168: Public utensils for private use, return to the clan

Two months later.

Under the jade phoenix tree, Liu Xuan leaned back in a lounge chair, reading a confidential letter.

Beside him, his eldest daughter Lingxiu and second daughter Lingyun were playing games, each holding their daughters Ling Meng and Ling Lu.

“Big sister, I want to eat fruit!”

Ling Meng pointed at the green jade phoenix tree fruit on the tree, drooling.

“I want to eat too! I want to eat too!”

Ling Lu’s attention was caught, and she also stretched out her small hand, pointing at the fruit on the tree and shouting.

“That one isn't tasty. How about I get you some other fruit?” Lingxiu consoled them.

Ling Meng didn’t react much, but the little girl Ling Lu pouted her small mouth, and tears instantly filled her eyes, dripping down.

“Oh! Don’t cry, big sister isn’t lying to you,” she pointed at the fruit on the tree, “This kind of fruit isn’t tasty, and it’s poisonous. If you eat it, you’ll get sick!”

The jade phoenix tree fruit was a top-grade first-tier spiritual item, almost breaking through to second-tier. Even if Liu Xuan allowed it, she wouldn’t dare to let these two little girls eat it; they simply couldn’t digest such high-level Spiritual Qi.

“Big sister is lying! A few days ago, I saw mommy eat it, and it wasn’t poisonous at all!” Ling Meng retorted in a childish voice, her small face serious.

“This…”

Hearing this, Ling Lu next to her cried even more, as if her tears were free. This girl always cried silently, only shedding tears, looking utterly wronged, which made Lingxiu and Lingyun feel incredibly pained.

“Father!”

Lingxiu had no choice but to call for her father.

Liu Xuan heard this and stroked the heads of the two little girls, “Big sister isn’t lying to you. Little children can’t eat the fruit on the tree. You can only eat it when you grow up!”

“Look, aren’t your older brothers and sisters not eating it either? They also have to grow up before they can eat it!”

Ling Meng snuggled close to Liu Xuan, her small brows slightly furrowed, as if she was thinking about whether Liu Xuan was lying to her. After a while, she asked, “Even Big Brother, who is so tall, can’t eat it?”

Liu Xuan paused, then laughed, “Of course you can! When you grow as tall as Big Brother, you can eat as much as you want!”

“Daddy, you promise, no going back on your word!”

“Daddy never goes back on his word!”

With Liu Xuan’s assurance, Ling Meng happily went off to play. Ling Lu immediately followed suit, wiping away her tears; she didn’t really want the spiritual fruit that much anyway!

Liu Xuan chuckled and shook his head, picking up the confidential letter in his hand to read again. This was a letter from the Nether Fire Sect, and the sender was Xu Bin, who had been parasitized by the Puppet Gu.

The sub-gu had basically assimilated Xu Bin's information and could now confuse everyone except his close relatives.

As per Liu Xuan's instructions, he planned to mimic Xu Bin, gradually change his style of conduct, avoid contact with close relatives during this period, and slowly achieve the goal of replacing Xu Bin.

This letter described a series of subsequent impacts caused by Liu Hong's death in the Nether Fire Sect during this period.

The Liu Family Foundation Establishment Ancestor Liu Huatong was furious, executing many of Liu Hong's former male Concubines, as well as many who had grievances with Liu Hong, causing widespread panic within the Sect.

It had only recently begun to calm down, but the Sect was still investigating the mastermind behind the murder.

Xu Bin had met Liu Hong not long ago, and the Sect Enforcement Team had specifically questioned him. However, Old Ancestor Huatong was convinced that the murderer was at least a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, and Xu Bin was a Disciple of the Three Poisons Ancestor, making his identity sensitive. Therefore, they did not make things difficult for Xu Bin.

Unable to find the murderer, Old Ancestor Huatong was helpless. The Sect could not continue to expend a large amount of manpower and resources on the investigation indefinitely. As time passed, if he wanted to continue the investigation, he would have to use his own Family's people.

After reading the letter, Liu Xuan casually tossed it away. A flash of fire passed over the letter paper, turning it into ashes and dissipating.

The developments at the Nether Fire Sect were largely as he had expected, and it was even better that Xu Bin had not been exposed.

‘No need to worry about that side for now; just having Xu Bin keep an eye on things is enough.’

‘Speaking of which, this Puppet Gu is indeed useful. If I could parasitize more Puppets, it would be equivalent to cultivating a group of absolutely loyal dead soldiers, and dead soldiers who are integrated into various forces under normal identities!’

‘If only I could refine Old Ancestor Lu Ping’an of the Lu Family into a Puppet…’

Liu Xuan shook his head, dismissing the idea. The Puppet Gu required the target to be willing or without resistance. He was confident he could defeat or even kill Lu Ping’an, but he couldn’t render him powerless.

Once it failed, he would only be able to kill him, which would inevitably cause a stir. The risk outweighed the reward, and it wasn't necessary yet.

As for other Puppet candidates, there didn't seem to be any suitable ones for now, and their usefulness wasn't very significant.

Also, although Liu Xuan didn't have much morality, he still had a bottom line. Without significant benefits, he wasn't willing to kill indiscriminately.

While he was pondering, Lin Xue’er came over, holding her daughter Ling Meng. “Husband, in a few days it will be ten years since you joined the Sect. Should we go back to the Sect for a visit?”

Ten years!

“It’s been ten years!”

“Yes! It’s not far anyway. We’ll go back together.”

White Crane Lake could only be considered a temporary residence for the Liu Family. Liu Xuan’s goal had always been the Sect.

After Immortal Master Xiao’s intentions towards him became clear, Liu Xuan was no longer as afraid of him.

There was no need to hide so thoroughly; not daring to return to the Sect would instead make Immortal Master Xiao suspicious.

Most of his Concubines were Sect Disciples, and in the future, he also wanted all his children to join the Sect. Returning periodically was a good idea, so that everyone wouldn’t forget their identity as Sect Disciples.

The next day.

Liu Xuan informed Xiao Ran, who was currently engaged in Alchemy, and, under the pretext of returning to the Sect to report, requisitioned the second-tier cloud-breaking flying ship.

Xiao Ran was busy with Alchemy, and Yongning had been peaceful for several years with nothing happening, so she agreed to Liu Xuan’s request without much thought.

However, the Spirit Stones consumed by the flying ship had to be provided by Liu Xuan himself, and when he returned, he had to ensure that the number of Spirit Stones in the Formation core remained unchanged.

This was no problem for Liu Xuan at all. He used the flying ship just for travel, not for war. He estimated that a trip would only consume dozens of Spirit Stones, perhaps a hundred at most—a mere trifle!

Upon returning to the Fledgling Eagle Courtyard, Liu Xuan announced that they would return to the Sect for a month of fun tomorrow. All Concubines with Sect Disciple status and their children could go along.

As for She Xiaorong, Lu Ping, and the Concubines from Yongning’s Cultivator Families, they could not enter the Sect. During this time, they would remain on the island, and the island’s affairs would be jointly managed by She Xiaorong, Bai Zhiwei, and Bai Ling.

Liu Miao was Liu Xuan’s sister. With his current status, he should be able to bring her in by simply notifying the Law Enforcement Hall. So, Liu Xuan took her along as well.

Liu Xuan could see that his sister Liu Miao yearned for the Sect. If possible, he would see if he could get her an Outer Sect Disciple status at that time.

With prolonged interaction, Liu Xuan had come to genuinely accept this kind sister from the bottom of his heart, truly treating her as Family.

The next day.

The enormous cloud-breaking flying boat above Lake Heart Island descended over the Fledgling Eagle Courtyard. Liu Xuan’s Concubines and children happily boarded the ship, which then slowly flew towards the Sect.

“Using public resources for private gain! I’m going to report him to the Sect Enforcement Team!”

At a restaurant in the lakeside market, a Law Enforcement Team Disciple took a sip of wine, indignantly complaining.

“Brother Ye, calm down. Liu Xuan has deep connections; you can’t win against him!”

“Come! Let’s continue drinking.”

The people next to him quickly tried to persuade him.