"Dezhao—a gentleman esteemed virtue, and his conduct shone bright."
"Zhao'er. A fine name."
Xu Chuan laughed heartily and took Xu Dezhao into his arms, making cooing sounds to amuse him.
Xu Mingyuan and the others also took turns holding him.
Xu Dezhao's birth meant they were no longer the youngest generation in the household. They were elders now, too.
With a change in status, their outlook naturally changed as well.
That day, Xu Chuan once again rewarded all the maids, servants, and guards with half a month's wages.
He let them share in the joyous occasion.
That night.
The stars lay hidden in the ink-dark sky, impossible to make out.
Before long, a light rain began to patter down.
"Husband, Shitou has already married and had a child. Shouldn't we consider A Yuan's marriage next?"
Nestled in Xu Chuan's arms, Bai Jing suddenly raised her head to look at his face.
"I've already spoken to him about it."
"Yes, and several months have passed without a whisper of progress."
A note of reproach entered Bai Jing's voice as she continued, "Didn't you say Wu, Fang, Wang, He, and Cao intended to target our Xu Household?"
"I've asked around. The Wu Household has a young lady in the jade-green bloom of youth, the second daughter of the third branch of the household head's line. I hear she's skilled in martial arts.
If our households were joined by marriage, it would settle A Yuan's lifelong affairs and make the Xu Household's position in Qingjiang County more secure. What do you think, husband?"
"I know you mean well for A Yuan, but I'd still prefer him to find someone he likes."
Bai Jing immediately grew displeased. "Isn't it all your fault? You insist they keep themselves pure. Every one of them is a direct-line young master of a great household, yet they don't even have a bedchamber maid. Otherwise, I'd have had a grandson in my arms long ago."
"And you made A Yuan manage such vast lineage businesses at his young age, then urged him to practice martial arts diligently. When is he supposed to find a wife?"
Xu Chuan could only smile wryly. Holding her close, he soothed her. "All right, all right. It's all your husband's fault. We'll do as you wish. Go speak to A Yuan yourself."
"Thank you, husband." Once Xu Chuan agreed, Bai Jing's expression changed again. "Husband, shall I help you tonight?"
"Your husband prefers to do it himself."
With that, he rolled over onto Bai Jing, and the phoenix and its mate tumbled together in passion.
After Bai Jing fell sound asleep, Xu Chuan summoned the genealogy.
Its third page had already formed, but it remained completely blank. Xu Dezhao's information would only appear after his blood was dripped onto it.
Still, although no information appeared, Xu Chuan could sense the fate talents that had emerged.
There were seven in total: [Shennong's hundred herbs], [Golden koi], [Nine palaces dao derivation], [Clear sword heart], [Qi-blood furnace], [Gale chasing lightning], and [Penetrating insight].
"[Qi-blood furnace] is best suited to the martial way. [Gale chasing lightning] excels at comprehending movement techniques and footwork, allowing speed to surge."
"[Penetrating insight] sees through people's hearts and peers straight into the essence of things. I can't give this talent away lightly."
"[Clear sword heart]—the way of the sword makes no distinction between the martial way and the immortal way. It suits both, but someone obsessed with the sword isn't suited to managing a household."
"[Shennong's hundred herbs]—someone with this fate talent excels at cultivation, understands the medicinal properties of countless herbs, and can even refine pills. It actually suits me quite well."
Xu Chuan had studied farming since childhood. With [Heaven rewards diligence], he had become a master of agriculture and was likewise skilled at growing crops.
Adding [Shennong's hundred herbs] would surely be like giving a tiger wings.
Understanding the medicinal properties of countless herbs would let him develop medicinal cuisine recipes better suited to supporting the martial way, adding to the lineage's foundations.
After becoming an immortal cultivator, he could also refine pills for the lineage.
"[Golden koi], an aura of good fortune. I'd better leave that for a child or grandchild."
Xu Chuan shook his head with a chuckle, feeling that he was being too greedy.
"[Nine palaces dao derivation] excels at deducing formations. A great formation could become the foundation upon which a clan is founded. Unfortunately, it's still a little too early for the Xu Household."
The next day.
Bai Jing went to Xu Mingyuan's courtyard. He was already up, practicing martial arts in his own yard.
A servant stood nearby holding a towel, while a maid carried a cup of tea, waiting to offer it to Xu Mingyuan when he finished.
"Madam."
At Bai Jing's arrival, the servant and maid both bowed.
Hearing them, Xu Mingyuan stopped and turned to look, then smiled. "Mother, why are you here so early? Where's Father?"
"Practicing too. What has he turned this whole household into? Every one of you gets up early to do this."
Bai Jing shook her head and sighed softly.
"Mother, Father leads by example, so naturally his sons follow suit. Surely you don't want us brothers behaving like the young masters of Qingjiang County's aristocratic clans?"
"Of course not. I'm just grumbling. I came to discuss something with you."
"Go ahead, Mother."
"I've picked out the second daughter of the Wu household head's second branch for you. In a couple of days, I'll invite Madam Wu and Miss Wu to visit our Xu Household. You can meet her."
"You want me to meet a young lady from the Wu Household as a marriage prospect?" Xu Mingyuan smiled bitterly. "Mother, it's not as though you don't know the current relationship between the Wu Household and ours."
"It's precisely because I know that you should meet her. A marriage alliance would surely ease relations between us, and settle your lifelong affairs at the same time."
"Does Father know? He promised I could find someone myself."
Xu Mingyuan could only invoke Xu Chuan, hoping it would help him escape this calamity.
"I knew you'd say that." Bai Jing's lips curved upward in triumph. "I asked your father last night."
"But..."
"No buts. It's settled. I'll let you know when the time comes."
Bai Jing raised a hand to stop him. She knew her second son had a silver tongue, one that could talk the dead back to life. If she let him speak, he would probably persuade her within a few sentences.
Bai Jing left Xu Mingyuan's courtyard at once.
Too unsettled to continue practicing, Xu Mingyuan wiped off his sweat, took a sip of tea, and immediately went to find Xu Chuan.
At that moment, Xu Chuan was cultivating the Five Elements Creation Art.
At the hours of the tiger and rabbit, face east and swallow the azure clouds; at the hours of the snake and horse, face south and drink cinnabar; at the hours of the monkey and rooster, face west and draw in white dew; at the hours of the pig and rat, face north and sip black ice; at the hours of the dragon, dog, ox, and goat, guard the Yellow Court.
This was the qi-gathering formula.
Take in the five elements, mend the deficiencies of the spiritual roots, and perfect innate creation.
There were also inward visualization and communion with the outer world.
Through spring, summer, autumn, and winter, the practice never ceased.
"Father."
Xu Mingyuan came before Xu Chuan and bowed with his hands clasped. Xu Chuan neither stopped moving nor opened his eyes, merely asking calmly, "What is it?"
"You're so wise, Father. Why ask when you already know?"
His voice sounded resentful.
Xu Chuan paid it no mind and said with a smile, "What's the harm in meeting her? You only have yourself to blame for moving so slowly."
"How can feelings appear just because you want them to? It takes fate."
"Exactly. And now fate has arrived."
"Your elder brother and sister-in-law fell for each other at first sight. Are you hoping to follow their example?"
"I..."
Xu Mingyuan opened his mouth, but did not know how to argue.
Love at first sight was enviable, but if he truly insisted on that, he might not find anyone even by his thirties or forties.
After all, he was busy with the lineage's businesses. Most people he met outside were the heads of wealthy merchant households—a whole crowd of grown men. Could he really expect to fall in love with them at first sight?
"In your situation, your only option is to meet someone from a household of equal standing," Xu Chuan said. "As for feelings, you can marry first and fall in love afterward."
"Your mother and I did the same."
Xu Mingyuan actually found himself at a loss for words.
After a while, he gave a heavy sigh. "I'll agree to meet her, but I have one condition. The final decision must be mine."
"Naturally."
"Thank you, Father."
Having secured what he wanted, Xu Mingyuan then went to Xu Mingwei's courtyard and told him about the matter as well.
Xu Mingwei laughed heartily. "Mother is doing this for your sake."
"The Wu Household really is a good choice."
"Even you say so, Brother. Looks like there's no escaping it."
Xu Mingyuan spread his hands, left with no choice but to resign himself to his fate.