An Obsession Took Root

"Young Master Xiao Yu, the clan leader sent me to ask you to come over."

Xiao Yu had only just stepped out of his courtyard when he met the servant Xiao Zhan had sent.

Xiao Yu was grateful to Xiao Zhan. He was not the original Xiao Yu, but the care Xiao Zhan had shown him over the past three years had also earned his deep respect for this "second uncle he'd inherited."

"All right, I'll head over right away. Go on with your work."

"Yes, Young Master Xiao Yu."

Watching the handsome, poised youth in white walk away, the servant silently marveled.

"Young Master Xiao Yu is as gentle as ever. What a shame. How can a fine young man like him be unable to cultivate? Heaven really is blind."

"Ah..."

With a sigh, the servant left, regret written across his face.

Xiao Zhan often sent this servant to deliver daily necessities to Xiao Yu. Having dealt with him so often, he knew Xiao Yu's temperament and character well, which was why he felt such pity for him.

Following the route to Xiao Zhan's room in his memories, Xiao Yu strolled along. For the past three years, he had never left his little courtyard. Eating, drinking, and even answering nature's call had all taken place there, so naturally, he was unfamiliar with the Xiao Clan's layout.

The original Xiao Yu had moved into that courtyard at five years old. Over the following seven years, he had only visited Xiao Zhan's residence a few times, accompanied by that same servant.

As for why he had not asked the servant to lead the way, Xiao Yu wanted to take a walk on his own. Although the surroundings were unfamiliar, the route in his memories was fairly clear, so there was no need.

None of the classic scenes from novels happened along the way. After all, practically no one knew Xiao Yu, and no one would foolishly run up to show off and get slapped in the face.

Still, quite a few young people passing by gave him curious looks, probably wondering who this remarkably handsome youth was.

Xiao Yu paid them no mind and walked on calmly with a smile.

The Xiao Clan's grounds were rather large, and reaching Xiao Zhan's residence took him quite some time.

He knocked on Xiao Zhan's door, and a voice immediately came from inside.

"Come in."

Xiao Yu pushed the door open. A middle-aged man sat beside a table, staring at a sheet of paper with a cloud of worry over his face.

The middle-aged man was none other than the clan leader, Xiao Zhan, Xiao Yu's second uncle.

Xiao Zhan looked up. Seeing Xiao Yu, the worry vanished from his face, and he smiled. "Ah, Yu, it's you. Come in and sit down."

"All right."

Xiao Yu smiled as he came over and sat beside the table. "What did you need me for, Second Uncle?"

Xiao Zhan paused. There was bitterness in his eyes, but he hid it well and said as though nothing were wrong, "Nothing much. It's been a long time since I last saw you, Yu. I wanted to see how you've been doing."

Xiao Yu smiled. "With you looking after me, Second Uncle, I've been doing very well."

"That's good. That's good." Seeing that Xiao Yu's expression was genuine, Xiao Zhan felt reassured.

Throughout his life, Xiao Zhan had wronged no one. Only toward Xiao Yan and Xiao Yu did he feel indebted.

As the leader of the clan, he had failed to take proper care of Xiao Yan, leaving him to suffer countless contemptuous looks after becoming a good-for-nothing. He did not even have the authority to secure cultivation resources for him.

As for Xiao Yu, his elder brother's son and his own nephew, Xiao Zhan had left him living in a secluded little courtyard for ten years, powerless even to bring him back into the inner clan.

Xiao Yu had lost his parents as a small child. Those ten years of loneliness, with no one to depend on, made Xiao Zhan feel that he had failed in his duties as an uncle and, worse still, had let down his deceased elder brother.

Yet Xiao Yan and Xiao Yu, including the current Xiao Yu, were all deeply grateful to Xiao Zhan. They knew perfectly well everything he had done for them. At least in their eyes, he had already done enough. After all, the Xiao Clan did not belong to Xiao Zhan alone.

Seeing Xiao Zhan lost in thought, Xiao Yu did not disturb him.

Before long, Xiao Zhan came back to himself. Looking at the handsome, smiling youth before him, his heart filled with comfort and nostalgia.

Then his gaze dimmed a little. "Yu, before I knew it, you've already turned fifteen."

Seeing Xiao Zhan's expression, Xiao Yu understood what was going on. "Are you worried about my coming-of-age ceremony, Second Uncle?"

"You little rascal, you're still as clever as ever. In another year, you'll have to attend the coming-of-age ceremony... Time really flies..." What troubled Xiao Zhan was precisely Xiao Yan's and Xiao Yu's coming-of-age ceremony.

Xiao Yan had just turned fifteen this year, while Xiao Yu was a little past fifteen. Xiao Yu was only a few months older than Xiao Yan, so naturally, their coming-of-age ceremony would be held together.

Hearing this, Xiao Yu smiled. "You don't need to worry about that, Second Uncle. Whatever the outcome, I can accept it. It'll just mean living somewhere else."

Living somewhere else-only Xiao Yu could make it sound so easy. After the coming-of-age ceremony, clan members below the seventh stage of Dou Qi would be assigned to the Xiao Clan's businesses, with almost no chance of ever rising in the world again.

The clan would no longer give them any resources. Under such circumstances, many would never reach Dou Zhe or Dou Shi in their entire lives, sinking into the lower ranks.

Xiao Yu had been unable to cultivate since childhood, and there was nothing to be done about that. What worried Xiao Zhan was that, without any cultivation, Xiao Yu would be bullied and live poorly once he went out into the world.

Xiao Zhan remained silent. The more broad-minded Xiao Yu was, the more he blamed himself. Such a sensible, understanding nephew, yet he lacked the ability to give him a better life and would have to watch helplessly as he went off to suffer.

Seeing that Xiao Zhan was still blaming himself, Xiao Yu sighed inwardly. "Second Uncle, I've grown up. I can't rely on you for everything. It's time I faced the life ahead of me on my own. Otherwise, you might spoil me into a good-for-nothing who can't even look after himself."

He said the latter half jokingly, drawing a small smile from Xiao Zhan.

"Yes, you're not little anymore, Yu. It's time you went out and saw the world. I can't keep you trapped by my side forever. After all, I can't stay with you for the rest of your life," Xiao Zhan said with feeling.

But in the next moment, Xiao Zhan turned serious. "Speaking of which, Yu, you're fifteen now. I think it's time to find you a wife. That way, even when you're out there, someone will look after you and keep you in line, and I won't have to worry."

Hearing this, Xiao Yu nearly broke out in a cold sweat. That change of subject was far too sudden. How had their conversation somehow wandered onto the matter of his marriage?

He did not want to get married so early. Although he had been single for twenty-three years in his previous life, he was only fifteen now, with terrifying talent for cultivation. He wanted to roam free a while longer. Something like this should at least wait until he'd had his fill.

"Second Uncle, well... I'm still young. I'm only fifteen. Isn't it a little too early to get married?"

"Hmm? Didn't you just say you'd grown up? How are you suddenly still young? Besides, this is a matter that concerns the rest of your life. It's not too early to discuss it at all."

"..."

"How about I look around for you? I know a few nice young girls. Their talent may be a little lacking, but they're all budding beauties."

"..."

"You little rascal, why aren't you saying anything?"

"Second Uncle, please stop teasing me."

"Hahaha... You little rascal."

Xiao Yu and Xiao Zhan chatted for a long time. It had been ages since they had talked like this, and the distance that had grown between uncle and nephew from seeing each other so rarely over the years quickly melted away.

Evening arrived.

It was time for Xiao Yu to head home.

"Second Uncle, I'll head back now. I'll come chat with you again another day," Xiao Yu said, rising to his feet.

Xiao Zhan smiled and nodded. "All right. The older a man gets, the more he talks. Go back early and get some rest. I won't see you out."

Once Xiao Yu had left the room, the smile gradually disappeared from Xiao Zhan's face. He murmured heavily, "Little Yu... I've let you down..."

Outside the door, Xiao Yu had not yet left. With his current strength, he heard Xiao Zhan's murmur clearly even through the closed door.

Something stirred in his heart, and a smile rose from deep within him. For the first time in his three years on the Dou Qi Continent, he felt the warmth of family. Xiao Zhan's care reminded him of his parents on Earth.

Looks like I can't keep lying flat anymore. It's time to put in some effort.

Three years from now, disaster would strike the Xiao Clan. Without sufficient strength, Xiao Zhan would likely be captured and imprisoned by the Soul Palace, just as he had been in the original story.

Xiao Yu also missed his parents and brothers dearly. He longed to return to Earth.

And strength was the foundation for achieving all of it.

If he could reach Dou Wang in three years, he could take Xiao Zhan with him and escape Yun Ling's pursuit, then hide away and spare Xiao Zhan the suffering of imprisonment by the Soul Palace.

If he reached Dou Di as soon as possible, even if he could not return to Earth, he could travel to a higher world and search for a way home.

So all I need to do is cultivate.

Xiao Yu left with a smile.