Widow Liu

Liu Shengsheng, who had been following behind Widow Liu, also poked her head out and smiled at Lin Xiao:

"Hello, Brother Xiao! Thank you, Brother Xiao!"

Lin Xiao smiled somewhat embarrassedly. He was terrible at handling these kinds of situations, so he decisively changed the subject and asked:

"Auntie Liu, are you here to see Yunan? Wait a moment, I'll let you in right away."

Before Widow Liu could say anything, Lin Xiao turned off the defense function.

Seeing Lin Xiao suddenly close his eyes, Widow Liu didn't dare to disturb him. She waited until he opened his eyes again before saying to him:

"Brother Xiao, I know Nan'er usually cultivates on this mountain with you, so I haven't wanted to bother you. But actually, we've come here today on business..."

"Oh? What's the matter? Auntie Liu, come in and tell me." As he spoke, Lin Xiao gave Liu Yunan a look, signaling him to bring his mother and sister to the sect's main hall.

Just as Widow Liu was about to refuse, Liu Yunan, having received a look from Lin Xiao, quickly grabbed his mother's arm and pulled her inside.

"Mother, let's go, let's go! I'll take you and my sister to visit our sect's main hall!"

Lin Xiao walked ahead with great pleasure.

This sect's main hall is generally a place for holding meetings, but so far, their sect has nothing to discuss, so it has been left idle and used by Lin Xiao as a quiet room for contemplation.

Now, this sect's main hall can finally be put to its proper use!

A while later, the group arrived at the main hall.

Following behind Widow Liu Shengsheng exclaimed in surprise upon seeing the magnificent and imposing hall before her.

"My goodness! Brother, your sect's main hall is so beautiful! Colorful beads even fall from the eaves!"

As she spoke, she ran to the eaves and reached out to catch the falling colored light, but she caught nothing.

"Huh?"

Widow Liu, standing to the side, looked at the grand hall before her with amazement in her eyes, but her expression did not show much surprise.

Once everyone entered the main hall, Liu Shengsheng couldn't stop praising the walls adorned with tiny starlight.

Lin Xiao then pointed to the straw mats scattered all over the floor of the main hall and said to Widow Liu:

"Auntie Liu, please don't be shy, make yourself at home."

These straw mats are what they occasionally use when chatting in the main hall.

After everyone was seated, Lin Xiao smiled slightly at Widow Liu and asked:

"Auntie Liu, is there anything I can help you with?"

Widow Liu shook her head, then let out a long sigh and said:

"Brother Xiao, I want to... join your sect and cultivate alongside you!"

Lin Xiao was taken aback by this, then exclaimed happily:

"That's great! Auntie Liu, are you joining now?"

Seeing how readily he agreed, Widow Liu breathed a slight sigh of relief.

"Brother Xiao, I know that it's harder to cultivate as you get older, but I can't control my heart..."

Hearing her words, Lin Xiao felt that Tuzi's mother seemed to know something about cultivating immortality.

Lin Xiao, who always spoke his mind, asked directly:

"Auntie Liu, from what you're saying, it seems you know something about cultivating immortality?"

Widow Liu sighed, glanced at Liu Yunan and Liu Shengsheng, and then spoke:

"Actually, as you probably know, I got separated from my family while fleeing from war, which is how I ended up in Xiushui Village."

The people sitting on the straw mats nodded quietly and obediently, waiting for what was to come.

Even Liu Yunan and Liu Shengsheng were no exception; they didn't know anything about their mother's past.

All I know is that their maternal family used to be well-off, and their mother was educated.

Then, as if recalling the past, Widow Liu paused before continuing:

"Actually, our Great Qing Dynasty has several immortal cultivation sects."

The imperial court has allocated several territories to these sects. Every year, a portion of the taxes we pay goes to these sects. Furthermore, when these sects need to recruit disciples, they can do so within these allocated territories. In essence, our imperial court supports these sects. In return, these sects become the patrons of our dynasty.

Our entire Hufang Province belongs to the Shangyang Sect's territory.

Widow Liu gently stroked Liu Shengsheng's tilted head and looked at Liu Yunan, saying:

"Your maternal family... that is, my family, was once the largest cloth merchant Yang Household in Liaoju Prefecture, the capital of our Hufang Province."

I am an only child, and my parents have always hoped that I would not get married. They say that women suffer too much in this world.

They hoped I could cultivate myself, become an immortal, and escape worldly conventions.

Thirty years ago, when the Shangyang Sect recruited disciples, I was just born, so I couldn't participate. When I was thirteen, my father finally managed to get my Spirit Root tested through various connections. After learning that I had Dual Spirit Root in earth and wood, my father was very happy and wanted to spend money to pull strings and get me into the Shangyang Sect.

At that time, my father was wholeheartedly devoted to this matter, but unexpectedly, someone he trusted secretly sabotaged him. Our family fortune plummeted; not only was our substantial wealth lost, but we were also driven out of Liaoju Prefecture by our competitors. At that time, a drought struck the neighboring prefecture, and I was separated from my parents by the refugees..."

At this point, Widow Liu lowered her head with a look of deep sorrow, and Liu Shengsheng, with her big, round eyes, nestled silently into her arms.

Stroking the back of her daughter's head in her arms, Widow Liu seemed to have recovered from her grief and continued:

"From a young age, my parents taught me that to be a good person in this world, you have to cultivate yourself. I didn't understand why before, but after so many years and so many things, I finally understand why my parents taught me this way."

Because in this world, only by cultivating oneself and gaining the ability to look down on others can one truly be a decent human being.

Widow Liu raised her head, her clear and direct gaze meeting Lin Xiao's:

"So, Brother Xiao, I want to cultivate immortality."

Looking into her determined gaze, Lin Xiao had no way to refuse, nor would he refuse.

Yu Guang, Lin Xiao noticed her tightly clenched hands hanging by her sides, and he could see the tension beneath her resolute expression.

He thought about it for a moment.

That makes sense, since Shangyang Sect only accepts people under the age of twelve, which means that for cultivation, the younger the better.

Now, Widow Liu is over thirty years old.

So Lin Xiao smiled and said to her:

"Auntie Liu, perhaps in those sects, the younger the better for cultivation, but that's not the case here."

Hearing him say that, Widow Liu felt her breathing become lighter, and she quickly asked:

"Why?"

Jiang Youfu and Liu Yunan, who were standing nearby, also listened attentively.

Lin Xiao smiled and said:

"Because our sect's cultivation method is different from those of other sects."

"We don't need Spirit Root here."