Chapter 110: Trouble and Punishment

Seeing Tang Wei’s curious gaze fixed on him, Xuanyuan Zhe had no choice but to answer awkwardly, “Well… Yun Qian has finally met a worthy opponent!”

“Oh! How come? I thought my brother was already at the fasting stage! Surely Yun Qian couldn’t possibly stand a chance against him,” Tang Wei asked in surprise, her tone as if Columbus had just discovered a new continent, a flicker of delight hidden in her eyes. Her brother was already in his twenties; if only he could find a girlfriend like Yun Qian, they would surely get along well. Driven by her ever-curious nature, Tang Wei relentlessly probed for more inside information.

Xuanyuan Zhe found himself at a loss for what to say. The only thing he could reveal was that Yun Qian found the usual small skirmishes with him boring. Now that she had finally encountered a peer with higher cultivation, she insisted on sparring with him to satisfy her spirit and also to gauge her own combat skills.

Thus, Yun Qian latched onto Tang Jun. But since she was a girl, Tang Jun couldn’t really lay a hand on her; he was also afraid of accidentally injuring her. Fighting felt frustrating and dull, so he just tried to avoid her. Unexpectedly, this only encouraged Yun Qian more. She refused to back down without exchanging a few moves with Tang Jun every day. This is how things came to be: Tang Jun now wanted nothing to do with her the moment he caught sight of her.

Meanwhile, Xuanyuan Zhe and Li Changfeng merely watched the spectacle from the sidelines, with no intention of intervening. Xuanyuan Zhe, rarely having such an opportunity, was glad that Yun Qian no longer tormented him daily; naturally, he was content to watch from afar. As for Li Changfeng, accustomed to Tang Jun’s usual calm demeanor, seeing him so desperate and frantic was a rare treat—he seized the chance to enjoy the show. Tang Wei used to be the one pestering Tang Jun frequently, but after cultivating, Tang Jun had become more like a little old man. Seeing this lively side of him reassured Li Changfeng that Tang Wei would not blame him for standing by idly.

After hearing the whole story, Tang Wei burst into laughter, her anger toward Yayā completely gone. She thought Tang Jun and Yun Qian were truly made for each other. Who knew they might actually end up beating each other senseless! Her mind brimmed with mischievous schemes, all aimed at creating opportunities for them to spark a flame of love.

Xuanyuan Zhe smiled at Tang Wei’s sly grin. Having spent so much time together, he could easily see through her schemes. Fearing she might trap him, he quickly found an excuse to slip away. “Um… Weiwei, I have something to do. I’ll go ahead!” Without finishing his sentence, he turned and dashed off, leaving Tang Wei unable to catch him. She had no choice but to seize Li Changfeng, who had not yet reacted.

Li Changfeng was no fool. After five years of quiet companionship, he realized he had fallen for this woman he once deemed plain. Knowing he had no chance, he found contentment in silently watching over her. Now that Tang Wei had entrusted him with this task, he was willing to brave any hardship for her.

Tang Wei was too oblivious to notice Zi Xuan’s feelings, let alone Li Changfeng’s. As long as someone watched over her future couple and occasionally created chances to fulfill her grand and noble plan, she cared little whether that person harbored ulterior motives—that was not her concern.

When Tang Wei asked Li Changfeng to play matchmaker for Tang Jun and Yun Qian, he accepted without hesitation, despite knowing it might offend his good friend. He understood Tang Jun’s current attitude—he was practically desperate to avoid the girl. Even so, Li Changfeng was willing to give it a try.

Only after settling this matter did Tang Wei turn her attention to Yayā. Whether to bring her back immediately, she decided to discuss with Zi Xuan first, especially now that they knew Zi Xuan was their biological father. He bore responsibility for raising the child, so it was only proper to consult him about today’s incident.

At Zi Xuan’s room, Tang Wei knocked and planned to enter quietly, assuming he had gone into the space to cultivate. Indeed, as soon as she opened the door, Zi Xuan’s figure flickered and appeared inside. Others might not notice, but outside the room he had set a simple formation that triggered an alarm whenever the door opened, alerting him instantly. He had just entered the space when someone came to see him. Puzzled, he thought, “Didn’t I make it clear to everyone outside not to disturb me unless it’s urgent?” There was no time to ponder; he hurried out and found Tang Wei looking furious.

“What’s wrong, Weiwei? Who’s upset you?” Zi Xuan’s anger instantly melted into a smile as he approached, putting on what he thought was his most charming expression. If this were directed at a little girl, he’d surely be seen as a creepy old man.

Tang Wei pushed him aside and rolled her eyes, snapping, “It’s your precious daughter! She almost burned down someone’s shop this time. Isn’t she your biological daughter? Don’t you care at all? You just rush back to cultivate in your space. With a father like you, she’s doomed eight generations back!”

“Oh, it was just almost burning, not actually burning! Even if it did, it’s fine. My daughter’s just got that fiery temper. And she’s always been clever and capable. Someone must have provoked her first, which is why she got so angry. Who came to complain to you? I want to go give them a piece of my mind! Anyone who bullies my daughter clearly doesn’t want to live,” Zi Xuan said boastfully, refusing to apologize. In his mind, Yayā was never at fault; if there was blame, it belonged to others.

Tang Wei’s anger intensified at his tone. She pointed her finger at Zi Xuan’s nose and scolded, “I think you’ve watched too many gangster movies and want to act tough! With a father like you, no wonder she’s turning into a little tyrant. Starting fires at such a young age—what won’t she do when she grows up? You don’t reflect at all, only encouraging her bad habits. Forget it, I’m done! I don’t even want to reason with someone like you—it’s like talking to a wall.”

Seeing her livid, Zi Xuan knew he was in trouble and hurried to soften his tone. “Weiwei, don’t be mad. I was just joking earlier! But think about it—though Yayā is a bit mischievous, she’s not reckless. I’m sure there’s more to this story. Don’t get angry so quickly. Let me investigate first, then we can discuss how to handle it. You’re right, her temper is fierce. Usually, her cleverness hides it, but when provoked, it shows. She does need some discipline; it won’t hurt her future.”

Tang Wei finally calmed down at his reasonable words but still grumbled, “Is this really the time for jokes?”

“Yes, yes! My mistake, okay? I promise it won’t happen again. Please forgive me!” Zi Xuan raised his hands in surrender, grinning foolishly.

“Don’t smirk at me like that—it only makes me angrier,” Tang Wei snapped, glaring at his roguish grin. Then she turned sharply and ordered, “Aren’t you supposed to find out what happened? Get going! If you wait too long, it’ll be too late.”

“Of course, I’ll check right away! But, Weiwei, can you quietly tell me—if this really is Yayā’s fault, how do you plan to punish her?” Zi Xuan asked cautiously, looking like a spy gathering enemy secrets. Tang Wei suspiciously eyed him and asked, “You’re not an accomplice, are you?”

“Of course not! I’m an honest man—I wouldn’t do anything sneaky. I just worry about Yayā,” Zi Xuan replied calmly, his demeanor that of a doting father, though a faint, unreadable glimmer flickered in his eyes.

“Let’s hope not, or you’re doomed—you know that!” Tang Wei threatened, raising her fist playfully. “That girl is out of control. Regardless of fault, I’m taking her back to the Tang family for a year of solitary confinement to calm her down. She’s about to start cultivating; this way, she can focus on sensing spiritual energy instead of running wild.”

“Weiwei, isn’t that a bit much? It’s not a big deal! Are you really going to lock her up?” Zi Xuan rolled his eyes and looked at her with a pleading expression.

“I’m not just punishing Yayā. This time, Zhang San will also get a proper reprimand. His negligence as supervisor caused this! If I find any other accomplices, I’ll deal with them too.” Tang Wei’s tone was stern and threatening. Zi Xuan seemed different today, even Tang Wei noticed, though she wasn’t sure what he had done for Yayā.

Zi Xuan tried to plead but Tang Wei gave him a suspicious look and asked, “Zi Xuan, are you hiding something? You’re acting weird today.”

“No! No! Locking her up is right! Locking her up!” Zi Xuan quickly denied.

“Well then, get moving! If you keep stalling, I’ll punish you too,” Tang Wei snapped.

“On it!” Zi Xuan stood at attention humorously. But as he turned away, he muttered, “Yayā, I can’t help you anymore. Your mom is too fierce. I did my best. Prepare for solitary confinement!”

Tang Wei’s sharp ears caught him, and she asked, “Xiao Xuan, what are you mumbling about?”

“Nothing. I need to go investigate!” Zi Xuan said, then fled out the door as if escaping a disaster.