pertwk 509. Qingyu's Background
509. Qingyu's Background
"Huff, huff, huff." Xiao Yan was also panting heavily. It wasn't that there was something wrong with his body, but the news he was receiving was just too much of a shock.
Hua Qingyu was a contestant sent by the Hua Sect, a top power on the continent, to participate in the Pill Gathering. She herself had already attracted a lot of attention. She and Yi Xu of the Tianming Sect were both alchemy experts who emerged during the Pill Gathering.
However, her situation is different from Yi Xu's. Yi Xu of the Tianming Sect simply didn't know how to refine medicine before, but everyone still knows who he is.
Aside from the members of the Flower Sect, no one knew anything about Hua Qingyu. It was only later that they learned she was a direct disciple personally trained by a highly influential core figure within the Flower Sect. Because of her astonishing talent in alchemy, she had been keeping a low profile, preparing to make a name for herself at the Pill Gathering.
Hua Qingyu's background was so clear that, aside from initially attracting attention due to her strength and the Flower Sect, she was overshadowed by the battle between Xiao Yan and Ling Zhuo. Although Hua Qingyu was outstanding, Ling Zhuo and Xiao Yan were directly engaged in a battle of immortals.
Xiao Yan still remembers the first time he saw Hua Qingyu when he received the scroll; her true face hadn't been revealed yet. He stared at her for a long time, feeling only a vague sense of unease. If they weren't complete strangers, Xiao Yan might have even considered making a move and striking up a conversation.
Looking back now, Xiao Yan was all too familiar with Yao Lao's appearance, and Yao Qingyu had many similarities to Yao Lao. So even though Hua Qingyu used special methods to change the key aspects of her appearance, Xiao Yan still noticed some clues.
"But why? My teacher never mentioned it to me." Xiao Yan realized and asked. He had spent so much time with Yao Lao, and he had never heard that Yao Lao had any children. Even Yao Lao's close friend, Venerable Feng, was unaware of this matter; otherwise, there would be no reason why he wouldn't be informed when he came to the Pill Gathering.
"He never knew." Xuan Yi's gaze softened as she looked at Yao Qingyu. "The pregnancy back then was an accident. Before I could tell him, I heard about his disappearance. I searched for him for hundreds of years afterward, but still received no news. Combining what you said, I only just realized that he was harmed by Han Feng."
"For Qingyu's safety, very few people truly know the inside story. She was so fragile when she was born, and I really didn't want her to suffer any harm, so I placed her in the Flower Sect, which is the most suitable place for her in Zhongzhou. If it weren't for the Pill Gathering, I would have waited for your teacher to return before telling him in person."
Yao Qingyu's expression was also uncertain. She had only just learned today that Yao Zun Zhe Yao Chen was her teacher, but her mother Xuan Yi had never told her that much.
"Even so, the timeline doesn't match up; the teacher disappeared hundreds of years ago..."
"I had just become pregnant when he disappeared. I had already learned through the Pill Tower that the Soul Palace was going to take action against him, so I had some suspicions. During this time, I was so grief-stricken that it eventually affected the baby in my womb, Qingyu."
"Qingyu was born with congenital deficiencies." Xuanyi also took Yao Qingyu's hands, her eyes filled with a mother's love: "Given the circumstances at the time, if Qingyu were allowed to grow up, she would either die halfway or be unable to cultivate. So the elders of the Flower Sect used a strange technique to keep her in a deep sleep. Until more than 20 years ago, things took a turn for the better when the Pill Tower obtained a magical item, which allowed Qingyu to officially awaken."
Hearing this, Xiao Yan's doubts remained unresolved, but seeing the meaningful look in Xuan Yi's eyes, he tacitly refrained from asking further questions.
"In other words, Qingyu is actually only in her early twenties, the same age as you. That's why I want you to protect her at the Pill Gathering."
This was the first time Yao Qingyu had spoken: "Mother, I know what you're thinking, but I'm here for the Flower Sect's mission!"
"Qingyu, your talent is in no way inferior to any of your peers, but you've always stayed in the Flower Sect and haven't experienced enough. Many things are definitely not as safe as they are with your senior brother Xiao Yan. Everything your mother is doing is for your safety!"
"Thank you." Yao Qingyu said, "But blocking the Spirit Clan is a mission given to me by my sect, and I will do my best to complete it, regardless of whether anyone helps me. I can't stay out for too long. Now that I've met you, I should go back. Please take care of yourself. I'll come to see you again after the Pill Gathering."
Seeing Yao Qingyu about to leave, Xuan Yi hurriedly stuffed a storage ring into her hand: "Qingyu, this storage ring contains items your mother prepared for the Pill Gathering. You must accept it, and in case of emergency, be sure to contact your Senior Brother Xiao Yan!"
Yao Qingyu held the storage ring, and was taken aback by the concern in Xuan Yi's eyes. In the end, she nodded, put on her black robe, and left.
"Aunt Xuan, what was her attitude?" Xiao Yan asked after Yao Qingyu left. Although he was an outsider, he knew clearly that Yao Qingyu's attitude was inappropriate.
"It's not her fault." Xuan Yi's eyes were filled with self-reproach. "I failed in my duty as a mother. She has never seen you, Teacher, since she was born, and I raised her in the Flower Sect since she was little. I have never truly fulfilled the responsibilities of a mother. It is too difficult for her to understand everything now. It is understandable that she feels estranged from us..."
"Xiao Yan, Qingyu is just like that with her temper, but she's definitely a good child at heart. I hope you won't mind. You'll be fighting against the Spirit Clan in this small space, so please take good care of her for me."
Xiao Yan nodded without hesitation: "Just because she is my teacher's flesh and blood, as long as I have a breath left, I will not allow anyone to hurt her."
"However, I still have some questions."
"Go ahead and ask."
"I've learned about cases of congenital defects; most children would die on the spot if they encountered such a condition. You are a leader in the Pill Tower, and I believe you can save Qingyu... my junior sister's life. As for slowing down her growth, although I don't understand the Flower Sect's methods, I can understand them."
"But she's grown to be an eighth-grade alchemist at such a young age, and she doesn't seem to have been affected at all. Is there something you've been hiding from her?"
"You are indeed intelligent. I had a feeling from the beginning that I wouldn't be able to hide it from you." Xuan Yi suddenly said firmly, "I can tell you the whole truth, but you must promise me that you absolutely cannot tell Qing Yu!"
Upon hearing this, Xiao Yan roughly guessed what Xuan Yi was planning, and could only sigh in the end: "Please tell me, I promise I will definitely not tell her."