The letter.
It also mentioned one more thing.
It was about Qin Zhenren's Golden Core celebration.
For this celebration, Qin Zhenren hadn't invited many Foundation Establishment rogue cultivators—only a handful. And Wei Tu was one of them.
"We spent three years together in that secret realm. That counts as having gone through life and death together." Glancing at the invitation tucked inside the letter, Wei Tu wasn't surprised at all.
Some people, even after knowing each other for years, remain strangers.
Others, after just one meeting, become confidants.
His bond with Qin Zhenren hadn't quite reached the level of close friendship, but during their time in the Yunze Secret Realm, they'd fought side by side, faced mortal danger together. That alone had built a foundation of trust between them.
Besides, even before the secret realm expedition, they had engaged in several large-scale pill trades, each gaining what they needed from the other.
Now that Qin Zhenren had formed his Golden Core, even if he no longer cared about the past, the pill trade wasn't something that could be ignored. He still needed to make profit from Wei Tu, a rogue cultivator—so there was no way he'd look down on him.
People only look down on those who are of no use to them.
Wei Tu was well aware that, as a second-rank high-grade talisman master, he was still quite useful to Qin Zhenren.
Even now, despite forming his Golden Core, Qin Zhenren wouldn't instantly gain access to the wealth or equipment expected at that level.
He'd still need to rely on earnings from his Foundation Establishment-level contacts to gather more resources.
"The celebration is on the sixth day of next month. That's roughly a month from now." Wei Tu glanced at the date on the invitation and made a mental note.
Then, another matter came to mind.
Three years ago, Fu Lin had written, saying he would send another letter—or meet with them—within three years.
But now, three years had passed.
And there was still no word from him.
"Maybe something delayed him," Wei Tu tried to stay optimistic.
The conflict between righteous and demonic sects was brutal.
Righteous sects weren't having an easy time of it, but the demonic sects weren't doing any better either. Cultivators from both sides were dying every day, vanishing from the path of cultivation.
All Wei Tu could do was hope that Fu Lin, that drifting cultivator, had made it through safely.
…
Leaving his cave residence—
Wei Tu thought for a moment and headed to Wei Yan's cave.
He handed over three fully matured Seven-Colored Phantom Moths, grown with Spirit Dew, to Wei Yan.
After all, the Snow Spirit Water he'd given her was limited. It wasn't enough to nurture Seven-Colored Phantom Moths to maturity within just two years.
At that moment, Wei Tu noticed something off—Wei Yan seemed distracted, a little downcast.
He instantly understood.
She, too, was worrying about Fu Lin.
After all, someone like Fu Lin didn't seem like the kind of person who'd go back on his word.
If he hadn't shown up, it could only mean one of two things—either something had held him back, or… he'd run into danger, possibly even perished.
"No one can fight fate forever. Not just Fu Lin, even me—no matter how cautious or prepared—I might one day fall along the path of cultivation too…" Wei Tu said gently, trying to comfort her.
Back in the mortal world, Fu Lin and Wei Yan had grown up together, childhood sweethearts.
Even after Wei Yan declared she'd never marry, her relationship with Fu Lin had never been strained by it.
At Xinghua's funeral, the top-grade spiritual apricot gifted by Fu Lin was all the proof needed.
Later on, Fu Lin had risked danger to deliver two secret letters containing intel on the demonic sects.
Though those letters concerned Wei Tu and the descendants of the Fu Clan, he knew that Wei Yan had played a major part in his motivation.
"I understand, Father." Wei Yan dabbed her eyes with a handkerchief, quietly tucking away her emotions again.
Seeing this—
A look of admiration appeared in Wei Tu's eyes.
To not let emotions interfere with cultivation—this alone already put Wei Yan ahead of most of her peers.
…
Leaving Wei Yan's cave—
Wei Tu made a trip to the nearby marketplace. There, he sought out the Jiu Yun Merchant Guild and purchased a Condensed Foundation Pill along with some talisman crafting materials.
The Condensed Foundation Pill was a reward he had promised to Qi Feng.
Now that two and a half years had passed and the three-year mark was approaching, it was about time to fulfill that promise.
As for the talisman materials—
Wei Tu planned to use the remaining month to draw as many Wood Thunder Talismans as he could. One reason was to build up his reserves, the other was to use the talismans as a congratulatory gift for Qin Zhenren.
Just like with the Xuanhou Qi Clan—
Gifting a second-rank high-grade talisman publicly was his way of declaring that he had already reached that level in talisman mastery.
It would solidify his reputation as a prodigy in the Dao of Talismans.
Relationships based on favors alone, without real value, always eventually faded.
In no time, a month passed.
Thanks to his effort, Wei Tu successfully completed six finished Wood Thunder Talismans.
"With mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivation, drawing this talisman still feels a bit forced. Once I reach late-stage, I should be able to make them with ease," Wei Tu said, smiling at the stack of talismans on his desk.
He flicked his sleeve and swept the talismans into his storage pouch.
Then he made ready to leave Xiaya Cliff's Mei Family, heading toward Mirror Water Pavilion to attend the Golden Core celebration.
But just as he reached the Mei Family's main gate—
He spotted a familiar figure standing several li away, weather-worn and hesitant.
"Second Brother?" Wei Tu blinked in surprise and stepped forward.
"How long have you been here? Why didn't you come in and call for me?" Wei Tu quickly asked.
Even as he spoke, he had already guessed the reason why Wei Fei was standing outside and hadn't stepped through the gate.
After Wei Fei failed to form his Foundation.
As a Qi Refinement cultivator, a natural gap formed between him and the few of them who had already reached Foundation Establishment.
And as time passed, that gap only grew wider.
So much so that, after more than twenty years, Wei Fei didn't even dare step into the Xiaya Cliff Mei Family's gates. He was afraid of exposing his "weakened self" to the brother who had once fought beside him.
Wei Tu understood. Back in the day, though Wei Fei had always acted easygoing, he'd actually been sensitive and thin-skinned at heart.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have had such a hard time getting along with Fu Zhizhou back in the mortal world.
"Just got here, just got here—not long at all," Wei Fei waved his hand and forced a smile as he explained.
But Wei Tu felt a twinge of pain hearing that. Just by sensing the lingering aura where Wei Fei had been standing, he could tell Wei Fei had been here for at least seven or eight days.
Back then, both of them had been military officers, sharing drinks and meat at Cuiyun Tower, talking about everything under the sun. After drinking, they'd even share the same bed.
But now, more than a hundred years later, that old brother had come to see him—yet didn't even dare to knock. He'd just waited… outside the gate.
After chatting briefly, Wei Tu invited Wei Fei into his cave residence and had him sit down.
"A few years ago, you wrote to ask me about Hongri Sect," Wei Fei said after a few drinks of spirit wine. "I sorted through some of our master's belongings and found a few clues."
"My master wasn't always alone. Before taking me in, he once had a Dao companion. Maybe… my shiniang still has some Hongri Sect cultivation manuals."
"Shiniang?" Wei Tu blinked in surprise.
He had shared a decent friendship with Immortal Master Wu, but never once had he heard the man mention anything about a Dao companion.
Clearly, there must've been some hidden pain behind it.
He took the jade slip from Wei Fei and scanned it with his divine sense. At once, he understood.
It was a final message from Immortal Master Wu, addressed to Wei Fei.
Turns out, Immortal Master Wu's former Dao companion was named Ye Hong. In their early years, they had been deeply in love. But later, Ye Hong had fallen for someone else—someone with better prospects. She forced Master Wu to agree to a separation and went on to marry a young Foundation Establishment cultivator.
In the letter, Immortal Master Wu had asked Wei Fei that if he ever became strong enough, he must avenge him—must resolve this bitter grudge.
"Pretty tragic, huh…" Wei Fei sighed. "Master even set a restriction on the jade slip. If my cultivation wasn't high enough, I could only read the first part of the letter."
"But once I reached a certain level, I'd unlock the second part."
"Master probably never expected that I… I'd fail to form my Foundation, but still somehow reach Qi Refinement level ten, just enough to break the restriction."
He sounded both bitter and resigned.
Qi Refinement level ten—neither here nor there.
Able to read the second part of the letter, yet powerless to fulfill its wish.
"Thanks, Second Brother." Wei Tu nodded and accepted the jade slip.
But he didn't promise to kill Ye Hong to avenge Master Wu.
After all, he didn't owe Master Wu that much.
More than two hundred years had passed.
Back then, that young Foundation Establishment cultivator—if they hadn't died—was probably now at least a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator.
Wei Tu had accepted a favor from Wei Fei, not Master Wu. There was no need for him to make enemies out of someone of that level.
Besides—
After two hundred years, Ye Hong herself might have already passed away, just like Master Wu.
If that were the case, the revenge would be meaningless.
"Besides the Hongri Sect matter, I also came this time to buy that Foundation Establishment spiritual item you mentioned—with spirit stones," Wei Fei said, pulling a pouch from his storage bag and handing it over. "Third Brother, please count it. Exactly two thousand five hundred spirit stones."
"What?"
"You managed to gather that many?"
Wei Tu was stunned.
He didn't say it aloud, but he was deeply surprised.
Given Wei Fei's abilities, even scraping together one thousand spirit stones over the past ten years would've been impressive. But two thousand five hundred?
Still, he didn't ask. He didn't dig into how Wei Fei had come up with the money.
He accepted the spirit stone pouch, then pulled out a jade box and handed it to Wei Fei.
"This jade box holds the Foundation Establishment spiritual item I obtained from the secret realm."
"Thank you, Third Brother." Wei Fei's eyes turned red with emotion as he saw the item inside. All his hopes were riding on this.
Items like this had a price, but no market.
If not for his bond with Wei Tu, he might've never gotten his hands on something like it—not in this life.
And certainly not at this price.
Though Wei Tu hadn't asked about where the two thousand five hundred spirit stones came from, he still asked Wei Fei how he planned to use the spiritual item.
Because while this was only one spiritual item—getting another would be extremely difficult.
And most sects required two to exchange for a single Foundation Establishment Pill.
"There's a Pill Master Song in the Wandering Immortal Alliance who's experienced in refining Foundation Establishment Pills," Wei Fei explained. "With one spiritual item and some spirit stones, he can give me one pill."
Hearing that, Wei Tu finally understood.
No wonder Wei Fei was so overwhelmed with joy.
Wei Tu had long been well-fed—he couldn't understand what it felt like to go truly hungry.
In truth, using two Foundation Establishment spiritual items to exchange with a sect for one Foundation Establishment Pill was considered a luxury among the scattered cultivator community.
Most rogue cultivators would instead look for a familiar pill master and pool resources for alchemy.
Of course, being extravagant had its perks.
First, exchanging with a sect meant there was no need to wait for a pill master to open a furnace—you could get a ready-made Foundation Establishment Pill right away.
Second, pills from sects generally had higher quality than those refined by rogue pill masters.
It was a sure win.
Whereas pooled alchemy could end up with fewer pills than expected—and if you got nothing in the end, it was like drawing water with a bamboo basket.
Even if you got refunded in spirit stones afterward, spirit stones could never compare to Foundation Establishment spiritual items.
"I'll congratulate you in advance... Second Brother, may your Foundation Establishment succeed." Wei Tu smiled.
Over the years, he'd learned a bit about the Wandering Immortal Alliance.
It was formed by scattered cultivators in response to the three major sects forcing them to enlist in the war.
Unlike the Shuyun Alliance, a small underground group, the Wandering Immortal Alliance was a true giant.
In terms of cultivator numbers, it was just slightly smaller than the three major sects.
At the top, the alliance boasted seventeen Golden Core True Lords.
The only drawback—it had no Nascent Soul cultivators, leaving it a step below the three sects.
Currently, it maintained a semi-cooperative relationship with them.
…
After one final cup of spirit wine, Wei Fei cupped his fists, bowed deeply to Wei Tu, and took his leave.
Wei Tu didn't try to stop him.
So many years had passed; there was a growing distance between them. They were no longer the "good brothers" who once slept side by side and talked about everything.
People change.
Relationships—whether family, kin, or friendship—shift with time and rarely go back to how they were.
Unless, of course, Wei Fei succeeded in forming his Foundation this time.
If not, then no matter how many heartfelt words he spoke, they would only widen the gap further.
After Wei Fei left.
Wei Tu set off toward the Baishi Lake Marketplace, where Mirror Water Pavilion was located.
The journey passed in silence.
With Kou Hongying's guidance, Wei Tu arrived smoothly at Mirror Water Pavilion, heading straight to Jinyun Tower, the same place where he'd attended the previous Foundation Establishment celebration.
"Fellow Daoist Wei."
Along the way, several Mirror Water Pavilion cultivators greeted him.
Wei Tu wasn't surprised.
Although he hadn't visited often and didn't know these people personally, thanks to past pill transactions, many Foundation Establishment cultivators in Mirror Water Pavilion had heard of this second-rank high-grade talisman master.
What they didn't know, however, was that Wei Tu was no longer a Huang Clan retainer—he was now a Foundation Establishment rogue cultivator, avoiding sect conscription.
Of course, the Foundation Establishment cultivators of Mirror Water Pavilion had no way of knowing this.
The conscription lists were in the hands of Pavilion high-ups—managed by Golden Core True Lords. Ordinary cultivators had no access.
Wei Tu remained cordial, responding with proper courtesy to each who greeted him.
"Wei Tu, Wei Zhenren, here to congratulate Qin Zhenren on achieving Golden Core, presenting four second-rank high-grade talismans."
His greeting was soon passed from the entrance to the interior of Jinyun Tower.
The cultivators inside were visibly surprised. After all, second-rank high-grade talisman masters were extremely rare in Zheng Kingdom—nearly extinct.
"Please, Fellow Daoist Wei, take the honored seat."
Qin Zhenren stepped out with a smile, personally guiding Wei Tu to the table reserved for close friends and family.
To his left sat a familiar face—Senior Brother Zhu, whom he had met previously.
This Senior Brother Zhu was Qin Zhenren's nephew.
After waiting for half a day, the banquet began. Attendants brought in spirit wine and a variety of dishes.
"Wei Shushu, greetings."
Zhu Renjie raised his cup and toasted Wei Tu.
Compared to his rudeness during Kou Hongying's Foundation Establishment celebration, Zhu Renjie now addressed him warmly as "Uncle Wei," showing sincere courtesy.
No one slaps a smiling face.
Wei Tu didn't hold a grudge. He clinked cups with Zhu Renjie and engaged in light conversation.
Three days later.
The Golden Core Celebration Banquet came to an end.
Wei Tu had planned to find an opportunity to discuss pill transactions with Qin Zhenren.
But unexpectedly, Qin Zhenren sent someone to invite him first—to her private residence.
"Senior Qin, you invited me. May I ask what's the matter?" Wei Tu was puzzled as he looked at the woman in white palace robes standing with her back to him. He lowered his head and cupped his hands.
Thanks to Mirror Water Pavilion's beautifying techniques, Qin Zhenren looked even more stunning than she had over a decade ago—like a fairy untouched by worldly dust.
"Wei Tu?" Qin Zhenren turned and gave him a once-over, frowning slightly. "You look so plain. I don't know how you ended up etched into my mind. I can't forget you. Strange! So strange!"
She said "strange" several times.
"Etched into your mind?"
Wei Tu was stunned. A certain unsettling rumor about the cultivation world came to mind.
—When a cultivator closes themselves off to break through to a major realm, they may suffer mental trauma from the life-and-death experience, resulting in memory loss.
And Qin Zhenren right now—her rambling speech was a clear sign of that.
"Why would Qin Zhenren have me etched into her memory… unable to forget?"
Wei Tu frowned to himself.
He knew better than to assume her ambiguous words meant she had any real affection for him.
"Could it be…"
A chill ran through Wei Tu's heart as he realized what might be the real reason Qin Zhenren had been thinking about him all this time.