[Identity updated. Simulator is now initiating periodic settlement.]
[You, Chu Wangshu, are the only daughter of the clan leader of the Chu family, the seal-bearing household of Yingzhou. You awakened your spirit seed at the age of three, earning an extraordinary reputation within the clan. Your relatives are curious about you, believing your future holds great promise and is filled with hope.]
[What they don't know is that all of this stems from the painstakingly crafted genius identity you've built. You cherish everything you have now, yet you fear losing it all at any moment.]
[You need to fight for more — more distinction! Only then can you secure your standing within the clan.]
[Yes, you can already sense where the threat comes from. That little girl you saw at the clan meeting the other day — Chu Qinghe, granddaughter of the Elder — she will be a formidable rival for the family's resources, your status, and even the title of future heir!]
The simulator rattled off a whole speech inside Wangshu's head, occasionally letting out strange, non-human exclamations of awe that sounded frankly unsettling.
Meanwhile, Wangshu was busy inventorying the welcome gifts she had received after her "formal recognition" ceremony. They formed an absolute mountain! Piled up in the room, the stack stood twice her height.
How could there be this many!
Wangshu didn't understand. The hall hadn't looked that crowded that day — even if everyone had given one gift each, it shouldn't have reached this height.
It was Chu Xiu who explained that this was all perfectly normal.
"You are the clan leader's daughter. Apart from the seclusion-bound ancestors, everyone of any standing in the Chu family had to send you a congratulatory gift. These were originally supposed to be given at your hundred-day celebration — now they're just quite late."
Ah, "anyone of any standing"... A slight smile tugged at the corner of Wangshu's lips. She tilted her head with a pure, innocent grin. "So, in the Chu family, would you count as someone of standing?"
Here it comes! Chu Xiu's heart tightened. As the "first investor" who had watched Wangshu grow up, he knew all too well her true nature as a little troublemaker.
This was the same girl who, at one year old, had managed to make every baby in the nursery cry just to steal the nursemaids' attention — a super star-trickster with fierce territorial instincts and possessiveness!
Chu Xiu sat up straight, a composed smile on his face. "I wasn't one before... but since meeting you, miss, I suppose I am now."
He genuinely meant it.
After the clan meeting, the clan leader had personally summoned him and asked where he wanted to work. If he chose to stay at the nursery, the clan leader would have him serve as deputy head steward under Chu Yan. But if he wanted to serve Wangshu, he could come to Zhaoxi Pavilion and become her personal butler.
Chu Xiu did the math. Chu Yan already had three deputies under him... and honestly, even if there were only one, Chu Xiu still wouldn't have wanted to work for that tubby fellow.
He had long since forgotten that his original dream was to work at the main household. Without a second thought, he packed up and came straight to Zhaoxi Pavilion.
Chu Yan, feeling deeply betrayed for reasons he couldn't quite articulate, now bared his teeth every time he saw Chu Xiu.
Wangshu gave an "oh" at his words, then pointed at the pile of gifts. "So where's your gift?"
"Right here." Chu Xiu calmly produced a booklet from his sleeve.
A book? Wangshu took it with suspicion, only to discover it was Chu Xiu's own cultivation notebook—handwritten by him personally.
He was only of the 9th rank — a low-level cultivator indeed, but Wangshu didn't even have a rank yet. Chu Xiu lacked natural talent, so he had written down every single problem he'd encountered in his cultivation and how he eventually solved each one.
His cultivation path had been rough — that was why he was already past thirty and still only 9th rank — but precisely because of that, he'd encountered every kind of problem, stumbling over nearly all the pitfalls that novice cultivators could fall into.
This was an introductory cultivation manual — a book of experience. A true master could never write something like this, but it was exactly what a new practitioner like Wangshu needed.
Wangshu flipped through the book quickly and could immediately feel the thoughtfulness Chu Xiu had poured into it.
Wangshu had always treasured that kind of genuine care, so she smiled — both corners of her mouth lifting, clear eyes meeting his seriously — and said, "Thank you. I really like the gift you gave me."
Uh-oh! Chu Xiu lamented internally. The little tyrant is using her tricks again!
No wonder, back then, no matter how much Wangshu cried or threw tantrums, all the nursemaids at Qishan Nursery willingly doted on her. Caught by those soft eyes, looking at such a young face speaking heartfelt, grown-up words in a little adult way — who could possibly resist?
You couldn't help but want to go through fire and water for her. Chu Xiu could feel himself catching that same affliction.
Wangshu paid Chu Xiu no mind and continued examining her gifts. The Elder hadn't had a gift ready the first time they met, but he'd made up for it — he gave her something exceptionally precious.
Of course, Wangshu had no idea what it was worth. It was Chu Daixi who, smiling, picked it out and told her.
It was a solid gold bracelet, crafted in the ancient style, with a delicate little golden bell hanging from it. When shaken, it gave off a crisp tinkling sound.
It was valuable, yes, but seemed pretty ordinary. Wangshu's expression clearly said as much.
Chu Daixi laughed. She pinched the gold bracelet between two fingers, and Wangshu watched as it transformed before her eyes — first into a jade bracelet, then a hairpin, and finally an embroidered pouch.
"This is a top-tier spatial storage treasure that can shapeshift into various forms. Once you contract with it, only its owner can access the contents inside. Even if its spiritual essence is destroyed, everything within will be destroyed along with it. As far as I remember, the Elder only ever had two of these treasures — one is in Qinghe's hands, and I didn't expect him to give this one to you."
That was indeed precious — the other one was in his own granddaughter's hands, after all.
"But that's fine." Chu Daixi said casually. "You can afford to accept it. Of the forms I just showed you, which did you like?"
Wangshu nodded. If Mother said she could accept it, then she could accept it.
"The golden bracelet with the bell," said Wangshu. She liked the little bell.
Chu Daixi transformed the spatial treasure back into the golden bracelet and fastened it onto Wangshu's wrist directly. Wangshu gave it a shake, and the bell jingled merrily. She smiled.
"Speaking of which," Chu Daixi mused, "you'll likely be having lessons with Qinghe from now on."
"Just the two of you."
Ah. Wangshu's gaze drew back from the bell, and she looked up.
Chu Daixi regarded her. "Among the younger generation of the Chu family, only the two of you have awakened your spirit seeds so far. She's five years older than you, so calculating your ages, you'll both be entering the Dao Academy in the same year."
In an entire great clan, only two people had awakened spirit seeds?
Wangshu gained a clear picture of just how rare spirit seeds truly were.
"The family plans to cultivate you two with full resources. We've decided to hold a monthly fusing ritual — using the same Numinous Essence Fluid from last time."
"Huh?" The words slipped out. "Isn't raising us... incredibly expensive?"
Every single month. Last time, it had taken the writs of the clan leader and all three elders just to get one bottle of Numinous Essence Fluid, and judging by their faces, it had pained them deeply. Now this would be happening monthly — this was practically burning money.
"That's right. Ever since our dear child awakened her spirit seed, she's turned into a money-devouring beast." Chu Daixi let out a deliberately rueful sigh.
Wangshu's mind raced with a flood of potential plot threads. Maybe the Chu family was all show with no substance, their true coffers already drained. Maybe the clan leader was merely a figurehead, shackled and held in check by the elders.
Wangshu furrowed her little brows, looking troubled for a moment, then raised her eyes: "Then I don't need to do the monthly infusion. I can do it every three months... no, I don't need the infusion at all. I can develop on my own."
Teasing a child was really fun. Chu Daixi couldn't help but burst out laughing: "Don't worry, just one of you—I can still afford to raise. Besides, with a genius like our Wangshu, the family would fight to support you. There's no need to dip into your mother's private coffers."
If those things tucked away at the bottom of the family's vault weren't used now, they might never get the chance later. Better to let her precious little one benefit from them.
Wangshu's appearance gave the entire clan hope and also eased the pressure on Qinghe. After the clan meeting, the elders deliberated and unanimously agreed to fully support both Wangshu and Qinghe, devising a comprehensive training plan for them.
The monthly infusion of Spirit-Refining Base Fluid into their spiritual seeds was just one part of it.
Wangshu nodded. What her mother said seemed to confirm what the simulator had told her—Chu Qinghe really was an unavoidable rival for her.
Some things her mother didn't say outright, but Wangshu could figure them out on her own. The family planned to focus on nurturing the two of them, but precious resources were ultimately limited. It was fine now while they were young, but once a gap appeared between the two, would things still be divided as evenly as at the start?
Wangshu fretted inwardly for a while but ultimately decided not to back down. She quite liked the gentle Grand Elder, and she bore no ill will toward the little girl she'd only met once.
But between geniuses, how could one just yield like that?
Wangshu puffed out her cheeks, determined to pick up the scheming-opponent script.
With that full-force attitude, Wangshu formally met her legendary rival.
Hmm... A little girl with two bun-shaped pigtails, both tied with pink ribbons, wearing golden bracelet bells identical to Wangshu's, tilting her head to look at her. Her eyes curved upward at the corners, and beneath her right eyelid sat a tiny red mole.
The moment she saw Wangshu, she said: "Little sister, you've finally come. I've been waiting for you for so long."
Huh? Something felt a bit off.
Of course, aside from that odd opening line, Chu Qinghe behaved perfectly normal after that. Until today's training lessons ended, and she found a chance to be alone with Wangshu.
The Chu family estate was full of peach trees and also plum groves. The two children could easily duck into any garden and hide away, and no one would find them for quite a while.
Like right now—this plum grove had a round stone table and stone stools, rugged artificial rockeries, and a winding stream. It was the very picture of elegance.
But neither little girl had any appreciation for that elegance.
Chu Qinghe gestured for Wangshu to sit. Under Wangshu's wide-eyed gaze, she began pulling things out of her golden bracelet in a clattering heap.
Wangshu took a glance—all sorts of sparkling spirit stones of varying shapes and sizes, but every single one was pure in quality. The largest was as big as a wine jar.
Bundles of medicine bottles, jewelry, gems.
Some pretty pebbles kids liked to collect, cicada shells, butterfly wings, leaves with strange patterns?
The last item, which Chu Qinghe held out with great solemnity, made Wangshu's eyelid twitch the moment she saw that translucent jade bottle.
Why did it look... familiar?
"Little sister, you've used this before, right?" Chu Qinghe pulled out the stopper and let Wangshu peer inside. The moment Wangshu caught a glimpse of that swaying emerald color, her eyes began to ache.
Wasn't this Spirit-Refining Base Fluid?
You needed at least four levels of authorization to retrieve this from the family vault. How did this young lady have it?
As if afraid Wangshu might misunderstand, Chu Qinghe explained sheepishly: "This is what I secretly saved up each time I did my infusion."
But didn't infusions always require an adult to be present? Sister, you really are something else.
Along with the half bottle of Spirit-Refining Base Fluid, Chu Qinghe pushed all her belongings toward Wangshu. Under Wangshu's bewildered gaze, she said with utmost seriousness: "Little sister, these are all for you."
Even if you dare to give, I don't dare to take. Wangshu blinked.
Chu Qinghe grasped Wangshu's little hand and said with heartfelt sincerity: "Please, I beg you—take my place and become the pillar of the Chu family!"
Wangshu: ?
"I'll invest in you. From now on, my allowance, and the Spirit-Refining Base Fluid I save every month—I'll give it all to you!"
So... a second visionary genius investor had just appeared?
But I just picked up the scheming-opponent script! What about the promised heir battle?
Chu Qinghe's move caught not only Wangshu off guard but also caught the simulator completely by surprise. That voice in her head, which was always so absurdly dramatic, now sounded noticeably hesitant.
[It begins! Two prodigies of the Chu generation clash in the plum grove, sparks flying! Your false-prodigy aura is so powerful that the heir battle nearly handed you the crown of victory from the very start. Although... this is under the premise that your opponent has laid down her arms completely.]
[But a free win is still a win. Genius points +50!]
[From Chu Qinghe's attitude, you begin to sense something is off. The position of the Chu family's pillar doesn't seem to be that easy to hold.]
[Do you slightly ease off on your path of genius, first fighting Chu Qinghe to a draw to figure out what being the family pillar really means? Or do you rise to the challenge and firmly be the brightest star in the family?]
[Your choice is:]
[A: Lie low and develop. Use your advantage of being younger to naturally hide behind Chu Qinghe, and only make your move once the situation is clear.]
[B: Must shine. The nature of a genius is to be a lightbulb—any moment of dimness counts as my loss.]
Great. Still just as absurd.
Wangshu ignored the simulator and looked up at Chu Qinghe, her voice young but clear: "Are you serious?"
"Dead serious!" The bob-haired girl nodded emphatically, the pink ribbons floating up and down between them.
"Can you take responsibility for your words?"
Chu Qinghe patted her chest and spoke with clarity: "I am Chu Qinghe, granddaughter of Grand Elder Chu Jingyi of the Chu clan. I have the highest talent among this generation of younger members aside from you. I awakened my spiritual seed at age five, and I always mean what I say in the family. I can absolutely take responsibility for my words."
"Then I'll accept." Wangshu truly didn't decline. She opened her golden bracelet bells, identical to Chu Qinghe's, and started stuffing things inside.
The wine-jar-sized spirit stone? Yes.
The jewelry and gems? Yes.
The pretty pebbles and strange leaves? Yes.
The half bottle of Spirit-Refining Base Fluid? Definitely yes.
The two prodigies of the Chu clan solemnly completed their asset transfer beneath the plum grove.
After everything was put away, Wangshu raised her eyes and still made a promise: "If I don't end up being the pillar of the Chu family, I'll return everything to you. Of course, whatever can't be returned... I can't help that."
Chu Qinghe clasped her hands together: "You absolutely have to be!"
And so, a strange pact was made.
