Chapter 87

Chapter 87: Wang Family’s Past Affairs

Within moments of appearing, Wang Xian led his entourage straight towards the Lin Family’s designated area.

Compared to relations with the Li Family, the bonds between the Lin Family and the Wang Family were visibly closer. Seeing the other party approach, Lin Zhi Shou broke off his own conversation.

"Brother Zhi Shou," Wang Xian greeted him with a cupped fist salute.

"I did not expect it to be you who came," Lin Zhi Shou expressed some surprise.

"Just happened to come take a look at the Immortal Sect as well," Wang Xian replied with a smile.

Lin Zhi Shou then looked towards the Wang Family group and inquired with puzzlement, "Did the Sixth Young Master not come?"

The Sixth Young Master he referred to was named Wang Lang. He belonged to the main house’s direct line, possessing status equivalent to Lin Xin.

Simultaneously, he was also the one betrothed to Lin Xin.

Hearing these words, Wang Xian adopted an expression of exasperated disappointment. "He has been spoiled utterly rotten. He actually found coming to study at the Immortal Sect boring, so he ran off traveling instead. His whereabouts are now unknown."

"He practically came for instruction every time without fail. The benefit this place offered him was indeed minimal," Lin Zhi Shou tried to console him.

While the two conversed, Zhou Luo also directed his gaze towards Wang Yu Wei.

Contrary to his expectations, she walked directly over to him.

"Zhou Luo, it has been a long time," Wang Yu Wei revealed a sweet smile.

Zhou Luo instantly felt countless eyes land on him.

If glances could kill, he would have long perished beyond any hope of recovery.

"Cough, cough, been a while," he acknowledged awkwardly with a nod.

Wang Yu Wei opened her mouth to speak further, but Zhou Luo hastily interjected, "Ah, I… still have some matters to attend to; we can talk later."

Having said that, he moved directly towards where Lin Yueheng stood, diving into lively conversation with him as though genuinely preoccupied.

He had no choice. Wang Yu Wei’s attire and presence unmistakably signaled her search for a husband, yet she had chosen to greet him first. The absolute last thing he wanted was to become a target for all.

Who knew whether the scions of the various families present possessed any magnanimity? Acquiring new enemies out of thin air was definitely not worth the risk.

Seeing this, Wang Yu Wei let out a soft laugh, finding this individual particularly amusing.

Subsequently, she headed towards Lin Xin’s location.

"Brother Zhou, you know that woman?"

Lin Yueheng looked at Zhou Luo, who had suddenly joined him, asking curiously.

"We just met at the last Spiritual Pill Conference. Not really familiar," Zhou Luo answered vaguely.

"Is that so? I wonder if Brother Zhou might be able to make an introduction?" Lin Yueheng inquired, a smile playing on his lips.

"Brother Yueheng, you already have many wives and concubines. Why not leave this one for the rest of us?" someone immediately joked at his side.

"Yeah, Brother Zhou, introduce her to us!" others promptly echoed.

For them, marrying an extraordinary beauty like Wang Yu Wei would be a colossal blessing. It might even elevate their family’s standing.

"I really am not close to her," Zhou Luo explained helplessly, spreading his hands.

The others weren’t buying it. They exchanged looks rife with deep, suggestive meaning.

On the other side, Wang Yu Wei had already stood before Lin Xin.

"It seems he is not close to you."

Lin Xin met those gemstone-bright eyes and spoke out.

"Better to avoid suspicion altogether." Wang Yu Wei replied with a soft smile.

"Tch. Truly unknown why you’d take an interest in him." Lin Xin commented, her expression tinged with disdain.

Wang Yu Wei only smiled in response.

Though she came from a branch family, her relationship with the Third Young Lady of the Lin Family was fairly good.

Their mothers were blood sisters, and the two young women got along well themselves, making them close.

"How has Aunt Fang been recently?" Lin Xin lowered her voice to ask.

At the question, a shadow of sorrow flickered in Wang Yu Wei’s eyes, swiftly replaced by a calm smile. "The same as always."

Lin Xin pressed her lips together, offering comfort. "As long as you become a top-level first-level Pill Master, Aunt Fang will get out eventually."

The "Aunt Fang" she mentioned was precisely Wang Yu Wei’s mother, Wang Fang.

Possessing Sixth Grade spiritual roots, Wang Fang had defied family rules by bearing a child with an outsider, leading to her confinement in the family’s forbidden area.

Wang Yu Wei was the child from that union with an ordinary man.

Her father had perished under the Wang Family’s wrath, and she herself would likely have been abandoned had she not been tested to also have Sixth Grade spiritual roots.

Her very existence signified the Wang Family’s disgrace.

After all, a woman with Sixth Grade spiritual roots bore the crucial duty of producing exceptional offspring for the family. Wang Fang’s choice to unite with an ordinary man, devoid of spiritual roots, had provoked the family’s fury.

Raised by Wang Xian, Wang Yu Wei had trained diligently in the alchemy skill under him until this day.

Only because she displayed talent in alchemy did the family exceptionally allow her to visit her mother monthly.

Yet years of imprisonment had transformed her once radiant mother into a shadow: increasingly despondent, neglecting her cultivation, her body weakening daily under the forbidden area’s fire toxin, her life now measured in scant years.

The family remained indifferent, even forbidding Wang Yu Wei from providing her mother with the toxin-relieving Bi Shui Dan.

Wang Fang, possessing Sixth Grade spiritual roots but lacking cultivation, held no value.

Were it not for appeasing Wang Yu Wei, the family would have discarded her long ago.

This was precisely why Wang Yu Wei sought Bi Shui Dan from Zhou Luo.

Naturally, she hadn’t revealed this to Lin Xin.

She couldn’t risk Lin Xin informing the family; discovery might hasten her mother’s end.

A son-in-law adopted by the Lin Family seemed a safer choice than anyone directly tied to either clan.

…

As everyone waited, a group emerged from behind the ancient bronze door ahead.

Leading them was a middle-aged man in a green robe.

Hands clasped behind his back, he strode out. An aura of immense authority radiated from his proud, stern visage.

His appearance instantly hushed the crowd; all bowed respectfully.

Lin Zhi Shou and the other organizers approached him, their posture humble, voices united: "Steward Zhao."

Steward Zhao paid them no heed. Instead, he calmly produced a booklet and addressed the assembly. "Separate by your expertise."

Over a dozen outer disciples stepped from behind him, each announcing the skills they would oversee.

The crowd stirred, moving towards their designated areas.

Beyond the four major skills and a few dominant ones, most specialties were niche. A single disciple often supervised over a dozen minor skills.

Soon, the groups assembled.

Zhou Luo stood beside Lin Xin, who in turn stood next to Wang Yu Wei.

All eyes fixed expectantly on Steward Zhao as they awaited his next instruction.

"Before your Immortal Sect studies commence, you shall observe these rules." Steward Zhao stated indifferently, his gaze sweeping over them.

A disciple beside him stepped forward and began reciting the regulations.

The rules were few. The paramount one confined all study and practice to designated zones; violators faced immediate expulsion.

Restricted movement was expected; naturally, the Immortal Sect would not permit outsiders to roam its mountains freely.

Once the rules concluded, Steward Zhao uttered plainly, "All dismissed."