Chapter Twenty-Six: A Year of Serenity

Gu Qingsong looked at Gu Weiyu. He didn't know why he could never help paying attention to his Eleventh Sister, and just now he had even blurted out a challenge to her!

But deep down, he knew the Eleventh Sister was definitely hiding her true strength. He was simply too curious!

Gu Weilan glanced at Gu Qingsong in astonishment; she, too, had thought her third brother wanted to challenge her.

Inside the martial arena, the crowd wore varied expressions. The man in blue, Gu Yu, thought he’d misheard and couldn't help but ask again, "Third, who did you say you wanted to challenge?"

Gu Weiyu stood there, stunned. She truly hadn't expected herself to be the first one challenged.

Gu Yu instinctively looked toward the head of the family, Gu Jun, who showed no reaction; only then did Gu Yu announce in a clear voice, "Challenge permitted!"

Gu Qingsong was the first to step to the center, saluted Gu Weiyu with polite decorum, and said, "Eleventh Sister, please!"

Gu Weiyu returned to her senses and walked up to Gu Qingsong. "Third Brother, why challenge me?"

Gu Qingsong lowered his voice, "Eleventh Sister, your third brother simply wants to know if you’re hiding your true abilities."

Gu Weiyu felt a bit helpless. She had wanted to keep a low profile, yet this fox of a third brother had noticed she hadn’t been using her full strength!

"Third Brother, I’ll do my best!" Gu Weiyu saluted in return, preparing for the duel.

"The contest begins!"

The moment she exchanged moves with Gu Qingsong, Gu Weiyu sensed the difference between him and Gu Weifang. His foundation was solid, his spells deft and fluid. Although his cultivation was only one stage higher than hers, he still pressed her steadily in battle.

In the past, Gu Weiyu’s opponents had always been weaker than she; she had never before faced a truly powerful adversary. Now, forced to confront Gu Qingsong’s attacks head-on, she felt a mounting pressure—and that in turn ignited her fighting spirit.

"Is Eleventh Sister really going to lose?" Gu Qingyun watched, worried, as Gu Weiyu dodged awkwardly around the arena.

Gu Weihuan bit her lip; she, too, feared the odds of their Eleventh Sister winning seemed slim.

Yet, though everyone expected Gu Weiyu to lose outright, she did not fall. On the contrary, each setback made her more determined; gradually, she caught up with Gu Qingsong’s rhythm.

Gu Qingsong looked at her meaningfully. At this rate, one lapse in concentration and he might really lose to this little girl!

Initially intending to hold back, he suddenly unleashed his full power—a fireball spell shot forth in an instant, followed immediately by a thrust of earth spikes.

The onslaught was relentless; Gu Weiyu’s pressure mounted sharply. She couldn’t help but gasp for breath—she hadn’t expected the gap at the fourth stage of Qi Refinement to be so large!

She barely dodged the fireball when Gu Qingsong’s next attack was already upon her. Unable to react in time, she looked up just in time to see him charging forward, another palm strike descending like a mountain.

The palm seemed fierce enough to shatter her, but at the last moment, it shifted course and struck her shoulder instead.

Gu Weiyu was hit hard and staggered backward, struggling to keep her balance. Just as she was about to fall, a slender, steady hand caught her, helping her stand.

A faint scent of locust blossoms wafted through the air. She turned in delight. "Great Ancestor!"

At the entrance to the martial hall stood Gu Qingzhou, dressed in crimson. He cast a cool glance at Gu Weiyu, then walked gracefully to the only vacant seat at the head of the hall.

"Greetings, Grand Elder!" Everyone inside the martial hall was momentarily stunned before they scrambled to bow to Gu Qingzhou.

The elusive old ancestor had made an appearance at last—so the rumors were true!

"Third Brother, thank you for going easy on me. It’s my loss," Gu Weiyu saluted Gu Qingsong, admitting defeat with poise.

Gu Qingsong’s expression was complicated. In truth, his victory was hardly honorable. "It was only a friendly match, Eleventh Sister. Don’t take it to heart."

Gu Weiyu smiled and nodded. Only then did Gu Yu announce Gu Qingsong’s victory.

Several more duels followed, but Gu Weiyu had lost interest in watching.

"Ah Yu, the Grand Elder is truly handsome!" Gu Weihuan gazed dreamily.

No wonder Ah Yu always said her Great Ancestor was the most handsome of all. After seeing the Grand Elder, even Lu Xingyun, Gu Weifang’s cousin, seemed merely ordinary by comparison!

"Of course!" Gu Weiyu puffed out her chest with pride, even happier than when the praise had been for herself.

"Hmph, he’s only a tiny bit handsomer than my cousin," Gu Weifang muttered, not quite sincerely.

With the arrival of the Grand Elder, the tournament reached its climax. Everyone gave their utmost, eager to perform well before their elders.

"Wow, Fourth Sister is amazing!" Gu Weihuan watched the battles in the arena with starry eyes.

Gu Weiyu nodded in agreement. Gu Weilan had challenged Ninth Uncle across ranks and still remained undefeated—she was truly impressive.

Compared to her, she herself still seemed lacking. Still, she would become just as formidable one day!

"If only I could be as strong as Fourth Sister in the future!" Gu Qingyun said wistfully.

"Fourth Sister has a mutated wind spiritual root, and it’s a single root. You can’t just envy that," Gu Qingxing dampened their spirits from the side.

Only now did Gu Weiyu realize how extraordinary Gu Weilan’s talent was. No wonder she had already reached the seventh stage of Qi Refinement at just nine years old!

With that, she stopped thinking about it and focused on watching the matches.

"Hey, where’s the Grand Elder?" Sometime later, Gu Weihuan asked softly.

Gu Weiyu glanced instinctively toward the head of the hall, only to find the Great Ancestor had already left.

"The tournament is concluded. Tomorrow, everyone will receive their well-earned cultivation resources," Gu Yu announced from the front.

"Let’s go home," Gu Qingyun yawned; getting up so early had left him drowsy.

Gu Weiyu and the others nodded, and everyone gradually left the martial arena, returning to their quarters.

After the tournament, the clan granted everyone a holiday. Each person could return home for six days.

Of course, there were also the diligent ones who stayed behind and trained without pause.

"Ninth Sister, what’s wrong?" Gu Weiyu went especially to say goodbye to Gu Weihuan, only to find her looking troubled.

"I was just thinking of Fourth Sister—she’s all alone, and it’s really quite sad," Gu Weihuan replied.

All alone? "Fourth Sister…" Gu Weiyu asked, curiosity piqued.

"Fourth Sister’s parents have both passed away. Who knows how she’s doing now," Gu Weihuan said wistfully.

Gu Weiyu felt a wave of sympathy. She hadn’t expected the gifted Gu Weilan to have such a sorrowful background.

"Ninth Sister, I’ll be returning to Green Hill Village tomorrow. I came to say goodbye," Gu Weiyu said, not knowing what else to say.

"I’m going back to Rock Tea Village tomorrow as well," Gu Weihuan brightened at the thought of her parents at home.

After returning from Green Hill Village, Gu Weiyu felt time had flown—spring gave way to summer, then autumn, then winter. Another year went by in the blink of an eye.

Gu Weiyu gazed pensively at the snow falling outside her window. Year after year, the snowflakes seemed unchanged.

But compared to last year, Yanxi Hall had changed greatly.

Third Brother Gu Qingsong and Sixth Brother Gu Qinghao had both advanced to the fifth stage of Qi Refinement. She herself had reached the fifth stage a month ago.

After entering the fifth stage, there was no need to attend Yanxi Hall anymore.

Currently, including the newly arrived Thirteenth and Fourteenth, only eight people remained in the hall.

In this year’s tournament, Gu Qingyun had finally reached the second stage of Qi Refinement, at last escaping last place—which delighted him to no end.

"That’s enough, Twelfth Brother, close your mouth already," Gu Weiyu said; ever since the tournament ended, Gu Qingyun’s grin had never faded.

"Ah Yu, will you be sent out on missions after the New Year?" Gu Weihuan asked, a little downhearted as she walked beside her.

"Yes," Gu Weiyu nodded.

Gu Qingyun’s smile finally faded. "Eleventh Sister…"