Chapter 333: Wang Qingzhi's Little Thoughts

Three hours later, Wang Changsheng and Wang Changfeng returned to Taiyuanfang City, as a crimson fiery cloud carried Meng Tianzheng and three others towards the gate of the Taiyi Immortal Sect. "The Five Taiyi Prodigies are indeed young talents. To form a Golden Core before the age of fifty... I wonder how Senior Meng cultivated."

Wang Changfeng watched the receding crimson fiery cloud and said with an envious tone.

"There's no point envying such things. We should just work hard ourselves!"

"I feel my bottleneck has loosened considerably, so I plan to go into seclusion to cultivate for a while. Ninth Brother, if Uncle Twenty-One comes out of seclusion and you have nothing pressing, you should return to the family. The family can't be left without someone in charge. Your sister-in-law is only at the fourth level of Foundation Establishment, and I'm afraid she won't be able to handle everything."

Wang Changfeng said earnestly.

Wang Changsheng nodded and said, "I was thinking the same thing, but there's no rush. Let's wait until Uncle Twenty-One comes out of seclusion."

Wang Changsheng made a trip to Jinyu Pavilion to purchase a batch of artifact-refining materials. His two top-tier Tier 2 puppet beasts were damaged, and he needed to repair them as soon as possible. Back at his residence, Wang Changsheng took out the gigantic ape puppet beast and the artifact-refining materials and began repairing the gigantic ape puppet.

***

Wei State, Wang Family Fortress.

In the Spirit Fish Courtyard, Qi Shanshan and Wang Qingzhi were sitting under a large tree, drinking tea and chatting. Wang Qingzhi smiled and said, "Fairy Qi, in a while, my mother and I will be going to the Song family to pay respects to Senior Song. If you need anything, I can bring it back for you."

"No, thank you, Fellow Daoist Wang," Qi Shanshan gently declined. "I appreciate your kind offer, but I don't have spirit stones to repay you."

"It's not worth many spirit stones anyway. Besides, you've been helping our family care for the spirit fish and spirit clams, so it's only right that I give you something in return."

Qi Shanshan's delicate brows furrowed. She said faintly, "Fellow Daoist Wang, you've used that excuse many times. Can you try a different one?"

Wang Qingzhi gave an awkward smile, scratched his head, and said foolishly, "Fairy Qi, I just want to give you some things. I don't mean anything else."

"You really don't mean anything else?" Qi Shanshan pressed him, her tone slightly heavier.

She was well aware of her situation. Her every move was under the Wang family's scrutiny. Over the years, the Wang family members had learned how to raise spirit fish and spirit clams from her. Though she hadn't taught them everything, her utility had decreased. Her best outcome would be to marry Wang Qingzhi. To be honest, after several years of interaction, she had developed a good impression of Wang Qingzhi. Wang Qingzhi was diligent in his work and sincere with people. Moreover, given his status, he would definitely reach Foundation Establishment in the future. Most importantly, Wang Qingzhi was very fond of her. If she could marry Wang Qingzhi, she would secure a better future and have a chance to avenge her family. However, Wang Qingzhi was like a block of wood. She had hinted many times, but Wang Qingzhi simply wouldn't express his feelings. If she were to confess herself, she feared Wang Qingzhi might look down on her.

"This…"

Wang Qingzhi didn't know how to answer. He genuinely liked Qi Shanshan, but he simply didn't dare to confess his feelings. What if Qi Shanshan rejected him? Wouldn't they not even be able to remain friends?

Just as Wang Qingzhi was pondering how to answer Qi Shanshan's question, a green flying eagle descended from the sky, with Wang Qingqing standing on its back.

"Second Brother, Mother wants you to come over."

"Mother called me? Is something wrong?"

Wang Qingqing rolled her eyes and pouted, saying, "How would I know? Go find out for yourself! Hmph, Mother is really biased. She's taking you to the birthday celebration but not me."

"Fellow Daoist Wang, you should go quickly! Don't keep your mother waiting." Qi Shanshan interjected, urging him.

Wang Qingzhi nodded and said, "Then I'll take my leave, Fairy Qi." He quickly walked onto the back of the flying eagle puppet. Wang Qingqing formed a hand seal, and the flying eagle puppet carried them both into the sky.

Qi Shanshan watched Wang Qingzhi fly away and let out a long sigh.

"Second Brother, if you like her, just tell Grandmother." Wang Qingqing said casually.

"Sister, don't talk nonsense. There's nothing going on between me and Fairy Qi."

Wang Qingqing glared at him and retorted irritably, "Nothing going on? You're always running to the Spirit Fish Courtyard every few days. You share all the good food and fun things with her. You don't like her, you're just toying with her? Even a fool can see it; do you really think I can't? If you didn't like her, would you repeatedly persuade Mother to arrange a meeting between her and that old man? If you truly like her, tell Grandmother soon and take her as a concubine. Otherwise, if one of our clan uncles takes a liking to her, will you really fall out with an uncle for her sake?"

"Take her as a concubine?" Wang Qingzhi frowned.

"Exactly! Her background is what it is—a desolate rogue cultivator. It's already quite good that you can take her as a concubine. Do you really want her to be your principal wife? Even if you agreed, Father and Mother wouldn't. Grand-uncle Guang and great-great-grandfather are both Golden Core cultivators. Would Father and Mother allow you to marry a rogue cultivator as your principal wife? To put it bluntly, if you hadn't gotten so close to her, she might not even be alive anymore. After all, we've now learned how to raise spirit fish and spirit clams."

Wang Qingqing was young, but her mind was as clear as a mirror, and she spoke logically. Being born into a cultivation family is a good thing; there are elders to protect you. However, on the other hand, if you haven't reached Foundation Establishment yet, you can't decide your own marriage. She was relatively fortunate; both her parents were Foundation Establishment cultivators, so a marriage arrangement wouldn't suddenly be forced upon her. She was enthusiastic about puppetry, partly because she genuinely liked it, and partly because she was thinking about her future. If she didn't master a skill for earning spirit stones, there was still a chance she might be used as a tool for marriage alliances with other cultivation families. She didn't want to marry someone she had never met. In this regard, she was quite similar to Wang Ruyan.

"Sister, your words are too harsh. Our family isn't that dark, is it! Even if I didn't get close to Fairy Qi, it doesn't mean the family would kill her."

Wang Qingqing chuckled softly, gave Wang Qingzhi a sidelong glance, and said, "I think your brain's going to rot from spending all day farming and raising fish in the Spirit Fish Courtyard. You think too highly of the cultivation world. There are many things you don't know about, but that doesn't mean they don't exist. Forget it, I'm too lazy to talk to you. Say what you want, it's none of my business anyway. If she marries one of our clan uncles, don't you dare regret it later."

After saying this, she formed a hand seal, and the flying eagle puppet slowly descended into a small courtyard.

Wang Ruyan, Wang Mingyuan, and Liu Qing'er were chatting in the stone pavilion. Seeing Wang Qingzhi, Liu Qing'er immediately stood up and said with a doting expression, "Qingzhi, come quickly! Grandmother made your favorite lotus seed porridge."

Wang Qingzhi dutifully responded, walked over quickly, and picked up a bowl to drink the porridge.

"Qingzhi," Wang Mingyuan advised earnestly, "your mother is taking you to the Song family for the birthday celebration. You should listen and observe carefully, broaden your horizons, and gain more knowledge. If you encounter anything you don't understand, ask your mother, and tell your grandparents about it when you return."

"Understood, Grandfather." Wang Qingzhi agreed. He recalled what Wang Qingqing had said and worried that Qi Shanshan might marry one of the clan uncles while he was away. After a moment of hesitation, he said, "Mother, the Spirit Fish Courtyard will be quite busy during this period. Why don't you take Sister instead? I'll stay in the family to look after the spirit fish."

"Nonsense!" Wang Ruyan retorted. "The Spirit Fish Courtyard can still function without you. What great insight can you gain from staying in the Spirit Fish Courtyard all day farming and raising fish? This time, it's Senior Song's four hundredth birthday, and many cultivation families are sending representatives to offer congratulations. It's a good opportunity for you to meet other young talents. Your sister is at a critical juncture in her cultivation, so she won't be going."

Wang Ruyan intended to use this opportunity to find a suitable marriage for Wang Qingzhi and simultaneously expand the family's influence. Of course, she wouldn't rashly decide Wang Qingzhi's marriage before Wang Changsheng returned. She was simply taking him to broaden his horizons. If they encountered a suitable young woman, the two families could interact more, making it easier to propose marriage in the future.

"Second Brother, just go with Mother!" Wang Qingqing patted her chest, assuring him. "I'll help you look after the Spirit Fish Courtyard; nothing will go wrong."

"Alright then! I'll go with Mother this time," Wang Qingzhi hesitated for a moment, then agreed. "Grandfather, Grandmother, Sister, is there anything you'd like? I'll bring it back for you."

"Grandfather and Grandmother don't need anything, as long as you return safely," Liu Qing'er said with a face full of affection. "The outside world is not like home. When you're out there, listen to your mother and Seventh Brother in everything."

Wang Qingqing nodded and said, "That's more like it. If you see anything interesting, buy me one or two things. Preferably something related to puppet mechanisms."

"Okay, I got it."

The next day, Wang Ruyan and Wang Qingshan, accompanied by ten clan members, departed from Wang Family Fortress.