Qingjiang County, Dongxi Village.
The Xu family.
The east was already white, the azure sky gradually opening.
One could see thin mist on the ridges like silk ribbons, entwining the emerald green young rice shoots. Before the eaves, the waning moon hung like a hook, slanting over the old willow branches.
Cooking smoke rose spiraling from thatched cottages, merging with the morning haze, transforming into wandering dragons pursuing clouds.
Bai Jing wore plain silk clothes and sat upright before a bronze mirror. Behind her, a woman in her forties knelt, holding an old peach wood comb in her hands, slowly combing through her frosty hair.
After the hair was arranged, Bai Jing examined herself from left and right in the bronze mirror.
"Ah Li, your skill hasn't diminished from years past. I heard your daughter is getting married?" Bai Jing spoke slowly, then suddenly sighed lightly, "In the blink of an eye, you entered our Xu family and have been serving by my side for..."
"Twenty-one years."
"How old is your daughter?"
"Fifteen."
"Already marrying at fifteen. My Xueji is now twenty-three and still doesn't have a good match. It truly worries me to death."
"Fourth Miss is talented and intelligent, unparalleled in grace. How could ordinary young masters be worthy of her?" The middle-aged woman praised with a smile.
"You always say nice things, but in the end she's still a woman who must marry. She's not like Yunnu who is male. Now with my husband away from home..."
Speaking to this point, Bai Jing felt several more frosty strands emerging from her hair ends.
"Old Family Head's meaning is that he doesn't want Fourth Miss to marry out. Why not select a young gentleman from among the families dependent on the Xu family?"
Bai Jing turned her head, "Your words strike at my heart, but picking and choosing, I don't feel anyone is worthy of my Xueji."
The middle-aged woman covered her mouth and laughed lightly, "If even you can't pick anyone, Old Family Head probably can't either."
"Indeed. Among all the children, he cherishes Xueji the most."
"Let me think about this matter more."
With the middle-aged woman's support, Bai Jing stood up, "Come walk outside with me. It's been a long time since I've seen the village scenery."
Xu Mingwei happened to encounter them. Hearing she wanted to go out, he helped support her together.
On the field paths between rice paddies, old farmers walked carrying hoes, crushing jade dewdrops on the grass. Where their footprints passed, a luminous glow actually formed.
Large expanses of rice fields stretched continuously like a jade sea.
Suddenly, mountain wind blew, and the jade sea rippled in waves, spreading layer upon layer.
"I still vaguely remember, that plot used to be our Xu family's farmland. When you were small, you followed behind your father learning to plant rice seedlings."
"Mother has good memory." A trace of a smile appeared at the corners of Xu Mingwei's mouth.
"I'm old." Bai Jing said lightly, "Who could have thought that the Xu family initially relied on merely ten mu of fields to get by?"
"Father is a prodigy."
"Yes, he's a genius. Starting martial arts in middle age, he stubbornly learned it, and somehow walked onto the path of seeking immortality. Compared to him, this wife of his seems far too ordinary."
"Why would Mother say such a thing? Neither Father nor any of us have ever thought so."
Bai Jing turned her head with a shallow smile, "Your father is kind-hearted, and you several children have also been well-educated. Marrying him as a wife is a blessing I cultivated over several lifetimes."
"Mother doesn't know how far the Xu family can go in the future. Your maternal grandfather and the others have already passed away. Your uncle's family is my only worry."
She stared quietly at Xu Mingwei, "Shitou, promise Mother that if one day Mother is gone, don't mistreat the Bai family."
"Even if they make mistakes someday, please look at Mother's face and spare their lineage, letting it pass down generation after generation."
Although he knew he shouldn't make such a promise, looking at Bai Jing now, Xu Mingwei couldn't bring himself to refuse no matter what.
"This child understands." Xu Mingwei said, "As long as the Xu family exists, the Bai family exists."
"I will have future family heads pass this down."
"This matter troubles you. As the Xu family's scale grows larger, many laws and regulations will inevitably be established, but I'm just an ordinary woman with selfish concerns."
"Even if Father were here, he would agree." Xu Mingwei said.
"Your father." Bai Jing shook her head with a smile, turning to face the ten thousand mu of fertile fields and jade sea of green waves, then exhaled, "His heart is much harder than yours."
Xu Mingwei didn't refute.
"I'm a bit tired. Shitou, help me back."
Returning to the Xu family, they saw Xu Dezhao instructing Xu Dewen in martial arts.
Xu Dezhao was thirteen this year. His height already exceeded Bai Jing's. Though still young, his face already showed the dignified bearing of the legitimate eldest son.
Xu Dewen went all out, his fist wind whistling, seeming to carry scorching qi as well.
The power was much fiercer than an ordinary third-rate martial artist's fists. However, Xu Dezhao had one hand behind his back, responding with only one hand. His free hand circled around Xu Dewen's fist, instantly dissipating his fist momentum, then suddenly grasped his wrist.
Pulling him close, his other shoulder leaned in.
Boom~
Xu Dewen flew backward seven or eight meters before stopping.
Just as Xu Mingwei was supporting Bai Jing through the main gate, seeing this he scolded, "If you want to spar, go to the training ground. If you frighten your grandmother, I'll twist off your ears."
Xu Dewen quickly got up and cupped his hands in greeting, "Greetings to Father, greetings to Grandmother."
Xu Dezhao was more casual, asking instead, "Father, Grandmother, why are you returning from outside?"
"Wen'er, no need for excessive courtesy." Bai Jing smiled, "I had some leisure and went out for a walk."
"Then why didn't Grandmother find me? Father is busy, but I'm free."
"What nonsense are you talking?" Xu Mingwei put on a stern face, "Both of you go run a hundred laps with weights at the training ground."
"They're just children. Why frighten them? Go about your business. Let Zhao'er and Wen'er accompany me back."
Xu Mingwei smiled bitterly and cupped his hands, "Yes, Mother."
After escorting Bai Jing, Xu Dezhao said, "Awen, let's go to the Jade Cold Pool."
"Mm." Xu Dewen nodded with a smile in agreement.
…
Jade Cold Pool.
Surrounded by embracing mountains, a cold pool was jade-like in its concentrated green. Even in the depths of winter's ninth month, it never froze. The pool's surface was perpetually wreathed in faint white mist.
Around the pool, several hundred mu of medicinal fields were arranged in a bagua formation, cultivating many rare medicinal materials.
Not far away, three to five bamboo houses stood scattered. On the rooftops, luminous jade marrow mushrooms grew among the moss, like star lamps at night.
Bronze wind chimes hung from the eaves' corners, making clear ringing sounds with the wind, cleansing one's spirit.
Behind the houses, a thousand bamboo stalks formed a sea. When wind passed, it raised layers of emerald waves. The sound of bamboo joints colliding was clear and resonant like chimes.
"Wu Tao, Qingyi." Xu Dezhao called out.
Hearing this, Wu Tao and Shen Qingyi both stopped meditating and walked over, then bowed respectfully, "Young Master, Second Young Master."
Now, Wu Tao was at the peak of first layer of Qi Refining, while Shen Qingyi was at second layer of Qi Refining.
With magical power in their bodies, even without entering the innate realm, Xu Dezhao was not their match. However, he also frequently sparred with them, familiarizing himself with immortal cultivators' combat methods, lest he be inadequate when truly clashing in the future.
"Aren't Aunt Xueji and the others here?" Xu Dezhao looked around, asking in surprise.
Shen Qingyi smiled lightly, "Aunt Xueji went with Third Master deep into the Broken Fang Mountains to search for rare medicinal materials, spiritual medicines, and young exotic fierce beasts."
"Oh, and they didn't take me again."
Wu Tao and Shen Qingyi both smiled.
Immediately after, Xu Dezhao brought Xu Dewen to find a place and cultivate martial arts.