Chapter 394

Chapter 394: Zhou Shixin

Yao Wu did not feel much sorrow from Master Lieyang’s passing; she was merely astonished that such a Golden Core master could die so suddenly without even leaving a successor behind.

"In a few days, Wan Gu Sect will likely send people to verify your identity," Zhou Luo said.

This incident had occurred, and according to Hong Han, Wan Gu Sect valued inheritance greatly.

Now, having learned that Master Lieyang still had an heir, they definitely would not allow the resources of his lineage to fall into another’s hands.

Even if the sect leader consented, the elders in the same faction as Master Lieyang would not agree.

Therefore, Wan Gu Sect would probably dispatch someone shortly.

When hearing these words, a trace of complex emotion flickered in Yao Wu’s beautiful eyes; she stared at her husband like a lost child yearning for guidance.

"Husband, what do you think I should do?"

Since childhood, she had followed her master, then became Zhou Luo’s wife, spending over a decade mainly engaged in child-rearing and cultivation, so confronted with this issue, she felt somewhat uncertain and adrift.

Zhou Luo did not speak immediately; instead, he suddenly reached out, grasped her fair and delicate jade-like hand, and said gently,

"It depends on your choice, since no matter what you opt for, there will be risks."

"If you choose to return to Wan Gu Sect, you can certainly receive systematic instruction, and your future achievements in Gu techniques will not be meager. But equally, you will have to confront conflicts from various forces, because the resources of the lineage fall solely on you, yet your strength is not sufficient—you might become a target for others."

"Of course, if you do not go back to Wan Gu Sect, you can avoid such troubles, but you might miss your own path to immortality and the chance to inherit control of the lineage."

He gazed at her with tender eyes, patiently and thoroughly explaining the situation so she could comprehend the consequences of her choice.

Such matters intertwined blessings and curses; he was incapable of making the decision for her.

But whatever her decision, he would support her.

Feeling the warmth radiating from her right hand, Yao Wu’s anxious heart eased slightly.

She pursed her lips, still wearing a perplexed expression, and said, "Husband, I don’t know either."

"Mother."

Just then, from outside the room, a light and cheerful voice sounded.

It was a graceful and upright young girl with an enchanting loveliness, a slender figure, and an aura emanating from her—ethereal and uncommonly refined.

With bright eyes and white teeth, she walked over with light steps, appearing very lively; her smiling eyes gave off a harmless and innocent impression.

However, the servants at Zhou Fu knew all too well that this girl’s temperament was not as simple as it seemed.

Judging by her appearance alone, she was quite beautiful: willow-leaf-like curved eyebrows, fair skin, a light blue dress swaying in the breeze, and still bearing a hint of youthfulness in her features.

As the girl approached, she also noticed Zhou Luo.

She halted her steps, stopped smiling, and bowed respectfully, "Father."

This girl was none other than Zhou Luo and Yao Wu’s daughter, Zhou Changqing’s sister, Zhou Shixin.

All those years had passed; she was now nearly sixteen years old and already a graceful young lady.

Furthermore, over this time, she had always been by Zhou Luo’s side, under his specialized teaching; she had already attained the cultivation of the fifth layer of Qi Refinement.

Though unlike her other siblings who possessed various constitutions and aid from Qi of Innate Origins, because she consistently remained in the core area enjoying the spiritual energy, her progress was very swift.

And this young girl also had talent in Gu techniques, coming close to the basics.

"What business do you have with your mother?" Zhou Luo withdrew his hand and said seriously.

In daily cultivation, he and Yao Wu adopted roles where one acted stern and the other gentle, which was why Zhou Shixin behaved so obediently when facing him.

Mainly, Zhou Luo realized this little girl, though seemingly well-behaved on ordinary days, was actually quite mischievous—more clever and full of pranks than her own brother—and often rowdy.

So to properly discipline her, he had to build a strict father image.

Otherwise, he feared this little girl might bring trouble to the family in the future.

"Daddy, I just wanted to ask mother some questions about Gu techniques." Zhou Shixin raised her head, revealing a serious expression on her fair oval face.

"Xin’er, what do you want to ask?" Yao Wu said softly.

Yao Wu saw that this daughter of hers truly showed good talent in Gu techniques; in her daily teaching, she found herself liking the child more and more and deeply wished the girl would surpass her.

"Mother, it’s about a kind of Gu insect that I don’t quite understand."

Zhou Shixin rather naturally approached Yao Wu and pulled out a jade slip, densely covered with her own questions, along with her insights and confusion about those issues.

Beside them, Zhou Luo observed the content on that jade slip and couldn’t help but acknowledge that she was indeed keen on Gu techniques.

She hadn’t just posed problems—she had specifically annotated them and spawned many other questions.

So if you wanted to solve just one of her issues, you had to tackle all the others at once.

However, this little girl always favored studying poisonous Gu insects and liked teasing the servants daily; if she actually succeeded in the future, he worried she might go astray.

Yao Wu examined the contents on the jade slip too and sensed they weren’t straightforward; she was carefully analyzing them.

Zhou Shixin secretly glanced at her father, not daring even to draw breath.

Because this time, her puzzling question related to a kind of poisonous Gu insect.

That Gu insect belonged to an entry-level type; if it entered a person’s body, it could temporarily control their movements.

But such control had many limitations and was mostly aimed at ordinary people and low-level Qi Refinement cultivators.

"Alright, Xin’er."

In less than a quarter of an hour, Yao Wu marked notations on the jade slip and asked Zhou Shixin to leave first and review it thoroughly, before Yao Wu would teach her properly later.

"Thank you, Mother." Zhou Shixin smiled gracefully and retreated cautiously.

After she left, Zhou Luo shook his head and remarked, "This girl of ours loves fiddling with these unorthodox Gu insects every day."

Yao Wu gave a faint smile and responded, "Back when I first engaged with Gu insects, I wasn’t as bold as she is—but boldness is good; interest boosts motivation in practice too."

"She’s probably close to mastering the basics now."

Upon saying that, a proud look emerged on Yao Wu’s face.

As a mother, she naturally wished her children to achieve great things.

Such as Zhou Changqing, who now lived comfortably in the Immortal Sect by relying on his natural talent and needed no worry from her.

So she poured all her focus into her daughter.

Zhou Luo nodded slightly and added, "Her talent is actually quite high; with solid teaching, her accomplishments in the future will surely be remarkable."

These words made Yao Wu sink into deep thought.

She naturally recognized this, and she was also well aware that if her daughter grew to reach her level later but had no teacher, it would pose serious trouble.