"Thank you. I'll use this with caution, and I won't let your sect be implicated in anything that goes against the righteous Path."
Jian Dan gave her word as she accepted the Zitan token, immediately storing it away in her spatial ring. Tokens like this were often specially treated. Better to be careful.
Hearing Jian Dan's promise, Xiao Yong nodded repeatedly. This Jian Lu handled things properly, and her words alone put any lingering doubts to rest.
Yue Liang had also finished reviewing the recording jade. She returned it to Xiao Yong Zhūnzhǔ without comment.
Seeing that everything that needed handling was now done, Jian Dan rose and bid farewell. She left Yunxiao Peak with Wu Siyuan.
Xiao Yong watched the streak of light vanish into the sky, then turned to Lu Xuanyuan beside him.
"Xiao Lu, you were too reckless this time. If not for Jian Lu, do you know what the consequences could have been?"
"Martial Uncle, I understand. I won't dare to act that way again."
"You went out alone this time. Did you gain anything from it?"
Sitting in the main seat of his cave abode, Xiao Yong Zhūnzhǔ poured himself a cup of wine gifted by Yue Liang. He took a sip, then looked to Lu Xuanyuan.
Lu Xuanyuan looked a bit deflated, but still gave a serious answer.
"My cultivation is insufficient. I lack real combat experience. Worst of all, I'm too used to relying on the people around me, and I don't have enough strength to protect myself."
Despite putting on a brave front in front of Yue Liang, he had long realized his own shortcomings. In truth, he'd been feeling inferior lately.
In the Heavenly Sword Sect, from the Zhūnzhǔ down to Golden Core cultivators, everyone trained relentlessly. No one slacked off in their swordsmanship. Everyone earned their resources with their own blade and had clear goals.
But what about him?
He came from privilege, with abundant resources and the guidance of powerful elders. He lacked for nothing, yet his cultivation grew slowly. Ever since the incident with the insect clan, even the Ancestor's gaze had become tinged with disappointment.
That was why he left the sect without permission. He wanted to temper himself, to accomplish something significant and prove he had ability too. Deep down, he wanted to make people worry, to make them value him again.
But reality had slapped him hard. He didn't even have the courage to return to Purple Sky Sect's mountain. Lu Shu hadn't scolded him, only silently stayed by his side.
Before they left Yunyin Peak, Yue Liang had spent the most time with him. Back then, she had told him bluntly:
"Running away from home like this is the most childish thing you could do. The Zhūnzhǔ already told you, if you want others to respect and value you, then you need the strength to match. Strength comes in many forms: your cultivation, your mind, a skill you've mastered. Even one thing you're truly good at is enough."
Lu Xuanyuan's face darkened at the time, but Yue Liang just flicked her tail and continued, completely unbothered by politeness.
"Who are you sulking at? At Lu Shu? Or me, Yue Liang? I'm not impressed. I'm here because of our Zhūnzhǔ. Otherwise, with your mere Foundation Establishment cultivation, you'd have to respectfully call me 'Senior'.
Your actions only ever hurt the people who care about you. They're the ones left anxious and afraid. You're over forty now. In the mortal world, you'd already be a father of several children, head of a household. In the cultivation world, you've already stepped onto the Path. Stop treating yourself like a child. Grow up—fast."
After her lecture, Yue Liang turned and went off to patrol the mountain, not sparing him another glance. Lu Shu, standing nearby, had to suppress a smile.
Over the years, everyone had pitied Xiao Lu for losing his parents young. He was given more indulgence than others, especially under the Ancestor's protection. Few ever truly disciplined him.
But Yue Liang, the spiritual beast, had struck right at the core of the matter. Every word landed like a slap, leaving Lu Xuanyuan visibly shaken.
This time, even Lu Shu stood firmly on Yue Liang's side. Xiao Lu really did need to reflect on himself.
"Since you know your shortcomings, then reflect properly. For this upcoming tournament, you'll stay by my side."
"Yes, Martial Uncle."
Xiao Yong waved a hand, motioning for Lu Shu to bring Lu Xuanyuan to the cultivation chamber in his cave abode for reflection.
Once Lu Xuanyuan was gone, a graceful figure cloaked in purple appeared behind Xiao Yong Zhūnzhǔ.
"Older Cousin, seems like Xiao Lu finally realized his shortcomings this time," she said.
Xiao Yong gestured for his cousin to sit beside him, then poured her a cup of the Ziyu Qingxin wine.
"This was a thank-you gift. Give it a taste."
A smile lit up Xiao Yong Zhūnzhǔ's cousin, Xiao Yong Zhōnzhǔ. Her delicate features softened.
"Looks like I missed quite a bit while I was stabilizing my cultivation in seclusion."
She picked up the cup with a slender, jade-like hand and took a sip. Her eyes lit up.
"This is excellent. It's smooth, not harsh, and brimming with spiritual energy."
Seeing her pleased expression, Xiao Yong pushed the whole wine pot toward her, smiling fondly.
"If you like it, keep it. I'll shamelessly ask Jian Lu for more later."
"Thank you, Cousin."
Xiao Yong Zhōnzhǔ chuckled and tucked the wine away, then turned back to the main topic.
"This new Jian Lu Zhūnzhǔ of the Heavenly Sword Sect is quite capable."
Xiao Yong drained the rest of his wine and nodded.
"The first time I met her, she was only at the early Nascent Soul stage. It hasn't even been a hundred years, and now she stands shoulder to shoulder with the rest of us."
"I watched the recording too. Just from the way she coordinated attacks with Jian Li, it's obvious she's a battle-hardened fighter. That kind of reaction time doesn't come without countless life-or-death fights. She's fearless."
As a fellow female cultivator, even Xiao Yong Zhōnzhǔ had to admit her own combat skills couldn't match Jian Lu's.
"In all these years, you haven't praised many other women."
"You're teasing me, Cousin. But earlier, I sensed something. I think she noticed my presence."
"Oh? Weren't you always confident in your stealth techniques?"
Xiao Yong Zhōnzhǔ shrugged helplessly. Jian Lu was no ordinary opponent.
"You didn't rush to bring Xiao Lu back because of that ambush earlier, did you?" she asked.
"That was part of it. But not the whole reason."
Xiao Yong's expression turned more serious as he explained.
"During the hundred years you spent in seclusion, a lot changed in Purple Sky Sect. After the insect clan's infiltration, black-armored insects parasitized sect disciples, trying to stir up chaos. Xiao Die took Xiao Lu to Heavenly Sword Sect and brought back Jian Lu's spirit beast, Yue Liang. Only then was the crisis resolved.
But a number of cultivators died during the purge. We didn't have enough people to fill the gaps. That stirred unrest within the sect, and internal power struggles erupted. Things were chaotic for a while. It only quieted down in the past two years, just before you emerged."
Xiao Yong Zhōnzhǔ listened quietly. She knew her cousin was probably downplaying it. The real situation was likely much worse.
"This time, I sent Xiao Lu out to get him away from all that. And because the Zūnshàng intends to personally act to remove these unstable elements."
"The sect can't take more turmoil. Normally, the Zūnshàng wouldn't interfere in such matters, but the insect clan is a major threat. No one knows when they might strike again. None of the elders want internal strife weakening our defenses."
Xiao Yong Zhōnzhǔ nodded and picked up where he left off.
"So, when you couldn't be sure the team was safe, you had Xiao Lu stay with Jian Lu at Heavenly Sword Sect. You had her protect our young master until you finished cleaning things up here."
Xiao Yong laughed.
"You think Jian Lu didn't know? She agreed for the sake of our sect's reputation. She's sharp. She knew this would put Purple Sky Sect in her debt."
Then his smile faded.
"After all, Heavenly Sword Sect still presents a united front. As for our side..."
He waved his sleeve. Two figures suddenly appeared in the cave. One was a Void Refinement stage cultivator, the other a Golden Core cultivator—both had acted during the earlier ambush.
"...they'll need to be interrogated properly."