Meng Wangya rarely had the opportunity to hear Ji Wushuang's voice, so he eagerly pulled her aside and asked her a myriad of questions, covering everything from her meals to her living arrangements, showing concern for every detail.
Upon learning that Ji Wushuang had secured first place in all six of her foundational cultivation classes, he showered her with praise in various forms.
"Ah, our little Wushuang Junior Martial Aunt is truly amazing!""Junior Martial Aunt is so impressive! Once we help you recover from your injuries, you'll be able to do whatever you please!""Junior Martial Aunt is far more brilliant than us old men!"
And the praise continued.
Ji Wushuang responded patiently to all his questions, while the nearby Yu Jian Dao Ren wore an expression of complete exasperation and disillusionment.
Clearly, Yu Jian Dao Ren had not anticipated that his master was such a chatty old man.
After what seemed like an eternity, the communication finally ended, and Ji Wushuang was left with a dry mouth from all the talking.
She took a bottle of spirit water from her spatial stone and drank eagerly. As she did, she noticed Yu Jian Dao Ren staring at her intently. After a moment of silence, he retrieved another bottle and offered it to her. "You must be thirsty as well."
Ji Wushuang smiled and handed it over. "You're welcome. Please, drink."
Yu Jian Dao Ren, with a slight twitch of his lips, took it respectfully. "Thank you… Junior Martial Aunt."
"Don't mention it, just sit down," Ji Wushuang replied.
"Yes."
The "grandfather and granddaughter" duo sat side by side on the stone steps outside the hall, the atmosphere surprisingly harmonious.
"Cough, cough..." Yu Jian Dao Ren drank the spirit water, feeling a surge of spiritual energy coursing through his body. He considered for a moment, then said, "Junior Martial Aunt, about what you mentioned earlier…"
Ji Wushuang raised an eyebrow. "Oh, you mean the part where you asked me about letting Lu Xingzhou help me harm someone?"
Yu Jian Dao Ren froze. "Junior Martial Aunt... could you perhaps avoid using such blatant language like 'harm someone'?" After a brief pause, he continued, "You may call me Yao Cang. You see, while one should always guard against others, one must not harbor ill intentions. That... Xingzhou is a very upright child, and I fear he would not heed our request."
Ji Wushuang wondered if mentioning Mo Lanyi's "stealing of fortune" would lead to being struck by lightning.
The Dao of Heaven replied, "Heh, what do you think? She hasn't stolen any fortune; you are slandering her."
Ji Wushuang sighed internally. "…Fine. What am I even saying to a blind man?"
Ji Wushuang looked frustrated, furrowing her brow and sighing, "Is it truly impossible?"
Yao Cang, though his heart was like iron, couldn't help but be swayed by the sight of his little ancestor. After a brief internal struggle, he thought, Perhaps it's fine to help out just this once?
After all, the cultivation world operates on survival of the fittest—either you harm me, or I harm you.
But caution was key. They couldn't let anyone from Zilin Peak catch wind of it.
Yao Cang suggested, "How about I handle it?"
Ji Wushuang blinked in confusion. "Didn't you just say it wasn't possible?"
Yao Cang scratched his head awkwardly. "Well... children shouldn't do bad things, it might ruin them. But grown-ups? We've already gone off course, what's a little more?"
Ji Wushuang paused, unable to immediately refute such logic.
She shook her head and said, "Forget it. This task must fall to Lu Xingzhou. If we do it, we'll both be doomed."
Yao Cang responded, "I'm not afraid of bad luck."
Ji Wushuang replied, "This isn't just bad luck, this is being struck by lightning."
Yao Cang quickly backed off. "…Perhaps we should just forget it then."
Ji Wushuang rolled her eyes internally. So much for the "jade-like young master" persona!
It's all a facade!
Fake! Fake!
She stood up, brushing off the dust from her clothes and picking up the little black cat. "Since it's not possible, then forget it. By the way, Yao Cang, you really are a good master."
Lu Xingzhou truly is fortunate.
Yao Cang quickly rose to escort her, but Ji Wushuang declined. "No need to see me off. If you do, I'll lose my cover, won't I? I'm still just a small nobody. If anyone finds out my identity, it might bring trouble to Yunlan Sect."
Yao Cang remembered Ji Wushuang's condition and, with concern, asked, "Junior Martial Aunt, are you feeling unwell? I have some elixirs and secret techniques that might help."
Ji Wushuang smiled lightly. "No need, my spiritual bone was taken, and no amount of medicine or techniques can help, unless it's used to recreate the spiritual bone."
Yao Cang was stunned. "Your spiritual bone…"
He had always wondered how Ji Wushuang had attained such mastery in swordsmanship. If she could cultivate, her progress would have been meteoric!
But to think that such a cruel fate had befallen her?
Yet she smiled brightly, her demeanor open and unburdened.
Yao Cang suddenly understood why his master and the others were so fond of Ji Wushuang. This child—she truly was extraordinary!