Chapter 61: Killing the Twin Sister

Zhao Yue's mother, that is, her maternal grandmother, seems to be in this Holy Mother Sect, but what is the relationship between the Holy Mother Sect and the Su Nv Sect?

"The Su Nv Sect splits into three teachings according to the different cultivation methods they practice: the Holy Mother Sect is one, and there are also the White Lotus Sect and the Extinction Sect." Shen Yuan explained.

Only then did Shen Qingli understand: "The teachings of the three sects must be quite different."

"Indeed, but to sum up—the Holy Mother Sect is overly benevolent; the White Lotus Sect is overly detached from worldly affairs; the Extinction Sect is overly severing love and affection." Shen Duo gave a concise summary.

"Are all members of the Su Nv Sect women?" Shen Qingli wondered.

"Yes."

"Their sect leader is actually a normal person, and the leader's direct line is also relatively normal."

"If it weren't for the Su Nv Realm, the Su Nv Sect would have fallen apart."

Shen Yuan and Shen Duo clearly understood the internal affairs of the major powers within the Sheng Long Tian realm.

Shen Kuo, having stayed too long on the Xuanti Continent, has fallen behind on news and can't get a word in.

"But why did this sect matriarch come to see us?" Shen Yuan didn't understand.

"It's probably for Zhao Yue." Shen Qingli vaguely recalled that, while fleeing pursuit, she had heard loose cultivators discussing Zhao Yue, saying her mother was from the Holy Mother Sect.

At that time, she had not yet completely given up on Zhao Yue, and she would pay extra attention to any news about Zhao Yue, even rumors.

"She's from the Su Nv Sect?" Shen Yuan was surprised, and he also looked toward Shen Kuo.

Shen Kuo frowned, however, "I really don't know that."

"Or is it your former dao companion? What do you actually know?" Shen Yuan was speechless.

Shen Kuo couldn't refute; he was born with shallow feelings, lacking strong curiosity about anyone or anything—if they get along, they stay together; if not, they part.

Only when he came to Shen Qingli did he feel much paternal love aroused, but his emotions remained inwardly restrained; he would not show especial anger or joy.

Actually, the only things that can now make him happy or angry are related to Shen Qingli; otherwise, he still wouldn't have much emotional fluctuation.

"Forget it, I won't say more about you." Shen Yuan patted his youngest brother's shoulder, "Just come back."

Shen Kuo nodded, but still said nothing.

Shen Yuan knew what he was like, so he didn't say more, and then told Shen Qingli, "They should be here to pick someone up—what do you plan to do, whether to keep the person or not."

"Let's take a look first." Shen Qingli hadn't decided yet, "What does the Cangsheng God Sovereign say?"

She had just sensed that Pei Jianshu's inheritance aura was quite extraordinary, probably not beneath the Taiyi God Sovereign.

Shen Yuan also confirmed her guess, "You don't need to worry either way—if you're unwilling, it doesn't matter what inheritance he has."

Shen Qingli nodded, "The ancestor of the Azure Cloud Realm is actually Cangsheng; I thought they were sword cultivators."

In her memory, Pei Jianshu had always been a sword cultivator; she hadn't expected him to be a scholar cultivator.

Cangsheng invented characters; the Azure Cloud Realm should have many ancient texts.

While chatting idly, the four had already arrived at the main hall.

Shen Qingli first saw four women in palace attire, then noticed a middle-aged woman seated on the left, wearing an elaborate brocade dress, her neatly coiled hair shining like a mirror, without a single stray strand.

"Sect Matriarch Zhong."

"Shen Clan Head."

After exchanging greetings, Zhong Wuqi's gaze fell on Shen Qingli.

"You are Zhao Yue's daughter."

"Yes."

"I suppose I deserve to be called your maternal grandmother."

The four of the Shen clan were stunned for a moment—who would have thought! Sect Matriarch Zhong is Zhao Yue's mother!

"I don't know where my unworthy daughter is," Zhong Wuqi asked again.

"Zhao Yue is actually the daughter of Sect Matriarch Zhong—I, Shen Mou, really didn't see it."

"She's just an unworthy bastard daughter; I expelled her from the sect long ago." Zhong Wuqi made no secret of it.

Shen Qingli, however, stared at her steadily—"unworthy bastard daughter" had always been what Zhao Yue used to scold her with.

"But after all, she's still my birth daughter; if I didn't know, it would be fine, but now that I know she's among the nobility, I must take her back." Zhong Wuqi's tone was flat, and her exquisite makeup showed no emotion.

"Sorry, your daughter has done something truly excessive to her own daughter—I was originally going to refuse."

Shen Qingli, however, said, "Let her go."

Zhong Wuqi looked at her again, her eyes still lacking any elder's affection for a junior.

She also spoke frankly, "Sorry, your mother has done some things that make me unable to regard her as my birth daughter, and I can't feel anything toward you either."

"Reasonable." Shen Qingli didn't mind.

Zhong Wuqi fell silent for a moment, took out a porcelain bottle, and said, "After all, you're my elder—here's a small greeting gift."

"No need, I and Zhao Yue have long severed ties, so I'm not really a close elder, just a junior."

"... All right." Zhong Wuqi didn't insist, "Although I don't like you, if you ever run into trouble, you can still come to the Holy Mother Sect to find me—I won't stand by and do nothing."

"The Holy Mother loves all people—that is the very doctrine of the Holy Mother Sect."

"So even if it's an enemy, as long as they come to the door asking, the Holy Mother Sect will help if it can."

After seeing off Zhong Wuqi and company, and listening to Shen Duo's explanation, Shen Qingli felt somewhat at a loss for words: "Sincere, with no ulterior motive?"

"As far as we know, they seek nothing in return, though they will accept voluntary tribute offerings from benefactors."

"But this Sect Matriarch Zhong gives off a feeling somewhat like what you said about the Extinction Sect's matriarch."

"That's because you haven't seen anyone from the Extinction Sect, so you say that."

Whenever Shen Duo thought of those old ladies, and even the young but listless disciples of the Extinction Sect, his face went numb.

Outside the Shen clan, Zhao Yue was helped onto Zhong Wuqi's carriage and flew away.

Shen Qingli watched from afar, actually feeling a bit doubtful: since Zhao Yue has such a strong mother, why doesn't she go retrieve her herself? Instead, she even had Su Chacha come to cause a scene at the Long River Shen clan.

"What's wrong?" Shen Kuo asked, "Are you still reluctant to let her go?"

No, I'm just strange. Her purpose in coming to the Changshui Shen Clan, including her purpose of helping Su Chacha, is definitely for her own cultivation recovery, appearance recovery. But she clearly has such a strong retreat, why does she have to go around such a big circle?

She can't face going back, after all, she was expelled from the sect.

"No." Shen Qingli shook her head.

Zhao Yue loves the feeling of being surrounded by stars like the moon, so when she can restore her appearance and cultivation, face means nothing.

Unless, going back would mean death.

Shen Qingli once again looked toward the direction where Zhao Yue and they had disappeared, and at this moment Zhao Yue was truly scared to death.

"Mother, mother." Zhao Yue crawled, trembling.

Back then, she actually wasn't expelled from the sect, but was executed by the sect!

It's just that Zhong Wuqi, out of consideration for the mother-daughter bond, let her go, but warned her that if they met again, he would not spare her.

Zhong Wuqi, however, asked, "Have you managed to find your older sister?"

Zhao Yue froze, then trembled even more.

Older sister, her twin sister...