Returning Home

After leaving the Treasury Pavilion, Song Qingming did not hurry down the mountain. He first returned to his cave dwelling to make thorough preparations and stabilize his Sixth Layer of Qi Refining cultivation. Only more than ten days later did he pack his belongings, leave his cave dwelling, and head down Funiu Mountain.

After descending the mountain, Song Qingming planned to return home to Mujiao Town first, to see the family he had not seen in three years and check whether the Water Spirit Fruit he had left at home was still safe.

Within the Song Family estate, the lively and adorable Song Yunshan had become the family's treasured darling. Now three years old, he was long accustomed to scampering through the courtyards at the front and back of the estate. That day, he came to an ordinary small house on the west side of the rear courtyard. Just as he was about to slip inside to take a look, he shoved hard at the door, only to find it utterly unmoving. A clinking sound of iron chains came from the door as well.

Song Yunshan raised his head curiously and saw that two enormous iron chains had actually been fastened above the little door. Just as he did not know what to do, a plainly dressed Song Family servant hurried over from nearby and swept Song Yunshan up, carrying him away from the place.

"Ah, my little young master, you scared me to death! Good thing the old master and the others aren't in the rear courtyard right now. If anyone saw you, they'd beat me to death for sure."

The man muttered all the way, never imagining that every word would fall into the ears of Song Qingming, who had just entered the Song Family gates. Now that Song Qingming had reached the Sixth Layer of Qi Refining, his ears and eyes had long surpassed those of ordinary mortals. Within a hundred paces, even the slightest rustle of wind or grass could scarcely escape his ears.

The moment he entered the gates, Song Qingming saw his aged parents waiting ahead. Both were nearing fifty, already considered advanced in years among mortals.

Though they had both consumed some of the spiritual items Song Qingming had given them and remained fairly healthy, Song Qingming, who had not returned home in three years, could still clearly see many more wrinkles on their faces. Even his fourth younger brother, three years his junior, now looked more like his elder brother.

Mortals lived no more than seventy or eighty years at most, and even those who could live past sixty were rare. He still had to make another long journey, and it would likely be several years before he returned. The days he would be able to spend by his parents' side in the future would probably not be many.

After chatting warmly with his family in the hall, Song Qingming came to the small house that no one had entered for three years. Behind him, his father, Song Dezhang, carefully brought out a key from his own room and personally opened the large iron lock that had been sealed for three years.

When Song Qingming had left, he had specifically instructed his parents and family that no one was to enter this small house in his absence. To this son who had already become an immortal, Song Dezhang had obeyed every word over the years. Having lived honestly for most of his life, he understood perfectly well that without Song Qingming's protection, the Song Family could never have enjoyed such good days as they did now.

With a rattling of iron chains, Song Dezhang soon removed the lock. When the door opened, a damp, moldy stench rushed into everyone's faces. After Song Qingming walked inside, Song Dezhang deliberately stood in the doorway, blocking Mother Song and the others outside from entering.

The house, unoccupied for three years, was already blanketed in dust. Several cobwebs hung from the beams and chairs. Yet as Song Qingming looked at the desolate, dilapidated scene before him, he was instead quite satisfied. His father had truly taken his words to heart. No one should have entered this little house over the past few years, and the furnishings were exactly as they had been when he left.

Song Qingming quietly walked to where he had buried the Water Spirit Fruit years ago, wanting to make sure it was safe. His family was now considered wealthy in Mujiao Town, and he still feared that some blind, thieving rat might have stumbled in here by mistake.

After a simple inspection, he found that the restriction he had set up was still intact. Seeing that the Water Spirit Fruit in the red jade box was still lying safely within, Song Qingming finally put his mind at ease. He rose and called for the people outside to enter.

Seeing the filth all around the room and smelling the waves of pungent mold, everyone could not help frowning. Only after Song Qingming lit a piece of Spirit Incense Wood inside the room, its fragrant spiritual energy slowly spreading through the air, did they begin to feel somewhat better.

This spirit wood incense not only gave off an enticing fragrance, but also refreshed the mind and relieved fatigue for cultivators. Lighting one during cultivation allowed one to enter a meditative state more quickly. Whether cultivator or mortal, anyone who smelled this spiritual incense would feel their spirits brighten.

However, although this spiritual item was not particularly valuable, it was rarely seen in Wei State. It was a specialty spiritual item unique to Lu State in the south of Wei State. The few pieces of spirit wood incense on Song Qingming were gifts Qin Zhen had given him when he was at Caolu Mountain.

Over the past few years, Qin Zhen had not only become a major customer for Song Qingming's Spirit Talismans, but had also become his close friend. The two would occasionally share a few cups of Spirit Wine at an inn on Caolu Mountain, exchanging experiences in hunting demonic beasts and insights from cultivation.

Qin Zhen was also a Rogue Cultivator from the territory under Qinghe Market's jurisdiction. Quick-witted and fond of making friends, he soon made a name for himself around Caolu Mountain and became the leader of a group of Rogue Cultivators. He often organized cultivators to hunt demonic beasts in Yunwu Mountain. In the Caolu Mountain region, few people did not know him.

With his broad network of connections, though Qin Zhen was a Rogue Cultivator with no one to rely on, he got along quite well near Caolu Mountain. At times, he could even serve as an intermediary and introduce business deals. When Song Qingming had sought out Gao Yuyao to buy pills, Qin Zhen had been the one to introduce them, earning himself a tidy sum of Spirit Stones from Song Qingming.

For some reason, after Song Qingming returned from the Floating Cloud Mountain Range, he never saw Gao Yuyao come to Caolu Mountain again. He had specifically asked Qin Zhen about her several times, but still failed to learn anything. Gao Yuyao seemed to have vanished into thin air, forcing him over the past few years to secretly travel to Qinghe Market to buy the pills he needed for cultivation.

Compared with the pills Gao Yuyao provided, purchasing supplies at Qinghe Market was not only troublesome but also more expensive. Unfortunately, Alchemists were exceedingly rare. Song Qingming had spent six years around Caolu Mountain, yet he had never seen anyone whose alchemy surpassed Gao Yuyao's.

Over these years, Song Qingming truly had missed Gao Yuyao, that graceful beauty.

After Mother Song entered the room, the dust filling the place made her deeply uncomfortable. Once Song Qingming gave his permission, she called over several servants from outside and had them thoroughly clean the little house.

Half a day later, Mother Song finally nodded in satisfaction when she saw Song Qingming sitting on the freshly cleaned bed. She then dismissed the servants who had been cleaning.

"Third son, will you be staying home for a while this time?"

Seeing the expectation in his mother's eyes, Song Qingming could not help feeling moved. He smiled and nodded. "This time, I have completed the family mission, so I have some time to cultivate freely. Naturally, I can stay home a while longer. It is just that there is no spiritual energy here for cultivation, so I cannot remain by Mother's side for long. I hope Mother can understand."

After hearing this, Song Dezhang hurriedly said to Mother Song, "Third son is an immortal now. How can he live every day with mortals like us? Don't delay his future."

"You people only know 'immortal, immortal' all day long. Whether Third Son is an immortal or a mortal, he is still my son. Does cultivating immortality mean he has to abandon even his parents and family?" Mother Song immediately grew displeased upon hearing Song Dezhang's nagging.

Seeing his old wife suddenly turn on him, Song Dezhang became flustered and hurriedly tried to explain.

Seeing that the two elders were about to quarrel over him, Song Qingming quickly stepped in to smooth things over. He would soon be leaving on a long journey, and he had returned this time precisely because he wanted to spend more time with his family. Seeing how deeply Mother Song missed him, he patiently remained at home for several more days.

A month later, Song Qingming once again bid farewell to his parents and family, then carefully set foot once more upon the long, endless road of immortality that belonged to him alone.

After Song Qingming left, Mother Song returned to the rear courtyard and looked at the great iron lock hanging once more on the small house's door. She let out a faint, resentful sigh.