Chapter 268: Alliance With The Ancient Qiu Clan.
Standing outside the ancestral courtyard, Qiu An and the clan master, Qiu Yong, lingered in silence, their expressions stiff and unpleasant.
The quietness around them only made the heaviness in their hearts more suffocating.
Frequently, the two men exchanged bitter smiles.
Neither of them could have predicted that the great ancestor would cast them out so unceremoniously, all because of a single boy.
An outsider.
For men of their status, to be treated this way felt like a great slap across their faces. But they dared not voice their dissatisfaction.
Half an hour dragged by in this tense atmosphere.
Then, like a bolt of lightning, the sharp and impatient voice of their ancestor broke the silence.
"What are you two doing out there? Come in immediately!"
The words rang in their ears with a weight that made both men subconsciously lower their heads.
Sigh!
Unwillingly, the two men released deep sighs, the sound almost identical as it slipped from their mouths.
They straightened their robes, composed their faces, and began walking toward the ancestor’s courtyard with heavy steps.
Creak!
The wooden door groaned as they pushed it open. What greeted them inside, however, was a sight that left both men completely stupefied.
Apart from the familiar presence of the stern old woman.
The Second Ancestor, there was another figure within the courtyard.
An old man sat there, his sparse white hair tied into a simple knot, his body draped in a plain gray Daoist robe.
His wrinkled face glowed with calm vitality, and he was speaking with Mo Jian as though they were longtime acquaintances.
Ahhh!
"First Ancestor!"
Qiu An and Qiu Yong cried out in unison, their voices trembling with disbelief.
For decades, neither of them had seen their First Ancestor.
The First Ancestor, the foundation of their clan, was so old that he had long since withdrawn into closed-door cultivation, rarely showing himself.
He preserved his dwindling vitality and strength for the day when the clan truly faced a life and death situation
Yet here he was, sitting casually, conversing with an outsider boy.
"Little An, Little Yong..." The First Ancestor’s voice was warm and filled with kindness, his wrinkled lips curving into an amicable smile.
"Both of you have grown a lot stronger since I last saw you."
"Hahaha, compared to the First Ancestor, we are nothing," Qiu An quickly responded, bowing respectfully, his tone filled with humility.
"As long as you continue to improve, that is all that matters," the old man said softly, his eyes shining with wisdom.
Both Qiu An and Qiu Yong nodded earnestly, their hearts swelling.
Even a few simple words from the First Ancestor felt like receiving divine guidance.
The old man’s gaze suddenly shifted toward Qiu An. "I heard your daughter has grown close to our little friend here." He gestured lightly toward Mo Jian, who sat quietly at his side.
"Yes, Ancestor. She works for him at the chamber," Qiu An replied quickly, trying his best to sound composed.
The First Ancestor stroked his beard thoughtfully before shifting his attention to Mo Jian.
His eyes lingered for a moment, unreadable, before he finally looked back at Qiu An.
"We’ve decided to betroth her to him, to solidify our alliance. What are your thoughts on this matter?"
His words struck like a hammer.
Qiu An’s heart trembled, but a forced smile appeared on his face.
"Ancestor, it is her blessing to contribute to the clan." His voice was filled with a mixture of reverence and flattery.
"Enough with your bootlicking. Just answer the damn question," the Second Ancestor snapped, her tone sharp and impatient.
Qiu An’s lips twitched awkwardly.
"Ah! Ancestors, my daughter will be happy with this. For many years, she has never brought anyone home, except him. This alone makes it clear... she holds feelings for him."
Both Ancestors exchanged satisfied nods, pleased with the answer.
Although the two of them could have easily forced the marriage alliance if they wished, the Qiu clan had never been one to impose on their own.
This was political, yes, but it also carried genuine intent.
"Good, good. Then this alliance can be considered complete," the First Ancestor said firmly.
He turned his gaze toward Mo Jian. "Little friend, what do you think of this arrangement?"
Mo Jian, calm as ever, offered a faint smile. "Senior, I have nothing to say."
The First Ancestor chuckled at the boy’s simplicity.
"Very well. From this day onward, the Dust Valley Sect and the Thousand Wealth Chamber shall be eternal allies of our Qiu Clan." His voice carried the solemnity of an oath.
"Little An, Little Yong," he continued, "you will both assist our friend in the imperial capital. Anyone who dares to threaten him will answer to us."
"Yes, Ancestor!" Both men responded firmly, their voices carrying genuine weight.
They understood clearly... the alliance had been sealed.
From this moment, their clan and Mo Jian’s sect and chamber were bound to the same ship, sharing both fortune and danger.
The Second Ancestor suddenly leaned forward, her eyes twinkling mischievously as she said to Mo Jian.
"Now that we are allies, may I trouble you for another batch of Spirit Leaves?"
"Yes, Senior. Once I return to the hotel, I’ll send another batch to you," Mo Jian replied with a bright, polite smile.
"Hahaha! Good, very good. Such a sensible boy," she laughed heartily.
"If you need anything, come directly to me. I’ll handle it personally. Even those two fools wouldn’t dare stop you."
"Thank you, Senior, for your kindness," Mo Jian said with a respectful bow.
Feeling increasingly fond of him, the Second Ancestor nodded over and over, unable to hide her approval.
After a few more words, Mo Jian and the others departed from the courtyard.
Watching their figures disappear into the distance, the two Ancestors shared a knowing smile.
"Who would have thought the change our continent so desperately needs would come from such a small sect," the Second Ancestor murmured softly.
"Indeed," the First Ancestor agreed, smoothing down his long, white beard. "It seems our days of idleness are finally at an end."
"Yes, First Ancestor." She inclined her head solemnly.
They were far from naïve.
Both understood perfectly well why the boy had come seeking their support.
With his extraordinary methods and unorthodox means, it was only a matter of time before he drew the eyes of greedy forces.
Without enough backing, his dreams of establishing a foothold in the imperial capital or across the continent would vanish like smoke.
Even with the Qiu Clan’s support, his road would not be easy.
That was why they had urged him to seek additional allies—preferably from the Yun Clan.
Pushing aside their stray thoughts, the Second Ancestor’s expression turned curious.
"How much will this tea truly help?"
The First Ancestor did not reply immediately.
He had already tested the Spirit Tea and had been quietly astonished.
At their level of cultivation, only a few things in existence could help them progress further—especially when it came to comprehending the fragmented laws of the continent.
Yet this tea had accomplished it.
The improvement it offered was minuscule, but even the smallest progress at their stage was precious beyond measure.
With the laws of their continent severed, comprehending even a single shred of law was near impossible.
Those who had reached their heights had relied on countless rare treasures and heaven-defying opportunities.
But progressing further?
That was like trying to ascend to heaven.
And yet, this Spirit Tea made it possible.
Finally, the First Ancestor spoke, his tone calm but carrying deep satisfaction.
"My strength should improve by one or two percent."
The Second Ancestor’s eyes widened before a delighted smile crept across her face.
"Hahaha! Then in the storm ahead, our Qiu Clan will have nothing to fear."
The First Ancestor did not respond, but the faint upward curl of his lips was enough to reveal how pleased he truly was.
...
Outside the ancestral ground, Qiu An and Qiu Yong walked side by side in silence.
Their minds churned with thoughts, both stealing glances at the boy walking beside them.
They had expected it to be difficult, almost impossible to gain the Second Ancestor’s support for the Dust Valley Sect and Thousand Wealth Chamber.
But Mo Jian had handled her effortlessly.
Not only that, he had even drawn out the reclusive First Ancestor, something they themselves could never have accomplished.
How did he do it?
As an ordinary courtyard came into view, Qiu An finally gave in to his curiosity and asked.
"Little brother, what is that tea exactly?"
"Hmm?"
Both Mo Jian and Qiu Yong turned their heads in surprise.
Since when had Mo Jian become Qiu An’s little brother?
Seeing Mo Jian’s confusion, Qiu An explained quickly, wearing a straight face.
"Since we are now allies, and you will soon become my in-law, I decided to call you little brother instead of son-in-law."
He said shamelessly, without the slightest hint of embarrassment.
Mo Jian was left speechless.
He did not expect Qiu Yan’s father to have such a thick skin.
Beside him, Qiu Yong’s lips twitched uncontrollably, his patience stretched thin.
If not for the fact that Qiu An was his uncle, he might have slapped him twice at the back of the head
Ignoring their reactions, Qiu An repeated his question. "So, what type of tea is it?"
"Uncle, it’s nothing more than common Spirit Tea leaves," Mo Jian answered with a perfectly straight face.
Since Qiu An had chosen shamelessness, he saw no reason not to return the favour.
"Common Spirit Tea, my ass!" Qiu An cursed inwardly, furious.
Would common tea be enough to catch the attention of their Ancestors?
Pffft!
Qiu Yong couldn’t contain the chuckle.
Even a fool would know Mo Jian was spouting nonsense, but his response satisfied him greatly.
Qiu An, however, was enraged.
He was just about to lash out at Mo Jian when a familiar voice interrupted them.
"Father, how was it?"
Qiu Yan came running forward with a bright, anticipatory smile.
"At least let us return home first," Qiu An muttered, brushing past her toward their courtyard.
"Ah...sorry..." Qiu Yan said apologetically before hurrying after them.
Soon after, they were seated within their courtyard. Qiu Yan personally served each of them warm tea.
When Qiu An tasted the tea, he couldn’t help but frown inwardly.
Compared to the Spirit Tea Mo Jian had offered their Ancestors, this tea was utterly lacking.
The three men sipped their tea quietly, while Qiu Yan sat with her eyes full of expectation.
She waited patiently for one of them to reveal the outcome of their meeting.
Finally, Qiu Yong took pity on her.
He couldn’t bear to keep the innocent girl in the dark any longer.
"The Ancestors agreed," he said slowly.
"From today, our clan is allied with the Dust Valley Sect and the Thousand Wealth Chamber. But there is a condition..." his voice trailed off.
Qiu Yan leaned forward, sensing something was off. "And what was the condition?"