Withered leaves fluttered to the ground as Bai Shengyi's mood grew increasingly somber.
She stared at the eight people with a blank expression, her full aura unleashed. The pressure of a fourth-level Foundation Establishment cultivator bore down on them like a colossal mountain, mercilessly crushing their spirits.
"Are you convinced now?"
"You, you're not at the first level of Foundation Establishment! You lied to us!" The young girl was the first to lose control, shrieking.
Bai Qiuniang frowned slightly. "Qingqing, calm down."
"Sister Qiuniang, I'm not wrong! She's at the fourth level of Foundation Establishment and still has the nerve to bully us! How is she fit to be our mistress!" Bai Qingqing's chest heaved with anger as she gritted her teeth.
Bai Qiuniang had a bad feeling. Their new mistress wasn't like Bai Murong, who always left room for politeness in her words. As expected...
Bai Shengyi let out a scoff.
"Little girl, speak reasonably. Who lied to you? Don't think just because you're young, I'll indulge you like your older brothers and sisters. If you lost, it's because you were outmatched. Stop making excuses."
Looking at the incessantly falling withered leaves, Grandmother Bai's mood was exceedingly foul, and her words were anything but polite.
"Now, tell me, who else is unconvinced?" She didn't want to waste any more time with these people.
Finally, someone among the eight noticed Bai Shengyi's utterly terrible mood. Bai Yuyue, Bai Liu, Bai Jiu, and Bai Ling quickly spoke up, "We're convinced! We're convinced! We pay our respects to the Young Family Head!"
Bai Yunsong and Bai Qiuniang also obediently said, "Your subordinate pays respects to the Young Family Head!"
Only Bai Qingqing and Bai San remained silent, clearly still unyielding.
Good, more resistance.
Bai Shengyi had been worried that these people would be too compliant, leaving her no opportunity to assert her authority.
She didn't move away from Bai Qingqing and Bai San but snapped her fingers.
The Qingmeng Vine immediately released the six people it had bound.
"Bai Liu, Bai Jiu, Bai Ling, and Bai Yunsong, clean up the courtyard. Especially the trees in the yard. When I see them later, they should be restored to their original state. Bai Yuyue and Bai Qiuniang, you will follow me."
As she spoke, she rose gracefully and walked towards the house.
Bai Yuyue and Bai Qiuniang were about to follow when they heard Bai Qingqing say, "Brother Yuyue, Sister Qiuniang, can you help me and Third Brother untie these vines?"
They didn't know what sorcery Bai Shengyi had used, but they were utterly helpless against these vines.
Bai Yuyue acted as if he hadn't heard and followed. Bai Qiuniang paused slightly but only said, "Qingqing, you should sincerely apologize to your mistress."
Although she hadn't been with Bai Shengyi for long, Bai Qiuniang could sense that Bai Shengyi was a very forthright person, saying what she meant.
She believed that if Bai Qingqing properly apologized to Bai Shengyi, Bai Shengyi would not hold it against a young girl like her.
Bai Qiuniang had always looked after Bai Qingqing, acting for her well-being. However, Bai Qingqing was more rebellious and harbored even greater dissatisfaction with Bai Shengyi.
She would not back down! She didn't believe Bai Shengyi could keep her bound forever!
"Third Brother, I think Sister Rongrong was right. Bai Shengyi is completely unsuitable to be the Young Master. What do you think?"
Bai San's eyes flickered. "Mm."
Bai Shengyi was unaware of the little schemes brewing between Bai San and Bai Qingqing. She handed a written sheet of paper to Bai Qiuniang and then gave the storage bag that Uncle Bai Er had given her to Bai Yuyue.
"Take these spirit stones to buy the medicinal ingredients listed above. Buy as much as you can. I need them tomorrow." With that, she waved her hand, signaling for the two to withdraw.
Bai Yuyue and Bai Qiuniang were still somewhat dazed even after leaving the room.
"She just gave me the prescription like that?"
Bai Qiuniang looked at the paper in her hand. It contained not just a few ingredients but over thirty, along with specific quantities for each. Anyone could see it was a handwritten prescription!
Nowadays, prescriptions and pill formulas were worth far more than the medicinal ingredients themselves! Even the most basic ones like Po Han San were just as valuable!
Bai Qiuniang was utterly astonished.
Bai Yuyue was even more shocked. "She even gave me all the spirit stones from her private treasury? So many high-grade and mid-grade spirit stones... Isn't she afraid we'll embezzle them?"
"Brother Yuyue, Sister Qiuniang, what did the mistress ask you to do?" Bai Liu and Bai Jiu, upon seeing them, immediately dropped their tasks and hurried over.
Bai Yuyue frowned and warned, "Have you finished your tasks?"
Liu Jiu shook their heads.
Bai Yuyue continued, "Then hurry up! What if the mistress comes out to check soon..."
"No way!" Bai Liu exclaimed dramatically. "It's only been this long, how could it possibly be finished."
"That's because you don't want to do it," Bai Jiu whispered, adding a jab. He was much more astute than Bai Liu. Thinking of the possibility Bai Yuyue mentioned, he immediately lost his curiosity and pushed Bai Liu to focus on their work.
"Ah Ling, Yunsong, you two supervise them. Don't do everything yourself," Bai Yuyue instructed before leaving with Bai Qiuniang.
Inside the house.
Bai Shengyi had Qingmeng Vine watch the people outside while she engrossed herself in a medicinal tome.
"As expected, I'm more suited for these mystical things."
Looking at the techniques for processing medicinal ingredients with spiritual energy on the tome, Bai Shengyi couldn't help but recall her time at Federal University, poring over books on spiritual healing techniques day after day.
At that time, everyone said healing arts were one of the ten great unsolved mysteries of the Federation, completely unsuitable for human cultivation, possibly even a scam. Yet, Bai Shengyi, through her own efforts, had reached the pinnacle of spiritual healing.
Alchemy had many similarities to healing arts, except one relied on spiritual energy, and the other relied on mental power.
Bai Shengyi became so engrossed that she continued reading until the next morning. When Bai Shengyi went out to see Bai Sicheng off, the courtyard had been restored to normal. The banyan tree was lush and verdant, its branches and leaves rustling in the wind.
"You can go and rest," Bai Shengyi said, glancing at Bai Ling and the other three who had been diligently guarding the courtyard. "I'll call you if anything comes up."
Bai Qingqing, having been bound all night, actually began to regret her defiance. But before she could say anything, Bai Shengyi had already left.
"What kind of person is she! Is she deliberately tormenting us, Third Brother!"
Having been bound to the ground all night, with her older brothers and sisters unwilling to help her, Bai Qingqing, unable to even turn over, was on the verge of collapse from discomfort. As she spoke, her voice choked with sobs.
Bai San whispered, "Don't cry. Ignore her. We'll find a way to contact the Duke later. He'll definitely uphold justice for us."
"Mm! It's still you, Third Brother, who has a plan!"
Bai Qingqing's spirits lifted immediately, and she nodded emphatically!
"Big Brother, be safe on your journey. Bon voyage!"
Bai Shengyi escorted Bai Sicheng to the outskirts of the capital. Bai Sicheng insisted she go no further.
"I'm just returning to the academy, Big Brother. You're all grown up, you won't get lost. As for you, you won't be staying home for much longer. Don't always anger Grandpa. He's getting old, and he's worked hard for the Bai family all these years..." Bai Sicheng began to nag.
Bai Shengyi listened to his gentle tone, her left ear hearing it and her right ear letting it out. After he finished, she asked curiously, "Why didn't Bai Murong come?"
The Duke of Rong not coming was understandable, but why wasn't Bai Murong here? Wasn't she always fond of putting on such a public display?