A Fretful Wait and a Jinx’s Arrival

Within a small courtyard in Chang’an City, Yu Qingxuan gazed at the horizon, seemingly awaiting something.

Several days had passed since she dispatched the letter, yet no reply had arrived from her junior brother.

A gnawing worry that something untoward might have occurred left her feeling increasingly fretful.

Ever since her junior brother had descended the mountain, her time within the sect had become utterly tedious.

Consequently, she had reported to Shizun, requesting leave to visit her family.

Upon returning home, she found that aside from her parents’ slightly aged appearances, nothing significant had changed.

After all, the Yu family, even its most distant branches, commanded respect, preventing any common rabble from disturbing them.

Moreover, Yu Qingxuan’s membership in the Yanqing Sect of the Qin Kingdom meant that the prominent Yu clan within Qin often looked after her elderly parents.

As thoughts of her parents crossed her mind, Yu Qingxuan sighed.

The mortal realm and the cultivation world were, after all, fundamentally distinct.

Having achieved the Golden Core realm, her lifespan now stretched to a full five hundred years.

In five centuries, everything would have transformed beyond recognition, turning vast oceans into fertile fields.

Her living relatives and friends would become mere handfuls of dust, their proofs of existence long since vanished beneath the immense power of the mortal world.

Though she possessed considerable strength in the Golden Core realm, achieving longevity was one thing; attaining true immortality, quite another.

Like the morning mushroom that knows not the waxing and waning moon, or the cicada that comprehends not spring and autumn, embarking on the grand path of cultivation was akin to a frog leaping from the bottom of a well.

Previously, from its subterranean confines, it had gazed upon the moon, believing it the brightest object in existence.

Yet, upon emerging, it discovered countless things far more luminous, realizing it was merely a frog that had just crawled out of its confined world.

Just then, a sudden joy illuminated Yu Qingxuan’s somewhat melancholic face as she lifted her gaze to the sky.

A spirit bird soared through the air, alighting gracefully upon Yu Qingxuan’s outstretched hand.

It carried a letter.

She carefully took it, opened it, and indeed, it was the much-anticipated reply from her junior brother.

The letter’s content was simple: aside from other pleasantries, it stated that Qin Yan himself would be coming to her location.

‘Oh, wonderful, wonderful! My junior brother is coming. I must prepare thoroughly!’

Yu Qingxuan thought, a joyful expression gracing her features.

****

Several days later.

Standing at the entrance of Chang’an City, Yu Qingxuan spotted Qin Yan, who had traveled a long distance to reach them.

“Junior brother!”

She cried out, hurrying to meet him.

Not only that, but two figures standing behind her also followed Yu Qingxuan forward.

They were a middle-aged couple; the woman was dressed in a blue ruqun, while the man wore a white robe.

They were, of course, Yu Qingxuan’s parents.

Qin Yan had clearly noticed them as well, and promptly spoke:

“Senior sister, you came all the way here to greet me? How thoughtful of you.

These two must be your esteemed parents, I presume.

It is only proper that I address them as Uncle and Aunt.”

“Junior brother, why are you being so overly polite? There’s no need for such formalities,” Yu Qingxuan responded, dismissing his politeness.

Yu Qingxuan, initially unconcerned, then caught sight of Xiao Miao standing beside Qin Yan, and her eyelid involuntarily twitched.

‘No, my junior brother descended the mountain to gain experience, so why has this troublemaker followed him?’ she thought.

She remembered the incident in the Demon City perfectly.

Had Xiao Miao not drawn out the Flood Dragon, she would never have had to detonate her Golden Core.

Having said that, perhaps due to her parents’ presence behind her, she found it inconvenient to outwardly react, choosing instead to pretend she hadn’t even noticed Xiao Miao.

Yu Qingxuan’s parents gazed at Qin Yan, their eyes brightening with approval.

He was indeed a fine young man; no wonder Yu Qingxuan had mentioned her junior brother to them on more than one occasion.

Furthermore, her tone had always been brimming with pride.

The woman in the blue ruqun spoke then:

“As Qingxuan’s junior brother, you are naturally one of our own.

In the future, even if your own parents were present, they would still hold us in high regard.

There’s no need to be so formal; simply treat this as your own home.”

Her words were exceptionally polite, completely devoid of any elder’s airs.

“I truly appreciate your kindness,” Qin Yan replied.

“What a truly courteous young man,” Yu Qingxuan’s mother remarked, her face alight with smiles.

She continued, surveying Qin Yan from left to right.

Her gaze then shifted to Xiao Miao beside him, and she subtly noted the hidden emotions on her daughter Yu Qingxuan’s face, sensing that something must have transpired between them.

However, since Xiao Miao had accompanied Qin Yan, they were likely acquainted, making it inappropriate to treat her with anything less than respect.

“And who might this be?” she inquired, directing her question at Xiao Miao.

“To answer, Aunt, this is a friend who has traveled with me, named Xiao Miao,” Qin Yan replied.

Upon hearing this, Yu Qingxuan felt an uncontrollable surge of jealousy.

She had never had the chance to travel with her junior brother, yet this girl named Xiao had journeyed with him instead.

‘Something significant must have happened between them. She would certainly question him about it later.’

“Oh, I see.”

Yu Qingxuan’s mother nodded, then continued, “All who come from afar are guests.

Since she is Qin Yan’s friend, then please, both of you, come home with us.

Dinner has already been prepared at the manor; Qingxuan’s father personally cooked it.”

At this, Yu Qingxuan’s father nodded in affirmation.

While their family certainly wasn’t lacking in wealth and could easily reserve a lavish banquet at any city restaurant, the visitor was, after all, their daughter’s junior brother.

They couldn’t possibly treat him as they would a business associate or distant relative.

Yu Qingxuan’s mother knew nothing of cultivation or such matters.

However, she understood that centuries from now, when their souls returned to the heavens, this junior brother named Qin Yan would be one of the very few individuals their daughter could still consider family in this world.

“Please—” she motioned, inviting everyone to enter the city.

Her words and hospitality were utterly flawless, demonstrating remarkable tact and grace.

Though she sensed that her daughter Yu Qingxuan might have some misunderstanding with the girl named Xiao Miao, it was hardly a reason to cause a public scene.

If there truly existed a deep-seated enmity between them, Yu Qingxuan’s junior brother would surely not have brought Xiao Miao along.

The group entered the city and soon arrived at the Yu residence.

Though it was called a ‘residence,’ it was in truth merely a modest courtyard.

Despite the Yu family being quite wealthy and influential in the area, Yu Qingxuan’s mother maintained a rather simple lifestyle.

There were no servants in the household; when Yu Qingxuan was away, only she and her father resided in the manor.

The couple walked ahead, preparing to lead everyone into the dining hall.

Yu Qingxuan stealthily moved closer to Qin Yan, her gaze fixed on Xiao Miao, who walked on the other side.

Unable to contain herself any longer, she finally spoke through divine sense:

‘Junior brother, that girl hasn’t done anything strange to you, has she?’

Upon hearing this, Qin Yan couldn’t help but feel a mix of amusement and exasperation.

What strange things could Xiao Miao possibly do to him?

“Senior sister, there’s no need to worry.

Xiao Miao and I only met recently at a pill alchemy convention.

She has come this time to help you.”

‘Help me?’

Yu Qingxuan’s face clouded with confusion.

In her eyes, Xiao Miao was nothing short of a jinx, a harbinger of misfortune.

The first time her junior brother met her, they encountered several corpse puppets with cultivation.

The second time they traveled together, they nearly perished in the Demon City.

‘Hmph! Who knows what sweet words she whispered to you, junior brother, but why would I ever need her help!’

Yu Qingxuan scoffed coldly, her face a mask of haughty indignation.