---
The next day.
On the outskirts of Jinma City, in an old pavilion, two young women stood waiting, dressed in striking colors—one in yellow, the other in white.
A hint of anxiety flickered across their faces.
The woman in white looked up at the sky and softly said, "Xiaomei, the agreed time is almost up. The senior you mentioned yesterday hasn't appeared yet… Could something have happened?"
Xiaomei, the pretty maidservant standing beside her, was also growing anxious. If they failed to visit the Chen family, there would be consequences they couldn't easily explain. However, with both the master and servant having low cultivation levels, going there alone was a dangerous gamble.
There was no guarantee they wouldn't be imprisoned or even killed.
It was a frustrating and helpless dilemma.
"Miss, let's wait a little longer. Perhaps the senior is on his way."
The woman in white frowned slightly, her clear eyes flashing with thought as she sat down again to wait. She disliked people with no sense of time, but given her circumstances, she had no choice but to be patient.
As she thought about punctuality, Qi Yunxiao's figure surfaced in her mind. He had always been reliable, never once breaking a promise.
So why did something unexpected happen this time?
When Xiaomei told her about it last night, she had been skeptical. If she didn't trust Xiaomei's character, she would have assumed the girl was playing a joke on her.
Still, even if that man was staying in Brother Qi's courtyard, that didn't mean he could be trusted. She needed to remain cautious.
"Miss, look! The senior is here!"
Xiaomei suddenly exclaimed.
The woman in white followed Xiaomei's gaze, her calm expression shifting slightly. Even though she had never been particularly concerned about her appearance, an instinctive shyness arose when she saw the approaching figure.
Qi Yuan glanced at the two women and spoke in a neutral tone. "Are you the one in need of protection?"
Xin Ruyin gracefully stood up and bowed. "I, Xin Ruyin, greet you, Senior. Thank you for accompanying us these next few days."
Xiaomei also greeted him with courtesy.
Qi Yuan gave a slight nod. "I'm just doing a job for money. Lead the way."
Xin Ruyin's appearance wasn't as striking as her maid Xiaomei's, but her refined demeanor and intelligent, dark eyes hinted at an extraordinary person.
Perhaps it was her years of studying tea arts that had cultivated an elegance, making her attractive despite her less-than-perfect looks.
Xiaomei, on the other hand, had a pretty face but behaved entirely like a servant. The more one interacted with her, the more her lack of depth became apparent.
A person's character was crucial—it was an inner charm that radiated outward, a fundamental aspect of cultivation.
It allowed others to instinctively recognize one's worth.
If the master and servant were on the same couch together, their strengths and weaknesses might even complement each other…
---
On the way to the Chen family, Xin Ruyin led the group. Since her cultivation was low and her magic power couldn't sustain prolonged flight, their pace was slow.
This gave them ample time to converse.
Xin Ruyin, a shrewd woman, used the opportunity to probe into Qi Yuan's background and his connection to Qi Yunxiao.
Qi Yuan, however, responded vaguely, revealing just enough to satisfy curiosity while keeping key details to himself. He could explain why he was staying at Qi Yunxiao's residence, but revealing his sect background was out of the question.
If it were discovered that he had killed a second-generation cultivator in Yuanwu Country, and the cause was traced back to Xin Ruyin, she might be forced to reveal the truth through secret techniques. That would leave him with no choice but to seek help from his first wife, Nangong Wan, and his master, Hongfu.
Xin Ruyin was frustrated by his evasiveness but grew more cautious. Since he was on guard, she wouldn't reveal her own thoughts too freely either.
At the same time, she couldn't hide her disappointment over Qi Yunxiao abandoning her to refine a magical weapon, completely disregarding their prior agreement.
Qi Yuan noticed her change in expression and spoke calmly, "Miss Xin, won't you tell me about the Chen family's situation?"
They were heading into unfamiliar territory, and understanding the situation beforehand was essential.
Xin Ruyin, her voice clear and steady, began explaining the Chen family's background.
The Chen family's estate was located in the heart of Jackdaw Mountain, where a valuable spiritual herb known as *Jackdaw Grass* was cultivated. The revenue from selling this herb accounted for 70% of the Chen family's cultivation resources, making it their most vital asset.
However, the Chen family wasn't always the rightful owner of Jackdaw Mountain. Thirty years ago, a fierce conflict erupted over its control, and the Chen family emerged victorious, claiming the land as their own.
Since then, they had flourished.
Currently, the Chen family's strongest figure was an elder at the late Foundation Establishment stage—revered as the family's ancestor. They also had two cultivators at the mid-Foundation Establishment stage, four at the early stage, and several disciples in the Qi Training stage.
If their ancestor managed to break through to the Core Formation stage within his lifetime, the Chen family's status in Yuanwu Country would rise dramatically, securing them even greater benefits.
Rumors circulated that the Chen ancestor had placed all his hopes on Jackdaw Grass, intending to exchange its vast production for Core Formation resources from the three major righteous sects.
It was a bold and risky gamble.
If he failed, the Chen family would decline and be swallowed by stronger forces.
If he succeeded, the family would gain a Core Formation ancestor, allowing them to annex weaker families and maintain dominance.
Though Tiannan was resource-poor, there were still limited supplies of Core Formation and Nascent Soul resources, most of which were tightly controlled by major sects. Outsiders rarely had access to them.
As soon as word spread that the Chen ancestor sought to advance to the Core Formation stage, his enemies would inevitably try to stop him. If he succeeded, they would be doomed.
The Chen family had invited Xin Ruyin to set up an array to protect both the family and their Jackdaw Grass fields.
Despite her low cultivation, Xin Ruyin was one of the most skilled array masters in the Foundation Establishment stage. Her formations could significantly enhance the family's defenses.
If she could be convinced—or forced—to stay in the Chen family permanently, wouldn't that be the ideal outcome?
Xin Ruyin was a lone cultivator with no strong backing. If she disappeared, it would cause no major uproar.
After being imprisoned for a decade or two, who would even remember the name of a female array master from Jinma City?
This was the true reason behind the anxiety of Xin Ruyin and Xiaomei.
The Chen family, though not a major force, was an insurmountable power compared to a lone cultivator. Without solid evidence, rejecting their invitation was nearly impossible.
Moreover, the Chen family had extended the offer multiple times, increasing their payment with each attempt.
Xin Ruyin herself suffered from a hidden illness that required costly maintenance, making it harder for her to keep refusing.
In the past, Qi Yunxiao had always accompanied her when setting up formations for small families. The two of them worked together, using formations and magical weapons to fight back against possible threats.
At the very least, they could take down one or two Foundation Establishment cultivators, making others hesitate before acting recklessly.
For small families, losing a few Foundation Establishment members could mean the collapse of their entire lineage overnight.
Most wouldn't dare to take such a risk.
But the Chen family was different.
This time, they might actually resort to something truly ruthless.
(End of Chapter)