The lonely journey of the cold fairy

Chapter 21 Before leaving

Bai Siyao's previous life practice of the "Jade Refinement Technique" was a creation of her own, developed using the Gu family's secret arts.

The Northern Abyss Gu Clan was an ancient and powerful family. Thousands of years ago, during the great Demon Sealing War, the demon clans scattered across the land were driven to the Northern Abyss. Both sides agreed to use the Abyssal River as the boundary, promising not to interfere with each other.

The Gu Clan played a crucial role in that war, and since then, they had guarded the Abyssal River, maintaining peace between the human and demon worlds, earning the respect of all.

The Abyssal River also connected to the Yellow Springs. Beyond being a boundary between humans and demons, it was where souls returned after death. Thus, the Gu Clan's yin-yang secret arts were formidable.

Bai Siyao remembered that when she was young, her mother had lamented how the Gu Clan had long been affected by the yin energy, which weakened their fertility, leading to a decline in their numbers.

Because of this, her mother forbade her from practicing the family's secret arts. Otherwise, they would have discovered her Jade-Refined Body earlier.

Now that she had a second chance, Bai Siyao wouldn't repeat the same mistakes. The Gu Clan's ancestral arts were the most suitable for her, making the Danxia Palace irrelevant.

Bai Menglian advised earnestly, "Second Sister, going to Danxia Palace isn't just for the techniques. You saved Immortal Master Huo and Immortal Lady Yue, and Real Master Changling now owes you a favor. He'll surely take extra care of you. Although your cultivation has improved, your foundation is still shallow, and your situation is special. Having a Nascent Soul expert looking out for you will benefit you greatly."

Bai Siyao was deeply grateful. "Elder Sister is right."

In the end, it didn't matter whether she went to Danxia Palace. After all, she had already cultivated demonic arts, so her physique could no longer be exploited.

After breakfast, Bai Menglian took Bai Mengxing away to discipline him, while Bai Siyao continued her cultivation.

To a cultivation fanatic, wasting time on anything else was shameful, and she desperately needed to stabilize her cultivation at this point.

A few days later, Real Master Changling summoned the three siblings.

"This is Elder Yiming. He'll handle the Bai family's affairs," he said, pointing to a lean, scholarly-looking Daoist.

The three siblings greeted him, "Greetings, Elder Yiming."

Elder Yiming nodded politely, maintaining a friendly demeanor.

Real Master Changling continued, "The Bai family's assets have been accounted for. The houses and shops are difficult to move, so I had them appraised and converted into spirit stones for you. As for the items in the storeroom, if there's anything you want, feel free to take it. The rest has also been converted into spirit stones to make it easier for you to carry."

Bai Menglian thanked him and consulted her younger siblings. She then replied, "We don't have anything in mind. Please convert everything to spirit stones."

Elder Yiming produced a list. "Here's the inventory. Take a look to see if everything is in order."

None of the siblings were household managers, and with Real Master Changling present, they trusted his authority. Bai Menglian accepted the list without hesitation.

"Thank you for your efforts, Elder."

Pleased by their cooperation, Elder Yiming felt reassured. The most valuable thing about the Bai family wasn't the assets but their remaining influence. With Real Master Changling's approval, he had already arranged for his family's juniors to take over, so there was no need to skimp on details here.

With the matter settled, Real Master Changling was relieved. He said, "The sect has important matters to attend to, so I must leave immediately. You'll travel with Elder Yiming. Don't worry; he'll take good care of you."

At these words, Yue Yunqiao, who had been pretending to be well-behaved, couldn't help but protest, "Master, is it really so urgent that you can't wait a few more days?"

"The sect leader has given orders. How could I delay?" Real Master Changling waved her off. "You'd better hurry and pack. You're coming with me."

Yue Yunqiao glanced from her master to Bai Siyao, reluctant to part ways. "So soon..."

Huo Chongxiao couldn't stand it anymore. "Why are you making that face? It's not like you won't see her again. Bai is just leaving a few days later."

"Fine." Yue Yunqiao reluctantly agreed. She then turned to Bai Siyao with great reluctance, "Sister Bai, I'll see you at Danxia Palace."

Bai Siyao smiled and replied, "Alright."

...

A few days later, the juniors of the Yi family arrived to complete the handover of Qingyun City. Elder Yiming then prepared to take the siblings on their journey.

Since there were many people, they chose to travel by land. The horses pulling the Qingyu carriages could cover a thousand miles a day, and they expected to reach Danxia Palace in five or six days at most.

Before departing, Bai Menglian called her younger brother and sister together.

She spoke seriously, "The Bai family is now down to the three of us. There's no need for any hierarchy anymore. What's left will be divided equally."

Bai Mengxing was overjoyed. "Great! I thought I'd be under your thumb forever. Now I can buy whatever I want, right? Like Elder Yiming's Qingyu horse—so cool! I heard it can even fly if you're strong enough!"

Bai Menglian pulled out the inventory list. "The total comes to eighty-seven thousand spirit stones. Each of us gets twenty-nine thousand. Second Sister, here's yours. Count it."

Bai Siyao glanced at it and accepted it immediately. "I trust you, Elder Sister."

Next was Bai Mengxing. Bai Menglian pushed the package toward him. "This is yours."

Overjoyed, Bai Mengxing eagerly opened it, only to be dumbfounded. "Why is there so little? Elder Sister, did you make a mistake?"

"No mistake. Just one hundred spirit stones—for your allowance."

"What?!" Bai Mengxing cried out. "Second Sister gets twenty-nine thousand, and I only get one hundred? Where's the rest?"

"I've entrusted Real Master Changling to safeguard the rest for you," Bai Menglian said coldly, sipping her tea. "Each time you break through a level, you'll unlock another portion. When you reach Foundation Establishment, you'll get the full amount."

"Ah..." Bai Mengxing slumped, his face filled with despair. "Elder Sister, you're so cruel!"

It wasn't just about denying him the money—it was knowing he had it but couldn't touch it. That was too cruel! Bai Siyao laughed, "Serves you right! Elder Sister's got you figured out."

Bai Menglian added, "Don't be ungrateful. This is for your own good. If I gave you everything now, you'd squander it all. With your aptitude, I doubt you'll even make it into the inner sect. You'll need plenty of money for pills and magical tools later."

She was spot on.

Twenty-nine thousand spirit stones might seem like a lot, but it would go fast. Just that Qingyu horse he coveted could cost upwards of ten thousand! How many things could he buy with that?

"And another thing—you'd better correct your bad habits. If you keep insulting others and stealing their lessons, I'll deduct a hundred spirit stones for every offense!"

Bai Mengxing was on the verge of tears. "I'll change, I'll change, okay?"

Seeing him swear with such sincerity, Bai Menglian's expression softened slightly. "If you weren't my brother, I wouldn't bother. With only the three of us left in the Bai family, Second Sister doesn't need much said—her future is bright as a Golden Core cultivator. I may not match her, but I'll still make it into the sect. If you don't improve, you'll drag us down."

Bai Mengxing's pride took a hit. "Am I really that bad?"

"What do you think? Did you actually believe you're some kind of cultivation prodigy?" Bai Menglian scoffed. "You even believed the nonsense your mother told you?"