Drip.
Drop.
For years, the sky above the three thousand li of Bailu Marsh had been persistently overcast.
In the biting chill of early spring, the dreary rain fell without cease.
Along the eaves, fine streams of water gathered and cascaded down like curtains of beaded string. Even beneath the sheltered covered walkways of the three-entry courtyard, moisture coalesced along the upturned eaves, dripping and pattering continuously.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Faint but crisp footsteps sounded in a hurry, drawing rapidly closer and quickening in cadence.
Soon, a little girl scampered in from outside, her hair tied in a pair of little horns and her face no larger than a palm.
She was remarkably adorable, with large eyes like pure black gemstones, a pert nose, and thin lips—yet her complexion bore a sickly pallor, entirely devoid of rosy color.
She was bundled up thickly, wrapped from head to toe in white down-padded silk.
Yet even the pristine white swan-down robes could not match the whiteness of her face.
From behind her came a tender, loving voice filled with fond concern.
"Maomao, slow down! Don't trip!"
The little girl was obedient; she halted her steps and braced herself against a thick wooden pillar along the walkway, panting for breath.
She called back excitedly, "Mother, Brother's lessons are about to end today! I want to play with him!"
Catching her breath a little, she set off again on her little feet, scurrying down the long corridor toward a waterside pavilion veiled by artificial rockeries.
Behind her, a gentle young matron shook her head with a smile, following at an unhurried pace.
Though she kept some distance behind little Maomao, the child was never out of her sight.
Just as they approached the pavilion, a simply dressed middle-aged woman bowed and backed out.
Upon seeing the young matron, she bowed respectfully.
"Greetings, Madam."
Lin Jingshu looked at her face with a hint of confusion, hesitating before asking, "Are you from the Seventh Master's household?"
The woman nodded. "Yes. My master heard that Young Master Fuyou has been studying hard. Remembering his good relationship with Young Master Yuqi, he specifically ordered this servant to bring over some tonics."
Lin Jingshu came to a sudden realization. Her son indeed got along well with Zhou Yuqi of the Seventh Branch. Moreover, her husband was also close with Old Seventh; they had braved life and death together in the past.
Still, well-mannered as she was, she said, "This is really too generous."
The middle-aged woman forced a smile. "It is no trouble at all. Young Master Fuyou is still so young; working so hard, he might harm his health."
Lin Jingshu smiled. "Then thank you very much. When I have some free time, I will pay a visit in person to express our gratitude."
"Then this servant will take her leave."
Lin Jingshu nodded, watching the middle-aged woman walk along the long winding covered walkway.
*My husband's standing within the clan really is quite good!*
With a sigh of quiet satisfaction, she made her way along the walkway toward the pavilion. Before she even stepped inside, the sounds of laughter and chatter reached her ears.
"Brother, Brother, is this character pronounced *feng*, like the wind that blows?"
"That's right, Maomao."
"Then what about the next character?"
"*Che*, as in *feng chi dian che*—lightning-fast. It is also one of the generational characters in our Zhou family genealogy: *Cang Kun Yun Xiao, Hai Yu Jing Feng, Che Yu Qu Cheng, Lei Dian Ni Xia*... It carries the meaning of soaring through the clouds, commanding the seas, riding the sunset glow, and piercing the thunder. Our Zhou family is an immortal cultivation clan originating from the far northern Coral Sea. Our hearts yearn for longevity and roaming the four seas, which is why our ancestors left behind a generational poem with such auspicious meaning."
"That sounds so complicated! But why don't our names have those characters, while Brother Yuqi does?"
"Actually, you did have one. You were originally named Zhou Qingyu with the character for 'rain', but the Old Ancestor changed it to a homophonic 'yu' for 'feather'."
"What about you, Brother?"
"Me..."
The little girl's voice was filled with lively curiosity, while the boy's voice, though sharp and high-pitched, was spoken in an unhurried, exceedingly composed manner. Yet when it came to why his name was not part of the ancestral generational characters, his tone also carried confusion.
Lin Jingshu walked in at just the right moment. Looking at her lovely daughter and handsome son, she smiled and said, "Because the Old Ancestor holds great expectations for your brother. By invoking the fleeting insignificance of a mayfly, he sought to spur him on and remind him never to slacken."
The young boy, clad in a simple plain white Daoist robe, stood up, set aside the little girl clinging to him, and bowed to the woman.
"Mother!"
Lin Jingshu shook her head lightly. "We are at home; there is no need for such formalities. How have your studies been progressing lately?"
Zhou Fuyou replied with confidence, "I have read through thirty-two volumes of Daoist scriptures, fully grasped the clan precepts and classics, and dabbled in local records and anomaly accounts..."
The boy spoke with measured eloquence, his words radiating calm assurance. Combined with his slender frame—developed far beyond that of his twin sister—it was almost impossible to believe he was merely a five-year-old child!
Yes.
Zhou Fuyou was only five years old at this moment, yet his reputation as a child prodigy had long since spread throughout the entire Zhou family.
He could run at age one, was articulate and eloquent at two, and by three had mastered poetry and verse. Later on, no longer satisfied with ordinary literary works, he began delving into martial scriptures and Daoist canons related to cultivation.
Almost every Zhou family senior and elder who had ever met him believed that as long as he possessed a spiritual root, he was destined to become a cultivation genius for the clan!
Lin Jingshu looked at her son, her eyes brimming with pride and gratification. Yet when her gaze fell upon her daughter—frailer even than others her age, her face pale as white jade coral—an unspeakable heartache gripped her.
Though born from the same womb at virtually the same hour, Zhou Qingyu had been frail and sickly from infancy, and her wits had blossomed late. Even though the husband and wife had lavished considerable resources, they had failed to nourish her to good health. To keep her free of illness and misfortune, they had even followed the mortal custom of giving her the humble pet name "Maomao," believing a lowly name made a child easier to rear.
Suppressing her tenderness with a sigh, Lin Jingshu brought up another matter with her son.
"What about the *Manual of Weiqi*?"
A look of hesitation flickered across Zhou Fuyou's face.
Lin Jingshu's expression grew slightly stern. "Our Tianyuan Dao Sect places the greatest importance on the way of chess. Those who achieve greatness are without exception masters of weiqi. How can you be so careless about it?"
Zhou Fuyou smiled bitterly. "This child truly has no interest in playing chess. I have disappointed Mother."
Lin Jingshu frowned, thinking that her son had likely inherited his father's temperament. Her Lin family was an indigenous, humble clan of the Dao Sect, whereas her husband's Zhou family had been guest elders of the Star Gate, arriving here from the Northern Sea. Perhaps deep in their bones, they simply had no love for the contest of a square grid.
Shaking her head, Lin Jingshu let the matter drop and said, "An urgent message came from your father. Traces of monster beasts have appeared along the coast. The three families—Zhou, Lin, and Yin—are shorthanded, so I must go and assist as well."
Zhou Fuyou asked, "What about home?"
Lin Jingshu waved her hand dismissively. "Do not worry. The Old Ancestor oversees the clan; no one would dare cause trouble here. As for our household, I have arranged for Granny Lin to care for you. Though she is advanced in years, she is still at the late Qi Refinement stage. My only concern is your sister."
Understanding her concern, Zhou Fuyou nodded firmly. "Rest assured, Mother. I will look after Little Sister!"
Lin Jingshu beckoned with relief and warmth. The well-behaved little girl ran over, and Zhou Fuyou stepped closer as well. The young woman scooped the girl into her arms with one hand and rubbed the boy's head with the other.
"It will not be long before your father and I return. Be good at home."
"Mm!"
"Mm!"
Lin Jingshu then carried the little girl outside, with the boy following closely behind. Leaving the pavilion, they saw Granny Lin waiting quietly, her back hunched.
"Wait for our return."
The boy took his sister into his arms from his mother and waved farewell. Lin Jingshu felt reluctant to part, but time was of the essence. Summoning a flying sword, she stepped aboard.
In the distance, a massive flying boat was already hovering high above, figures converging onto it from all directions. Lin Jingshu waved to the children with a smile and steered her flying sword toward the vessel. Before long, the flying boat was ready; after circling briefly, it flew off toward the coast.
On the ground.
The drizzle pattered softly. Once the flying boat vanished from Zhou Fuyou's sight, he lifted his little sister into his arms.
"It's too cold outside. Let's go inside!"
"Brother, how long until Mother comes back?"
"Very soon." Zhou Fuyou stroked the little girl's head, then spoke to Granny Lin nearby. "The tonic from Seventh Uncle's household is in the pavilion. Please brew it when you have time, Granny. I will drink it tonight while studying."
Granny Lin was not a Zhou clan member; she had come along as a dowry maid from their mother's maiden family, so the clan's affairs did not fall upon her shoulders. In caring for the Fuyou siblings, however, she was exceptionally attentive.
Hearing this, she nodded with a kindly smile. "Young Master is so diligent!"
That night.
Zhou Fuyou read by candlelight while drinking the tonic Granny Lin had brewed. He felt his spirits invigorated and could read ten lines at a glance.
*The gifts from Seventh Uncle's household really are fine,* he thought.
Yet on the third day, something went terribly wrong.
*Crash!*
A porcelain bowl fell to the floor, shattering into several pieces.
Zhou Fuyou, who had been reading, turned his head and saw the little girl lying on the floor, her face flushed crimson, traces of broth smeared at the corner of her mouth.
"Maomao!"
Zhou Fuyou's expression changed drastically. He scooped her up in an instant, simultaneously ringing the bell hanging by the pavilion.
Soon, Granny Lin's figure appeared in the room.
"How could this happen?"
Panic surfaced on Zhou Fuyou's face. "I don't know! I was reading just now, and Maomao was playing next to me. Then she..."
His gaze dropped to the shattered bowl on the floor. What had been half a bowl of tonic now retained only a smear of liquid.
"It was this bowl of medicine!"
Granny Lin inspected Zhou Qingyu's body and let out a small breath of relief.
"Her vitality remains. Don't panic; we will go to Elder Haibo. He is most skilled in medicine."
With that, she slapped a talisman onto herself, held the little girl in one arm, took the boy by the hand with the other, and bolted from the manor as a streak of azure light.
...
Late at night.
An elderly man said with a chuckle to Granny Lin and Zhou Fuyou, "It is no matter, merely an inability of a frail body to endure such rich nourishment. The fiery nature of this medicine is too potent, not truly suitable for children—especially given how weak Qingyu's constitution is. I have applied healing arts along with medicinal pills to pull Qingyu through. She will be fine after resting and convalescing for a time."
Hearing this, Granny Lin was thoroughly relieved. She looked at Zhou Fuyou, whose face was fraught with self-reproach. "Young Master Fuyou, there is no need to blame yourself."
"How could I not? Mother specifically entrusted me to look after Little Sister before leaving." Zhou Fuyou looked at his sister with aching sorrow. The crimson hue was gone from her porcelain face, yet she was paler than ever before, her translucent veins faintly visible. "It is all my fault. I shouldn't have let her touch that bowl of medicine."
Though Zhou Fuyou looked like a youth, he had simply matured quickly; after all, he was only five years old. Heartache, anxiety, panic, and guilt—a tempest of emotions broke through uncontrollably.
Elder Haibo, whose medical skills were superb, asked out of curiosity, "Although this medicine invigorates the spirit and sharpens the eyes, it is not truly suitable for children, and its formulation is quite complex. Xiao Lin, how did you come to brew it for little Fuyou?"
Granny Lin hesitated before replying, "The Seventh Master's household sent it over. And Young Master Fuyou felt refreshed after drinking it, so I brewed two bowls every day."
"Oh, is that so!" Elder Haibo took on a thoughtful expression, then waved a hand. "Don't brew this stuff anymore. Besides, I have a Fire-Purging Pill here. Little Fuyou, take it and ingest it."
Having given his instructions, he hurried out of the room.
Granny Lin inspected the pill carefully before handing it to Zhou Fuyou.
Looking at his still-sleeping sister, Zhou Fuyou shook his head. "I will take it a bit later."
...
"Old Ancestor, Haibo seeks an audience!"
Outside a deathly quiet hall, Zhou Haibo, who had worn a chuckling smile earlier, now looked solemn as he stood waiting respectfully for instruction.
*Creak...*
The heavy doors parted by a crack, and Zhou Haibo stepped inside.
"What is it?" A voice laden with ancient weariness echoed from the pitch-black hall.
Zhou Haibo bowed his head respectfully and recounted everything that had transpired in meticulous detail.
The ancient voice asked calmly, "It was merely an improper use of medicine. Why seek an urgent audience with me over such a thing?"
Zhou Haibo swallowed hard. "Yet that medicinal broth, while seemingly invigorating the spirit, actually harms it. Cultivators below the Golden Core stage cannot detect any anomaly whatsoever. Had I not been proficient in the healing arts, I fear even I would have failed to notice."
The ancient voice asked, "You mean to say someone within the clan is plotting harm against their own kin?"
Zhou Haibo dared not answer.
Silence enveloped the hall.
After a long while, a flick of candlelight flared to life, revealing an ancient, weathered face.
It was none other than Zhou Yunshen.
A melancholic look settled upon his features as he sighed, "We have barely settled down for a few years, and the family has just found a path upward. Why must someone harbor such treacherous schemes!"
Zhou Haibo said in a low voice, "Perhaps it is because little Fuyou's brilliance shone too brightly, displaying heaven-sent talent at the tender age of five. Moreover, when he was born, the Old Ancestor bestowed upon him an extraordinarily precious water lotus seed. That must have turned some people's eyes green with envy."
"I am not dead yet!" Zhou Yunshen snorted coldly.
Zhou Haibo inquired cautiously, "Then how should we arrange for Zhou Fuyou? His parents have gone out on a mission, leaving only a Qi Refinement maidservant to look after the household."
"Nothing must happen to him!" Zhou Yunshen declared resolutely. Yet then, in a somewhat conflicted tone, he added, "But neither can we meddle too much in his growth."
Zhou Haibo was puzzled. Fuyou was merely a young child; even if he was quite intelligent, why would the Old Ancestor care so deeply?
The Old Ancestor had even secretly instructed him, the clan's foremost physician, to conduct regular health checks on the boy.
And why, on top of that, did the Old Ancestor explicitly state that they could not intervene too much in Zhou Fuyou's growth?
Only after a long silence did Zhou Yunshen's voice drift into his ears once more.
"It is inconvenient for me to step forward. Have Junxiao look after Fuyou in secret on my behalf!"
The Zhou family currently possessed five Golden Core cultivators.
The strongest was naturally Zhou Cang, but he bore the heavy responsibility of breaking through to the Nascent Soul stage.
Next came Zhou Junxiao, a second-generation clansman of the Xiao generation who was in the prime of his life!
That the Old Ancestor would have Zhou Junxiao step in showed how much importance he placed upon Zhou Fuyou.
Yet his words included the caveat "in secret," which was truly convoluted and contradictory.
Though riddled with questions, Zhou Haibo nevertheless accepted the command.
...
Back in the infirmary, just before dawn, Zhou Fuyou swallowed the medicinal pill.
At first, nothing seemed amiss, but not long afterward—
*Urgh!*
He spat a mouthful of black blood onto the floor.
Zhou Fuyou stared blankly at the sight.
Young though he was, he was exceptionally intelligent. The instant he saw the black blood, he understood what that medicinal broth had been.
"Poison!"
Combining that with Elder Haibo's seemingly gentle yet repeatedly probing questions earlier...
"Seventh Uncle's household wants to harm me?"
In a murmur, the boy could scarcely believe it.
Beside him, the little girl shifted, curling into a ball as if freezing cold.
Zhou Fuyou drew a thick quilt over her. Watching his sister's brow relax, warmth and chill intermingled in his heart.
He felt warm knowing his sister was safe, yet chilled to the bone wondering why Seventh Uncle's household—always on such good terms with his family—would seek to harm him.
Elder Haibo had clearly noticed something amiss, yet why had he not spoken plainly?
And his father and mother—when would they return?
Zhou Fuyou unconsciously clenched his fists. Looking out into the deep, shadowy Zhou clan, he felt utterly lost and helpless, danger lurking in every corner.
Chapter 1028