"What happened to your aunt?"
Hearing Jian Dan's calm and steady voice, Jin Liuli felt her panic ease a little. She exhaled a heavy breath before recounting the situation.
"I followed Zūnshàng's instructions and contacted my aunt, inviting her to the Heavenly Sword Sect as a guest. But she never replied to my messages. When I reached out to the family, they told me she was in seclusion, preparing to break through to Divine Soul.
After hearing that, I became suspicious. Not long before, I had exchanged transmission talismans with her. She told me she was still missing a poisonous herb, and without it she could not advance to Divine Soul in the short term.
When I pressed them again, their explanations grew even more unclear. I felt they were hiding something from me, so I went to seek help from Wei Zhengrong. Through the Operations Hall, I pulled some records and discovered that my aunt is to form a Dao couple with the young master of the Yao family."
"The Yao family?"
Jian Dan interrupted softly, asking about them.
"The Yao family, in Tianquan City, is equal in status to my Jin family. For generations, they have been famous for cultivating superior spirit plants. They are the family we have the closest dealings with."
"Mm. That sounds like a suitable match. Then why keep it from you? Is it because your aunt is unwilling?"
It was Jian Jing who posed the question.
"My aunt would never agree to this."
Jin Liuli's tone was firm.
"Why not?"
Jian Dan knew there must be a reason but still asked aloud.
"My aunt entered the Dao through poison. Each time she advances, her body must be tempered again by poisonous things, and the plants she uses grow more and more toxic. You could say that she herself has already become the most terrifying poisonous plant. How could she ever form a Dao couple? Wouldn't that only harm the other party?"
Jian Dan immediately understood. This was no different than turning herself into a body of venom. She could never safely form a Dao bond, much less leave descendants.
Yet in the cultivation world, couples always hoped for children. The Yao family, equal to the Jin family, must know her condition better than anyone. Then why were they insisting on this union? And why hide it from Jin Liuli?
"If your aunt's condition is like this, then either the two families have struck some secret agreement, or there is something wrong with this young master of the Yao family."
Jian Dan cut straight to the heart of it.
Jin Liuli was already restless, but hearing this question, she quickly responded.
"Zūnshàng, that is exactly my suspicion. The family refuses to disclose anything. No matter how I searched, I could not find any information about this young master of the Yao family. It is as if he has been hidden away. He has not appeared before others for a very long time."
"So, you suspect there is some hidden bargain, with your aunt sacrificed as the price?"
"Yes."
"Then have you asked your family's Ancestor?"
Jian Dan continued probing. If she had to intervene, the reason must be sufficient. Otherwise, it would be nothing more than crashing another's event and using power to press them.
"The Ancestor has not replied to any of my messages."
Jin Liuli's expression showed her helplessness. She had lost contact with her aunt. The family concealed things from her. No matter how she searched, she uncovered nothing. In her desperation, she came to seek Zūnshàng's aid.
"Enough. Since I intend to use your aunt, I must also guarantee her safety. Go to the Law Enforcement Hall and inform Senior Brother Jian Li of the situation. We will head to Tianquan City and take a look for ourselves."
Jian Dan lightly waved her round fan, her voice calm.
"If your aunt agrees of her own will, then there is nothing amiss. We will simply attend the ceremony as guests and mention using poisons to eliminate the newly emerged blood insects. But if something is truly wrong, we will act then."
Jin Liuli's eyes lit up at Jian Dan's arrangement. Her backbone returned. She immediately saluted the three and rushed off to the Law Enforcement Hall.
Jian Po had listened the whole time. Her peach blossom eyes curved as she teased with a smile.
"Zūnshàng, since you are going out, surely you need a personal attendant. Might I, Jian Po, have the honor of accompanying you?"
"You just want to watch the commotion."
Jian Dan pierced straight through her thoughts. Jian Po accepted without shame, nodding with a grin.
"Shouldn't you remain to oversee the Punishment Hall?"
"If the Punishment Hall stops functioning without me, my Master will personally come beat me."
Her meaning was clear: her absence would cause no issue, as long as Jian Dan agreed.
Jian Dan chuckled and nodded, consenting. Then she turned toward her Senior Sister, Jian Jing, who had been silent until now.
"Senior Sister, would you like to come as well?"
Jian Jing did not refuse, giving a slight nod. She also provided an important piece of information.
"The Yao family of Tianquan City is backed by the Kong family within the Heavenly Sword Sect."
"The Kong family?"
At that, Jian Dan frowned slightly in surprise.
"Why is it always the Kong family?"
"Junior Sister knows them?"
"Of course. They are a family that never leaves a trace of fault."
Her words carried a deeper meaning, making the two female cultivators exchange curious looks.
"I have some past ties with the Kong family. When I was in the Golden Core stage, I went on a mission with Feng Nianyu, the direct descendant of Tian Yun Zhēnzūn. During that time, Kong Qiankun was being hunted. Failing to find help, he tried to self-destruct, planning to drag countless mortals of the mundane world down with him. I stopped him. In the end, he died at the hands of the Hua family cultivators."
"I know that story. Kong Qiankun had feelings for Nianyu. If his heart had been sincere, Zhēnzūn would not have opposed. But he flirted with Nianyu while still entangled with Hua Chunli. In the end, that foolish woman of the Hua family struck against Nianyu, and everything unraveled from there."
Jian Po's charming voice rang out, explaining the cause.
"Jian Jun Zūnzhǔ was furious at the time. ShHe ordered the War Hall to destroy the Hua family. The Kong family, seeing the danger, threw Kong Qiankun out to take the blame, washing their own hands clean."
"I suspect that because of the Hua family incident, Senior Sister Jian Jun chose not to take further action against the Kong family."
While speaking, Jian Dan poured Jian Jing another cup of spirit tea.
"Zūnshàng guessed right. The Hall Master acted to shake the mountain and startle the tiger. With the Hua family destroyed, the Kong family kept their heads low for a long time."
At this point, Jian Po glanced at Jian Dan, then added,
"After Zūnshàng advanced to Nascent Soul and left the sect, the Kong family sought you out. But since you vanished without a trace after leaving, and only returned when you had become a Void Refinement Zūnzhǔ, they dared not move again."
Jian Dan gave a short hum, already grasping the reason.
"They probably did not stop because of my Void Refinement cultivation, but because I soon after took charge of the Law Enforcement Hall. Only then did they pull back their claws. Otherwise, how is it that the very moment I handed the Hall Master's token back to Senior Brother Jian Li, vague rumors began spreading within the sect, even stirring you and Senior Sister into motion?"
Jian Po laughed sweetly.
"I knew Zūnshàng wouldn't be affected by mere rumors. Still, worry is hard to avoid."
"Do not worry. Now that I know where the rumors came from, once I find the time, I will pay the Kong family a visit."
Jian Dan flicked her fan, already fixing the Kong family's territory into her schedule.
Jian Po's eyes lit up, and she quickly bowed.
"Jian Po is willing to accompany Zūnshàng."
"Jian Po, I did not expect you to chase after excitement at the very front line."
Jian Jing teased lightly. Jian Po smoothed back the hair by her ear and smiled with practiced charm.
"Let the two Zūnshàng forgive my little indulgence."
Meanwhile, Jin Liuli returned to the Law Enforcement Hall. After recounting everything, the face of Zūnshàng Jian Li darkened.