After sneaking back into Peach Immortal City, Wei Tu checked over the arrangements in his cave dwelling. Once he confirmed everything was just as he left it, untouched, he rested for a few days before officially announcing his return from seclusion.
Just as he expected, the moment he came out, Fu Linglong came to visit.
However—
Her request during the visit completely caught Wei Tu off guard.
"What? You want me to be the mediator and talk peace with the Tianyi Jiao Clan on your brother's behalf?"
Wei Tu was stunned.
After all, the whole conflict between Fu Dalu and Jiao Zihua had started because of his secret manipulation.
How could he possibly go play mediator now?
Too much contact would risk exposing himself.
On top of that, his relationship with Zhao Qingluo made it inappropriate to visit the Tianyi Jiao Clan. Meeting with Jiao Zihua would only aggravate the situation.
Even so, Fu Linglong's words actually eased some of Wei Tu's concerns about his situation.
He couldn't help but think the Zhao Clan of Shengya Mountain had done a good job keeping things quiet. Since the silence order had been issued, not a single rumor had leaked about him and Zhao Qingluo in the Xiao Kingdom's cultivation world.
If anything had come out, Fu Linglong wouldn't have asked him for this favor today.
After all, who asks their enemy for help?
Of course, Wei Tu had never really feared his connection with Zhao Qingluo being exposed, or the Fu siblings holding a grudge if they found out.
First of all, it was Fu Dalu's own greed that got him involved with Jiao Zihua. Wei Tu had nothing to do with it.
At most, he just didn't say anything.
That could be brushed off with a random excuse.
Second, before coming to Peach Immortal City, when he was using the name "Yi Yun," he hadn't feared the Fu siblings. What worried him then was Jinglian Convent backing them.
Now, with the Zhao Clan of Shengya Mountain behind him, he no longer needed to worry much about Jinglian Convent, even if it was a Nascent Soul power within the Xiao Kingdom.
In fact, it was the Fu siblings who should be afraid of him.
If the truth about the Six Desires Sect robbery came to light, even Jinglian Convent would have a hard time protecting them.
"Miss Fu, I do have some ties with the Zhao Clan of Shengya Mountain, but not enough to speak on anyone's behalf…" Wei Tu replied with a gentle refusal.
Fu Linglong's smile froze.
She had assumed that if she came in person, Wei Tu—the man smitten with her—would agree immediately.
She hadn't expected him to say no.
She started to feel a bit uneasy.
But Wei Tu's next words brought her confidence back and made her believe in what she sensed over a year ago using her Heart-Reading Technique to test him.
"I can't get involved directly in Brother Fu's matter, but I can ask Zhao Huamin, one of the Zhao Clan's managing elders, to step in and help your clan out."
Wei Tu paused, then added thoughtfully.
"Zhao Huamin?" Fu Linglong softly repeated the name, her mind recalling the details.
A few years ago, when Fu Dalu followed Wei Tu to Shengya Mountain, Zhao Huamin had been the cultivator who received them.
After returning to Peach Immortal City, Fu Dalu had described Zhao Huamin and her status in detail.
"Compared to Alchemist Wei, Elder Zhao is indeed more suitable," Fu Linglong nodded slightly.
In the eyes of the Tianyi Jiao Clan, Wei Tu couldn't compare to an actual elder of the Zhao Clan.
"But smoothing things over will require some expenses…" Wei Tu looked at Fu Linglong with hesitation and rubbed his hands a little awkwardly.
Fu Linglong's pretty face stiffened again.
She couldn't help but think, 'How can Wei Tu ask me for money like that?'
That didn't seem like the behavior of someone supposedly under her spell.
But a moment later, she let it go.
Wei Tu was young and rich, and he'd seen plenty of female cultivators. His standards were high.
Even if he liked her—maybe even admired her—he wasn't going to fall head over heels and let her walk all over him like an average cultivator.
Besides, they had no official relationship. It really wasn't his place to spend money on her.
"I'll go gather the spirit stones right away."
Fu Linglong nodded and agreed.
…
"Why the sudden rush?"
"You're really going to talk peace with the Tianyi Jiao Clan just like that?"
After Fu Linglong left, Wei Tu was curious. He stepped out of his cave dwelling and asked around Peach Immortal City about anything big that had happened while he was in seclusion.
What he learned surprised him.
It all had to do with the disappearance of Sun Chixin, the Fu Clan's chief steward.
Unlike Wei Tu, who planned to return eventually, Sun Chixin had no intention of coming back. So he didn't bother covering up his absence.
A few months ago, Sun Chixin's sudden disappearance caused a huge stir in Peach Immortal City.
Many cultivators speculated that the Fu Clan had offended a powerful force and that was why "Manager Chi" had been killed.
Fu Dalu, already feeling guilty, had been worried he'd provoked Jiao Zihua and would face revenge from the Tianyi Jiao Clan.
With those rumors swirling around, Fu Linglong's offer suddenly made a lot more sense to Wei Tu.
The next day.
Fu Linglong brought 40,000 spirit stones to Wei Tu's cave dwelling. She asked him to take the huge sum to Shengya Mountain and invite Zhao Huamin to help mediate on the Fu Clan's behalf.
"These are Jiao Zihua's two storage pouches. My foolish brother didn't touch a thing…" she said as she placed the inner and outer storage pouches, taken during the earlier robbery, on the table right in front of Wei Tu.
40,000 spirit stones was a huge amount, even for a Golden Core cultivator. But Fu Linglong believed that given Wei Tu's status and wealth, he wouldn't just take the money and run.
But Wei Tu shook his head. He didn't take the 40,000 spirit stones or the two storage pouches.
He said, "This time I'm just going to represent the Fu Clan and ask Elder Zhao to step in. If I go alone, it may not look proper…"
Wei Tu figured that with the Fu siblings' status and resources, their real price ceiling was much higher than 40,000 spirit stones.
But if he wanted them to pay more, it'd be easier to negotiate face to face at Shengya Mountain.
First, there was the cost of silence.
Second, it was easier to gain their trust in person.
"Alchemist Wei is right. If Elder Zhao's going to be our mediator, it wouldn't make sense for the Fu Clan to send no one," Fu Linglong agreed.
"I'm willing to go with Alchemist Wei to Shengya Mountain."
She had already intended to go with Wei Tu from the start.
Offering up the 40,000 spirit stones and asking him to go alone was just a small test—to see if Wei Tu would be tempted by the money.
Wei Tu and Fu Linglong didn't waste time. Once they finalized the details of the negotiation, they set off the next day.
Before leaving, Wei Tu specifically used the identity he had fabricated earlier—"Cui Wang"—instead of the temporary name "Fang Hanliang."
In contrast, Fu Linglong was open and direct. She didn't use any disguise and left showing her true appearance.
Two months later.
Wei Tu and Fu Linglong arrived at Shengya Mountain.
"This is my guest command token. Please inform Elder Zhao Huamin of the Zhao Clan that I seek an audience."
Wei Tu had learned his lesson. This time, when he handed over his guest token from the Zhao Clan, he also slipped a few mid-grade spirit stones to the disciple guarding the mountain.
Not long after, Zhao Huamin descended the mountain to meet him.
"What a beautiful cultivator!" Zhao Huamin's eyes lit up the moment she saw Fu Linglong standing behind Wei Tu.
Though Haizhou's coastal environment produced many beautiful female cultivators, Zhao Huamin felt that compared to Fu Linglong, most lacked either appearance or temperament. Either way, they fell short.
'No wonder Wei Tu holds himself in such high regard. With a beauty like this beside him, of course he wouldn't settle for less.' A flicker of unease stirred in Zhao Huamin's heart.
After Wei Tu had defeated Daozi Situ Yang, Ancestor Zhao Yuyue had tasked her with befriending him and making their engagement a sure thing. The goal was to bring him fully into the Zhao Clan.
With Zhao Qingluo around, Zhao Huamin hadn't thought it would be difficult.
But now, after seeing Fu Linglong, she wasn't so sure.
"What brings Daoist Wei here today?"
Pushing aside her unease, Zhao Huamin looked at Wei Tu with a polite smile and got down to business.
Three years ago, Wei Tu had left the Zhao Clan. According to his original plan, he should have returned to the Kang Kingdom by now to cultivate with the Ying Ding Tribe.
So why was he still in the Xiao Kingdom?
"I came to ask a favor, Elder Min. I hope you can assist me with something."
Wei Tu stated his purpose.
"The Tianyi Jiao Clan?" Zhao Huamin frowned slightly. Matters involving marriage alliances were delicate. Even if she was personally inclined toward Wei Tu, she couldn't easily agree—especially not for someone outside the clan.
"No need to decide right away, Elder Min. Let's discuss it first, and see how things go."
Wei Tu spoke calmly, acting as if he was in no rush.
If Zhao Huamin agreed too quickly, how would he get anything out of it?
"Alright then." Zhao Huamin nodded.
She then invited Wei Tu and Fu Linglong into the Zhao Clan at Shengya Mountain as guests.
As for the negotiation, she would make her decision only after discussing it with the Zhao Clan elders.
However, after escorting Wei Tu and Fu Linglong to their guest rooms, Zhao Huamin didn't go to the clan head or Ancestor Zhao Yuyue.
Instead, she went straight to the main peak to find Zhao Qingluo, who was in secluded cultivation.
…
"Qingluo, we've got a problem."
On the main peak of Shengya Mountain, Zhao Qingluo welcomed Zhao Huamin into her cave dwelling.
But as soon as Zhao Huamin sat down, she spoke with a serious tone.
"What kind of problem?"
Zhao Qingluo was slightly surprised.
Though she was a direct disciple of the Zhao Clan, her status wasn't that high. Elder Zhao Huamin rarely came to discuss internal clan matters with her.
So when Zhao Huamin said something serious was happening, Zhao Qingluo was not only surprised—she also felt a bit happy.
It meant she was finally being acknowledged by the clan.
But—
Once she heard what the "big problem" actually was, her happiness vanished. In its place was panic.
"Elder Min, are you saying… Wei Tu brought a beautiful female cultivator with him?"
Zhao Qingluo was visibly anxious.
Three years ago, when she personally refused Wei Tu's suggestion to break their engagement, she knew she had likely lost the chance to ever become his Dao partner.
Still, she'd held onto a faint hope. Maybe, after 45 years, they might reconnect.
But when she learned that Wei Tu had defeated Daozi Situ Yang, her hopes shifted. She realized her wish might just be an impossible dream.
Wei Tu had become too outstanding.
And she—by turning down the marriage—had stained her own image.
'Poor couples endure together only because they have no other choices.'
Wei Tu had once been poor and without options. Now, that was no longer true. In fact, when it came to future prospects and status, she was the one lacking.
That meant Wei Tu had countless options—especially those better than her.
And now, Fu Linglong showing up with him only proved that point.
"Elder Min, what should I do…" Zhao Qingluo bit her lip, looking helpless.
"Qingluo, this is something you have to figure out on your own. Neither the clan nor I can help you."
Zhao Huamin shook her head.
She had no intention of being accused of pushing Zhao Qingluo into anything. She didn't want Wei Tu holding a grudge against her later.
Zhao Qingluo was a Golden Core True Lord and could make her own choices.
"I've told you what's going on. What you do next is up to you."
Zhao Huamin kept things brief. Once she said her piece, she flew away from Zhao Qingluo's cave on the main peak.
…
That night.
Wei Tu had only been in his guest room on Shendu Island for less than half a day when Zhao Qingluo stepped across the moonlight and arrived.
She wore a white dress and quietly entered his room.
"Our engagement is over…"
"My body is useless to anyone else now."
Inside the room, Zhao Qingluo stepped behind Wei Tu, who was seated in meditation. She gently embraced him and breathed softly in his ear.
"This… isn't a good idea," Wei Tu said, clearly hesitant.
It wasn't that he didn't understand her intentions. It was just that Fu Linglong was staying in the room next door.
If things got too loud, she might overhear something—and with her Heart-Reading Technique, that wasn't a risk he could take.
Fu Linglong had a natural Buddhist heart. Her methods were far more unpredictable than Fu Dalu's. She wasn't someone to let her guard down around.
Hearing this, Zhao Qingluo stiffened slightly behind him. She didn't know what to do next.
After all, she'd made the first move.
"Fu Linglong is staying right next door…" Wei Tu muttered, offering her an explanation.