Night fell, and snowflakes began to drift through the sky as the temperature dropped sharply.
Yun Qianxue did not return inside.
Instead, she stayed in the courtyard, waiting for Yu Yi and Su Cheng to return.
After facing Su Cheng’s “assault” earlier, Yun Qianxue had been completely defenseless.
“What should I do… She definitely knows I’ve been secretly staring at her this whole time. Now I’m really going to be seen as a strange person…”
At this moment, Yun Qianxue’s mood was like someone who had lost face in front of the person they admired—restless, uneasy, and her mind in a tangled mess.
She needed to calm down and think about how to face Yu Yi later.
Yun Qianxue had a very specific way of calming herself down.
She took off her shawl, picked up the Long Spear beside her, walked out of the pavilion to the center of the courtyard, and began to perform a spear dance.
There were many Warriors in the world who practiced the spear, but Yun Qianxue’s spear technique was unique.
It was not elegant or overbearing like that of men; when she brandished the Long Spear, her entire body seemed to be dancing.
She was like a beautiful golden snake, hiding deadly danger within her grace.
Just as Yun Qianxue was fully immersed in her spear dance, a sudden burst of hurried footsteps reached her ears.
“What time is it? You actually have the leisure to receive guests? This Little Xue is really…”
Yun Yi rushed out of the house, accompanied by the butler.
After seeing his daughter dancing with her spear in the courtyard, Yun Yi was quite angry, but he decided to endure it for a moment.
After all, his daughter was in her rebellious phase, and it was normal for her to have her own ideas.
So, Yun Yi asked Yun Qianxue calmly,
“Little Xue, it’s already dark. Are you still practicing your spear? Take a break and come inside to get ready for dinner, alright?”
However, Yun Qianxue was already deep in her trance and did not seem to hear Yun Yi’s words.
“Little Xue, did you hear your father talking to you?”
Yun Yi moved closer and raised his voice.
As soon as he finished speaking, Yun Qianxue’s Long Spear swept toward him, scaring Yun Yi so much that he scrambled backward, nearly slipping and falling on his backside.
Yun Qianxue finally regained her senses.
She stood still and retracted her spear, looking at the Yun Yi before her with a complex expression.
“Father, please don’t bother me while I’m practicing. I was just getting into the rhythm and having new insights, but you interrupted me again.”
“I only said a few words and you’re already annoyed with me? I only hope you can study well, practice calligraphy and painting, and increase your refinement. All I see is you practicing with this spear every day! You’re a girl; how far can you possibly take the Martial Dao?”
Yun Yi could no longer contain himself and decided to properly discipline his rebellious daughter.
“Also, I told you before that you shouldn’t associate with strangers in the days before and after the Four Clan Meeting, yet you brought people directly into the house?”
Yun Qianxue was actually a very sensible and obedient child.
She had only talked back to her father because she was already frustrated.
Now, after being scolded by Yun Yi, she said with a mix of apology and grievance,
“But… those are very important guests.”
“How important? Can they be more important than your father’s words?”
Yun Yi asked back with a frown.
In the next second, Yun Yi saw two young and graceful figures walking out from the corner of the courtyard.
One of them had a striking figure with exceptionally long legs, and the long robe she wore gave her a supreme, noble temperament.
When Yun Yi saw that person’s face clearly, he froze for a moment.
Then, just like Yun Qianxue had before, he rubbed his eyes.
After confirming repeatedly that he wasn’t mistaken, his legs went weak, and he almost knelt on the spot.
“Bene… Bene—”
Before Yun Yi could finish the word “Benefactor,” Yun Qianxue lunged forward, covering his mouth and quickly whispering something in his ear.
Yun Yi suddenly understood the situation after hearing her explanation.
“Little Xue, is the situation really that awkward?”
He whispered back to Yun Qianxue.
Yun Qianxue sighed and nodded.
Yun Yi knew that Yun Qianxue had fallen in love with That Person from five years ago—the Hero who had disguised herself as a man, defeated Eldest Master Ouyang, and saved her.
He had originally opposed this, but over the past five years, Yun Qianxue had rejected marriage proposals from many young masters of prestigious families just to wait for her True Prince Charming to arrive.
Yun Qianxue’s devotion was inherited directly from Yun Yi.
Back then, it was with this same obsession that Yun Yi had pursued Yun Qianxue’s mother.
Therefore, Yun Yi knew clearly that he could not persuade Yun Qianxue, just as his own father could not persuade him back then.
In the end, Yun Yi stopped interfering with Yun Qianxue.
Since his daughter truly liked this person, gender was not an issue as long as she could be happy.
The True Prince Charming had finally arrived.
Yun Yi had been very worried about what would happen if his daughter ended up alone for the rest of her life, but fortunately, That Person from five years ago was here.
However, the awkward part now was that Yun Qianxue told Yun Yi that the other party did not remember who she was.
If she rashly identified herself to Yu Yi, the atmosphere between them might become very stiff.
It was like meeting someone once many years ago, and then years later, that person runs up to Yun Qianxue, tells her a bunch of old stories she has no memory of, and confesses their love.
Just imagining it from Yu Yi’s perspective made Yun Qianxue feel that the situation would be incredibly awkward.
So, for the time being, it was better not to reveal the truth.
Although it would be difficult, Yun Qianxue could only endure it in silence.
“This must be Master Yun, right?”
Yu Yi and Su Cheng walked slowly toward the father and daughter, offering a friendly smile.
“I just heard Master Yun say that it is a sensitive period since the Four Clan Meeting was just held, and it is inconvenient to receive guests. In that case, we won’t disturb the household any longer. We shall take our leave.”
“Wait, no, no, no! Please stay!!”
Seeing Yu Yi about to leave, Yun Yi hurriedly stepped forward to stop her.
“Oh? What does Master Yun mean by this?”
Yu Yi turned her head and asked softly.
“Uh, well, actually, Little Xue just told me that you helped her repair her most important Long Spear. You are indeed an important guest!”
Yun Yi forced himself to explain.
“But didn’t Master Yun just say that there is no point in a girl practicing martial arts? Why would you think her Long Spear is more important than your own words?”
Yu Yi asked further, her tone exceptionally firm.
Yun Yi didn’t know how to answer.
The scene of Yu Yi showing off her prowess at the Martial Arts Marriage Tournament five years ago was still vivid in his mind.
Yet, just now, he had said something as dismissive toward girls as “How far can a girl possibly take the Martial Dao?”
He now felt as if his face had been slapped until it was swollen.
Yu Yi originally didn’t want to speak out against Yun Yi, but she believed that even a father should not casually look down on a child’s dreams, nor should he use her gender as an excuse.
“Master Yun, in my view, Miss Yun has a very good talent for spear techniques. You should not casually question her Martial Dao. Miss Yun, the same goes for you. There is nothing wrong with pursuing your own Martial Dao, but if you become disrespectful to your elders or unwilling to listen to them because of it, your growth will be very limited.”
“Yes… your criticism is correct. I didn’t consider Little Xue’s feelings just now and said the wrong things…”
“I… I also did something wrong. I should have had a heart-to-heart talk with Father earlier to let him know about my pursuit of the Martial Dao…”
After the father and daughter of the Cloud Family were each lectured by Yu Yi, they both recognized their mistakes, allowing Yu Yi to breathe a small sigh of relief.
But after all, this was someone else’s family matter.
Yu Yi didn’t need to say too much; the Cloud Family could resolve the rest themselves.
“By the way, if I may be so bold as to ask, which sect and which faction do you come from?”
Yun Yi asked Yu Yi respectfully.
This was the question that had occupied his mind for five years.
Although the Ouyang Clan might know Yu Yi’s identity, their Eldest Young Master had died because of her.
If Yun Yi went to the Ouyang Clan to ask about it, it would be intentionally opening their wounds—a suicidal move.
Besides that, Yun Yi felt that Yu Yi was a responsible “good teacher” and looked as if he wanted to “entrust” Yun Qianxue to her.
“You’re asking which sect and faction I’m from?”
Yu Yi knit her brows slightly.
This question actually stumped her.
How should she answer?