Chapter 179: His Chuyun

Following Pei Chuyun to the small square outside the Pei family ancestral hall, Pei Qingyan and others were already waiting, along with several elderly and middle-aged men in splendid robes, their eyes gleaming as they watched Pei Chuyun arrive.

These were all clan members of the Hedong Pei family—Pei Qingyan's cousins, uncles, or elder uncles. Since they lived near the capital, far from the ancestral shrine in Hedong, they had not returned home but instead came to the capital to join Pei Qingyan in honoring the ancestors.

Pei Chuyun had only recently been recognized by the clan and was meeting these people for the first time.

The little demon girl bowed with flawless elegance, a radiant smile on her lips: "Greetings, uncles and aunts."

In truth, her peripheral vision locked onto every expression.

Most faces were not pleasant; they wore polite but distant smiles, their eyes clearly revealing scrutiny and disdain.

After all, Pei Qingyan had brought home a bastard from outside and treated her as a legitimate daughter—this severely violated aristocratic norms, and the Pei family had been secretly mocked by many great clans. Their discomfort was natural, though not outright malicious.

Due to Pei Qingyan's power and status, they dared not voice their displeasure, yet still offered the expected courtesies: "So this is Chuyun? We've heard—talented and beautiful, renowned throughout the capital. Today, we see it's true."

Pei Chuyun returned the bow gracefully: "Your praise is excessive, uncles and aunts."

Her gaze had fixed on an elderly man with white whiskers—the only one who had spoken not a single formal word, his eyes not polite distance but a flash of shock quickly suppressed.

Pei Yu chuckled: "Don't let it fool you—Chuyun was raised outside, yet her manners, scholarship, and even cultivation have brought great honor to our Pei family. You probably didn't know: just days ago, Chuyun challenged and defeated the top new talent."

Pei Qingyan stroked his beard and smiled; clearly, he was satisfied with his daughter.

After all, his daughter excelled in every way—except for sneaking out every night to meet her lover. That was the result of the Chǎnǚ Héhuān poison, nearly impossible to restrain. He couldn't just have brought her back and immediately act like a stern patriarch scolding or punishing her—he feared she'd lose her sense of belonging, so he chose to turn a blind eye.

Pei Yu was covering for his sister—did he really think the old man didn't know? The old man knew long before Pei Yu did. But his daughter carried the Chǎnǚ Héhuān identity—how could he discipline her? One wrong move and she'd return to her sect. How could he manage her? Lock her up like a prisoner? Then why bring her home at all? Without affection, he'd only create an enemy.

Now he could only hope that as she slowly integrated into the family, she'd grow distant from—or even sever ties with—the Chǎnǚ Héhuān Sect. After all, any normal person knew which side to choose: the Pei family or the Chǎnǚ Héhuān Sect.

Once she made that choice, with no retreat left, he could finally begin to guide and correct her. For now, she was merely meeting one lover—not chasing after many. For someone from the Chǎnǚ Héhuān Sect, maintaining such restraint was practically purity itself… Old Pei felt his emotions were temporarily stable.

As he thought this, the white-bearded elder spoke: "Qingyan, the hour is near. It's time to enter the ancestral hall."

Pei Qingyan glanced at the sky and nodded: "Indeed. Chuyun, stand behind your father."

The elder said: "Wait. This is the position of the legitimate daughter. No illegitimate daughter has ever followed the patriarch into the ancestral hall. They're fortunate enough to pay respects from outside."

The air fell suddenly silent. Pei Qingyan's face darkened: "Third Uncle, His Majesty granted Chuyun admission to the Imperial Academy—surely you know what that means."

Imperial patronage was never extended to illegitimate sons or daughters—it was exclusively for legitimate ones. Thus, the Emperor's grant meant he recognized Pei Chuyun as the child of a second wife—hence, a legitimate daughter.

With this foundation, no one normally questioned it. Even if someone did, it would only be someone whose interests were harmed—like Pei Yu, who might have grounds for complaint. But what did it have to do with others? Even Pei Yu himself liked his sister. Who else had the right to grumble? Pei Qingyan never expected anyone to bring this up during the Qingming ancestral rites.

The third uncle spoke slowly: "The Emperor's patronage didn't explicitly declare her a legitimate daughter. If the patriarch insists on elevating her, isn't there still a procedure missing?"

Pei Qingyan frowned tightly. Pei Yu's expression changed.

Of course the procedure was missing: they had to place Pei Chuyun's mother's spirit tablet in the position of the principal wife, formally recognizing her as a second wife.

But doing so would truly provoke Pei Yu's anger; originally, Pei Chuyun never demanded this—Pei Yu's bottom line remained untouched, allowing the siblings to coexist peacefully, yet if pushed to this point, Pei Yu would undoubtedly explode.

Pei Qingyan could never risk alienating his only son to elevate Pei Chuyun's status—that would be outright madness.

To publicly raise this issue was clearly provocation. Pei Qingyan's expression finally turned icy: "Is this mere formality so important that you'd dare insult the Emperor's face?"

The third uncle replied coolly: "Formality—small when you call it small, immense when you call it immense. Our aristocratic clans stand apart from nouveau riche precisely because ritual and regulation are our most vital pillar. If we undermine it today, others will follow, and our household will descend into chaos. The Emperor won't sigh for us. As patriarch, you must answer for the family—not just your personal preferences. As clan elders, we have the duty to advise."

Pei Qingyan replied coldly: "Since Third Uncle is so devoted to ritual, very well—I admire you. As an elder, you should lead by example. First, resign from your position as Prefect. You bribed Governor Zhang with three thousand spirit stones for that post—undermining ritual, inviting imitation, and destabilizing the Great Qian. The friendly states won't sigh for you."

The third uncle: "..."

Pei Qingyan continued: "And that peach girl you keep outside—truly against propriety. Since you value ritual so much, better send a sedan chair to bring her home. If your wife causes trouble, I'll help mediate. After all, we're great clans—ritual comes first. Oh, and Xiao Zhong's monitor candidate slot—I'll speak to Instructor Sun. We'll follow the rules strictly. You, Third Uncle, are upright and dislike irregularities..."

"Pfft…" Pei Yu burst out laughing—he'd never seen his father do this before.

The third uncle's face twisted. He hissed low: "Qingyan, you know what I truly mean."

Pei Qingyan's face was expressionless: "I don't. I only know ancestral rites are imminent, and you've just handed me a problem."

The third uncle said: "Do our ancestors know you've brought a Héhuān demon into the hall, parading her before their spirit tablets?"

Everyone erupted in shock.

Pei Qingyan's face changed—he never expected this man to shout this aloud in public. Could this even be spoken of openly?

As he frantically searched for a response, Pei Chuyun spoke softly: "So you recognize me."

The third uncle gritted his teeth: "Of course I do." "Why do you recognize me?" Pei Chuyun stepped forward, her voice icy: "Because you killed a woman who looked just like her?"

Pei Chuyun herself had no strong "avenge my mother" impulse—she'd never felt maternal love, never even known the woman. But if her mother truly had been murdered, and the killer stood before her, any human being would feel stirred.

Had it not been for these people, she might have grown up under her mother's love, never surrounded by exploitation, never lacking a single trustworthy soul. She wouldn't have been trained from childhood in seduction, always thinking how to lure men, how to use her primordial yin.

Was that a normal life? Who was to blame?

Pei Chuyun stepped forward, her demonic aura surging: "I was still questioning the truth... but now someone has stepped forward willingly. Speak—who else besides you?"

"Answer!" Pei Chuyun suddenly accelerated, her claw shooting toward the third uncle's throat.

The third uncle recoiled in horror—he'd assumed Pei Chuyun's defeat of the top new talent was just Pei Qingyan's staged performance to elevate his daughter. He never imagined she was truly this strong!

He was old, and hadn't even reached third grade... The third-grade barrier remained the highest threshold in this world. Ninety-nine percent of cultivators were stuck there, unable to advance. With equal cultivation, he was ancient, frail, half-dead—how could he match Pei Chuyun's speed?

"Snap!" Just as the third uncle seemed certain to be caught, Pei Chuyun's striking wrist was seized.

Pei Chuyun turned sharply—it was Pei Qingyan, his expression complex, gripping her hand: "Let your father handle this."

Pei Chuyun lowered her eyes.

Pei Qingyan sealed the third uncle's vocal point with a finger, speaking calmly: "Pei Jingshan spread false rumors, slandered family members, undermined clan unity, and damaged the family's reputation. By clan law, strip him of all positions and confine him pending trial."

A group of retainers surged forward and dragged the third uncle away. He struggled, making muffled "oohs" and "aahs"—his vocal point sealed, he could not speak.

It appeared swift and decisive: labeling the third uncle with "spreading rumors and slandering clan members," then hauling him off while warning everyone present, "Do not spread rumors"—a thunderous move indeed.

Yet Pei Chuyun kept her eyes lowered, still deeply disappointed.

From this response, her father knew who the killer was.

And knowing full well, he chose no revenge—only "removal from office, confinement" when the matter was dragged into public.

Pei Chuyun understood: in his position, he couldn't act recklessly. This response was perfectly normal from his perspective. But from the viewpoint of a father seeking to make amends, or a man who should avenge his beloved, it was deeply disappointing.

At last, she spoke softly: "You... know who it was, don't you?"

Pei Qingyan pressed his lips tight, speaking in a strained whisper: "Chuyun, life rarely goes as we wish. In my position, I cannot afford a single misstep."

"I understand," Pei Chuyun said with a bitter smile. "Family, reputation, status... they always matter more than other things. I understand."

Pei Qingyan did not respond, somewhat embarrassed.

Pei Chuyun said softly, "I know Master's calculations are far greater than yours. So to want someone who can set aside all concerns and stand up for me even at a loss... is that just a dreamy wish, isn't it?"

Pei Qingyan sighed: "Why be like this..."

Before the words he wanted to say could leave his lips, a sudden cry of agony came from Third Uncle over there.

Pei Qingyan turned his head abruptly to look, seeing only one of the escorting retainers suddenly punch Third Uncle in the dantian, directly ruining all his cultivation.

Before the other escorting retainers could react, he suddenly flicked his arm, flinging Third Uncle toward Pei Chuyun's position: "Revenge is only satisfying when done with one's own hands."

Pei Chuyun, as if in tacit understanding the moment Third Uncle cried out, reached out without even looking. Just as Third Uncle was flung toward her, Pei Chuyun's palms, like butterflies, floated up and struck.

"Crack-crack-crack" rang out; Third Uncle's entire skeleton shattered, he fell with a thud, and died on the spot.

Pei Yu swiftly darted to that retainer's position, pointing his sword horizontally: "Who are you?"

The retainer wiped off his disguise, revealing Lu Xingzhou's handsome face: "Ah Shu's matter is my Lu Xingzhou's matter, Brother Pei, forgive my rudeness."

Pei Yu's expression was complex: "Brother Lu, attacking and killing a Pei family elder right before the Pei family ancestral hall is to cut yourself off from the Pei..."

He stopped abruptly halfway through.

His sister had just said, "to want someone who can set aside all concerns and stand up for me even at a loss," was that just a dreamy wish?

Under normal circumstances, yes.

People living in this society always have to consider too many things; Pei Qingyan could not be exempt, and he, Pei Yu, could not either.

Yet isn't the person who would cut himself off from the Pei family, making future cooperation impossible, even turning into enemies, just to stand up for his "Ah Shu" right before his eyes?

(End of this chapter)