elder. What about the others?” Luo Jinxiao asked, concern flickering in her eyes.
“We’ve sent people to tend to their injuries. It’s not unusual for participants to get hurt during the Ten Direction Grand Gathering. Though it seems there were more casualties than usual this time.” The elder shook his head, sighing. “One of the girls reported what happened inside. The Shengsi Sect will be held accountable for their actions. They broke the rules, attacked their fellow cultivators… such behavior will not be tolerated. Rest assured, we will deal with them accordingly.”
“Thank you, Elder.” Luo Jinxiao managed a small smile.
“You’re injured as well. Go and rest. That pill you’ve earned isn’t just for increasing cultivation; it also has remarkable healing properties. Consume it, and you’ll feel much better.” The elder placed a hand on her shoulder. A gust of wind swept past, and when Luo Jinxiao opened her eyes, she was back in her room.
Finally alone, away from the noise and excitement, Luo Jinxiao collapsed onto her bed. Her internal injuries were more serious than she let on. Though invisible to the naked eye, she could feel the lingering pain.
She sat cross-legged, drawing her silver spiritual energy inward, gently soothing her damaged meridians. After a while, the pain subsided somewhat. She retrieved the rosewood box from her pouch and opened it.
A single pill lay inside. It was surprisingly plain in appearance, but as Luo Jinxiao looked closer, she could sense the potent energy contained within.
What level of cultivation must the former Sect Leader have possessed to refine such a treasure? A wave of respect washed over her.
She lifted the pill to her lips, then hesitated. Her hand trembled slightly. With a sigh, she placed the pill back in the box and tucked it safely away in her pouch.
She made her way to Qu Weiyin’s room. As she stepped inside, she spotted the Qiongqi sprawled on the bed, looking thoroughly dejected. The moment it saw her, its tail began to wag furiously. It rushed towards her, whining and nudging her leg with its head, as if trying to tell her something.
“Little Sweetie, there you are. Where’s Junior Shishu?” Luo Jinxiao asked.
Silence descended upon the room. Qiongqi glared at her and let out a furious bark.
“Did she threaten you?” Luo Jinxiao guessed immediately. The Qiongqi bobbed its head vigorously, rubbing its head against her leg as if to emphasize its point.
Naturally, it wouldn’t tell Luo Jinxiao that Qu Weiyin had bribed it with the promise of twenty whole cows.
“Junior Shishu?” Luo Jinxiao searched the room, the Qiongqi nestled in her arms, but Qu Weiyin was nowhere to be found. Finally, she spotted a note on the table. It was written in Qu Weiyin’s elegant hand: “Urgent matters at the Qu family, had to leave first.”
Those words, curt and impersonal, were all the explanation Qu Weiyin offered. It was just like her – distant, aloof, and utterly unsentimental.
Disappointment tugged at Luo Jinxiao’s heart. She sat down heavily on the bed, Qiongqi still in her arms. She lowered her head to nuzzle its nose, but the creature merely purred and rubbed against her cheek.
Luo Jinxiao sighed and pulled away. That’s the real Qiongqi, alright.
Luo Jinxiao spent the next few days enjoying the comfort of Qu Weiyin’s room, no longer needing to squeeze into a bed with Lu Fanzhi and Luo Ning. Her injuries gradually healed, and she began to feel like herself again. The only thing that marred her good mood was the constant stream of visitors, all eager to befriend the victor of the Ten Direction Grand Gathering.
She also crossed paths with several members of the Shengsi Sect. They glared at her with undisguised animosity, their expressions making it abundantly clear that she had made enemies for life.
A few days later, the various sects began their journeys home. The Wuhui Sect members prepared to return as well. Luo Jinxiao, still accompanying the injured Chang Siyu, bid farewell to Chi Yi and set off on the long journey back. The return trip seemed to take even longer than their initial journey. They didn’t even have time to visit the mythical Sea of Exiles, much to Luo Jinxiao’s disappointment.
Perhaps because Qu Weiyin was no longer with them, Chang Siyu remained unusually quiet during the journey.
Aside from listening to Yan Ying and Luo Ning bicker, Luo Jinxiao spent most of her time chatting with Lu Fanzhi. Lu Fanzhi mentioned that another powerful sect, rumored to be the second strongest in the cultivation world, had not attended the Ten Direction Grand Gathering. They were called the Baiyue Sect, and they were said to possess a formidable number of skilled cultivators.
Luo Jinxiao knew the Baiyue Sect well. In her past life, her only true friend had been a Baiyue Sect disciple. A pang of longing shot through her.
If the Baiyue Sect had been at the Ten Direction Grand Gathering, claiming the pill wouldn’t have been so easy.
After five long days of travel, they finally arrived back at the Wuhui Sect. News of Luo Jinxiao’s victory had already reached the sect, and her name was once again on everyone’s lips. Those who had accused her of cheating were now silent.
Several elders, including Elder He, greeted them personally upon their return. Elder He was practically bouncing with excitement as he clapped Luo Jinxiao on the shoulder, his face creased with a wide smile.
“Luo Jintian, you’ve done well! The younger generation is truly remarkable!” he exclaimed.
“It’s Luo Jinxiao, Elder He,” Luo Jinxiao corrected him gently, stifling a cough.
For some reason, Qu Chengzhou was not present. Luo Jinxiao noticed his absence and was searching the crowd for him when she met Elder Liu’s gaze. Elder Liu beckoned her over, then turned and walked away.
Excusing herself politely, Luo Jinxiao hurried after him, leaving Elder He to his enthusiastic ramblings.
“Master,” she said, bowing respectfully.
Elder Liu studied her for a moment, a rare smile gracing his lips. “Well done,” he said, his voice laced with approval. “Did you reveal your true cultivation level?”
Luo Jinxiao hesitated. “No, Master.”
“Good.” Elder Liu nodded, his smile fading as quickly as it had appeared. “There’s something you need to know.”
Luo Jinxiao’s heart clenched. She straightened, a sense of foreboding washing over her.
“Something has happened to Qu Weiyin.”
“Junior Shishu?” Luo Jinxiao’s heart leaped into her throat. She took a step closer to her master, her worry evident. “What happened to Junior Shishu?”
“Calm yourself.” Elder Liu shook his head. “There’s been a struggle for power within the Qu Clan these past few days. Qu Weiyin clashed with some of the elders. Led by Qu Chengzhou, they’re demanding she be punished according to clan law.”
Luo Jinxiao’s brow furrowed. Qu Chengzhou again. Will he never cease to be a thorn in her side?
“The Qu Clan is the most powerful family in the cultivation world. Their family rules are notoriously strict. And that girl… she’s always been stubborn, impossible to reason with. But she seems to have taken a liking to you. Perhaps if you spoke to her, she might listen.” A look of weariness crossed Elder Liu’s face. He sighed heavily.
