Several days later.
Whoosh—
Snowflakes danced in the sky, and the cold wind howled as it swept across the Sword Cliff on the central peak. The gusts sent thousands of golden-white robes fluttering in the air.
Early in the morning, all disciples of the Shadowmoon Sword Sect who had reached the Foundation Establishment Realm or higher donned their sect's iconic golden-white robes and gathered at the Sword Cliff’s square in front of the stone cavern. They lined up in orderly rows.
Yun Jiujiu held a paper parasol in each hand, standing between two wheelchairs, her gaze fixed on the massive obsidian stone gate atop the staircase ahead.
Unlike her usual appearance, today she wore a pale blue dress that gave her a demure look—a dress she had once shown to Feng Yudie. Her golden hair was tied into a neat bun, and combined with her petite frame, she appeared exceptionally well-behaved.
But that sense of obedience existed only as long as she didn’t speak.
"Big Sis, I can understand Third Sister needing a wheelchair since she can’t move at all, but why are you sitting in one? Last time I visited you, you were just lying in bed, barely moving."
Under the parasol Yun Jiujiu held in her right hand, Yun Yiyi, dressed in a golden-white Daoist robe, looked a bit embarrassed as she turned her gaze away and replied,
"I accidentally strained my tendons while practicing spear techniques. My legs are still a bit weak."
"Huh? Why were you practicing with a spear?"
"I picked up a good spear recently and wanted to try it out…"
"What does spear training have to do with your legs? Isn't it about your arms?"
Feeling even more awkward, Yun Yiyi came up with an excuse:
"…I started with some leg-focused techniques as a sideline approach."
"Heh, I used to call you a ‘weak-kneed shrimp,’ and now you’ve actually become one."
What does a little brat like you know?! Yun Jiujiu shot her a glare, unwilling to continue the topic. After a moment of thought, she countered,
"Feng Yudie’s gone now. Don’t you feel a bit reluctant to see her leave?"
When Feng Yudie was mentioned, Yun Jiujiu shrugged indifferently and replied,
"Reluctant for what? She’s just another girl. What would I keep her around for, to be my servant?"
Yun Yiyi covered her mouth and chuckled.
"Then why did I hear that after returning to your place and reading her farewell letter, you spent an entire day and night drinking by yourself?"
Yun Jiujiu’s cheeks flushed. She interrupted hastily,
"Scram, scram! I always drink for a day and night—nothing to do with her, alright?"
At this moment, Yun Xi, seated in the wheelchair to Yun Jiujiu's left, raised her hand slightly. After several days of recovery, she had progressed from only being able to move her fingers to regaining some control over her arms. She could even speak a little now, no longer relying on Zhang Yihe as her translator.
Those days had nearly driven her mad.
"Jiujiu…" Yun Xi called softly.
Yun Jiujiu blinked and asked, "What’s up, Third Sister?"
Yun Xi gave her a thumbs-up and said, "Let’s take him down…"
Yun Jiujiu patted her chest and responded with determination, "Take him down!"
The two of them turned to look at Yun Yiyi, who hadn’t chimed in. It was clear they were waiting for her to join in.
Yun Yiyi glanced away, reluctant. "Don’t look at me. I’m not saying it—it’s too crude."
"Elder Sis, you’re the one who came up with the idea in the first place. Dressing me like this to get close to Father and then taking him out when he least expects it. That’s already plenty crude."
"Didn’t you two come to me for ideas? Besides, I’m not even sure if this plan will work. Just don’t get caught before you get close to him."
"Relax. I practiced in front of the mirror a lot yesterday—guaranteed foolproof. Come on, say it!"
"Take him down…"
"Louder! Show some spirit!"
"TAKE HIM DOWN!!"
Rumble—
As they spoke, the ground of the Sword Cliff rumbled like rolling thunder.
The massive stone gate in front of them began to tremble, dislodging the vines that clung to its top.
Behind Yun Jiujiu and her sisters, the elders of the Sword Sect clasped their hands in respect and led the gathered disciples in a collective bow.
"“““We welcome Sect Master Yun’s return from his seclusion!”””
—"At ease."
A neutral voice echoed from behind the stone gate, reverberating across the peaks of the Shadowmoon Sword Sect.
A man in golden Daoist robes stepped out from between the gates.
He was tall, with platinum-white skin, sharp sword-like eyebrows, and striking blue eyes. A bright red plum blossom was tattooed on his brow, giving him a strikingly androgynous appearance, yet his gaze carried a sharp, masculine intensity.
Yun Tianchong descended the staircase one step at a time, his gaze sweeping across the sect's many peaks. When his eyes fell on his three daughters, two of whom were in wheelchairs, a flicker of doubt crossed his face.
Looking at Yun Xi, who was wrapped in bandages, he hesitated before asking,
"Jiu’er, what happened for you to be so badly injured?"
?
Yun Jiujiu looked puzzled, her father’s gaze clearly on Yun Xi, but he was addressing her. Why was he calling Third Sister "Jiu’er"?
Yun Xi twitched her eye but refrained from speaking due to her injuries.
"... …"
On the side, Yun Yiyi stepped in to explain:
"Father, Third Sister got caught in the crossfire of a duel between two Nascent Soul Realm cultivators. That’s how she ended up like this."
Yun Tianchong paused briefly and coughed awkwardly.
"Ahem— so it’s Xi’er. I didn’t recognize you all wrapped up like that."
Yun Xi gritted her teeth slightly. "It’s fine…"
Then, Yun Tianchong turned to Yun Yiyi. After his earlier mistake, he hesitated before asking,
"Then are you Jiu’er?"
"Father," Yun Yiyi replied through gritted teeth, forcing a smile. "I’m Yi’er. If you can’t tell the three of us apart, just refer to us as ‘you.’ The disciples below won’t hear, but the elders are right here."
Yun Tianchong froze for a moment, his gaze shifting to the Sword Sect elders, some of whom looked utterly unimpressed. Feeling a loss of face, he coughed again and said,
"Ahaha~~ Just joking, of course. How could any father fail to recognize his own daughters?"
Yun Yiyi, Yun Xi, and Yun Jiujiu all wore expressions of disdain, as if to say, "Isn’t one standing right here?"
Yun Yiyi signaled Yun Jiujiu with her eyes, urging her to proceed with the plan.
Yun Jiujiu saw this, nodded slightly, then pursed her lips and smiled:
"Father, can your daughter have a hug?"
She opened her arms and walked up to Yun Tianchong, her face full of innocence and cuteness. She tilted her head slightly, and with her naturally petite figure, this childish gesture felt entirely fitting.
Because of Yun Yiyi's earlier accusation, Yun Tianchong knew that the one asking for a hug now was Yun Jiujiu.
Even though he still struggled to match names to faces, he remembered that Yun Jiujiu had a fierce personality. Why would she suddenly ask her father for a hug?
"Jiu'er, this is…?"
"Daughter just missed you, Father. Just one hug."
Looking at Yun Jiujiu smiling as she approached, Yun Tianchong raised an eyebrow slightly, examining her from head to toe. He asked in confusion:
"It's been so long since I've seen you, and you've really changed a lot. I remember you didn't like being hugged when you were younger. When you were two, you even gave your nanny a black eye."
"That was in the past. Your daughter has grown up now."
Yun Tianchong crouched down, opened his arms, and beckoned Yun Jiujiu.
"Come here."
When Yun Jiujiu reached him...
Suddenly—
Boom!
Her left foot, clad in embroidered shoes, directly shattered the floor tiles beneath her.
Cracks spread outward from where her foot landed, radiating in all directions.
The wind howled, and a surge of spiritual energy erupted from Yun Jiujiu, her entire face turning bright red.
"Haaa—!!"
With a furious shout, a deafening explosion pierced the air.
Using her left foot as a pivot, Yun Jiujiu raised her left knee with astonishing speed.
!!
Yun Tianchong's eyes widened in shock. He had not expected Yun Jiujiu to suddenly unleash a knee strike. He tried to dodge, but it was too late.
Despite his cultivation at the Divine Transformation Realm, Yun Jiujiu was born with extraordinary strength. A full-force strike from her could shake an entire mountain.
And this kick carried decades of pent-up resentment and hatred from her, Yun Yiyi, and Yun Xi toward him.
Crack—
She struck with all her might, delivering a blow that shattered Yun Tianchong's spiritual defenses, causing him to jump a foot off the ground.
Boom!
Yun Tianchong's eyes bulged in disbelief as he stared at Yun Jiujiu. He opened his mouth to speak, but no sound came out.
"Jiu…"
Yun Jiujiu spat to the side and sneered, "Hmph! That kick was for Feng Yudie!"
"Feng... who?" Yun Tianchong, wobbling on his legs, looked as if he were constipated.
Although, to be fair, he hadn’t needed to relieve himself in over a thousand years.
But with the elders watching, he couldn't clutch himself in shame, so he forced himself to endure.
Before he could make sense of what was happening, Yun Jiujiu clenched her right fist and stepped back.
Thud—
The force of the punch had yet to land, but its sheer pressure made it hard to breathe.
Crack!
Her fist struck squarely at his chest. The spiritual energy burst from the impact sent a shockwave of dust and leaves splitting behind him.
"…"
Yun Tianchong endured the unbearable pain. Realizing the situation, he quickly activated his spiritual shield to prevent a third strike, but Yun Jiujiu was no fool.
Seeing her father had reacted, she immediately summoned her flying sword, leaped onto it, and sped southward.
"Wait, Jiu'er—"
Watching Yun Jiujiu's retreating figure, Yun Tianchong's face turned pale, confusion and disbelief in his eyes. Finally, unable to hold it in, he collapsed on his knees, prostrating himself before Yun Yiyi and Yun Xi.
Yun Yiyi and Yun Xi exchanged a glance and smiled.
"Father, are you alright?"
"…"
Yun Tianchong couldn't speak. He had been in seclusion for ten years—how could he have foreseen that within a single incense stick of time since emerging, one of his daughters would land a kick and a punch on his avatar?
What had he done to make Yun Jiujiu hate him so much?
Feng… Feng Yudie?
Who was that? Did Shadowmoon Sword Sect have someone by that name?
Unable to make sense of it, Yun Tianchong decided not to question Yun Yiyi. He simply felt that his lineage might be doomed.
At that moment, a loud, raspy voice rang out from the sky. A golden-feathered parrot circled above:
"Cut off! Bloodline severed! Bloodline severed!"
A white, unidentifiable object fell from the sky like a bomb, landing squarely on Yun Tianchong's forehead. He couldn’t hold back anymore. With a flick of his fingers, a golden light shot toward the parrot.
The golden-feathered parrot tilted its head, dodging the sword energy with a graceful leaf-like maneuver.
"What?"
Boom!
Just then, thunder rumbled from the direction of Shadowmoon Sword Sect's main gate.
Following the thunder came a resounding voice, as powerful as rolling lightning:
"I am Lei Wanjun, Peak Master of the Thunderclap Peak of the Profound Star Sect. I have come to congratulate Sect Master Yun on his emergence!"