Chapter Twenty-Two: Mysterious Confidence

For several days in a row, Gu Weifang had not appeared in Yanxi Hall. Without her stirring things up, though there were occasional quarrels, the hall was much quieter. Ten days passed in the blink of an eye. At dawn on this day, Gu Weifang finally returned.

"Fifth Sister, did you break through?" Gu Qingsong observed that she had reached the third level of Qi Refining, and was momentarily stunned. Hadn't Gu Weifang been stuck at the second level for nearly two years?

Gu Weifang was immensely proud. "Yes! Third Brother, you'd better hurry up, or you'll be overtaken by me."

Gu Qingsong's mouth twitched. Who gave you such confidence? He himself was long at the fourth level of Qi Refining, and was close to breaking through the fifth; how could she possibly catch up?

"Have you heard? My maternal grandfather broke through to Foundation Establishment just the other day!" Gu Weifang did not wait for anyone to ask, but began to boast, painting her grandfather’s household with extravagant praise.

"Hmph, our Gu family has four Foundation Establishment cultivators! Your maternal grandfather’s Lu family, even counting him, only has two. What’s there to show off about?" Gu Qinghu, who had been listening at the side, couldn't help but sneer coldly.

"Eighth Brother’s right. By the way, Fourth Sister, how old is your maternal grandfather now? At that age, his potential must be quite limited." Little Ten joined in for fun.

Gu Weifang was left speechless by their remarks. Indeed, the Lu family could not compare to the Gu family. She only wanted to boast a little about her grandfather’s achievements. Though he was already in his fifties, Foundation Establishment was still Foundation Establishment!

Gu Qingsong resumed his gentle and refined manner, acting as mediator. "Alright, let's all say less and focus on cultivating."

Yanxi Hall grew quiet again. Everyone sat cross-legged on their own cushions to cultivate.

Gu Weiyu, who rarely escaped Gu Weifang’s sharp tongue, watched the amusing scene from the sidelines, then closed her eyes to begin her own cultivation.

Qi Refining, third level? It seemed tonight she could attempt a breakthrough herself.

At lunchtime, Gu Weifang appeared to have forgotten her earlier embarrassment and started showing off a new hairpin. "Ninth Sister, have you seen it? This hairpin was gifted by my cousin Xingyun. They say it’s a first-tier defensive magical item, able to withstand any attack below the sixth level of Qi Refining!"

Gu Weihuan responded with a few perfunctory sounds, saying little else.

Seeing this, Gu Weifang felt rather bored and abandoned her idea of boasting.

Gu Weihuan breathed a sigh of relief and quietly moved to Gu Weiyu's side, sitting with her.

Gu Weifang pursed her lips at the sight, thinking, You’re all so inexperienced!

———

Emerald Bamboo Courtyard. Moonlight poured quietly through the window into the meditation chamber, landing on the small figure seated within.

Her clothes seemed drenched in water; sweat streamed like rain, her hair plastered to her scalp, and she looked utterly miserable.

At this moment, the flow of spiritual energy in her body was like a runaway horse, surging wildly through her meridians, striving to break through its shackles and find freedom.

Gu Weiyu silently cursed her own carelessness. She had thought breaking into the third level would be as easy as the second; in her haste, she had rushed the breakthrough, causing this uncontrollable situation!

She had even laughed at Fifth Sister’s recklessness earlier; wasn’t she just as reckless now?

Outside the meditation chamber, Yueya paced anxiously. Miss had been cultivating inside for over two hours; why hadn’t she come out yet?

Alas, she was merely a mortal, knowing nothing about cultivation and unable to help her mistress.

Gu Weiyu’s whole body was numb with pain. Just when she thought this attempt would end in failure, the barrier in her meridians, once so unbreakable, began to waver under the force of the spiritual river.

Was there hope? Gu Weiyu rallied her spirits, gritting her teeth to hold on.

The barrier slowly cracked. In her inner sight, she saw the fissure widening under the onslaught, until—boom—the wall collapsed under the raging spiritual energy, finally falling...

Success at last! The path for Qi Refining, third level, was etched deep in her mind. Gu Weiyu instinctively began to guide the flow of spiritual energy through her body.

She let out a long breath of relief; it had been a narrow escape!

Relaxing at last, she noticed the persistent pain in her meridians during the energy circulation. Had she damaged them?

Gu Weiyu’s heart tightened. She struggled to pull a pink paper crane from her storage pouch, gently infusing it with a thread of spiritual power, and weakly whispered, "Grand Elder, I feel awful..."

As soon as she let go, the pink paper crane fluttered its wings and flew gracefully out the window, vanishing into the night.

At South Mountain Residence, Gu Qingzhou lay at ease on the couch, holding a bamboo scroll and exclaiming in wonder every so often, thoroughly engrossed.

A pale pink paper crane squeezed in through the slightly open window, circling around him.

Gu Qingzhou put down the scroll and looked at the crane, his brows furrowing. "So late, why is Ah Yu still cultivating?"

He had assumed Ah Yu was simply puzzled by something in her practice. He tapped the pink paper crane, and a weak voice sounded: "Grand Elder, I feel awful..."

Gu Qingzhou sprang from the couch, pushed open the window, and left South Mountain Residence at once.

———

Emerald Bamboo Courtyard.

Gu Qingzhou traveled by sword, arriving at Gu Weiyu’s meditation chamber in an instant. With a loud crash, he burst through the window.

In her haze, Gu Weiyu saw Grand Elder, disheveled, coming in through the window. She instinctively wanted to speak, but darkness overtook her and she collapsed forward.

Dimly, she fell into a warm embrace, the faint scent of locust blossoms filling her senses, and her consciousness drifted into dreams...

Outside the chamber, Yueya, who had been keeping vigil, heard the crash and immediately pushed open the door, only to glimpse a crimson figure disappearing by the window.

She stared blankly at the gaping hole in the chamber wall, hardly able to believe it. That crimson-robed figure must have been the Grand Elder!

The Grand Elder had personally come to take Miss away—had she really had an accident?

But the Grand Elder was a Foundation Establishment immortal, and also Miss’s grand ancestor. He would surely have a way to help her!

She walked to the window, running her hand over the shattered fragments. Who would have thought that the gentle, scholarly, almost celestial Grand Elder would do something so violent!

South Mountain Residence.

Gu Qingzhou gently placed Gu Weiyu on the couch in his room, then reached out to carefully examine her meridians.

He quickly noticed the chaotic flow of spiritual energy and the degree of damage to her meridians, causing his brows to knit.

Fortunately, the main direction of the energy remained correct. He began to help her sort out the disordered spiritual flow within her body.

The pain in her meridians persisted, but began to ease. Gu Weiyu, deep in sleep, gradually relaxed her frown.

When the energy was finally on the right track, Gu Qingzhou had the leisure to take a closer look at her.

At this, he felt a wave of distaste and hastily cast a Cleanse Dust spell.

"This girl is far too careless. When you wake, I’ll be sure to teach you a lesson!"

Gu Qingzhou snorted coldly and left the room.