Chapter Thirteen: News of Qian'er

The chubby man remained sitting cross-legged, his hands forming gestures, having just broken through. His body had yet to settle, and he was still adjusting, while Xue’er stood nearby, silently watching him.

Xue’er had just left Dao Sansheng’s room when the luminous white bird flew over, landing quietly on Dao Sansheng’s shoulder and grooming its feathers. Dao Sansheng tried to catch it, but the bird fluttered away each time, leaving his grasp empty. Frustrated, he tried to drive it off, but the bird persisted, returning to his shoulder. Realizing he couldn't get rid of the creature, Dao Sansheng gave up. He had just cultivated and opened his first meridian, now officially a first-level Qi Practitioner, and it was time to seek a cultivation method. With spiritual energy now coursing through him, he could finally use his storage hairband.

Dao Sansheng approached, biting his finger and dripping a drop of blood onto the hairband. The band absorbed the blood in a flash, and instantly, Dao Sansheng felt a connection between the hairband and his spiritual sea. He infused a thread of spiritual energy he'd just cultivated into the band, but nothing happened. Then, he issued a command through his spiritual sea, and the band opened, as if items in his mind were sucked inside. Through the spiritual sea, he saw a fifty-square-meter space—a small storage chamber.

He commanded the items to return from the storage space to his spiritual sea, sending them in and out several times, until he felt dizzy, almost collapsing. The process of sending things from his spiritual sea into the band must be what cultivators called "spiritual sense," though it was strenuous for him today. Clearly, it couldn't be used without limits.

Suddenly, Dao Sansheng remembered that Xue’er had yet to tell him the name or address of the woman Li, the philanthropist, was marrying. Such details were crucial for him to determine whether she was indeed his sister, entrusted to him by their parents. Dao Sansheng strode out to ask in the chubby man's room, the bird still perched on his shoulder, which he tried to shoo away several more times.

Upon entering, he found the chubby man meditating, so Dao Sansheng went straight to the point, standing opposite Xue’er, eyes locked, about to speak when Xue’er spoke first.

"Why are you standing so close? What are you planning? I am not a frivolous girl, brother. You should restrain yourself, don’t act rashly. I’m so scared!"

Dao Sansheng was speechless. "I came to ask you—the woman Li the philanthropist is marrying, what is her name, where does she live? I’ve already agreed to your condition last time; now it’s your turn to answer me."

Xue’er pouted, "Oh, it’s that. I don’t know her surname, but her name is Qian’er. She’s from Daojia Town."

Dao Sansheng clenched his teeth till they creaked, fists tightening, his eyes bloodshot. The bird on his shoulder was frightened and took flight, circling in the air, flapping its wings in protest.

"This little bird is so pretty. Where did you catch it? I really like it," Xue’er’s eyes sparkled as she watched the bird, her face alight with joy.

The white bird landed directly on Xue’er’s shoulder. She reached out, and it offered no resistance, allowing itself to be caught and placed in her arms. She stroked its luminous white feathers, so clean, tidy, and beautiful.

"You wretched bird! You refuse to let me hold you, but let her? Are you looking down on me or is this gender discrimination?" Dao Sansheng voiced his displeasure.

Xue’er giggled endlessly, doting on the bird, her fond gaze and loving gestures making her affection clear.

"By the way, Xue’er, how accurate is your information? Could it be rumor?" Dao Sansheng grew cautious, realizing rumors often weren’t reliable.

"My father received the wedding invitation. I saw the invitation myself, that’s how I know the bride’s name. Why would I lie? It says the wedding is on the seventh day of the seventh month, and invitations were sent to all the notable people nearby. If you don’t believe me, I’ll fetch it right now."

This girl was clever and mischievous, so Dao Sansheng needed to see the invitation himself to be sure. After all, she had deceived him more than once.

Xue’er turned to fetch the wedding invitation. The chubby man just finished his cultivation, opened his eyes and looked around in confusion, then noticed the smell coming from his body and immediately understood.

Dao Sansheng caught the scent too, though not as strong as his own. It seemed the chubby man had reached the first level of Qi Practice as well. Luckily, Dao Sansheng hadn’t fallen behind; otherwise, the chubby man would surely mock him.

"Not bad, chubby. You've reached the first level of Qi Practice, same as me. But I broke through earlier—just last night. You were a step slower. Not bad, not bad, you truly are my protégé."

"I might be at the fourth level," the chubby man said meekly, catching Dao Sansheng off guard.

"What did you say? Fourth level? Chubby, I know you love to brag, but this time you’ve gone too far. I’ll let it slide."

The chubby man ignored him and went off to bathe.

Soon, he and Xue’er returned, finding Dao Sansheng resting on his bed.

"Already lying down—are you waiting for me, little brother?"

Dao Sansheng sat up quickly as they entered. Xue’er handed him the wedding invitation. With trembling hands, Dao Sansheng opened it and read:

A joyous day, the red thread binds fate, a perfect union. May they grow old together, fragrant as cassia and orchid.

Dao Huichun cordially invites—

Li Shenshi, on the seventh day of the seventh month, invites Dao Huichun to attend the concubine-taking ceremony...

A union of two families, in harmony and poetry, the wish for a century of peace.

Concubine Qian’er and husband Li Shenshi respectfully invite.

Seeing the name Qian’er, Dao Sansheng felt as if his heart were being cut by knives.

"Chubby, let's go," Dao Sansheng said, pulling the chubby man to leave, but Xue’er blocked their way.

"I don’t know what your relationship is with that girl, but you can’t just go now. You won’t even get in the door. I doubt the girl would want to see you like this, and even if you tried to take her away, she might not be willing."

Dao Sansheng stopped, thinking about his sister’s temperament; he realized he’d need another approach.

"How about this: when I go with my father to the Li residence, I’ll bring you along. Then you can meet the girl, talk to her, and see if she’s being forced. If so, we’ll figure out what to do."

Dao Sansheng saw reason in this and agreed to stay at the medical hall for now, and when the time came, he’d go with Dao Huichun to the Li residence and find out the truth.

"Alright, I’ll tell my father. Remember, don’t act recklessly," Xue’er said, then turned to leave, leaving Dao Sansheng and the chubby man in the room.

"Don’t worry, Sansheng. If Qian’er is being forced, I, the chubby one, will risk my life to rescue her. You can count on me!"

The only problem left was their lack of strength. They needed to find a way to improve their cultivation.