Chapter 26: Forced Smiles

Feng Xianyun didn’t insist, just smiled slightly: “No rush, Lady Ye can take her time considering.”

Ye Zhenshan, however, wasn’t going to let this question go easily.

He cupped his hands, his tone respectful but with hidden meaning:

“Sovereign Feng, I take the liberty to ask—the Taiyi Sacred Sect is one of the greatest sects in the Great Xia Kingdom. Why would the Sect Master travel thousands of miles to a small place like Qingyun City, and why take a liking to my daughter at first sight?”

Feng Xianyun glanced at him, a hint of approval in his eyes.

“Clan Head Ye being cautious is a good thing.”

He paused, then spoke slowly:

“I was wandering here on a whim. I sensed the spiritual energy fluctuation from your estate and decided to stop by temporarily.”

“As for why I took a liking to Lady Ye…”

His gaze fell on Ye Qingyi, his tone serious:

“I have lived for over a thousand years and seen countless geniuses. But someone like Lady Ye—early Foundation Establishment, spiritual power as pure as a newborn baby, soul bearing not a trace of killing intent…”

He paused: “In a thousand years, only one.”

Ye Zhenshan was silent.

Feng Xianyun continued: “Moreover, Lady Ye’s foundation is solid. The spiritual energy density at early Foundation Establishment is comparable to late Foundation Establishment. This shows that although the technique she cultivates is ordinary, she has taken every step very steadily.”

He looked at Ye Zhenshan: “Clan Head Ye, your daughter’s talent is wasted staying in Qingyun City.”

Ye Qingyi was dumbfounded.

Although it was Ye Chu controlling her body earlier, it still contained her own will.

She had killed so many people from the three families, yet he said her soul bore no trace of killing intent?

That didn’t seem right.

She silently asked Ye Chu, “Ye Chu, what do you think?”

Ye Chu’s answer was flippant: “Who knows? Maybe his cultivation isn’t good enough, maybe it was the system. I lean toward the latter.”

“The world is vast and full of wonders.”

“Besides, with such a good opportunity, why are you refusing?”

Ye Qingyi was puzzled: “But I already have you, don’t I?”

Ye Chu yawned: “A Nascent Soul cultivator—in a place like this without even Foundation Establishment, I can’t imagine how thick of a thigh that is. Besides, the Taiyi Sacred Sect has had a good reputation for ten thousand years; it’s not some crooked path.”

Ye Qingyi asked in her mind: “Do you think I should go?”

“A righteous sect with ten thousand years of heritage—once you enter, cultivation will be smooth sailing, right?”

Ye Chu paused.

“Even if it goes crooked, I’m still here. If it goes crooked, we’ll act on behalf of heaven, loot their treasury, and have plenty of spirit stones and other cultivation resources!”

Ye Qingyi: “…That way of acting on behalf of heaven seems a bit off, doesn’t it?”

Ye Chu’s tone turned serious: “Qingyun City is too small a pond. If you stay here, you’ll be at Foundation Establishment for your whole life.”

Ye Qingyi bit her lip: “But…”

“But what?” Ye Chu interrupted.

“You’re worried about your father? He’s a clan head—he can manage a clan, can’t he manage himself? Besides, if you stay in Qingyun City, what help can you be?”

Ye Qingyi was silent.

Ye Chu continued: “Moreover, big sects have many records and scriptures. Maybe there’s information on Xuanhai, a way to find the path home.”

Ye Qingyi’s eyes lit up.

“Also,” Ye Chu’s tone carried a hint of teasing, “the Taiyi Sacred Sect’s ‘Clear Heart Freedom Art’ mainly cultivates the mind. The purer the heart, the greater the short-term power boost. And it has no side effects.Perfect for a kind-hearted newbie like you.”

“Probably because you’re so suited to cultivating the ‘Clear Heart Freedom Art’ that he wants to take you as his disciple.”

Ye Qingyi: “…Can you not talk properly?”

Ye Chu: “I’m telling the truth.”

Ye Zhenshan noticed his daughter’s hesitation.

He walked over to Ye Qingyi and patted her shoulder.

“Qingyi, Sovereign Feng is a transcendent expert. This opportunity is rare.”

“But Dad…”

Ye Zhenshan interrupted, his tone gentle but firm: “Your future is more important. You can’t help much by staying here. Go on, your father will take care of things at home.”

Ye Qingyi’s eyes reddened slightly.

She knew her father was telling the truth.

But she just… couldn’t bear to leave.

“Dad…”

“Don’t be so wishy-washy.”

Ye Zhenshan smiled.

“It’s not like you’re never coming back. Once you’ve learned, come back and see your father.”

Ye Qingyi took a deep breath and turned to Feng Xianyun.

With both her father and Ye Chu supporting her, there was only one choice left.

Feng Xianyun stood there, smiling, his gaze warm, as if waiting for her to decide on her own.

“Senior…” Ye Qingyi paused, then corrected herself, “Master.”

She bowed: “Disciple Ye Qingyi pays respects to Master.”

Feng Xianyun stroked his beard and smiled, his eyes full of gratification: “Good, good. Rise.”

Ye Qingyi straightened up, her heart a mix of emotions.

In her sea of consciousness, Ye Chu’s voice rang out again, with a hint of amusement: “Congratulations, you finally have a proper master. But don’t expect her to teach you any real skills. When it comes to cultivation, you’ll still have to rely on me.”

Ye Qingyi rolled her eyes mentally: “Can you stop being so narcissistic?”

Ye Chu: “It’s not narcissism; it’s strength.”

That night, Ye Qingyi packed her bags.

Her storage pouch was filled with spirit stones, pills, and artifacts that Ye Zhenshan had stuffed in….

“Dad, it’s too much…”

“It’s not much. When you’re out, don’t skimp.”

Ye Qingyi’s eyes reddened again.

Just then, her spiritual sense caught something unusual.

In the darkness outside the courtyard, a figure flashed by.

Not from the Ye family.

That person’s aura… she knew it all too well.

Mu Qingge!

Ye Qingyi’s heart sank.

She chased out, but the courtyard was empty—nothing there.

“What’s the meaning of this, your old flame?”

In her sea of consciousness, Ye Chu’s voice rang out, with a hint of helplessness: “She’s not an old flame. Don’t talk nonsense.”

“Then what do you think she came for?”

“How should I know?”

Ye Chu was silent for a moment.

Then he said: “Whatever. Take things as they come. Anyway, she can’t beat me.”

…..

Above the clouds, Feng Xianyun stood on his flying sword, robes fluttering.

Ye Qingyi stood behind him, her face slightly pale.

Below her feet was a bottomless abyss, the wind howling in her ears, clouds passing by as if within reach.

“Master,” Ye Qingyi’s voice trembled, “how much longer… do we have to fly?”

Feng Xianyun smiled slightly: “Half a day.”

Half a day…

Ye Qingyi took a deep breath, trying to calm herself.

In her sea of consciousness, Ye Chu’s voice sounded lazily: “Afraid of heights?”

“No!” Ye Qingyi retorted mentally.

“Then why is your face so white?”

“…Shut up. Can’t I just be naturally beautiful?”

Ye Chu chuckled and said nothing more.

Ye Qingyi felt the whistling wind, watched the mountains and rivers speeding by beneath her, and suddenly a strange feeling surged in her heart.

Three months ago, she was still a “cripple” who couldn’t even leave Qingyun City.

Now, she was the closed-door disciple of the Taiyi Sacred Sect’s Sect Master, flying toward a brand new world.

All because of Ye Chu.

“Ye Chu.”

“Hm?”

“…Thank you.”

There was a moment of silence in her sea of consciousness, then Ye Chu’s voice rang out, with his characteristic stubbornness:

“Thank me for what? Hurry up and improve your strength, find me a suitable body, and find a way home sooner. I don’t want to stay in your body forever.”

Ye Qingyi frowned slightly.

An inexplicable gloom rose in her heart, but she forced a smile and replied:

“Okay.”