Volume 3, Chapter 281 – How to Weigh

Chi Xiyan was surprised. She looked at Lu Zhuxin.

She could see genuine admiration on this girl’s face.

When those innocent, wide eyes gazed at her with such warmth and enthusiasm, Chi Xiyan felt something stir in her own heart.

She reached out and patted Lu Zhuxin on the head.

“Then how about I teach you some other sword techniques later?”

Lu Zhuxin squinted her eyes contentedly. “Sure, Sister.”

Chi Jingwen watched the affectionate exchange between the two sisters before him, his expression growing complicated.

He cleared his throat softly. “That Muxue possesses such talent is an honor for the Chi family.”

“Xiyan, you are also a sword cultivator. For the next few days, you will guide Muxue through her cultivation first. After some time passes…”

Chi Jingwen paused. “Muxue’s constitution is unique. Although the Chi family does not lack cultivation resources, we do not have a teacher suited to guide her.”

“Finding a suitable and trustworthy master for Muxue will take some time.”

Chi Xiyan responded in silence.

The Chi family was indeed the wealthiest in the land. But although their wealth could purchase rare secret manuals from any sect, it could not buy the centuries-old foundation and heritage those sects had built over generations.

Under the Chi family’s banner, there were indeed quite a few sword cultivators in their employ, and they maintained good relations with many sword cultivation sects.

Yet those were mediocre cultivators at best, only slightly stronger than Chi Xiyan herself. To serve as Chi Muxue’s teacher, they were far from qualified.

Chi Xiyan pressed her lips together. “Father… I believe Muxue’s best destination is one of the Seven Sword Sects.”

Lu Zhuxin blinked, something coming to mind. “Sister, are you thinking of sending me to Lingxiao Sword Sect?”

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“Mm.” Chi Xiyan nodded. “Lingxiao Sword Sect stands at the head of the Seven Sword Sects, and Immortal Venerable Qingzhi herself presides over Lingxiao Mountain. Taking a master there would be your best option.”

Lu Zhuxin understood.

Chi Xiyan had another reason for choosing Lingxiao Sword Sect—her engagement to Song Shixuan.

In the original novel that Lu Zhuxin had once written, Chi Xiyan attended Lingxiao Sword Sect’s disciple recruitment ceremony, and with talent that was anything but ordinary, she had been taken in as a disciple there.

From there followed all manner of storylines with the male lead.

Since the engagement already existed, Lingxiao Sword Sect was naturally the Chi family’s best move.

Hmph.

Song Shixuan was Qu Qingtang’s disciple.

Chi Xiyan had agreed to the Song family so eagerly. Organizing an engagement banquet, even moving up the wedding date; all because she intended to use Song Shixuan’s connections to attach herself to Qu Qingtang.

Thinking this, Lu Zhuxin couldn’t help but laugh silently to herself.

What a pity.

Immortal Venerable Qingzhi, Qu Qingtang, was already gone.

The Seven Sword Sects had sealed all news of it. Virtually no one in the outside world knew of Immortal Venerable Qingzhi’s fall.

If Chi Xiyan hoped to have Chi Muxue take Qu Qingtang as her master, every last one of those plans would end in failure.

But this card, Immortal Venerable Qingzhi’s death, was not one Lu Zhuxin intended to play just yet.

Without Immortal Venerable Qingzhi, Lingxiao Sword Sect still had other elders of deep cultivation in the Eighth Realm. That was Lingxiao Sword Sect’s true foundation.

What Lu Zhuxin needed to do was not merely destroy this marriage, but to completely sever every tie between the Chi family and Lingxiao Sword Sect.

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“The matter of finding Muxue a master still requires further deliberation. It is too important to settle carelessly.” Chi Jingwen said. “Let us leave it at that for now. I will think it over for a few more days.”

“Yes, Father.” No change crossed Chi Xiyan’s expression. She had long grown accustomed to Chi Jingwen’s caution.

After bowing alongside Lu Zhuxin to the family head, she took Lu Zhuxin’s hand and led her out.

Once the two girls had gone, the warmth drained entirely from Chi Jingwen’s face.

A shadow settled between his brows.

He walked several steps and pulled from a drawer the slip of paper bearing the name “Song Shiyuan.”

“Song Shiyuan…”

Chi Jingwen’s expression was troubled—doubt and restless unease swirling in his eyes. His fist clenched on its own.

The paper crumpled beneath his grip.

But the clenched fist soon relaxed.

He smoothed the paper flat, a pensive look settling over his eyes.

He couldn’t quite figure out that girl’s background.

Someone who had schemed her way into another family’s home as an impostor… and yet turned out to be the reincarnation of a Venerable Saint—an occurrence perhaps once in tens of millions of years?

Was that reasonable?!

It made absolutely no sense.

The reincarnation of a Venerable Saint, possessing a Holy Sword Body—that kind of talent, no matter which family or sect encountered it, would be carefully nurtured and cultivated with every resource at hand.

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If that girl had truly been sent by someone, would the hand behind it not have tested her spiritual roots and talent beforehand?

Or had whoever was pulling the strings grown so powerful that even a Holy Sword Body meant nothing to them?

Chi Jingwen’s face darkened. He slowly gathered the documents and pressed them to the very back of the cabinet.

Judged purely by worth, there was simply no comparison to be made between the two girls.

The Chi family was a merchant family. And what merchants did best was measure value, and weigh the gains against the losses.

…

On the other side, Chi Xiyan escorted Lu Zhuxin back to her courtyard.

“Little Xue’er, here is an introductory qi-refining technique for sword cultivators. Look through it first.”

“Your constitution is something I have never encountered before. I will need to go back and search through the records. Once I understand it better, I’ll come teach you.”

“Alright, Sister.” Lu Zhuxin answered obediently.

Chi Xiyan’s gaze swept past Lu Zhuxin to the space behind her.

Bu Lianshuang was walking out of the courtyard with a broom in hand.

She looked at Chi Xiyan and Lu Zhuxin, her face carrying no particular feeling. “Eldest Miss is back,” she said evenly.

Chi Xiyan’s eyes narrowed slightly.

She did not entirely trust this Fifth Realm female martial cultivator.

But since a Dao Contract had been signed, her loyalty was not in question.

Steadying herself, Chi Xiyan said, “Protect her well. She is very important to the Chi family.”

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Bu Lianshuang was mildly taken aback.

Humans, do they really need to spell out something like this?

Even without you saying a word, I would still protect the little fox miss.

Thinking this to herself, Bu Lianshuang gave a nod, her voice low and steady. “I will, Eldest Miss. I will protect her with my life.”

“I hope so.” Chi Xiyan lowered her eyes slightly, exchanged a few more words with Lu Zhuxin, and then left in a hurry.

Lu Zhuxin could read the faint shadow of worry etched between Chi Xiyan’s brows.

It seemed that having a genius little sister had brought Chi Xiyan no small amount of trouble.

“Miss, what happened?” Bu Lianshuang asked at once. “Why did those humans take you away so suddenly? They didn’t do anything to you, did they?”

Lu Zhuxin was in a decent enough mood. “A small incident occurred,” she said. “The Chi residence’s attitude toward us may change quite a bit from here on.”

“Chi Jingwen may also station more skilled fighters around the area. Be careful not to give yourself away.”

Bu Lianshuang nodded. “I will be careful, Miss.”

Lu Zhuxin was satisfied with that answer. She walked quickly toward her room.

She already had the rough shape of a plan forming in her mind for how to break through the current situation. What she needed to do now was to arrange those plans and set them in motion.

Bu Lianshuang watched Lu Zhuxin’s retreating figure, biting lightly at her own thin lip.

The little fox still wouldn’t tell her anything…

Just what would it take to truly draw close to her? To earn her trust?