Chapter 91 - 80: Give Me Yu for Life
Sifang Street, the Old Woodshed.
The magnificent carriage descended, hovering in mid-air.
After realizing there was nothing for her to do, Yan Jin had packed her bags and hurried off to Yongzhou Pass.
Only four people remained in the courtyard now.
Gu Nanzhi suddenly smacked the back of Chang Yi’s head and hissed through gritted teeth, "Are you still daydreaming? Kneel! And don’t look directly at the Immortal Family."
Though she was scolding her nephew, her own face was filled with tension.
An Immortal Family was already an unattainable existence for a Cultivator, let alone a Half-Life Immortal Family that even Scattered Immortals revered.
"..."
Miss Yun subconsciously glanced at Yu Sheng, only to find the little girl also staring blankly at the sky, her face full of awe.
The carriages hovered, and from several of them, curtains were partially drawn as people whispered and peered down below.
A moment later, five streaks of cyan light shot down and materialized into human figures.
In the lead were a middle-aged couple, both with fine features. Behind them were three others, two boys and a girl, all looking to be about thirteen or fourteen years old.
The boys were as handsome as jade, the girl fair-skinned and beautiful. Simply by standing there, they exuded an air of innate, lazy nobility.
In a similar fashion, they all wore magnificent garments of cyan feather. Though the styles varied, they all shimmered with a faint, precious light, as if separating them from the mortal world, untainted by a single speck of dust.
"Uncle Qiheng, are we at Yongzhou Pass yet?"
One of the boys rubbed his eyes, looking around sleepily. He then instinctively rose onto his tiptoes and said with disgust, "Ugh! What is this filthy place?"
The other two weren’t as dramatic, but they also frowned slightly.
"Was it you who called for me?"
Yu Qiheng ignored everyone else in the courtyard, his gaze falling upon the well-behaved child at the door of the side house.
He happened to be taking the younger generation of the family to Yongzhou Pass and was passing through when he suddenly sensed the aura of a clansman, so he came over to take a look.
"How did she end up looking like this?" The woman beside him, named Yu Xin, had a gentle appearance and couldn’t help but cover her mouth with a chuckle.
The bloodline of an Immortal Family is never diluted. The two were both siblings within the family and husband and wife.
"She woke up when she’s so tiny? Can she even grow up properly?" The three young Immortal Descendants also looked over.
"An Innate Deficiency. It will be difficult for her to achieve much," Yu Qiheng answered coolly.
"..."
The others in the courtyard didn’t understand, but Gu Nanzhi’s expression changed slightly.
Thanks to her habit of inquiring about all sorts of things, she knew more about the Immortal Families than anyone else present. She was especially aware of how intense the struggles were among them.
While it rarely involved life and death, Immortal Descendants didn’t need to practice Cultivation; they only needed to consume heavenly treasures to aid their bodies’ development.
Therefore, the size of their territory and the abundance of resources they controlled determined the speed of their growth.
Judging by the situation of the little Immortal Descendant in the courtyard, it would likely be very difficult for her to compete with her peers.
Furthermore, because they didn’t need to practice Cultivation...
...different Immortal Descendants had different aptitudes. Even if they consumed the same amount of heavenly treasures, the effects would vary greatly.
"Sigh."
Gu Nanzhi had thought Yu Sheng was just "malnourished" and would be fine after getting some nourishment back at the Immortal Sect.
But now, it sounded like that wasn’t the case at all.
The innate damage caused by waking up too early seemed to be an irreversible defect.
"Er."
Yu Sheng was already shy around strangers.
Now that the family she had longed for had finally arrived, she felt that the way they were looking at her was a little strange.
’But Lin Shu is still watching.’
She mustered her courage, stood on her tiptoes, and tried to make her tiny frame look taller.
"What’s your name? Which branch are you from?" Yu Qiheng asked.
"My name is Yu... Yu Sheng!"
The little girl responded excitedly, then carefully took a step and walked toward them.
’That auntie’s smile was so gentle before. She must like me.’
With this in mind, she subconsciously moved closer to Yu Xin, reaching out to gently tug on her sleeve, wanting to act cute.
"Hm?"
The smile on the woman’s face slowly faded as she calmly glanced at the chubby little hand on her magnificent sleeve.
She didn’t get angry or scold her, but simply brushed the hand away without a change in expression and looked at her husband. "From the name, it sounds like she’s from Yu Qintian’s line. The posthumous child of that couple?"
"It should be. No wonder her innate constitution is so weak," Yu Qiheng nodded.
"I... I..."
Yu Sheng couldn’t understand what the elders were saying, but she felt like she couldn’t fit in.
’Was I not polite enough?’
’That’s right! I haven’t greeted my older siblings.’
She nervously swallowed, forcing an awkward, ingratiating smile that didn’t suit her young age, and walked toward the two boys and the girl.
The little girl bowed politely toward them, her voice trembling slightly. "Yu Sheng greets my elder... brothers..."
Before she could finish her sentence, the boy who had acted so dramatically earlier suddenly took two steps back.
The other two also glanced at Yu Sheng before turning away slightly to continue discussing their plans for after they reached Yongzhou Pass.
Up to this point, no one had said a single harsh word to the little girl.
But their three backs were like a wall.
The smile on Yu Sheng’s face stiffened. She awkwardly pulled back her hand and stood alone, at a complete loss.
Her mind couldn’t comprehend why this was happening.
’Aren’t we family?’
"This..."
Gu Nanzhi listened quietly to the couple’s conversation, and her heart skipped another beat.
The little immortal had an innate defect.
Unless one was her closest kin, it was unlikely they would hold much hope for her.
Now the woman mentioned a posthumous child... That meant her father had met with an accident, and from the looks of it, her mother was likely gone too.
Wasn’t this equivalent to passing a death sentence on her?
"Are you alright?"
Miss Yun couldn’t bear to watch any longer. She slowly walked over to Yu Sheng, knelt down, and squeezed her small hand tightly.
"Oh?"
Yu Xin suddenly sensed something. She turned her head and scrutinized Miss Yun.
A smile quickly spread across her face. "An Innate Sword Heart? Have you already learned the Cyan Bird Sword Heart Formulas?"
As soon as she said this, even the three young Immortal Descendants turned around, their eyes shining as if they had seen a treasure.
If cultivating a group of World Traveler Disciples was for the convenience of controlling future territories...
...then finding a Mountain Master Disciple would strengthen their foundation within the Immortal Sect and grant them a greater say in matters.
"Sigh," the girl was the first to understand, letting out a soft sigh.
’With Uncle Qiheng and Aunt Xin here, how could a treasure like this possibly fall to the younger generation?’
"Young lady, are you willing to return with me to the Yu Family and become a Mountain Master Disciple?" Just as expected, Yu Xin spoke decisively.
Often, this kind of disregard manifests in the details.
They knew Miss Yun had already cultivated the Sword Formulas, which meant she already had a master, yet no one thought to ask for Yu Sheng’s opinion.
The moment these words were spoken, all the disciples in the carriages above drew their curtains, looking down with expressions of shock and envy.
"I am not willing."
Miss Yun didn’t hesitate, shaking her head gently.
Hearing this, Yu Qiheng’s expression remained unchanged. He simply looked at the little girl beside them and persuaded gently, "In your current state, it will be difficult for you to help her grow. Just let your Aunt Xin have her. Once we reach Yongzhou Pass, I will find you another batch of good prospects."
"..."
Yu Sheng stood silently in place, her head lowered.
The two-faced behavior of this group of people allowed her, naive as she was, to gradually understand the situation.
Her current disappointment was as great as her earlier anticipation had been.
"She is not my disciple."
Yu Sheng took a deep breath, forced another smile, and hugged Miss Yun’s legs tightly. In a small voice, she said, "Thank you for taking care of me these past two years. Go with her. When you become a Mountain Master Disciple, remember to treat me to some good food!"
"I’ll need you to protect me in the future, you know."
’The Immortal Family is so pragmatic, even to their own relatives. Miss Yun is a young widow with no connections.’
’If she can’t achieve a high Cultivation, how could she possibly establish herself in Yongzhou?’
"I..."
Miss Yun bit her lip. She was about to refuse again when she suddenly looked at Gu Nanzhi.
’Her benefactor doesn’t need a companion, but someone capable of sharing his burdens, like County Captain Gu.’
’The little one also needs someone who can speak up for her within the family.’
"Go."
Yu Sheng gave her a gentle push.
Seeing this, a smile appeared on Yu Qiheng’s face. He glanced at his wife and said, "We’re almost at Yongzhou Pass. You can take this young lady back first. Remember to nurture her well. In a hundred years or so, she will definitely achieve Core Formation, and she might even have a hope of breaking through to Golden Core in the future."
"You don’t have to tell me."
Yu Xin shot him a look, then enveloped Miss Yun in a cyan light, carefully and protectively sending her up into the air.
She even cleared out a carriage just for her, as if Miss Yun were the true long-lost junior of the Yu Family.
"Silly child, a Mountain Master is a true disciple. Why bother mingling with that crowd..."
With these words of comfort that only Miss Yun could hear, Yu Xin had already returned to the carriage.
"Although you have an Innate Deficiency, since you have awakened, you should go with your siblings to Yongzhou Pass."
Yu Qiheng flicked his finger, sending a cyan light into Yu Sheng’s forehead. "Your Aunt Xin will remember this favor. Quickly close your eyes and absorb the inheritance. The inheritance you receive upon adulthood will be on my account as well."
Although Immortal Descendants didn’t need to practice Cultivation, at certain ages, their elders would still bestow inheritances upon them, helping them comprehend Divine Techniques and understand the world.
Faced with the vast amount of information that had appeared in her mind, Yu Sheng stood quietly, seemingly unconcerned.
"When you get to Yongzhou Pass, remember to send me a message."
Gu Nanzhi stood up. For some reason, she suddenly no longer wanted her nephew to try to join the Yu Family. It would be better to take him to the Demon-slaying Bureau to try his luck.
She walked over to Yu Sheng’s side and quietly slipped her a note. "I will introduce some disciples from good families to you."
Hearing this, the three young Immortal Descendants suddenly let out a low chuckle.
Although all mortals yearned for the Immortal Sects...
...who with even a little talent would accept such a Master?
Yu Sheng’s potential capped out at the Foundation Establishment Stage. Did these disciples plan on being Qi Cultivation Cultivators for their entire lives?
"Thank you."
Yu Sheng looked up at Gu Nanzhi.
She lowered her gaze, struggling to maintain a reserved smile, and walked over to the elder’s side, whispering something.
Yu Qiheng nodded slightly, a new chill in his voice. "Say no more. No matter which family’s brat set this up, if they had the guts to trap a member of my Yu Family, they will have to pay the price."
Regardless of Yu Sheng’s value, as long as her surname was Yu, the dignity of the Mountain God demanded that she not be bullied by just anyone.
"..."
Seeing this, Gu Nanzhi couldn’t help but feel some sympathy for the child.
Even when faced with such cold treatment, Yu Sheng hadn’t forgotten the promise she had made.
WHOOSH.
The tiny figure slowly rose into the air and, of her own accord, went to the last, empty carriage.
A gentle wind rose again, and the dozen or so carriages began to move once more.
Inside, the spacious carriage was empty and silent.
She had finally escaped those appraising, calculating gazes.
Yu Sheng curled up in a corner, hugging her knees tightly. She bit her trembling lip, not crying out loud as she usually would.
’The Yu Family really has a lot of face!’
’But I have absolutely none.’
She remembered all her previous promises: to live a carefree life of leisure with Lin Shu on the mountain, to make him a Mountain Master Disciple, to sweep across Yongzhou with him, and to take back her lost heart...
It was all lies. She couldn’t do any of it.
And he had seen everything.
’Lin Shu is never coming back!’
Her small body began to tremble violently.
Disappointment in the Yu Family, fear of the future—all these emotions converged into a river that crashed violently against her heart.
It made the young Immortal Descendant feel as if she were suffocating.
CRACK! CRACK!
As Yu Sheng trembled, the carriage suddenly jolted twice.
The Yu Family’s convoy, which had just taken off, once again hung suspended in mid-air.
"Who goes there?"
A disciple drew the curtain and looked out with a frown.
On the long street below, figures were prostrated on both sides, respectfully seeing off the Immortal Family.
Only a single figure in a slightly faded cyan robe swayed gently in the wind.
A young man stood there, calm and unruffled, holding a food box in his hand.
He looked up slightly, his voice serene.
"Under the tutelage of Yu Sheng, a World Traveler Disciple."
"Lin Shu."