At this, Aqing, far from disappointed, rubbed her face hard. She swiftly undid the illusory-form formation. Her features turned much softer than before — from a effeminate white-faced little scholar, she abruptly became a sweet, lovely, pretty girl.

Xu Qing'er made a face at Shen Yi. "I knew Big Brother Shen had seen through it long ago!"

A Spirit-Transformation cultivator had the ability to shelter a whole nation from harm, never mind a mere single family. Big Brother Shen had a Spirit-Transformation golden-body Senior guarding him, yet had refused outright without even asking a single question — which meant the other already knew what manner of identity the power seeking to harm her family had. Only an immortal sect like Xuanguang Cave could leave even the golden dharma form powerless.

"You two..."

Xu Wanyun stood blankly to one side. The scene before her utterly failed to match the understanding she'd learned from books. How could dealings between cultivators be so honest... and so peaceful? Still, it did accord with the young man's earlier act of offhandedly undoing the age-tree's restriction.

"..."

Shen Yi glanced at Aqing and said blandly, "I can give it a try, though. It'll take a little more time."

"Then I'll follow you the whole way." Aqing walked briskly to stand behind him, having finally found a pretext to avoid going home.

Shen Yi didn't refuse, and then the two looked together toward Xu Wanyun.

"What's that supposed to mean? I've become the outsider?"

Xu Wanyun opened her mouth, then gestured with a hand. "What's with that look? Why do you seem to think I'm so useless? Please — she's Core-Nurturing, and I'm the extreme-peak Mixed Origin!"

"Oh."

Shen Yi turned away placidly. Compared to a green, inexperienced enforcer, what he needed more was an encyclopedia.

Xu Wanyun hadn't actually meant to follow Shen Yi; she just couldn't quite stand the feeling of being slighted, and had grumbled a couple of times on instinct. She sighed helplessly. It was hard to imagine how she was ever going to wrest her niece back from Shen Yi's hands and…