The birthday banquet of Shopkeeper Cheng was quite lively.
Xu Qing met many familiar faces that seemed vaguely recognizable; most of these people were descendants of old neighborhood friends. Although he hadn't seen some of them before, based on the hereditary looks, he could still distinguish which family they belonged to.
"Are you from the Li Si family?"
Li Xian Gui, who had managed the broker for many years, was visibly surprised. Xu Qing chuckled and said, "Your grandfather and I were old acquaintances. When I first arrived in the Jin Sect, I often interacted with Li Si."
"I even held you back when your parents took you to pay their respects at Ziyun Mountain!"
"..."
Li Xian Gui hurriedly bowed and greeted: "May I ask who the old gentleman is?"
Only then did Xu Qing remember that he hadn't visited the broker in decades, and the funeral business was managed by his disciples or the Funeral House staff on his behalf.
"I am the shopkeeper of the Xu Family's funeral business. Our two families could be considered old acquaintances."
"Ah, it's Master Xu! Grandfather often mentioned you while he was alive, and my father once said that without your advice to go to the Bao Sheng Temple for the lady's remedy, he wouldn't have had a child late in life..."
Xu Qing looked Li Xian Gui up and down and suddenly asked, "You must have settled down and started a career by now, right?"
Li Xian Gui was somewhat embarrassed and said, "Indeed, I've settled down and started a career, but it was only last year that I sought Lady Bao Sheng's remedy at the temple and finally had a child."
"The lady said my father's Kidney Palace was blocked, his vital energy was irregular, which could affect future generations..."
Xu Qing was stunned.
So, there is indeed hereditary infertility.
"But as long as there's the lady at the Bao Sheng Temple, I believe the Li Family tradition will continue."
Li Xian Gui laughed, "Now, every year, my broker sets a share for incense offerings at the Bao Sheng Temple. As long as the temple stands, the Li Family will endure."
Goodness! This Li Family by the river seems to have latched onto the Bao Sheng Temple.
Xu Qing couldn't even imagine it. If someday he took away the Bao Sheng Temple and its ladies, the Li Family would be in such dire straits!
They might scour the world and exhaust every resource to find him, the Bao Sheng deity.
Halfway through the banquet, the Ascendant Fuluan, who had been secluded for recuperation, finally arrived.
"Daoist Xu, you sent me a message; is there something urgent?"
Xu Qing raised his hand indicating silence, and after listening to a performance of "Zhong Kui Catching Ghosts" at the Pear Garden Theater, he spoke:
"Ascendant Fuluan, you've practiced for over two thousand years; have you ever married or had children?"
The Ascendant Fuluan hesitated for a moment and shook his head: "Never."
His heart was solely set on ascending to immortality, and affairs of the heart would only hinder his progress toward immortality.
"That is wonderful!"
Xu Qing reached out and pulled the Ascendant Fuluan over, gesturing towards Feng Xiaosheng in the distance, "Does the Daoist see that person? I wish to ask if you'd be willing to become the godfather of his child. What does the Daoist think?"
Godfather?
The Ascendant Fuluan looked at the unsightly host, furrowed his brows, and said, "I am a person of cultivation, not entering the dust of the world, how could I form a godparent bond with a mundane family?"
"Don't hastily decide, Daoist," Xu Qing smiled slightly, gesturing for Ascendant Fuluan to look next to Feng Xiaosheng.
"Daoist, take a closer look at the child there. Look carefully."
The Ascendant Fuluan followed Xu Qing's gaze, and in the next moment he exclaimed in surprise, "What a monster! It looks so much like a human!"
"..."
Xu Qing kicked over the Immortal sitting in front of him and said in annoyance, "Talking nonsense! Open your eyes and look clearly, who exactly is that?"
The Ascendant Fuluan awkwardly climbed up, steadied himself, and looked more closely at the child in front of Feng Xiaosheng. This time, he finally saw some familiar outlines in the child's face.
"Is it him?"
Xu Qing nodded and shook his head, saying, "Still unsure, but based on the timing, it matches perfectly."
"How about it? If the Daoist is willing, I can mediate, let you become his godfather, and later on you can care for him more..."
Becoming the godfather of that Divine Being, is there such a lucky opportunity? The Ascendant Fuluan's eyes brightened.
With the mindset of not missing out on a good deal, the Ascendant Fuluan readily agreed!
"Since an old friend is present, I should oblige, this is my responsibility."
Xu Qing was thrilled, thinking there's no time like the present, immediately pulling Ascendant Fuluan towards Feng Xiaosheng to begin connecting the two families.
"Xiaosheng, this True Cultivator here has cultivation abilities. If you wish, have Man'er recognize him as a godfather. From now on, whether in learning or anything else, he can seek advice from this True Cultivator..."
Feng Xiaosheng, hearing it was an introduction by Uncle Xu, immediately agreed!
A person recognized by Uncle Xu must not be ordinary.
"Man'er, quickly call him godfather!"
Feng Man'er tilted his head, looking up at the Ascendant Fuluan with a world-wise demeanor, hesitated to speak.
For some reason, Feng Man'er instinctively resisted this person, feeling a mismatch between him and the other.
But since both Uncle Xu and his father said so, he couldn't refuse.
Feng Man'er hesitated for a long time; only upon Feng Xiaosheng's urging did he reluctantly call him godfather.
Meanwhile, Xu Qing laughed, "Good, good, from now on we're family. I think Man'er shouldn't call me Uncle Xu anymore; perhaps calling me god-grandfather will be more intimate!"
"..."
The Ascendant Fuluan's smile vanished instantly, turning his head to look at Xu Qing with a ghostly gaze.
The latter remained unbothered, still happily teasing little Man'er.
"Zheng Nan, remember this. From now on, we're family, you can visit the Underground Street anytime, don't be reserved. Isn't that right, Daoist Fuluan?"
"..."
The Ascendant Fuluan was so frustrated his eyes went askew and his nose slanted, not wanting to deal with the wicked old man beside him!
Xu Qing returned to his seat cheerfully, pretending to listen to the play, though his thoughts were elsewhere.