Chapter 40 (Part 3)

Song Yuanxi thought this, and he also said it out loud. The result was another scolding from his own father. “You have a pretty beautiful imagination. Traces of the Longevity Fruit tree are hard to find, and Longevity Fruits can only be encountered by chance, not sought. The one in my possession was a reward from the main family back when I advanced to fifth-level alchemist.”

Song Qing’s mood was not very good. “I originally planned to give this Longevity Fruit to you when you were nearly a hundred years old. With a hundred years of extended life, no matter how things went, you would at least be able to reach Foundation Establishment. I didn’t expect…” That he would have to take it out so early.

Song Yuanxi was stunned at once.

He had not known that his own father had done so many things so that he could live a little longer. Begging the ancestor to form a summoning chance, and the precious reward Longevity Fruit he had obtained—both had been prepared for him.

Then he remembered all these years in Xuantian Sect. Every time he slacked off and refused to cultivate diligently, his father would harshly scold him…

So fatherly love was as heavy as a mountain, yet so reserved.

Song Yuanxi’s eyes immediately reddened. “Dad, if you love me, just say it. You can express it like Mother does. Why are you so stuffy and secretly dramatic?”

Smack.

What greeted Song Yuanxi was another slap. This time, Song Qing really struck hard, and Song Yuanxi nearly leapt from the bed in pain.

“Take the Longevity Fruit, then regulate your breathing and recuperate properly.” Song Qing personally watched his eldest son eat the Longevity Fruit before leaving in relief.

That afternoon, he went to the main courtyard and met with the family head of the main Song family.

That day, Song Yuanxi had summoned the ancestor with his blood essence. The Song family ancestor had appeared in an instant, ended the demonic creature with one move, then left directly. The matters afterward were handled personally by the main family head, who came over for that purpose.

“Greetings, family head.” Song Qing walked into the small courtyard and bowed to the person before him. Then he looked to the side and nodded in greeting to Song Dongyou.

“How is that child Song Yuanxi?” Song Wei, the family head of the main Song family, asked.

Song Qing nodded and said, “He has already taken the Longevity Fruit. At most, he’ll be done regulating his breathing in half a month. However, he lost blood essence and his vitality drained away. Even if his lifespan has increased, the damage to his own body is still severe.”

“Indeed. That child is only at Qi Refining. One drop of blood essence is half a century of life. Earlier, in order to reinforce the Heart-Linking Array, he also lost too much blood. I’m afraid he is now strong on the outside but hollow within.”

“Family head, Song Yuanxi saved the three thousand disciples of my Jin City Song family. He was brave and took responsibility. I ask that the family reward him!” Song Dongyou could not help speaking.

Song Wei looked at the two people before her. Though both seemed calm, their auras were tense. She could not help laughing. “In your eyes, could I really punish that child?”

“Song Yuanxi burned his blood essence to perform the summoning and interrupted the ancestor’s seclusion. He was indeed at fault. But this matter was something I personally pushed for all those years ago when I asked the ancestor to grant it. If there must be punishment, I am willing to bear all fault.”

As one of the very few people in the Song family who knew the inside story, Song Qing understood very clearly what kind of harm his eldest son’s summoning this time had caused the Song family ancestor.

He feared that the ancestor’s previous hundred years of secluded recuperation had all been wasted in one stroke.

“Family head, this matter was due to my improper handling. I failed to detect the hidden danger inside the city and relied too much on the family’s protective array, almost causing an irreversible situation. If we are speaking of fault, mine is greater than Song Yuanxi’s. I am willing to be punished.” If that child Song Yuanxi had to be punished for summoning the ancestor to save people, then she, Song Dongyou, deserved punishment even more.

Song Wei said, “Song Dongyou, as the family head of the Jin City Song family, you did indeed neglect your duties. As for how you will be punished, the family will naturally decide. As for Song Yuanxi…”

“Family head!”

“He will be sent into the family’s secret land to quietly recuperate for one sixty-year cycle.”

Song Qing abruptly raised his head, disbelief in his eyes. “The family’s secret land? Family head, this is…” A reward?

“This matter was instructed by the ancestor. It also settles this karma. Once the Jin City matter is finished, I will take him back to the main family.”

As soon as Song Wei finished speaking, Song Qing said directly, “I would not dare trouble the family head. I’ll send him there.”

Song Wei thought for a moment and agreed. “This Dafeng fledgling can also be considered loyal in protecting its master. Send it into the secret land as well.”

She handed the Dafeng fledgling to Song Qing, then gave Song Dongyou a few more instructions. Only then did the two of them turn and leave.

Once they were gone, Song Wei raised a hand, and a clear breeze swept past. In the center of the originally empty courtyard, a figure suddenly appeared. That person knelt on the ground, his back straight, his expression solemn. It was Song Yuanruo.

Song Wei turned toward the person before her and said, “As the Song family head, I have always been clear in reward and punishment. Though Song Yuanxi was at fault, it was unintentional, and his merit outweighed his fault. Sending him to the secret land to recuperate is his reward. As for you…”

Song Yuanruo suddenly raised his head and spoke. “I used the Heart-Linking Array without permission. The demonic creature was drawn over by my blood and attacked the Jin City Song family’s protective array, nearly causing three thousand Song family disciples to lose their lives. Song Yuanruo knows his mistake and is willing to accept punishment.”

“This matter was your fault. Your skills were not refined, yet you dared use an array recklessly. The demonic creature came because of you. This is an undeniable fact. However, the Heart-Linking Array also bought time for the ancestor to arrive. And to protect the family, you drew the demonic creature away alone. Your courage is commendable…”

Song Wei pondered for a moment and gave a punishment that was not entirely clear-cut.

“Besides the secret land, the Song family also has a forbidden land. Inside the forbidden land, there is no spiritual energy at all, and it is covered year-round in torrential rain, thunder, and lightning. The forbidden land is vast, spanning tens of thousands of li. If you can walk out smoothly, this matter will be over.”

The Song family’s forbidden land had originally been established to punish Song family cultivators who had made mistakes. After several thousand years of constant evolution, it had now become an existence that made Song family disciples’ hair stand on end just from hearing of it.

Yet Song Yuanruo did not think so. The family head was still being merciful to him.

If he could safely walk out of the Song family’s forbidden land without relying on spiritual power, then whether for his cultivation or his state of mind, it would be an excellent tempering. This was a rare and precious cultivation ground.

“Many thanks, family head. Song Yuanruo will not fail your expectations.”

Song Wei’s eyes instantly narrowed, and she revealed a faint smile. “Whether it is fortune or disaster depends entirely on how you determine it yourself.”

If he walked out, then it would be fortune. If he could not walk out, then it would be a cruel punishment and a true disaster.

By the time Song Qing learned that his younger son was going to enter the Song family’s forbidden land to accept punishment, the matter had already been finalized. Song Yuanruo was also packing his luggage and would soon set off.

After Song Yuanruo finished packing, he thought for a moment, took a jade bottle out from inside, and handed it to Song Qing. “Inside is a Vitality Blood-Reviving Pill. Dad, help me pass it to Elder Brother.”

“A Vitality Blood-Reviving Pill is a sixth-level superior-grade pill. It can revive the dead and regrow flesh on bones. Such a sacred healing medicine—I’m afraid you only have this one bottle, don’t you?”

Song Qing had attempted to break through to sixth-level alchemist several times, and all of those attempts had ended in failure. The pill he had tried refining the most was precisely the Vitality Blood-Reviving Pill.

This bottle of pills was extremely precious even to him, let alone to Song Yuanruo, who was only at Foundation Establishment.

“This pill will be of great use to you. Keep it for yourself.” Song Qing handed it back.

But Song Yuanruo refused to take it. “Give it to Elder Brother. He was injured in my place.”

“Yuanruo, this was not your fault.”

“I set up the Heart-Linking Array. The demonic creature was attracted by my blood, but it was Elder Brother who bore the consequences for me. This is my fault. Whether intentional or not, I bear responsibility.”

“So you went to the forbidden land without a word? I have never heard of any Song family disciple actively requesting to enter the forbidden land. Song Yuanruo, you are the first.”

Song Yuanruo’s gaze dimmed for an instant. Only after a long while did he speak faintly. “If I hadn’t been so arrogant, if I had thought things through more carefully, I wouldn’t have put Elder Brother—and all of them—into such a difficult and dangerous situation.”

He did not dare imagine what the ending would have been for his elder brother and the three thousand disciples of the Jin City Song family if the ancestor had not appeared in the end.

“Dad, are you very disappointed in me?” Song Yuanruo raised his head and asked.

That look, like a young beast cautious, bewildered, and lost, pierced Song Qing’s nerves all at once.

It was just like that day when he saw his eldest son with a withered face and white hair, yet still lying in bed with a cheeky grin.

The two children, one reserved and one expressive, both had the same pure and kind hearts. How fortunate was he, to have sons like these?

“Yuanruo, I have never been disappointed in you. With your cultivation, being able to do this much is enough.”

Accidents and unforeseen changes could never be predicted. All one could do was devote one’s whole heart.

Song Yuanruo left. He left silently alone. Apart from Song Qing, only Song Wei knew.

As for Song Wei, as the main family head, there were too many matters she needed to handle. After staying in Jin City for several days and resolving the matter of the natural chasm, she set off to return.

Song Dongyou was busy contacting the Xu family and the other major families. One matter followed another, keeping her so busy her feet barely touched the ground. Since Song Yuanxi was still recuperating, she simply dragged Song Qing in as free labor and made him work with her.

After Song Yuanxi ate the Longevity Fruit, his lifespan was extended by a hundred years. But because his vitality had been damaged, although the condition of his skin recovered to the way it had been before, his head of white hair could not be changed.

“Alas, I guess only after Foundation Establishment will it turn black again.” Song Yuanxi tugged at his own white hair and sighed.

Song Miao looked at the person before her and felt rather upset inside, while at the same time feeling deeply grateful to him. It was Song Yuanxi who had risked his life to save them.

But Song Yuanxi waved it away. “I wouldn’t dare claim that merit. At the time, because Little Yellow was injured, I was practically going crazy. It was just a lucky accident.”

“In any case, it is a fact that you saved people. I came today on behalf of the three thousand disciples of the Jin City Song family to express our gratitude to you. This is a small token we pooled together. Please accept it.”

Song Miao handed over a storage bangle. No matter how Song Yuanxi tried to refuse, she just kept stuffing it at him.

In the end, she even stood up and ran. “Song Yuanxi, I still have something to do. I’ll come see you again in two days.”

Song Yuanxi was left between laughter and tears by this whole scene. Who gave gifts like this? She made it feel like sneaking around to offer a bribe.

Still, “It should be fine to accept it, right? Even if it was a lucky accident, I really did save them. Let’s just consider it settling the karma.”

Once he thought this, Song Yuanxi became at ease. Then, delighted, he opened the storage bangle, wanting to see what good things were inside.

And then he was knocked dizzy by the mountain of various items.

Pills, talismans, tools, arrays, cultivation methods and secret manuals, artifact-refining materials, countless spirit stones… There was simply too much to take in.

“Could this really be a thank-you gift gathered from three thousand people?” Song Yuanxi’s mood was very subtle. He had originally thought Song Miao was just saying that casually. He had not expected those people to be so sincere.

“This is really embarrassing. So much…”

The next second, Song Yuanxi rolled happily on the bed. “I’m rich, I’m rich! Overnight riches—that’s talking about me! Hahahahaha…”

Half a month later, Song Qing’s days as free labor ended. He immediately took his eldest son and set off for the main Song family.

Song Yuanxi had a very good impression of the Jin City Song family. Now that he was about to leave, he felt extremely reluctant.

“Song Miao, Song Qian, come to Xuantian Sect to play with me in the future! I’ll definitely entertain you properly and take you to eat and drink the best!”

“It’s agreed, all right? You have to come. I’ll miss you!”

“And don’t forget me. Keep in touch!”

On the flying boat, Song Yuanxi clung to the railing and looked down pitifully at the group of Song family members below, his expression full of reluctance.

Yet once the flying boat rose into the sky, the reluctance on his face was instantly replaced by joy. Holding the storage bangle, he began sorting the gifts into different portions.

“Song Miao and the others are way too polite. They gave me so many things. I can’t use them all by myself. I’ll sort some out, and when I return to the sect, I’ll give them to my senior brothers and senior sisters…”

Song Qing watched and listened. Seeing his eldest son’s carefree and heartless manner, his heavy mood finally eased.

Now, looking at the other party’s head full of white hair, he no longer found it so hard to bear.

This child had a broad heart indeed.

“We’re not returning to the sect. As for those things of yours, if you need them, sort them out later and give them to me. I’ll bring them back for you.” Song Qing could not help cutting in.

Song Yuanxi’s sorting movements stopped. He raised his head with a bewildered face. “Dad, I’m already like this, and we’re still not going back to the sect so I can rest?”

“You do need to recuperate. But we are not returning to the sect. I’m sending you to the main family. The Song family’s secret land was nurtured by heavenly materials and earthly treasures. If you stay inside for one sixty-year cycle, it will be extremely good for your physical recovery.”

“The secret land? Isn’t that the place where the old ancestor stays?”

“Others can enter as well.”

“Others? There are other people in the secret land?”

“No. Only you.”

Song Yuanxi was immediately dumbfounded. The matter of being alone, solitary and isolated, spending sixty years in a boundless secret land was very difficult for him to digest.

What kind of bizarre maneuver was this?

It was just recuperation. Why couldn’t everyone be together? Sixty years, and when he got bored or tired, there wouldn’t even be anyone to chat with. Wouldn’t he go insane?

“Dad, I’m scared. I’ll go crazy alone.”

“Your contracted beast will accompany you.”

When Song Qing finished speaking, Song Yuanxi’s mood grew even more depressed. Why did it feel even more tragic?

Tightly hugging the chick that had fallen into a deep sleep, Song Yuanxi could not stop shaking his head.

Son, Daddy only has you left. For the next sixty years, the two of us will have to depend on each other.

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