After confirming that Feng Jiaqing was fine, Yun Xi returned to her own residence. As soon as the formation settled, Dian Dian darted out and landed beside the meditation cushion.
"Master, this is definitely not a coincidence."
Yun Xi smoothed her long hair and said, "Of course I know it's not a coincidence. Otherwise, how could my uncle have had an accident the moment I made a move?"
Dian Dian scratched its ear with a hind paw and asked, "Master, what now? Are we still going to snatch Wei Yunqing's opportunity?"
"If I make a move, the people around me suffer. How can I keep fighting like that?"
This time it was Yun Xi who ground her teeth in frustration.
She was certain that when she had defended the wooden token space, secured the Pill, claimed the Thousand Shadows Riding the Wind technique, and acquired the Wushuang Sword Lightning Art ahead of schedule, none of this had happened.
Yun Xi thought about it and gradually pieced together a pattern: As long as the opportunity originally belonged to her, and she protected it herself, then it was truly hers.
But if Wei Yunqing had the ability to seize something, then it became a fair contest. Whoever ended up with it would depend on their own skill.
However, if the opportunity belonged to Wei Yunqing, and Yun Xi tried to take it, it wasn't her who suffered—it was the people around her. That felt like a trap.
She would rather take the misfortune herself. At least then, she gained something from it, and even if things got difficult, she could accept it as part of her cultivation trials. But when others around her got dragged in, it became something she couldn't control. After all, she couldn't watch over her loved ones every moment of the day.
Yun Xi took a deep breath and sent her spiritual sense into the wooden token space, ready to consult a powerhouse. She was feeling far too stifled.
Dian Dian was still waiting for her reply but noticed her expression darken. Her brows furrowed deeply, and then she simply closed her eyes and began meditating. Sensing what was happening, Dian Dian stayed quiet, curling up beside the cushion to guard her in silence.
Once Yun Xi entered the space, the glowing chat screen lit up, automatically displaying her as online.
She immediately sent a private message to Ethereal Grace: "Senior, are you busy? I have something I'd like your guidance on."
[Ethereal Grace]: What is it?
[Fleeting Cloud]: I can't snatch someone else's opportunity.
[Ethereal Grace]: Opportunities are unclaimed by nature. Why can't you snatch them? Even if their name is written on it, if you're stronger, you can still take it!
The reply was bold and direct, echoing the code of conduct most cultivators lived by.
Yun Xi briefly explained the situation with Wei Yunqing. Although she didn't state outright that she wanted to take the opportunity from her, she was sure Ethereal Grace would understand.
And Ethereal Grace did.
[Ethereal Grace]: This kind of situation does happen. The other party is probably what's known as a daughter of destiny.
[Fleeting Cloud]: Just because the heavens favor her, I'm supposed to sit back and hand over every opportunity? I'm expected to give up everything she touches?
[Ethereal Grace]: Fool. Opportunities are called that because they go to whoever can take them. What she already has in her hands—fine, you let that go. But anything she hasn't claimed yet? You can still go after that.
Also, if you can't take something from her directly, why not have someone else try? You have to find out where the line is somehow.
Reading those words, Yun Xi felt as though a fog had lifted from her mind. She had been thinking too rigidly, assuming that anything tied to Wei Yunqing was completely off-limits. She had completely overlooked the fact that as long as Wei Yunqing hadn't gotten her hands on something, it was still fair game.
[Fleeting Cloud]: Thank you for the guidance, Senior. I understand now.
With that clarity, Yun Xi withdrew her spiritual sense from the chat group.
The moment she opened her eyes, she sensed that the Flying Mist Butterfly had returned.
She lifted the formation to let the butterfly into the room. The next instant, her quarters were filled with the items the butterfly had brought back—piling up to take over half the space.
Clicking her tongue in amusement, Yun Xi said, "Seems like someone's been feeding Wei Yunqing plenty of resources behind the scenes. Lucky for me."
She let the Flying Mist Butterfly and Dian Dian choose the resources most useful for their cultivation, then waved her sleeve to sweep the rest into her space. From now on, these would be her assets.
Meanwhile, Wei Yunqing had just regained consciousness. The first thing she did was check her left wrist. Only after confirming that the crimson bracelet and its spiritual imprint were still there did she breathe a sigh of relief.
But then she noticed a splitting pain in her head—clear signs of spiritual damage. She reached for a pill to repair her consciousness. In the very next moment, her face turned ghostly pale.
Every bit of the cultivation resources she'd stored in her bracelet's space had been completely cleaned out. Even the ground had been stripped. Wei Yunqing coughed up a mouthful of blood and fainted all over again.
The next day, Yun Xi went to accompany Feng Jiaqing. She stayed for three days, only leaving after confirming he had fully recovered. Just then, the Wei family sent someone to request her return.
Feng Jiaqing did not try to stop her. Instead, he personally walked her out of the Feng residence.
"Yun Xi, you don't need to worry about me. Just think of this as my tribulation of inner demons. Now that my heart is stable, I'll return to cultivating step by step."
"Good. Uncle, please proceed cautiously and steadily. Do not rush."
Feng Jiaqing sighed, "I understand. You're still so young—don't burden yourself with so much. Just focus on your own cultivation."
Yun Xi gave a slight smile and nodded. She couldn't exactly say that he had suffered from an undeserved calamity, so she had nagged a little more than usual.
Upon returning to the Wei family estate, Yun Xi first went to see the family head, Wei Lingtao.
"Second Uncle, why have you called me back?"
Wei Lingtao let out a sigh, "Yun Qing's spiritual sense is injured. She's recovering now. I called you back to ask if you have any pills that can nourish the spirit."
Yun Xi frowned in mock concern. "Did something go wrong with her cultivation?"
Wei Lingtao shook his head. "That's what she says, but it doesn't seem right to me."
"Then I'll take a look at her condition first. That way I can prescribe accordingly."
"Good. I'll go with you."
Wei Lingtao knew full well the relationship between the two girls wasn't nearly as harmonious as it appeared. Just to be safe, he decided to go along.
The two of them headed together to Haitang Courtyard. The first person they saw was Du Ruolan, her face full of worry.
As soon as she saw them arrive, Du Ruolan hid her anxious expression and bowed politely."Patriarch, Wei Zhēnrén, you've come."
Wei Lingtao nodded in return and asked, "How is Yun Qing doing now?"
Du Ruolan frowned, "She's been locked in her room and won't let me in. I don't know how she's doing."
Yun Xi had no intention of waiting. Just coming to Haitang Courtyard was already a gesture of courtesy to the family head. Waiting for Wei Yunqing to come out on her own? That was not happening.
She raised her voice and called out, "Wei Yunqing, if you can still move, get out here. The Patriarch has come begging me for a pill on your behalf."
Du Ruolan tried to stop her, but it was too late. Wei Lingtao, standing calmly to the side, seemed to have anticipated Yun Xi's impatience and simply watched the door without moving.
The moment Yun Xi finished speaking, Wei Yunqing opened the door and walked out.
Seeing her pale face and unstable aura, Yun Xi couldn't help feeling a bit gleeful inside. But before she could even say anything mocking, Wei Yunqing clenched her teeth and demanded,
"Was it you?!"
"What about me?"
"You did this, didn't you!"
"What did I do?"
"You stole my things!"
===
If you haven't checked out my deep dive on 'Luck' in xianxia yet, you can found it on The Xianxia Handbook: A Guide to Cultivation and Beyond. I cover it under Chapter 14: Luck and Chapter 15: More about Children of Luck.
It'll give you the full breakdown—how it works, why it's OP. and why it is very important for cultivators. Hope it helps unravel those 'plot armor' moments for you! (･ω<)☆