High energy consumption? That just made it a perfect trump card no need to throw it away because of a minor drawback, right?
Besides, with Song Changsheng's current strength, there was hardly any need to use the formation when dealing with Qi Refining cultivators. He had that much confidence in himself.
"I've been in seclusion for so long. Time to head out Grandpa must be worried."
With that thought, Song Changsheng casually wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, pulled out a fresh set of blue robes, and put them on. Then he circulated his cultivation technique to stimulate his blood and energy his pale face quickly regained some color, making him look much less fragile.
After tidying up the room, he deactivated the protective formation, pushed open the heavy stone door, and was instantly stunned by the scene before him.
Because the one standing outside wasn't Song Xianming.
It was Xia Yunxue, whose eyes were so swollen they looked like peaches.
Song Changsheng felt a lump rise in his throat, his eyes welled with tears. With a thud, he dropped to his knees and choked out,
"Your unfilial son greets you, Mother!"
Xia Yunxue looked down at her kneeling son, and all the anger in her heart instantly melted away only sorrow and worry remained. She pulled Song Changsheng into a tight embrace, and all the fear she had suppressed these past days erupted in a single sentence:
"My child…"
Tears shimmered in Song Changsheng's eyes as he forced a smile.
"Mother, don't be like this. Look, I'm fine."
"If something had happened to you, how would I explain it to your father!"
Xia Yunxue's tears burst forth, soaking his shoulder.
Her body trembled uncontrollably. This matriarch of the Song clan the Fifth Elder who had long grown accustomed to life and death had truly been frightened this time.
"Mother, I won't do it again,"
Song Changsheng said, deeply guilty, as he gently wiped her tears with his sleeve.
"You still want a next time? If your grandfather hadn't told me, I'd still be in the dark!"
After the initial relief, Xia Yunxue's anger flared again. Her delicate hand clamped onto his ear and twisted it a full 180 degrees.
Song Changsheng immediately raised his hands in surrender.
"No more, no more! Mother, any harder and it's coming off!"
"Maybe it should come off. Might teach you to behave."
Though her words were harsh, her grip softened noticeably.
"Mother, look what I've got!"
Song Changsheng said with a grin, pulling out a jade box like performing a magic trick, clearly trying to please her.
Xia Yunxue took it, still suspicious. When she opened it and saw what was inside a Beautifying Pill her eyes lit up.
There isn't a woman alive who doesn't care about beauty. Even Foundation Establishment cultivators were no exception. Though delighted, she still tried to act stern:
"Where did you get this? I'm confiscating it."
Song Changsheng finally let out a long breath of relief crisis averted.
"What's mine is yours, Mother,"
he said quickly, nodding with an exaggeratedly sincere expression.
Xia Yunxue gave a satisfied nod. Just as she was about to scold him some more in a motherly tone, an aged voice came from behind:
"As long as the boy is safe, let it go. No need to say more."
"Grandfather,"
Song Changsheng immediately stood up and saluted, giving the old man a grateful look if it weren't for him stepping in, his ear might've had to suffer more punishment.
"Father, this child is too reckless. If I don't say something, who knows what kind of nonsense he'll pull next?"
Xia Yunxue scolded again, though she moved forward to support Song Xianming with concern.
"The boy's grown up. He knows what he should and shouldn't do. You can't hold his hand for the rest of his life. Let go when it's time."
Song Xianming patted her hand and said with heartfelt sincerity,
"I know you mean well, but you need to let go a little."
"Yes, Father-in-law. I understand,"
Xia Yunxue replied softly.
"Good. You two haven't seen each other in a while take some time to catch up. This old man will take his leave."
With a chuckle, Song Xianming gave Song Changsheng a pat on the shoulder and strolled away, leaving mother and son alone.
"Did you hear what your grandfather said? Don't get too happy just yet. If you want me to fully let go, do it when your cultivation surpasses mine,"
Xia Yunxue said sternly, glaring at Song Changsheng.
Scratching his head, Song Changsheng wisely held his tongue. From experience, he knew whatever he said now would be wrong. Better to just stay silent.
Seeing he wasn't talking back, Xia Yunxue continued,
"So what's your plan now? You've already practiced such a dangerous technique can you at least calm down for a few days?"
Song Changsheng thought for a moment and said,
"I've been back for a while now. I plan to head back to Little Azure Mountain to continue contributing to the clan."
Of course, "contributing to the clan" was only part of it. Song Changsheng had his reasons. He carried too many secrets whether it was the esoteric techniques he had grasped from the Dao Scriptures or the Lu Wu Bell, none of it should be exposed to the public eye.
Explaining the origins of such secret techniques would be tricky, and revealing a spiritual artifact like that would only draw dangerous attention.
Little Azure Mountain was perfectly vast, sparsely populated, and far from prying eyes.
Xia Yunxue's eyebrows furrowed. She was about to scold him again, but remembering Song Xianming's advice, she relented a little and said,
"You can go to Little Azure Mountain but until you reach Foundation Establishment, you're not allowed to leave the mountain without permission. Focus on your cultivation. If not, you're coming with me to the mortal realm."
Song Changsheng immediately thumped his chest in assurance. That was his plan anyway.
The entire Earthfire Sect wanted him dead, and the even more dangerous Feng Wuming was lurking somewhere in the shadows. Without breaking through to the Foundation Establishment, he had no real sense of security.
Seeing that he agreed, Xia Yunxue's expression softened. She pulled a jade pendant from her spatial pouch and handed it to him.
"This was given to me by your grandfather. It can withstand a full-power strike from a Foundation Establishment cultivator. Keep it on you at all times."
Song Changsheng grinned as he accepted it and hung it at his waist another life-saving treasure secured.
As they strolled through the estate, chatting about the events of the past two years, Song Changsheng suddenly asked,
"Mother, is there some kind of grudge between our family and Luoxia City?"
Xia Yunxue was taken aback. She nodded… then shook her head, leaving Song Changsheng completely confused.
"Wait, are you saying yes or no?"
"Sigh… it's complicated. You'd better ask your grandfather yourself,"
she finally said, dodging the question like he'd expected.
At that moment, Song Changsheng's curiosity hit its peak.
What exactly happened between Grandpa and Luoxia City?
Why did both Wang Wanzhou and Mother act like it was some kind of taboo?
"Guess I'll have to go ask Grandpa directly."
No sooner said than done. After seeing Xia Yunxue safely back to her courtyard, Song Changsheng headed once again to Cloudward Hall, determined to get to the bottom of it.
He found Song Xianming by Xuanjing Lake, holding a fishing rod and calmly fishing.
Without turning his head, Song Xianming said,
"Young people shouldn't be so curious about everything."
"Aren't you a little too old to be eavesdropping on a mother and son's conversation?"
Song Changsheng replied flatly.
"Heh, it's not eavesdropping if you didn't even lower your voice,"
Song Xianming said with a grin.
Song Changsheng sat down beside him and, eyeing a green jade pendant at Song Xianming's waist, casually asked,
"That jade pendant you're wearing… why does it have the character 'Wan' carved on it? I thought Grandma's name was Li Manshu?"
At that, Song Xianming's expression darkened slightly. Without a word, he picked up his fishing rod and bonked Song Changsheng squarely on the head.
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