Jian Dan was satisfied with Jin Ai's answer. The little play she and her Senior Sister had staged at the Jin clan had not been in vain. Half their goal for this trip was achieved. As for whether Jin Ai could produce results from her research, that would take time.
True to her decisive style, Jian Dan took out a jade slip from her storage bangle, recorded all information she currently possessed, and handed it to Jin Ai.
"Jin Ai, this is everything we have so far on the new 'blood insects.' We have not fought this strain directly, so the intel is limited. Review it first."
Then Jian Dan turned to Jin Liuli. "Once this matter is settled, we return straight to the sect. Before that, contact Jian Feng and see if his connections can pull some insect eggs from Heavenly Demon Palace for your aunt's study."
"Yes, Zūnshàng. I have taken note."
"For the next few days, stay in the clan with your aunt. Tie off anything that needs handling. When the time comes, we will depart at once."
Having instructed Jin Liuli, Jian Dan looked back to Jin Ai with a smile. "Jin Xiaoyou, any concerns?"
"I leave everything to Zūnshàng. I am free of ties now. I will return to the clan only to leave a copy of my lineage's inheritance. There is nothing else to arrange." Jin Ai spoke with openness, her expression visibly relaxed, the smile reaching her eyes.
Ever since Jin De became Patriarch, he had targeted her relentlessly. When the Ancestor was not in seclusion, Jin De restrained himself. Once the Ancestor shut himself away, Jin De acted without scruple, pressing her step by step until she could not take disciples or leave the clan.
Jin Ai had considered leaving as a Loose Cultivator, but then her branch's inheritance would have no successor. That was why she endured. She did not want her line to vanish from the clan.
She waited for the Ancestor to emerge. Instead, Jin De stooped to selling her off, claiming it was a sacrifice for the clan.
At first she had been furious. Seeing Jin De's smug face, she understood completely. He cared nothing for blood ties. He only wanted to grind her into dust and erase her line from the Jin clan. So she abandoned the idea of passing on her inheritance there. She accepted the Patriarch's proposal and decided to cut ties entirely, without telling even Jin Liuli, whom she loved most.
She had prepared for the worst, but she had not accounted for Jin Liuli's resolve. Liuli had forced a change and altered the course of the entire affair.
"Good. Heavenly Sword Sect has stood for over a hundred thousand years. We have more than a few powerful toxic flora. I checked the Enforcement Hall records earlier. There are specimens suited to your advancement."
Jin Ai's eyes lit up. She rose and bowed. "Many thanks for Zūnshàng's consideration. I will not fail your expectations."
"Good."
At the side, Jin Liuli beamed. Her aunt finally had hope. It proved her own persistence had been right.
After Jin Liuli and Jin Ai left Feixian Pavilion, Jian Jing chuckled. "Junior Sister, look at you fussing. You are no longer the head of the Law Enforcement Hall, yet you still scheme for the sect."
"I cannot help it. This was the last matter I set in motion before stepping down. I should finish what I started. Senior Brother Jian Li supports it as well. Reducing casualties is what matters most."
"Agreed. Your ideas are always refreshing."
As they were discussing their next steps, Jian Po returned from the city guards with a report on Kong Xingkun's attempt to leave Tianquan City that morning.
She rewarded the messenger with spirit stones, then brought the jade slip into Feixian Pavilion, handed it to Jian Jing, and said to Jian Dan, "That brat is quick on the uptake. He realized Lan Yi had been killed and rushed to leave the city, but was stopped. Only then did it occur to him to come find us."
"Not killing him is already giving the Kong clan face." Jian Jing spoke casually as she skimmed the slip, then passed it to Jian Dan.
"He got off cheap. If we had met him anywhere but Tianquan City, that filthy intention alone would have ended his path."
Jian Dan was even blunter. A clan that raised such a junior would hardly be spotless. She had no time to dig deeper, and after the Fu clan's annihilation, she knew the other families were wary of her.
Even so, some fists still needed to be shown and some boards still needed to be struck. They could not think that because Jian Lu had left the Enforcement Hall, she could no longer deal with them.
On the third day, Jin Liuli and her aunt waited early outside Feixian Pavilion. When Jian Dan's trio emerged, they hurried forward.
"Zūnshàng, I delivered our Ancestor's post to the Yao clan yesterday. They did not react strongly. They only said they would await your arrival today."
Trailing quietly behind the two Zūnshàngs and Jian Po, Jin Liuli explained in a soft voice.
"Senior Sister, since they have been informed, let us go directly. My curiosity is thoroughly piqued." Jian Dan lifted a brow toward Jian Jing.
"Very well. Let us go." Jian Jing flicked her sleeve. The five vanished and reappeared before the Yao clan's gates.
Their sudden arrival startled the guards. Jin Liuli stepped forward first. "The Jin clan requests an audience."
Only then did the two guards steady themselves. They had been notified the day before that members of the Jin clan would visit. They bowed and led the five toward the main reception hall.
The Yao clan specialized in cultivating spirit plants. From the front gate to the reception hall, spirit flora of all kinds lined the path, turning the estate into a riot of blossoms.
Jian Dan spared them a faint glance, while Liu Chuan had long since sent a voice transmission to her in secret, "These are planted by a fixed pattern. The layout forms an array. Several aggressive plants sit at the array eyes."
"Understood."
The Yao Patriarch wore a robe the color of woodland green. His already thin face looked even more grave. The plants in the courtyards had already conveyed the visitors' movements to him, and among these people was one whose cultivation surpassed even their Ancestor.
Back to yesterday.
The Yao Patriarch had received the Jin Ancestor's visiting card, stating that the previous agreement for a marriage between the Jin and Yao clans would be voided. As an apology, the Jin clan would invite seniors to purge the poison from the young master of the Yao clan and promised to refine a batch of pills free of charge.
Yao Lin took the card straight to the Yao clan's Ancestor. This was beyond his authority to decide.
After reading, the Ancestor said, "Lin'er, something must have happened in the Jin clan, or they would not disturb their Ancestor. I know he has been in seclusion refining ninth-tier pills."
The Patriarch pondered. "Ancestor, I have heard nothing of the Jin clan and was surprised by the card as well. The bearer was Jin Liuli, said to be a promising junior of the Jin clan."
The Yao Ancestor handed the card back. "So Liuli has returned. Then the problem lies with her. Investigate first. We will speak to them tomorrow and decide.
In any case, if they can remove Bin'er's poison, all is well. If not, the Jin clan must give us an explanation."
"Yes, Ancestor. I understand. We must not tear our face with the Jin clan at this moment."
"Go. I will visit the Ice Cavern and check on Bin'er."
Reception hall of the Yao clan.
Jin Liuli stepped forward first. After bowing, she spoke. "Patriarch Yao, please accept our apologies. Jin Liuli and Jin Ai are here on the Ancestor's behalf with honored seniors to fulfill our promise to the Yao clan."