Chapter 997: Chapter 997

In the blink of an eye, Chu Yang had vanished from Jialan Celestial Mountain. Shi Miaomiao and Bai Hao stood rooted in place, dumbfounded. He’d bolted without making a choice? What was going on? Chu Yang’s sword-riding speed was blistering—chasing him, even at full tilt, was a lost cause. Bai Hao, undeterred, hatched a plan: he’d send Old Fifth’s father to the Chu family in Mu Nation for a visit. Marriage was a parental affair, after all—once the elders settled it, what son could refuse?

Clearing his throat, Bai Hao clasped his hands behind his back, steadying Shi Miaomiao with a practiced air. "Lord Shi, it seems Chu Yang has zero interest in taking a wife. Fair enough—cultivators shouldn’t shackle themselves to love and romance."

Shi Miaomiao, mirroring his thoughts, seized the opening, assuming he’d given up. "Exactly," she nodded eagerly. "Marriage can’t be forced. Looks like neither of our families has a shot with Chu Yang."

"Hahaha, Lord Shi, thinking that way is for the best!" Bai Hao beamed. "Don’t dwell on today—you’re young, talented, sharp as ice. Finding a good match won’t be hard!"

"And the same goes for Miss Bai Fifth!" Shi Miaomiao returned the flattery.

Their words were laced with politeness, but beneath the surface, they shared a hidden agenda: a swift journey to the Chu family in Mu Nation. Time was urgent—excuses were quickly made, and they parted in a flurry. Siheng and Nanli watched their hurried departure, momentarily speechless as their own reason for coming here slipped from their minds.

But Shi Miaomiao soon doubled back, panting slightly. "Nanli—maps, talismans, please!" The barrier arrays between the Human and Immortal Worlds still held firm; without Nanli’s talismans, she couldn’t cross. Her plea tipped Nanli off to her intent. "Lord Shi, don’t waste your effort," Nanli said, exasperated. "Even if you propose at my house, my parents won’t agree—they’ve always respected our choices." Especially since her fourth brother took up cultivation—his path was his own, and they wouldn’t meddle.

Shi Miaomiao wavered, debating the gamble, until she spotted Bai Hao’s departing figure. Her eyes widened, panic flaring. "I haven’t tried—how can I know it won’t work? Even if I fail, I won’t regret it later. Hurry, Nanli! For all those Beast Food Pills I refined for you—give me a talisman!" Success or failure mattered less than thwarting the Bai family.

Nanli considered it, then relented. "I’ve been meaning to visit my parents and brothers anyway. Wait a bit—I’ll take you along." Shi Miaomiao was a stranger to the Human World—unfamiliar with its ways, lacking a guide. Nanli couldn’t let her stumble alone. Immortal World families were relentless in their quest for power, she mused—not so different from mortal alliances. Blame her fourth brother’s brilliance—miss this chance, and there’d be no second.

Shi Miaomiao balked. "Wait? No way—Bai Hao’s getting way ahead!"

Siheng’s face darkened at her brusqueness. "Wait if you can—otherwise, get lost." He wasn’t about to let A’Li exhaust herself for this.

Shi Miaomiao backpedaled instantly, flashing a conciliatory grin. "I’m not rushed! I’ll refine some pills as gifts—I’m fine waiting. Take your time, Nanli." Her knack for smoothing ruffled feathers shone through. Nanli smiled, letting it slide. "Don’t worry—I won’t let you lag behind Bai Hao."

Shi Miaomiao’s grin widened. "Perfect."

Nanli returned to Jady Pearl Peak, exchanging her travel-worn robes for fresh ones and gathering gifts for her grandmother and family. Seeing her busy with preparations, Siheng stepped forward and said, “Sit down—tell me what needs to be done.”

Noticing his lingering gloom, she softened. "These past days have been chaos—my heart’s been on edge. I thought taking you to meet my family might lift your spirits."

Siheng paused, hesitating before confessing, "A’Li, you might be fine, but... I’m a reincarnation through the Incarnation Jade." The Night Clan royalty weren’t truly his kin, he implied.

Nanli’s expression turned stern, her voice firm. "That’s dead wrong. The Incarnation Jade is an immortal treasure—you used it, so you know I infused it with my essence or tokens. It only ensured we’d cross paths in your next life, tied by fate. It could’ve sent you to the Xie or Xu families, but your faint bond with the Honorary Emperor drew you to the Night Clan, making you Mu Nation’s Ninth Prince."

Siheng blinked, then broke into a warm smile, eyes crinkling. "You’re right." His birth parents hadn’t given him familial warmth, but this "good brother" had. An idea sparked. "Then I’ll prepare gifts for my royal brother too. Rest—I’ll call you when I’m done."

Nanli’s face lit up with a smile. "Alright." She sank onto a cushioned couch for a nap, figuring Siheng would wrap up in under an hour.

When her eyes fluttered open, candles flickered in the room, casting soft shadows. Outside, the sky was pitch-black. "???" A rustling sound drew her gaze—Siheng was still at it, her mouth twitching in disbelief. What was he picking?

Eight Trigrams Palm for Longevity.

Qiankun Art for a Thousand Years.

Endless Blessings Tai Chi Secret.

Siheng flipped through the manuals, muttering to himself, "This one’s not too difficult—Royal Brother could grasp it. No, wait—understanding is one thing, mastering another; his physique is only average. This one’s the simplest—he’d definitely get it. But no, it’s too basic, the results would be weak."

Nanli’s face went blank. "You’re picking books for him? Think he hasn’t had enough of reports these past twenty years?"

Siheng looked up, all innocence. "These top-tier wellness classics—how can dull reports compare?" His royal brother had endured hardships, his health fragile. Gold and silver mountains paled next to these tomes—practice them, and he’d gain decades. "He’ll weep with joy when he gets them," Siheng insisted.

Nanli rolled her eyes. "Fine, but say they’re from you—don’t drag me into it."

Siheng grinned. "I’ve been his brother for over twenty years—I know what he loves. As Honorary Emperor, he lacks nothing. These books? He’ll adore them."

Nanli relented with a helpless laugh. "Alright, send them—I’ve got my own gifts ready." Siheng stopped fussing, stuffing every manual into his Qiankun Bag. A full set—his brother would surely praise his thoughtfulness.