Chapter 29: Returning to the Mountain

10:00 AM, in a corner near the back of a long-distance bus speeding on the highway.

Beep!

—Brother Sheng, where's your house? Are you home yet? Say hi to Uncle and Auntie for me!

Beep!

—Brother Sheng, when are you coming to the Longhu Mountains for a visit? We've got a group of sword practitioners here. Come give us some pointers!

Beep!

—Brother Sheng, does your senior sister prefer sweet or spicy food? I've got some excellent lotus mooncakes and eggplants here!

Beep!

—Brother Sheng...

The bastard's constant chatter was like mental pollution—unmatched in its potency.

Looking at the stream of voice messages on his phone, each averaging over fifteen seconds, Wang Sheng groaned and held his head in his hands. Why did he have to add Shi Qianzhang to his contacts?

"

Aaah~

" someone mused from the side.

Instinctively, Wang Sheng opened his mouth, and a strawberry-flavored jelly dropped in.

Sitting by the window, surrounded by a pile of snacks, Mu Wanxuan chuckled softly. She continued reading a webcomic on her phone while finishing off the snacks that Li Shiwu had bought for her as a parting gift.

Leaning back in his seat, Wang Sheng looked at his flawless senior sister. A faint sense of comfort welled up in his heart. With fewer people around, life was quieter. He could meditate and cultivate whenever he wanted.

The Daoist arts exchange meeting at Mount Mao had concluded smoothly. Thanks to Wang Sheng's swordsmanship and Mu Wanxuan's Daoist realm, the Wudang Mountains' reputation among the Daoist sects hadn't just remained intact—it had been elevated.

Wang Sheng and Mu Wanxuan were likely to receive their Daoist priest certificates once they returned.

The bus sped toward his hometown. By the time Wang Sheng came out of his meditation, they had entered the city where he'd spent nearly forty years over two lifetimes.

Outside the window, he found bustling streets, rushing pedestrians, and the occasional group of children playing along the roadside. The scene brought him a strange sense of nostalgia.

For the sake of a smooth and inconspicuous trip home, they had avoided wearing their "work uniforms."

For her meeting with her junior brother's family, Mu Wanxuan had chosen a short-sleeved dress with a floral pattern, a cinched waist, and a sun hat that Wang Sheng had bought for her at Mount Mao. She also had simple sandals on. Despite her very modest outfit, though, her ethereal aura couldn't be concealed. It only slightly reduced the attention she drew from onlookers.

Wang Sheng, on the other hand, had tied his hair into a ponytail and went with jeans and a casual shirt. Nevertheless, seemingly on the verge of a breakthrough, he exuded an intense and sharp sword intent. Passersby who glanced at him would feel an inexplicable sense of brilliance emanating from the young man—a star so luminous that it was difficult to approach.

His jeans, which he had brought to the mountain when he started cultivating, had grown slightly too small. His large feet and ankles were exposed, turning them into makeshift cropped pants. He paired it with a pair of plain sneakers he often wore for practice.

This outfit fully embodied the image of a struggling young artist, exuding positivity despite the hardships of life.

"Senior Sister, when we get home, my parents might say some things you won't understand," Wang Sheng warned. "Just ignore them and do whatever you feel like doing."

Puzzled, Mu Wanxuan blinked. "

Hmm?

"

As far as she could tell, Wang Sheng's parents were nice people. They even often sent supplies to the mountain; many of her clothes were gifts from his mother.

However, Mu Wanxuan trusted his judgment. She nodded and continued indulging in her mountain of snacks.

When they finally met his parents, everything unfolded as Wang Sheng had envisioned the night before. As soon as they stepped out of the station, a well-dressed middle-aged couple waved to them beside a shiny new car.

Although they had frequently video-called, it had been over a year since their last in-person meeting. His parents seemed to have grown younger, likely because Wang Sheng had cleansed their bodies using true essence last year. Who wouldn't wish for their parents to live a long and healthy life? Even if they couldn't cultivate, as their son, he felt obligated to do whatever he could.

Unfortunately, Wang Sheng practiced the Dao of the Sword rather than alchemy. Once certain medicinal herbs absorbed sufficient primal qi and began to transform, elixirs capable of prolonging life would be produced in a few years.

When that time came, he decided to make an effort to procure some of those elixirs for his parents without resorting to robbery.

"Is that you, Little Xuan? It hasn’t been that long, yet you’ve already grown so beautiful and elegant! Oh my, come here and let me give you a hug!" Wang Sheng’s mother joyfully exclaimed, snapping Wang Sheng out of his thoughts.

Awkwardly, Mu Wanxuan allowed herself to be embraced, trying her best to maintain a polite smile despite her discomfort.

Meanwhile, Wang Sheng's father, dressed in a suit, quietly loaded their luggage into the new car. While the two women chatted, he approached Wang Sheng with a sly grin and nudged him with his shoulder.

"So, Son, when should I start preparing your betrothal gifts?"

Wang Sheng calmly replied, "Don't worry, Dad. I'll make sure you get to meet your grandchildren."

His father rolled his eyes in exasperation.

His parents’ wish was simple: for Wang Sheng to balance cultivation with marriage and family. They were afraid that he would dedicate himself solely to cultivation, retreating to the mountains to live as a reclusive Daoist priest.

From beginning to end, Wang Sheng's parents could never understand why he had suddenly developed a "heart for the Dao," abandoning his studies and choosing to go to the Wudang Mountains to cultivate.

"Little Xuan, come sit with me in the backseat,” Mrs. Wang urged.

"Okay,” Mu Wanxuan shyly answered, letting Mrs. Wang pull her into the car.

She listened attentively as Mrs. Wang chatted about trivial family matters far removed from the world of cultivation. In front, Mr. Wang enthusiastically boasted about the car's features. They drove in a warm and harmonious atmosphere.

When they arrived home, everything was immaculately clean. Compared to when Wang Sheng had left, the house now had more cute decorations and throw pillows.

While Wang Sheng and his parents debated whether to dine out or cook at home, Mu Wanxuan rolled up her sleeves and headed to the kitchen, showcasing the culinary skills she had honed over the years. Although her dishes were light on oil and entirely vegetarian, Wang Sheng's parents devoured them with delight while showering her with praise for her virtuous and refined demeanor.

After dinner, Mu Wanxuan gently tugged Wang Sheng's arm and gestured with her hands for him to spend some time alone with his parents.

"Senior Sister, why don't you rest in my room for a while?” Wang Sheng offered. “Tonight, you can sleep in my room. I'll take the couch."

Mu Wanxuan nodded in agreement. Wang Sheng then dragged both of their suitcases into his old bedroom.

The moment he opened the door, he couldn't help but sigh. The room had been completely redone. His single bed had been replaced with a brand-new double bed, the decor was all in soft purple hues with warm accents, and potted plants were placed in the corners. The ceiling was even adorned with colorful balloons.

All that was missing to complete the setup was a large, red "Double Happiness[1]" sticker on the headboard.

Classic parents.

Wang Sheng coughed lightly. Embarrassed, he said, "Please make yourself at home. Just think of it as being back on the mountain. This room was prepared especially for you."

"Alright," Mu Wanxuan replied with a cheerful smile. She motioned for Wang Sheng to go spend time with his parents and then gently closed the door.

Outside the room, Wang Sheng let out a small sigh of relief. He had been worried that his senior sister would feel uncomfortable or unhappy. Luckily, she seemed completely unbothered by such matters, sparing him a lot of awkwardness.

In the living room, his parents whispered conspicuously, afraid that their voices would disturb the girl in the room.

"Little Sheng, come sit and chat with us,” his mother gently suggested.

Unlike her, his father quickly shifted into his strict parent role. "Little Sheng, how much longer are you planning to stay up in the mountains? You're already twenty; it's time to start thinking about your future."

Wang Sheng smiled helplessly. He raised his palm, and a flicker of true essence danced on it like a flame.

"Mom, Dad, what do you think about the whole cultivating immortality thing?"

***

Over the next two days, Wang Sheng and Mu Wanxuan demonstrated to his parents their cultivation lifestyle in the mountains.

In the mornings, the two would sit cross-legged on the balcony, entering a meditative state like statues.

Meanwhile, his parents, who were starting to question the reality of life itself, would sit nearby and observe. His father, who had suffered from old ailments, would occasionally pat his lower back and then sigh in amazement.

Having a healthy body free of hemorrhoids was truly a blessing.

To alleviate his parents' concerns about his future, Wang Sheng performed a simple sword technique in their living room. His senior sister also taught his parents a few health-preserving exercises. Though they couldn't step onto the path of cultivation, practicing these moves regularly would at least keep them fit and extend their lives.

Two days later, Wang Sheng reluctantly bid farewell to his family. Before they left, Wang Sheng's parents secretly pulled him aside and hesitantly made a request.

"Dear, you say it," Mrs. Wang insisted.

"Fine. Why are you so shy about talking to our son anyway?" Mr. Wang replied.

"Oh, you're so annoying!" Mrs. Wang teased.

"

Ahem.

" His father had started loud and clear, but after clearing his throat, he dropped his tone to almost a whisper. "Little Sheng, here's the thing. Your mom and I have been wanting to give you a younger sibling for the past few years, but it just wouldn’t happen.

"We went for checkups, and the doctors said your mom's in great health, and I don't have any major issues either. Having a second child shouldn't be risky, but for some reason, we just can't conceive. The infertility specialist said it might be related to environmental factors.

"We also consulted a traditional Chinese medicine doctor and followed a regimen of herbal treatments for half a year, but we still haven't made any progress. So, we were wondering, is there any kind of alchemy pill that could help with this? Maybe you could ask your master to help us out?"

Wang Sheng was about to reply, but he ended up chuckling instead. Afterward, he nodded. It seemed that once he returned to the mountain, he would have to start studying alchemy alongside the Dao of the sword.

After their conversation, Wang Sheng and Mu Wanxuan boarded a high-speed train heading west to return to the mountain. On the way, Wang Sheng fell deep in thought—was there really an ancient alchemy pill that could address infertility caused by midlife crises?

He'd never heard of one before.

Bzz! Bzz!

His phone vibrated. When he opened YouChat, he saw a flood of voice messages stacking up. Accidentally tapping on one, he heard a familiar quacky voice.

Beep!

—

Brother Sheng...

Damn it! I’m going to unfriend him!

1. A phrase used to congratulate newlyweds. ☜