After determining the direction, Yun Xi quickly made her way toward Kunyu City. She had been away for nearly ten years, and now, with the city drawing closer, she couldn't help but feel a complicated knot in her chest—a faint tremor of nerves that often comes when one approaches home after a long absence.
Dian Dian and Fei Xia, sensing her unease, remained quiet and didn't disturb her as she traveled. One curled up in her arms, the other perched in her hair as usual, both simply watching the scenery blur by at high speed.
Once she arrived at Kunyu City, Yun Xi didn't head straight to the Wei family. Instead, she detoured to the Feng family estate.
She concealed her appearance and masked her presence to reveal only the aura of an early-stage Golden Core cultivator. As a result, the guards at the Feng residence respectfully welcomed her inside.
Feng Jiaqing rushed to the front hall after receiving the report. He didn't recall the Feng family receiving notice of any visiting Golden Core cultivator and grew wary, especially since cultivators arriving unannounced were often not to be taken lightly. Still, the guards had mentioned the visitor was a female cultivator with a calm and polite demeanor, so he chose not to alert the family elder just yet.
Yun Xi stood in the hall, taking in her surroundings. In the ten years since she'd last been here, the décor hadn't changed much. Some new ornaments had been added, suggesting that the Feng family had done reasonably well for themselves in her absence.
When Feng Jiaqing finally appeared, Yun Xi smiled and called out warmly:
"Uncle, I'm back!"
Feng Jiaqing froze, startled by her address. After a moment, he blinked and asked, somewhat uncertain:
"You're... Yun Xi?"
Yun Xi grinned, then wiped a hand across her face to dissolve the disguise, revealing her true appearance.
"It's me."
Staring at the face that resembled his younger sister, Feng Jiaqing finally let out a genuine smile.
"You little rascal. Why didn't you send word ahead of time? If it weren't for that face, your uncle wouldn't have dared to recognize you."
He walked closer, scrutinizing Yun Xi up and down before breaking into a stream of praise:
"Not bad! Very good! Your cultivation is solid, and you've grown taller too. But why did you form your Golden Core so early? Why not wait a few more years to refine your foundation? Did something go wrong during your cultivation?"
Yun Xi smiled and gently pushed him into a chair before giving a brief account of her past ten years in the sect. Feng Jiaqing listened, sighing repeatedly at everything she had experienced.
When her throat turned dry from all the talking, Feng Jiaqing slid a cup of spirit tea across the table to her and asked:
"So, what's the Wei family's attitude toward your return?"
Yun Xi took a sip and replied evenly:
"I haven't returned to the Wei family yet. I came to see you first."
Though he didn't entirely approve of her priorities, Feng Jiaqing couldn't hide the warmth that filled his heart at her words.
"It's fine. You came in with your face concealed. Once you've met with the elder, going to the Wei family tomorrow will make no difference. Let Wei Lingyue see for himself how capable you've become. This time, he'll be the one offering you a respectful bow."
Yun Xi caught the gloating undertone in Feng Jiaqing's voice and asked casually:
"Did Wei Lingyue fail his breakthrough to Golden Core?"
"Mhm. Though word hasn't spread, it's not hard to guess. He claims to be in seclusion, but in truth, he's been secretly hunting for high-grade healing pills."
"Did he come to you?" Yun Xi asked, smiling faintly.
Feng Jiaqing scoffed.
"No. He wouldn't dare come to the Feng family for pills."
Yun Xi knew the reason without asking. It had everything to do with her mother. She thought for a moment, then retrieved a small jade bottle from her storage ring and slid it toward Feng Jiaqing.
"Uncle, this is a Golden Core Formation Pill my master prepared for me. He didn't really want me to rely on pills to form my core, but during an unexpected trip to the mortal realm, I ended up forming my Golden Core by chance. This pill is now useless to me—perfect for helping you form yours."
Feng Jiaqing immediately waved his hands.
"No, absolutely not. That kind of pill is too precious. Even if you don't need it, you could auction it for a huge amount of spirit stones. That would be far more helpful to your cultivation. Don't waste it on me."
Yun Xi chuckled.
"Uncle, that's too distant of you. How is using it on you a waste? I've already formed my Golden Core. Once I return to the Wei family, they'll surely make a big deal out of it. Wouldn't that put the Feng family at a disadvantage? If you can break through soon, you'll be on equal footing with them. Even if I leave Kunyu City again, the Wei family won't be able to suppress you so easily."
She knew her return would inevitably disrupt the balance in Kunyu City. In the original novel, her character had become the disciple of the Haoran Sect's sect master, while Yun Qing had become the disciple of the Pill Peak master. That alliance propelled the Wei family to the top of Kunyu City.
After that, Wei Lingyue began covertly suppressing the Feng family. The original Wei Yunxi had been so consumed with winning Sheng Yuhong's heart and competing with Yun Qing that she'd ignored the bigger picture.
But Yun Xi wouldn't make that mistake.
Giving this Golden Core Formation Pill to Feng Jiaqing was a deliberate move. Now that she knew her mother hadn't perished but was merely absent from Weiyu Realm, there were too many variables to ignore. Stabilizing the Feng family was critical.
Feng Jiaqing frowned, weighing her words, then finally let out a deep breath.
"Then I'll shamelessly accept it. But I'll pay you the market price for it. You must accept that."
This time, Yun Xi didn't refuse. She understood that her uncle didn't want to take advantage of her. Receiving something for free and paying for it—even symbolically—were entirely different matters.
Feng Jiaqing stood up after putting away the pill.
"Come on, Yun Xi. I'll take you to see the ancestor."
"Alright."
When the two arrived at Feng Feng's secluded cultivation grounds, they were just in time to hear a loud explosion, followed by a cloud of black smoke wafting out.
Feng Jiaqing rubbed his forehead and explained with a cough:
"Ahem... the ancestor has been trying to refine a Golden Core Formation Pill lately. That was the furnace exploding."
Yun Xi smiled quietly, not at all surprised. She'd experienced plenty of furnace explosions herself.
A moment later, Feng Feng appeared in the courtyard with a flick of his sleeve, scattering the lingering smoke. He looked Yun Xi over carefully before breaking into a smile.
"You're Yun Xi?"
"Yes, ancestor. I've returned."
"Good. Your cultivation's already caught up to mine."
Feng Feng looked genuinely pleased.
From the side, Feng Jiaqing added with a wide smile:
"Ancestor, Yun Xi even became the disciple of Yu Ling Zhēnjūn of the Haoran Sect. This time, Wei Lingyue will have to take a second look."
"Good! Good! Very good!"
Feng Feng laughed heartily, his joy unconcealed.
The three of them sat around the stone table in the courtyard and talked for hours. By the time the moon rose high in the sky, they finally wrapped up their conversation with some reluctance.
Aside from sharing the details of her recent years, Yun Xi also consulted Feng Feng on some alchemy questions and even brought out her newly acquired Ziyu Panlong Cauldron for him to examine.
Once the chatter settled, Feng Jiaqing returned the belongings Yun Xi had entrusted him to safeguard years ago. He also told her clearly that one of the storage pouches her mother had left behind had likely been taken by Wei Lingyue in private.
Yun Xi snorted coldly.
"Of course he'd take it without feeling the least bit guilty."
Feng Jiaqing recounted the events of that day, when he had helped pack up her mother's belongings. He explained that the pouch in question had been hidden in a secret compartment beneath the white jade bed—placed there, he believed, to appease Wei Lingyue. The real treasures had been hidden under the floor tiles.
Yun Xi didn't care about that. Anything her mother had left behind was meant for her. Wei Lingyue had no right to take even a single item. Then she turned to both elders and asked directly:
"Ancestor, Uncle. Tell me honestly—was my mother's 'death' related to Wei Lingyue?"
It was the question she cared about most.
Feng Feng and Feng Jiaqing exchanged a long look. In the end, they chose to tell her the truth. With her current cultivation, she was ready to face it.
Feng Jiaqing cleared his throat and began solemnly:
"Yes. Your mother and Wei Lingyue went together to explore the ruins of an ancient cultivator. Only Wei Lingyue came back."