Du Ruolan paused mid-step, then turned her gaze toward Wei Lingyue, clearly hoping he would ask on her behalf.
Wei Lingyue cleared his throat lightly and said, "Yun Xi, why didn't Yun Qing return to Kunyu City with you?"
Yun Xi glanced at the two of them, then replied unhurriedly, "After we joined the sect, we rarely had the chance to meet. Yun Qing grew close with a Senior Brother Ye from Dan Peak. She mostly cultivated there. After reaching Foundation Establishment, she was transferred to Dan Peak's inner sect. By the time I left the sect, she had become a registered disciple of the Dan Peak-Peak Master, though unfortunately she wasn't formally accepted as a disciple.
After I formally acknowledged my own master, I even invited several Wei family disciples to visit Lingxue Peak. Yun Qing knew I planned to return to the family, but she never expressed any clear intention to come with me.
I didn't want to disrupt her cultivation plans, so I returned to Kunyu City on my own."
Her words were concise and precise, missing no important detail.
Du Ruolan instinctively clenched her palms, her nails digging into the flesh. Yun Xi's message was clear: her daughter hadn't done well in the sect. Nearly ten years since joining, and she hadn't even managed to take on a proper master.
Wei Lingyue, on the other hand, was overjoyed. He couldn't stop smiling. This second daughter of his had real ability. Not only had she become a Golden Core cultivator at such a young age, but she had even taken a master. That meant her master was at least a Nascent Soul stage True Lord. This was something he could boast about.
He asked eagerly, "Yun Xi, who did you take as your master?"
Yun Xi replied with a smile, "I apprenticed under Yu Ling Zhēnjūn of Lingxue Peak. He is the sect leader's senior martial brother. Before I left the sect, Master was attempting a breakthrough to Divine Transformation. If all goes well, he should become a Divine Transformation cultivator within a few years."
"Excellent, excellent. Yun Xi, you've truly brought honor to your father. With a True Lord guiding you, I'm sure your cultivation path will surpass mine."
The smile on Wei Lingyue's face was finally sincere.
Yun Xi followed up with an easy nod, "Yes. As Master's only disciple, he is very invested in my cultivation. Before entering seclusion, he not only passed down a cultivation method to me but also prepared all the resources I'd need. He made sure everything was arranged."
Wei Lingyue's joy only grew. His eyes softened even more when he looked at Yun Xi.
Du Ruolan, standing to the side, felt increasingly bitter. Her daughter had better aptitude than this three-spirit-root 'waste,' yet she had been outshined in every way. After all these years, Yun Qing had only just barely reached Foundation Establishment, and hadn't even found the chance to return home.
Seeing father and daughter chatting so warmly, Du Ruolan lowered her gaze and quietly stepped out of the hall. She knew now that this Zhuohua Courtyard was no longer hers to occupy. Whether she gave it up willingly or not, it would be taken. If she stepped aside on her own, at least she could save some face. If forced out, the humiliation would be hers alone.
Once Du Ruolan left, Wei Lingyue eagerly continued trying to draw closer to Yun Xi.
"Yun Xi, how long do you plan to stay this time?"
"I came back mainly to visit Father and retrieve a few things left at the Feng family. After that, I'll return to the sect. The sect-wide competition is coming up, and I don't want to embarrass my master."
Wei Lingyue nodded quickly. "Of course, of course."
Yun Xi continued, "By the way, when Uncle Feng helped retrieve Mother's belongings, he mentioned that a storage pouch hidden in the compartment under her white jade bed was probably taken by you.
Back then, I was still young. I had no reason to question handing over those things to you and Uncle. But now that I'm a Golden Core cultivator, I can safeguard them myself. I would like to take them back. What does Father think?"
She looked at Wei Lingyue with her almond-shaped eyes. His face had already stiffened. Clearly, he had not expected to be asked to return something that had already ended up in his pocket.
He gave a dry cough and began to explain,"Yun Xi, that storage pouch was something your mother and I..."
Yun Xi cut straight to the point. "Father, please don't say it was something you and Mother saved together. From as far back as I can remember, aside from asking her for pills, you hardly ever stepped foot in Zhuohua Courtyard. Those were Mother's belongings. Since she is no longer here, they should rightfully pass to me, her only daughter."
Wei Lingyue realized there was no way to bluff his way out. He sighed, "Yun Xi, are you blaming your father?"
Yun Xi ignored the question and went on,
"Uncle Feng told me that you and Mother became Dao companions for the sake of the family. The two of you had little affection for one another. After I was born, you saw her even less. Otherwise, there would never have been a Du Ruolan, nor would there be a Wei Yunqing who is older than me.
These things belong to the previous generation. As a junior, I have no right to judge. But after Mother's 'death,' you were quick to make Aunt Du your wife. That alone was disrespectful to Mother and dismissive of me.
You never once considered what position that would put me in. Otherwise, why would Wei Yunqing dare to brazenly enter Zhuohua Courtyard and try to seize Mother's keepsakes?
And what about the Fusion Spirit Pill found in my food? Wasn't that also a result of your neglect? Did you really think I wouldn't find out who was behind it, just because you tried to deflect blame onto a servant?
I didn't say anything because you're my father. I was trying to maintain the peace. After all, the Wei family raised me and helped me enter Haoran Sect. But that doesn't mean I haven't kept my own account in my heart.
This time, I returned not only to inform the family that I've taken a master, but also to tell you clearly: don't use my name to do anything that cannot be undone. I won't clean up your mess."
Her words were a heavy slap across Wei Lingyue's face. For the first time, he saw his daughter clearly. His face flushed red, then paled. After a long pause, he said,
"It's true that there was no affection between your mother and me. But I don't believe I ever wronged you."
Yun Xi let out a cold laugh.
"Father may not have wronged me materially. But you treated us differently. Both Wei Yunqing and I are your daughters, yet you elevated one while stepping on the other. When Wei Yunqing bullied me, you chose to turn a blind eye.
On my fifth birthday, you gave me a dead egg, told me it was a spirit beast egg, and said I could form a bond with it once it hatched. All these years, the egg has remained just that—an egg. Would Father care to see it?"
Wei Lingyue was silent, lips pressed tightly together as he faced Yun Xi's expression filled with sarcasm.
Yun Xi continued,
"Father, I was born clever. I remember things clearly. The day I learned of Mother's death, I cried myself unconscious. When I woke up, there was only a maid by my side. I asked them to take me to my mother's courtyard, and I happened to run into you.
You were displeased to see me. You knocked me out and had the maid carry me back. If I'm not mistaken, that very night was when you took the storage pouch."
Now Wei Lingyue couldn't even think of an excuse. He replied stiffly, "I used some of what was inside. I'll replace it and deliver it to you tomorrow."
Yun Xi curled her lips into a faint smile.
"Alright. I trust Father wouldn't keep something that doesn't belong to him."
Wei Lingyue felt as though all his pride and dignity had been stripped bare by his daughter. He stood abruptly.
"Yun Xi, you should rest. I'll return tomorrow."
Yun Xi didn't try to stop him. Her voice was calm.
"Father, our distant relationship wasn't caused in a day. My disappointment has simply accumulated to the point where I no longer hope for fatherly love.
From now on, let's leave it at that. Don't expect too much from me. Fortunately, you still have another daughter. I hope she fulfills all of your expectations."