Being a Late Bloomer in the Cultivation World

In terms of danger, Chaning Cliff was even more perilous than Hongyan Mountain Marketplace, if not worse. After all, Zheng Country had now become the main battlefield between the Righteous and Demon Daos, and the intensity and scale of the war far exceeded what had come before.

"It's been over fifty years, and our Yee Society has finally reunited." A look of deep emotion crossed Fu Zhizhou's face as he spoke, waiting for Kou Hongying to take her seat.

Fifty years ago, and fifty years later.

For him, it was an eternity, a world transformed.

More than fifty years ago, in his pursuit of Foundation Establishment, he had "stood up" the Yee Society, failing to attend their ten-year reunion.

Unexpectedly, after that one time, the four members of the Yee Society never had the chance to gather together again.

During these fifty years,

Weii Fei failed his Foundation Establishment, became disheartened, and withdrew from the Yee Society. He married a female cultivator named Zhao Ting and started a family.

The Huang Family's Yunze Secret Realm opened.

The beast tide in the Yaolang Mountain Range, the Demon Dao's invasion of Jing Country...

One event after another prevented the four members of the Yee Society from reuniting, even if they had wanted to.

Fortunately, fifty years later, fate had turned. Weii Fei had succeeded in his Foundation Establishment, Wei Tu had survived Chaning Cliff and returned, and the others were also "at leisure." They finally had the opportunity to come together again.

As soon as he finished speaking, before Wei Tu and the others could get sentimental, Fu Zhizhou reached out and used his Magical Power to draw the wine pot over. He filled Wei Tu's and Weii Fei's cups to the brim, then, without another word, tilted his head back and downed several cups himself.

"Let's drink!" Weii Fei didn't say much. He clinked cups with Wei Tu, then followed Fu Zhizhou's lead, downing one cup after another.

Wei Tu didn't hold back either. Even a hundred years ago, his tolerance for alcohol was no less than Fu Zhizhou's or Weii Fei's.

The three men took turns pouring, each cup filled to the brim.

Kou Hongying watched from the side with a smile, silently observing the three old brothers. She didn't interrupt their reunion.

Occasionally, she would rise, gather her sleeves, and help pour wine for the three of them, not a hint of impatience on her face.

'If Father were still alive, he'd probably be just like Uncle Wei, Uncle Fu, and Uncle Weii, drinking heartily until dawn...' The thought suddenly occurred to Kou Hongying, and a trace of sorrow appeared in her eyes.

Among the four members of the Yee Society, she was the one who had taken the place of her father, Kou Liang.

「Several hours later.」

Fu Zhizhou let out a drunken hiccup and declared, "That was great!" The three of them then stopped drinking and used their Magical Power to expel the alcohol from their bodies.

In an instant, the room was filled with the smell of wine.

Just then, Fu Zhizhou's expression grew calm. He looked at Wei Tu and asked, "Third Brother, you wrote to invite us for this Yee Society reunion. Is there some important matter you wish to discuss?"

Over a hundred years ago, they had formed the Yee Society to stick together for warmth. Now, more than a century later, all four members of the Yee Society were Foundation Establishment Cultivators with a certain standing in the Cultivation Realm. As a result... they no longer supported each other, instead going their separate ways.

The reason the Yee Society hadn't reunited in the past fifty years wasn't just because the timing was wrong, but also because... there was no longer a need for the Yee Society to reunite.

In the Qi Refining Realm, the gap between them hadn't been that large.

They could complement each other's resources.

But after Foundation Establishment, things were different.

It became difficult for them to continue complementing each other's resources.

Cultivation was, for the most part, an individual endeavor!

Therefore, when Wei Tu invited them to reunite this time, Fu Zhizhou didn't have to think hard to know that Wei Tu must have an important matter to discuss.

"Fourth Brother, what are you saying...?" Hearing Fu Zhizhou's words, Weii Fei couldn't help but frown and rebuke him.

Although Fu Zhizhou's tone was gentle, his words were extremely inappropriate. It was as if Wei Tu had a favor to ask of them, and that was the only reason he had sent a Talisman after fifty years to reunite the Yee Society.

"I misspoke."

Seeing Weii Fei reprimand him, Fu Zhizhou's brow twitched. However, as if remembering something, he didn't argue the point further. After a brief apology, he fell silent.

"Fourth Brother, you're overthinking it," Wei Tu said with a smile. "I invited Second Brother, Hongying, and you, Fourth Brother, simply to celebrate our survival and return from the front lines..."

"There's no important matter."

Wei Tu waved his hand dismissively.

Hearing this, Fu Zhizhou's expression changed instantly. He could hear Wei Tu's displeasure and mistrust in those words.

And after those words were spoken, the atmosphere in the private room shifted. It was no longer as harmonious as before; a certain tension had crept in.

"I... will take my leave." Fu Zhizhou gritted his teeth. He rose, gave Wei Tu a cupped-fist salute, and stormed out of the room with a flick of his sleeve.

Staring at the open door of the private room, the three people left inside fell silent for a moment.

Finally, it was Kou Hongying who broke the silence and closed the door.

"I trust Uncle Wei."

Kou Hongying's words were simple and to the point.

"I trust Third Brother, too," Weii Fei quickly added.

After knowing him for so many years, he understood Wei Tu's character. He had seen for himself the help and support Wei Tu offered him when he was in dire straits.

Compared to Wei Tu, Fu Zhizhou was far inferior in both character and loyalty.

He and Fu Zhizhou lived next to each other, but in all these years, Fu Zhizhou had hardly ever visited him. He had never even sent a seasonal gift.

Before, Weii Fei could have attributed this to Fu Zhizhou being an Ascetic, unskilled in social niceties.

But after what happened today, Weii Fei understood. It wasn't that Fu Zhizhou was ignorant of these things; he simply didn't do them because they offered him no benefit.

"Thank you, Second Brother, and Hongying."

Wei Tu stood up and expressed his gratitude.

After thanking them, Wei Tu finally got to the point. "I did indeed write to invite Hongying, Second Brother, and Fourth Brother to discuss an important matter. It's about... going to Kang Country."

"Besides that, there is also some good news... to tell you."

As he said this, Wei Tu's voice choked up slightly, and he couldn't hide the look of disappointment on his face.

He had summoned the other three members of the Yee Society this time for a good reason, but Fu Zhizhou, without even waiting for him to finish, had jumped to the conclusion that he was asking for a favor and questioned his motives.

'A century of friendship, and it's come to this.'

Wei Tu sighed to himself.

Years ago, Fu Zhizhou had stood guard for him outside Danqiu Mountain and killed the Tribulation Cultivator, Ying Bing.

In their many interactions later, Fu Zhizhou had also shown himself to be a man of great loyalty and sentiment, not a cold-hearted person.

Seeing this, Kou Hongying tried to console Wei Tu. "Uncle Fu is my elder, so it's not my place to speak ill of him. But... back then, Uncle Fu abandoned his wife and son to walk the Immortal Path alone... While this shows the firmness of his Dao heart, how can a man who would abandon even his own wife be a person of great loyalty and sentiment...?"

Then, Kou Hongying added, "Uncle Fu is now at the Middle-Stage Foundation Establishment Cultivation, and he practices Dharma and Body Dual Cultivation."

"It's possible... that he gained some other opportunity on the battlefield."

Kou Hongying's underlying meaning was obvious.

The Fu Zhizhou of today no longer needed help from Wei Tu, a Tier Two Talisman Master, which was why he acted so cold and questioned him.

Back then, Fu Zhizhou was a "Three-No Cultivator"—no resources, no aptitude, no opportunities. Of the cultivator's essentials—Dharma, companion, location, and wealth—he had only a "companion." That was why he had relied so heavily on Wei Tu...

Hearing this, Wei Tu nodded.

He felt some of his frustration dissipate.

He understood that Fu Zhizhou wasn't as "cold-hearted" as Kou Hongying made him out to be. Otherwise, he wouldn't have secretly given Fu Lin those ten Spirit Stones.

By the same token, Fu Zhizhou wasn't completely devoid of loyalty toward him either.

It was just that he had fewer uses for Wei Tu now, so he paid him less mind. That was why he had lost his composure and spoken out of turn.

And as for him, there was also a reason why he hadn't told Fu Zhizhou about the matter concerning Kang Country, which had led to Fu Zhizhou's disgruntled departure...

Sneaking into Kang Country was no small matter.

The slightest mistake could lead to a point of no return.

Since he no longer fully trusted Fu Zhizhou, he naturally wouldn't tell him about this secret plan.

'Xian'er's perception talent could be useful on the journey to Kang Country...'

"The choice rests with Second Brother. Your foolish younger brother will not force you."

Wei Tu collected his thoughts and got down to business.

...

After they finished discussing the important matters, Weii Fei left with Weii Xian'er.

Kou Hongying and Wei Tu were left alone in the private room. Kou Hongying took out a tea set from her Storage Bag and began to brew tea herself.

"This is a Tier Two Spirit Tea, Purple Cloud Mist. Uncle Wei, you should try some. It will help clear your head from the wine..." Kou Hongying said softly as she poured a cup of tea for Wei Tu.

Wei Tu nodded. He glanced at the empty seat Fu Zhizhou had left behind and sighed, "It's not like... when we were young anymore."

...

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