Facing the Cui Household

Under the long night, snowflakes drifted down.

Under the glow of the Fire Spring at night, the magnificent buildings seemed to be edged with gold, like a celestial palace descending to earth, stretching across the dark earth.

Qin Ming climbed the White Marble steps, looking at the red lanterns hanging on both sides of the gate and the pair of stone Auspicious Beast on the ground. All sorts of familiar feelings rushed over him, and the past seemed to be right before his eyes.

Returning to this familiar place, he felt a mix of emotions; after all, he had lived here for about ten years.

For a moment, he felt as if he had traveled back in time and seen himself from childhood to adolescence.

In his presence, Father Cui and Mother Cui were always rigid and serious, and even their smiles lacked warmth. Later, he realized that it was a kind of distance between them.

Through the thick fog, Qin Ming seemed to see his naive self, trapped alone in the Silk Book Method, practicing the various movements recorded on it in solitude, yet unable to find his way.

His grandfather was just an ordinary person. He was chosen and brought here because he looked like Cui Chonghe, and for a long time he lived in a false life created by others.

He once considered this place his home, until one day, when Father Cui looked down at him and told him that he should shoulder the responsibilities and obligations of the eldest son and go with a group of elderly people whose lifespans were about to end to attract powerful enemies. At that time, he was extremely saddened, knowing that it would be a farewell to death.

On that day, he was reluctant to leave, heartbroken, in pain, until he became numb.

He couldn't utter a word, tears welling in his eyes, as he watched his Father Cui Mother Cui, along with Cui Chongxuan and a large group of Cui Household elites, depart without looking back.

In the villages Moonfall City, some of the elders of the Cui Household family who were nearing the end of their lives approached him several times, but were driven away by Uncle Cui Qi's own grandfather.

That night, flames raged, and Qin Ming was on the verge of despair. He felt the coldness and ruthlessness of the Cui Household and remained silent all night. In the end, he was as if he had died once, and lost all his memory. It was because of this that he had a brand new life later on.

"Cousin, it's been three years since we last met. We've been missing you terribly." Two young men approached, one of them saying with a friendly smile.

Qin Ming's senses were now incredibly sharp. This intimacy was superficial and insincere. He simply nodded and said, "You've already secretly reported this, haven't you? I came back to check."

Without giving them a chance to Say More, he walked inside, not wanting to waste time with them. If it weren't for his concern that his grandfather was old and likely nearing the end of his life, he wouldn't have come back now.

Lu Zizai followed behind, seemingly standing in a mist, invisible to others even though they were not far apart. The Thunder King Bird and Lu Zizai's pet Little Gold circled in the distant night sky.

The two people accompanying Qin Ming inside were both in their twenties. They weren't the teenagers he grew up with, and they didn't have much interaction with each other, so there wasn't any deep friendship between them.

In fact, the entire Cui Household has been paying close attention to Qin Ming for the past six months, and they all find it incredible that he has risen to prominence so quickly.

In the past, his skull fractured, causing him to lose all his memory and become almost useless. His Father Cui, ordered him to be kept in Black White Mountain and never return. He was to be kept in a remote place. Everyone thought that he would disappear from the Cui Household's sight forever, as if he had never existed.

How long has it been? He has already become a shining new star, rising rapidly, returning in the way the Cui Household least wanted to see.

Of course, some Cui Household had regrets, but once a choice has been made and certain things have been done, it is difficult to change course or turn back.

Suppressing him at Black White Mountain was a minor matter; the real concern was sending him as cannon fodder to face the Li Household's experts and die.

Especially later, on the plateau outside the Third Forbidden Land of Kunling, when the Ancestor beheaded the "Auspicious Beast" and various forces joined forces to hunt demons, the Cui Household and Qin Ming had a fierce conflict, and he killed several batches of his direct descendants. Such Bloody Grudge feuds are hard to resolve.

"Cousin, we've actually been hoping you could come back." The young man accompanying him inside had a smile on his face the whole time.

Qin Ming remained silent, gazing at the familiar courtyards.

The Cui Household mansion can be considered a small Blessed Land.

Even in the cold winter, the garden is full of spring colors. The flowerbeds are full of colorful flowers and fragrant Lingering. You can also see butterflies dancing and the trees swaying. The eaves and brackets are outlined in pale gold in the Fire Haze.

"Qin Ming?!" Cui He appeared, and was shocked to see him, then burst into laughter.

Not far from her, there was Cui Shuning, dressed in a black dress, with a rather aloof and elegant demeanor. She was also quite surprised and felt very unexpected.

Qin Ming didn't have a good impression of these two people. They had traveled a long way to Red Haze City to "see him," and if it weren't for Meng Xinghai's protection, he would have been in grave danger that time.

Even so, the two still asked members of the Esoteric Sect to deal with him.

"Xiao Ming, why don't you call me Fourth Uncle after seeing me?" Cui He had a full head of light green hair, and it was obvious that he had made further progress in his practice of the <Abiding World Scripture>.

He was an elite of the previous generation, with profound cultivation. He followed the Secret Sect Path and also studied the secret manuals of the New Life Path to longevity. Now he had a deep smile on his face, but it didn't look like he was friendly at all.

"Cui Four, long time no see!" Qin Ming looked at him and said calmly.

"What did you call me?" Cui He's smile vanished, his expression changing faster than turning the pages of a book, his face instantly turning icy cold.

Qin Ming didn't even bother to give a perfunctory smile to someone who had once tried to harm him.

"Cui Four," Qin Ming replied calmly.

"Disrespecting your elders, you've gone too far!" Cui He's full head of green hair suddenly glowed and fluttered, and he moved with lightning speed like a ghost, grabbing at Qin Ming's neck.

Just recently, he successfully broke through to the Fourth Realm Esoteric Sect, Netherpass, and his confidence soared. So what if he was just a remarkable seed? This was the Cui Household, and he was a Major Realm higher. He was ready to put on airs and teach this boy, whom the Lineage both disliked and feared, a lesson.

Although he had not yet heard the news that Lu Zizai had accompanied Qin Ming to the Beyond the Mundane Pure Land, he knew that the two had a good relationship. However, some things did not require killing, and there was no need to directly kill Qin Ming. The Cui Household had other methods.

Qin Ming grabbed his wrist, looked at him coldly, and said, "Cui Four, don't go looking for trouble!"

With a loud boom, a thin layer of smoke rose from the ground, and the entire area seemed to have fallen into a ghostly realm. Cui He's eyes turned green, and he was using the techniques of the Fourth Realm of the Esoteric Sect.

Dressed in all black, Cui Shuning appeared like a ghost and said, "You really have no manners at all. After three years outside, have you become a savage? Is this how you face your elders?"

Outside Qin Ming's body, an invisible Spiritual Field expanded, instantly tearing apart Cui He Netherpass's power. Then, with a bang, he grabbed Cui Four by the neck and lifted him into the air.

At the same time, he turned back coldly to look at the aloof and beautiful woman who had once called him "Auntie" who was rushing towards him, and he felt just as much annoyance towards her.

Back in Red Haze City, she had feigned affection to get close to Qin Ming, but when she tried to touch his head, she looked disgusted, leaving no room for goodwill.

Snap! Snap!

Qin Ming moved with lightning speed, striking her twice across the face, knocking out six or seven of her teeth and spitting blood from her mouth. She flew through the air, crashing into the courtyard wall, where earth and stones scattered and the wall collapsed as she passed right through it.

Cui He was no exception. After Qin Ming pulled him up, he was slapped four times across the face. His teeth, mixed with blood, flew off. He could hardly believe that he had been slapped several times in his own home by this young man.

Qin Ming slammed him to the ground, shattering the bluestone floor. Cui He groaned, some of his bones breaking.

"How dare you cause trouble in the Cui Household!" Cui Shuning, disheveled, rushed out from the other side of the courtyard wall, only to be kicked away again by Qin Ming. The sound of bones cracking could be heard clearly. She screamed in agony, her cold and elegant demeanor completely gone, and fell to the ground some distance away.

Although this is a small Blessed Land, it is only relative to the Beyond the Mundane Pure Land. In fact, it is very magnificent, with blue lakes, pavilions, towers, flowing water and arched bridges. Every ten steps there is a beautiful scene. Now, a large group of people rushed out from behind the various scenic spots.

This is a key location for the Cui Household, so naturally there are many experts here.

"Who dares to offend the Cui Household's dignity?"

"Hmm? Qin Ming!"

Then another familiar face appeared, the leader of whom was none other than the Fifth Master of the Cui Household, one of the people who had most ruthlessly "brainwashed" Qin Ming, who had encouraged him to practice Silk Book Method that was normally impossible, since he was a child.

"Little Qin, my good boy, you're finally back." He grinned, his old face gradually relaxing like a dried orange peel soaked in water.

"Now that you're home, practice your skills with me, Fifth Master!" He rushed over like a ghost.

Back in Red Haze City, he had tried to harm Qin Ming, but Li Qingyun had grabbed him under his arm and carried him away. Now, he wore a malicious smile.

"What kind of kung fu are you practicing? Do you want the Silk Scripture back?" Qin Ming asked coldly.

Led by Fifth Master, a group of old men grinned, their eyes filled with coldness.

They naturally knew that Qin Ming was now surrounded by a halo on the New Life Path, becoming a representative figure of the new generation, and had a close relationship with Lu Zizai, so it was impossible for him to really be killed here.

"Practice the Heart Cleansing Scripture with me. It's a Extraordinary Art, worth studying for a lifetime," Fifth Master Cui said with a smile.

This scripture is a strange Cultivation Method they recently "found". It can "cleanse" a person's heart, purify their consciousness, and make them "change their ways", making them less likely to be hostile. Moreover, it is not intense and is accomplished in a subtle and gradual way.

In fact, this was a scripture that the Cui Household had painstakingly sought out, specifically to target Qin Ming. Since they couldn't kill him, they planned to control his mind if given the opportunity.

In the end, Qin Ming could naturally return to the Cui Household and be used by them. Outsiders would hardly see the signs and would only assume that the two sides had reconciled.

And decades or centuries later, what can be done with him? Making him willingly become Cui Chonghe's strongman would be no problem at all.

Fifth Master was undoubtedly a master, far surpassing Cui He and Cui Shuning. He led a group of elders forward.

Suddenly, their faces turned pale, and they stared in disbelief ahead at a young man dressed in coarse linen clothes standing to Qin Ming's side.

"Lu Zizai!" someone exclaimed, recognizing his identity.

Some people Performed a Grand Ceremony, while others were covered in cold sweat.

Especially Fifth Master, whose body was creaking and cracking, as if all his bones were about to break, and with a thud, he knelt directly on the ground.

He naturally didn't want to do this, but with his knee shattered and blood gushing out, he had no choice but to kneel in public, suppressed there by an invisible force.

"Do whatever you want with it," Lu Zizai said.

Qin Ming walked forward and kicked out with a bang, landing solidly on Fifth Master Cui's old face.

Even though Fifth Master was highly skilled, he was now being suppressed and could hardly resist. Blood gushed from his mouth and nose, and six of his old teeth broke off with a snapping sound.

Fifth Master Cui was shocked and furious. This was the mansion of the Millennium Aristocratic Family. Although it was not their Ancestral Land, it was still an important place. As an elder of the clan, he had actually been beaten in his own home.

However, upon seeing the boy in coarse linen clothes, he felt a sense of powerlessness.

He felt incredibly frustrated, indignant, and resentful. If we trace back five or six hundred years, even if Lu Zizai were to come, the Cui Household wouldn't be afraid of anything.

Because, five or six hundred years ago, the Cui Household had Ancestor in the Path-Opening Domain in the Beyond the Mundane.

Unfortunately, time flies, and even the strongest people grow old, wither, and eventually die. The Cui Household in this era does not have such a powerful figure to lead them.

The clan's Old Ancestor has probably broken through to the Sixth Realm, but in any case, he is no match for Lu Zizai, who advanced from the Supreme Grandmaster level.

"Ancestor Lu, please calm your anger!"

"Qin Ming, stop!"

A group of core members of the Cui Household appeared, filing out from the depths of the mansion.

Qin Ming ignored him and kicked him twice more, causing blood to splatter everywhere.

It has to be said that this old guy's body is too tough. Even someone as strong as Qin Ming now feels like he's kicking Secret Metal plate, and it's very difficult to kick through it completely.

Fifth Master Cui's teeth flew out, blood gushing from his mouth, followed by a cracking sound, revealing several horrifying fissures in his jaw and facial bones.

A figure appeared like a ghost, tall, heroic, and cold, and stood in front of Fifth Master Cui.

Qin Ming then stopped and looked at the newcomer, who was none other than Father Cui.

In this situation, perhaps only he would dare to display such an attitude.

Qin Ming least wanted to see him and Mother Cui. After all, he had called them father and mother for ten years, and even with endless anger and resentment, it was difficult for him to directly take action against them.

"My child, your mother misses you so much!" A graceful and beautiful woman appeared in the distance and called out to Qin Ming.

A group of the Cui Household's true high-ranking members stood at a distance, most of them elderly, their faces extremely solemn.

Even though the Cui Household has a profound heritage, having branched out and spread into the Esoteric Sect and Beyond the Mundane for nearly two thousand years, they are still quite apprehensive when faced with a Ancestor coming to their door.

Unlike Cui He and others who were out of touch with the news, they had not long ago been listening to reports in the main hall and learned the detailed information about Lu Zizai accompanying Qin Ming to the Beyond the Mundane Pure Land.

However, they never expected that Lu Zizai would accompany Qin Ming to the Cui Household again.

"Ancestor Lu, please come into the hall for a cup of tea." An old man bowed respectfully to Lu Zizai and invited him into the reception hall for a chat.

"Son, let's have a good talk," Mother Cui said to Qin Ming.

Qin Ming's main purpose was to find out the true whereabouts of his grandfather, not to start a war with the Millennium Aristocratic Family today.

Finally, Lu Zizai and Qin Ming entered the main hall of the Cui Household.

"Summon Cui Geng to see me," Lu Zizai said calmly, putting down his teacup. The name he mentioned was none other than the Old Ancestor of the Cui Household in this era.

"Really? Qin Ming just barged into the Cui Household and it seems he even started a fight there?"

The incident caused an uproar. Large organizations were paying close attention to the matter and received a secret tip-off immediately. The results were shocking.

Deep within the layers of misty space of Kunling, the Inverted Jade Capital ripples, its blurred outline radiating outwards, reaching the real world with greater clarity than before.

Deep within the distant, Night Mist World, a group of humans are on their way. Among them are dignified elders, Lingering maidens, and spirited young men. Their destination is Night Prefecture.

To answer the question, which involves Cui Chonghe's double Qin Ming, the protagonist's aptitude, and the Millennium Aristocratic Family, etc., it's quite long, so I'll put it in the author's notes below.