Xiao Lei raised her hand to catch the storage pouch, then took out a communication jade slip. Right in front of Yunxi, she pierced the tip of her middle finger and let a drop of blood fall onto the slip. After forming several intricate hand seals, she wiped the cold sweat from her brow, entered a message, and waited for her brother's reply.
On the other side, Xiao He had spent the last seven days searching everywhere for information. Because the secret realm belonged to the Su Family of the Western Region, there was little news in the Central Region. He spent extra time and spirit stones to travel to a city closer to the center to ask around.
Yet just as the "Young Master" had said, the secret realm vanished suddenly and left no useful clues. Every trace had been erased. He began to worry that Wei Yunxi had failed to rescue his sister.
As his anxiety grew and he was about to contact Yunxi, the long-silent communication jade slip in his storage ring vibrated. He paused mid-step and walked into a robe shop by the roadside.
The shop attendant greeted him warmly. "Honored customer, what style of robe would you like?"
Xiao He casually pointed to a black robe hanging on the wall. "That one. I want to change into it now."
Seeing that the customer did not even ask the price, the attendant beamed. "Certainly, this way please. I will fetch it at once."
Xiao He did not truly intend to buy a robe. He only wanted a private space to read the jade slip, knowing that people were surely watching him nearby.
When he saw the news that his sister had safely arrived at Haoran Sect, he finally exhaled in relief. The slip used the Xiao clan's bloodline secret art. If the sender was not a direct blood relative, they could not even imprint a message on it. He was certain his sister had truly been rescued.
Relief gave way to mixed feelings. To keep suspicion off him, Wei Yunxi had really destroyed a secret realm, left no traces, and stirred no doubts. With means like that, he felt evil cultivators would not be able to cause much of a splash in Weiyu Realm.
After confirming his sister's safety, Xiao He sent the first reply. Then he changed into the new robe, disguised himself simply, and acted as if he were returning to the Western Region to investigate. He boarded a Tianlin airship bound for the Western Region.
Haoran Sect, Lingxue Peak
Xiao Lei handed the jade slip to Yunxi. "This is the message from my brother. He says we should act the part all the way. He has already boarded an airship back to the Western Region and has obtained important information that he wishes to deliver to Wei Yunxi Zhēnjūn in person."
Yunxi did not take the slip with her hand. She sent her divine sense into it, skimmed the contents, then withdrew her sense and arched a brow. "It seems your brother cares a great deal about you. He says he is bringing intelligence, but most likely he wants to see you to make sure you are truly unharmed. Cautious of him."
Xiao Lei pressed her lips together and did not answer. She wanted to see her brother too. He was the only family she had left.
Yunxi propped her chin with one hand. "Do not worry. I will let the two of you meet. Whether for the task or for future cooperation, I cannot leave you with regrets."
Xiao Lei cupped her hands. "Many thanks to Wei Yunxi Zhēnjūn for granting this."
Yunxi waved it off. "Xiao Lei, do not think I am merely using your brother. Some harm, once done, cannot be undone. Do you still remember my younger uncle, Wei Lingkai?"
Hearing that name again, Xiao Lei felt as if a lifetime had passed. Back then, the budding stirrings of her heart led her to help the man she admired, yet the result was something she never wished to face.
She gave a bitter little nod. "I remember."
Yunxi did not cater to her complicated feelings. She spoke evenly. "Wei Lingkai had his Shengji drained by an evil formation. His hair turned white in a single breath. I brought him back to the sect and he secluded himself for ten years just to cling to life.
Though he forced a Golden Core, the source of his Shengji was damaged. He will not live the eight hundred years a Golden Core cultivator should have. His immortal path ends at Golden Core. Do you think he deserved such an end?"
The color drained from Xiao Lei's face. She had thought the matter was over once Wei Lingkai was saved. She had not expected that her brother's choice back then would sever Wei Lingkai's path to immortality.
"So, Xiao Lei, do not say your brother had no choice, and do not say I lack reason to kill him. He must be responsible for every decision he makes."
Xiao Lei's lips trembled. Eyes reddening, she nodded.
"Then focus on recovery. If anything arises, send me a message talisman." Yunxi handed her a stack of talismans, then flashed away from the little courtyard and returned to her own residence on the mountainside.
Dian Dian hopped out from Yunxi's sleeve, stretched, and asked, "Master, that Xiao Lei does not seem like a cultivator at all. She only knows how to rail at the heavens and cry. Crying solves nothing.
Since she was rescued, she should be content, put herself in the right frame of mind, and make the most of her value, not wear the face of a victim."
Yunxi rubbed Dian Dian's head. "I did not expect it, but you, a little mouse, see things more clearly than she does. Xiao Lei indeed struggles to face reality. She was protected too well before. After her family fell into ruin, she could not accept it. Her own brother became everyone's target.
She hid her name and lived as a loose cultivator for ten years. Only she knows what that tasted like. Over time it is inevitable to grow resentful. If she cannot blame herself, she can only blame her brother, blame my uncle, even blame me."
She could understand this mindset, but she would not accept it.
Dian Dian flicked his black ears. "Master is right. You struck her hard just now. I believe it will help her adjust her stance.
Master, will you really let the siblings meet?"
"Meeting once is fine. Consider it a calming pill for both of them. But I will still leave proper contingencies. They are not worth my wholehearted trust."
Yunxi rubbed her fingers thoughtfully.
"That is good then. Dian Dian does not like those two siblings. But if they can help Master, Dian Dian will tolerate them for now."
Dian Dian always spoke his mind.
"That wrongs our Dian Dian. I will send you back into the space first. Check whether the beasts from those secret realms have settled. Build rapport with them and learn their strengths. We may need them later."
"Yes, Master."
"And check on the descendants of the Wu tribe. After the siblings meet, I intend to send them out of the space. Keeping them inside forever is not a solution."
"Understood, Master."
Yunxi waved her sleeve and sent Dian Dian into the space.
Just as Yunxi decided to enter a short seclusion, a message talisman from Feng Jiaqing flew into Lingxue Peak.
At the same time, Yunxi's Master, Yu Ling, appeared in the main hall on Haoran Peak to discuss with Sect Master Yu Geng the matter of Yunxi taking charge of Lingxue Peak.
Yu Feng pressed a hand to his chest. "Senior Brother, is this not a bit early? Yunxi's strength may be sufficient, but a peak lord is not chosen by strength alone."
Yu Ling's face remained as cold as ever, though his tone was gentler than usual. "It is fine. Lingxue Peak has always passed down a single line. Yunxi has exceeded my expectations. She is capable of sitting in the seat of a peak lord."