Bai Chong'an, head of the Bai Family, was currently the family's sole surviving Golden Core cultivator. In his youth, he had also studied at Danxia Palace, but as he grew older and found himself forever unable to cross the threshold into the Nascent Soul realm, he simply returned home to spend his twilight years in comfort.
He normally lived in Wuye Cottage at the back of the mountain and rarely saw anyone, leaving all the family's trivial affairs to the younger generation. Only on the most important occasions could he be persuaded to make an appearance.
By the time Bai Mengjin reached her current age, she had only seen this grand-uncle once, right after her parents passed away. She remembered kneeling before the mourning hall when this grand-uncle, robes billowing with the air of an immortal, walked in, cast an indifferent glance at her, and turned to speak to her eldest uncle.
"Dinghan died handling a family errand. You must see to his funeral arrangements properly. Also, find a matronly servant to take good care of his daughter."
Her eldest uncle respectfully agreed.
Hearing those words, Bai Mengjin had kowtowed to this grand-uncle once. Later, when she suffered bullying and wanted to seek justice from him, she couldn't even cross the threshold of Wuye Cottage.
Thinking of this, the corners of her mouth twitched.
Well, it was hard to say.
"Immortal Huo, Fairy Yue, Second Young Miss, please come in."
An elderly servant respectfully welcomed them at the door.
Stepping into Wuye Cottage for the very first time, Bai Mengjin looked around with curiosity.
As soon as she passed through the gate, she encountered a spirit screen, flanked on both sides by piles of rockery that exuded an ancient yet elegant charm. In the center of the courtyard stood a large tree, completely withered from trunk to leaves, yet radiating a heavy, oppressive aura. Suspended mid-air beneath the tree was an open umbrella; its canopy was made of some unknown material, pitch-black like ink on top and as pure as snow underneath.
Bai Mengjin's gaze froze.
Wasn't this her mother's heirloom, the Yin-Yang Umbrella? She knew this item had been kept by her grand-uncle, but she had no idea it would be left out so openly for display.
No, wait—it wasn't for display. If she hadn't mistaken it, this tree was called Yellow Springs Wood, which could gather deathly energy. Opening the Yin-Yang Umbrella beneath the Yellow Springs Wood would likely attract every wandering spirit in the vicinity.
What on earth was this grand-uncle of hers doing? A proper disciple of Danxia Palace surely wouldn't be practicing soul-manipulation arts, would he?
"Second Young Miss?" The elderly servant appeared before her at some point, reminding her with a smile.
Acting as if nothing was amiss, Bai Mengjin followed behind Yue Yunqiao and entered the house.
After all these years, this grand-uncle still looked the part, robes billowing and radiating the air of an immortal. He was leaning against the window, watching the young visitors with a smile.
Huo Chongxiao and his junior sister offered a formal and proper greeting: "Huo Chongxiao of Qianxiu Peak greets Senior Brother Bai."
His master, Real Person Changling, held quite a high seniority within the sect, so addressing him simply as a senior brother was entirely appropriate.
Bai Chong'an stretched out a hand with an amiable expression: "We are all of the same sect, no need for such formality. Please, take a seat."
Huo Chongxiao expressed his thanks and sat down in the lower seat.
Logically, as a junior, Bai Mengjin ought to have stood, but she couldn't be bothered to wait upon this grand-uncle. Feigning ignorance, she sat down alongside Yue Yunqiao.
Fortunately, this grand-uncle held himself too high to care about such trivial matters, and he didn't mind at all.
Bai Chong'an took a sip of tea and broke the silence: "How is Uncle-Master Changling? I left the sect several decades ago, and living as a hermit in recent years, I rarely receive news from the sect."
Huo Chongxiao replied: "Thank you for your concern, Senior Brother. My master is doing very well. Ten years ago, he achieved Deity Transformation and is currently stabilizing his cultivation realm."
"Deity Transformation..." Bai Chong'an looked momentarily dazed, but a smile quickly returned to his face. "My sincere congratulations to Uncle-Master Changling. With his talent, he certainly won't stop there."
Sensing the disappointment hidden beneath his smile, Huo Chongxiao offered a few perfunctory words of agreement, sympathizing with his state of mind. What was harder for a cultivator than making zero progress in their cultivation? Hearing of someone else's breakthrough inevitably evoked sorrow when reflecting upon oneself.
After the two of them chatted for a while about matters concerning Danxia Palace, Huo Chongxiao couldn't help but bring it up: "Senior Brother Bai, what are your thoughts on the demonic creatures in Qingyun City?"
Bai Chong'an waved a hand, maintaining an air of detached ease: "The authorities have mages stationed there. Since you've discovered them, they will naturally handle the matter impartially."
"But..."
"I will have them keep a closer eye on it. After all, this is our Bai Family's territory, and trouble here would affect our own family members as well." With that, he offered words of praise: "I've heard all about what you two did tonight. Junior Brother Huo and Junior Sister Yue are truly worthy of being Uncle-Master Changling's disciples; you handled everything exceptionally well."
Still concerned with putting in a good word for Bai Mengjin, Yue Yunqiao eagerly interjected: "Senior Brother Bai, we owe this entirely to... Junior Sister Mengjin. If not for her alertness, we might never have discovered the source of the demonic qi, and furthermore, she saved my life."
"Is that so?" Bai Chong'an finally cast his gaze upon this junior, smiling in praise: "You did very well. Qingru, go fetch a spell brush and send it to the Second Young Miss."
The elderly servant respectfully answered in the affirmative.
A heavy stone lifted from Yue Yunqiao's heart, and she smiled at Bai Mengjin. Since the family head had bestowed a reward, that fierce-looking eldest aunt of hers surely wouldn't dare make things difficult for her anymore, right?
Bai Mengjin returned her smile, feeling rather dismissive inside. Yue Yunqiao didn't understand, but she knew all too well—for all that her grand-uncle said these things, he actually hadn't taken them to heart at all.
It didn't matter, though. She wasn't the naive girl she had been in her youth; would she really care about something like this?
Once these matters were settled, Bai Chong_an said: "Since Junior Brother and Junior Sister had the fortune to come to Qingyun City, as your senior brother, I must play the good host. You've worked hard eliminating demons tonight; why not stay a few days at the estate to rest and recover before returning to the sect?"
Huo Chongxiao gratefully replied: "Thank you, Senior Brother. We shall intrude upon your hospitality."
Bai Chong'an smiled faintly, signaling Guan Mowen to make the arrangements, and then picked up his teacup to see them out.
Before stepping out the door, Bai Mengjin casually brushed her hand against the spirit screen and praised: "Grand-uncle really knows how to pick things. This painting is lovely."
Yue Yunqiao remarked: "If you like it, you can get one for yourself later."
Chatting and laughing, the two of them followed Huo Chongxiao out of Wuye Cottage.
Back at the courtyard, Bai Mengjin asked: "Mr. Guan, which courtyard have the guests been assigned to? Can it be closer to mine, so I can act as a guide for Senior Sister Yue?"
Guan Mowen replied: "Immortal Huo and Fairy Yue are staying at Qinghe Courtyard. Rest assured, Second Young Miss, I will arrange for servants to attend to them; they will not be neglected."
"That's rather far away!" Bai Mengjin said with disappointment.
Guan Mowen smiled: "The master instructed that they must be hosted with the utmost care, and Qinghe Courtyard is the finest guest courtyard in the estate."
Yue Yunqiao hurriedly chimed in: "It's fine, no matter how far it is, it's just a few more steps. Junior Sister Bai, we'll wait for you."
Bai Mengjin nodded, retrieved the string of warding copper coins that Huo Chongxiao had given her, and handed them back: "Young Master Huo, thank you for looking after me tonight. I am returning these to their rightful owner."
Huo Chongxiao accepted them: "This matter had nothing to do with you in the first place; we should be the ones thanking you."
The three of them exchanged reluctant farewells. Yue Yunqiao even made an appointment with her to wait for her tomorrow morning so they could go out and explore together.
Watching their figures gradually recede into the distance, Bai Mengjin's smile faded completely.
She lowered her gaze, and the demonic qi she had harvested from the demonic creature flashed briefly across her palm, actually resonating with Wuye Cottage.
The Yellow Springs Wood, the Yin-Yang Umbrella... the source of this demonic qi was actually right inside her own home?
This was truly an answer she had never expected.