Free Web NovelChapter 71: Chapter 44: Mortal Ties
The vast Great Marsh nurtured countless living beings.
Within the region of Yunmeng, beyond the Land Continent home to the Tai Su Orthodox Sect, lay countless islands. These were not solely the domains where High-Achieving Cultivators established their manors or where ancient clans and noble families made their homes.
As the Tai Su Sect spread its teachings for ten millennia, these islands became populated for various reasons: relatives and servants of the sect’s cultivators sought places to live out their golden years; mortals arrived in pursuit of the Dao; others fled the chaos of the world in search of a secluded paradise.
Gradually, humanity’s footprint spread across many of Yunmeng’s islands. Under the governance of the Tai Su, they formed idyllic villages, bustling metropolises, and even entire prosperous nations where the people lived in peace and contentment, with more than enough to eat and wear.
In the northern part of Yunmeng lay the great island of Nanhua. The country upon it, Nanhua Country, was said to have been founded by an Immortal from the depths of Yunmeng. For hundreds of years, it had known peace and prosperity. Though there were distinctions between officials and commoners, rich and poor, there was no rigid class hierarchy of superior and inferior.
In the capital city, there lived a prominent family, the Xu Family, which had flourished for a century. The old patriarch of the family, Old Master Xu, was a man of great prestige and commanded immense respect, with his former students found all across the country. He was approaching his hundredth birthday, and preparations for the celebration were already underway in the Xu Mansion.
Just a few days ago, the old man had still been hale and hearty, drinking and chatting with visiting students. But no one had expected that he would fall into a deep slumber one night, never to awaken.
In a room in the rear courtyard of the Xu Mansion, Old Master Xu lay on his bed. His expression was serene, as if untroubled by nightmares. Yet, all the famous physicians in the capital, the Imperial Physicians from the palace, and even the revered master from the local Daoist Temple had already examined him. They all reached the same conclusion: he would soon pass away from natural causes.
However, several days and nights passed, and the Old Master still clung to life. Strangely, the Patriarch of the Xu Family didn’t seem anxious. He simply instructed the Manager to continue attending to the old man with care, a reaction that many found baffling.
Then one day, a gentle breeze inexplicably blew the tightly shut doors wide open. A Daoist with his hair pinned by a jade and bamboo hairpin, wearing wide robes that gave him a poised and carefree air, lifted the gauze bed-curtain and approached the bedside.
The Daoist appeared impassive, yet there was a hint of wistfulness about him. He stood silently by the bed for a moment before letting out a soft sigh. "Father," he said.
Upon hearing this voice, the old man on the bed stirred. His eyelids fluttered weakly a few times before opening. His eyes were devoid of spirit, cloudy and dull. With great effort, he shifted his gaze to the Daoist’s face, a look of relieved contentment appearing in his eyes.
"Zhuang, you’re back."
The Daoist was indeed Xuzhuang. He nodded. "I’ve come to see you."
The old man’s voice was weak. "All these years... have you been well in the Immortal Sect?"
"I am very well," Xuzhuang said, sitting on the edge of the bed. "I hold a high position within my sect now."
The old man wouldn’t have understood terms like Top-grade Golden Core or a high-ranking disciple. He only needed to know that his son was doing well. Hearing this, a weak, strained smile spread across his face. Perhaps his energy was fading, for his words grew muddled. "That’s good... very good..."
Perhaps with his last lingering attachment resolved, Xuzhuang could feel his father truly on the verge of death. With a soft sigh, he placed two fingers on the old man’s wrist. "Father, I have a Spirit Pill from the Immortal Sect. It can extend your life by sixty years."
The old man somehow summoned a bit more strength. He gave a hoarse chuckle. "I’ve lived a life with no regrets. There’s no need to force me to linger in this world."
Xuzhuang’s gaze wavered. As he looked into his father’s eyes, it was as if he could see the entirety of a life lived to the fullest. Slowly, he loosened his grip.
The old man closed his eyes, content, and soon drifted into a deep, final slumber.
"Huh? Why is the door open?" A Manager hurried into the room, carrying a copper basin. Xuzhuang was nowhere to be seen. The Manager lifted the bed-curtain and saw the old man’s peaceful expression, which looked no different from before. But his heart suddenly trembled. The copper basin slipped from his grasp, splashing water across the floor. He crept forward and held a finger under the old man’s nose.
"Old Master...? Old Master?" The Manager stumbled back a few steps, tears streaming down his face. He scrambled out the door, shouting, "The Master has passed away! The Master has passed away!"
A commotion instantly erupted outside. Before long, a crowd had gathered around the bed, the air thick with grief. A physician carefully felt for a pulse at the bedside. After a long moment, his face grew grim, and he slowly shook his head.
The Manager collapsed to the floor, weeping and mumbling incoherently. "I’m sure I closed the door and windows... How could this happen? The Old Master must have caught a chill..."
"My parents died when I was young, and the Old Master took me in to work at the mansion. He treated my family as if we were his own..."
An elderly man with a serene expression walked to his side and gently patted his shoulder. "Jin Ru, this is not your fault." He then addressed the room. "Please, everyone, leave us for now. I would like to spend a moment alone with him."
This man was clearly the Patriarch of the family. At his words, the crowd, though reluctant, stifled their sobs and slowly filed out.
The last person closed the door, and silence returned to the room. The old man clasped his hands behind his back, walked slowly to a table, and sat down. He stared into the distance for a long time before suddenly speaking. "Big Brother, are you still here?"
Xuzhuang’s figure materialized on the other side of the table, and he calmly took a seat.
A barely perceptible smile touched the old man’s lips. "I was only guessing. I didn’t think you’d still be here, Big Brother. Did you come to see Father one last time?"
Xuzhuang sighed softly. "Yes."
"I imagine this might be the last time I see you, too, Big Brother," the old man sighed. "I remember not liking you when we were children. Everyone said the eldest son of the Xu Family was a reincarnated prodigy—writing essays at three, composing poetry at five, wise beyond his years, astonishingly brilliant... but I never even saw you!"
"Then later, I learned that this older brother of mine had gone off to become an Immortal Cultivator. I suppose you must have shone brightly in the Immortal Sect? The masters of the Void Form Temple began to look upon the Xu Family with favor, and even the Lord of Nanhua had to treat Father with special courtesy..."
"The first time I met you, Big Brother, I was just a small boy. The next time, I had already come of age."
"After that, a long, long time passed. The third time I saw you, I was already in my fifties. And now we meet again. You still look exactly the same, Big Brother. Does time truly leave no mark on an Immortal?"
The old man seemed to have many reflections to share, and as he spoke, Xuzhuang listened in silence.
Xuzhuang didn’t answer his question. Instead, he asked, "Does the family need anything from me?"
"The family is doing well," the old man replied.
Xuzhuang nodded. "I remember the last time I visited, your youngest grandson had just been born. His innate aptitude was excellent. I offered to take him back to the sect to cultivate, but you said he was too young and should be allowed to decide for himself."
"Yes, my youngest grandson is old enough to have his hair bound now," the old man said with a smile. "Unfortunately, he never had much interest in cultivation. When he was eight, we even sent him to the Void Form Temple for two years to be a Daoist Child, just like you, Big Brother. But alas, it failed to awaken in him a heart for the Dao."
"A pity," Xuzhuang said quietly.
With that, there was nothing more to say. After a moment of silence, Xuzhuang stood. He removed the jade and bamboo pin from his hair and placed it gently on the table. "In the future, should the family face any great trouble, or should a descendant be born with the aptitude and desire for cultivation, take this pin to the Void Form Temple. They will know how to contact me."
"Then I thank you, Big Brother," the old man said, rising and giving a deep bow.
Xuzhuang gave a slight smile and strode out the door. The old man took two steps to follow, only to see Xuzhuang flick his wide sleeves, rise upon a gentle breeze, and drift up into the clouds until he vanished from sight.
A sense of wistful loss washed over him.
