Being a Late Bloomer in the Cultivation World

He and Master Qin had known of each other for a long time. Shortly after Kou Hongying became a disciple of Jingshui Pavilion, Master Qin had learned that she had an elder like him.

But they had only truly interacted around the time they entered the Yunze Secret Realm.

During that time, the only thing that could have made Master Qin so fixated on him was what he experienced in the Nanhua Sect's Remnant Land after they had separated.

'Could it be that back in the Secret Realm, Master Qin guessed that I... found something else in the Stone Hall?' Wei Tu's mind raced as he considered the worst-case scenario.

Master Qin's fixation on him wasn't born of respect or any other positive sentiment, but of greed.

Although he had come up with a plausible excuse to cover up Si Qing's death, perhaps he had slipped up somewhere, leaving a flaw that Master Qin had noticed.

'Master Qin must only be speculating. She can't be certain. Otherwise, she wouldn't have let me leave the Stone Hall back then.' Wei Tu breathed a small sigh of relief at this thought.

Now, Master Qin's memories were damaged and she had forgotten that period. Regardless of whether her original motive was greed, his situation was safe for the time being.

'Mountains crumble, and people flee. In the end, you can only rely on yourself,' Wei Tu thought grimly.

He had originally thought that once Master Qin became a Golden Core True Monarch, he would gain a powerful protector.

But now, it seemed this protector might turn on him at any moment.

Even though he had a connection with Master Qin and was the uncle of her disciple, Kou Hongying... in the face of greed, none of that could be relied upon.

In the Cultivation Realm, scenes of brothers becoming mortal enemies and masters and disciples turning against each other over personal gain were an everyday occurrence.

"Hm? Could it be this?" At that moment, Master Qin spoke suddenly. With an Instant Body, she appeared right in front of Wei Tu.

Her enchanting face suddenly appeared before him, growing larger in his vision. Her radiant complexion, like the rosy hues of a sunset, was free of any makeup. Her full lips glistened, her nose was delicate and shapely...

In that instant, it all rushed toward him.

At the same time, a fragrance as subtle and elegant as an orchid wafted around him.

A beauty was leaning over him—but Wei Tu felt no excitement at all. His body went taut, and the two Blood Pills inside him trembled faintly, as if they were about to erupt at any moment.

At that moment, Wei Tu was prepared to fight Master Qin to the death.

'There's a limit to one's power...' A bitter smile touched Wei Tu's lips as he recalled the words he had spoken to his daughter, Wei Yan, just last month.

He had come to attend Master Qin's Core Formation celebration, never imagining that he would be interrogated by her, let alone find himself in a life-or-death crisis.

But—

With Master Qin's next move, the divine light of the two Blood Pills Wei Tu had mobilized receded, and they drew back into his Dantian. His taut body relaxed slightly.

A moment ago, Master Qin hadn't tried to snatch his Storage Bag, but rather the Shuangming Jade hidden at his waist.

More than a decade ago, after they had parted ways outside the Yunze Secret Realm, Master Qin had never asked Wei Tu to return the Vice Jade of the Shuangming Jade.

The Shuangming Jade was a Dual Cultivation Magical Artifact.

This time, Wei Tu had come to the Core Formation celebration with the intention of returning the Shuangming Jade to its rightful owner. That was why he had kept it on his person ever since entering Jingshui Pavilion.

'Was it the Shuangming Jade?' Seeing this, Wei Tu wondered if he had been overly suspicious, if Master Qin truly harbored no greed toward him.

But he quickly dismissed the thought. It was better to be safe than sorry.

As a Cultivator, how could he entrust his life to another's mercy?

He had to prepare for the worst, not hope for the best.

"So it's this Dual Cultivation Magical Artifact?" Master Qin retreated, stopping about ten paces from Wei Tu. She studied the Phoenix Jade Pendant in her palm, a hint of curiosity in her eyes.

The Immortal Transformation Pill she had taken had been tampered with, causing her to lose her memory upon breaking through. However, she had only lost the memories of the last thirty-odd years; her memories from before that remained intact.

If that weren't the case, even arranging the Core Formation celebration after her breakthrough would have been difficult, let alone personally inviting Wei Tu to the banquet.

Then, Master Qin took out the main jade of the Shuangming Jade from within her robes and joined the two pieces into one.

"The Shuangming Jade is a Dual Cultivation Magical Artifact. Why would I give it to you? Are we... Dao Companions?" Master Qin asked, pursing her lips.

Wei Tu's appearance was ordinary.

It was difficult for her to imagine developing romantic feelings for him at first glance.

"When we were about to enter the Yunze Secret Realm, you gave me this Shuangming Jade so we could stay in contact, Elder Qin," Wei Tu immediately explained upon hearing her question.

"Since I'm the one who gave you the Shuangming Jade, you should keep this Jade Pendant." After a moment's thought, Master Qin separated the Vice Jade and used her Magical Power to send it floating back to Wei Tu.

"What?" Wei Tu was taken aback. He didn't understand why Master Qin would do such a thing.

By all rights, Master Qin should have taken back the Vice Jade and severed this connection with him.

After all, being linked by such a scandalous rumor... to a mere Foundation Establishment Cultivator... was undoubtedly damaging to her reputation.

"Come here," Master Qin instructed coolly once Wei Tu had put away the Shuangming Jade. There was no emotion in her voice.

Wei Tu froze, wondering what she was up to now. After a moment's hesitation, he still walked toward her.

"Touch my shoulder!"

Master Qin commanded again.

She needed to find out why, deep in her fragmented memories, she considered Wei Tu an important person. Was it because of some emotional attachment, or was there another reason entirely?