Chapter 56

After promising her daughter that she would take her to visit the Dragon Clan in the future and coaxing her to sleep, Sect Master Yu received a letter.

Upon opening and reading the letter, Sect Master Yu's expression shifted slightly.

Not wishing to disturb his daughter's rest, he walked to the outer hall, called over Zhu Changshu—who was likewise awake and busy refining pills for the little junior sister—and handed the letter to her.

"A cry for help... from the Sun family?" Zhu Changshu lowered her gaze to read it, stood in a daze for a long moment, then gripped the letter tightly as she glanced toward the palace hall where Daoist Sun was resting.

She quickly composed her expression, turned to Sect Master Yu—who was waiting for her decision—and said solemnly, "The Sun clan has treated those two siblings unjustly... So that was it. Such a forced marriage. To dare use marriage as a weapon. Master, Daoist Sun has offered me guidance and grace in the past, and this disciple—"

"Then go and stand up for those two siblings," Sect Master Yu said gently.

Seeing Sect Master Yu be so decisive, Zhu Changshu was left momentarily speechless.

"If this disciple goes to the Sun clan, it will inevitably lead to a conflict with them. That in itself would be fine, but I worry about making things difficult for Master."

After all, she was Sect Master Yu's disciple. If someone of her standing were to go there and cause a disturbance, people would surely criticize Sect Master Yu, ultimately putting both him and the Archaic Sect in a difficult position.

While acting on one's own sense of justice and avenging grievances was undeniably gratifying and simple, involving her sect always made Zhu Changshu feel that her actions were willful and shameful.

Sect Master Yu looked at this disciple.

She was his second disciple.

His eldest disciple, Chu Xingyun, came from a prominent background and possessed an uninhibited temperament.

This second disciple of his possessed a more delicate and gentle mind, and she always thought far more of others.

It was just as it had been back when Gong Miaohua was still around.

Because Gong Miaohua disliked her, she would always give way by three steps, never making a fuss or complaining to him, her master, whenever she was wronged.

Even back then, when she struck Wen Shi a few sword strokes to teach him a lesson, the blade merely brushed past him. Clearly having been bullied, she had still refrained from severing Wen Shi's arms or legs... simply because she knew that Elder Wen was an old friend of the former sect master.

Because of this connection alone, she had held back from dealing a heavy blow.

Yet she was also a direct disciple of the sect master, a genius cultivator revered throughout the Archaic Sect. Sect Master Yu often found himself wondering how to help this disciple open up her heart so she could live more freely.

Take Wen Shi, for instance. Since he had dared to offend the sect master's disciple, what would have been wrong with cutting him down as a warning to others?

Both he and the former sect master would have backed her up and stood firmly by her side.

When the former sect master was still alive, he had always urged him to be more considerate, to give Zhu Changshu more confidence and care, so she would understand that she was a disciple of the Archaic Sect.

There was no need for her to harbor so many misgivings; she only needed to follow her heart and do as she pleased, knowing her elders would always support her behind the scenes.

Yet despite all his guidance over the years, she had remained only more sensible. And as her sense of responsibility grew, she became more and more outstanding—while making Sect Master Yu feel increasingly ashamed.

When a disciple chose to endure in silence, it could only mean that her master had failed to give her sufficient confidence and reliance.

It was only after having his own daughter that Sect Master Yu realized how careless his previous self had been, despite considering himself attentive.

Ever since he had his little Youyou, holding her in the palm of his hand every day and fearing she might be touched by the wind or rain, he finally understood that his past care for his disciples had been terribly shallow.

And so, Sect Master Yu spoke softly to his hesitant disciple, "Speaking of which, I owe you an apology, Changshu."

"Master!"

Zhu Changshu could not understand why Sect Master Yu would say such a thing.

Sect Master Yu waved a hand, his tone gentle as he said, "They say a teacher for a day is a father for life. Since you took me as your master, I ought to have cared for and raised you as a father would. But I was careless..."

He paused, then continued, "Perhaps I foolishly believed I had loved and protected you enough, failing to realize that I fell far short. You are one of my proudest disciples, a figure revered by all junior members of the Archaic Sect. You ought to have been much more uninhibited. Just like—just like my Youyou, acting entirely as your heart desires. But you grew up into this considerate, perfectly proper person. I used to be proud of it, but now I feel increasingly ashamed."

"Master has already bestowed grace upon me as vast as the mountains and seas," Zhu Changshu said with a raspy voice.

Her eye rims reddened, her voice choking as she wanted to explain that she had never truly suffered any grievances over all these years.

How could she possibly feel wronged?

She had received Sect Master Yu's utmost cultivation, guidance, and resources. Her hesitations were never born of grievance, but rather because the sect had treated her so well that she wished to consider its interests in return, reluctant to cause any trouble for it.

Always so steady and composed, she now found herself at a loss. Sect Master Yu smiled as he looked at her, speaking softly, "The words I had you use to comfort Youyou were actually what I should have said to you long ago."

Zhu Changshu wondered inwardly what she had said to the little cub.

"You told her that as the sect master's daughter, she need not suffer grievances or bow her head to anyone, because she has the entire sect behind her. Changshu, the same applies to you."

Sect Master Yu said, "You are also a pillar of the sect, the pride of the sect, and you should do whatever you wish to do. Because you need no misgivings. No matter what happens, as long as your actions are righteous and your conscience is clear, the sect—and I—will always be your backing."

For a moment, Zhu Changshu could not speak.

She felt that if she opened her mouth, she would immediately burst into sobs.

"You are different from your senior brother; you faced hardships in your youth, which is why you always cherish everything before your eyes. I understand. When you first came to our mountain gates to seek apprenticeship, you were the only one who broke through the sect's Heart-Trial Grand Array. I knew then that, much like myself, you originated from humble beginnings, having witnessed the coldness of the world, and possessed a determination and resilience unmatched by anyone. It was precisely because your temperament and experiences mirrored my own that I knew you would never be ordinary, and that a day would surely come when your name would shake the entire cultivation world. That was why I was willing to take you as my disciple."

Recalling the events of the past, Sect Master Yu could not help sighing with emotion.

"Yet I did not do well enough. Fortunately, it is still not too late. Changshu, go and do whatever you wish to do. I am your backing."

"But the Sun family..."

"A mere Sun family! Without Daoist Sun, do they even merit a glance from the Archaic Sect? They overestimate themselves! All the glory of the Sun clan stems entirely from Daoist Sun. Since they dare to disregard even Daoist Sun himself, then to the Archaic Sect—and to you—they are nothing more than a tiny family. Pay them no heed! Furthermore, if you are worried about the Wen family, there is no need for that either."

Thinking of what was written in the letter, Sect Master Yu said with a dark expression, "I originally thought it was a case of mutual affection where neither could live without the other. Good grief, it turns out to be such a sordid affair!"

With a look of intense disgust, he cursed, "For Wen Shi to commit such a scoundrel's deed and still dare to show his face before me with a righteous air—the bastard! Just mentioning him fouls my mouth!"

If his precious daughter weren't still sleeping soundly in the inner hall, Sect Master Yu would have smashed everything in the front hall to pieces.

Restraining himself, he instructed Zhu Changshu, "Elder Sun not only offered you guidance and grace, but is also a senior I deeply respect. Since someone within his household has colluded with outsiders to bully helpless juniors, I authorize you to take our disciples, welcome those two siblings back, and disregard everyone else in the Sun clan."

"This disciple will obey," Zhu Changshu said, cupping her fists as deep emotions surged within her upon hearing Sect Master Yu's heartfelt words.

"Make sure you don't come out on the losing end," Sect Master Yu admonished.

Zhu Changshu acknowledged the instruction, turned around to return and ponder which capable junior brothers and sisters to bring along, and incidentally finish refining the spiritual pills she had left half-done earlier that day.

The little cub was sleeping soundly and had missed the conversation between her father and her senior sister in the front hall.

She tossed and turned on her chubby belly, having an unusually interesting dream.

In the dream, everything was pitch black, and she could see nothing at all.

Yet just as she was looking around in a daze, feeling that the darkness was both familiar and displeasing, a speck of golden brilliance suddenly materialized within it.

The golden light was dazzling, contrasting sharply with the pitch-black void. Yet merely that single speck of golden radiance was enough to pierce the darkness and illuminate her entire world.

The little one stood there in a daze, watching the brilliant cluster of gold with rapt fascination.

It was the most gorgeous and dazzling color she had ever seen in her life—so beautiful that it made her reach out her hand, stubbornly wishing to grasp the golden light within her own palm.

From the very moment she was conceived and gained rudimentary sentience, that was the first color she had ever truly desired to possess...

The little cub suddenly shook her little head, her previously drowsy state clearing up.

Though she couldn't understand why she had felt such strange emotions just now, she genuinely liked the golden radiance.

She felt rather embarrassed and wanted to withdraw her hand, but just then, the golden light flashed, and something heavy landed right in her palm.

Looking closer, she saw a slender golden dragon resting upon her small hand, winding its way along her wrist and up her arm, a pair of vertical golden pupils staring quietly at her.

"Ao Lie!" Yu Youyou still remembered its name and called out instinctively.

The little golden dragon flicked its golden tail and gave a reserved nod of its head.

Seeing it respond to her, the little cub's eyes brightened. Then, feeling that despite looking slender, the golden dragon was actually quite heavy, a thought struck her.

"In a dream?" She remembered falling asleep, but clearly, this golden dragon was full of life and not some illusion of a dream.

Accustomed to her divine sense leaving her body and wandering around while she slept, she simply assumed that this time, too, her divine sense had happened to encounter the divine sense of the golden dragon.

With this thought, the little cub felt she had finally found a kindred spirit and asked enthusiastically, "Can you?!"

Could Ao Lie's divine sense leave his body as well?

Ao Lie looked at her, and with a tap, its tail gently struck her palm.

"Where is this?" Where was this place? Would it be dangerous for Ao Lie?

Yu Youyou knew this all too well.

Lately, countless entities in the cultivation world coveted this baby dragon. If it allowed its divine sense to wander at will and was discovered by powerful cultivators, it would spell disaster.

The little one was thrilled to see her future companion, but immediately grew worried for its safety.

The exquisite, slender, and delicate golden dragon watched her clutch it tightly against her chest with a protective expression, as if determined to hide it away. Slowly, it rested its head against her cheek, and then gave a gentle tap against the darkness beside them.

For a little cub, divine sense projection was dangerous, but it seemed to care more about her, never minding that she herself might be in danger.

From the darkness came the sound of a dragon's tail striking hard metal, accompanied by the buzzing noise that Yu Youyou had recently grown familiar with and heard constantly beside her ears.

Was it telling her that it was safe here?

So this place belonged to the Gong family...

The little cub failed to fully translate the golden dragon's final reply.

She didn't know what part of the Gong family they were in.

However, since it was within the domain of the Gong family, it should be safe for both her and the golden dragon.

Relieved at once, she cradled the little golden dragon—which had wrapped itself around her arm like a glittering golden armlet—against her chest and rubbed her cheek against it.

"I missed you," the sweet-talking little cub declared.

The golden dragon gave a light tap, its tiny dragon head resting against her shoulder.

"Really!" Seeing Ao Lie act as though she were just uttering empty flattery, Yu Youyou hurriedly bared her innermost feelings. She spoke earnestly, and even reached out to present the souvenir she had specially bought for the little golden dragon... Ah, her divine sense had left her body, so how could her divine sense now carry her spatial ring along with it?