Rarely visiting the Yu Family, Qin Liuxi was captivated by their Book Collection Pavilion and lingered for a few days, buried in ancient tos day and night, especially those true ancient texts even the clan mbers rarely saw. With Yu Changkong as the current Clan Leader, nothing was a problem.
The Yu Family’s collection was rich, not rely catering to scholars’ needs but also including many unofficial histories and miscellanies, with books on a wide variety of subjects. They even collected Buddhist and Taoist scriptures, though most were works passed down by renowned authors. Qin Liuxi was particularly drawn to the dical Classics, dical Classics, Acupuncture Technique, and Daoist Mysterious Gate Formation texts, even reading a small folklore story about strange tales of demons and ghosts, which was quite intriguing.
Having imrsed herself in the Pavilion without rest for several days, Qin Liuxi finally erged satisfied and sighed to Yu Changkong, "If this library were open to the public, scholars across the land would go mad."
Such a variety of books, many precious ancient texts—it’s indeed worthy of the Yu Family.
Placing a trove like this before scholars—who wouldn’t be driven crazy? It’s a sea of knowledge.
Yu Changkong laughed and said, "Books are the only true heritage treasure for scholars and scholarly families. The Yu Family’s collection is passed down from ancestors, so it’s impossible to open it publicly. However, if soone needs so books, we could transcribe them for lending. But if you wish to take them, feel free."
Others cannot have them, but she can!
Of course, Qin Liuxi knew it wasn’t feasible to open it publicly, just like Qingping Temple’s Immortal Ascension Tower, whose precious texts wouldn’t truly be accessible to the outside.
"In any case, reading enlightens. Having entered here feels like a mouse in a granary." She jested, "Taking them is unnecessary; being able to peruse them is already a huge gain. Being able to keep coming is enough."
"Always welco." Yu Changkong said, "Actually, what’s written in books is theoretical; practice is necessary. Techniques won’t be understood without practice; like dical texts, accurate prescriptions co through persistently practicing dicine and accumulating experience, don’t they?"
"Has the Yu Family sent mbers out?"
Yu Changkong nodded, "Years ago when I decided to take over the Yu Family, I insisted on my approach. Going outside to see makes them realize there’s always soone better, just as you said, it grounds them."
"Seen results?"
Yu Changkong sneered, "Clearly evident."
He paused and ntioned a Yu Family child who went out. That kid was skilled in certain crafts and handled small items well in the family, but when he went to a village with a broken waterwheel, he proudly claid he was from the Yu Family and could repair it. He fixed it, but it didn’t work as well. An old hand in the village saw a part was installed backward, causing him to flee in sha overnight.
Qin Liuxi burst into laughter.
"Several similar incidents happened; a trip outside reveals one’s true worth and that not everyone knows the Yu Family. They shed their arrogance after several setbacks." Yu Changkong snorted.
Qin Liuxi twirled a dried foxtail in her hand, saying, "True arrogance lies in the bones, not the skin. So people’s deanor appears more humble now, yet they don’t lack pride, making them more pleasing than their previously aloof and pretentious attitude."
Yu Changkong said mildly, "That’s because no one tolerates them anymore."
"Change is good; as long as the true essence remains, so does the heritage." Qin Liuxi remarked.
"Whatever, like you say, I’m just an old bachelor, without genuine bloodline heritage in the future; whatever the Yu Family becos, they’ll endure it."
Qin Liuxi: "..."
Grudge, huh!
She smiled awkwardly, "Don’t let your ancestors hear those words, it’d upset them."
A clan is a root; clearing and managing the root when it’s bad resolves issues, not needing such angst.
Yu Changkong was unimpressed.
"How about visiting your ancestors’ graves?" Qin Liuxi suggested again.
Soon, they visited the Yu Family’s ancestral grave.
"Can you still see Qi?" Qin Liuxi asked him.
Yu Changkong gently closed his eyes, composed himself, then squinted at the ancestral graves. Seeing no dark Qi, he said, "Faint red Qi."
"That’s Golden Fortune Energy, though much diminished, it hasn’t dissipated further. Quite good." Qin Liuxi examined the graves keenly, especially the central large grave, noting the hole that once siphoned Qi Fortune and rit had been sealed.
Yu Changkong keenly asked, "What worries you?"
"Hmm, worried that what killed my ntor is still stealing the Yu Family’s Qi Fortune." Qin Liuxi remarked, "The more it gains, the harder it becos to deal with."
Yu Changkong was silent for a mont then asked, "Is rit and Qi Fortune useful to you?"
"Certainly. For any cultivator, whether human or demon, rit and Qi Fortune are precious, more nourishing than Ten-Complete Great Replenishing Pill, nurturing the Divine Soul and protecting the body, akin to divine aid in cultivation." Qin Liuxi chuckled, "That’s why so evil cultivators defy heaven, disregard extre backlash, ignore karmic retribution, and strive to steal others’ Qi Fortune, right?"
"Then you..."
"Don’t suggest I take this Qi Fortune away; like the saying, a gentleman loves wealth obtained rightfully; I’ll never dare resort to deceptive magic to seize Qi Fortune."
Yu Changkong, hands behind his back, said, "I’m not as capable as you. No wonder your ntor warned once, pondering one thought can lead to heaven or hell. Learning the truth about my parents’ deaths, I truly had the urge to destroy the entire Yu Family, regardless of clan foundation. At that ti, I had a vile thought of preferring to betray the world rather than let others betray ."
Qin Liuxi smiled softly, "Light and shadow coexist forever. When my ntor died, I also felt, why care for all living things when Heavenly Dao betrays , why care about their fate?"
"Yet, you returned to the mortal world." Yu Changkong comnted, "Evidently, Master Chi Yuan always lived in your heart; even if gone, he remains alive inside you."
Qin Liuxi smiled silently before finally saying, "Because that person repeatedly challenged my bottom line, he provoked , so I fight."
Yu Changkong reached out to retrieve a fallen yellow leaf from her hair, saying, "Count in."
"Already dragged you into this; try escaping, and I’ll punish you." Qin Liuxi teased, raising her brows at him.
Sunlight slanted down, casting light into Yu Changkong’s eyes, like they were infused with stars. He gazed at her and said smiling, "Where you lead, I follow. Where you journey, I pursue."
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