Hearing Shen Xiaoyan address him as family, Mo Rudun’s eyes welled up with a touch of sadness.
His fellow disciples, with whom he had spent centuries, had constantly schemed against him, seeking ways to extract the greatest benefit from him.
Yet, Shen Xiaoyan, whom he had only known for a few days, could produce such an item and declare him her kin with such certainty.
Although he understood that Yi Zhixie played a part in this, it also demonstrated Shen Xiaoyan's good intentions.
If she were a heartless person, even if she were on good terms with Yi Zhixie, she wouldn’t gratuitously help his family members.
Reaching out, Mo Rudun accepted what Shen Xiaoyan handed him and placed it into his spatial ring. He then said, "I won't thank you. If your Aunt Ruan can hold on until you return, that's best. If she can't, then it's her fate. You need not blame yourselves, not even you, A'Xie. Don't shoulder the burden."
Yin Susu also nodded in agreement, "If we are to blame anyone, it should be ourselves for being careless, for misjudging people, and for falling into a trap without realizing it."
Yin Susu's words were not just meant to comfort Yi Zhixie and the others; she herself felt an immense self-mockery.
Mo Rudun’s heart grew heavier.
He had stayed by Yin Susu's side day and night while she was poisoned and unconscious.
For others to have administered poison under his nose – wasn't that a reflection of his own inadequacy? He sometimes wondered if Yin Susu would have already died if that person had truly wanted her life.
The thought sent a chill through him.
He himself did not fear death, but he feared being unable to protect those he cared about.
Yi Zhixie, seeing his parents blaming themselves, felt a pang in his heart but did not dwell on the matter further.
"Mother, why don't you tell us about the Medicine Emperor Valley? It's not good if we go in blind."
Yi Zhixie's words successfully captured Yin Susu's attention. Self-blame and distress vanished from her mind in an instant.
What could be more important than her son's comfort?
Since there was no room for discussion regarding this journey, she naturally had to provide her son with the greatest assurance.
After a moment's thought, Yin Susu began,
"The Medicine Emperor Valley has always been ruled by our Yin family. For many years, it was a place of unity."
"But as the saying goes, human hearts are insatiable. With the constant turnover of people, that situation could no longer be maintained."
"Besides the Yin family, the Medicine Emperor Valley also has a second in command, the Wang family."
"The Wang family has been ambitious for nearly a thousand years."
"When I returned to the Medicine Emperor Valley to seek medicine, it caused great losses to the valley. The Wang family took advantage of the situation, demanding that my father sever ties with me and forbidding me from ever setting foot in the Medicine Emperor Valley again. Furthermore, they forbade my father and the others from contacting me. Otherwise, if the Wang family discovered it, they would immediately replace them."
"My father, feeling he was in the wrong and fearing the others in the Medicine Emperor Valley would suffer for him, accepted this proposal."
"In truth, my father wished to abdicate his position as Valley Master of the Medicine Emperor Valley, but the Wang family was not a suitable candidate. Therefore, he could only grit his teeth and continue waiting, hoping a more suitable person would appear."
"But who knew that he would wait for centuries? I never returned, and my father never found the person he desired. Meanwhile, the Wang family grew stronger over the years, showing signs of surpassing the Yin family."
"When you return to the Medicine Emperor Valley, you must be wary of the Wang family. I fear they will hold you, A'Xie, responsible for what happened back then."
"Moreover, with Yan Rulie's unknown schemes, you must exercise extreme caution in all matters."
Upon hearing Yin Susu's account, Shen Xiaoyan and the others' expressions grew even more solemn.
Back in her room, Shen Xiaoyan collapsed onto the bed.
Seeing Shen Xiaoyan lying with her eyes closed, looking utterly disheartened, Zheng Wei couldn't help but find it amusing.
"What's wrong, Mimi?"
Shen Xiaoyan, without opening her eyes, replied, "What do you think? Why are people never content?"
"If everyone were content, how peaceful the world would be."
Listening to Shen Xiaoyan's lament, Zheng Wei shook his head helplessly, "Competition drives progress. If it were truly as you say, how much of life's enjoyment would be lost?"
Shen Xiaoyan froze at his words. She instantly recalled her life in the spatial realm.
Peaceful, no danger, each day lived with utmost ease.
But was that truly happiness?
The answer was a definite no, otherwise, why would they have left? Why not just live in the spatial realm?
Time flew by, and it was already the next morning.
Shen Xiaoyan and the others had little to prepare. After breakfast, they went to bid farewell to Mo Rudun and Yin Susu.
However, upon entering the room, they discovered that Yan Rulie had already arrived. Seated beside him were the Grand Elder Long Ting and Fujiwara Shifui.
Opposite them stood Long Xuan, Long Hao, Bai G’er, and Bai Ying.
Seeing Shen Xiaoyan and the others enter, Yan Rulie immediately said with a smile, "You've arrived. Come quickly, I was just briefing them. You can listen now, and we won't have to repeat ourselves later."
Shen Xiaoyan and the others slowly approached, hearing Yan Rulie say, "A'Xie is going to the Medicine Emperor Valley to seek medicine for his mother. As fellow disciples, you naturally ought to be friendly and help each other. Therefore, this time, you will accompany A'Xie and the others."
Shen Xiaoyan's lips twitched several times as she listened to Yan Rulie's words, managing to suppress a laugh.
His ability to lie with a straight face was truly astounding.
"A'Xie, you are the eldest among this group and joined the sect the earliest. You will lead the team on this expedition."
Shen Xiaoyan was silently complaining when she heard Yan Rulie's tone change, shifting to the matter of leading the team.
Although what he said was true, why insist on appointing a leader?
Knowing full well the discord among them, was appointing Yi Zhixie as leader meant to create trouble for him?
Yi Zhixie, without a second thought, immediately refused, "Thank you for the Sect Leader's trust, but my heart is solely set on saving my mother, and I fear I lack the will to lead. As for Mu Zhong, they are the same. They are not members of the Sun Eternal Sect. Their accompanying me is merely out of friendship and is not suitable for leadership."
His statement was concise and direct, effectively shutting down Yan Rulie's next intended words.
Yan Rulie's expression flickered slightly before quickly returning to normal, "In that case, you should look out for each other. I originally intended for you to be united."
United?
Shen Xiaoyan scoffed. Anyone who believed that would have to be possessed by a ghost.
After listening to Yan Rulie speak a few more words, Shen Xiaoyan and the others entered the inner chambers to see Yin Susu.
With Yan Rulie and the others present, Yin Susu could only feign unconsciousness. Yi Zhixie stood by the window, chattering away for a long time. Only when Yan Rulie's voice from outside began to sound impatient did he turn and leave.
Impatient to waste any more words with Yan Rulie, Yi Zhixie merely exchanged pleasantries with Fujiwara Shifui before stating that they were ready to depart.
Just as they were about to walk out the door, Fujiwara Shifui suddenly called out, "Yingying, if anyone bullies you, don't be afraid. Fight them back with all your might for your teacher. You carry a wisp of my divine sense. No matter who bullies you, this master will avenge you."
Bai Ying turned and looked at Fujiwara Shifui earnestly, "Master, please rest assured. Am I the kind of person who gets bullied?"
Seeing Bai Ying's charming smile, Fujiwara Shifui's icy expression softened slightly.
Seeing them off, Fujiwara Shifui stood up and said, "Since there's nothing else, I shall be leaving."
With that, she walked out without regard for Yan Rulie's or the others' reactions.
As Fujiwara Shifui's figure disappeared, Long Ting said mockingly, "No manners."