Chapter 115: Cousin's Insolence

“Ah? That’s not right, is it? You’re basically using Sister Feiyan as a bodyguard!” Mu Yuyan’s eyes widened, feeling for the first time that her cousin wasn’t exactly acting with the utmost integrity.

“Little one, could you stop being so naive? You haven’t seen the darker side of Sister Feiyan,” Yu Youwei said with a smile, noticing how disheartened her cousin looked.

The matriarch said, “Your friend came to our aid in the darkest hour and protected the young ones of the Yu family. The Yu family owes her a great debt. Even a leaky ship has a few nails left; the Yu family still has a proper token of gratitude to offer. Don’t take all the credit yourself.”

“Exactly,” the lady of the house chimed in warmly, taking both sisters’ hands. “We’re family, so let’s not speak as strangers. When trouble came, others came to fetch Yuyan out of respect for her. We are grateful for that. Yuyan insisted on letting them escort the children first instead of leaving us behind. That kind of kindness is rare. This is not a debt you sisters owe, but one the Yu family owes. The gift of thanks should come from the Yu family.”

With the elders speaking so solemnly, Yu Youwei felt a bit embarrassed. “Well, if there’s a real need, I won’t be polite. But Baili Feiyan has always been shrewd; I don’t even know what she might ask for this time. Maybe, for Yuyan’s sake, she’ll just give this kindness away.”

“Baili Feiyan? That name sounds familiar.”

Among the younger generation, someone whispered, and another slapped their forehead. “Isn’t Baili Feiyan the youngest daughter of the Bailixiao Pavilion’s master?”

The elders all showed emotion, and the lady of the house hesitated, “Is that the Baili Feiyan from Bailixiao Pavilion?”

“Yes, last time Feiyan sister even came to our house to deliver an engagement gift…” Mu Yuyan blurted out but quickly realized that there was no official engagement with Yu Shiyu, and Baili Feiyan had only met Yu Shiyu at the Yu residence. She awkwardly corrected herself, “Uh, it was an early gift.”

Yu Youwei chuckled and smoothed things over. “That was my elder sister’s idea, a warning to Yu Shiyu, that charming rake, not to let you down. When you’re truly engaged, she’ll have to send a proper gift — we can’t let her off easy.”

Fearing the elders might be displeased, Mu Yuyan quickly added, “Brother Shiyu treats me very well; don’t be too harsh on him.”

No one took offense; everyone laughed and found Yu Youwei even more enigmatic.

After teasing her cousin a bit, Yu Youwei said, “Alright, I’ll head to the manor first. Once the people arriving from the imperial capital are ready, they’ll meet me there. Yuyan, you lead everyone toward Yunhuang Marsh, with your Fifth Brother secretly protecting the group.”

“Fifth Brother is coming too?” Mu Yuyan smiled with relief.

Yu Youwei teased, “Seems like you trust strangers more than your own sister.”

“No way! Sister Wei is the strongest of all, stronger than Fifth Brother and Sister Feiyan,” Mu Yuyan flattered, beaming with unprecedented joy, leaving everyone speculating about this mysterious Fifth Brother.

Descending via a secret passage to the second level of the underground palace, Ye Wu, who was spying on Yu Youwei through the observation chamber, couldn’t help but smile. Yuyan was such a sweet girl—so lovable. It would be best if Yu Shiyu remained faithful to her; otherwise, not only would Yu Youwei disapprove, but he, Ye Wu, would as well.

Yu Youwei entered Ye Yinchen’s room under the pretense of expressing thanks.

The room was smaller than the main hall. Upon entering stood a four-panel folding screen; behind it was a round table with a thick thread-bound book spread open and half a cup of tea beside it. Ye Yinchen rarely stayed here, so these past days he likely only sat here to keep up appearances.

Against the wall was a carved yellow pearwood canopy bed with a movable bed board. Activating the mechanism flipped the bed board, revealing a passage. Before Yu Youwei could descend, Ye Wu appeared from the passageway, handing her a storage pouch casually and saying, “The medicines you asked me to refine last time, along with some new experimental drugs my mother developed, including antidotes, are all inside.”

Taking the pouch, Yu Youwei tied it at her waist. “Hmm, let this pouch also be a gift to Auntie. I’ve lost all my belongings.”

“Who did it?” Ye Wu asked abruptly, his voice suddenly cold.

Waving it off, Yu Youwei said, “This time, we made a trip to the Dragonblood Pool at the Xianchen Sect. The old timers didn’t warn us that the pool could dissolve magical artifacts. Poor Auntie, all she has left are the two swords, Red and Blue, and the beast-taming talisman given by the Elder Ning.”

Ye Wu knew well the importance of the Dragonblood Pool at Xianchen Sect and blurted out, “You’ve joined the Xianchen Sect?”

“No, I just accompanied your uncle,” Yu Youwei didn’t elaborate. Seeing Ye Wu roll his eyes at the word “uncle,” she chuckled softly, turned to leave, but he grabbed her and handed over a storage ring. It was clearly the one he always wore, but she refused it. “If I need it, I’ll ask. Friendship is friendship, business is business.”

“Do you have to be so clear-cut with me?” Ye Wu said, annoyed.

“Even brothers keep accounts clear. Even if you’re my nephew, I won’t take your things for free.”

“Consider it a deposit. Besides crocodiles, I want other poisonous beasts too — as many as possible.” Ye Wu stuffed the ring at her, and when his hand brushed her smooth fingers, he involuntarily clenched it tightly, feeling an urge never to let go.

“Ye Wu, are you trying to take advantage? Is my tofu really that tasty?” Yu Youwei’s long, thick lashes lifted, her eyes shimmering with light. Suddenly, she transformed from charming to fiercely elegant and untouchable. She deliberately avoided his gaze, shoved the ring back, and turned away.

Ye Yinchen emerged from the passage and saw his son dazed. “She’s gone. Let go.”

“Why won’t she accept me? Am I even worth less than a fool?” Ye Wu said in despair.

Never before had Ye Yinchen seen this vulnerable side of her son. She felt heartache but helplessness. Moreover, though the younger sister was good, she didn’t think she was a suitable match for her son. Changing the subject, she asked, “You’re tasked with escorting the Yu family to Yunhuang Marsh. Could it be dangerous? Yuan Jiuzhou has appeared, and the Yu family’s enemies aren’t insignificant.”

Switching instantly to sharp professionalism, Ye Wu said, “The murkier the waters, the better for the Thousand Poisons Palace. If I’m right, Auntie must have found a way to enter the natural grand formation of Yunhuang Marsh. Last time she made thirty venomous crocodiles self-destruct in the Xuanxi Palace. Even Father was shocked by that move. Knowing I have ties with the Poison Lady, Father sent me to get some high-level poisonous beasts from her. Before I could ask, she already proposed doing business.”

“Thirty venomous crocodiles?” Ye Yinchen was startled. She had been researching new poisons and had just returned when Mu Yuyan brought the Yu family over. She hadn’t had a chance to go out and didn’t know that the Poison Lady had pulled off another event that shocked the cultivation world.

“They’re all seventh-rank venomous crocodiles. It’s heartbreaking to see them,” Ye Wu smiled with a trace of mischief. His troublesome friends were also eyeing the Poison Lady’s beasts. If they knew those crocodiles came from Yunhuang Marsh, they’d probably drool with envy.