Being a Late Bloomer in the Cultivation World

When she saw Wei Tu thank her, a flash of surprise crossed Kou Hongying’s eyes, and her impression of him instantly improved.

She had heard her father mention the alliance between the four brothers, but since she hadn’t experienced it firsthand, it hadn’t left a deep impression on her.

Thus, while she respected Wei Tu and the other two men, she didn’t feel any particular warmth or closeness toward them.

Now, for Wei Tu to thank her, an elder to a junior, without being condescending or pulling rank, completely overturned her preconceived notions.

"The ten-year mark is approaching. I wonder if Uncle Wei might invite me to join you."

With a quick turn of her thoughts, Kou Hongying bowed slightly to Wei Tu and spoke.

Initially, she hadn’t paid much mind to the Cultivation Alliance that Wei Tu and the three other men had formed over thirty years ago.

When she later learned that the Cultivation Alliance had actually refused her entry, she developed a sense of aversion toward it.

However, after spending the last six months with Wei Tu, she had come to see his potential and his sensible nature—his ability to see the bigger picture.

She had a gut feeling that joining this Cultivation Alliance would be to her benefit.

Aside from her father, Kou Liang, the other three members of the original group were all men of upstanding character.

High-Tier Cultivators are easy to find.

But finding Cultivators you could confide in and mutually trust? Without a stroke of fate, you might never encounter such people in your entire life.

"The Cultivation Alliance?"

Wei Tu’s face was a picture of astonishment when he heard Kou Hongying’s request.

When they had first returned to the mortal world, the four of them had re-established three great pacts. But as time passed and everyone went their separate ways, they had all subconsciously begun to ignore the former Cultivation Alliance, speaking only of their personal bonds.

Now, among the four brothers—

Kou Liang had given up on the Immortal Path, wanting only to support his daughter, Kou Hongying, in becoming a Foundation Establishment Master to fulfill his lifelong wish.

Weii Fei had given up the Immortal Path, returned to the mortal world, and begun to enjoy its dazzling pleasures, intending to spend the rest of his life this way.

Fu Zhizhou had the ambition to climb the Immortal Path, so he became an Assassin, living on the edge of life and death. But due to financial hardship, he had also given up on having children, choosing to "live alone."

...

Considering the circumstances, Wei Tu didn’t believe the Cultivation Alliance could possibly survive.

That included... the ten-year agreement.

If no one brought it up, he would have assumed it had dissolved, and he would no longer have felt bound by it.

And yet, now—Kou Hongying, a member of the next generation, had unexpectedly brought up the Cultivation Alliance again... and even expressed a desire to join...

Wei Tu found this rather difficult to comprehend.

"If I join, I wish for it to be mutually beneficial for myself and my three uncles. I would never dream of trying to order you around..."

"You can rest assured on that point, Uncle Wei."

Kou Hongying pressed her lips together, offering her assurance.

She knew the deeper reason why Wei Tu and the other two had disagreed when Kou Liang wanted her to join the Yee Society last time.

’They were afraid she would leech off them.’

"Since you feel this way, Hongying, then I’ll... I’ll see if I can persuade your other two uncles to let you join."

Wei Tu pondered for a moment before replying.

Kou Liang, who was standing to the side, did not interrupt the conversation between Wei Tu and Kou Hongying.

His expression was complex, showing both joy and worry.

’With Third Brother here, we should be able to bring the Yee Society back together. I just don’t know... if my other two sworn brothers will agree to let Hongying join...’

Kou Liang sighed softly.

He knew full well that only Wei Tu, the group’s backbone, could reunite the Cultivation Alliance, which was currently on the verge of collapse.

But the crux of the matter was—

Reuniting was easy; maintaining it would be hard.

...

「One year later.」

On June 13th, inside the Celestial No. 3 Private Room at Tiansheng Tower in Nanhang City, Qujiang Dao.

Summoned by a letter from Wei Tu, Fu Zhizhou and Weii Fei had arrived one after another, meeting with him and Kou Liang once more.

"Third Brother, this is a letter from Fellow Daoist Hu."

"It’s related to the Tribulation Cultivators you encountered."

After seeing Wei Tu, Fu Zhizhou didn’t rush to reminisce about their brotherly bond, but first handed Wei Tu a letter.

"Fellow Daoist Hu is very thoughtful."

After reading the letter, Wei Tu praised Hu Yao.

In the letter, Hu Yao stated that, as he had requested, she had gotten a clear look at the Tribulation Cultivators who had tailed him out of Danqiu Mountain.

They were a man and a woman.

The man’s name was Ying Bing, the woman’s Zhuo Yan.

At this point in the letter, Hu Yao subtly hinted that the pair were quite close with Geng Wen, the second disciple of Danqiu Mountain’s Alchemist Shu.

"I suspect your encounter with the Tribulation Cultivators, Third Brother, had something to do with me flashing my wealth when I bought those Earth Essence Pills..."

Fu Zhizhou waited for Wei Tu to finish the letter, then apologized with a remorseful look on his face.

After returning from the Yaolang Mountain Range, he had learned of Wei Tu’s run-in with Tribulation Cultivators. At the time, he was consumed by rage and wanted revenge...

He later went to Helian Xiong to discuss a plan, and Helian Xiong took the opportunity to remind him that the incident was likely his fault.

If he hadn’t become an Assassin and bought two Earth Essence Pills in one go, he wouldn’t have attracted the attention of Geng Wen and the others.

And Ying Bing and Zhuo Yan wouldn’t have kept a close eye on Wei Tu before hatching a plan to ambush him.

Hearing this, the doubts in Wei Tu’s mind instantly vanished.

He’d had the same worry back when Fu Zhizhou purchased two Earth Essence Pills in quick succession.

He just didn’t expect that Ying Bing and Zhuo Yan would be so patient, only deciding to make a move on him after eight years.

’Perhaps I wasn’t their only target... it was just my turn this time...’

’Or, they planned to fatten me up before the slaughter...’

As Wei Tu’s thoughts turned, he pieced together the gist of Ying Bing and Zhuo Yan’s thinking.

’When I left Danqiu Mountain, three years had passed since I had last bought an Earth Essence Pill, and I had saved up a new sum of Spirit Stones.’

As for why Ying Bing and Zhuo Yan didn’t target Fu Zhizhou, that was also easy to figure out.

Assassins lived on the edge of life and death; the difficulty of ambushing one was much greater than ambushing him.

Furthermore, Assassins usually traveled in groups and were dirt poor; you couldn’t squeeze a drop of profit out of them.

The odds of being killed in the attempt were much higher.

"There’s no need to blame yourself, Fourth Brother. You’re an Assassin. If you don’t do everything you can to raise your cultivation, you risk losing your life..."

Wei Tu consoled Fu Zhizhou, not holding the matter against him.

Fu Zhizhou had been careless this time, but the truly detestable ones were Tribulation Cultivators like Ying Bing and the treacherous nature of the Cultivation Realm.

He could see that clearly.

...

After talking about the Tribulation Cultivators, Wei Tu got to the main point, asking Weii Fei and Fu Zhizhou if they agreed to Kou Hongying joining their Cultivation Alliance.

"What?"

"Hongying wants to join?"

Just like Wei Tu when he first heard the news, both Weii Fei and Fu Zhizhou wore looks of utter astonishment.

Ten years ago, they had refused to let Kou Hongying join because they were worried the Kou father-daughter pair would take advantage of them...

But things were different now.

At the time, Kou Liang had been of almost no help in the twenty-odd years since joining the alliance. Although neither of them said it aloud, they were unwilling in their hearts to concede any more significant benefits to him.

However, with Kou Liang repaying his debt of gratitude to Wei Tu, all of that had vanished into thin air.

Now, Kou Hongying was a disciple of an Immortal Sect and had already passed the difficult period where she needed their support...

Her joining the Yee Society would clearly be of greater benefit to them.

Of course, all of this was predicated on one thing:

Equal standing!

"It’s not out of the question for Hongying to join the Yee Society, but... I can’t figure out why she wants to join."

Fu Zhizhou stared intently at Kou Liang, awaiting an explanation.

He had given up on his own children; why would he be willing to work himself to the bone for Kou Liang’s daughter?