Chapter Thirty-Five: Biting Off More Than One Can Chew

"Alright, tomorrow when we see the Ancestor, let's ask him to bring out that cultivation manual so all the wives in the clan can practice it. If anyone manages to cultivate faster and better than my fourth son's wife, I'll give you my Floating Light Sword. If you lose, you'll hand over that new set of wine vessels you just got."

"I'd have to be out of my mind to bet against you."

"All the clan's wives—just find one stronger than Mo Fei's wife and you win. Your odds are pretty good."

"Mo Fei's wife's aptitude is almost as good as Bai Xia's. Do you think all I do is drink and can't see what's going on?" Snatching the wine cup from Ning Guodong's hand, Ninth Uncle Ning spoke earnestly, "Still, it's true we should ask the Ancestor. That manual should be passed to wives, not daughters. It'll make growing medicinal herbs in our family much easier."

Ning Zhongwu chuckled, "Ninth Uncle, you should add another rule: from now on, Ning family sons should marry wives with wood spiritual roots, or at least wood and fire roots. Otherwise, they won't contribute much to the family's prosperity, and if they die, they shouldn't be admitted to the ancestral hall."

"That rascal needs a beating!" The old lady laughed so hard tears came to her eyes.

Yu Youwei felt the daggers in their gazes flying her way and deeply regretted showing off earlier; she should have only germinated a single flower seed instead of all those seeds.

Ninth Uncle Ning called out, "Mo Fei's wife, you don't have a suitable wood-type cultivation method, do you? Your father just got a high-level wood-type manual. Go ask him for it."

Ning Zhongwu laughed, "Ninth Uncle, aren't you always late to the party? My father got that wood manual as a gift for Fourth Sister-in-law." The brothers and sisters all laughed, while the sisters-in-law felt embarrassed to laugh but still cast curious glances at Yu Youwei.

"You brat, you knew already!"

"Of course, Uncle. I'm poor and keep an eye on Dad's property every day."

"You dare call yourself poor? Who is the rascal who uses military training as an excuse to hunt monsters in Yunhuang Mountain and line his own pockets? If not for Mo Fei's marriage, would you have given up those lucrative days?" Ninth Uncle, tipsy as always, turned to Yu Youwei, "If you're not satisfied with the wood manual your father gave you, have your second brother buy a better one. He's got money."

"No need to press me, Ninth Uncle. I can afford to give Fourth Sister-in-law a manual she'll be happy with," Ning Zhongwu replied generously. He still remembered the dazzling impression Yu Youwei made when they first met. Even though Mo Fei was his most beloved brother, he felt she was too good for him, and so wished to do something for her.

"Too much and you'll choke. I've practiced fire-type techniques enough for self-defense. As for wood-type, that incomplete manual is enough; don't trouble Father or Second Brother," Yu Youwei said. After years as a rice worm in the Ning family, and a few years as Ning Mo Fei's bodyguard, she considered her debts paid. She did long for a high-level wood manual but refused to take it from the Ning family.

Unexpectedly, the elders assumed she was sparing her husband's dignity by refusing the high-level manual. The old lady's eyes grew red, her mother-in-law's gaze softened, and even her eldest aunt sighed in pity, "Such a good child."

"There is no best technique, only the most suitable. The fire-type method I practice now is what my father left me; it's perfect for me, and I don't want to change even for something more advanced. Wood-type techniques never seemed useful enough to bother with. That incomplete manual lets me germinate medicinal seeds; that's all I need. A better one wouldn't make me change."

Ninth Uncle wailed, "I feel like dying. Seventh Brother, how about you?"

Ning Zhongwu, tipsy as well, laughed irreverently, "Go ahead and die. For your friendship with my father, I'll make sure you're buried."

"Get lost! Always looking for an excuse to mooch off me." After a playful scolding, Ninth Uncle turned serious, "I have both wood and fire spiritual roots. If Mo Fei's wife can master that incomplete manual, I can too—give me three months, and I'll be proud enough to face Seventh Brother."

The room erupted in laughter. Ning Yuluan collapsed into Yu Youwei's arms, whispering, "Sister-in-law, poor Ninth Uncle has spent years trying to surpass Seventh Uncle and nearly lost his mind. Please share your cultivation insights, so he can achieve his wish and not fall into obsession."

Everyone in the room had strong cultivation; they could hear a pin drop, so Ning Yuluan's low words were heard by all, sparking another round of laughter.

Facing the doorway, Ning Guodong saw his eldest brother enter the courtyard with a dark expression and hurried to meet him, "Brother, what happened?"

Eldest Master Ning spoke gravely, "The medicinal garden has been destroyed."

Yu Youwei's heart raced: Could the little white bear have been caught?

"Destroyed?" Ning Guodong asked in shock.

"The entire garden is ruined. This time, traitors from inside colluded with thieves from outside to destroy our family's foundation." His gaze landed on Yu Youwei, making her nearly squirm in guilt, and he added, "Just now, Mo Fei mentioned his wife can germinate flower seeds. Seventh Brother, take your niece-in-law to the garden to see if it can be saved."

Relieved, Yu Youwei immediately stood, "Father, let's go quickly."

Ning Guodong remained still, "Since Youwei can learn it, perhaps that incomplete manual is more suitable for women with wood attributes. Given the situation, let's make it public—any wife with wood attributes can study it."

"Incomplete manual?" Eldest Master Ning asked, puzzled. After hearing the explanation, he decided, "No need to disturb the Ancestor. I'll decide. I've read it; that manual doesn't conflict with other wood techniques and can be practiced concurrently. Any wife with the wood attribute in the clan may learn it."

Ning Yuluan asked, "Why can't daughters learn it?"

"That manual was originally the Ning clan's core technique, passed from father to son as per ancestral rules," Eldest Master sighed. "Later, it became incomplete, leaving only alchemy. Many alchemy methods are related to the missing manual, so our alchemy suffered. Now, only the Ancestor remains as an eighth-grade alchemist. For nearly ten thousand years, we've never produced a ninth-grade alchemist, though before we were forced out of Central Continent, Ning clan once had divine alchemists."

"Is Ning clan not native to the Eastern Continent?" Ning Zhongwu was startled, setting aside his wine cup.

Realizing his slip, Eldest Master Ning's face changed. "Let's not talk about such things. Zhongwu, accompany Ninth Uncle to take over the Precious Pill Pavilion and track down those missing books."

"Those books? How many are lost?" Ning Zhongwu asked.

Ning Guodong and Lady Wang grew tense.

"Seventeen volumes. Fifteen were returned after being borrowed, but they're forgeries. Those books were brought out of Central Continent by our ancestors and are unique copies. We must recover them, even at the cost of our lives," Eldest Master Ning said coldly.