Karma

Zhou Qing and Old Man Zhou followed Goatee up to the top floor of the Immortal Gathering Pavilion.

Several tables of guests had already taken their seats. They were all children who had passed the earlier test, along with their families.

Each household had its own table, attended by dedicated servants, with officials from the City Lord's Mansion accompanying them throughout.

The City Lord himself was currently at the Nie Family's table, exchanging pleasantries with Master Nie and Miss Nie.

Whether considering Master Nie's own status or the talent Miss Nie had displayed during the test, they were the most important guests and naturally deserved the City Lord's personal company.

Yet after Zhou Qing came upstairs, the City Lord still made a special trip over to exchange a few words with him. His manner was warm and gentle, without the slightest trace of a City Lord's airs, leaving Old Man Zhou overwhelmed by the unexpected honor.

Zhou Qing and Old Man Zhou took their seats at a table beside Wei Xu's family. Goatee, whose name was Liu Qi, sat with them as well, bustling about as he introduced each dish.

Besides Liu Qi, a female attendant stood by the table to wait on them at all times. She was around eighteen or nineteen. Though not breathtakingly beautiful, she was still delicate and pleasant-looking.

Old Man Zhou had been a farmer all his life. He had only ever served others; never had anyone served him.

Feeling uncomfortable about it, he said, "Miss, why don't you sit down too? Standing beside us must be tiring."

Liu Qi smiled. "This is her job. If you asked her to sit at the table, she'd feel awkward instead."

Old Man Zhou said, "Such a fresh, lovely young lady, serving a rough old man like me—I feel awkward too."

Liu Qi's eyes rolled, and he said, "Does Master Zhou like this young lady?"

Old Man Zhou did not understand the hidden implications of high society. Chuckling, he said, "Who wouldn't like such a well-behaved girl?"

Liu Qi smiled. "Since Master Zhou likes her, then this girl is yours."

Old Man Zhou thought he was joking and said, "Steward Liu, stop teasing me."

Liu Qi said, "What standing does this lowly one have to dare tease Master Zhou? If Master Zhou wishes it, once the banquet ends, this girl can go with you."

Seeing that he did not seem to be joking, Old Man Zhou blushed instead. "Th-this... how could that be? Such a lovely girl, coming to our home—wouldn't that wrong her?"

Liu Qi said with a smile, "How could it wrong her? The City Lord has already instructed us to purchase a residence for Master Zhou in the best part of Cloud Prefecture City. Servants and maids will be provided as well. Not to mention a mere attendant like her—even a young lady from a great family would not be wronged living there."

Old Man Zhou was struck dumb. Never before had he so deeply realized the authority of Cultivators.

His son had only just passed the test, yet even the City Lord immediately bestowed a house and a woman upon them.

Old Man Zhou did not become giddy with delight. Instead, he grew somewhat fearful and uneasy.

In his honest mind, there had always been a belief: those with thin fortunes could not bear blessings too great. His family had been farmers for generations—were they truly qualified to enjoy such things?

He looked to his son as though begging for help, wanting him to make the decision.

Without realizing it, the head of the household had changed.

Zhou Qing glanced at the female attendant. Seeing that she kept her eyes lowered and behaved obediently, not like a frivolous person, he nodded. "Since it is the City Lord's kindness, Father, accept her."

Old Man Zhou secretly glanced at the girl. His heart burned, yet his hands and feet did not know where to go. He stammered, "I'm already forty or fifty years old. If such a young lady follows me, wouldn't that wrong her?"

Zhou Qing shook his head. "In this world, ordinary people have few chances to choose. She can be given to Father today, and she can be given to someone else tomorrow. Who can guarantee that the next person will be better than Father?"

"Treat her well from now on, Father. Help support her family more. That can count as compensation to her."

"Once I leave this time, we may never meet again. If no one is by Father's side to care for him, I will not be at peace."

After all, he had occupied another man's son's body. He had crossed into this world three years ago and received the other's meticulous care. How could he fail to repay such a great kindness?

Seeing his son put it that way, and since he himself was willing as well, Old Man Zhou agreed with a red face.

When Liu Qi saw that the Zhou family had accepted the gift, it meant he had successfully forged a connection between the City Lord and the Zhou family. He was even more delighted.

Fearing that delays might bring complications, he immediately excused himself to Zhou Qing and left the table to handle the necessary transfer procedures.

"Brother, you are mistaken!"

The moment Liu Qi left, a grief-stricken voice suddenly rang out from the neighboring table.

Zhou Qing turned and saw Wei Xu rising to walk over.

He asked, "Brother Wei, why do you say that?"

Wei Xu first gave Old Man Zhou a refined bow. "Greetings, Uncle Zhou."

Then he sat down beside Zhou Qing and said, "This younger brother once served as a page in the City Lord's Mansion and saw some accounts from the Cultivation World. It is said that Cultivators fear nothing more than forming Karma with mortals, and the greatest Karma of all is receiving another's kindness."

"Among the Nine Great Cultivation Realms, every breakthrough into a major realm brings a Lightning Tribulation. If one's Karma remains unresolved, the Lightning Tribulation will be especially fierce."

"Thus, those of us Immortal Seedlings who passed the test fear forming Karma with others most of all. Though the City Lord has treated us so attentively and promised generous rewards, look at those people ahead of us—none of them has agreed."

"I advise you to immediately call Liu Qi back, Brother, lest you bring trouble upon yourself."

Hearing how serious he made it sound, Old Man Zhou immediately panicked. He wanted to persuade his son to return the things they had just accepted.

Zhou Qing raised a hand to stop his father and smiled. "Thank you for your kind warning, Brother Wei. However, there are two reasons why this younger brother cannot agree with your advice."

Wei Xu was greatly surprised. "Which two reasons?"

Zhou Qing said, "First, I believe that Karma should be settled, not avoided."

"A person's life comes from their parents, and they are raised to adulthood by their parents. If we speak of Karma, there is no greater Karma than this. Yet now we abandon our families and head for the Cultivation World, casting aside this greatest Karma without a care. How is that any different from a debtor fleeing his debts?"

"Therefore, this younger brother would rather make proper arrangements for my father so that he may enjoy a peaceful old age, thereby settling this Karma."

"As for any other Karma that may arise from it, exchanging lesser Karma for greater Karma is, in my view, worthwhile."

Wei Xu had never heard such words before, yet the more he considered them, the more deeply reasonable they seemed. Secretly impressed, he asked, "That is one reason. What is the other?"

A sharp light flashed in Zhou Qing's eyes. "Cultivation is a winding, rugged, and perilous road. Without an unyielding and exceptional temperament, how could one endure the countless grindings and temperings along the path, standing unbroken despite a hundred setbacks?"

"Therefore, I believe that from the very beginning, Cultivators should set their hearts on asking only what ought to be done, without calculating gains and losses. If one is frightened by so-called Karma before cultivation has even begun, becoming timid and shrinking back—daring not repay kindness that should be repaid, daring not seek vengeance that should be sought—"

"With one's spirit already three parts diminished, how much strength remains to contend against the countless hardships on the road of cultivation?"