Chapter 48: Returning to the Yao Family (Part Two)

This was a reasonable request, and Pei Changqing readily agreed, “I’ll have Xue Niang escort you back.”

Yao Qian asked again, “Can I bring Jin Xiuer with me?” Since her identity had been exposed, so had Jin Xiuer’s, who was closest to her. If possible, Yao Qian hoped to win over the entire Jin family. She had a vague idea in mind but needed to discuss it with the Elder first.

Pei Changqing replied, “That’s fine.” As Yao Qian expected, he had already investigated her background and naturally knew about her “cousin,” Jin Xiuer. Pei Changqing was quite satisfied with Yao Qian’s current actions; he appreciated her foresight in integrating her family into the sect.

He had encountered many disciples from outside, all of whom kept their family ties secret, fearing the sect would treat their clans unfairly. He scorned such behavior. The sect never cared about the fate of outer disciples, nor did anyone bother to investigate their backgrounds.

But once admitted to the inner sect, one became a true disciple of Wuji Sect. The sect thoroughly verified every inner disciple’s origins—no secrets could be kept. Anyone who fancied they could deceive the sect with trivial tricks was either scheming or foolish.

Pei Changqing disliked both kinds—ultimately, they were all fools, and fools were the most annoying to him. He even felt somewhat gratified, thinking that his junior sister was indeed the one the master favored, as she didn’t waste time on foolish deeds.

After Yao Qian returned to the sect, Ji Lingxiao sent word to the Internal Affairs Hall, announcing he had accepted an outer disciple as his personal disciple. The sect leader taking disciples wasn’t a big deal—he had hundreds of disciples under him, mostly sent by various factions.

Most of these disciples never even met the sect leader during their lifetime, and many rarely saw Pei Changqing, instead learning from other senior brothers. But personal disciples were different. Ji Lingxiao had only nine before, each carefully trained by Pei Changqing and regarded as prodigies.

News that Ji Lingxiao accepted an outer disciple as a personal disciple stirred much curiosity within the Wuji Sect. When they learned it was a female disciple, curiosity deepened.

For Ji Lingxiao, who avoided female distractions, to break convention and accept a disciple was extraordinary. How exceptional must this young disciple be? Countless people sought information about Yao Qian at the outer sect, and those closest to her—Jin Xiuer, Luo Ming, and Li Wei—were repeatedly questioned.

Jin Xiuer, being an outsider, didn’t fully grasp the significance of being the sect leader’s personal disciple. She thought that although the sect leader was powerful, the most formidable figures were usually the Supreme Elders. She even worried that the sect leader’s acceptance of Yao Qian was motivated by ulterior motives.

Luo Ming and Li Wei were utterly stunned; they never dreamed Yao Qian could leap to such heights! While Jin Xiuer overthought, the two did not.

The sect leader’s power and status were immense. If he truly wanted to exploit Yao Qian, he could have taken her directly. Why bother going through the roundabout way of accepting her as a disciple? Wuji Sect was a demonic sect, not a mysterious sect; no one cared about an outer disciple’s life or death. Yao Qian must have been exceptionally talented to be accepted as a disciple.

Li Wei thought about his previous friendly relations with Yao Qian and felt a stirring in his heart. As a newcomer to the inner sect unfamiliar with its ways, she surely needed a guide. The Li family’s strength was not weak; perhaps an alliance was worth considering.

Many within Wuji Sect were unsettled by Ji Lingxiao’s acceptance of Yao Qian, eagerly seeking details. Meanwhile, Yao Qian had already returned home with Jin Xiuer.

As the newly appointed personal disciple of the sect leader, Yao Qian’s return home was low-key. She and Jin Xiuer sat together on Xue Niang’s broad back, watching the flowing clouds and the patchwork of houses and fields below.

Jin Xiuer’s expression was uneasy, her hand tightly clutching Yao Qian’s. It had been three years since they had left home—were their family members well?

Yao Qian was also worried. She wasn’t sure whether bringing the Yao family into Wuji Sect was beneficial or harmful. If possible, she preferred the family to advance gradually rather than achieving sudden success.

Xue Niang was a Golden Core demon cultivator with great speed. After departing Wuji Sect, it took only three hours to reach near Qingzhu Ridge. Xue Niang then said to Yao Qian, “Miss, we are close to Qingzhu Ridge.”

Upon hearing this, Yao Qian immediately said, “Xue Niang, please take Xiuer back first—her home is at Black Python Stronghold.”

Xue Niang responded and flew off toward Black Python Stronghold, allowing Jin Xiuer to return home first.

After they landed, Jin Xiuer still held Yao Qian’s hand, hesitating to speak. Yao Qian smiled faintly, “You should go back first and tell the Elder Patriarch everything that happened over these three years.”

Jin Xiuer nodded silently. She intended to inform the Elder Patriarch, for this was both a challenge and an unprecedented opportunity for the Jin family.

Jin Xiuer was eager to return, but Yao Qian hesitated at the foot of Qingzhu Ridge. She had been away for three years and had no idea what her home had become.

Xue Niang, now in human form, stood silently behind Yao Qian. Pei Changqing had assigned her to protect Yao Qian.

“Miss Jiu?” A hesitant yet familiar voice called out. Yao Qian turned sharply and saw a woman just over twenty years old standing behind her, her face full of surprise and doubt. Seeing Yao Qian’s face clearly, the woman exclaimed joyfully, “Miss Jiu, is it really you?”

“Elder Sister.” Yao Qian called softly to the woman, who was her full elder sister. As a transmigrator, Yao Qian retained all memories from before birth to the present.

She remembered that before her first birthday, this elder sister had cared for her diligently, even though she was only ten years old at the time. After Yao Qian’s first birthday, the clan took her to be raised in the mountains. Her feelings for her family were faint, but her deepest impression was of this elder sister.

“Miss Jiu, you’re safe! That’s wonderful!” Yao Gui’er was so moved she shed tears. As the eldest daughter, she had raised nearly all the younger siblings but loved this prettiest and most obedient youngest sister the most.

Three years ago, when the clan tested the youngest sister’s spiritual roots, Yao Gui’er secretly prayed to heaven for her to have spiritual roots and not be an ordinary person like herself. Indeed, the youngest sister had spiritual roots, and the Elder Patriarch was to bring her to Qingmu Valley.

Yao Gui’er never voiced it but was immensely happy. Who would have thought that the youngest sister would encounter trouble in Qingmu City? She still refused to believe it—that such a delicate and well-behaved child could suffer misfortune.

Overjoyed, Yao Gui’er grabbed Yao Qian’s hand without regard for etiquette, saying, “Youngest sister, where have you been all these years? We’ve all been worried sick!” The youngest sister was the only one in their family with spiritual roots, their family’s hope. After she disappeared, their mother had cried countless times.

Yao Qian evaded the heavy topic, saying, “I was taken away by a senior sister. The sect has a rule that new inner disciples cannot return home within three years, so I couldn’t send word back. Now that I can return, I have.”

Yao Gui’er was so happy she didn’t know what to say next, “Come on, let’s go back—”

Before she finished, Yao Qian sensed someone approaching swiftly. Xue Niang stepped forward, shielding her. Yao Qian looked up, “Elder Patriarch!”

But after three years apart, Yao Qian noticed the Elder Patriarch had aged somewhat. A pang of sadness struck her heart. The Elder Patriarch had once said her time was limited; Yao Qian had thought it was just words, but now it seemed she truly didn’t have long.

“Xiao Jiu?” The Elder Patriarch looked at Yao Qian in disbelief, instinctively moving closer, wanting to confirm whether this young girl was a figment of her longing.

As the Elder Patriarch approached, Yao Qian clearly saw gray hairs at her temples. She stepped forward and saluted, “Elder Patriarch!”

The Elder Patriarch instinctively steadied the saluting young girl. Upon contact, she realized this was no illusion—the Yao family’s prodigy had finally returned!

Yao Qian’s disappearance had been a heavy blow to the Yao family. But since her captors were Wuji Sect disciples, Qingmu Valley dared not complain and even suppressed the matter on Wuji Sect’s behalf.

The Elder Patriarch only said she disappeared suddenly, never mentioning Wuji Sect. To a colossal power like Wuji Sect, the Yao family’s mere association could mean destruction by its lingering might.

The Elder Patriarch had pinned great hopes on this prodigy, so her sudden disappearance caused deep frustration. With only two or three decades of life left, she was disheartened, and her body showed visible signs of aging.

She had nearly ceased managing affairs, leaving the children to other elders. She focused solely on recuperation, unwilling to depart the world too soon, unable to let go of the Yao family. She never imagined Xiao Jiu would return.

Having endured countless trials, the Elder Patriarch’s eyes welled up upon seeing the composed, bright, and determined young girl: “You’re back! You’re back!” The Yao family’s prodigy had returned!

Worldly and experienced, the Elder Patriarch immediately noticed the cultivator beside Yao Qian was a Golden Core expert. Her posture and actions showed she was guarding Yao Qian like a bodyguard. Clearly, Yao Qian held an unusual status within Wuji Sect—had she become a disciple of some Golden Core master?

Yao Qian saw the Elder Patriarch’s gaze on Xue Niang and introduced, “Elder Patriarch, this is Xue Niang, my senior brother’s subordinate. Xue Niang, this is my clan’s Elder Patriarch.”

“Senior.” Despite Yao Qian’s modest introduction, the Elder Patriarch still greeted Xue Niang as a junior to a senior, as the Yao family was small and had to proceed cautiously, not wanting to cause trouble for Xiao Jiu.

Xue Niang dared not accept such formalities and quickly returned the salute, “You are Miss’s elder; no need for such ceremony.”

Yao Qian then said to the Elder Patriarch, “Elder Patriarch, I have something to discuss with you.”