Chapter Sixty: Gathering Storms from All Directions

“What on earth is happening?” As soon as Xuanyuan Zhe saw the steward, he immediately demanded an explanation.

“Young master, I’m sorry. I don’t know how our information got leaked, but now all the cultivators know that Yaya has appeared in City B, and they’re aware that Zhang San took her into Changbai Mountain. Many rogue cultivators rushed into the mountain overnight yesterday.” The steward nervously reported.

“How did you manage this? I told you to proceed in secret yesterday, and now everything’s out! How do you handle things?” Xuanyuan Zhe scolded angrily.

“I’m sorry! Young master, I failed in my duties. I request punishment!” The steward had no way out; he simply adopted the attitude of a dead pig unafraid of boiling water. After all, the situation was ruined, and his tenure as steward was at its end. He could accept whatever came—even if it wouldn’t be fatal. This job was exhausting and unrewarding; he had no desire to continue.

“You…” Seeing his pitiful appearance, Xuanyuan Zhe really wanted to leap up and beat him. He hadn’t expected there could be someone even more infuriating than himself.

After all these days together, Tang Wei truly considered him a friend and couldn’t help but try to soothe him: “Xiao Zhe, let it go. The secret’s out, so be it. Maybe more people will help us find Yaya!”

“But this will make the situation chaotic. My old man wanted us to act in secret precisely to avoid infighting in the cultivation world.” Xuanyuan Zhe shared his father’s concerns.

Zi Xuan shrugged indifferently. “Isn’t this exactly what we anticipated? Let it be messy. You have National Security Bureau people with you—they’ll keep things from getting out of hand. Anyway, it doesn’t matter who finds Yaya, as long as she comes back safely.”

“Yes, I agree!” Tang Wei wholeheartedly supported Zi Xuan’s view.

Xuanyuan Zhe could only accept it. “There’s no helping it. We’ll just go with the flow.” He turned to the steward: “We’ll stick to the original plan. Let others do as they wish, we won’t interfere. Arrange for someone to take us to Changbai Mountain now.”

Not being punished was the best outcome. The steward was sensible enough; seeing Xuanyuan Zhe wasn’t pursuing the matter further, he replied, “Yes!” and hurried to arrange their journey.

The Ouyang family’s old estate was in the Taihang Mountain region of Province Z. Ouyang Qihua, who was often away on business, was currently at the estate reporting on Tang Wei and the others. Although they typically communicated by phone, the Ouyang patriarch preferred face-to-face briefings, which made it easier to deliver his own instructions.

The missing persons notice issued by Tang Wei’s group—and the mention of the medicinal pills—had caught the patriarch’s attention. He ordered Ouyang Qihua to personally go to Changbai Mountain. “This time, you’ll handle the matter yourself. Your usual responsibilities can be managed by the steward.”

Ouyang Qihua was unsure of his father’s intentions and asked, “Father, what do you mean?”

“When you get there, you need to build a good relationship with the two siblings surnamed Chen. They’re both cultivators at the fasting stage. Even if our family can’t win them over, we certainly shouldn’t make enemies of them. Besides, they have the pills everyone needs. Make every effort to befriend them.” Though Ouyang Qihua was competent in his own right, the patriarch worried he might not grasp the situation fully, so he gave detailed instructions.

“Father, I understand. I’ll do my best!” Ouyang Qihua promised earnestly.

“When you arrive, try to stay close to them like Xuanyuan Zhe does. You young people get along better; perhaps you’ll even build a friendship. Arrange for people to help in the search. Once Yaya is found, don’t haggle over rewards—use that to earn their goodwill.” The patriarch feared his son might spoil things and couldn’t help but elaborate.

“Yes! I’ll follow your instructions. But…” Thinking of Ouyang Qianru’s infatuation with Zi Xuan, he hesitated.

Seeing his hesitation, the patriarch frowned. “Have I taught you like this since childhood? Speaking so haltingly, without any leadership! What’s making you so flustered and unable to handle things properly?”

“It’s not that, Father. It’s just that Qianru seems to have taken a liking to Chen Xuan; she insists she’ll marry no one else. Last time at the auction, she embarrassed herself in front of him and now keeps trying to entangle him. I’m worried she’ll anger him and hinder our efforts.” Ouyang Qihua quickly explained, recounting the incident in detail, fearing his father might blame him for poor management.

The patriarch pondered silently for a moment, then suddenly decided, “Take Qianru with you.”

“Father, what are your plans?” Ouyang Qihua could never guess his father’s intentions and had to ask directly.

“Men always feel compassion for beautiful women. Since that child is his senior’s daughter, they’re certainly not lovers. A single man being pursued is no surprise. For a man faced with a beautiful woman deeply devoted to him, he’ll never bear to hurt her. But your sister needs to change her approach. Go call Qianru here; I need to speak with her.” The patriarch considered himself shrewd. The beauty trap had been effective since ancient times, though he didn’t realize it depended on the target.

“Yes! Father, I’ll go find Qianru.” He left after his father nodded.

Soon, Ouyang Qianru appeared in the hall. In front of the patriarch, she was far less formal than Ouyang Qihua. She sat beside him and asked sweetly, “Daddy, big brother said you wanted to see me? What’s the matter? I was in the middle of a spa treatment!”

“I hear from your brother that you’ve fallen for Chen Xuan and won’t marry anyone else?” The patriarch asked tentatively.

“Daddy, you won’t forbid it, will you?” At his question, Ouyang Qianru immediately adopted a defensive posture.

The patriarch chuckled. “Of course not. If you could marry him, it would be wonderful! But he’s a fasting-stage cultivator; I’m sure your brother explained. He’s different from other men. You mustn’t act willful in front of him! And if you truly want to marry him, break off all ties with those other men immediately. Otherwise, don’t even think about marrying him—you might even bring trouble to our family!”

“Daddy, you worry too much! I know all this. Last time, I realized he’s not like other men—he must prefer a more mature woman. So I’ve changed my plan!” Ouyang Qianru didn’t want her father meddling in her affairs and acted confident, certain that Zi Xuan couldn’t escape her grasp.

“Alright, alright, since my daughter has her own ideas, I won’t interfere. Just remember, a man will never resist a beautiful woman deeply devoted to him!” The patriarch was full of confidence; he’d never seen a woman more beautiful than Qianru. How could a boy who’d spent years cultivating in the mountains resist? He believed any man, as long as he didn’t know her past, would never let such a beauty slip away—especially one as untouched as her.

The fasting stage, pills that allow entry to the second level—these were enough to drive all cultivators mad.

The Chen family’s old estate in West Mountain, City K, Province Y, saw a similar scene play out. The only difference was that the Chen patriarch was sending his own son, Chen Jiayi.

“Jiayi, this time you must build a good relationship with those two fasting-stage cultivators. Our spies report that the pills were personally refined by the female cultivator, Chen Shiyi—she’s searching for her daughter, and she’s quite plain. If she had a partner, her junior wouldn’t accompany her. So get close to her. If you win her over, our family will gain a powerful ally!” The Chen patriarch had his own plans; while others used a beauty trap, he intended to deploy a handsome man. Whether his son was up to the task was another matter.

“Dad! If I get close to her and she really falls in love with me, insisting on marriage, what then? I don’t want to marry such an ordinary woman!” The Chen patriarch was shameless, and his son even more so—dreaming of beauty before anything happened. Shamelessness seemed to run in the family.

“Foolish boy, don’t you know how to use your head? If she truly loves you, that’s even better. Marry her and you’ll have her pills. Defeating the other two families will be easy! There are plenty of beautiful women out there—you can have as many as you like. But where else will you find a woman with such ability? I hear the Xuanyuan boy follows her everywhere; he’s probably after the same thing.” The patriarch suggested his son keep the home flag flying and let the outside flags flutter.

“But…” Facing an unattractive face every day, Chen Jiayi feared his heart couldn’t take it and hesitated.

“The pair of stunning twin sisters sent over for training—you wanted them last time, right? If you manage to win over Chen Shiyi, I’ll give them both to you. Deal?” The patriarch dangled the bait, enticing his son to take the hook.

“Weren’t you going to give them to the Sect Master of Shenxiao Sect? How can you bear to give them to me now?” Chen Jiayi still couldn’t believe it; he’d wanted those sisters for ages.

“If we secure Chen Shiyi, our family won’t need to curry favor with Shenxiao Sect anymore!” The patriarch’s plan was truly cunning.

“Deal, Dad! I’ll start preparing now!” He sprang into action; the beauty trap might not work on others, but it certainly worked on him—he moved faster than a bird.

“Remember, once you’re there, focus on her and call me for instructions anytime!” The patriarch shouted after him.

“Got it!” The reply echoed from somewhere beyond, as Chen Jiayi had already vanished.