Chapter Twenty-Three: First Ascent of the Flying Vessel

"Reason?" A shadow flickered in Yu Shiyu's eyes.

"Intuition." Yu Youwei gave an answer that bore no responsibility, then turned around and saw her eighth uncle, Yu Tianzuo, standing at the doorway. She felt no guilt at being caught speaking ill of someone, and greeted him naturally, "Eighth Uncle."

"Youwei, you're here." Yu Tianzuo's face was full of smiles, not a trace of reluctance showing—he was shrewd indeed.

"Eighth Uncle, I was just telling Second Brother we need to investigate your men. Earlier, I saw you at the back courtyard gate, speaking with two men clad in black, from an upstairs window in the other wing. One of them had a saber at his waist that looked familiar; I think it's the Blood-devouring Blade used by the Blood Demon Li Jing." Yu Youwei stopped speaking as her uncle's expression finally changed, and walked out. Passing by him, she distinctly sensed a subtle fluctuation of magical power.

"We really need to investigate properly, no wonder the Ning family believes we're plotting something—it seems the demonic cultivators have infiltrated us," Yu Shiyu said with a serious face, his gaze falling on Yu Tianzuo's hand, noting the clenching of his fist.

"Eighth Uncle's grown old, letting the Blood Demon slip by without noticing—how shameful," Yu Tianzuo sighed with feigned remorse, quietly relaxing his fist, and the invisible surge of magical energy dissipated.

Yu Youwei seemed oblivious to her uncle's oddness, wearing a faint smile as she returned to the main hall of the Treasure Pellet Pavilion.

Ning Zhongwu, who hadn't appeared for breakfast, finally showed up, accompanied by Ning San and their uncle, Zhou Yusong.

To ensure his younger brother's wedding ceremony wouldn't miss the auspicious hour, Ning San had specially requested a spindle-shaped flying vessel from the sect. Zhou Yusong brought it personally upon hearing the news. The vessel's shell, forged from purple refined gold, shone brilliantly in the sunlight. Array inscriptions etched on its hull resembled tiny tadpoles; when activated, the runes seemed to swim and circulate, making those with weaker cultivation dizzy just watching.

Though Yu Youwei's cultivation was not high, she had been reborn with memories of her past life, and her spiritual power was extraordinary. She gazed with interest at the array diagram on the vessel, prompting Zhou Yusong to exclaim in surprise, "Mo Fei's wife has impressive spiritual strength!"

Ning San glanced at Yu Youwei, displeased that his uncle noticed her excellence, and hurried to urge, "Uncle, it's getting late, let's depart quickly."

Despite being the uncle, Zhou Yusong showed no airs; in fact, he seemed to curry favor with Ning San. At his words, Zhou immediately complied. Yu Youwei realized Ning San's standing in the Immortal Heaven Sect was higher than she'd expected.

Such a large flying vessel required spirit stones to operate, something even a mighty sect like Immortal Heaven found costly. This was Yu Youwei's first time aboard one. Ning Mo Fei, however, was quite familiar with the process. He took her hand and rushed ahead into the vessel, claiming the first row by the window on the right, showing off with childlike enthusiasm, "Once we're flying, if you look down from here, people look even smaller than ants!"

"Mo Fei, you're so clever, you know all this," Yu Youwei replied absentmindedly, then feigned fatigue and closed her eyes to rest. In truth, she was seizing the opportunity to cultivate.

In the world of cultivation, strength reigns supreme—not like her previous life, where as a woman, she possessed talent yet was barred from the imperial examinations, left only to lament, "I resent my silken robes for hiding my verses, raising my head in vain envy of those on the lists." Now, though still a woman, as long as she cultivated successfully, she could compete with the men. Then, she wouldn't need to ride a flying vessel—she could soar the skies herself!

Cultivating aboard the vessel, she couldn't fully enter meditation. When Ning Mo Fei whispered in her ear, "We're here," she opened her eyes to find his handsome face close to hers. She pinched him lightly, chiding, "Getting this close to scare me, are you?"

"Not at all, it's just that your face is so pretty, glowing red!" Ning Mo Fei replied honestly, his gaze pure and innocent.

It would have been nothing, but his words drew everyone's attention to Yu Youwei's face. Even as someone with two lifetimes behind her, she felt a twinge of embarrassment. "You're seeing things," she said.

Ning Mo Fei insisted, "Your face really is red, and it was glowing just now—right, Third Brother?"

Ning San responded, then realized he was admitting to peeking at his sister-in-law, feeling awkward.

Eldest brother Ning Bowen quickly interjected, "Fourth Brother, aren't you getting off? Your sisters-in-law are waiting below." Then he addressed Yu Youwei, "Sister-in-law, we'll disembark outside the city, as tradition dictates, you’ll ride the flower-carriage into town."

Youwei lowered her head and softly agreed, taking Ning Mo Fei's hand as they walked out side by side.

The flying vessel landed at the foot of Maple Mountain, more than ten miles from Jiangning Prefecture. The mountain was ablaze with red leaves, merging with the evening glow at the horizon, as if half the sky were burning, making the twilight Maple Mountain dazzlingly beautiful, impossible to look away.

Ning family's eldest son’s wife, Madam Liu, led a group of sisters-in-law out of the city early, waiting at Maple Pavilion at the mountain's base, admiring the scenery until a pair of radiant figures emerged from the vessel, instantly capturing everyone's attention.

"The Yu family's concubine-born daughter is quite pretty, I'll admit," came a comment from the women’s group, its tone more tart than complimentary, causing a ripple of laughter. Madam Liu, gentle and good-natured, never involved herself in women's petty squabbles and did not join in mocking Yu Youwei.

Ning Mo Fei, well-liked by his sisters-in-law, released Yu Youwei's hand as soon as he stepped off the vessel, darting over and throwing himself into the eldest sister-in-law's arms, exclaiming, "Big Sister-in-law, I've missed you so much!"

Ning Zhongwu's wife, Madam Li, was a lively woman of northern barbarian descent, who feigned jealousy, "Oh, so only big sister-in-law gets affection! The rest of us aren’t even in Fourth Young Master's eyes, just look at how close they are!"

"I've missed you all, every one of you," Ning Mo Fei replied obediently, letting go of his big sister-in-law and hugging each of the women in turn, making them laugh uproariously. He failed to notice their unfriendly glances toward Yu Youwei, or perhaps his innocence simply prevented him from understanding.

Madam Liu, tall and striking in a lake-blue, floor-length, belted gown, stood out among the women. She moved toward her husband and explained softly, "Mother was afraid we'd miss the auspicious hour, so she had us wait here," though her gaze flickered toward Yu Youwei. Ning Mo Fei came over and hugged her; in the past, she would have accepted it calmly, but now she felt a faint unease, worried her new sister-in-law might think less of her.

Yu Youwei stood quietly to the side, listening to the thunderous roar of the waterfall outside the mountain. From the Ning family's treatment of the injured Yu family guests, and their refusal to let any Yu family member travel by flying vessel, it was clear their resentment had not faded. No matter whether the women’s glances were curious or disdainful, Yu Youwei ignored them, feeling nothing about her husband embracing other women.

Ning Mo Fei finally remembered his wife and beckoned, "Youwei, come here, I'll introduce you to your sisters-in-law."

"There will be plenty of time to get acquainted later, no rush," Yu Youwei replied softly. Her lips, pink as cherry blossoms, curled in what seemed a smile, though a closer look revealed a subtle distance.

Ning Bowen and his second brother both frowned slightly, but at such a time, there was nothing more to be said.