"I knew Junior Sister already had a plan." Hall Master Jian Li sat steady and composed, not taking Wei Chengze seriously at all.
"As for wind-attribute arts, Senior Brother Jian Hua of Tianhua Peak—"
"No need. I stole Wei Xueru right out from under Senior Brother Jian Hua's nose. I will handle the matter of her cultivation art myself. There is still time before Foundation Establishment."
"Good. As long as you have a plan."
"Senior Brother, since I am here, let me ask, has there been any reply from the Purple Sky Sect? What have they decided?"
Jian Li's brows creased slightly, then smoothed. "The Purple Sky Sect has not replied. I estimate that spatial rift can hold out a while longer. Otherwise they would have acted already. Do not worry. When their message arrives, I will have Zhengrong notify you at once."
"In that case, I trouble you, Senior Brother."
With business done, Jian Dan pulled Wei Xueru closer and said with a smile to Jian Li: "Senior Brother, this is my third disciple and closed-door disciple, Wei Xueru."
She winked at Wei Xueru. "Hurry and pay respects to your Martial Uncle."
Wei Xueru bobbed her small head, stepped forward, and bowed respectfully. "Wei Xueru pays respects to Martial Uncle."
Jian Li shook his head helplessly, lifted her up, and handed over a storage pouch. "This is a greeting gift from your Martial Uncle. I know your Master is rich and has surely prepared your cultivation resources. As for other items, buy whatever you like."
"Many thanks, Martial Uncle." At Jian Dan's nod, Wei Xueru accepted the pouch and returned to her Master's side.
With the proper courtesies exchanged, Jian Dan took Wei Xueru and briskly left the Law Enforcement Hall.
Jian Li told Wei Zhengrong to see them off, which was really to give the siblings a moment to say goodbye.
Though both were in the Heavenly Sword Sect, each had their own path to walk. They could no longer meet as freely as they had in the clan. One trial, then another mission, and they might miss each other entirely.
Understanding the hall master's intention, Wei Zhengrong saluted, then followed behind Jian Dan out of the main hall.
Outside, Jian Dan's expression did not change, but she still offered a few instructions to Wei Zhengrong.
"Since we made a stir today, once you return to the clan, do not mention wind-attribute arts again. Tell your parents the same. Do not try to obtain wind arts from the clan. Do not give ill-intentioned people leverage."
"Yes, Zūnshàng. I will inform my parents at once. They are already punished to reflect. I will have them enter seclusion immediately."
Wei Zhengrong was keen and caught Jian Lu Zūnshàng's meaning at once.
"And that Wei Chengze frightened my well-behaved little disciple. I have already made it so his cultivation will not advance an inch for a hundred years. You should strive to surpass him within that time, so we do not end up in the Law Enforcement Hall again." Jian Dan spoke evenly, unhurried.
Wei Zhengrong felt a little ashamed. He had not protected his little sister well this time, causing Zūnshàng to intervene. "I understand. I will cultivate diligently. Within a hundred years I will definitely surpass him."
"Good." Jian Dan answered mildly, then turned to the starry-eyed Wei Xueru beside her and said gently: "Come back with your Master. When your elder brother is free, he can visit you on Tianyue Peak."
Wei Xueru nodded, took her Master's hand, and happily bade her elder brother farewell, walking away without looking back.
Wei Zhengrong watched them disappear, smiling and shaking his head. Then he immediately took out a messaging jade slip from his storage ring and sent his parents a full report of the incident with Wei Chengze along with Jian Lu Zūnshàng's instructions.
Wei Clan Ancestral Grounds
After receiving Zhengrong's message that their daughter had successfully taken a master and become the closed-door disciple of Jian Lu Zūnshàng, Wei Weie and Qin Qin finally set down the heavy stone in their hearts. Their mood brightened.
They were discussing when to visit the Heavenly Sword Sect to see their little girl. Wei Xueru was only six years old. Worry was inevitable.
Just then, both of their jade slips trembled again. It was another urgent message from their son. When she finished reading, even the good-tempered Qin Qin could not control herself. Her voice shook.
"What does the Patriarch mean by this? This is outrageous. I will go confront them. Why should our Wei Xueru be forbidden from taking a master in the Heavenly Sword Sect?"
Wei Weie's face was just as grim, but he still held his partner back.
"Qin, there is no need to quarrel now. Zhengrong urged us to enter seclusion at once. Wei Xueru has her Master to protect her. We must not become a burden to our children."
That he could say such words showed how chilled he felt by the Patriarch's branch.
Only they knew how sensible and considerate their daughter was.
When they learned she could not cultivate, Wei Xueru had been the one to comfort them. Yet they knew the one who hurt the most was their little girl.
So when Jian Lu Zūnshàng acted to grant her the chance to cultivate again, their daughter's heart settled on Jian Lu Zūnshàng.
They trusted Wei Xueru's judgment. They followed Zhengrong's advice and sent their daughter to the Heavenly Sword Sect. Even if they could not personally guide her growth, everything they did was for her future.
Pulled back, Qin Qin quickly calmed down at her partner's words. As long as Zhengrong and Wei Xueru were well within the Heavenly Sword Sect, the clan head's branch would not dare go too far. Their children had become their confidence.
"Alright. I will listen to you. Let us enter seclusion now."
Without hesitation, Qin Qin and Wei Weie both entered closed-door cultivation, leaving the clan head's branch with no easy handle to grab.
Meanwhile, Wei Chengze hurried straight back to the clan grounds with the scalding visiting card. His first act was to see his father, the current Wei clan head, Wei Weizhen.
Entering the clan head's courtyard, Wei Chengze went directly to the study without announcing himself. To his surprise, the study's barrier was open. He waited the time it takes an incense stick to burn before a glamorous female cultivator left his father's study.
"Hmph."
Even more annoyed, Wei Chengze pushed the door open and strode in, his tone turning sly and biting.
"Wei Chengze pays respects to the Patriarch. I visited the Heavenly Sword Sect and met Wei Zhengrong. I uncovered a few things and saw Wei Xueru as well. The girl can cultivate now. In just a short time she has reached Qi Refining fourth level, and she even found herself a Unity-stage Zūnshàng as Master."
He handed over Jian Dan's visiting card.
"Her Master in the Heavenly Sword Sect is Jian Lu Zūnshàng. This is her card. Jian Lu Zūnshàng asked me to bring a message to the Ancestor. If the Wei clan insists on bringing Wei Xueru back to cultivate, they can go to the Heavenly Sword Sect to seek her. Then we will see whose ability is greater."
Wei Weizhen's rosy face showed displeasure. He took the card and examined it carefully. The white magnolia etched on the front reminded him who Jian Lu truly was.
This was the most renowned sword cultivator of the Heavenly Sword Sect in the past century, the fastest to grow in cultivation, who had even served as acting Hall Master of the Law Enforcement Hall. In the grand battles of the sect tournament, the extermination of the Fu clan's evil cultivators, and the joint siege that slew a Mahayana evil cultivator, her battle strength had become widely acknowledged.
"Hmph. Wei Zhengrong planned this long ago. This is an open declaration of sovereignty."