Chapter 80: Selecting Treasures, Staying for One Night

Qin Xiao was only being polite. He did not really need any treasures, and did not think he would find any here. He had only agreed to put Ye Qiuyue at ease.

The group soon arrived outside the Heavenly Clothes Pavilion treasury.

“Aunt, are you truly certain about this?”

Ye Tianyi was reluctant to part with them. These treasures had taken years of hard work to collect.

“What? Does your aunt’s word carry no weight now?”

Ye Qiuyue shot Ye Tianyi a sharp look.

Her eldest brother had founded the Heavenly Clothes Pavilion for Tianyi, but after his death Ye Qiuyue had run it herself. Only when Tianyi reached the Soul Formation stage did she hand over control and take up residence at Seven Stars Peak.

Truth be told, the majority of the items in this treasury had been found by her in the first place. What harm was there in giving a small portion away?

“Oh, Aunt, that’s not what I meant. Never mind.”

Though reluctant, Ye Tianyi opened the treasury herself.

“This is the Heavenly Clothes Pavilion treasury. You may each select one item freely.”

With the doors open, she addressed Qin Xiao and his companions.

“Then I must thank Master’s Wife and Senior Sister.”

Qin Xiao thanked them and went straight in. He would just pick any item.

Qin Xiao let Yun Man and Lin Shimeng choose first. He was their master; how could he compete with his disciples? He would pick any item afterward.

Yun Man and Lin Shimeng showed no false modesty. Each selected a Low Grade Dharma Treasure.

Ye Tianyi was visibly pained at the expense, but could say nothing and could only force a smile.

“Master, these shoes would suit you.”

Yun Man had chosen her item and was about to leave when she noticed a pair of shoes placed at the very top. A closer look showed they were a Middle Grade Dharma Treasure, so she called to Qin Xiao.

“Shoes? All right, I’ll take those. Fetch them for me.”

Qin Xiao said no more and had Yun Man bring them over.

“Why not look at something else, Junior Brother?”

Ye Tianyi could no longer hold back. This Middle Grade Dharma Treasure was the most expensive item in her treasury.

“Oh, it’s fine. I’m just picking something; there’s no need to make a fuss. Don’t worry, Senior Sister. It’s the thought that counts, whatever it costs.”

Qin Xiao thought Ye Tianyi was worried he would lose out by choosing a pair of shoes so casually. He quickly assured her that the price did not matter; it was the thought that counted.

“Aunt…” This chapter was copied from NovelPing without permission.

Unable to explain her distress, Ye Tianyi pleaded with her aunt. This was her favorite treasure, practically the perfect tool for escaping danger.

“Give it to him.”

Ye Qiuyue knew the shoes were expensive, but compared with the Saint Origin Spirit Fruit Qin Xiao had given her, they were not costly at all.

“Aunt, be honest. Is he your child with Elder Qin? Why else are you so generous to him?”

Seeing how well her aunt treated Qin Xiao, Ye Tianyi asked jealously.

“What nonsense are you talking about? Changqing and I agreed we would not have children before the Tribulation Transcendence stage. Stop talking nonsense.”

Ye Qiuyue had not expected that question and grew annoyed.

Qin Xiao and his two disciples heard their exchange too.

“I still don’t understand. You’re far too good to him. Even if he isn’t your child together, could Qin Xiao be Elder Qin’s illegitimate son? His surname is Qin too.”

Ye Tianyi really could not accept it. Why? Her aunt had never treated her so well. They were the ones who were family!

Qin Xiao stood there looking awkward, with no idea what to say. What was going on?

Lin Shimeng and Yun Man whispered to each other.

“Do you think Master is Elder Qin’s illegitimate son?”

“How would I know? I only joined a little over three months ago. Didn’t you grow up in the Tianyuan Sect? Don’t you know?”

“I don’t know either. Grandpa Qin suddenly brought him back over three years ago and said nothing. The sect did ask, but Grandpa Qin insisted on taking him as his Personal Disciple. No one could do anything, so they accepted it. Then, three days later, Grandpa Qin died fighting for the sect. I don’t know either.”

“It doesn’t matter. Whether he is or not makes no difference to me. Nothing changes.”

Yun Man was neither curious about Qin Xiao’s origins nor concerned about them. All she needed to remember was that Qin Xiao treated her well and was her master.

“All right. It doesn’t matter.”

Although Lin Shimeng said that too, she was even more curious now. She would definitely ask her father when they returned to the sect.

“Impossible. I investigated Qin Xiao. He is only nineteen this year. Nineteen years ago, Changqing and I were in secluded cultivation together and never parted. How could he be Changqing’s illegitimate son?”

Ye Qiuyue directly rejected Ye Tianyi’s speculation.

“Why is it impossible? There are ways to delay a birth. Ask him whether he had a father as a child, or whether only his mother raised him.”

Ye Tianyi would not give up until she found an answer today. She felt too wronged.

“Xiao’er, tell her, so she’ll be quiet.”

Ye Tianyi had infuriated Ye Qiuyue too, but what could she do? This was her own niece. Surely she could not really beat her?

“Ah?”

Before Qin Xiao had even worked out what was going on, they were already asking him to prove his own origins. This chapter was copied from novelping(.)com without permission.

The problem was, he could not.

He had crossed over in soul, not in body. His first memory upon opening his eyes was of lying on Qin Changqing’s flying sword. Back at Seven Stars Peak, he had become Qin Changqing’s disciple while still dazed. He knew only that his name was Qin Xiao; he knew nothing else and had none of the former occupant’s memories.

He wondered why the original body could not cultivate either. Had it always been unable to, or had his arrival caused it? How was he supposed to recall his childhood? He had never received those memories.

“What’s wrong, Xiao’er?” Ye Qiuyue asked worriedly when she saw him staring into space.

“Nothing. My master probably isn’t my father. I’m much more handsome, and I don’t look like him either. I can’t explain the rest,” Qin Xiao answered vaguely.

He was beginning to suspect it himself. Could he really be his master’s illegitimate son? Damn, what was going on?

“Exactly. How could Xiao’er be Changqing’s illegitimate son? Changqing had a Heavenly Spirit Root. If Xiao’er were his child, how could he be unable to cultivate?” Ye Qiuyue quickly argued back when she heard Qin Xiao’s answer. Though she had her own doubts, it made no sense.

“Then why are you so good to Qin Xiao? You treat him better than your own niece.”

Ye Tianyi knew she was probably wrong, but she still spoke petulantly.

“Come on, Senior Sister. You’re over two hundred and still getting jealous? Come and talk with me in private.”

Qin Xiao pulled Ye Tianyi aside. Although reluctant, she also wanted to hear what he had to say. Once they were a little farther away, Qin Xiao secretly took out a Saint Origin Spirit Fruit and handed it to her.

“Senior Sister, we’re all on the same side. I won’t compete with you for her affection. Here’s a small token of my goodwill. Can we let this matter go now?” Qin Xiao said furtively.

“What? Could this be…”

“Shh, don’t say it. I’ve only given one to Master’s Wife, and this second one is for you, Senior Sister. You know how valuable it is, so take it quietly. No loud noises.”

Ye Tianyi knew how valuable it was and quickly accepted it without another word.

No wonder Aunt was so generous to Qin Xiao, Ye Tianyi thought. Her rapid breakthrough must have been thanks to the Saint Origin Spirit Fruit he had given her. Now everything made sense.

The two returned to the treasury entrance.

“Take it, take it! Take anything you like. Your Senior Sister isn’t stingy!” With the Saint Origin Spirit Fruit in hand, Ye Tianyi was suddenly generous.

“Nothing else. We’ll just take what we chose earlier. If there’s nothing more, we should go back to the Tianyuan Sect. We’ve been out for two days.”

Qin Xiao had only wanted to build a good relationship, so he would not really choose more treasures.

“Leaving already, Xiao’er? Your Master’s Wife hasn’t properly entertained you yet,” Ye Qiuyue said quickly when she heard he wanted to return.

“Master’s Wife, our visit has been short, but we still have to compete for the sect’s Spirit Medicine Valley places. The valley opens in three months, and the contests for the places are in two months. We need to return and cultivate.”

Qin Xiao had agreed to come to Tianyi City only to learn the route and look around. He had never intended to stay long.

“It’s late today. Leave tomorrow instead.”

Seeing that Qin Xiao was determined, Ye Qiuyue said no more. She only asked him to wait until tomorrow morning to leave.