Cries from outside the door made Qu Biyao furious as she stormed out. These were her dear second uncle and aunt, who wished her brother Ce dead so they could inherit the family fortune. With their dissolute and spoiled son, it would be a miracle if the Qu family wasn't ruined.
"Second Aunt, is your Feng'er dead? You cry so mournfully?" Qu Biyao calmed down as soon as she stepped outside, her tone laced with faint sarcasm.
"You wretch, who are you calling dead? You dare to viciously curse your elder brother? Second Aunt pities the main branch, leaving only you two siblings. Now that Ce is gone, come and help with his funeral arrangements. I say, Ce died before reaching adulthood and cannot be buried in the ancestral land..." The second aunt, along with a group of servants, dressed in sackcloth and mourning, knelt outside the courtyard gate.
Qu Biyao found the sight offensive. Hearing these words, her lungs nearly exploded. She swung a long whip, knocking over the servants.
"Scram! Who are you mourning for? Ce is perfectly fine! Father is merely out traveling, alive and well. Stop spewing nonsense!" After retorting to her second aunt, Qu Biyao beat all the attendants brought by her second aunt until they scattered in disarray.
Madam Qu Second trembled with rage. How could this be? She had received word that Xi'er had rushed out the door to find this brat, to see Qu Ce for the last time. How could he not be dead? This wouldn't do at all. If he wasn't dead, how could Feng'er be adopted by the main branch and inherit its wealth?
"Stop! Qu Biyao, you disrespect your elders! You... you, I will ask the clan elder to mediate!" Madam Qu Second dared not speak further of her elder brother-in-law. Although he was traveling, who knew if he had died outside? Even so, she could not criticize her husband's brother, or the family rules would not spare her.
"Chen Huaqing, you can go. Go now! You viciously cursed the eldest son of the Qu family's main branch. Let's see how the clan elder shields you!" Qu Biyao was so angry she no longer addressed her second aunt with the proper title.
"Qu Biyao, how dare you call this Madam by name? You've rebelled! You wretched creature, on what grounds do you accuse me of slander? Do you dare let this Madam in to see for herself? Are you perhaps concealing Qu Ce's death to pull a switcheroo? I demand to enter now! Come, charge in!" Several guards immediately leaped out from beside Madam Qu Second.
Qu Biyao's pupils contracted. Had the Qu family guards been bought off by her second uncle's family? Humph, underestimating me? With a wave of her hand, a signal shot into the sky. Did they think this young lady was alone!
Qu Biyao immediately engaged the guards who were about to charge in. Her brother was asleep after his treatment; he absolutely could not be disturbed.
Feng Chu had been on the roof of this courtyard for a long time. Knowing that the Honored Master was saving someone, he had not entered the room, lying on the roof in feigned sleep. He hadn't intended to interfere, but the commotion below was too loud. He had no choice but to sit up and watch the battle!
Seeing Qu Biyao's whip dancing ferociously, he knew her cultivation was not weak, and she had the upper hand.
Ju Yin knew Feng Chu was on the roof. She also flew up to the roof. The two of them ate melon seeds and watched the spectacle. The internal strife of wealthy families fighting for inheritance was truly lively, with full-blown combat ensuing.
This was their family's private affair. She had intended to leave, but thinking of the little child she had just managed to save, she couldn't let them kill him again. She decided to observe the situation. If Miss Qu was at a disadvantage, she wouldn't mind lending a hand.
As expected, several figures flew in from a distance. Glancing at Ju Yin and Feng Chu on the roof, they immediately charged into the fray.
Before long, Madam Qu Second's side was defeated. Madam Qu cursed loudly. Qu Biyao directly sealed her mouth, subdued Madam Qu Second and her entourage, and threw them into the adjacent wing room, detaining them temporarily!
After finishing, Qu Biyao no longer cared about losing face. She and her second uncle's family had long since fallen out. This was not a new event in Mantu City. She looked up at the roof and bowed.
"Immortal Fairy, my apologies for the family affairs. Please come inside."
Those who had been heartily enjoying the spectacle on the roof descended gracefully.
"Cousin, this is..." Qu Biyao wanted to introduce her cousin but realized she didn't even know the Immortal Fairy's name.
"My Immortal Fairy's surname is Ye," Feng Chu interjected.
"Immortal Fairy Ye, this is my cousin, Tu Yue," Qu Biyao introduced a man dressed in dark green.
"Cousin, this is Ce'er's savior, Immortal Fairy Ye!"
"Oh, Ce'er is alright? That's wonderful."
"Yes, the Immortal Fairy said he can still cultivate in the future and will gradually get better," Qu Biyao nodded repeatedly.
"I am Tu Yue, thank you both. Immortal Fairy Ye's kindness is immense, and I have no way to repay it. If you need anything in Mantu Water, you can find me." Tu Yue was also very excited. When he received the signal today, his heart had skipped a beat, fearing he would hear bad news about his cousin!
"It's nothing, just a small matter. Miss Qu will provide the reward," Ju Yin wanted to know the origin of the raw materials for the Immortality Stone. She didn't know how to ask, but now was the time.
"Immortal Fairy Ye, please speak. I will do my utmost!" Qu Biyao responded.
"My Immortal Fairy wants to know the origin of the raw waste materials. We also wish to purchase a batch," Feng Chu guessed Ju Yin's thoughts. He was also very curious. If he knew the location, he could go and see what kind of place could yield Immortal Stones.
"Coincidentally, these were discovered by Cousin. He also has a batch in his possession, which he can give to the Immortal Fairy. This batch of raw materials came from the Mantu River in Dushan. Originally, it was only found in the deep waters of the Mantu River. Last year, a flood washed it to the shallows. It was discovered by people, who, thinking it was a treasure, collected all of it. Cousin's is also like this." Although Qu Biyao was curious about the Immortal Fairy's persistence regarding the stone, she didn't ask further and reported truthfully.
"Dushan? As for the stone, you don't need to give it to us, just sell it. I'll have Steward Zhu contact you then."
It seemed she had to go in person. Ju Yin and Feng Chu exchanged glances, a tacit understanding passing between them. Immortal Stones only existed in the immortal realm, unless that place was connected to some part of the immortal realm, and the Immortal Stone mine had been washed down. Ju Yin vaguely connected certain dots. For example, the recent attacks by the black-clothed figures on Grand Master Taiyi, could they all be related to the upper realm?
"Yes, Mantu Water flows through Dushan, bringing out many stones from the underground rivers. Unfortunately, the intricate waterways of the underground rivers are a one-way path, so many who explore for treasure have met their end! The Mantu River has buried countless people! If you two are going to investigate, you must be careful. Those underground rivers are peculiar!" Tu Yue cautioned again, unable to rest assured. These were their benefactors, and he did not wish for anything to happen to them.
Tu Yue's family specialized in supplying raw stone materials. Even their family, which had stood for over a thousand years, could not clearly explain the origin of the Mantu Water.
"Thank you for informing us! This is the remuneration I require! We shall meet again!" Ju Yin and Feng Chu said, then floated away.
Qu Biyao and Tu Yue looked at each other, dumbfounded. They truly hadn't expected their request to be so simple.
"Honored Master, shall we go to Dushan now?" Feng Chu asked. Honored Master was surrounded by people every day, and he never had time to be alone with Honored Master.
"Let's rendezvous with everyone first, then we'll discuss it," Ju Yin was worried about Xiao Bai and the others and decided to place them all in her spatial artifact first.