Chapter 149: Madam Ning

“I haven’t reached Foundation Establishment yet, so I can’t beat my eldest brother!” Ning Mofei said seriously.

Everyone burst into laughter, even Yu Youwei smiled warmly at her simple-minded husband.

The matriarch wiped her tears and chuckled, “Dear grandson, even if you haven’t reached Foundation Establishment, if you fight your eldest brother, he won’t be able to strike back.”

Thick eyelashes fluttered suspiciously as a gleam flashed in Ning Mofei’s eyes. Suddenly, he slammed his head on the table and muttered gloomily, “Oh, I get it now. You all think I’m too stupid to ever reach Foundation Establishment.”

“Achieving Foundation Establishment is so simple—how could Mofei not reach it?” Yu Youwei comforted her slow-witted husband. Yet she didn’t realize how broadly this remark struck; only the matriarch could still look at them kindly, while even Ning Bowen’s expression turned uneasy.

Many Qi Refinement cultivators exhaust their lifespan without ever achieving Foundation Establishment. Ning Bowen had to rely on Foundation Establishment pills to pile up his foundation, and so did Mrs. Liu after marrying into the Ning family. The other three wives Yu Youwei didn’t recognize hadn’t reached Foundation Establishment yet either.

Lifting a moist eye, Ning Mofei whispered, “Do you really think I can achieve Foundation Establishment?”

Forgetting there were others present, Yu Youwei pinched her husband’s earlobe affectionately and said indulgently, “Of course. Your aptitude isn’t inferior to Third Brother’s; it’s just the cold poison holding you back. Once that’s resolved, cultivating will be easier than eating or drinking. You might even reach Foundation Establishment faster than I do.”

Ning Mofei immediately sat up straight, eyes wide with hope. “You, Youwei, when did you reach Foundation Establishment?”

All eyes in the room turned to Yu Youwei, making her uncomfortable. Still, seeing her husband’s earnest, adorable expression, she smiled and replied, “Anytime now. But I can wait for you.”

That sounded a bit hurt, and Ning Mofei drooped, “So you’re waiting for me?”

More wounded than him were the eldest brother and his wife, while the other three wives of the main branch looked on with envy. The old lady, however, was purely happy for the young couple.

Finding her husband’s expression irresistibly cute, Yu Youwei laughed softly, “Yes, I’m waiting so that we’ll be on the same starting line, then we can see who reaches Golden Core first.”

If cultivating was really easier than eating and drinking, then arrogance should at least be justified! Mrs. Liu thought indignantly but forced a polite smile, “It’d be best if you both reach Golden Core together, then race Third Brother to see who reaches Nascent Soul first.”

Ning Mofei wielded the Soul Devouring Sword and had solved the cold poison problem, so his cultivation progressed rapidly. But he was still in Qi Refinement stage; Ning San was already at Golden Core. Comparing him to Ning San was like delivering a blow. Yu Youwei’s brow twitched ever so slightly as she forced a smile and said, “Going from Golden Core to Nascent Soul is just a natural progression. If you want to compare with Third Brother, it should be about who reaches Consolidation first.”

That was even more infuriating. What did she mean, that going from Golden Core to Nascent Soul was just a matter of course? She hadn’t even reached Golden Core yet in her entire life! Mrs. Liu smiled, “Now that Sister-in-law says it, cultivation does sound simple.”

Yu Youwei only smiled silently. Her relationship with her eldest sister-in-law was one of mutual disdain; the best way to get along was to avoid each other entirely. She barely spoke for the rest of the time, responding with a smile or a few perfunctory words when questioned.

After the meal, the matriarch asked Ning Bowen to stay behind. The two of them, each holding a cup of hot tea, sat in silence for a while before the matriarch said, “No matter how much the second branch causes trouble, we must support your sister-in-law. She shouldn’t suffer unjustly.”

“I’m just afraid the clan will say the seventh branch is abusing their power because of the third brother,” Ning Bowen sighed.

The matriarch said resolutely, “Then let them have their power trip once. If that doesn’t work, call Bai Xia back and show them what real power looks like. Your grandfather’s last letter said he’d rather spoil Mofei’s wife than let her endure any grievance.”

Ning Bowen laughed, “Mother told me to teach my sister-in-law a harsh lesson and not to spoil her.”

“They’re all short-sighted. They used to think your wife was good, but now it’s all just for show. Mofei’s wife is genuine and truly cares for him.”

“How about Mrs. Liu?”

“Well, different people have different tastes. That’s true.”

“Sounds like grandson thinks your praise of beauty is a bit biased.”

“You brat, I’m trying to talk serious business here!” The matriarch laughed as she lightly thumped her grandson. Then her smile faded as she said, “Your grandfather also mentioned in his letter that Mofei tamed the Red Cloud Deer King as a beast companion. He suspects Mofei’s wife helped with that.”

“Second brother mentioned that to me before. That deer king and the Red Cloud Deer herd never leave the Cloud Wilderness, but grandpa’s guards ride Red Cloud Deer—it looks very impressive.”

“Exactly! Your grandfather boasted about it in his letter, saying there’ll be a grand military competition at the end of the year, and he wants me to take the young couple to watch.”

“I said I’d go watch too,” Ning Bowen smiled, then added, “Fourth brother recently captured a number of demon beasts with the deer king and secretly built a demon beast squad for second brother to train in the Cloud Wilderness. All the members are Ning family descendants.”

“Mofei has that capability?” The matriarch was pleasantly surprised.

“On the surface, it’s all fourth brother’s doing, but second brother thinks it was actually helped by fourth brother’s wife. He believes she has a lot of unknown tricks up her sleeve, which reassures fourth brother’s wife to stay with the Ning family. It’s also good for the clan’s development. Hmm, I heard the Xianchen Sect values her highly and even let her enter the Dragon Blood Pool.”

“Is she a disciple of the Xianchen Sect? Inner or outer sect?” The matriarch was startled but showed no joy.

“Usually, even inner sect disciples can’t enter the Dragon Blood Pool,” Ning Bowen said, then puzzled, “Strangely, she hasn’t formally joined the Xianchen Sect—it seems she doesn’t want to.”

“That girl is mysterious indeed! No wonder she’s so arrogant during the day. If it weren’t for your grandfather’s instructions, even I would be tempted to scold her. Turns out, she really doesn’t care about her status as a Ning family daughter-in-law.”

“If I had known, I’d have let her marry Third Brother and saved us all this trouble.”

“Don’t talk nonsense! I think she and Mofei are perfect together.” The matriarch said, annoyed.

Ning Bowen smiled wryly, offering no rebuttal.

The matriarch knew all too well the truth behind her grandson’s words. With Yu Youwei’s talent and beauty, she could have matched Bai Xia easily. Considering her cunning and skill in handling the Yu family’s affairs, Bai Xia might not have been able to control her. How could the intellectually impaired Mofei?

“Maybe it’s just a matter of different tastes. In her eyes, Mofei might be the best.” The matriarch spoke without hope, unaware that her words were close to the truth. To Yu Youwei, Ning San was certainly no better than Ning Si.

“That’s the only way to think about it.” Ning Bowen emphasized, “Regarding sister-in-law’s situation, second brother said the fewer people who know, the better. The matter of the beast companion shouldn’t be mentioned to avoid trouble.”

“Do you think I’m old and senile, unable to tell what’s important?” The matriarch said, displeased. In truth, she wasn’t happy at all. The stronger the daughter-in-law, the more likely she was to stir unrest in the household.