"Ah, he left? But I have urgent business with him!" Mu Haihua proceeded to recount everything regarding Li Xue and Li Lin to Sect Leader Junfeng.
The more Junfeng heard, the more delighted he became. "What a coincidence! I was just wondering where to begin my search. I never imagined Martial Uncle Haoran actually had a son!"
Mu Haihua felt a jolt of surprise and hurriedly asked what was happening. Only then did Junfeng mention the morning's events, asking Mu Haihua to produce the images of Li Xue and Li Lin for comparison.
Sure enough, Li Xue’s appearance was identical to the image provided by Li Haoran. Overjoyed, Sect Leader Junfeng immediately duplicated a jade slip, adding the images of Li Xue and Li Lin along with a summary of the situation, and sent it off to Li Haoran.
Junfeng then took Mu Haihua and prepared a lavish array of gifts, intending to personally escort the pair from the Tianli Pavilion.
"Sect Leader Senior Brother, where are you going?" a crisp female voice rang out.
Upon hearing the voice, both Junfeng and Mu Haihua frowned deeply.
"Junior Sister Junyao, is something the matter?" Junfeng asked.
"Haihua greets Great-Martial Aunt Junyao," Mu Haihua stepped forward to salute.
Venerable Junyao raised her hand slightly and looked at Junfeng. "Has Brother Haoran come out of seclusion?"
Junfeng’s expression darkened. "That is Martial Uncle Haoran. Has Junior Sister forgotten how to address him properly?"
Junyao did not seem to care. "Where did Brother Haoran go?"
Feeling helpless, Junfeng could only reply, "How could I, a junior, know the whereabouts of a Martial Uncle?"
Knowing she wouldn't get a straight answer, Junyao vanished in a flash of teleportation.
Mu Haihua asked worriedly, "Father, do you think Great-Martial Aunt Junyao and Grand-Martial Ancestor Haoran might..."
"Hmph!" Junfeng cut him off. "It is nothing but unrequited obsession. To have cultivated all the way to the Tribulation Stage and still harbor such a fixation—she is delusional if she thinks she can survive the Heavenly Tribulation."
Wang Junyao was a descendant Li Haoran had brought back from his mortal clan three thousand years ago. It was said she was someone a certain junior of the Li family had been betrothed to since childhood. Naturally, the rules of the secular world held no weight in the cultivation world. However, after Wang Junyao grew up, she stubbornly insisted that she was Li Haoran’s fiancée.
The disciples of the Tianyou Sect looked upon her with disdain. When Li Haoran brought her back, he was already in the Soul Transformation Stage; he was essentially her great-great-ancestor. To be betrothed to a junior and then expect the ancestor to marry you—it was such an absurdity that no one took it seriously.
Unfortunately, Wang Junyao’s obsession ran deep, yet her cultivation speed was remarkably fast. Since Li Haoran spent most of his time traveling and rarely stayed at the Tianyou Sect, he had likely long forgotten that he was the one who had introduced this person to the path of cultivation.
Once Wang Junyao reached the Tribulation Stage, no one dared to interfere in her business. Since the person involved, Li Haoran, said nothing, who would be foolish enough to touch that nerve?
But things were different now. Li Haoran’s wife and son had come looking for him. To remain so obsessed now was simply asking for trouble. Junfeng felt deeply uneasy. He wondered what was going on inside his junior sister’s head; how could a cultivator harbor such delusions? It was a major taboo in cultivation.
Junfeng didn't know how to handle it for the moment. Wang Junyao was in the Tribulation Stage, and ordinary people couldn't keep an eye on her. He decided to fetch Li Haoran’s wife and son first and personally look after them to ensure their safety.
Five days later, Junfeng returned to the Tianyou Sect with Li Xue and Li Lin. Yuan Bugui had followed them as well; he was uneasy and wanted to see Li Haoran for himself.
"Senior Brother, who are they?" Wang Junyao suddenly appeared before the group.
Junfeng frowned. "They are honored guests. It would be best if Junior Sister did not disturb them."
Wang Junyao stared blankly at Li Lin, her gaze suddenly turning sharp and fierce. Pressed by the aura of a Tribulation Stage cultivator, Li Lin began to tremble, nearly unable to withstand the pressure.
Junfeng swept his sleeve in time to shield him, saying coldly, "Wang Junyao, you dare target honored guests? Do you have no respect for sect rules?"
Wang Junyao asked resentfully, "What is their relationship to Brother Haoran?"
Li Xue and Li Lin were startled. Did Li Haoran have some entanglement with this Wang Junyao?
Li Xue clenched her hands. She decided that if Li Haoran truly had an ambiguous relationship with this woman, she would leave no matter what. She had no desire to ruin someone else's relationship, especially since there was hardly any emotional bond between her and Li Ran to speak of.
Li Lin was even more fearful. He naturally hoped his father and mother could reunite and live happily together. If his father already had a new lover, he would absolutely take his mother and leave. Knowing his father was alive would be enough to settle his heart.
Yuan Bugui narrowed his eyes, his expression grim as he pondered the situation.
Junfeng roared in anger, "Wang Junyao, you show no respect for your elders! Have you forgotten how to call him 'Martial Uncle'? Since when is it your place to interfere in Martial Uncle Haoran’s affairs?"
"Hmph, the matters between Brother Haoran and me are none of anyone else's business!" Wang Junyao sneered. She then turned to Li Xue and Li Lin, flashing a strange, eerie smile.
Li Xue and Li Lin’s hearts tightened as a sense of danger flared. Both simultaneously began forming hand seals, ready to flee into the Dream Realm at any moment. It was no joke; how could mere Nascent Soul cultivators withstand an attack from someone in the Tribulation Stage? Although their lives might not be in danger within the Tianyou Sect, if this woman was consumed by jealousy, she might very well subject them to torture.
Junfeng immediately went on high alert. He saw Wang Junyao actually manifest her Green Gauze Shroud, intending to seize them. Junfeng was beyond furious; this junior sister was truly audacious, showing no regard even for the Sect Leader. He immediately summoned his Heaven-Turning Wheel to intercept, blocking the Green Gauze Shroud as he shouted sternly, "Wang Junyao, have you gone mad? How can you treat honored guests this way?"
Wang Junyao laughed. "I am merely inviting these two young friends to be guests at my Jade Yao Abode. Brother Haoran can come find me directly when he returns!"
"Shameless!" Junfeng sneered, driving the Heaven-Turning Wheel again to subdue her.
However, Wang Junyao used her other hand to manifest a Red Jade Belt, which flew toward Li Xue and Li Lin. Yuan Bugui immediately summoned his treasure to block it, but he was no match for a Tribulation Stage cultivator. Seeing the jade belt about to coil around Li Xue and Li Lin, he grew frantic.
Suddenly, Li Xue and Li Lin vanished simultaneously. Everyone present was struck with shock.
Junfeng was livid. He bellowed, "Where is the Hall of Elders? Apprehend Wang Junyao for questioning immediately!" At the same time, he crushed a jade talisman.
Five Tribulation Stage cultivators appeared instantly from the surroundings. The five of them manifested their treasures in unison, binding Wang Junyao in place.
"Wang Junyao, speak! Where are they?" Junfeng demanded.
| Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| 王峻瑶 | Wang Junyao | A Tribulation Stage cultivator obsessed with Li Haoran. |
| 峻瑶上人 | Venerable Junyao | Formal title for Wang Junyao. |
| 浩然哥 | Brother Haoran | An overly intimate way Wang Junyao addresses Li Haoran. |
| 玉瑶居 | Jade Yao Abode | Wang Junyao's residence. |
| 青纱罩 | Green Gauze Shroud | A magical treasure used by Wang Junyao. |
| 回天轮 | Heaven-Turning Wheel | A magical treasure used by Sect Leader Junfeng. |
| 红色玉带 | Red Jade Belt | A magical treasure used by Wang Junyao. |
| 长老堂 | Hall of Elders | The disciplinary or governing body of the sect. |
