Chapter 29: The First Meeting of the Three Siblings

In the western suburbs of Mojuan City, the capital of the province, lies the Wuyuan Sect, one of the finest sects in the Song Kingdom.

As one of the three major sects of the Song Kingdom, the Wuyuan Sect is guarded by several masters at the late stage of Qi Refining. Despite its remote location, it maintains high standards for the quality of its recruits.

The three siblings of the Qin family—twelve-year-old Qin Wushuang and ten-year-old Qin Lingxue—became disciples of the sect at the age of eight due to their exceptional talent. Only Qin Anyu was left behind. Since childhood, he had been taciturn, slow to learn, and clumsy in his actions. Although his parents, Qin Zhuo and his wife, were Qi Refining cultivators and masters of a prefecture, earning them a modest reputation, their attempt to enroll him in the preliminary selection ended in him being ruthlessly rejected and mocked as a cripple. Fearing he might despair, his parents sent him to the Linxia Sect to become an outer disciple upon their return.

Driven by the humiliation of being called a cripple, he had been training with desperate intensity.

Events proved that the Wuyuan Sect’s selection methods were indeed correct. Two years ago, Qin Wushuang attained the Qi Refining stage, and Qin Lingxue had just advanced to the ninth level of Qi Nourishing, becoming elite disciples of the inner and outer sects respectively. Qin Anyu, however, was nearly fourteen and still at the fifth level of Qi Nourishing, failing to meet the Linxia Sect’s requirement of reaching the sixth level by age fourteen. Thus, when he applied to leave the sect following his parents' disappearance, his request was granted with alacrity. Had he been at the Wuyuan Sect, anyone failing to reach the seventh level of Qi Nourishing by twelve or the Qi Refining stage by eighteen would have been forcibly expelled.

The Wuyuan Sect’s administration is strict. Ordinary outsiders are not permitted to enter the mountain gates, and disciples of all ranks are not allowed to leave the premises, receiving leave only once every two years. Since disciples cannot leave, their necessary resources must be delivered by family members, who are restricted to the large plaza before the gates and must remain within the sight of the guards.

Qin Anyu stood at the edge of this plaza, scanning the Wuyuan Sect from top to bottom. Soon, two youths emerged—Qin Wushuang and Qin Lingxue.

Upon seeing him standing in the distance, a look of helplessness and disdain flickered in Qin Wushuang’s eyes. Qin Lingxue, after a moment of surprise, ran toward him. "Big Brother!"

Hearing her call, Qin Anyu withdrew his gaze and focused on the young girl running toward him. Seeing her prepare to leap from three meters away, he opened his arms to receive her, his expression as simple and honest as ever. She bounded into the air, and he took two steps forward to catch her.

"Big Brother, I’ve reached the ninth level of Qi Nourishing!"

"Hehe, our little sister is the most talented."

"Big Brother, what level are you at now? Can you stay at the Linxia Sect?"

"Him? I suspect he’ll be leaving the Linxia Sect very soon."

"Why?"

"It’s the rules of the Linxia Sect: if you haven't reached the sixth level of Qi Nourishing by your fourteenth birthday, you must leave. He turns fourteen any day now."

"Second Brother, can't you wish Big Brother well for once?"

"What good does wishing him well do? He needs to strive for himself. Look at him—I never realized he was so fond of showing off, carrying that broken sword on his back. Surely the resources Mom and Dad gave you are no less than ours? Can't you even afford a scabbard? If you couldn't afford one, you could have made one yourself. Don't tell me..."

"Second Brother, that's enough! Big Brother, don't listen to his nonsense. Are Mom and Dad alright?"

"Didn't they come to see you two months ago?"

"Two months ago? No, it’s been four months."

"Then how have you managed your cultivation resources for the past few months?"

"Big Brother, with that get-up, are you trying to squeeze some resources out of us? Let me tell you, there’s no chance of that. Just hand over whatever resources Mom and Dad gave you."

"Big Brother, Second Brother and I really have no resources left. My breakthrough to the ninth level this time was only possible because Second Brother borrowed some herbs from his friends. Big Brother, why didn't Mom and Dad send our resources on time? Did they run into some emergency?"

"Haven't you heard any news from outside?"

Seeing their blank expressions, Qin Anyu said bluntly, "Two months ago, they were captured by the Putian Sect and taken to the Dali Kingdom."

They were either at the Qi Refining stage or the ninth level of Qi Nourishing; it was time they knew the situation at home.

After a moment of stunned silence, Qin Lingxue asked with a sharp, angry voice, "Why would they capture Mom and Dad?"

Qin Wushuang, pointing a finger at Qin Anyu, demanded furiously, "Did you offend someone? Is that why you're only telling us now that you can no longer hide it?"

Qin Anyu pushed his finger aside and said calmly, "One must remain composed in the face of great events; one cannot lose their head at a critical moment."

He continued, "I came here to ask if you would rather stay here and cultivate, or come with me. If you stay, you must find your own resources. If you come with me, it will be harder and potentially very dangerous, as I intend to go find them."

Qin Wushuang immediately replied, "I will not leave the sect. I will raise my cultivation level and then go find Mom and Dad. As for the resources Little Sister needs, I will work hard to earn them; I don't need your help."

Qin Lingxue said crisply, "Second Brother, this isn't about resources anymore—it's about Mom and Dad. We should go find them."

She turned to Qin Anyu: "Big Brother, is that what you think?"

Qin Anyu ruffled the back of her head. "With your current strength, you cannot find them. Even if you could, you would only be walking into danger..."

He then shared the information he had gathered. It was simple: the family of Dai Linglong—their mother—had offended someone, and threats had been issued. The "Dai Family" had decided to capture Dai Linglong and her household to provide a sacrifice to the offended party. This was all he had learned from his interrogation of Fu Li, and it was more than he had gathered from anyone else.

Qin Wushuang suddenly interjected, "If they wanted to capture all of us, you were at the prefecture capital, why didn't they capture you?"

Qin Lingxue grew angry, scolding, "Second Brother, do you wish they had captured Big Brother? Hmph, I am leaving the sect to join Big Brother in searching for Mom and Dad. I don't believe I can't reach the Qi Refining stage."

Qin Anyu patted her shoulder. "The opposition has many Qi Refining cultivators; it is safer to remain within the sect where you have protection."

Qin Wushuang added urgently, "Little Sister, the enemy is powerful. You cannot accomplish anything at the Qi Nourishing stage. If you want revenge, becoming a Qi Refining cultivator is paramount, and the Wuyuan Sect is the best place to achieve that."

Qin Anyu shook his head. "My point is that it is safer here. But if it is only to reach the Qi Refining stage, there is no need to stay."

Qin Wushuang glared at him. "In your eyes, it seems reaching the Qi Refining stage is as simple as eating or drinking. If you're so capable, why don't you try reaching it yourself?"

Qin Anyu nodded. "Such a stage is truly not difficult for me."

Qin Lingxue’s face was flushed with anger. "Second Brother, I am going back to apply for departure. You can stay here and cultivate."

Qin Anyu asked, "Are you sure?"

Qin Lingxue nodded firmly. "I am sure."

Her attitude was resolute. Qin Anyu saw the pain buried deep in her eyes and couldn't help but smile to himself.