Yun Qing was overjoyed to hear that Yan Qing had agreed to let her stay.

However, in Qinghe Town at the foot of the mountain, Liu Ruyan's mood was not so pleasant.

Ever since the child was switched, she has always felt guilty towards Yun Qing and tries her best to treat her well.

Not to mention that the two of them depended on each other for survival, and over the years, she had long regarded Yunqing as her own daughter.

Although she occasionally thinks of the child she sent to the Yun family at birth, she doesn't want to disrupt her current peaceful life.

Liu Ruyan had noticed Yun Qing's unusual behavior these past few days. She assumed that Yun Qing was upset because she saw other children with fathers at school.

Yunqing has always been a sensible child. When she was three or four years old, she went out to play with other children and was told by them that she was a child without a father. She cried and made a fuss for a long time when she got home.

However, after Liu Ruyan said that her father had passed away, she obediently did not ask any more questions.

Liu Ruyan thought this time would be the same, and that she would figure it out herself.

Who knew that Yun Qing would run away from home? When Liu Ruyan didn't see him at the school gate for the second time, she felt like the sky had fallen.

"My Chen Hao is missing too!"

As Liu Ruyan anxiously searched for Yunqing at the school gate, a plump woman next to her also shouted loudly.

At this moment, Yunqing's deskmate came over and told the two mothers, "During recess today, Yunqing and Chen Hao were chatting outside and wouldn't let us listen."

"So it seems the two children might be together, so you don't need to worry too much," the teacher said, standing to the side to comfort them.

Unexpectedly, the obese woman's face darkened instantly upon hearing this, and she shoved Liu Ruyan to the ground: "I was wondering why our Chen Hao had disappeared. It turns out he was corrupted by your Yun Qing. Children without fathers are just ill-mannered."

Liu Ruyan lay on the ground, her palms scraped raw, a burning pain shooting through her. Her lips trembled, unsure how to explain, she simply lowered her head, tears streaming down her face, remaining silent.

Seeing that she didn't argue back, the woman became even more aggressive: "You still have the nerve to cry? If anything happens to my Hao Hao, I'll make you pay with your life."

The teacher and other parents couldn't stand it and quickly pulled Chen back, saying, "Sister-in-law, calm down. Finding the child is the priority now."

"Since the Master has said so, I will let you off for now."

The Chen family had extensive connections, and in no time, they mobilized almost half the town to search for the person.

After searching for two hours, just as Liu Ruyan was beginning to despair, Chen Hao came down from the hillside south of the town.

Before Chen could react, Liu Ruyan rushed over: "Where's Yun Qing? Why isn't she with you?"

Chen Hao was startled. Before he could speak, Madam Chen walked over and shoved Liu Ruyan aside, saying, "How would my son know where she is? Get out of my way."

Liu Ruyan stumbled from the push, struggled to steady herself, and then grabbed Chen Hao: "Please, just tell me, where is she?"

Seeing her so anxious, Chen Hao broke free from Chen's embrace and stammered, "Yun Qing, she... she went up Baiyun Mountain and said she was going to Yuntian Sect."

"Yuntian Sect?" Liu Ruyan was shocked and almost fainted.

Could it be that Yun Qing knows something? Impossible, she has never let anything slip in front of her.

Did she say what she was going to do at the Cloud Heaven Sect?

"No." Chen Hao shook his head: "She only said she absolutely had to go."

Before Liu Ruyan could ask any more questions, Madam Chen had already dragged Chen Hao away, muttering under her breath, "Why did you have to learn from others and run away from home? I think you're asking for trouble. If you keep hanging out with shady people, I'll beat you to death."

Chen Hao was being walked away crying and shouting with his ears being pinched, and soon he disappeared from sight.

Seeing that there was no excitement to watch, the surrounding people gradually dispersed, leaving only Liu Ruyan standing there listlessly, motionless for a long time.

...

Yuntian Sect.

Yun Yanqing looked at Gu Changyuan and Yun Qing in front of her, pondering how to settle them.

It's easy to keep people here, but what pretext should we use? We can't let them stay at Yuntian Sect as guests indefinitely.

Especially given Gu Changyuan's special status, his marriage to Yun Helan needs to be carefully considered.

Just as Yun Yanqing was struggling with her dilemma, the peak master of Qingyun Peak returned from his travels.

Seeing a large crowd blocking the mountain gate, he jumped off his sword and asked, "Senior brother, what's going on here?"

Yan Qing: "The son of an old friend has come to visit. Why did you return so quickly this time?"

Master Xuanming of Qingyun Peak is Yan Qing's junior brother and, along with Yan Qing and Yun Wanyan, was a direct disciple of the former sect leader.

After the former sect leader ascended to heaven, he passed the position to his eldest disciple, Yan Qing.

According to the sect's rules, the new sect leader will assume the position of peak master of Baiyun Peak, while the remaining Qingyun Peak and Ziyun Peak will be managed by Xuanming and Yun Wanyan respectively.

People also respectfully call them True Men, namely True Men Yan Qing, True Men Xuan Ming, and True Men Zi Yun.

Baiyun Peak focuses on sword practice, Ziyun Peak on weapon crafting, and Qingyun Peak on divination. Therefore, Xuanming travels among mortals year-round to hone his fortune-telling skills.

His return was due to his prediction that two extremely talented individuals would join the Yuntian Sect.

Upon seeing Gu Changyuan and Yun Qing beside Yan Qing, Xuan Ming's eyes flashed, and his face was filled with smiles.

"It's because I haven't taken on any apprentices in a long time, so I came back to see if there are any promising new talents."

Yan Qing was quite surprised to hear this. He knew that Xuan Ming was lazy by nature and disliked teaching disciples the most. Ever since he became the peak master, Yan Qing had always asked him to take on disciples, but Xuan Ming always declined on the grounds that he was too busy with the affairs of the peak. Why was he now taking the initiative to take on disciples?

"It's a good thing that Junior Brother wants to take on disciples, but the annual initiation ceremony hasn't started yet, so I'm afraid it won't be possible for Junior Brother to do as he wishes."

"It's nothing, it's nothing." Xuanming waved his hand magnanimously: "I think these two have good aptitude, they'd be perfect to join my Qingyun Peak."

Yun Yanqing was taken aback; he hadn't expected that Xuanming had taken a liking to these two children.

Qingyun Peak is a good place, but he has a strange fondness for Yun Qing, the young girl he just met, and wants her to join Baiyun Peak so that she and He Lan can be fellow disciples and keep each other company.

After a moment's thought, Master Yan Qing said, "The matter of the Peak Master accepting disciples is of great importance and must be done in accordance with the sect's rules. Since Junior Brother has also taken a liking to these two children, then we would like to invite the elders to witness this in the Gathering Heroes Hall."

In front of everyone, Xuanming naturally wouldn't offend the sect leader: "Just follow your instructions, senior brother."

News of what happened at the mountain gate quickly spread throughout the sect, and the disciples of Yuntian Sect gathered at Juying Hall to watch the excitement.

Yun Helan also heard about her father and Uncle Xuanming vying to take on a disciple, so she put away her natal sword and rushed over.

The disciples standing outside saw her and instinctively made way for her.

Yun Helan didn't stop and went straight in.

"Father! Mother! I heard you're taking on more apprentices?"