Jing Kingdom, White Water County, Chen Household.
After Chen Shuangbai, a Jade Spring Dao Child, emerged from the White Water Chen Clan, the status of the entire Chen Household in White Water County and even the Jing Kingdom underwent a tremendous change.
Over the past century, the White Water Chen Clan has not only made White Water County a fortress, but many of their disciples have also joined the Jade Spring Sect. Now, they are a well-known and respected Aristocratic Clan cultivators in Wind Province, affiliated with the Jade Spring Sect.
Chen Shuangbai silently bypassed several patrol teams outside and stood before the magnificent gate of the mansion, looking up at the plaque above it—
White Water Chen Clan.
It is evident that this plaque is also a high-grade magical Law Artifact with many wondrous uses, something that ordinary cultivation Lineage cannot afford.
Chen Fuguang and Chen Yazhen followed quietly behind their master, looking at the mansion where they were born with curiosity.
"Brother, you seem to have grown a lot since we left."
Chen Yazhen said carefully.
Chen Fuguang shook his head slightly, signaling his younger sister not to speak.
Chen Shuangbai stared intently for a while, then strode into the mansion.
He crossed the front yard, passed through the carved beams and painted rafters of the corridor, and entered the central courtyard with its artificial hills, flowing water, and clusters of flowers. Finally, he stopped in front of a simple and elegant courtyard.
He recognized it; it was the original residence of the Chen Household.
Sixty years have passed, Chen Household has expanded several times, benefiting even White Water County, which has also expanded several times as a result.
But this place alone has remained completely intact.
Every brick, every tile, every blade of grass, and every tree remains exactly as it was when he left.
Chen Shuangbai pushed open the door and entered. Bright light poured out from inside, and she saw an old man dressed in a blue robe with white hair and beard looking at account books.
Perhaps hearing the noise from the doorway, the old man slightly raised his head, took down the tattered cloth in front of him, and asked in confusion, "Who is it?"
One call, two calls... but no one responded.
The old man seemed to remember something and chuckled, "Grandpa is getting old, please don't joke with him, my little grandson..."
But the old man's words came to an abrupt end, for he walked to the door and saw a handsome Daoist priest, bathed in moonlight, entering the room.
The old man was startled at first, then his nostrils flared and his breathing became heavy. After a long while, he finally came to his senses, tears welling up in his eyes. He knelt down heavily, sobbing uncontrollably, and cried out, "Brother... brother..." His voice choked with emotion, almost incoherent.
" Mingxuan... greets his elder brother!"
The old man was Chen Mingxuan, the one personally selected by Chen Shuangbai from within the clan to carry on his father's lineage.
The room was brightly lit by candlelight, and the old man knelt on the ground, weeping uncontrollably.
Looking at the old man before her, his hair and beard white and tears streaming down his face, Chen Shuangbai was filled with mixed emotions.
He didn't use his Law Power, but instead reached out and gently supported Chen Mingxuan's arm, helping him up from the cold ground, and said softly, "Between brothers, there's no need for such a grand ceremony."
Chen Mingxuan stood up, but still held tightly to Chen Shuangbai's arm, as if afraid that if he let go again, the person in front of him would Chengyun just like sixty years ago.
The old man's voice trembled as he said, "Brother... you've really come back?"
Am I dreaming?
Chen Shuangbai smiled slightly, gently squeezed the old man's hand, letting him feel the warmth of her hand, and the old man choked up again.
As she spoke, tears welled up in her eyes again.
The two sat facing each other on a stone bench in the courtyard.
As Chen Mingxuan's emotions gradually calmed down, he began to ramble on and on about the changes that had taken place in the Chen Shuangbai White Water Chen Clan over the past sixty years.
Which lineage has more successful descendants? Which lineage has the most children? Which lineage has achieved the most in spiritual cultivation?
He recounted everything in great detail, as if he wanted to pour out all the past sixty years to Chen Shuangbai in one night.
Chen Shuangbai did not show any impatience, but listened quietly, nodding and agreeing from time to time.
Sixty years can change many things, let alone a person's character.
When Chen Mingxuan was chosen by him to inherit the family line, his attitude towards Chen Shuangbai at their first meeting was one of rejection and reverence.
But after 60 years... they became quite close.
After rambling on for about two hours, the old man gradually stopped, but his slightly cloudy eyes were now unusually bright.
Chen Mingxuan suddenly remembered something, quickly stood up, and said, "Oh right, brother hasn't eaten yet, has he? I'll have someone prepare something right away..."
"No need."
He seemed to have thought of something, and his mood sombered again, his voice becoming low.
"That's right. Brother, upon your return, you should go and pay respects to our elders."
The courtyard suddenly fell silent.
The flowers were still, the water was still, and even the moonlight softened, casting a lonely glow on Chen Shuangbai's face.
Human lifespan is finite...
No matter how much the Chen Household used longevity pills and spiritual resources, sixty years passed, and Grandfather still passed away.
Seeing Chen Mingxuan now in charge of the household affairs, I know that my second uncle has also gone.
He had long felt this way.
He simply didn't ask, as if by not asking, he could still pretend that they were still alive somewhere in the world.
Until that letter from home reached Jade Screen Peak.
After a long silence, the renowned swordsman of Qinghua sighed and said, "Take me to see him."
Chen Mingxuan nodded, stood up with his cane, and led Chen Shuangbai through several corridors to a solemn and majestic ancestral hall.
In the center of the ancestral hall, the tablets of the ancestors of the White Water Chen Clan are enshrined.
The entire wall was densely covered with them, and a scent of sandalwood mixed with aged wood wafted through the air.
Chen Shuangbai slowly entered, her gaze sweeping over the rows of memorial tablets before finally settling on the two brand-new ones at the front.
"The memorial tablet of my late grandfather, Chen Shoushan; the memorial tablet of my late second uncle, Chen Moyan..."
They are all carved from the finest wood, painted with anti-corrosion vermilion lacquer, and the characters are gilded, shining brightly under the candlelight.
It's clear that Chen Mingxuan put a lot of thought into it.
Looking upwards from these two memorial tablets, there are two slightly worn tablets, each inscribed with --
The memorial tablets for my late father, Chen Huaiyi, and my late mother, Lady Qin of the Chen Household...
Four memorial tablets, for four close relatives.
The candlelight flickered in the hall, and all was quiet except for the occasional crackling of the candle flames.
Outside the window, moonlight streamed through the skylight, casting a long, long Shadow of Chen Shuangbai.
He didn't speak, just stood there quietly, as if he wanted to witness the passing of sixty years in this very moment.
[PS: Two chapters for now, more to come later! Please give me gifts! Please leave a good review! Please urge me to update! And please click the wish button to help with the adaptation! Thank you, dear readers!]