A World Beyond the Well

Hearing these words, Qin Nianci cast a fleeting glance at the departing young woman.

These words truly resonated, stirring the soul; possessing such a disposition, coupled with her former talent, she was destined to become a pillar of the Northern Lands.

What a pity, though…

Yu Qingxuan, too, was momentarily stunned by the declaration.

“Thirty years to the east of the river, thirty years to its west; never scorn… a young woman in poverty!”

These resounding words left a lasting impression, and though she harbored no particular fondness for the young woman named Xiao Miao, her heart could not help but shed a degree of its prior disdain.

At that moment, Xiao Miao’s mother sighed heavily, turning her gaze towards Qin Yan.

“Immortal Qin…”

Xiao Miao’s mother began, a flicker of helplessness in her eyes.

“Since my Miao’er’s cultivation inexplicably regressed a year ago, there has indeed been a vast disparity between her and you, Immortal. Your intention to annul the engagement is only natural.”

As the matriarch of the Xiao family, she could not afford to offend the Yanqing Sect; her words were merely an attempt to smooth things over.

Yet, the truth remained stark: in this world, cultivators amassed myriad powers within themselves, and the future prospects of the Yanqing Sect’s current prodigy were visibly limitless.

The chasm between cultivators and mortals was as vast as that between clouds and mud; setting aside matters of affection, their very lifespans were like those of ephemeral mayflies compared to the eternal heavens and earth, utterly incomparable.

“I believe the Xiao family matriarch has misunderstood,” Qin Nianci interjected upon hearing this. “It is not my Yan’er who wishes to annul the engagement; this is a decision made by our Yanqing Sect.”

She looked at the Xiao family matriarch before her, thinking how could such a matter be allowed to stain her disciple Qin Yan’s reputation, especially since word of it would undoubtedly affect his standing.

This statement, however, came as a surprise to the Xiao family matriarch, prompting murmurs of discussion among the surrounding Xiao family members.

Hearing his master’s words, a sliver of warmth undeniably bloomed in Qin Yan’s heart; between the sect’s reputation and Qin Yan’s own, she had clearly chosen the latter.

While this had indeed been the sect’s original intention, it could have been concealed, allowing Qin Yan to shoulder all the blame.

With these words, the Yanqing Sect and the Xiao family were now irreconcilably at odds, yet the Xiao family stood before the Yanqing Sect like a mere child, and a bitter expression surfaced on the Xiao family matriarch’s face.

Nevertheless, as a mother herself, she looked at Qin Yan, realizing that regardless of his standing within the sect, he clearly held considerable importance to his master.

Otherwise, the Grand Elder of the Yanqing Sect would never have chosen Qin Yan’s reputation over that of the entire sect.

“So be it…”

The Xiao family matriarch sighed, finally acquiescing.

As it was the Yanqing Sect’s decision, unrelated to personal grievances, she, as the head of her clan, naturally understood the importance of prioritizing her own faction’s interests; the surrounding clan elders, too, wore grim expressions.

For the current situation was no longer a personal spat between Qin Yan and Xiao Miao, but a full-blown dispute between the Yanqing Sect and the Xiao family.

Had Qin Yan personally proposed the annulment, the ones losing face would merely have been Xiao Miao and her mother, for who could blame him when the genius who had once shone brightly in the Qin Kingdom had actually regressed to the third level of Qi Condensation?

However, an annulment proposed by the Yanqing Sect itself was not just a slight against Xiao Miao, but a blatant disregard for the entire Xiao family.

But what recourse did the Xiao family have against the Yanqing Sect, the foremost sect in the Qin Kingdom? Many elders could only clench their jaws, inwardly lamenting, ‘Wouldn’t it have been better for this Qin Yan to propose the annulment himself? Why drag the sect into it!’

The matter of the annulment swiftly concluded, with Qin Nianci retrieving several pills from her spatial ring and handing them to the Xiao family matriarch.

The Xiao family matriarch hesitated briefly before accepting the pills; at her middle-aged stage of life, she had long since shed the youthful pride that might have refused such a gesture.

Seeing the matter settled, Qin Nianci then turned her gaze to Qin Yan, who stood beside her; this issue had weighed on her mind, and now it was finally resolved.

While an exceptional genius from the Qin Kingdom becoming her Yan’er’s cultivation partner would have been acceptable, a genius who had fallen to the status of a cripple would simply become a burden to him.

It was precisely for this reason that she had unreservedly agreed to the Sect Master’s decision.

From the perspective of this annulment, whether concerning Qin Yan’s reputation or even his distant future, Qin Nianci could truly be said to have considered her disciple’s interests entirely.

As for offending others, having chosen the path of cultivation, what fear was there of making enemies?

“Let us depart.”

With the matter concluded, Qin Nianci spoke slowly, preparing to leave with Qin Yan and Yu Qingxuan.

“Yes, Master!”

Yu Qingxuan, by contrast, stood tall and proud, full of high spirits; from this day forward, her junior brother would be free.

“Yes.”

Qin Yan nodded slightly, falling in step beside Qin Nianci.

He had originally intended to inquire about Xiao Miao’s circumstances, about that stubborn-eyed young woman, but with his master having already spoken, he could only follow in her wake.

****

Meanwhile, Xiao Miao was in the Xiao family’s back mountain.

She took several deep breaths, then calmed the anger raging within her.

“What a fine declaration, ‘never scorn… a young woman in poverty!’“

Just then, the voice of a middle-aged woman entered Xiao Miao’s ears.

Then, from the spatial ring on her left hand, a white-robed shadow materialized, and seeing this apparition, Xiao Miao quickly and respectfully called out, “Master.”

“Mm.”

The white-robed woman nodded, then gazed at the stubborn-eyed Xiao Miao before her, growing more satisfied with each passing moment.

Xiao Miao, too, looked at the white-robed woman before her; the reason for her cultivation’s previous regression was precisely this divine soul, which had secretly siphoned her spiritual energy – it would have been strange if her cultivation hadn’t declined.

Xiao Miao should have utterly detested this divine soul, yet this white-robed woman had painted a picture of a world far grander than either the Qin Kingdom or the Northern Lands.

Only then did Xiao Miao realize she had been like a frog at the bottom of a well, gazing at the moon; she simply smiled, letting go of past grievances, and acknowledged the white-robed woman as her master. Feeling a sense of indebtedness, the white-robed woman readily agreed.

At this moment, Xiao Miao sat cross-legged on the ground, preparing to cultivate.

From her spatial ring, she produced a small green gourd, a gift from Qin Yan, containing Qi Condensation Pills, perfectly suited for her now that she could resume cultivation.

Gazing at the gourd, Xiao Miao fell into contemplation.

“Master, why do you think this Qin Yan cares so much about me?”

“I find it strange as well. Could it be love at first sight? Otherwise, why would an immortal from a major sect pay such attention to a mere family disciple like you?”

“Don’t tease me, Master!”

Xiao Miao felt an inexplicable embarrassment at these words, quickly retorting.

The white-robed woman merely smiled, remaining silent, then looked at her disciple, whose thoughts seemed to wander, and spoke again:

“If you truly desire it, once you gain sufficient power in the future, you could storm the Yanqing Sect. Then, Immortal Qin would be yours to command as you please, and you could exact revenge for the humiliation of this annulment.”

“How would that be any different from a mountain bandit?”

Xiao Miao retorted, then closed her eyes, ignoring the white-robed woman, and began to cultivate.

The white-robed woman ceased her disturbance, instead gazing at the sky with complex eyes. In this world, who and where was truly different from a bandit?