Properly Settled

Feng Xianru stared blankly at his sister's profile, his gaze as strange as if seeing her for the first time. The silence spreading through the pavilion felt like awaiting a verdict. From the moment Feng Xianru was old enough to remember, the Grand Elder had treated the two siblings as his own, teaching them to read and write, searching for cultivation arts suited to them, and even deigning to flatter and bow before a Tian'an shopkeeper in a remote corner of the provincial city just to secure a single pill they needed to break through a bottleneck. A senior who had toiled over a decade for them had been sold out by his sister without hesitation. Feng Xianru could scarcely believe it and wanted to demand an answer. However, The profound gaze sweeping from the head seat made him swallow the words before they could escape his lips. Xu Yuan studied the brother and sister with keen interest. Something unexpectedly amusing had happened. Originally, he had not thought much of Feng Xianru. While the boy shared the same outward posturing as the master of swagger, he was fundamentally different from Unit 01 and Unit 02 back home. The arrogance of Feng Jiuxuan and Xu Changge stemmed from within—a spine of unyielding pride that dared draw a blade even when facing certain death. In contrast, this kid's demeanor was mostly an imitation, blustering on the outside while brittle within. With a temperament like that, Xu Yuan would not have spared him a second glance were it not for his extraordinary talent. Then again, such a temperament made him exceptionally easy to control. And it was a buy-one-get-one deal. Crushed by Feng Xianru's suppression, Feng Fangming had developed an extreme sense of inferiority. For someone with that disposition, a superior needed only grant a sliver of warmth and trust to win absolute devotion. With her around, the person she looked up to and the person she loved would both be at the Prime Minister's Manor. Coupled with Feng Xianru's status as a branch member of the Feng family, betraying the Prime Minister's Manor would be completely out of the question. Spending tens of millions of taels to buy the future of two geniuses who might break through to the Transcendent Realm was not wildly profitable, but it was certainly no loss. Yet as things stood, Xu Yuan suddenly felt that compared to the boy, his older sister was far more interesting. Still, Xu Yuan did not rush into a decision, turning toward Lou Ji at his side. "Sister, what do you think?" Lou Ji half-closed her eyes, not truly upset that Xu Yuan had turned down her demand for silver, and casually replied, "A rather interesting little girl." Xu Yuan took in the languid, delicate face beneath the girl's hood. "Do you think she's inherently cold-blooded, or naturally rational?" Lou Ji pondered for a moment, her eyes curving in a smile. "Likely the latter. I know a bit of what the branch Grand Elder has in mind. What she did wasn't born of a cold heart." Xu Yuan was slightly surprised and gave an odd look. "The old man really wants to restore the Feng family?" Lou Ji could not help but chuckle, shooting him a sideways glance. "Both you brothers are in the Chancellor's Manor; who could the branch family rally behind to hoist their banner of restoration? The old man merely wants independence from the Chancellor's Manor. That happened to align with your mother's dying wish, so no one ever really bothered with them." After hearing her out, Xu Yuan smiled faintly. "In that case, the girl does possess some cunning." "More or less." Lou Ji shrugged, appearing rather indifferent. Rather than saying Feng Xunhua was betraying the branch Grand Elder to secure glory and wealth for the younger generation, it was more accurate to say she saw the overall situation clearly. She was betting on the Chancellor's Manor's attitude toward the Feng branch, gambling on her Grand Elder's life. If the Prime Minister's Manor acted with leniency, it would be a happy reunion for all. If the Prime Minister's Manor proved ruthless, she would make the best use of what remained. Xu Yuan mulled over how to arrange the three of them, then asked, "Sister, do you want her?" Without hesitation, Lou Ji said, "Sure. Add more money." Xu Yuan stared. "Wait, I'm handing you a talent, and I have to pay you extra?" Lou Ji glared back, stating as if it were only natural, "The girl is far too lazy. Whipping her into shape will probably take an immense amount of effort." The Black Scale Guards had never lacked clever people. In the intelligence trade, those who were not smart died early on. Someone like Feng Xunhua, possessing both cultivation talent and genuine capability, was exceedingly rare. Yet with Lou Ji's discernment, it was easy to see that the girl was not playing dumb to prey on the weak; she was genuinely loafing around. If not for her younger brother, Feng Xunhua would probably have long crept off to some forgotten corner to sleep. Xu Yuan and Lou Ji had spoken openly, without sound transmission. Every word fell clearly on the ears of everyone present. While such treatment could feel profoundly uncomfortable, in terms of status, it was an honor for the three Feng youngsters. To be taught personally by the Chief of the Black Scales was a privilege very few in the world would ever receive. Yet Feng Xunhua wore a look of utter reluctance, cold sweat even beading on her fair forehead. The moment the Third Young Master and the Chief of the Black Scales finalized her future, the light died completely from the girl's magnificent auspicious-phoenix eyes, and her head drooped limply. It was as if she had perished on the spot. Paying no mind to the sloth of a girl, Xu Yuan rose from the main seat and said softly, "I will find a way to deal with Feng Fangming's Yin-Yang Profound-Pattern Physique. You may consider this a favor, but my favors are very expensive—so expensive that you cannot hope to repay it anytime soon." Feng Fangming timidly peered at the adults. She did not quite understand the content of their conversation. Yet it seemed she was going to be saved. In the silence, The young girl saw the Third Young Master leave the desk and walk toward her. Her body trembled faintly, and she hurriedly lowered her head. Their previous meeting had felt very easygoing. Whether looking him in the eye or speaking with him, she had felt no tension. Yet seeing him again today, he seemed like a completely different person. When their eyes met, His gaze felt as though he were appraising an object, sending a chill through her. Stopping right before her, Xu Yuan halted his steps. Feng Fangming asked with utmost care, "Does the Young Master... need Fangming to do anything?" Xu Yuan smiled faintly and gently pressed a hand atop the girl's head. "Do not resist. Let me check the condition of your body first." "O-okay." Feng Fangming obediently opened her Central Spine acupoint to Xu Yuan. As his perception threaded into the girl's meridians, Xu Yuan saw firsthand what a body bearing innate dual Yin-Yang Dao charms looked like. The number of her meridians was identical to an ordinary person's, but their form was exceedingly bizarre. Centering on the dantian, they spiraled outward toward her four limbs and hundreds of bones. At this very moment, Wisps of blue-black and fiery-red Dao charms had already generated from her dantian, slowly encroaching outward upon the meridians. These Dao charms actually arose from the dantian itself. The more she cultivated and drew qi into her body, the faster the charms of Extreme Yin and Profound Yang would spread. Without outside intervention, it was a complete dead end. After examining her carefully for over a dozen breaths and gaining a thorough grasp of the situation, Xu Yuan withdrew his spiritual vision from the girl's body. Lou Ji rose from her seat and asked, "How is it?" Xu Yuan glanced back at her. "About two months left." Lou Ji furrowed her brows slightly, reminding him, "That's a bit tight. The medicinal ingredients for the Taiyuan Fuqing Pill overlap with the main components of several military pills. Given the current situation, prioritizing them for this girl is nearly impossible. If we try to purchase them or forage through the mountain forests, there may not be enough time." Lou Ji spoke aloud without sound transmission, causing Feng Fangming's small face to turn slightly pale. Xu Yuan waved a hand dismissively. "That does not matter. I can first seal her dantian with a Dao charm." Lou Ji's pretty eyes flickered with keen interest. "Your Dao charm, Changtian?" "The Death Dao charm," Xu Yuan replied via sound transmission, lifting a finger around which wisps of black smoke coiled, before speaking aloud: "I will temporarily necrotize the portion of her dantian that generates the Dao charms." Lou Ji narrowed her eyes, somewhat surprised, but said nothing more, asking instead, "Then won't the girl be crippled?" "If all goes smoothly, it will hinder her cultivation, but it won't cripple her." With that, Xu Yuan displayed full confidence in his control. "Yet this is merely a stopgap. As she continues to cultivate, the section of the dantian generating the Dao charms will expand further. In the future, as my mastery over the Dao charm deepens, I might be able to repair this damage, though the odds are slim." At this point, Xu Yuan shifted his tone slightly, glancing toward the courtyard where Su Jinxuan resided, appearing somewhat hesitant. "So I lean more toward the second method." Lou Ji understood instantly, chiming in, "That Su girl?" Xu Yuan nodded and said in a low voice, "Yes. Whether we have Su Jinxuan use the Great Joyous Union Yin-Yang Art to absorb the origin qi carrying these Yin-Yang Dao charms, or have Feng Fangming cultivate the Great Joyous Union Yin-Yang Art directly, neither will damage her foundation. However, the former will cause Feng Fangming's cultivation to stagnate, while the latter... requires a dual-cultivation partner who is willing to have their cultivation absorbed to help her break straight through to the Bodily Fusion Realm." Having said that, Xu Yuan looked down at the girl standing nearly two heads shorter than himself and said softly, "Fangming, among these three paths, choose one for yourself." Feng Xianru suddenly spoke up, asking in a low voice, "Third Young Master, did you not say earlier that there were only two methods? Why are there three now?" Xu Yuan cast a sideways glance at the foolish boy and replied, "The Great Joyous Union Yin-Yang Art is a treasure guarding the Chancellor's Manor." "..." Feng Xianru fell silent. Feng Fangming clenched her fists, feeling somewhat awkward, and asked, "Young Master... what do you mean by dual cultivation?" Without hesitation, Xu Yuan replied, "Legitimate dual cultivation." "Legitimate?" A glimmer of light flickered in Feng Fangming's clear eyes. Sensing the girl had misunderstood, Xu Yuan clarified, "By legitimate, I mean consummation." "..." Feng Fangming's eyes blinked twice before her translucent, delicate skin flushed crimson, the red spreading all the way to the tips of her ears before she abruptly bowed her head. She looked as though steam were rising from her. Xu Yuan did not rush her, quietly awaiting the young girl's response. During this time, He could hear a certain youth's heart beating so violently it sounded as though it would burst from his chest. After a long silence, Feng Fangming spoke in a voice as faint as a mosquito's hum: "I... I want to choose the second method. May I?" "..." Feng Xianru's racing heart suddenly missed a beat, and he let out a self-deprecating chuckle. Xu Yuan was not particularly surprised. After a brief pause, he asked, "Are you sure? While this won't harm your foundation, it will halt your cultivation entirely, and it may even cause it to regress." Feng Fangming kept her head lowered and nodded, clutching the corner of her hem. "Mm..." "I understand." Xu Yuan drew a deep breath and looked toward the green-robed man who had remained silent on the left. Tossing him a token, he said softly, "Brother, please take this boy to the Silver Willow Orchid cell in the Black Prison's Heaven-tier block." "..." Still mired in despondency, Feng Xianru was instantly stunned. The renown of the Black Prison was celebrated across the realm; even atop Mount Qifeng, its name thundered in their ears. Xu Changge caught the token casually without refusing. After all, it was rare to hear this kid call him 'brother.' Rising to his feet, he strode directly toward the door. Seeing this, Feng Xianru hurriedly called out, "Third Young Master, the Black Prison..." "Rest assured. Taking you there is to meet someone, to bestow an opportunity upon you," Xu Yuan interrupted with a smile, saying softly, "Though after meeting him, you will likely have to stay inside the Black Prison for quite some time." Relieved slightly, Feng Xianru lowered his head, cupped his hands, and asked, "May I ask whom the Third Young Master wishes me to meet..." "My grandfather." "The Young Master's grandfather..." Feng Xianru murmured unconsciously, then his eyes went wide. He snapped his head up to stare straight at Xu Yuan. "Your grandfather?!" Feng Xianru's breathing grew rapid, instantly casting aside his recent heartache. He parted his lips. "In that case, th-that person is the Fam—" Before he could finish, *Smack!* The sloth girl slapped the back of her little brother's head, saying in a languid, lifeless drawl, "Little brother... hurry along... the Eldest Young Master is leaving..." "Oh, right!" As Feng Xianru departed in excitement, quiet settled over Jiulong Xuan. Having delivered that slap, the sloth girl promptly turned back into a corpse. Feng Fangming remained with her head bowed, her downturned eyes shimmering with tears. When the sickness first manifested in her body, she had intended to travel to Di'an alone to seek treatment from the Third Young Master, only to be discovered by the young master. Along the journey, the young master had shown her great kindness, but... but she did not wish to repay him in such a manner. Besides, precious things should be reserved for the person she came to love in the future... Xu Yuan paid no heed to the petty thoughts of these young girls and spoke plainly: "Fangming, I will not deceive you. You chose the path I wanted you to take. Su Jinxuan is rather important to me, but her Dao charm is somewhat weak, so I wish to use your body to help her comprehend the Yin-Yang Dao charm." Feng Fangming was silent for a moment before whispering, "This was... my own choice, Young Master." "Business is business." Xu Yuan looked the girl up and down, contemplating an appropriate reward. After a while, he said softly, "How about this: all the pills you require before reaching the Transcendent Realm are yours for the taking. Also, open your palm." Feng Fangming silently kept her head down and extended her hand. Then, A metallic ring touched her palm. A ring? The girl's eyes widened slightly, her instinct urging her to decline. Seeing the thoughts spinning in her head, Xu Yuan flicked her forehead. "A little brat like you should spend less time dreaming of romance. I have no interest in bamboo poles. This is a Sumeru ring, and now it and all the cultivation supplies inside belong to you." "...Oh." Feng Fangming flushed bright red, so bashful she wished she could burrow into a crack in the floor. "Let's go. I will take you to meet Sister Su." Xu Yuan smiled faintly and casually patted the girl's hunched back, which had curved inward from self-doubt. "Straighten your back. You are a genius, inferior to no one. Not to mention that in the future, you may have to represent me and the Prime Minister's Xu family as an envoy. Do not be so timid." Having tossed the girl an empty promise of a bright future, Xu Yuan turned and walked toward the door. The sight left Lou Ji utterly dazed. Wait, he's leaving just like that? Where is my silver?! Yet before she could speak up to remind him, Xu Yuan looked back over his shoulder, spinning another grand promise: "Sister, don't fret. I made a massive haul while I was out. But I've arranged to meet someone outside tonight. We'll divide the spoils once I get back~"