126 - All Eyes Are On The Peasant Family’ Adorable Baby Girl
## Chapter 126: Joint Deliberation The Yao tribe gave Shen Su ample respect, causing disciples to gather around and peer at them intently from all directions. Shen Su gently brushed the bracelet on her wrist, and the little fox in her arms seemed to sense something. A powerful spiritual energy merged continuously into Shen Su's body. As her demonic power accumulated to a bursting point, a turquoise spiritual glow erupted from her, and the ensuing gale blew over some unsteady disciples, causing them to stumble. After the gale subsided, droplets of water began to fall from mid-air. The droplets were turquoise, crystal-clear, and filled with spiritual energy. They appeared to be a grand blessing, but when reaching out to touch them, the droplets only moistened the palm and provided a momentary warmth to the meridians, leaving nothing behind. The tantalizing yet unobtainable spiritual water made many people's eyes redden with envy. Finally, someone couldn't hold back and cried out, "Please, Chief, bestow us with the spiritual water!" He spoke as if he wanted to kowtow. His fervent plea made the disciples beside him restless. Jiang An's face darkened within the crowd. He coldly admonished, "Do not kneel." Despite Shen Su's noble status, she was still a leader of the Yao tribe. As humans, it would be disgraceful to kneel before a demon, not just to him but to the entire human sect. Being a man who valued his dignity, Jiang An would never allow such a situation. He raised his hand, using his spiritual energy to hold up the disciple who was about to kneel, his expression sour. Jiang An then prepared to disperse the water droplets with his spiritual energy when Shen Su raised her hand lightly and made a slight gesture, causing the turquoise droplets to vanish instantly. Hu San Bai, ever the cooperative one, stood up and hooked his arm around Jiang An’s shoulder, chuckling, "You are really unappreciative. The falling droplets are all from Mirror Lake, containing spiritual energy that can cleanse impurities from the bones just by touching the skin. This is blessed water. Even if Eldest Elder Jiang doesn’t want it, surely your disciples would?" Despite being caught off guard by Hu San Bai’s action, Jiang An retained his composure. He gently brushed away Hu San Bai's hand, smiling warmly, "Elder Hu, you jest. Any disciple entering the Immortal Sect receives a Marrow Cleansing Pill from their respective sect to ensure impurity-free meridians and a smooth cultivation path. Such blessed water is better left for your Yao tribe’s use." As Shen Su’s palanquin descended, she caught Jiang An’s nonchalant tone. Jiang An’s long tenure in a high position had perhaps made him forget that not all human disciples at Yan Bi Mountain were from major sects. Some were from minor sects, journeying together in hopes of obtaining resources in the secret realm to elevate their sects. There were nearly a hundred sects present, and not all disciples had access to Marrow Cleansing Pills. Sure enough, Jiang An's remark was met with murmurs from the crowd. Hearing the whispers, Jiang An’s face changed subtly, realizing the presence of minor sect disciples in the mountain. As someone who greatly valued his reputation, even from non-Immortal Sect disciples, Jiang An wouldn't want to stir dissatisfaction among them. Shen Su’s action was impromptu. She merely noticed the large gathering and felt obliged to uphold the dignity of Yan Bi Mountain since Hu San Bai and the others had shown great respect. Causing Jiang An some trouble was an unexpected bonus. She reclined slightly on her palanquin, observing Jiang An's uneasy expression. Someone so concerned with reputation, seeing his previously beaming face now fallen, filled Shen Su with satisfaction. Yesterday, the ring she yearned for was taken, and today, some minor disciples resented him. Jiang An must be quite distressed now. Hu San Bai personally helped Shen Su down from the palanquin. As they approached, Jiang An couldn't help but ask, "Elder Hu, I didn't know Yan Bi Mountain had a chief." Gui Cang and others had stood up earlier. Gui Cang gently stroked his white beard, his eyes still kind though his tone was not, "Elder Jiang has forgotten, Yan Bi Mountain has always had a chief. Our previous leader was killed by your Immortal Sect. If not for visiting your sect, how could our leader have perished?" He pointed to Jing Qin, causing a more pronounced reaction in Jiang An as he slightly turned his head, "Back then, Miss Jing Qin and my brother Shen Yiwen were deeply in love. My brother was willing to leave the Immortal Sect for her. They left the Immortal Sect well and good; we always treated her with respect. I truly don’t know about her demise." Gui Cang wasn't like Zhu Xian Er, who, being Yu Mu Han's master, might side with him. Instead, due to Zhu Xian Er’s issue, Gui Cang seldom looked favorably upon Yu Mu Han. The usually amiable old goat targeted Jiang An with every word, "If you treated her with respect, why didn’t you send someone to escort her or contact us? Are you attempting to shirk all responsibility with a few light words? We must settle this account with your Immortal Sect." They were well aware of the true cause of Jing Qin's death, but Gui Cang intended to pin the blame on Jiang An’s Immortal Sect. Had Feng Yin Yue been the one in charge today, Shen Su wouldn't have allowed Gui Cang to create trouble, but with Jiang An here, she was more than happy not to stop him. "We have important matters to discuss; these old grievances can be resolved another day." Fellow human, Lin Yang Hui, not wishing for an unpleasant scene, spoke up on Jiang An’s behalf. It was the first time Shen Su saw Lin Yang Hui. By appearance, he seemed a refined and not overly malicious individual. It was hard to imagine that behind this persona lay a heart so venomous, one that used blood relatives as cauldrons and deceived Lin Qing Huai for over a century for Si Hua. If he learned Si Hua died by her hands, trouble would surely follow. Shen Su hadn't come to cause trouble; with someone mediating, she naturally followed the flow and moved towards the tent. Although disgruntled, Ye Huan and others obediently followed behind her. Noticing Jiang An deliberately trailing behind, Shen Su touched her ear twice. Even without revealing her fox ears, she was already tuned into spiritual hearing. Shen Su wasn’t worried about being discovered. The bracelet on her wrist could mask its breath and cultivation level. Even if she used her spiritual hearing, Jiang An and others wouldn’t easily detect it. She eavesdropped unobtrusively, hearing Jiang An summon Yu Mu Han. "Mu Han, collect the Marrow Cleansing Pills from the disciples and distribute them to those from minor sects who haven't used them." "Master, these people aren't from the Immortal Sect. Even if they lack Marrow Cleansing Pills, what does it matter to us?" "Their cultivation isn’t easy. If we can help, why not assist?" “...” Hypocrite. If Jiang An genuinely cared for others as his words suggested, Shen Su might have respected him. But she knew his true nature well—he simply couldn’t bear tarnishing his reputation. He had long been adept at hypocrisy, preferring to pacify the outer sect disciples before the talks. Only, as Jiang An had mentioned, major sect disciples had impurity-free meridians. Even if he searched every disciple’s storage ring, how many Marrow Cleansing Pills could he find to distribute? Those receiving Marrow Cleansing Pills would be grateful to Jiang An, while those who didn’t might harbor resentment. Although he might hasten to refine Marrow Cleansing Pills for them post-conference, the time lag would be enough to seed discontent among some disciples. Few would remember his kindness; many would feel entitled to those pills. Just as Shen Su was about to retract her spiritual hearing, she heard Jiang An ask Yu Mu Han, "Mu Han, tell me honestly, have you seen my storage ring with the emerald inlay?" She hadn't expected Jiang An to suspect Yu Mu Han. It was indeed the right decision to have Jiang Rui Ping hide the ring. If Jiang An now suspects Yu Mu Han, he might also suspect Jiang Xu and even Feng Yin Yue. If he goes around testing everyone, it would alienate him further. However, Jiang An isn't foolish; he dared question Yu Mu Han because he believed he held some influence over him. While eavesdropping on Jiang An, Shen Su was helped to a higher seat by Hu San Bai. When Jiang An entered the tent, he found that Shen Su had taken his usual place. Before he could ask, Hu San Bai pulled him down, forcing Jiang An to sit next to him. Jiang An's face was ashen, but he managed to suppress his anger, speaking calmly, "Chief Yan, is your appearance today concerning the trials?" Shen Su had not introduced herself, and he had arbitrarily assigned her the name 'Yan.' She didn’t argue over this, instead, under the mask, her eyes coldly scrutinized Jiang An’s refined and handsome visage, feeling her blood gradually congeal. The little fox in her arms seemed to sense her stiffness, and with a tiny paw, it scratched at her chest, bringing her back to her senses. A faint red touched Shen Su's earlobes as she slowly said, "I've heard that you always dispute endlessly and never reach a conclusion, constantly changing the rules. The original quota of two hundred has now increased to five hundred. However, I only have one request: your four main sects must bring out the Min Xian Mirror so that outsiders can witness what happens in the secret realm." The voice from her throat was deliberately hoarse, making it more intimidating than her natural one. But it was no simple matter. "Why should we listen to you? You’re the chief of Yan Bi Mountain, not ours,” Lin Yang Hui, clearly displeased by the mention of the Min Xian Mirror, retorted, standing up defiantly. Merely borrowing the Min Xian Mirror seemed like a severe demand to him. As he spoke, Le Xian had already appeared behind him. Silvery-white spider silk instantly wrapped around his neck, cutting a small line of blood, "Master Lin, you'd better show respect to our chief." "Child's play." Lin Yang Hui sneered, spiritual light exploding from his body, but the fine spider silk did not shatter as he expected. He stared in shock, "What have you done?" Le Xian’s voice was raspy, "When I say you'll die, you will die." Shui Feng, the Demon Sect Master, noticed something unusual, "Don’t you understand? She’s linked your blood aura. If she wishes for your death, it will happen." The strongest power of the Yao Kings was their lethal strength. Mutual restraint among Yao Kings allowed for survival, but it was different when facing human cultivators. As long as they didn’t encounter someone of Jiang Rui Ping’s level, even a powerful cultivator bound by Le Xian’s threads could be killed in one blow, though it came at a high cost. Le Xian’s innate ability was absolute assassination. She could lock onto the aura of anyone she touched, merging their blood auras, causing her spider silk to cling to them until their necks were severed entirely. Naturally, such an ability, using her own blood aura as a medium, required a heavy toll in blood to kill a strong opponent. Though Lin Yang Hui was merely throwing a fit, Le Xian used life-threatening force to intimidate him. Lin Yang Hui's eyes almost bulged out, "Lunatic." His reaction indicated he had never dealt with Le Xian before. Le Xian was inherently mad. Yao Kings were all somewhat bloodthirsty and mad, though they concealed it in daily life. In danger, it was fully exposed, and Le Xian was notorious even among the Yao Kings for her madness. Shen Su hadn’t expected Le Xian to defend her so fiercely, feeling somewhat astonished by her actions. Jiang An, usually the good Samaritan, seized the opportunity, "Leader Le Xian, Master Lin did not mean to disrespect Chief Yan. It's just that the Min Xian Mirror is a crucial artifact of our sects. We should discuss this further." Le Xian showed no sign of easing up despite Jiang An’s mediation. The silvery spider silk tightened around Jiang An’s neck, pulling him off his chair and leaving visible marks on his neck, “Do you wish to die as well?” Everything happened too quickly. Luckily, this was no absolute assassination move but mere ordinary spider silk. Jiang An grabbed the silk at his neck and lightly cut it away. His hands clenched tightly, fingernails digging into his palms, but as a man of decorum, he spoke slowly, “Leader Le Xian, we are gathered not to fight but to discuss the secret realm trial. Please control your anger.” A composed human cultivator and an irate Yao cultivator, creating an immediate contrast that painted Jiang An as a dignified gentleman. To maintain his composure, he even disregarded his own injuries. So, if she kicked him down a few steps, would he still hold his smile? Shen Su quickly dismissed the thought. Jiang An likely wasn’t that tolerant. His gaze towards Le Xian wasn’t kindly either, faintly threatening. As Le Xian continued to restrain Lin Yang Hui, Jiang An’s face showed thinly veiled anger. He strode forward, spiritual power emanating, but when he got within two steps, Le Xian tightened the silk. Le Xian remained silent as Lin Yang Hui, in pain, yelled, "Jiang An, are you trying to get me killed?" Jiang An halted, his spiritual power held but not dispersed. Seeing he was forming a seal, Shen Su quickly called out, “Le Xian, return.” Le Xian didn’t argue, disappearing in an instant from Lin Yang Hui’s side, even retracting her silk. As Le Xian vanished, Jiang An appeared where she had been, ready to strike. Jiang An retracted his spiritual energy, touching the wound on his neck, his cold eyes drifting to Shen Su. Shen Su ignored Jiang An, looking at Le Xian, whose anger was visibly simmering—not at Lin Yang Hui’s retort but likely due to Yan Xiao's matter. Though she pretended indifference towards Yan Xiao, years of coexistence couldn’t be ignored. Understanding Le Xian’s discontent, Shen Su knew venting anger wouldn’t solve the problem, “Sit down.” Had she been slower just now, Jiang An would have injured Le Xian. Le Xian seemed to understand as well and complied, returning to her seat. To human eyes, Le Xian’s submission to Shen Su became apparent. Shui Feng scrutinized Shen Su, suddenly saying, “I recall Yan Bi Mountain’s last leader was Mirror Lake’s Water Demon. This Chief Yan can operate Mirror Lake’s power. Are they related? Surely, then, Shen Yiwen...” Before Shui Feng could finish, Wu Xiu interjected coldly, “Demon Master Shui, inquiring about Yao lineage is taboo. Aren’t you afraid?” “Afraid, afraid, afraid!” Before Wu Xiu finished, Shui Feng sprang up, not wanting to be cursed by the Black Crow’s spirit speech, swiftly bowing to Shen Su, “My mistake.” Just as the situation stabilized, a female voice echoed from the tent's corner, “Chief Yan, may I ask why you insist on the Min Xian Mirror?” Shen Su’s pupils slightly contracted as she looked towards the voice's source. It was a completely unfamiliar face, not young, around fifty, slightly aged, yet her stance was straight and imposing. She sat aside, neither with human cultivators nor Yao tribes, like Shui Feng, belonging to no group. Sifting through the details of Yan Bi Mountain, Shen Su remembered her. She was not a leader of any of the four main sects but a senior nominated by minor sects and independent cultivators to participate in the trials, Ruo Li—a renowned rogue cultivator. She was chosen because her cultivation level surpassed all minor sect elders and leaders, and even exceeded those of the main sects present. In the original story, her presence allowed rogue cultivators and minor sect disciples equal competition in the trials. She seemingly had the cultivation level of the Integration stage. However, in the story, she disappeared after securing this opportunity, not participating in negotiations. Perhaps Shen Su’s appearance as chief altered her intentions, bringing forth someone who shouldn’t have appeared. Ruo Li's presence here is not necessarily a bad thing for Shen Su. "My reason is straightforward." Shen Su revealed a slight smile and said calmly, "The flesh, blood, and demon cores of our Yao tribe, even our tendons and bones, are considered top-notch alchemy and crafting materials for your human cultivators. Each part of us enhances your cultivation significantly. Now, as we enter the same secret realm, how can I trust that your disciples won’t seize the opportunity to hunt my Yao tribe juniors?" As she finished her statement, she deliberately cast her gaze towards Jiang An. In the original story, it wasn’t just Yu Mu Han who hunted demons in the secret realm; even Jiang An himself killed Wei Nan Yi. Hearing Shen Su's words, even Night Huan and Duo Qu, who were forced to submit to Shen Su, visibly became more earnest. As leaders, they naturally cared for their kin and had no reason to oppose a proposal that benefited their people. Shui Feng sneered, "If you're so cowardly, why not relinquish all your spots? Let the Yao tribe stay out of the secret realm entirely, and the problem will be solved." Shen Su calmly observed the brash Demon Sect Master. She understood Shui Feng's implication well; he probably harbored intentions for his disciples to hunt the Yao juniors in the secret realm. Killing and plundering—the Demon Sect’s typical actions. But Shui Feng was about to lose his smile fast. Shen Su subtly rubbed her bracelet, "Sect Master Shui, you should know I'm considering your situation too. The Demon Sect's infamous reputation among orthodox disciples is well known. You've plundered cultivation resources, murdered, pillaged, and stolen spiritual roots. Isn’t it true that many well-known sect disciples harbor deep grudges against the Demon Sect? Can you guarantee that your disciples won’t be ambushed by orthodox disciples in the secret realm? Your disciples may not fear solo combat, but what about being outnumbered?" Shui Feng’s smile instantly froze. Shen Su continued leisurely, "Sect Master Shui, I’d wager that without the Min Xian Mirror, your Demon Sect disciples will suffer the most deaths in the secret realm, more so than any Yao juniors. When that happens, it will be hard to seek revenge, unless you truly don’t care whether your disciples live or die." Shui Feng’s face darkened, devoid of any trace of humor. With anger, he turned to Jiang An and the others, "The Min Xian Mirror must be brought out." He was genuinely panicked. Shen Su knew why. In the original story, Shui Ning too entered the secret realm. Shui Ning, despite having ample cultivation, lacked the opportunity for a breakthrough. The secret realm was Shui Ning’s chance to advance to the Nascent Soul stage and also an opportunity for the male protagonist. Yu Mu Han had helped Shui Ning significantly within the secret realm in the original story. With Shui Feng now supporting Shen Su, both Jiang An and Lin Yang Hui's faces turned grim, while Bai Yu, with a hint of admiration, smiled and said, "Fine, Hanfeng Forest will bring out the Min Xian Mirror." Lin Yang Hui’s expression worsened as he burst out, "White Sect Master, how can you submit to the demands of the Yao and Demon tribes?” Bai Yu, the sect master of Hanfeng Forest, who was second only to Bai Ruo Yi and Jiang Xu before being completely overtaken by love, remained composed. She glanced at Lin Yang Hui dismissively and said lightly, "It’s just the Min Xian Mirror, a bit troublesome to manage but nothing clandestine. Or does Master Lin have a problem with the Min Xian Mirror?” Lin Yang Hui, unable to answer her, was clearly struck by something sensitive, his expression ashen. Shen Su ignored Lin Yang Hui's increasingly sour expression, turning her focus to Ruo Li, "Senior Ruo Li, it’s not just our Yao and Demon tribes who should be concerned but also your rogue cultivators. As you know, many orthodox disciples don’t value rogue cultivators' lives. Over the years, many rogues have been secretly captured and used as living vessels by unscrupulous cultivators. With the Min Xian Mirror, everyone will be more cautious." This statement reflected Shen Su's personal experience. When Lin Qing Huai approached her back in the Moonfall City, it wasn’t because of her bloodline but because she believed Shen Su, an unprotected rogue cultivator, would make a good cauldron. Having struggled through countless trials in the cultivation world, earning her Integration stage cultivation alone, Ruo Li knew very well the hardships of rogue cultivators. Almost every difficulty a rogue would face, she had experienced. Shen Su’s words made Ruo Li’s attitude clear. She looked at Jiang An and said, "This old woman shares the Chief Yan and Sect Master Shui’s view. The Min Xian Mirror must be brought out." Bai Yu had already agreed, so she had no objections. Despite his reluctance, Jiang An eventually conceded, his eyes darkening, "Fine, but only the sect master can retrieve the Min Xian Mirror. I don’t know its exact location, so I must send a message to my sect master junior sister." Taking advantage of the moment, Shen Su added, “Elder Jiang, if you hadn’t mentioned it, we might have assumed you’re the one running the Immortal Sect.” Jiang An’s expression soured even more, just as Shen Su had intended. Song Jin, the master of Gu Yun Sect, agreed as well, leaving only the visibly irritated Lin Yang Hui. He glared at Shen Su with a tone dripping with resentment, “Fine, fine, I’ll bring it out.” The little fox in Shen Su’s arms also sensed Lin Yang Hui's malice, pressing its tiny paw against Shen Su's chest, as if trying to calm her. Shen Su smoothed her robe, subtly patting the fox through the fabric. How could she explain to Wei Nan Yi that she’d remain calmer if unmoved? Having achieved her goal, Shen Su no longer cared about Lin Yang Hui’s antagonistic stance. She proceeded to outline the trial rules based on the original story, though the quota expanded from five hundred to a thousand under constant influence from various forces. With the trial agreement reached, Shen Su prepared to bid farewell. However... Shen Su recalled Wei Nan Yi mentioning her wish to speak with Bai Yu. The eyeholes in her silver mask fixed on Bai Yu. To casual eyes, Bai Yu appeared somewhat old-fashioned. She favored wearing plain Taoist robes that covered her completely, not allowing a single strand of hair to fall out of place. Hu San Bai, having overheard the conversation between Wei Nan Yi and Shen Su, stood up with a grin, “In appreciation of everyone’s cooperation, our chief has decided to show some goodwill. You all know of Chief Gui Cang’s abilities; he is willing to share four prophetic words with those in need.” Although puzzled, Gui Cang followed Hu San Bai’s gesture to Shen Su. Upon her nod, he quickly agreed, “I am willing to offer four words of prophecy.” Gui Cang’s fortune-telling and ability to foresee celestial omens were well-known. Normally, people would wait in line for his insights, but with a crowd, what he might reveal could be unsettling. “No need.” Jiang An walked away quickly, fearful that Gui Cang would expose his hypocrisy. He still bore a fresh cut across his neck, the blood not yet dried, and hurried off looking slightly disgruntled. “Humph,” Lin Yang Hui followed closely behind. Having abducted relatives for cauldrons and harmed blood relatives, he dared not let Gui Cang read his fate. Song Jin gave Gui Cang a deep look before departing swiftly. Shen Su had anticipated needing some effort to speak with Bai Yu alone, yet soon found herself facing Bai Yu alone. Ruo Li, utterly straightforward, chuckled, "This old woman has survived countless brushes with death; I have never trusted fate." Hu San Bai leaned on Ye Huan's shoulder, “Ye Huan, are you still eager to take orders from our chief, or do you want to suffer another sealing technique?” Ye Huan gave Hu San Bai a vicious glare, “There won’t be a next time.” He bolted, transforming into a silver wolf and disappearing from the tent in an instant, uninterested in meddling further. Jiu Cui had already warned him: even if he disliked Shen Su, he couldn’t go against Wei Nan Yi. As Ye Huan departed, Duo Qu wisely followed. Suo Li and Su Su, understanding Shen Su’s distrust towards them and not wanting to endure another sealing technique or take orders from Shen Su, departed their Yao forms from the tent without Hu San Bai’s prompt. “Seems like the Yao tribe isn’t all that united.” Shui Feng chuckled mischievously, licking his lips, “I’m genuinely curious about my fate, though I fear the words you give may not be to my liking.” Gui Cang smiled faintly, “Lady Shui Ning, disaster lies in her fate.” He specifically called Shui Ning by her name rather than addressing Shui Feng as the sect master, clearly. Black-purple petals suddenly appeared in the tent, and Shui Feng vanished, replaced by a slender, pretty girl. She smiled at Gui Cang, lightly ringing the bell on her sleeve, "How boring, I’ve been recognized again." No one in the tent responded to her comment. Shui Ning grinned at Shen Su, "My father meant no disrespect to Chief Yan, but Jiang An and the others are tedious, repeating the same old things. That’s why I’m here to listen." Unexpectedly, seeking the Min Xian Mirror led her to meet the last two unencountered spiritual roots. Shui Ning, the young sect master of the Demon Sect, and Bai Yu, the sect master of Hanfeng Forest. Wei Nan Yi wanted to talk to Bai Yu, and Shen Su now also wished to speak with Shui Ning. Not for any specific reason, but because Shen Su remembered Shui Ning was the first to break free from the fate of a spiritual root. Though it was in the previous life. Shui Ning’s story was one where repeated rescues by the male lead moved her heart. Now, Shen Su knew Shui Ning and the male lead should already know each other, but far from the point where they fell deeply in love as the new spiritual roots had. There was hope. Shen Su called Hu San Bai, "Elder Hu." Hu San Bai understood instantly, setting up a barrier within the tent along with Le Xian. Bai Yu remained silent, throwing gleaming stones, which formed a small array within Hu San Bai’s barrier. Seeing such precaution, Gui Cang grew uneasy, "White Sect Master, are you seeking your fate?" Due to the special nature of his innate abilities, Gui Cang also had to pay a price when using them. Without responding to Gui Cang, Bai Yu rose and walked straight to Shen Su, bowing slightly, "Senior Sister Wei, there was no news of you following the trial at Jin Yu Sea. I never expected to hear your voice here today." No wonder Bai Yu stayed—it turned out that Wei Nan Yi had sent her a voice transmission. Yet she seemed to have mistaken Shen Su for Wei Nan Yi. Shen Su was surprised, getting up from her chair but quickly stumbling back down due to the added weight. A white light flashed in her arms, and when it dissipated, Shen Su still sat in the chair but now cradling someone in her arms. The additional person was Wei Nan Yi. Bai Yu was momentarily stunned but quickly recovered, calling out, "Senior Sister Wei, Lady Wei." "Lady Wei?” Wei Nan Yi was puzzled for a moment, not understanding why Bai Yu was addressing Shen Su as such. Bai Yu, staring intently at Wei Nan Yi still in Shen Su's arms, explained seriously, "You are so close with Chief Yan, she must be your new partner. Since she is your partner, calling her Lady Wei shouldn’t be inappropriate." “Cough, cough,” Shen Su almost choked on this explanation. She came seeking the Min Xian Mirror for only an hour, and already her title had changed twice. First, it was Yan; now, it's Wei. Wei Nan Yi hadn’t anticipated Bai Yu’s straightforwardness either, her face blushing deeply. Seeing Bai Yu address Wei Nan Yi, Shui Ning curiously approached. Just as Wei Nan Yi tried to get up from Shen Su's lap, Shui Ning came too close, making her reluctant to move and forcing her to stay seated in Shen Su's lap. "You are Wei Nan Yi, the living Wei Nan Yi?" Shui Ning blinked, "I must tell my father that Wei Nan Yi is still alive." Shen Su's hand, hidden behind Wei Nan Yi, quickly grabbed Shui Ning's wrist, gripping tightly enough to leave red marks, "You cannot tell your father." Shui Ning tried to break free from Shen Su’s grasp. The more she struggled, the tighter Shen Su held her. Watching Sheng Su’s death grip on Shui Ning, Bai Yu murmured, “I understand.” Shen Su wasn’t sure what Bai Yu had realized, but she saw Bai Yu raise both palms, hitting Shui Ning on the back. Instead of harming her, she planted a dual prohibition seal, one even she couldn’t break. She swiftly sealed both herself and Shui Ning. Shen Su, in shock, released Shui Ning, staring blankly at Bai Yu. Wei Nan Yi was equally stunned. She recalled many incidents, like when Bai Yu insisted on cutting down a mountain in a secret realm, convinced treasures lay below, only to find nothing after three days of relentless chopping. Wei Nan Yi never fully understood Bai Yu’s thoughts. What she knew for sure was that Bai Yu wouldn’t willingly depend on others or lose herself. Bai Yu calmly retracted her hands, "Senior Sister Wei once saved me. Naturally, I wou—cough, cough—” She could no longer speak Wei Nan Yi’s name; even uttering the first syllable caused blood to gush from her mouth, hinting at the shattering of her meridians. Bai Yu, slightly stupefied, bowed again before Wei Nan Yi, saying, “Lady Yan saved me, I would never repay kindness with hostility.” Now, it was Wei Nan Yi who has the surname change. Bai Yu seemed normal, unlike Yan Xiao, who was obsessed with Yu Mu Han, but she was also unusual in her unique way. In the book, Bai Yu's story seemed to bloom slowly. Initially, she appreciated Yu Mu Han’s talent and character, which gradually turned into affection. Notably, the new spiritual roots had profound feelings from the start, while the older spiritual roots, except Zhu Xian Er, who fell instantly, had complete storylines with gradually dissolving rationality, unlike the strong impact on new ones. However, Bai Yu's mind worked in ways Shen Su couldn’t quite grasp. Stiffly, Shen Su interjected, “White Sect Master, my surname is actually Shen.” Bai Yu, still in a daze, corrected herself, "Lady Shen." She continued to bleed, blood trickling with each word, until she stopped speaking entirely, sitting down beside Shen Su to meditate. Leaving Shen Su and Wei Nan Yi speechless. Shui Ning, feeling the restrictive seal and seeing Bai Yu's blood, rubbing her reddened wrist, spat, "You cultivators are indeed twisted.”