Whether it was Gu Cai'er's sister or her two brothers, their lives remained difficult, bearing no resemblance to someone who had been receiving financial support.

There was no record of her returning to her old home since coming up the mountain.

Gu Changhuan thought about the matter for a moment before casting it aside.

Meanwhile, at the Yanshan Yu Family.

After handling family affairs, Yu Daoyan let out a sudden sigh.

When the celebration ended, she had questioned Yu Ruyi as to why such a major event as a marriage alliance with the Fang Clan had not been reported to her and the elders beforehand. Yu Ruyi claimed he had not expected Fang Xin'ai to attend the ceremony.

He said that seeing her had overwhelmed him, and he had acted impulsively.

His explanation was barely plausible, leaving Yu Daoyan with no grounds to press him further, especially since he was the future of the Yu Family.

The other Yu Family elders, however, were far from satisfied. Given Yu Ruyi's status and aptitude, he could easily have taken a woman of superior lineage and talent as a Dual-Cultivation Partner. While Fang Xin'ai was undeniably beautiful, neither her background nor her aptitude were top-tier choices.

But the commitment had been made. It was too late to object.

They could only do their utmost to prepare the appropriate wedding arrangements for Yu Ruyi.

A Foundation Establishment wedding required the clan leader's attention. It hurt Yu Daoyan to think that the young man she had helped raise might now be preparing to take her position.

Still, she had to swallow her anger and hurt and arrange the wedding as duty required.

Though she could not suppress him openly, she had no intention of sitting idly by. She would simply wait until Yu and Fang were wed before making her move.

News of the impending marriage between the two clans spread rapidly through the Nine Perches Mountains, fueled by Yu Ruyi's maneuvers.

From Foundation Establishment seniors down to Qi Condensation rogue cultivators, many were engaged in lively discussions.

Some remarked that for a high-status Foundation Establishment expert to lower himself by marrying a Middle Qi Condensation woman and pledging never to take concubines must be the result of true love.

Others claimed the pair had known one another for years, and that Fang Xin'ai was descended from the Fang Clan's Purple Mansion ancestor.

Still others said he wanted to win favor with the Yu Clan's Purple Mansion ancestor.

While male cultivators assumed Yu Ruyi had been blinded by beauty, female cultivators unanimously envied Fang Xin'ai for securing a devoted, high-level Foundation Establishment husband.

A public marriage proposal during a Foundation Establishment Celebration was the very picture of romance for many female practitioners.

Before long, people began composing songs and tales about their tortuous and soul-stirring romance, ensuring every version concluded with a perfect ending.

Gu Changhuan was busy cultivating. Tempering his Spiritual Power had cost him two layers, and he had to be careful whenever he went out lest someone notice.

Now that he had spare time, his priority was to cultivate diligently and restore his fallen realm.

As for Gu Cai'er's matter, it mattered far less to him than restoring his cultivation.

As for the grand tales being spun about Yu Ruyi and Fang Xin'ai's romance, Gu Changhuan would probably laugh himself breathless if he ever heard them.

There might be affection between them, but Gu Changhuan did not think Yu Ruyi would lose his head over love. He had probably weighed several considerations before choosing her.

Those who walked the path of cultivation were largely detached. To harbor deep attachments to familial, romantic, or friendly ties invited inner demons and courted peril.

Even someone as affectionate as Gu Wanhao held no stubborn obsessions over Gu Shan's inability to cultivate.

Inside Gu Changhuan's room, Spiritual Qi surged violently.

He slowly ended his cultivation session, pleased. His fall in cultivation had come from a reduced store of Spiritual Power. Replenish that, and the lost layers would return.

Within a few short days, he had returned to the sixth layer of Qi Condensation.

In a few more days, he should be back at late Qi Condensation.

At that moment, a sudden frown crossed his brow as his Divine Sense swept over the courtyard.

Someone was outside.

Because both Gu Wanhao and Gu Changhuan were currently residing at Emerald Maple Mountain, the courtyard formations were not kept fully active during the day. When cultivating, Gu Changhuan only maintained the barrier around his own chamber.

The figure in the courtyard was none other than Gu Cai'er, the servant tasked with tending to the grounds.

She walked with a hurried pace, her head lowered and back hunched, her fists clenched tightly within her sleeves as though fleeing from some ferocious beast.

Gu Changhuan appeared in the courtyard in an instant.

"Cai'er, what are you busy with?"

"Young Master."

At the sight of him, Gu Cai'er dropped immediately to her knees, her face drained of color and fraught with panic.

"Why so frightened? I am not going to bite."

Gu Changhuan spoke with a light smile, though a thread of coldness lingered in his eyes.

Gu Cai'er stammered incoherently, her hands instinctively pressing against her abdomen.

"I have finished my work and was hurrying back to rest."

"Rest?

"Do you not have a room in the back courtyard?"

Gu Changhuan's voice cooled.

His Divine Sense found a small pill bottle hidden beneath her clothes at her abdomen.

A bottle of Qi-Nourishing Pills.

Panic now thoroughly seizing her, Gu Cai'er blurted out the first excuse that came to mind:

"Yes, I mean home, down the mountain. My grandfather has been unwell..."

Listening to her words, Gu Changhuan's gaze grew frostier.

"Cai'er, is there nothing else you wish to tell me?"

"Young Master, I... what would you like me to say?"

She was still attempting to feign ignorance.

She was certain no one had witnessed her pocketing the pills, making it impossible for the young master to know.

Furthermore, she had succeeded several times before without detection...

"Since that is the case, brew me a pot of tea."

Gu Changhuan walked over to the stone bench beneath the peach tree and seated himself, flicking his wrist to summon a complete tea service alongside water and leaves.

"Understood."

Keeping her head bowed and shoulders hunched, Gu Cai'er stepped forward with trembling steps to prepare the brew.

Gu Changhuan triggered a Communication Talisman, sending it darting away into the distance.

At that moment, Gu Changze was busy assisting with preparations for Gu Shiwen's Foundation Establishment Celebration at the General Affairs Hall when the talisman arrived.

"Seventeenth Brother wants me to gather all idle mortal servants currently on the mountain and bring them to his courtyard? How peculiar.

"Why is he so interested in the servants lately?

"First asking about their backgrounds, now calling a meeting."

He muttered to himself. It was strange, but Gu Changhuan never did things without a reason. There must be something behind it.

Before long, Gu Changze led a dozen servants to the outer courtyard.

Gu Changhuan sat leisurely sipping tea while Gu Cai'er stood nearby, cold sweat soaking her brow.

"Sixth Brother, come and have some tea.

"Cai'er, pour him a cup."

"Is something the matter?

"You have no idea how busy the General Affairs Hall has been, Seventeenth Brother. A lot of the experienced staff have been sent elsewhere. Few of those left have organized a Foundation Establishment celebration before. If you had not called me over, I would never have had a chance to take a break."

He lifted his cup, took a long gulp, and went on:

"I brought the people you asked for. You two, step inside."

At a gesture from him, two middle-aged women standing by the gateway entered.

"Greetings to the two Young Masters."

The women bowed respectfully.

"Rise. There is no great matter today; I merely asked you here to search this girl's person, as well as her quarters and belongings."

With that, Gu Changhuan glanced toward Gu Cai'er.

Sweat poured down her face as her complexion turned ashen.

Without hesitation, she collapsed to the floor, kowtowing repeatedly.

"Young Master, I know I was wrong!

"Please spare my life! I let greed get the better of me!"

Still kowtowing, she trembled as she took a small bottle from beneath her clothes at her belly.

Gu Changze understood at once. His expression turned cold as he looked at her.

The compensation provided to the mortals laboring on Emerald Maple Mountain was generous enough that even those who arrived empty-handed could leave to become wealthy local gentry.

On happy occasions, they even received spirit grain. The duties and rules were not especially strict: these were mortal members of the clan, after all.

There was one strict commandment known to every servant on the mountain:

Unauthorized theft of a cultivator's property was punishable by immediate execution.

In severe cases, the punishment could even extend to the culprit's family.

"Cai'er, do you really understand what you did wrong?" Gu Changhuan asked.