The Transmigrator's Cultivation Arc 17: Hengwu Small World | Chapter 345: Parting

Arc 17: Hengwu Small World | Chapter 345: Parting

After six years apart, the scale of the Yun Family Manor has grown significantly, and today it is bustling with activity.

Many unfamiliar faces are entering the manor, accompanied by servants, each carrying gifts.

Upon seeing this, Xu Ziqing pondered, “Could there be some joyous occasion?” He looked up at Yun Lie and called out, “s.h.i.+xiong, let’s go in.”

Yun Lie nodded slightly and entered alongside him.

At the entrance, a newcomer greeted them, likely a newly recruited servant, who, upon seeing two distinguished individuals arrive, was very courteous and welcomed them in.

As Xu Ziqing walked, he extended his spiritual awareness and quickly discerned the reason for the celebration in the manor.

A few years ago, the manor’s owner, Yun Zhenhai, had a young son, Yun Tianyou, who married, and since his wife was quite young, it took a few more years for them to have a child.

Today is the day of that child’s “zhuazhou” ceremony¹Zhuazhou is a Chinese ritual held at a child’s first birthday party, when the child is 1 year, i.e. typically twelve months since birth, old. The parents put various objects before the child. Parents will often put objects that symbolize career choices or personality traits..

Xu Ziqing couldn’t help but smile, saying, “s.h.i.+xiong, you’ve become an ‘uncle.'”

Yun Lie replied, “We should prepare a gift.”

Xu Ziqing’s smile deepened. “I know.”

Walking with the other guests, the group made their way into a large hall.

There were already many people gathered on both sides, with a long red carpet laid in the center, adorned with various items: gold, silver, jade, rare treasures, writing materials, books, and weapons—an impressive array.

Several guests had also placed their offerings on the red carpet to contribute to the zhuazhou ceremony.

In front of the hall, a few members of the Yun family were hosting the guests, all wearing cheerful expressions with rosy faces.

Xu Ziqing and Yun Lie stood at the back, not pus.h.i.+ng through the crowd.

If they were to reminisce, this would not be a good time, lest they disturb the zhuazhou ceremony, which would be inappropriate.

Gradually, the auspicious time approached. Yun Zhenhai and his wife, Meng Qingshao, arrived at the front of the hall, while the Yun family members stood on either side. Soon, Yun Tianyou and his wife, Liu Yueling, were surrounded by a group of women. Liu Yueling was holding a chubby child in a red outfit, whose fair skin looked adorable and sprightly.

Upon seeing the child, the guests began to praise him, creating a lively atmosphere.

As the auspicious time arrived, Liu Yueling, with a smile, placed the child at one end of the red carpet and gently patted his bottom, urging him to go forward.

The child in the red outfit, with arms like lotus stems, patted the ground and let out a couple of “ah-ah” sounds, then crawled determinedly toward the front.

In an instant, the praises grew louder, with some commenting on his strong physique, while others noted his vibrant energy—compliments flowed freely.

This scene made the Yun family members smile even more heartily.

Xu Ziqing glanced at the child and couldn’t help but smile, saying, “Indeed, he has a well-rounded head and a long life ahead. s.h.i.+xiong, your nephew is thriving.”

Due to the child’s sharpness, Xu Ziqing didn’t need to use his spiritual awareness to examine him; just by looking at his features, he could tell the child was very spirited.

Yun Lie said nothing but also cast a glance at the child.

The child in the red outfit crawled quickly, grabbing various items every three to five feet and tossing them aside. He babbled incoherently, making it hard to discern his words.

The people of the Yun family watched him with smiles, their expressions kind and filled with familial affection.

This scene appeared warm and tender in the eyes of the others as well.

Gradually, the child in the red outfit had crawled over most of the carpet, tossing aside more than half of the items without taking a single one of interest. He tilted his head, pondered with a finger in his mouth, and then crawled even faster.

Finally, he stopped in front of a group of people and shouted, “Ah ah ah, go!”

The guests exchanged glances, cautiously s.h.i.+fting to the sides.

The child in the red outfit wobbled to his feet and, aiming in one direction, lunged forward.

Yun Tianyou, being young and less composed, exclaimed anxiously, “Zhengrui!”

In the next moment, he saw his young son unexpectedly hugging a person’s leg.

The other members of the Yun Family Manor were also taken aback.

Xu Ziqing couldn’t help but chuckle, finding it quite amusing.

It turned out that the one Yun Zhengrui was rus.h.i.+ng toward was none other than his s.h.i.+xiong, Yun Lie.

Earlier, the two had been standing at the back of the crowd, watching the child’s zhuazhou ceremony. Unexpectedly, Yun Zhengrui crawled faster and faster, heading right into the crowd.

Xu Ziqing felt a bit worried, fearing that the child might hurt himself and inadvertently pull his s.h.i.+xiong along. So he walked a little forward with Yun Lie.

To his surprise, the child suddenly stood up and lunged toward Yun Lie after clearing some s.p.a.ce among the people.

Yun Lie, who was typically aloof, was usually avoided by even weak cultivators, let alone children. Yet, Yun Zhengrui seemed oblivious, wrapping his arms around Yun Lie’s leg and laughing cheerfully.

How could this scene not amuse Xu Ziqing?

At that moment, everyone saw a cold, stern man in white standing still, silent, while a child in red hung onto his leg, calling out affectionately with “ah-ah” sounds, one little hand patting and hugging him, as if having a conversation.

Next to this man stood another in green, handsome and amiable, watching with a smile.

The others didn’t recognize him, but when Yun Tianyou hurried over, he immediately recognized Xu Ziqing.

Although he had been kept outside during the incident with Wu Ao Sect six years ago, being the son of the manor master and a friend of Yun Tianheng, he had learned a bit about it later.

Thus, he held a certain reverence for both Xu Ziqing and his older brother.

Behind Yun Tianyou, many others from the Yun Family Manor approached, including Yun Zhenhai and his wife, as well as Yun Zhenshan and Yun Tianheng.

At this point, everyone could see Xu Ziqing. But soon, their gazes s.h.i.+fted to Yun Lie beside him.

Yun Zhenhai’s pupils contracted, and he took a deep breath, saying, “Pharmacist Xu, this is….” Although he had recognized him, the person looked different from his son, so he couldn’t address him casually in front of everyone.

Meng Qingshao also s.h.i.+vered, her gaze fixed on Yun Lie, studying his features carefully.

Not to mention the other members of the Yun family, anyone who was aware of the situation felt shocked and uncertain.

Xu Ziqing smiled and said, “This is my s.h.i.+xiong, Yun Lie.” The atmosphere became even more tense at his words.

The other guests were quite confused; they had come to attend the zhuazhou ceremony, so why was there something unusual with the Yun Family Manor?

What was the background of these two strangers? Although they had questions, they didn’t want to press the host for details.

At that moment, the child, still hugging Yun Lie’s leg, became quite displeased and patted his leg as if expressing his annoyance.

This action brought the members of the Yun family back to reality.

Seeing this, Xu Ziqing laughed, bent down, and patted Yun Zhengrui’s little shoulder.

Yun Zhengrui turned around, blinked, and extended his chubby arms.

With a gentle expression, Xu Ziqing picked him up.

Yun Zhengrui then turned back and stared intently at Yun Lie.

Xu Ziqing chuckled, saying, “This child has good taste, going straight for s.h.i.+xiong.” After a pause, he added, “Now that this matter is settled, let’s catch up.”

Yun Zhenhai had a complex look in his eyes. He glanced at Yun Zhengrui and then smiled, “Blood relatives are indeed like this.”

Afterward, the members of the Yun family took care of the guests. Although the guests didn’t understand the relations.h.i.+p between the two and the Yun Family Manor, they all offered their congratulations, enjoyed the feast, and left one by one as the manor servants a.s.sisted them.

By nightfall, it finally quieted down.

At this moment, the people of the Yun Family Manor had gathered in the inner hall.

Xu Ziqing held Yun Zhengrui in his arms, his expression very gentle.

Perhaps it was because this child was full of vitality and newly born, Xu Ziqing, who had already perceived the cycle of death during his s.h.i.+xiong’s Nascent Soul stage, suddenly felt a new awareness of the cycle of life. This realization allowed him to break through the barriers of the early Golden Core stage and directly advance to the mid Golden Core stage.

Throughout this process, Yun Zhengrui had remained in his embrace, and the pure energy within him was attracted, gaining many benefits.

Xu Ziqing felt a stir in his heart and decided to probe further, discovering that Yun Zhengrui actually possessed spiritual roots, specifically both gold and earth spiritual roots, identical in quality to his s.h.i.+xiong’s before he refined his roots. No wonder he was so close to his s.h.i.+xiong; it was not only due to their fathers being brothers but also because of the bond he shared with his s.h.i.+xiong.

Yun Zhenhai, Meng Qingshao, and the others now focused their attention on Yun Lie, their emotions excited yet somewhat hesitant.

This time was different; the child’s appearance had completely changed. Although his demeanor was still quite familiar, Yun Lie’s features were clearly colder and more handsome than Yun Tiangang’s, exuding an unapproachable aura. Moreover, while the physical transformation obscured the bloodline connection, the inherent pressure that usually accompanied such ties could no longer be concealed.

Ordinary mortals, upon encountering a Nascent Soul Laozu, no matter how much they wished to approach, could not resist the underlying sense of awe, even if the ancestor tried to restrain their aura.

Yun Lie took a glance and called out, “Father, Mother.”

Yun Zhenhai and Meng Qingshao both breathed a sigh of relief, their expressions filled with joy. “Tian… no, I should call you Yun Lie.”

Yun Lie replied, “It’s no problem.” By acknowledging this pair as his parents, he was also accepting the name “Yun Tiangang” in front of them.

Yun Lie’s words undoubtedly put Yun Zhenhai and his wife at ease.

Soon, Yun Tianyou and Liu Yueling came to greet their elder brother, and Yun Tianheng also approached Xu Ziqing, creating a harmonious atmosphere.

After a while, Xu Ziqing handed Yun Zhengrui over to Yun Lie, saying, “s.h.i.+xiong, hold him for a moment.”

Yun Lie frowned slightly as he took the child, his arms feeling somewhat stiff.

Xu Ziqing smiled, “Just take a look.”

Yun Lie swept his divine sense over the child, and his brow relaxed.

Seeing this, Yun Zhenhai and the others were puzzled. “Zhengrui…”

Xu Ziqing kindly explained, “It’s not that there’s anything wrong; rather, Zhengrui also has spiritual roots, just like Tianheng, and can embark on the path of cultivation.”

Everyone present, familiar with cultivation matters, was overjoyed at this news. “…Really?”

Xu Ziqing chuckled, “Zhengrui’s apt.i.tude is identical to that of my s.h.i.+xiong in the past.”

Hearing this, everyone became even more delighted.

After a moment, Yun Zhenhai’s expression suddenly turned serious. “Pharmacist Xu, are you and Tiangang going to leave right after returning this time?”

Xu Ziqing glanced at Yun Lie, then sighed lightly. “As a son, with his parents still alive, this life… the ties of dust are not yet severed.”

Since Yun Zhenhai and Meng Qingshao were still in this world, Xu Ziqing and Yun Lie decided to stay at Yun Family Manor.

Xu Ziqing formally took Yun Tianheng as his disciple, but for now, he could not take him into the sect to become a disciple of the Wuling immortal Sect.

Yun Zhengrui would follow Yun Lie to practice the sword. From a young age, he would be trained diligently. Although Yun Zhengrui’s personality was quite different from Yun Lie’s, he was nevertheless tenacious and had a great pa.s.sion for the sword. Yun Lie’s commands were met with no refusal.

Among the rest of the people in Yun Family Manor, those with spiritual roots numbered only three or five, and there were a couple of older ones who were unsuitable for cultivation. Only two or three children were also taught some basic techniques and received a bit of guidance from the two. However, all their roots were of the four elements, meaning their path to immortality was not long.

Yun Zhenhai and Meng Qingshao, due to the deterioration of their bodies over the years, were gradually running out of lifespan. Yet, unwilling to burden their beloved son Yun Lie, they refused Xu Ziqing’s treatment and wouldn’t take longevity pills. Instead, they kept those pills in the family as a treasured legacy. The three sword intents left by Yun Lie in his youth had not been used either and were enshrined in the ancestral hall for future generations.

Decades later, Meng Qingshao pa.s.sed away first, and a few years later, Yun Zhenhai followed his beloved wife in death.

The closest blood relatives of Yun Lie had already pa.s.sed on, and he was finally going to leave with Xu Ziqing, taking Yun Tianheng and Yun Zhengrui along.

Xu Ziqing left behind a magical artifact and a simple method of the Five Elements, which was also kept hidden by the family head.

From then on, whenever a child was born in Yun Family Manor, they would touch that artifact. If the artifact emitted light, it corresponded to the practice of the simple method.

When their cultivation bore fruit, they could infuse spiritual energy into the artifact. If their apt.i.tude was extraordinary, one day someone would come to welcome them and take them into the great world.

Thus, the Yun Family Manor continued to develop and prosper, enduring for thousands and even tens of thousands of years.

Translator: Lynn

Translations are not 100% correct. Please let me know if there are typos/mistakes in the chapter.

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• 1Zhuazhou is a Chinese ritual held at a child’s first birthday party, when the child is 1 year, i.e. typically twelve months since birth, old. The parents put various objects before the child. Parents will often put objects that symbolize career choices or personality traits.