Chapter 57: Receiving a Visit During Illness

"Hey! What's wrong with you!" After an intense clash of spiritual energy, she realized she had almost collided with someone else. The other seemed distracted as well, but noticed the danger before she did—a flare of spiritual energy struck her sword, nearly knocking it off course, thus preventing them from brushing past each other.

Though the other's actions were rather brusque, it was her own lack of attention that caused the situation, so she prepared to apologize, but when she looked up—

"So it’s you..." Both spoke the same words at once.

Since the Heqi Secret Realm, thirty years had passed without a meeting between them. Now, recognizing each other at a glance, their first instinct was to assess the other's cultivation. Unfortunately, their strengths were still evenly matched.

Su Yunmo felt a faint stir in her heart, but since she resolved to keep her distance from Lu Tanxian, determined never to entangle herself with her again, a clarity remained within. She only glanced at her a few times, then prepared to move on.

Contrarily, Lu Tanxian felt a surge of competitive spirit. In the past, Su Yunmo had undermined her during the sect's grand competition, causing a downturn in her fortunes. She hadn't retaliated then due to her lack of strength. Now, with more cards up her sleeve and a vaguely elevated status, as well as Granny Hua as her supporter, she felt herself empowered to settle scores. The old her would have apologized and taken another path; now, she suddenly refused to yield.

Seeing Su Yunmo step onto her flying sword and continue ahead, Lu Tanxian quietly laughed and followed the same route, keeping a not-too-close, not-too-distant distance, then sped up to overtake her. Su Yunmo, provoked, nearly flew after to confront her, but after much restraint, she kept her temper in check and proceeded at her original pace.

When Su Yunmo arrived, Lu Tanxian was being stopped at the door by Lin Xiu. "Junior Lu, my younger sister is recovering from her injuries and cannot receive guests. Please wait." While Lu Tanxian tried to explain, Su Yunmo cast her a contemptuous glance and stepped forward to greet Lin Xiu, "Aunt, I'm here to visit Sister Hansu. How is her recovery? My mother, upon hearing of Hansu's injury, crafted a defensive robe comparable to a spiritual artifact for her, and a hairpin with lightning-conducting properties that should help with her healing."

Lin Xiu, recognizing Su Yunmo, knew it was inappropriate to bar her any longer and let her inside. Su Yunmo, still simmering from earlier, was visibly pleased, shooting Lu Tanxian two sharp looks.

Lu Tanxian, standing aside, felt frustrated. The excuse of 'no guests during recovery' vanished for a more distinguished visitor—wasn't it just because she wasn't a direct disciple? Such blatant favoritism! She raised her hand, producing the jade talisman given by Daoist Jade Heng, her face sour as she said, "This is from my master... Daoist Jade Heng, for Senior Jiang. Aunt, will you take it?"

Lin Xiu was now entirely helpless and had to accompany Lu Tanxian inside to report to her master.

Daoist Hengbo, since bringing Hansu back to the mountain, had stayed by her side, treating her diligently. As a result, Hansu recovered quickly, her consciousness clear and her damaged meridians healed, though still fragile and needing slow recuperation. For now, she could only lie down, blink, and let her spiritual energy nourish her body.

Huai Yin had been taken off somewhere by his father, who said he needed training. Hansu thought, since Huai Yin had lived alone in the secret realm since birth and received only partial inheritance, if her father helped him learn more about the current cultivation world, it would make his future search for their mother's family easier, so she let it be.

These days, her mother stayed glued to her side, which felt dull. Though they had been mother and daughter for forty years, their time together had been short, and there was little to talk about. She summoned Xue Ling for company, and gradually, their relationship grew more harmonious, finally resembling a real mother-daughter bond.

When Su Yunmo entered, Hansu was vividly recounting her battles with beasts in the secret realm to Daoist Hengbo. Though she sensed someone entering, she thought, this was her own cave, with her senior sister guarding outside; surely it was a disciple from Spirit Mist Peak, so she didn't stop telling her story.

Unexpectedly, her mother wasn't amused, but Su Yunmo, just entering, was. "Hahaha, Sister Hansu, is that seventh-rank Bronze Mountain Wolf really so silly? If the Heqi Secret Realm opens again and I get to go, I must meet him myself." She finished, bowed to Daoist Hengbo, and quickly moved to Hansu's bedside.

Hansu felt awkward, lying still under such scrutiny. "Hansu is already... over forty, but still looks like a thirteen-year-old child?" Su Yunmo said, glancing at Daoist Hengbo, her full chest rising naturally, her right hand sweeping her hair with a trace of charm. Daoist Hengbo, however, did not play along, replying somewhat proudly, "Probably because she began foundation building and core formation too early. In a few decades, she'll grow up."

Su Yunmo felt she had shot herself in the foot. Outside, she always spoke of Hansu as a sister or friend, deliberately ignoring Hansu's core formation, and the fact that she should now address her as 'senior aunt.' Now, Daoist Hengbo pointed this out bluntly. If Su Yunmo were sensible, she'd have followed up, saying, "I should call you senior aunt now." But she was not so tactful; awkwardness lingered, and Hansu was about to shift the topic to avoid embarrassment—

Lin Xiu entered with Lu Tanxian. Lu Tanxian immediately bowed to Daoist Hengbo and respectfully presented the jade talisman. "Disciple Lu Tanxian of Spirit Medicine Peak, sent by Daoist Jade Heng to deliver this to Senior Jiang. Everything is within the talisman; please read it, and you'll know." Lin Xiu took the talisman and handed it to Daoist Hengbo, who glanced at it and passed it to Hansu. "Look at it yourself later." "Yes."

Lu Tanxian felt a wave of disappointment. She had deliberately given the talisman to Daoist Hengbo, hoping her suspicion would prompt her to open it and reveal its contents. Only then could Lu Tanxian learn what it said. But Daoist Hengbo was utterly unconcerned, handing it straight to her daughter.

Daoist Hengbo, naturally, did not consider anything special—Hansu had always been obedient and looked so young. Aside from Lu Tanxian, whose suspicions were endless, who would imagine a dignified Nascent Soul Daoist over several centuries would care about a girl who looked thirteen?

Su Yunmo paid no mind. Many things in this life were different from the last, so she hadn't bothered to question why she had never heard of Hansu as a prodigy who formed a core so early, nor did she suspect Daoist Jade Heng's relationship with Hansu. Instead, she wondered if her reluctance to call Hansu 'senior aunt' meant she hadn't truly let go in her heart. She smiled, took Hansu's hand, and gently said, "Hansu? Senior Jiang... you are now my Senior Jiang."

Hansu was suddenly addressed so, and couldn't quite say how it felt. She had never liked Su Yunmo much—her self-centeredness, her flamboyance, her intolerance for anyone stronger than herself. Yet hearing those words, a wave of compassion welled up. Such a proud heiress, finally willing to lower her head, to reflect, to live like others. Was she still the same vivid self?

Unable to move, Hansu managed a bright smile. "Sister Yunmo." Though only a few words, Su Yunmo understood her attitude, gratefully squeezed her hand, then said to Daoist Hengbo, "Hansu needs rest, so I won't disturb her further. This robe and hairpin are gifts from my mother; the hairpin will aid her recovery." She left the items by Hansu's pillow, stood up, bowed to Daoist Hengbo, nodded to Lin Xiu and Lu Tanxian, and was about to leave.

Daoist Hengbo smiled and stopped her, handing her a storage pouch, sincerely saying, "I'm glad Hansu has a sister like you. Work hard with Senior Miao Yi and cultivate well." Su Yunmo knew Daoist Hengbo meant well, seeing her mindset was not right and gently reminding her. She smiled gratefully, put away the pouch, and left.

After Su Yunmo left, Lu Tanxian began to feel awkward. She had hoped to befriend Hansu for future benefit, but now found herself at a loss. Daoist Hengbo didn't know her, nor had she heard that Daoist Jade Heng had taken a disciple; she assumed Lu Tanxian was just another Spirit Medicine Peak steward, and had no reason to be close. She calmly instructed, "If you have nothing else, Junior Lu, you may return and report to Daoist Jade Heng. Hansu will read the talisman soon; if there's a reply, it will be sent."

Lu Tanxian bit her lip in humiliation and frustration, but had no choice but to leave. In her heart, she felt this whole family was ungrateful. If she rose to power one day, she’d show them who truly belongs above others!

After Lu Tanxian left, Lin Xiu hesitated, "Master... that girl... perhaps be a little polite. She may become Daoist Jade Heng’s partner in the future..."

"What?! Partner? Her? That foundation-building disciple? Where did you hear that?" Daoist Hengbo was shocked, grabbing Lin Xiu to hear the whole story.

So Hansu soon learned all the gossip that had transpired in the sect while she was confined to the secret realm. It left her with a sense of helplessness. Lu Tanxian was once again pursuing Daoist Jade Heng—nothing could stop her. But with Su Yunmo showing signs of awakening, perhaps her task would be less arduous?

Thus, the days quietly passed between healing, listening to gossip, and receiving visitors. Hansu occasionally asked her parents where Huai Yin had been taken, but never got a clear answer—only that he was training. She didn’t know that each time she inquired about him, the difficulty of his training increased...

Author’s note: On holiday... updating whenever I find the time.