Everyday Family Matters

Over the following days, Chen Cheng remained at Linjiang Courtyard. He only went out a few times, never venturing far—merely wandering around the Chen Family estate to familiarize himself with the surroundings.

During this time, Chen Yuan personally guided Chen Cheng in his cultivation, and Chen Cheng gradually began to sense the existence of qi.

Copy System Profile:

Name: Chen Cheng

Cultivation: Dou Qi First Stage

Abilities: Low-Level Combat, Poison Art

Summoning System Profile:

Name: Chen Cheng

Cultivation: Dou Qi First Stage

Comprehensive Combat Power: Dou Qi Ninth Stage

Summoned Characters: Red Serpent, Huang Yaoshi

Although Chen Cheng had reached Dou Qi First Stage, his Comprehensive Combat Power had not increased.

The improvement in Chen Cheng's physical constitution from Dou Qi First Stage was simply too negligible. Whether he had that boost or not made no difference to what he could accomplish through his own strength and fighting techniques.

"Young Master, I have finished preparing the Nine Flowers Jade Dew Pill. This pill has remarkable effects on strengthening the body, and it can also speed up your ability to sense dou qi."

One day, Huang Yaoshi came to Chen Cheng's room holding a porcelain bottle and spoke to him.

After Chen Cheng moved into Linjiang Courtyard, Huang Yaoshi and Red Serpent naturally moved in with him. The two belonged to Chen Cheng's private force and were not under the Chen Family's jurisdiction.

Some time ago, Chen Cheng had used his status as the Young Master to negotiate with the elder in charge of medicinal herbs in the Chen Family and obtained some ingredients.

Huang Yaoshi could then prepare the Nine Flowers Jade Dew Pill for Chen Cheng, while Red Serpent was studying with a third-grade alchemist of the Chen Family how to refine the poison Zhen Yu Qian Ye into pill form.

It was said that they had already made some progress.

"Good. Bring it over," Chen Cheng said to Huang Yaoshi.

Huang Yaoshi handed the Nine Flowers Jade Dew Pill to Chen Cheng, who poured it into his palm. A jade-green pill appeared in his hand. Chen Cheng examined it briefly before tossing it into his mouth.

"Young Master, you can try circulating your dou qi. It will benefit your cultivation," Huang Yaoshi said.

"Mm. Go wait outside first. Do not let anyone disturb me," Chen Cheng instructed Huang Yaoshi.

Huang Yaoshi was someone Chen Cheng had summoned, so Chen Cheng absolutely did not believe Huang Yaoshi would harm him. Besides, the Nine Flowers Jade Dew Pill did indeed have quite a reputation.

After taking the Nine Flowers Jade Dew Pill, Chen Cheng cultivated according to the circulation route for dou qi that Chen Yuan had previously taught him.

After cultivating for an hour, strengthened by the Nine Flowers Jade Dew Pill, Chen Cheng indeed felt the dou qi within his body becoming more active.

It really is good stuff. If this continues for another three days, my cultivation will definitely rise to Dou Qi Second Stage, Chen Cheng thought.

"Young Master, the Family Head and Madam have arrived."

After some time, a servant came to report.

"Understood. I'll be there shortly." Chen Cheng stopped cultivating and replied to the servant.

After straightening his appearance, Chen Cheng left his room and headed for the guest room. Chen Yuan was leisurely drinking tea inside, with a woman seated beside him.

She was Chen Yuan's legal wife, Chen Cheng's mother, Murong Yan.

Not long after Chen Cheng arrived at the Chen Family, Murong Yan had met him.

Several maidservants stood behind them, each one cautious and meticulous, not daring to be the slightest bit careless.

"Cheng'er, come here quickly. Let your father have a good look at you." The moment Chen Yuan saw Chen Cheng arrive, he set down his teacup and beckoned happily.

Chen Cheng entered the room and bowed to the two of them.

"Cheng'er greets Father and Mother."

Great families were troublesome in this regard. Whenever one met an elder, there was always bowing and greeting. Still, it showed that this was a land of etiquette.

"No need for formalities," Chen Yuan said.

"Cheng'er, come sit beside Mother." Murong Yan, seated beside Chen Yuan, wore a gentle smile and spoke softly to Chen Cheng.

As a woman, Murong Yan was more emotional. When she learned that her son, missing for eleven years, had returned, she was overjoyed. After meeting Chen Cheng, she became even more fond of him.

"Yes." Chen Cheng answered, then walked over and sat in the seat beside Murong Yan.

Although Chen Cheng had not been born to Murong Yan, the identity implanted by the system had already established their blood relationship. Even if they tested their kinship with blood, his blood would merge with Murong Yan's. (Note: Science is not discussed in a fantasy world.)

"Cheng'er, I heard that you have been cultivating constantly lately. It must have been quite tiring. Mother specially stewed Beast Bone Soup for you. Drink it while it's hot."

Murong Yan had taken excellent care of herself, and with dou qi nourishing her, she did not look old. Having been steeped in poetry and literature for years and born into a prestigious family, although she was nearly forty, she possessed an even more distinguished air of noble elegance.

After Murong Yan finished speaking, she gestured to one of the maidservants behind her, who immediately stepped forward.

The maidservant carried a food box in her hands and set it before Chen Cheng. Murong Yan personally opened it, took out a bowl of soup, and handed it to Chen Cheng.

"This is fresh soup stewed from a Third-Order Magical Beast Fresh Bone Rabbit. It is considered high-grade food, effective at relieving fatigue and strengthening the body. Precious Jade Workshop acquired a batch of Fresh Bone Rabbits some time ago, so I obtained some in advance," Murong Yan explained.

Chen Cheng accepted the bowl, and a rich fragrance rushed into his nose, greatly stirring his appetite. He immediately picked up a spoon and took a small sip. The wonderful sensation left an endless aftertaste.

Prepared from a Third-Order Magical Beast using special methods, it was exceptional in both flavor and effect.

A single bowl of soup had the effects of an ordinary medicinal pill and was worth at least a thousand gold. If consumed over a long period, it would also greatly aid cultivation.

But such extravagance was something only great aristocratic families could afford.

Chen Cheng took several more sips of the fresh soup, praising its flavor without end. Shortly afterward, he immediately felt refreshed, and all the fatigue from his earlier cultivation vanished.

Seeing Chen Cheng finish the soup, the maid cleared away the bowls and utensils, while Murong Yan smiled in satisfaction.

Then Murong Yan shot Chen Yuan a resentful glare and said, "Honestly, Chen Cheng only just came back. Instead of letting him rest properly, you made him cultivate. What are you thinking? With your status, can't you even protect him? If you exhaust Chen Cheng, just see how I settle the score with you."

Faced with Murong Yan's reproach, Chen Yuan could only smile apologetically and repeatedly say, "My wife is right."

A harmonious marriage and a reunited family—perhaps that was true happiness.

After thoroughly putting Chen Yuan in his place, Murong Yan looked at Chen Cheng with affection and said, "Chen Cheng, don't stay cooped up at home all the time. It's far too stifling. Go out and take a walk more often. Fortunately, your father governs well, and Anyang City is quite worth exploring."

"That was exactly what I had in mind. In some time, I really should go out and have a look," Chen Cheng said.

Ever since coming to the Chen Family, Chen Cheng had been busy cultivating and had hardly gone out at all. A balance between work and rest was important; he truly should take a look around and experience the customs of this different world.

At that moment, Murong Yan touched an exquisite ring on her finger. It was a Storage Ring. Besides its expected storage function, it was also a very beautiful accessory.

A glittering gold card covered in exquisite patterns appeared in Murong Yan's hand. She handed it to Chen Cheng and said, "Chen Cheng, this is the Murong Family Supreme Gold Card. With this card, you may take any item you fancy from any business under the Murong Family's name. The family originally gave this to Mother, but I have no use for it, so you should keep it."

Chen Cheng examined the gold card. It was made from a special metal and appeared to be enhanced by some kind of formation, making it difficult to forge. The pattern on it depicted a magnificent landscape. Though engraved on a palm-sized card, it did not feel crowded in the slightest. Instead, anyone who saw it would feel as though they had been transported into the scene.

Chen Cheng accepted the gold card and hurriedly thanked her. "Thank you, Mother."

Murong Yan merely smiled knowingly. "Silly child, why are you still being so formal with your mother?"

After that, the three chatted about various things, mostly casual conversation meant to reconnect after their long separation.

At one point, Chen Cheng seemed to hear something about a family competition next month. But they had discussed too many things in such a homely manner that he did not pay it much attention.