Chapter 63: The Rupture and the Choice

The meaning of Wu Shishu of the Yanyue Sect was very clear: regardless of what the Yan Family was preparing to do, his goal was only Yan Taibai's kin, and he would not concern himself with anything else.

To put it bluntly, he was turning a blind eye to the affairs of Yan Family Fortress.

"Hehe! It has been many years, yet Fellow Daoist Wu is still as carefree as ever."

Just as the Yan Family Ancestor was hesitating, a hearty, light laugh rang out from behind the members of the Yan Family.

Then, a figure walked out; the newcomer was a middle-aged man clad in black robes with a scholarly appearance, his face wearing a smile as if seeing an "old friend."

But the powerful spiritual pressure emanating from him caused Yan Taibai's heart to sink.

A Nascent Soul cultivator; the thing he had worried about most had happened after all.

At this moment, the expressions of the Yan Family Ancestor, Xuan Ye, and the other core members of the Yan Family were not looking very good.

After all, even Xuan Ye had not anticipated the current situation; he had thought that Yan Taibai could at most invite his master, Qiong Laoguai, a Golden Core Late Stage cultivator.

He had not expected that a third Nascent Soul cultivator from the Yanyue Sect would be invited.

And what he had expected even less was that a Nascent Soul cultivator from the Ghost Spirit Sect would ignore their agreement and appear directly.

"So it is Fellow Daoist Wang Tiangu of the Ghost Spirit Sect. How is it that you have the free time to come and sit at Yan Family Fortress?"

Seeing the newcomer, Wu Shishu of the Yanyue Sect narrowed his eyes, his gaze filled with deep wariness.

As fellow Nascent Soul cultivators, his chances of winning against Wang Tiangu of the Ghost Spirit Sect were slim, and with the added burden of protecting Yan Taibai, Nangong Wan, and Nishang Xianzi, the odds were even smaller.

"I have time to sit, but did young friend Yan beside you not tell you, Fellow Daoist, that Yan Family Fortress was originally a branch of our Ghost Spirit Sect? Wang has come this time to bring the entire Yan Family Fortress back to the sect. There is no need to report this to your sect and seek permission, is there!"

Wang Tiangu chuckled, his smile not fading.

After speaking, his gaze fell upon Yan Taibai, who was keeping his head lowered with an uncertain, gloomy expression.

"Indeed, there is no need. However, might I trouble Fellow Daoist Wang to hand over the kin of my nephew Taibai to me, so I may take them back to the sect to cultivate? It is only one relative, surely Fellow Daoist Wang would not be unwilling?"

Wu Shishu of the Yanyue Sect stepped forward, shielding Yan Taibai behind him, and smiled as well.

"That is possible, but the Yan Family's young lady, niece Ruyan, seems to be cultivating in your sect. As long as your sect sends niece Ruyan over, this young friend Taibai's kin will naturally be unharmed."

Wang Tiangu stated a condition that made Yan Taibai's face turn deathly pale in an instant.

However, he did not speak, instead raising his eyes to look toward the people of Yan Family Fortress.

When he met the unchanging expression in Xuan Ye's gaze, the worry in his heart was completely set at ease.

But his expression remained unchanged, not even lingering for a fraction of a second, lest Wang Tiangu of the Ghost Spirit Sect notice anything.

"As for that!"

After hearing Wang Tiangu's condition, Wu Shishu of the Yanyue Sect instinctively turned his head to look at Yan Taibai to ask for his opinion.

Seeing this, the expressions of Nangong Wan and Nishang Xianzi were not very good.

After all, if such a matter were to fall upon them, they would not know how to choose either.

One was a blood relative, the other a fiancée!

Both were people of utmost importance; abandoning either would leave behind irreparable regret.

Yan Taibai then bowed respectfully, his voice slightly hoarse.

"I leave the decision entirely to Shishu."

Upon hearing this, Wang Tiangu of the Ghost Spirit Sect narrowed his eyes, staring intently at Yan Taibai, then glanced at the expressionless Xuan Ye, a trace of doubt flashing in his eyes.

"Good."

Seeing this, Wu Shishu of the Yanyue Sect also took a deep look at Yan Taibai and nodded solemnly.

Afterward, he spoke again to Wang Tiangu of the Ghost Spirit Sect.

"Since that is the case, we will take good care of Ruyan in our sect, and I must trouble Fellow Daoist Wang to take extra care of my nephew Taibai's kin."

As soon as these words were spoken, the expressions of everyone present changed.

Especially the members of the Yan Family; they had not expected Yan Taibai to choose Yan Ruyan in the end.

But without Yan Ruyan, the value of their Yan Family Fortress to the Ghost Spirit Sect would be greatly diminished.

And how could Yan Ruyan fare well in the Yanyue Sect?

Yan Ruyan's parents, in particular, were worried beyond measure.

However, things had reached this point, and it was simply not something the two of them, as Foundation Establishment Stage cultivators, could change or decide.

But the words Xuan Ye spoke afterward put them at ease.

"Rest assured! The 'Blood Spirit Great Method' can only be practiced after Foundation Establishment; neither Ruyan nor the Young Sect Master of the Ghost Spirit Sect have reached Foundation Establishment yet. There is enough time to make further plans to bring Ruyan back from the Yanyue Sect. With Taibai there, there is no need to worry about Ruyan's safety."

"Xuan Ye is right; there is no rush regarding the 'Blood Spirit Great Method'."

Xuan Ye's telepathic message to the Yan Family members naturally could not be hidden from Wang Tiangu of the Ghost Spirit Sect, who chuckled in agreement.

And his words were clearly more effective than Xuan Ye's, putting the Yan Family members much more at ease.

Even for a Heavenly Spirit Root, Foundation Establishment takes about ten years; not everyone is Yan Taibai.

In other words, they had plenty of time.

After pacifying the Yan Family members, Wang Tiangu of the Ghost Spirit Sect nodded and smiled at Wu Shishu of the Yanyue Sect.

"That is only natural. Fellow Daoist Wu, rest assured, just leave it to Wang. Oh! By the way, young friend Taibai, do take care of yourself."

"Many thanks for your concern, Senior; this junior will naturally take good care of himself."

Hearing this, Yan Taibai suppressed the anger in his heart and bowed with cupped hands.

This was already the best choice; it had to be said that Xuan Ye still considered their feelings to some extent.

He had made all possible preparations in advance; of course, Yan Taibai also understood that the biggest reason Xuan Ye did this was to preserve as much of the Yan Family's bloodline as possible.

Yan Ruyan was of the direct line of the Yan Family; if the two of them became Dao companions in the future and had children and descendants, then the Yan Family bloodline would naturally not be severed, and might even become more prosperous.

After all, both of them were Heavenly Spirit Root cultivators with the chance to condense a Nascent Soul in the future, and at the very least, they would be Golden Core Stage cultivators.

Therefore, as long as they had children and descendants, it would only become more prosperous.

"That is good."

Seeing this, Wang Tiangu of the Ghost Spirit Sect wore a playful expression.

He was becoming increasingly interested in Yan Taibai.

"If there is nothing else, we shall take our leave first. Fellow Daoist Wang, do take extra care on the road."

Wu Shishu of the Yanyue Sect said with a pointed implication.

How could he possibly let the Yan Family leave so easily?

"Rest assured, I, Wang, will naturally bring the Yan Family back to the sect, so there is no need to trouble Fellow Daoist Wu."

Wang Tiangu of the Ghost Spirit Sect nodded, his smile undiminished as he said,

"Wait a moment, there is one thing I hope Taibai can agree to."

Suddenly, the Yan Family Ancestor, who had been silent for a long time, spoke up.

"Please speak, Ancestor!"

Seeing this, Yan Taibai let out a long sigh of relief and cupped his hands.

He did not show any dissatisfaction, anger, or resentment because of the Yan Family Fortress's choice.

"The Mortals in the fortress will not follow us when we leave, so I must trouble you, Taibai, to take care of them a little. Also, the mineral veins, herb gardens, and other businesses controlled by the family are all gifted to you as compensation. I only hope you will not resent the Yan Family and will treat Yan'er well."

(End of this chapter)