Chapter 35: My Husband Is Truly Steadfast

Zheng Huangjin placed the envelope into the small box strapped to the messenger pigeon’s back. Then he turned to Li Guanxuan and said,
“I have an old friend whose daughter just arrived in Qing’an City. She wrote asking me to look after her. She’s from your hometown, too, come to think of it.”
Li Guanxuan asked, “Did your old friend send you many spirit stones as well?”
“Not many, just… What do you mean by that? Do you take me for someone who values money above all else?” Zheng Huangjin bristled with indignation.
“Right, right, Brother Zheng has never cared much for money.”
Li Guanxuan smiled, then steered the conversation back, “Is she from a cultivation family in Yongning Prefecture of the Great Heng Empire?”
Zheng Huangjin nodded slightly. “The Song family—on par with your Li family.”
“The Song family… Imperial relatives.”
Li Guanxuan raised his brows. The Song family was a scholarly clan with a legacy spanning thousands of years. A woman from their lineage had once become the empress of Great Heng, the biological mother of the reigning female monarch.
Suddenly, Li Guanxuan recalled the new neighbor who had recently moved in next door, his expression turning strange. “Brother Zheng, your friend’s daughter—her surname wouldn’t happen to be Song, and her given name Zhiqiao, would it?”
Zheng Huangjin paused in surprise. “You’ve met her?”
Li Guanxuan laughed helplessly. “She lives right next door to me.”
Zheng Huangjin burst out laughing. “That little girl knows how to pick a place… Well, I feel much more at ease now. With you nearby to watch over her, she shouldn’t be in any danger.”
Zheng Huangjin was well acquainted with Li Guanxuan’s character.
This man was cautious to the point of paranoia, always drafting meticulous plans before taking action—his hunt for Bi Zhou and Shu Yao was proof enough.
“She’s not exactly a pushover herself. Maybe she’ll end up looking after me,” Li Guanxuan said wryly.
After a few more pleasantries, Li Guanxuan sat quietly to wait, though he felt a growing sense of impatience.
Half an hour passed, and Qin Ji Yue still hadn’t replied.
Li Guanxuan’s brow furrowed. He had made it clear to Qin Ji Yue before: nothing was to be done without his consent…
Yet as days slipped by, the little miss seemed to have forgotten his words.
It was time to enforce the family rules.
After receiving the spirit stones, Li Guanxuan waited another half hour, but finally, unable to endure any longer, he bought a top-grade first-tier sword from Zheng Huangjin and headed straight for Falling Moon Valley.
…
Disguised and with his face altered, Li Guanxuan arrived at Falling Moon Valley.

It was them…
Li Guanxuan saw the two gatekeepers at the mountain entrance and felt a chill. These two were among those who had wiped out the West Suburb shantytown.
“What are you here for?” one of them blocked Li Guanxuan, asking brusquely.
Li Guanxuan took out ten spirit stones and smiled. “Brothers, my surname is Li. I’m here to see Qin Wuji, an inner disciple. Could you help me pass word to him?”
“Looking for Senior Brother Qin Wuji?”
The other paused, sizing Li Guanxuan up and noting his fifth-layer Qi refinement cultivation. Though suspicious, the spirit stones persuaded him.
“Wait here.”
He spoke, then quietly instructed his companion to keep watch while he went inside to report.
Li Guanxuan stood patiently, thinking. He hadn’t left any traces when killing Bi Zhou and Shu Yao, had he?
Over half a year had passed and he’d heard nothing.
These cold-hearted sect disciples wouldn’t care much about a mere mid-tier first-grade alchemist—especially one already dead. Revenge was a joke.
Besides, if the massacre were exposed, all six outer disciples would face not only immense public scrutiny but also disciplinary action from the sect…
Given the number of dead itinerant cultivators, the six would surely pay in blood.
Li Guanxuan had no intention of exposing them; his aim had been to kill Bi Zhou. Now that it was done, he wanted nothing more to do with it.
Soon, Qin Ji Yue emerged, disguised as Qin Wuji.
She saw Li Guanxuan’s impassive gaze and her own eyes darted away.
But she knew well: since Li Guanxuan had come in person, if she kept avoiding him, she’d never return to Peaceful Garden.
“Senior brother, he’s here to see you.”
The disciple was relieved—thank goodness he’d shown some tact and hadn’t made things difficult for this Li fellow, or he’d be the one in trouble now.
“I know already. Do I need you to remind me?”
Qin Ji Yue, full of pent-up frustration, could not vent it on Li Guanxuan, so she glared at the outer disciple and snapped.
“…”
He was stunned and quickly apologized, withdrawing.
“Come with me.” Li Guanxuan spoke lightly, walking away.

Qin Ji Yue heard the hint of anger in Li Guanxuan’s voice and hurried after him, not daring to defy him.
Seeing the coast was clear, Li Guanxuan whispered, “You want a share of the treasures in the Dongyun Mountain secret realm?”
Qin Ji Yue answered honestly, “The sect leader values me highly. She said if I obtain a Foundation Establishment Pill, I’ll surely reach foundation establishment within five years and even have a chance at the Golden Core in a century!”
“With that velvet flower, what need have you for a Foundation Establishment Pill? Cultivate properly, and don’t stir up trouble.”
Li Guanxuan frowned. “Countless years of cultivation history—how many geniuses have died in struggle? Step by step, steady and honest cultivation is the right path for you. Besides, you’re not some short-lived wretch, why worry about immortality?”
Qin Ji Yue paused; his words did make sense.
“But… In a few days, the sect leader will officially recognize me as a true disciple. If I don’t contribute something, I’ll let down her expectations.” She wore a look of worry.
“Which is more important, expectations or your life?”
Li Guanxuan looked at Qin Ji Yue without expression. “I’ve recently heard that several factions plan to join forces and wipe out Falling Moon Valley. Don’t think about the Dongyun Mountain secret realm anymore—focus your strength within the sect and weather this storm. Afterward, you can reconsider.”
“Is that true?”
Qin Ji Yue exclaimed in shock.
Li Guanxuan merely glanced at her, offering no further explanation.
But Qin Ji Yue believed him—when Joyful Mountain was besieged by four major forces, Li Guanxuan had warned her in advance, keeping her safe in Peaceful Garden.
“I’ll say it only once: if you insist on your own way and venture into the Dongyun Mountain secret realm…”
He left the rest unsaid, but Qin Ji Yue had guessed his meaning.
She sighed, “When will I ever stop being so cautious?”
“When you become immortal.” Li Guanxuan replied, face unchanged.
Qin Ji Yue: “…”
She sighed inwardly—her husband truly was too prudent!
…
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