Sparrow Forest Wang Family

Four months later.

Peace Town, Gathering Immortals Tower.

In a private room on the second floor, the window stood half-open, while a celadon wine flask and several small dishes were neatly arranged on the wooden table.

As the organizer of this gathering, Ma Ping was the first to raise his cup.

"Brother Jiang, this cup is for you.

"About what happened last time... I wronged you. The Hunting Team lost quite a few people because of me."

Jiang Fu'an hurriedly raised his cup as well.

"Brother Ma, you're overstating it. Blades and swords have no eyes—how could there be no mishaps on a battlefield?

"Since they dared take on that job, they had already weighed life and death.

"Besides, not only did you settle the promised payment afterward, you also gave extra compensation. Everyone remembers this kindness of yours."

After recovering from his injuries, Ma Ping had not only immediately made up the reward he had promised before, but had also personally come to apologize. Today, he had even specially hosted a feast at the best restaurant in town.

There was nothing to criticize about such conduct.

Ma Ping tipped back his head and drained the wine in his cup.

The fiery liquid slid down his throat, and he let out a long breath.

"Brother Jiang is right. In a fight to the death, how could there be no bloodshed?

"I used to have it all wrong. I always thought I could swallow the Rong Family with ease, and I nearly threw my own life away.

"Lying in bed for two months this time has helped me see things clearly.

"From now on, I should learn from you, brother—do some steady, reliable business and stop touching those things that make one lick blood from the blade's edge."

Naturally, Jiang Fu'an could not appear pleased at this moment, so he hurriedly consoled him.

"Brother Ma, you're too kind. Every path has its own advantages.

"You charged into battle for the family this time and suffered such grave injuries. The Wang Family must look at you with new eyes now, from top to bottom, right?"

Yet Ma Ping showed no joy on his face.

"I have a bit more say in the family than before, but my wife still hardly pays any attention to me."

Because of his injuries, Wang Zhiyue still looked down on him.

There was still no sign of their relationship easing.

As he spoke, he seemed to remember something and suddenly grew solemn.

"Oh, right. I invited you two here today partly to say farewell.

"The Wang Family will soon relocate to Sparrow Forest in its entirety. The next time we meet, I'm afraid it will be on the road to the Melodious Sound Sect."

Sun Xiuyuan, who had been sitting quietly to the side, raised his cup with a smile.

"This is wonderful news! From now on, when people mention the Wang Family, they'll have to call them the Sparrow Forest Wang Family. Come, I'll toast Brother Ma!"

Jiang Fu'an also raised his cup and offered his heartfelt congratulations.

Yet a trace of envy rose in his heart.

He had heard from Miao Ruolan that if a cultivation family did not possess its own Spiritual Vein, it was like a tree without roots.

The younger generation could only rely on the thin spiritual energy drifting over from other Spiritual Veins. Maintaining their cultivation without falling was already no easy task, let alone advancing further.

Even if he later obtained cultivation manuals through Seedling,

without a Spiritual Vein, it would still be difficult for him to set foot on the path of cultivation.

The three clinked cups and drained them.

As he set down his cup, Jiang Fu'an suddenly recalled something Miao Ruolan had mentioned in passing some time ago. He looked at Ma Ping and asked,

"Brother Ma, after your family moves to Sparrow Forest, what do you plan to do with the few Spiritual Fields left behind at Clear Dew Mountain?"

At that, Ma Ping's brows knitted slightly.

"The family's original plan was to send one cultivator to stay there permanently and guard them.

"But no one was willing to leave the Spiritual Vein. They argued and quarreled without reaching a conclusion, so in the end, they had no choice but to make a rule: one person would rotate in each year and guard the fields for a year."

Jiang Fu'an nodded.

"No wonder. After finally gaining a Spiritual Vein to rely on, who would be willing to waste their time outside?"

Sun Xiuyuan's gaze moved between the two of them, and he suddenly cut in with a smile.

"Brother Fu'an, you suddenly asked about this. Could it be that you have some designs on Brother Ma's family's Spiritual Fields?"

Ma Ping also looked up at Jiang Fu'an, inquiry in his eyes.

"Someone in the family did suggest simply selling the Spiritual Fields to save the trouble.

"But this place is so remote, and there are no other cultivation families nearby. Even if we wanted to sell them, we couldn't find a buyer.

"Brother Jiang, don't tell me you really want to take them over?"

Jiang Fu'an had indeed taken an interest in those Spiritual Fields, but he did not intend to buy them.

A few days ago, Miao Ruolan had passed by Clear Dew Mountain while out on business. When she returned, she had curled her lips and muttered,

"The Wang Family's farming skills are truly crude. They ruined several perfectly good Spiritual Fields with their planting."

Seeing both men looking at him, he shook his head with a smile.

"You two think too highly of me. How could I possibly come up with the Spirit Stones needed to buy Spiritual Fields?

"I was merely thinking that if the Wang Family finds it inconvenient to farm them personally, perhaps you could lease them to me to manage.

"Each year, I'll hand over the agreed amount of Spirit Rice. There will absolutely be no arrears."

Hearing that he only wanted to lease them, Ma Ping was somewhat disappointed.

After pondering for a moment, he said carefully,

"I can't make the decision on this matter. But once I return, I'll convey Brother Jiang's intentions to my wife."

Jiang Fu'an hurriedly cupped his hands.

"Then many thanks to Brother Ma for passing along the word. To be honest, I have some experience tending Spiritual Fields.

"If they are entrusted to me, I certainly won't let the Wang Family suffer a loss."

After that, the three discussed traveling together to the Melodious Sound Sect.

There was less than a year left until the Sect Grand Tournament. It was time to settle on a departure date.

After discussing it for quite a while, they finally made the decision:

They would set out after next year's Lantern Festival.

In the slanting afternoon sunlight, Jiang Fu'an had just returned to the entrance of his small courtyard when he saw Miao Ruolan emerge from inside.

The moment she saw Jiang Fu'an, her eyes lit up, and she hurried over in a few quick steps.

"Master, a few days ago, you took Yue'er to have her Spiritual Root tested. What was the result?"

Jiang Fu'an had not originally planned to take Yue'er to test her Spiritual Root.

He knew full well that she did not have one. Going would only have been a wasted trip.

But the little girl wanted to cultivate like her older sister. Every day, she pestered him to have her Spiritual Root tested, wheedling and pestering without end.

Because he knew that the method used to test Spiritual Roots could not detect special constitutions, he reluctantly agreed.

The test went smoothly that day.

The cultivator in charge of the examination took only a moment before shaking his head and saying, "No Spiritual Root."

As for a special constitution, he did not mention it at all.

Yue'er immediately wilted, her little mouth puckering into a pout.

Jiang Fu'an bought her several packets of preserved fruit before finally coaxing her into smiling again.

Now that Miao Ruolan had asked, a hint of regret appeared on his face at the right moment. He shook his head.

"She was tested, but unfortunately, Yue'er has no Spiritual Root."

"No?"

Miao Ruolan blurted it out. The disappointment on her face was unmistakable—if anything, it seemed even more genuine than that of Jiang Fu'an, her father.

Jiang Fu'an felt faintly surprised.

He suddenly realized that Miao Ruolan's concern over this matter seemed to go beyond the ordinary.

Without showing it, he asked,

"What is it, Ruolan? You seem especially concerned about this result."

Miao Ruolan froze, then realized she had lost her composure and hurriedly explained,

"It's nothing. I just think Yue'er is so clever and adorable. It would be such a pity if she couldn't cultivate."

Seeing that she was unwilling to say more, Jiang Fu'an did not press her further.

Still, he secretly made a note of it: this little lass would need closer watching in the future. He could not let her casually set her sights on Yue'er.