The names of the two brothers are quite ordinary; one is called Wang Wen and the other Wang Wu, clearly implying the meaning of being both scholarly and martial.
Both are quite honest and sincere, much like Old Wang and his wife.
After returning from the front line, the brothers quickly managed to secure a position at the County Government.
Although being a governmental official is considered a lowly status, preventing descendants from taking imperial examinations for generations, among the common folk, it is a high standing position. If passing by on the street, others would often call them Arresting Elder or "Master" with respect!
With the return of the Wang brothers, the Wang Family courtyard became noticeably livelier.
Under the arrangements of Wang’s old couple, the brothers soon married and had children.
On the other side, within the first year, Wang Qiaoyun bore Zhang Jian a lively and lovely daughter, and three years later, a son.
Time slipped by, and although Zhang Jian gradually became renowned throughout the surrounding counties and his life improved, he never left Cyan Rain City despite studying abroad at times.
Twelve years later, Old Wang was the first to succumb, though he was merely at an age that knew destiny, he lay bedridden.
Wang Qiaoyun, unwilling to let Old Wang suffer on a sickbed, used a trace of Magical Power to perform Bone Marrow Cleansing and Yijin for him, thus pulling him back from the Ghost Gate.
Zhang Jian, merely as an observer, watched this scene, allowing Wang Qiaoyun to quietly cast her magic.
But Zhang Jian knew that disrupting life and death in this manner could easily draw the attention of Wang Qiaoyun’s formidable enemies.
Celestial Platform Sect.
One of the renowned Immortal Sect Dao Lineages in the Northern Domain, it has a long legacy that dominates a large area of the Immortal Realm.
Deep within the Sect, a disciple at this moment reported to Shan Lei Daoist, who had been in seclusion for some time.
"Old Patriarch, we’ve found the third senior brother!"
"The third senior brother has gone mad and become a beggar!"
"What?"
Upon hearing this, Shan Lei Daoist’s eyes narrowed, erupting intense coldness from their depths. His eyes flared with anger as he hurriedly walked out of the hall, soon spotting a disheveled cultivator squatting on the ground gnawing on bones, resisted even by several old Daoists from the Celestial Platform Sect.
All of his Dharma Artifacts and Immortal Treasures were lost, and he seemed to have completely forgotten all of his Dao Practice.
With a hum of anger, Shan Lei Daoist commanded, "Stand aside!"
A green Bodhi Seed appeared in his hand, and with a slight activation, a Bodhi Immortal Light fell upon the disheveled cultivator, instantly stopping his actions.
Moments later, he sluggishly looked around, his thoughts still dull, yet he managed to recognize the figures of those in front of him.
"Mas...ter!"
He stuttered as he spoke, bowing at the same time.
Seeing him in this state, Shan Lei Daoist was quite disgusted and immediately waved his hand, directing the Daoists to drag the third disciple away for cleansing, his eyes slightly contemplative.
It was evident that this third disciple had encountered a master to end up in this state.
However, for such a master to dare target Bai Sha Daoist so blatantly, it was utterly disrespectful to the Celestial Platform Dao Sect. Regardless, a reckoning was necessary.
Moreover, Wang Qiaoyun carried the legacy of the Ancient Immortal and could not be allowed to roam freely. He decided to make a personal visit!
...
Two years later, Madam Zhang’s small courtyard began relocating, preparing to move to a more prosperous area of Cyan Rain City.
In the small courtyard, Wang Qiaoyun donned a simple silk attire. Her hair was styled into a woman’s unique hairstyle, adorned with a gold hairpin. Though her face was soft and elegant, she exuded a distinct charm, with two mischievous children playing under her watch.
Zhang Jian was directing servants to tie up the furniture onto carriages, instructing them to handle the scrolls carefully to avoid damage.
At that moment, he glanced at Wang Qiaoyun.
Wang Qiaoyun, with a smile on her face, suddenly looked toward the direction outside the city, and her gaze shifted.
At the gate of Cyan Rain City, a cold Daoist slowly emerged from the void, his gaze falling upon the city with a flash of intense murderous intent and mockery, about to shout in reprimand. Yet suddenly, his expression changed, his eyes gradually losing focus, a hint of struggle in his eyes. Several kinds of Immortal Technique surrounding an embryonic Dao Fruit were about to transform into Dao Patterns and activate, but in the next instant, these Dao Patterns fell silent.
His eyes absent-mindedly staring at the city in front of him.
"Who am I? Where am I?"
He looked at the duster in his hand, sinking into contemplation.
Regardless of the carriages speeding by, splattering him with mud, he remained clueless.
Soldiers at the city gate saw the scene and frowned.
"Where did this lunatic come from, causing trouble and disturbing order at the city gate!"
Grumbling, these soldiers approached to inquire, cautious already upon seeing Shan Lei Daoist in his Daoist Robe.
In their eyes, Daoists were usually not to be trifled with.
Still, seeing Shan Lei’s unfocused eyes and inability to provide a coherent answer for quite some time, they grew bolder, eventually dragging Shan Lei Daoist into the city jail.
Of course, before entering the jail, all treasures upon his person were thoroughly stripped away.
"..."
Inside the courtyard, Wang Qiaoyun sensed the terrifying Great Dao’s scorching sun-like radiance vanish in an instant, and she slightly frowned.
Another passing by?
Wang Qiaoyun felt it wouldn’t be that simple; it couldn’t be such a coincidence twice.
Her thoughts raced; she was more inclined to believe there was a secret in Cyan Rain City that alarmed this expert, one who surpassed the Celestial Immortal Realm.
She didn’t feel afraid, thinking that having stayed here for over ten years, if the other harbored ill intentions, she would have been in trouble long ago.
Given this, there’s no need to be afraid.
Of course, this was only speculation.
Anyway, Cyan Rain City was a good sanctuary for her, aiding in her healing and Perfecting her Dao Heart.
After the move, the Zhang and Wang families had a greater distance between them, with less frequent visits.
But under their care, Wang Qiaoyun’s two children gradually grew, providing her new comfort.
Ten years later, upon a sickbed.
Old Wang lay emaciated, with years leaving too many scars, and a shroud of twilight and death surrounded him under the quilt. At this moment, he tightly held Lady Wang’s aged hands, tears still welled in the corner of his eyes.
Inside and outside the room, many children and grandchildren gathered.
Seeing this, even Wang Qiaoyun turned away.
By this time, a middle-aged Zhang Jian, with a gentlemanly demeanor retained on his face now laced with gray at the temples and a beard.
Three years later, Lady Wang equally passed away.
With the passing of Old Wang and Lady Wang, the Primordial Spirit of the Bai Hua Fairy deep in Wang Qiaoyun’s mind began to stir, showing signs of awakening.
Yet, the karma and emotional tribulations deep in her mind transformed into a vast net, obscuring the mundane world.
As the years went by, Zhang Jian’s body also began to show many ’ailments.’
Wang Qiaoyun often took the opportunity to use part of her magic to help regulate Zhang Jian’s body, but it seemed as if his fate was locked by the ’Book of Life and Death,’ and no matter how she tried, the aura of decline and death gathered and couldn’t be dispelled.
This change made Wang Qiaoyun very anxious, breaking her heart.
Even an iron-cast Dao Heart seemed unable to withstand this moment of sorrow.
Unwilling to let ’Zhang Jian’ go, she used several Immortal Pills to forcibly extend his life by thirty years.
Thirty years later, ’Zhang Jian,’ now over eighty years old, passed away in peace.
A brief life of several decades, passing like clouds and smoke.
"Come and go in a hurry!"
At this point, the Bai Hua Fairy stood at the bedside, her expression finally calm, impacted by the utmost sorrowful emotions.
The emotional strands deep in her mind instantly snapped.
The Red Simurgh Star was also completely refined into no trace by the vast Immortal Light surging from her Primordial Spirit.
That night, this ’deeply loving couple’ of a husband and wife passed away on the same day.
Only leaving behind the sorrowful memories of numerous children and grandchildren.
Above Cyan Rain City, the Bai Hua Fairy flew out, with layers of Immortal Light swirling around her, vast original Immortal Light surging, instantly triggering the Celestial Immortal Tribulation deep in the void.
Breaking through the emotional tribulation was also when she achieved Dao Practice Perfection.
By then, part of the Bai Hua Fairy’s memory had been restored.
She glanced in the direction of Cyan Rain City, then turned away, flying into the depths of the void.
In the void, Zhang Jian’s figure emerged, watching the scene with a slight smile, knowing his task was almost complete.
Yet, his eyes glanced into the depths of the void, sensing another terrifying murderous intent locking on the Bai Hua Fairy just about to undergo tribulation.
That was the Bai Hua Fairy’s final mortal catastrophe.
So, he decided to have a chat with the adversary!