Chapter 80: Danxia Immortal Wen Danxia

Moments later, in the northern courtyard study of the Guan residence.

“Second sister, what brings you here?”

Guan Wenlong rose in surprise, barely setting down his book, and hurriedly said: “Second sister, don’t worry—Huachen is fine; he’ll likely be home by tomorrow afternoon.”

Wenlong and Huachen looked very much alike—both tall and fair-skinned, with five willow-like beards.

Huachen was even more robust, habitually clad in full armor, his expression stern and unyielding.

Wenlong wore a scholar’s wide-sleeved robe, exuding gentleness and elegance.

Lady Wen bowed and said, “Greetings, Elder Brother,” then added: “Elder Brother, have everyone step out—I need to speak with you privately.”

Wenlong frowned but waved his hand, dismissing the steward at the door and the maids inside.

“Guan Shentong, come out,” Lady Wen said again.

No one answered; the room and its surroundings fell utterly silent.

Lady Wen cast a glance at Guan Wenlong.

Wenlong sighed helplessly. “Shentong, come out.”

Without a sound, a thin man in gray robes appeared beside Lady Wen.

As if teleported, or as if stepping out from a rift in space.

“Second Madam, how may I serve you?”

Guan Shentong swept his piercing gaze across both Lady Wen and Wenlong’s faces.

Lady Wen’s temper flared; she coldly ordered: “Go stand at the door. Don’t eavesdrop. Don’t let anyone near or listen.”

Guan Shentong looked at Wenlong.

Wenlong’s scalp prickled; he muttered: “Second sister, since you know Shentong’s power, you must realize that with him here, no one can eavesdrop on our conversation unnoticed.”

“I want him to stand guard outside,” Lady Wen replied, her expression cold and resolute.

Wenlong sighed. “Shentong, wait outside the courtyard.”

Guan Shentong vanished as suddenly as he had appeared.

“Second sister, have some tea,” Wenlong said, taking up the maids’ duties himself.

“Did you receive Grand Ancestor’s letter?” Lady Wen asked.

Wenlong frowned. “What letter are you referring to?”

Lady Wen said: “Grand Ancestor ordered you to seek out the Prince of Qinghe and ask the Li family to remove their human immortal’s protection from Guan Yu. Did you go?”

Wenlong exclaimed in shock: “How do you know about this?”

Lady Wen smirked. “Go ask any well-informed person on the street—they’ll know the story of ‘The Tiger Daughter of the Guan Clan Slaying the Hunting Banner Immortal.’”

Wenlong glanced at her. “The ‘Eight Immortals Shooting the Sun’ at Feixian Ferry happened days ago. With hummingbird messengers spreading word far and wide, it’s natural the news has spread.”

“But what does that have to do with you knowing Grand Ancestor’s secret order?”

Lady Wen sneered. “Once I learned of the Guan clan’s adopted daughter’s existence, I naturally sought out more and finer details. Remember—your Guan clan has a Grand Ancestor, but our Wen clan has one too: ‘Grand Ancestor Guan.’”

Wenlong fell silent.

The Guan clan’s Grand Ancestor was, of course, the Guan City God.

The Wen clan indeed had its own “Grand Ancestor Guan”—the youngest daughter of the City God, now a venerable 107-year-old Lady Guan.

“What instructions did the Lady Grand Ancestor give?” Wenlong asked hesitantly.

Lady Wen didn’t answer. Instead, she smiled faintly and countered: “What do you think of Grand Ancestor’s decision to summon a human immortal to guard Guan Yu?”

“Naturally, we follow Grand Ancestor’s will. Right now, Guan Yu and Guan Zhong are traveling with the Fire Crow Army—tiring, yes, but certainly safe.”

“Once they return to Luodu, I’ll personally take her to meet the Prince of Qinghe.”

“When the Prince sees Guan Yu in person and witnesses the ferocity of her sword art, he’ll be easier to persuade,” Wenlong said coolly.

“Your arrangement is excellent! But I asked for your own opinion.”

Lady Wen spoke with deep implication: “If Grand Ancestor insists, we juniors, even if we disagree, must obey. But I believe, in this matter, Grand Ancestor is merely compromising—for Huachen’s sake.”

Wenlong’s gaze flickered. “You seem to want me to say—Guan Yu is ultimately an outsider, not worth owing the Li family a favor, let alone risking the Guan clan’s retaliation from the Eight Western Immortals?”

“Second sister, I’ll be frank—Grand Ancestor made the wisest decision!”

“More importantly, you’re right: this is Huachen’s request, and Grand Ancestor has already agreed.”

He paused, then sighed. “Huachen is over forty, yet has only Tianfeng as a daughter—his lineage is painfully thin.”

“And Guan Yu is an adopted daughter, not an adopted son—she benefits you and Tianfeng, and poses no threat whatsoever.”

“Elder Brother, you vastly underestimate my tolerance,” Lady Wen leaned back in her chair, languidly saying. “Before marrying into your Guan clan, I was famed across the Jianghu as the ‘Danxia Immortal!’”

“How could a Jianghu daughter fail to tolerate a mere adopted daughter?”

“Forgive me, Second Sister—I was foolish,” Wenlong bowed to her, then asked, puzzled: “Second sister, just tell me—what do you intend to do with Guan Yu?”

“I’ve brought Tianfeng here,” Lady Wen fixed her gaze on Wenlong’s eyes. “Grand Ancestor didn’t make the wisest decision—he merely made the one that pleased Huachen the most.”

“The best choice? With your wisdom, you must already know it.”

Wenlong’s heart stirred with suspicion; he avoided her gaze calmly. “I don’t understand what you mean.”

Lady Wen smiled. “How disheartening—after twenty years in your Guan clan, you still treat me as an outsider.”

“Second sister, that’s odd. You’ve managed the household for twenty years, and even before marrying Huachen, the Guan clan never treated you as an outsider,” Wenlong said gently.

Lady Wen grew impatient. “Enough. Guan Huachen’s Qianliyan secret? Agili already told me.”

“Now, let’s speak plainly. I’ll say it again.”

Wenlong’s expression changed drastically; he cursed: “That damned Kunlun slave Agili dares betray his master? I’ll tell Grand Ancestor—he’ll strip him of his status!”

Lady Wen chuckled. “Elder Brother, let me remind you—Agili is a Kunlun slave, yes, but he’s my Wen clan’s Kunlun slave!”

“So he didn’t betray his master—he’s a true loyal hound!”

“He lived as a Wen clan Kunlun slave, but now he’s dead—he’s your Guan clan’s ghost servant!” Wenlong’s face turned ashen, his teeth gritted.

Lady Wen shook her head softly. “He’s now only Grand Ancestor’s ghost servant—not yours.”

“Both you Guan brothers and I, Wen Danxia, must address him as ‘Black Uncle.’”

“Now I’m both former master of the Wen clan and mistress of the Guan clan—I merely ask him a few small questions. He has no reason to refuse.”

“Hasn’t he done things for you?”

“Without Guan Shentong, how many times would you be dead? And who trained Guan Shentong?”

Wenlong sighed helplessly. “Second sister, Huachen is your husband. You must respect him, love him, obey his decisions.”

“Heh. Big cousin, does that not sound hypocritical coming from you?”

Lady Wen smiled seductively, her eyes teasing.

Wenlong’s face was expressionless. “Second sister, please respect Huachen as you respect Grand Ancestor. Huachen... he’s my brother!!”

Lady Wen’s seductive smile vanished; she grew solemn. “Fine. Help me accomplish this, and I’ll remember those words for life.”

Wenlong sighed. “Huachen won’t agree.”

“That’s why I came to you.”

“I... have no reason to defy Huachen’s will—”

Lady Wen raised her hand to cut him off. “Guan Huachen cannot father children.”

“What?” Wenlong froze for a moment, then his heart lurched, his eyes darting.

Lady Wen stared at his face, speaking slowly and clearly: “Because of his Qianliyan , and because as a youth he indulged in pleasure, using it to chase women—he can perform, but cannot seed.”

Wenlong spoke hoarsely. “It can’t be...”

“Your wife bore you five sons and two daughters—counting illegitimate sons, half the Guan clan’s training grounds are your offspring. I’ve been married to Guan Huachen for twenty-one years and six months—and have only Tianfeng.”

Your elder sister bore you five sons and two daughters; counting the illegitimate sons—nearly half the Guan family’s training ground is your blood. I’ve been married to Xiang Huchen for twenty-one years and six months, and I’ve had only Tianfeng.

She added softly, “Grand Ancestor likely knows everything.”

“Not just because of his City God power—but his medical skill.”

“In all of Shu, over the past few centuries, only Master Min of Bao’an Clinic in Tianmen Town could match him.”

“You know Master Min, don’t you?”

“Let him touch your pulse—he’ll tell you exactly how many times you’ve bedded your wife these past three years, and how long each session lasted.”

“Ah, it was all my fault—I got drunk, and was foolish...”

Wenlong’s face was filled with despair and regret; he tore at his hair, his scholarly composure utterly gone.

Lady Wen spoke gently. “Big cousin, why torment yourself? I’m not asking you to poison Huachen—just a mere sand barbarian girl.”

“Huachen only can’t see it now—he’ll eventually understand this simple truth: you and I have chosen what’s best for the Guan clan, for Tianfeng, for him, for Grand Ancestor, for Shu... for everyone.”

“Except Guan Yu...” Wenlong pressed his palms to his forehead, muttering.

Lady Wen paused, then laughed. “It’s the best choice for her too. Grand Ancestor believes deeply in cause and effect—plant a seed, reap the fruit.”

“Want a certain fruit? First cultivate the right seed.”

“This life, she’s a lowborn, tainted sand barbarian, hated by the Eight Western Immortals, used as a target by the Fire Crow Army—her early death is inevitable.”

“With Grand Ancestor’s help, perhaps in her next life she’ll be reborn in the Central Lands as a true noble lady.”

Wenlong whispered: “You’ve convinced me, but you must convince Grand Ancestor.”

Lady Wen smiled—bright as summer flowers, radiant as Shunhua.

Wenlong was hers.

“Grand Ancestor didn’t directly persuade Huachen to abandon Guan Yu for only two reasons: he didn’t want to waste the Yigu Dan, nor the Sword Bone Art; and he still hopes for the Li family’s human immortal.”

“Whether to seek the Prince of Qinghe, and how to speak to him—it’s entirely up to you,” Lady Wen said softly.

Wenlong shook his head. “You convince Grand Ancestor. Use your reasons. I don’t want to lose my only brother.”

Wen Long shook his head and said, “You go persuade the Ancestor—use your reasons. I don’t want to lose my only brother.”

Lady Wen sneered, “You’ve been his brother for over forty years, yet you understand him less than I, his wife of twenty years who shares his bed but not his heart.”

If he truly cared for you as deeply as you think, no amount of wine you drank that night would have mattered—I am the ‘Danxia Immortal Maiden!’

In truth, he is more selfish and heartless than you, than me, than anyone else.

Don’t even say he’d turn against Guan Yu for you.

Do you believe him? He won’t sulk alone for more than half a month.

After half a month, I’ll just twitch my toe, and he’ll come running back with a grin.”

Wen Long was speechless.