Chapter 58: Receiving a Visit While Ill

"Hey! What’s wrong with you?" After a fierce clash of spiritual energy, she realized she had nearly collided with someone. The other person seemed distracted as well, but noticed the danger sooner than she did. A burst of spiritual energy struck her sword, almost twisting its angle, thus avoiding the two from brushing past each other.

Although the other’s action was somewhat rough, she knew it was her own lack of attention. She was about to apologize when she steadied herself.

"So, it’s you..." Both of them spoke the same words in unison.

Since their encounter at the Hexi Secret Realm, thirty years had passed without meeting. Now, upon recognizing each other, the first instinct was to examine each other's cultivation. Unluckily, they were still evenly matched.

Su Yunmo felt a lingering unease in her heart, but since she had resolved to keep her distance from Lu Tanxian, to avoid entanglement with her, her mind was clearer. She only glanced at Lu Tanxian a few times before preparing to continue on her way.

Her indifference, however, stirred something in Lu Tanxian. Previously, Su Yunmo had undermined her in the sect competition, causing setbacks in her subsequent fortunes. Lu Tanxian hadn’t retaliated then due to insufficient strength, but now, with more cards in hand and an ambiguous yet elevated status, bolstered by Granny Hua’s support, she felt she finally had the means to settle old scores. If it had been the old her, she would have apologized and taken a different path, but now she was unwilling to endure anymore.

Seeing Su Yunmo mount her flying sword and continue forward, Lu Tanxian let out a light laugh and followed her original route. At first, she kept not too far, not too close, but eventually accelerated to overtake Su Yunmo. Su Yunmo, provoked by this challenge, nearly sped up to confront her, but suppressed her fiery temper and kept to her original pace.

When Su Yunmo arrived, Lu Tanxian was being stopped at the entrance by Linxiu. "Junior Lu, my younger sister is recuperating from her injuries and cannot receive guests. Please wait." As Lu Tanxian was about to explain, Su Yunmo glanced at her with contempt, stepped forward and greeted Linxiu, "Senior, I’ve come to see Sister Hansu. How is her recovery? My mother, upon hearing of Hansu’s injuries, crafted a defensive robe comparable to a spiritual artifact for her. There’s also a hairpin with lightning-conducting properties, which will help her healing if worn now."

Linxiu, upon seeing Su Yunmo and hearing her words, knew it was inappropriate to refuse further and let her in. Su Yunmo, having suppressed her anger, now felt vindicated and cast Lu Tanxian a couple of sharp looks.

Lu Tanxian was in a foul mood. Wasn’t she just told that Hansu couldn’t receive guests? Yet, a guest of greater status was immediately welcomed. Clearly, she was looked down upon for not being a direct disciple. She raised her hand and presented the jade talisman from Daoist Yuheng, her expression sour, "This is from my master, Daoist Yuheng, who instructed me to hand it personally to Senior Jiang. Senior, please see."

Linxiu was now completely helpless and accompanied Lu Tanxian to report to their master. Since bringing Hansu back to the mountain, Daoist Hengbo no longer wandered, staying by Hansu’s side to treat her. Hansu’s recovery progressed swiftly; she was awake, her broken meridians healed but still fragile, requiring slow recuperation. She could only lie flat, blinking, while circulating spiritual energy to slowly nurture her body.

Huaiyin had been taken somewhere by his father, supposedly for training. Hansu thought that since Huaiyin had been isolated in the secret realm since birth, and his inheritance was incomplete, it would be easier for him to find his mother's family later if his father helped him understand the current cultivation world, so she let it be.

These days, her mother stayed by her side constantly, which Hansu found dull. Though they had been mother and daughter for forty years, their time together was short and conversation sparse. She summoned Xueling for company, and gradually, the two became more harmonious, truly resembling mother and daughter.

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 assumed it was a disciple from Lingwu Peak, given her master’s presence outside, so she continued her storytelling.

Unexpectedly, her mother wasn’t amused, but Su Yunmo, just entering, was entertained. "Hansu, is that seventh-tier Copper Mountain Wolf really so dumb? If the Hexi Secret Realm opens again and I get to go, I must meet it myself." After speaking, she saluted Daoist Hengbo and hurried to Hansu’s bedside.

Hansu felt awkward, lying still as someone scrutinized her. "Hansu is already forty-something, yet still looks like a thirteen-year-old child?" Su Yunmo remarked, glancing at Daoist Hengbo, her full chest lifting naturally, right hand sweeping her hair back with a touch of charm. Daoist Hengbo didn’t respond with humility, but rather with a hint of pride, "Perhaps she built her foundation and formed her core too early. In a few decades, she’ll grow up."

Su Yunmo realized she had set herself up. She always referred to herself as Hansu’s sister or friend, deliberately overlooking Hansu’s status as a core formation cultivator, which meant she now had to address her as ‘senior’. Daoist Hengbo pointed this out directly. If Su Yunmo were more tactful, she would now say, "I suppose I must call you Senior Jiang." But she wasn’t quite so astute. As she faltered, Hansu hurried to change the topic to avoid embarrassment...

Linxiu entered, bringing Lu Tanxian. Upon entering, Lu Tanxian saluted Daoist Hengbo, then formally presented the jade talisman, "Lu Tanxian, disciple of Spiritual Medicine Peak, delivers this on behalf of Daoist Yuheng for Senior Jiang. Everything is contained within; Senior will know upon inspection." Linxiu took the talisman and handed it to Daoist Hengbo, who glanced at it and passed it to Hansu. "You can look at it later." "Yes."

Lu Tanxian felt a wave of disappointment. She had deliberately handed the talisman to Daoist Hengbo, hoping her master’s paranoia would prompt her to check it immediately, perhaps revealing the contents. Yet, Daoist Hengbo was utterly indifferent, handing it straight to her daughter.

Of course, Daoist Hengbo had no suspicions. Hansu was always obedient, appeared young; aside from the overly suspicious Lu Tanxian, who would imagine that a venerable, centuries-old Nascent Soul cultivator would care for a girl who looked thirteen or fourteen?

Su Yunmo paid no mind to these matters. In this life, so much differed from the previous one, so she didn’t question why she’d never heard of a prodigy like Hansu reaching core formation so young. Nor did she suspect any connection between Daoist Yuheng and Hansu. She simply wondered if her reluctance to address Hansu as ‘senior’ meant she hadn’t truly let go. With a serene smile, she took Hansu’s hand and said softly, "Hansu? Senior Jiang... You are now my Senior Jiang."

Hansu was caught off guard by the new title; her feelings were hard to describe. She had never been fond of Su Yunmo, who lived too self-centeredly, too flamboyantly, unable to tolerate anyone stronger than herself. But hearing those words, Hansu was suddenly filled with pity. Such a proud young lady was finally willing to bow her head, to reflect, to try to live like others. She wondered if this was still the same vivid Su Yunmo.

Unable to move, Hansu could only muster a radiant smile, "Sister Yunmo." Though only a few words, Su Yunmo understood her attitude, squeezed her hand in gratitude, then said to Daoist Hengbo, "Hansu needs rest to recover, so I won’t disturb her further. This protective robe and hairpin are gifts from my mother. The hairpin will aid her healing if worn now." She placed the items by Hansu’s pillow, rose, saluted Daoist Hengbo, nodded to Linxiu and Lu Tanxian, and prepared to leave.

Daoist Hengbo smiled, stopped her, and pressed a storage pouch into her hand, speaking sincerely, "I am gratified that Hansu has a sister like you. Work hard with Senior Miaoyi and cultivate well." Su Yunmo knew Daoist Hengbo meant well, not to make things difficult, but to kindly remind her. Grateful, she smiled, put away the items, and left.

After Su Yunmo departed, Lu Tanxian felt awkward. Her intention had been to get closer to Hansu for future benefit, but now she was at a loss, unsure how to proceed. Daoist Hengbo didn’t know her, hadn’t heard of Daoist Yuheng taking a disciple, and assumed she was just a steward from Spiritual Medicine Peak, so showed little warmth. "If there is nothing more, Junior Lu, you may return and report to Daoist Yuheng. Hansu will read the talisman soon; if there is a reply, it will be sent."

Lu Tanxian bit her lip, both ashamed and resentful, but had no choice but to turn away. In her heart, she thought this whole family was ungrateful; in the future, when she rose to power, she would make them see who was truly superior.

After Lu Tanxian left, Linxiu hesitated, "Master... This person... It might be wise to be a bit more courteous. She could become Daoist Yuheng’s partner in the future..."

"What?! Partner? Her? That foundation-building disciple? Where did you hear that?" Daoist Hengbo was shocked, grabbing Linxiu to have her explain from the beginning.

Thus, Hansu soon learned all the sect gossip that had transpired while she was confined to the secret realm, leaving her feeling helpless. So, Lu Tanxian was pursuing Daoist Yuheng again; nothing could hinder her ambitions. Fortunately, Su Yunmo seemed to be awakening to new insights, which meant Hansu’s task might not be so difficult now.

The days passed quietly in healing, listening to gossip, and receiving visitors. Hansu sometimes asked her parents about Huaiyin’s whereabouts, but never received a clear answer—only that he was undergoing training. She didn’t know that each time she inquired about him, the difficulty of his training increased...