Translator: AnubisTL
Old Zhou, a matrilocal son-in-law of the Liu Clan, was granted three opportunities to enter the clan's Scripture Repository. Over the years, he had used two of these, saving the last one.
On his deathbed, Old Zhou bequeathed his third entry to the Scripture Repository to Li Qing, with the sole condition that Li Qing watch over his descendants within the Liu Clan.
"I never imagined you were so close to that eccentric Old Zhou that he'd give you such a precious opportunity!" Jin Chuan gazed at Li Qing with undisguised envy, then sighed softly. "Old Zhou was truly pitiful. Despite having so many descendants, none were born with a Spiritual Root."
"He probably intended to save that entry for a descendant with Spirit Root aptitude. Who could have foreseen this tragedy?"
Hearing this, Li Qing's expression turned complicated. "Who delivered his final message?" he asked.
Jin Chuan answered directly, "Of course, it was the Late Qi Refining Realm cultivator from the Liu Clan. The three of them ambushed the Flying Eagle Bandits, but Old Zhou was killed on the spot, and the rogue cultivator was critically wounded—he won't last much longer. Only the Liu Clan cultivator escaped with minor injuries."
Upon hearing this, Li Qing clenched his fists, remaining silent.
Observing Li Qing's reaction, Jin Chuan shook his head and patted his shoulder. "Alright, I've told you everything I know. The Liu Clan will likely send someone to find you soon. You'll have to handle things yourself."
With a sigh of regret, Jin Chuan turned and left.
When a person dies, their light is extinguished.
No one could have anticipated that the Flying Eagle Bandits, a group of bandit cultivators, would produce a second Late Qi Refining Realm cultivator.
Yet such developments were inevitable in the cultivation world. As one's own cultivation progressed, others couldn't remain stagnant forever.
In the end, one could only lament the impermanence of life.
Li Qing's mood darkened. Old Zhou, who had shown him kindness, had inadvertently bestowed one last favor upon him, even in death.
"Sigh..."
With a long sigh, Li Qing arrived at Old Zhou's courtyard, carrying a jar of Winter Plum Wine as he always did, effortlessly navigating his way to Courtyard No. C-16. The protective restrictions had already been deactivated.
The Liu Clan had sent people to collect Old Zhou's belongings. As their matrilocal son-in-law, his possessions would naturally be passed down to the Liu Clan's descendants.
Of course, any items of significant value were another matter entirely.
Now, the desolate courtyard contained only a tattered meditation cushion, Old Zhou's favorite spot for meditation.
Li Qing sat facing the cushion, sprinkled some Winter Plum Wine on the ground, and began to drink alone.
"Old Zhou, may you find peace on your journey."
Soon, the air was thick with the rich, intoxicating aroma of the wine.
Glug, glug...
After downing half the jar in one gulp, Li Qing wiped his mouth, suddenly overcome with resentment.
Though Old Zhou had died at the hands of the Flying Eagle Bandits, he would never have faced them directly if the Liu Clan hadn't issued that mission.
Upon further reflection, Li Qing concluded that Old Zhou was simply destined for this calamity. After all, the Liu Clan hadn't forced him to take the Spirit Condensation Pill, and the terms had been clearly stated before the purchase.
"Ah, is this what they mean by 'If one hears of the Dao in the morning, one can die content by evening'?" Li Qing chuckled self-deprecatingly, resolving to take this incident as a stark warning.
With ample Lifespan remaining, he had no need to follow Old Zhou's path of sacrificing himself in pursuit of the Dao. Greed for quick success and reckless advancement were to be avoided at all costs.
Having finished the entire jar of Winter Plum Wine, Li Qing rose to leave. As he turned, he froze in shock. Standing outside Old Zhou's courtyard gate was a strikingly beautiful figure. Dressed in a lotus-green gown, she exuded an icy elegance. Her eyes and brows were as poetic as a painting, and her features were flawlessly refined. She was truly a peerless beauty.
Yet Li Qing had no time to admire her loveliness. What truly startled him was that he hadn't sensed her approach at all—when had she arrived?
Having reached the Mid Qi Refining Realm, Li Qing's senses had become exceptionally sharp. The fact that this woman had approached so silently, completely eluding his awareness, meant her cultivation was significantly higher than his own.
"You're Li Qing?" Her tone was icy, exuding a frosty detachment that kept others at a distance.
Li Qing's heart tightened slightly. He clasped his fists in a respectful bow and replied, "That's correct. May I ask..."
Her next words dispelled his lingering doubts.
"Old Zhou died on a mission for me. Out of respect and obligation, I felt compelled to pay my respects. What was your relationship with him?"
The moment she spoke, Li Qing knew her identity.
The Liu Clan's cherished daughter, a Heavenly Prodigy of the Heavenly River Sect—Liu Hanyue!
He had heard of her countless times, yet never imagined meeting her under such circumstances.
"Senior Zhou and I... were like master and friend. When I first started working at the spirit mine, he taught me a great deal. We often drank and enjoyed each other's company."
As he spoke, Li Qing gestured to the empty jar of Winter Plum Wine he had just finished.
"I see," Liu Hanyue murmured, giving a slight nod before falling silent.
Before long, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed outside the courtyard once more.
"Young Miss, the severely injured rogue cultivator has been settled. Shall we proceed to find Li Qing now?" several members of the Liu Clan asked respectfully as they appeared outside the courtyard.
"There's no need," Liu Hanyue replied softly. "He's right here."
The Liu Clan cultivators followed her gaze to Li Qing, who stood in the courtyard. They strode forward and demanded, "You're Li Qing?"
"Indeed, I am!" Li Qing confirmed.
"Old Zhou, on his deathbed, stipulated that his final entry to the Scripture Repository be transferred to you. Normally, such privileges are reserved for his descendants, but the Young Miss has made an exception."
"Take this token. It grants you one entry to our Liu Clan's Scripture Repository. You may copy any cultivation manual, secret technique, or other scripture from the first two floors, excluding the third."
"Hurry up and thank the Young Miss for her great benevolence!"
The Liu Clan members, radiating arrogance, tossed the token engraved with the Liu Clan crest into Li Qing's hand.
After receiving the token, Li Qing immediately bowed deeply. "Thank you, Young Miss!"
Liu Hanyue nodded. "When a person dies, their flame is extinguished. Focus on your cultivation. As for Senior Zhou's descendants, there's no need for you to trouble yourself further. They are members of the Liu Clan now, and we will take care of them."
With that, Liu Hanyue turned and left without a backward glance, her departure as decisive as her words.
Ultimately, the difference in status between her and Li Qing was too vast for her to dwell on such matters. It was enough to act with a clear conscience.
At Li Qing's age, still only at the Fourth Layer of Qi Refining, his path in the Dao was as plain as day.
Meanwhile, Liu Hanyue, the Liu Clan's pride, had already reached the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining at a young age, with the Foundation Establishment Realm within reach.
The other Liu Clan cultivators followed closely, seizing the opportunity to flatter her:
"Young Miss is truly compassionate! If I were one of those rogue cultivators, I'd be moved to tears of gratitude."
"Absolutely! That heavily injured rogue cultivator was ecstatic when he learned the Liu Clan would provide him shelter."
"Once the Young Miss reaches Foundation Establishment, it will be a blessing for all of us rogue cultivators!"
"She's already gone above and beyond. What more could she possibly do?"
"...!"
Li Qing stood motionless, clutching the token engraved with the character for "Liu" as the voices faded into the distance.
Finally, he forced a wry smile, said nothing more, tucked the token—his ticket to the Liu Clan's Scripture Repository—into his robe, and hurried away.
She was, after all, a disciple of the prestigious Heavenly River Sect. For her to go this far for a complete stranger was already remarkable.
Even Li Qing, who had previously harbored some resentment toward her, couldn't find fault with her actions.
The next day, news of Old Zhou's death at the hands of the Flying Eagle Bandits spread like wildfire across the three cultivation zones. Every rogue cultivator learned of it.
The incident caused quite a stir, with many expressing sympathy for the deceased.
In particular, the rogue cultivator who had previously failed his breakthrough attempt after consuming a Spirit Condensation Pill felt immensely grateful, having narrowly escaped the same fate.
"What a pity," he lamented. "He had only reached the Late Qi Refining Realm less than half a year ago, and now he's gone..."
"Another Late Qi Refining Realm cultivator has emerged from the Flying Eagle Bandits? That's terrifying."
"Thank goodness I almost bought that Spirit Condensation Pill back then. I'm much better off sticking to peaceful farming."
"Tsk, tsk, tsk."
To quell public unrest, the Liu Clan swiftly brought forth the severely injured rogue cultivator. He had now become a Foreign Surname Retainer for the clan, shedding his rogue status. He could lie back and recuperate while receiving a generous annual stipend of spirit stones.
The Liu Clan handled the matter flawlessly. Even the other rogue cultivators found it difficult to criticize them. Instead, many nodded in approval of Young Miss Liu's actions.
In an instant, Liu Hanyue's reputation among the rogue cultivators soared, earning her widespread acclaim.
As for Li Qing, upon hearing these developments, he merely shook his head and chuckled coldly, offering no further comment.
Several days later, Li Qing used the token provided by the Liu Clan to gain access to the Scripture Repository.
(End of the Chapter)
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