"If you were so desperate to save your father, why didn't you offer up your own spiritual root? You have a sister too—why didn't you sacrifice hers?
You chose my Uncle because, to you, he was someone expendable. If he died, so what?
But to you, someone unimportant… is my Uncle. He is an inner disciple of the Haoran Sect, a valued junior of the Wei family. He is someone important to us.
So don't glare at us with hatred. You were the one who first plotted to harm another. The reason we found Uncle and saved him was because we had the strength to do so.
The one you should resent the most isn't us. It's the Xiao family.
Are you really trying to say that such a large clan couldn't even save their own Patriarch? Even if his cultivation fell, he was still the head of the Xiao family. With the entire clan behind him, are you telling me they still couldn't stabilize his injuries?
If there was no method to help him in the western region, then why not go to the Central Domain? I heard the Medicine King Valley there practices medicine as a Path. Why didn't you seek help from them? Was it truly impossible, or was it that the Xiao family didn't want to?
Most likely, everyone was too busy scrambling for the Patriarch's position."
Yun Xi's words were sharp and direct, tearing through the Xiao family's veil of dignity. Her piercing accusations made Xiao He's head droop lower and lower.
One of the Xiao family elders saw the conversation spiraling out of control and quickly tried to cut in.
"This Daoyou, please don't sow discord. Our Patriarch has already paid for his sins with his life. What more do you want?"
Yun Xi curved her lips into a calm smile.
"Nothing. I just want Xiao He to face the truth. To know exactly who he should blame.
Also, for your own sake, you'd better hope the matter of colluding with evil cultivators has nothing to do with the Xiao clan."
After she finished, she turned and nodded at Wei Chenyin.
Wei Chenyin understood Yun Xi's intent. She raised her hand and sent out a communication talisman, then led Wei Lingkai out of the Xiao estate.
Cao Yi and the others also withdrew. Just outside the gate, a female cultivator at the Golden Core stage stepped forward and bowed respectfully.
"Friends from the Haoran Sect, please come to the City Lord's estate. We have a medical cultivator who can help stabilize this disciple's condition. Also, regarding the evil formation, we hope to learn more from this Daoyou."
The five of them understood that Wei Lingkai's injuries were the top priority, and this situation involved evil cultivators. None of them objected. They entered the City Lord's estate for the time being.
—
After Yun Xi and her group left, the Xiao family exploded in turmoil. Everyone shifted the blame to Xiao He and Xiao Lei, demanding they confess their crimes and ensure that the rest of the Xiao clan remained untouched. The enemies they had provoked were now theirs alone to deal with.
Xiao He said nothing in response. Together with Xiao Lei, he transported their father's body back to his own courtyard.
"That female cultivator wasn't wrong. I took the gamble because the clan abandoned Father. The moment his cultivation was crippled, he was fated to be discarded. I couldn't let go of the benefits that came with being the Young Patriarch. That's what led to this mess.
The truth is, I was no different from the rest of the Xiao clan—selfish and cold to the core."
Xiao Lei had bitten her lip bloody without even noticing. She thought to herself, if she hadn't warned Wei Lingkai, maybe none of this would've happened. Now she had lost the person dearest to her, and she didn't know where to go from here.
Xiao He, however, was unusually calm. He turned to his sister and said, "This was my doing. You had no part in it. In fact, you helped. Once Xiao Yuan Zhēnjūn finishes questioning you, leave Xiaohe City. Cut ties with the clan. Go to another cultivation city and grow stronger. I don't want you to become a tool in the Xiao clan's rise to power.
When the day comes that you have the strength, come back and make them pay for what they did to me and to Father."
"No, Brother. I won't leave. What about you?"
"I made this mistake. I'll take the consequences. I also owe Wei Lingkai an answer. Besides, my dantian is already shattered. I'm no threat to them. In fact, I'm safer now.
If anything, I should thank the Wei family. They killed that wretched Third Elder. At least now, you can leave cleanly. Don't delay. Go pack your things."
Xiao Lei stood frozen in place, her eyes red. "Brother…"
"Go. Unless you want Father's death to mean nothing."
Xiao He's voice was quiet, but firm.
In the end, Xiao Lei turned and left her father's courtyard.
—
City Lord's Estate, Xiaohe City
Xiao Yuan Zhēnjūn had already been informed of the entire incident. He never imagined that Xiao Ye, whose reputation had been so spotless, would meet his end like this. Nor did he expect his son to have dealings with evil cultivators. The cruel irony was that Xiao Ye's injuries had come from fighting evil cultivators. And now, this.
After settling Wei Lingkai into his room, Wei Chenyin took the others to meet Xiao Yuan Zhēnjūn. Yun Xi stayed behind to accompany Wei Lingkai through the medical treatment.
The estate's physician was an elder with a long, silver-white beard. His cultivation was at early Nascent Soul stage. First, he took Wei Lingkai's pulse, then used acupuncture to seal the loss of his life force. Afterward, he handed him a small bottle.
"This is a fourth-grade Vitality Pill. Take one a day. Return for follow-up treatment in ten days."
Wei Lingkai bowed respectfully. "Many thanks, Zhēnjūn, for your assistance."
Yun Xi, more straightforward, pressed two high-grade spirit stones into his hand as a consultation fee. Yi Zhēnjūn did not refuse. He accepted the payment and left without another word.
Once she saw him off, Yun Xi turned to Wei Lingkai. Now that the person involved was here, she needed to know the truth. What exactly was the relationship between him and Xiao He? Until now, everything had been pieced together from what others said, and her own deductions.
Wei Lingkai sighed and gave her a rough account of how the two had met, why he came to Xiaohe City, and how he'd been drugged after drinking and lost consciousness.
Yun Xi concluded flatly, "So, drinking caused all this."
Wei Lingkai rubbed his nose, feeling a little embarrassed. He had clearly underestimated the situation. If he hadn't sent out that emergency signal in time, he really might've died without anyone knowing. It was frustrating. He was so close to forming his Golden Core.
Yun Xi continued, "Uncle, do you remember the formation they used?"
Wei Lingkai nodded. "At first, I was still conscious. But as my life force drained, I lost awareness completely."
As he spoke, he brushed a hand through the white hair now hanging past his chest. This incident had left a scar he would never forget.
"Don't worry, Uncle," Yun Xi said softly. "I asked Yi Zhēnjūn just now. He said that even though you lost half your life force, your life is no longer in danger. With the Vitality Pills, you should recover slowly. Once you form your Golden Core, you'll return to your original state."
Wei Lingkai managed a weak smile. "I've walked the Path longer than you. I'm not that fragile."
Yun Xi nodded, then reminded him, "Uncle, it's best if you return to the sect to recover. Don't go back to the family for now."
"Why?"
"Wei Nanfeng has exited seclusion."
Yun Xi said it plainly.
Wei Lingkai's expression darkened. "He's our Ancestor. You should address him respectfully."
Yun Xi just grinned. "Uncle, I've already formed my Golden Core. Calling him 'Ancestor' within the family is giving him face. Outside the family, even if I call him by name, no one can say anything."
"You… you've formed your core?"
"I have. Didn't I tell you?"
Wei Lingkai was dumbfounded. He counted on his fingers. Yun Xi had entered the sect as a mere Qi Refining novice. Ten years later, she had already surpassed him. Worse, she had even saved his life. He suddenly felt a little ashamed.
Yun Xi comforted him quickly. "Uncle, don't feel so down. I only managed to form my core because I nearly died a few times to get here."