But Wei Tu's response still left Nan Zi disappointed.
Instead of taking the chance to confirm their relationship like Yu Jianglong suggested, Wei Tu sent her a voice transmission asking for her opinion.
"Miss Nan, Yu Jianglong's pursuit of you on behalf of the Yu Clan is indeed hateful, but if I verbally agree with his words, it would inevitably damage your reputation…"
"As for me…"
"This matter should be your decision!"
Nan Zi understood the hidden meaning in Wei Tu's words. He was giving her the choice.
If she agreed and declared herself taken, then pursuers like Yu Jianglong would back off and stop bothering her. But it would also hurt her reputation.
Although Wei Tu wasn't exactly willing to act as a shield, out of friendship he wouldn't refute her decision and would tacitly accept it.
In short, he made it clear their relationship was just that of friends, not lovers.
'Hopefully she can understand,' Wei Tu sighed lightly and shook his head.
Earlier, when Nan Zi invited him into the cave and then scolded her disciple Qiu Buchen to leave, he had already sensed her little thoughts.
But after knowing her for years, he understood Nan Zi's character well. She was greedy and liked to flatter those with power while looking down on the weak. So he didn't mind it too much, taking it as normal.
After all, in such a big world, there were countless cultivators with flaws. He couldn't possibly dislike every one of them.
Nan Zi had been cold to Hua Xianlong but never to him. In fact, the one she tried to please was always him.
And he appreciated that, to an extent.
Moreover, his connection with Nan Zi wasn't just personal. It also involved ties between their masters and emotional bonds between disciples. Just those things alone meant he had to tolerate some of her "little flaws." He couldn't just cut ties so easily.
But—
When it came to marriage as dao companions—
That was something Wei Tu couldn't allow or tacitly accept.
If they married, Nan Zi might end up like a bigger version of Yan Xiaolan, always scheming for his inheritance after his death.
And unlike Yan Xiaolan, he wouldn't be able to fully control Nan Zi's life or death.
'It's too soon to talk about being dao companions. Right now, Wei Tu probably only has a favorable impression of me, nothing more…' Nan Zi tried to comfort herself.
After all, if Wei Tu didn't like her, why would he come all the way to Chu Kingdom to see her?
'But I can't recklessly agree either, in case Wei Tu thinks I'm shameless…'
A glint of determination flashed in Nan Zi's eyes.
After thinking carefully, she put on a slightly apologetic expression and sent a voice transmission back: "Yu Jianglong's misunderstanding of us today was due to my mistake, which forced you into this matter, Wei Tu… I should explain it clearly to Yu Jianglong to avoid harming your reputation."
After she finished speaking, Nan Zi looked up at Yu Jianglong and said firmly, "Elder Yu, Wei Tu and I are just old friends, not dao companions. Please be careful with your words so as not to tarnish his reputation."
When she finished, a hint of joy crossed Nan Zi's face as she inwardly celebrated her strategy of retreating to advance.
Her words might seem like an explanation, but in the ears of someone like Yu Jianglong, how could he possibly believe that her relationship with Wei Tu was completely innocent?
With this, the threat of Yu Jianglong's pursuit was resolved!
Besides, in the cultivation world, a female cultivator's reputation mattered far more than a male's.
By sacrificing herself to protect Wei Tu's reputation, she would look like a humble, wronged woman in his eyes—a trait that could only make her more appealing as a potential dao companion.
However, no matter how carefully she plotted, Nan Zi couldn't know that she had already left a bad impression on Wei Tu a hundred years ago.
And that negative view couldn't be erased by a few simple words.
Still, hearing her explanation, Wei Tu didn't refute her. He chose to accept it.
After all, Nan Zi's explanation wasn't wrong and wouldn't do him any harm.
"It was my misjudgment. Please forgive me, Alchemist Wei, Sister Nan," Yu Jianglong said, though he was fuming inside. He knew from the things he heard with the Spirit Ear secret art that their conversation was far from what "just friends" would say.
But a wise man knows when to yield.
He wouldn't be stupid enough to contradict Nan Zi now.
"If you two truly aren't dao companions… I have another three Purple Sun Seeds here. Please accept them," Yu Jianglong said, his face showing a hint of pain as he took out another brocade box identical to the first, using his magic to send it toward Wei Tu and Nan Zi.
If Wei Tu and Nan Zi were dao companions, one gift would have been enough. But since they both said they weren't, he had no choice but to offer two separate gifts.
Two boxes floated in midair.
Wei Tu pondered briefly, then swept his sleeve, taking one box and putting it away.
"A fight brings understanding. Elder Yu, I accept your apology gift. Next time, if your Guangyuan Yu Clan needs pills, feel free to come find me…"
Wei Tu began to show goodwill.
Whether in the mortal world or the cultivation world, making enemies everywhere was never wise.
No matter how powerful a cultivator was, there would come a day they could be caught off guard and fall.
Just like the Ancestor Chishe of Qingzhu Mountain, who was poisoned and killed by the Mingwang Sect after a moment of carelessness—falling as a Nascent Soul expert to a group of Golden Core cultivators.
Making more friends and fewer enemies was the true way to survive.
He had already established his authority. So there was no need to push the Guangyuan Yu Clan completely into opposition. Since Yu Jianglong was willing to apologize, it meant there was still a chance they could get along peacefully.
Besides, even if he needed to oppose the Yu Clan in the future, it wouldn't be wise to do it under his true identity as Wei Tu.
"Of course, of course."
Yu Jianglong was surprised at first when he heard Wei Tu's words, but quickly came to his senses. He put on a smile and cupped his hands in agreement.
He couldn't say he didn't resent Wei Tu, but that hatred wasn't worth throwing away his own future by targeting someone whose cultivation was higher than his and who was also a third-tier mid-grade alchemist.
If there ever came a day for revenge, it would only be after he surpassed Wei Tu in strength and had a real chance of victory.
…
Once Yu Jianglong left, Wei Tu patted his spirit beast pouch, put away the floating Rift Hawk, and prepared to bid farewell to Nan Zi.
Before he came, he had no intention of staying long in the Beastmaster Sect. Now, after his conflict with Yu Jianglong, his reputation as "Alchemist Wei" would soon spread throughout the sect, making him a hot topic.
If he stayed any longer and ran into bold fools like the Fu siblings, who tried to imprison him for alchemy, it would only cause trouble. Even if he could handle it, it was still a hassle.
One simple truth: the more famous you were, the more drama you'd attract.
"It was my fault for causing trouble, making you and Elder Yu clash… You've only just arrived at the Beastmaster Sect, and you're already leaving…"
Nan Zi covered her face and wept softly, looking heartbroken.
Qiu Buchen, standing nearby, twitched at the corners of his mouth. Having cultivated under Nan Zi for a hundred years, he knew her personality well. She had always been domineering and rude, nothing like the delicate, pitiful act she was putting on now.
But out of respect for his teacher, he kept those thoughts to himself and didn't dare speak them to Wei Tu.
"If there's a chance, I'll come back to Chu Kingdom. Then I can stay at the Beastmaster Sect longer," Wei Tu said politely.
His words immediately lit up Nan Zi's eyes with joy, filling her with hope for their future.
"Miss Nan, since rumors are already flying about us, we should avoid adding fuel to the fire. Please stop here," Wei Tu said, pausing at the cave entrance and gesturing for her not to follow.
"Buchen, escort Alchemist Wei," Nan Zi agreed after a moment's thought, seeing the sense in his words. She ordered Qiu Buchen to send him off.
"Yes, Master," Qiu Buchen answered promptly.
He then led Wei Tu out of the Beastmaster Sect.
But halfway through the journey, Wei Tu suddenly stopped and gave Qiu Buchen a new instruction: "Take me to your cave. I have something to discuss with you."
Qiu Buchen was surprised but, trusting his benefactor wouldn't harm him, nodded and obediently led Wei Tu to his own cave.
A short while later, once inside, Wei Tu waved his sleeve without hesitation and set up a soundproof formation in the cave.
"Buchen, back when I went to Jing Kingdom to bring you and your sister here, I acted as your immortal sponsor and sent you both off to join your sects."
"At that time, I said this was an agreement I had with your ancestors… If the descendants of your Xia family prospered, I wouldn't intervene. But if your family fell into decline… I would come to your aid."
Wei Tu paused, looked at Qiu Buchen in front of him, and spoke seriously.
"Those words, I've never forgotten. I've always kept your great kindness in mind," Qiu Buchen replied, instantly kneeling and bowing deeply to Wei Tu.
Even though the words sounded simple, Qiu Buchen understood how rare it was for anyone to do what Wei Tu had done for him and his sister. That was why he felt such deep gratitude toward him, and why his sister had developed a crush on Wei Tu when they were younger.
"But there's something I never told you about what happened back then. Now that you've reached the late Foundation Establishment stage, it's time," Wei Tu continued. He flicked his sleeve, and a skeletal figure in Daoist robes appeared on the ground.
The skeleton wore a tall crown and a pale blue robe. Its entire body was dried up skin clinging to bones, with not a trace of flesh remaining. Unlike ordinary bones, however, it radiated a terrifying aura.
Just one glance at it nearly made Qiu Buchen's soul flee in fright as cold sweat drenched his back.
"What is this?" Qiu Buchen stammered, looking up at Wei Tu to confirm his suspicion.
"This is your ancestor, Venerable Master Shen Tu," Wei Tu said calmly.
A hundred years ago, he had already buried Venerable Master Shen Tu's bones, but somehow Gong Shulan discovered them with a secret technique and began excavating them. To protect the remains, he had carried Venerable Master Shen Tu's bones with him ever since.
Now, with Qiu Buchen's cultivation established, it was better for him to safeguard his ancestor's remains than for Wei Tu to keep carrying them.
"A Nascent Soul corpse…"
"So this is really my Xia family's ancestor…"
Qiu Buchen was stunned.
He had left home young and knew little about his family's past, though he'd always suspected his ancestor's cultivation must have been high. Otherwise, how could his family have been friends with someone like Wei Tu?
But he never imagined his ancestor had reached the Nascent Soul realm.