81: Xu Yinyue

Chu Jingyu relayed the Huo Family of the county town's conscription order for all families in Zhiyao County to Chu Qinhui.

After listening, Chu Qinhui remained silent for a long time, then asked again, unwillingly, "Does the Clan Chief really have to go?"

Chu Jingyu nodded, "The Town Chief specifically emphasized it; I'm afraid there's no way around it."

Chu Qinhui's eyes trembled. He slowly rose from his seat and walked to Chu Jingyu.

With a 'thump,' Chu Qinhui knelt firmly on the ground.

Chu Jingyu's eyes widened. He stretched out his hands, just about to help his son up from the ground, when he heard Chu Qinhui's resolute voice,

"I implore Father, pass the position of Chu Family Patriarch to me."

A flash of realization crossed Chu Jingyu's eyes, then he bent down and pulled Chu Qinhui up.

"Qin Hui, you're being too naive. This so-called Clan Chief must go; it's not something you can take my place in by temporarily stepping aside."

Chu Jingyu bent down and personally patted the almost invisible dirt off Chu Qinhui's knees. "Besides, if I go, there might still be a chance of survival, but if you go, you will surely die.

Are you willing to see your father, with white hair, bury his black-haired son?"

"But, the Chu Family cannot be without Father."

Hearing Chu Qinhui's words, Chu Jingyu slowly walked a few steps in the room, looking at the sunset glow on the horizon, stained like fresh blood.

"Qin Hui, remember this: the Chu Family can be without anyone, but... it absolutely cannot be without Ancestor Chu.

So, during the days I am away from the Family, you must guard the ancestral hall and the Family's Origin Artifact without fail.

If... if I truly cannot return, with Ancestor Chu's presence, I believe it won't take long for you all to reach my current Realm. The Chu Family will also prosper from generation to generation."

Chu Qinhui took a step forward, "Father,..."

Chu Jingyu raised his arm, stopping Chu Qinhui from continuing, "My decision is made. Go and guard the ancestral hall well. I need to prepare for the hunt. Do not disturb me these two days."

After speaking, without waiting for Chu Qinhui's reaction, he had already stepped into the courtyard.

The red light of the sunset fell upon Chu Jingyu, making his figure appear increasingly blurred in Chu Qinhui's eyes.

"Yes, Father." The stunned Chu Qinhui slowly uttered these words... The next day, Xu Yinghui brought an old man and a young girl to the Chu Family compound. Because Chu Jingyu was in seclusion, the servants led the three to the ancestral hall's courtyard gate to await Chu Qinhui's reception.

The three waited for about fifteen minutes before the tightly closed ancestral hall door opened a crack. Through the crack, the three could only vaguely see a figure dressed in gray.

A calm voice emerged from the courtyard, "Elder Xu, I already know why you've come. Since it's an introduction from Elder Xu, we naturally trust it. Here is the reward of thirty Source Spirit Stone. Just arrive at the mansion on time tomorrow for the rendezvous."

With that, a pathologically pale hand holding a brocade pouch extended from the door crack.

The kind-faced old man beside Xu Yinghui seemed surprised that the Chu Family was so straightforward, able to pay the reward a day in advance.

The old man first took the brocade pouch with both hands, then cupped them towards the figure inside the door, "Many thanks, Master."

A faint 'hmm' sound came from behind the redwood door, serving as a response to the old man's gratitude.

"Elder Xu, let your granddaughter come in."

Xu Yinghui looked down at his granddaughter, who had two small braids and looked a little nervous. He smiled reassuringly and then stroked her hand.

"Go on, don't be afraid. Grandpa will be waiting for you outside the door."

The little girl, dressed in light pink, closed her eyes, clenched her fists, then squeezed sideways through the door crack, which was now slightly wider than before.

After she entered, the ancestral hall door closed with a click.

A gentle voice sounded above the little girl's head, "Why are you closing your eyes? There are no man-eating monsters here."

Perhaps it was the playful tone in the voice, or perhaps simply because the voice possessed a unique magic, the little girl instantly relaxed.

She slowly opened her eyes and saw a gray robe, and a gleaming jade pendant at the waist. Looking up, she saw a scholarly, delicate face.

It didn't seem as terrifying as she had imagined.

Chu Qinhui smiled faintly at the little girl, "Follow me."

Saying this, he turned and walked down the covered walkway, heading into the courtyard.

The little girl followed closely, secretly observing her surroundings.

Contrary to her imagined solemnity, this courtyard, which was larger than any wealthy household she had ever seen, was overgrown with weeds.

It didn't seem to be merely neglected, because the grass was lush and green, and all of a similar height, just covering her knees.

Moreover, it was the dead of winter, and ordinary weeds would typically not grow. She also seemed to see white figures darting back and forth among the green grass.

However, the grass was too tall and the figures moved too quickly for her to see what they were.

Just as she was happily observing, a faint reminder from Chu Qinhui, "Watch your step," pulled her back to reality.

The little girl looked up and saw an extremely high eaves and a grand hall appear in her field of vision.

Yes, this solemn, dignified, and grand atmosphere matched the image she had initially envisioned.

She followed Chu Qinhui into the ancestral hall but saw no ancestral tablets. Instead, she only saw a bare offering table, as if this Family had no ancestors worthy of veneration.

"What is your name?"

The little girl froze for a moment, then realized Chu Qinhui was asking her, so she softly replied,

"Xu Yinyue, 'Yin' as in diligent, 'Yue' as in melodious."

Xu Yinyue raised her eyes and saw the man in front of her seem to nod slightly, then she watched as the man's body suddenly lowered.

It wasn't until Chu Qinhui's head also touched the ground that Xu Yinyue realized the man was kowtowing.

Almost without thinking, Xu Yinyue also hurriedly knelt down.

"Chu Family disciple, Qin Hui respectfully requests Ancestor Chu to awaken the spirit for Xu Yinyue behind me."

Xu Yinyue knelt on the ground, her head slightly raised, and this glance revealed a surprising sight to her.

Colorful light condensed into threads in the air, then enveloped her head. Her body trembled slightly, but she forcefully controlled herself not to dodge.

However, the image she saw kept replaying in her mind: a somewhat ethereal figure lazily lying on a book, and the colorful threads were shining from a floating scroll beside him.

What was that? Was it an ancestor of the Chu Family, or a deity worshipped by the Chu Family? Xu Yinyue's small head was filled with many questions.

But a moment later, she cast these aside, because she suddenly felt her mind become much clearer, and a surge of strength flowed through her limbs and bones.

She could feel a significant difference from before.

The colorful threads withdrew from her body, and Chu Qinhui bowed again, "Thank you, Ancestor Chu."

Then he stood up and said with a smile to the little girl who was still kneeling, "The spirit awakening was successful. You can go back now."

After speaking, he returned the way he came.

Xu Yinyue quickly stood up and scurried after Chu Qinhui. As she exited the hall's portico, she unconsciously looked back at the offering table. This time it was empty, as if the ethereal figure from before had been an illusion.

She blinked her eyes in confusion, and seeing Chu Qinhui far ahead, she could only suppress her doubts and follow him outside.

The ancestral hall's redwood main door once again opened a small crack. The slender Xu Yinyue walked out, and the ancestral hall door closed tightly once more.

Xu Yinghui scrutinized his granddaughter up and down several times, then excitedly said, "Good, good, my granddaughter can now become a Contract Master! Let's go, Grandpa will take you to town to buy a Source Beast right away."

Xu Yinyue had questions she wanted to ask, but seeing her grandpa so excited, she didn't know where to begin. Perhaps those were all normal processes required for spirit awakening.

Thinking this, her heart became open and relaxed, turning into anticipation for contracting a Source Beast... Another day passed, at the entrance of the Chu Family compound.

Chu Jingyu took one last look back at the Chu Family compound, then, accompanied by two Contract Masters who appeared even older than him, boarded the carriage bound for the town.

No one came to see him off, except for Chu Qinhui. Chu Jingyu had not told the rest of the Chu Family members about his hunt Beyond the Border.

Chu Qinhui sat cross-legged before the ancestral hall's offering table. He slowly lit three incense sticks, then changed from sitting to kneeling, clasped his hands together, and softly prayed:

"May Ancestor Chu protect my father and ensure his safe return."