Only a single night had passed since the storm parted and their family reunited beneath golden light.
Feiyin slowly stirred, the scent of warm wood and fresh linens surrounding him. The bed beneath him was soft, but what made him smile was the familiar sensation of fingers stroking through his hair. He opened his eyes slightly and turned his head- his mother was there beside him, sitting upright, her hand gently smoothing his long black hair.
"You're awake," she whispered.
He blinked, voice still groggy. "Mom... you didn't sleep?"
"I slept. But I wasn't going to leave your side again. Not so soon."
A chuckle rose in his throat, quiet and full of warmth. "You always used to say that when I was sick."
Mei Liao's lips quivered. "And I meant it every time."
Movement on the other side of the room drew his eyes. His father, Cai Feng, sat upright on a cushion, a gentle expression on his face. On his lap, Meimei was already awake, playing with a soft wooden toy. The toddler, seeing her big brother awake, dropped the toy with a soft clack and crawled eagerly across the floor. She climbed up onto the bed and plopped down on Feiyin's stomach, making him exhale sharply.
"Oof- Meimei, you're heavier than you look!" he said, laughing.
Meimei gave a delighted giggle and began tugging his hair with chubby fingers. His laughter filled the room.
The emotions from the night before had settled, but the joy and relief still radiated from every glance, every breath.
Feiyin gave a soft sigh and looked at his mother. "I told Qingling I'd be gone for the night. I didn't want her to worry."
"You thought of everything," Mei Liao said, stroking his cheek.
Now that they were all awake and close, Feiyin took a breath, then began.
He spoke of the dark cave- the first trial after his abduction. "It was cold... cruel. But I met some good people. Yue, Ren, Mu. We watched each other's backs."
His parents listened intently. "We found one of those sites," Cai Feng said gravely. "Already abandoned. Cold like death."
Feiyin nodded solemnly. "It wasn't a place meant to be remembered."
Then, his voice warmed. "But I became a menial disciple. Learned alchemy, refined materials until my skin blistered, but I found something I loved."
Mei Liao's eyes glistened. "That sounds like you."
He smiled. "I made pills. Failed a couple of times. Then started succeeding. Made a name for myself. Saved. Invested. Built a small alchemy group."
"You made money?" she asked with a watery chuckle.
"A lot of it," he said proudly.
Meimei reached up, pressing her palm against his mouth. He kissed her hand.
He went on- how he became an outer disciple, formed a group, and was eventually sent out on a mission.
'I can't tell you everything yet... because some of it would only make you worry. But now that I'm here, it's the past.'
His mother hugged him tight. "You survived so much."
Cai Feng clasped his son's shoulder. "We're proud. More than words can say."
Then came the solemn question.
"Feiyin," Mei Liao asked softly. "We discovered that all disciples of the Saint Spirit sect carried in their heart that could control their life and death. So, this heart-devouring worm... do you also have it?"
His expression turned calm. "I did."
Her hands trembled. Cai Feng's knuckles whitened.
"But I purged it. When I opened the last two meridians and received a baptism from the world, I succeeded."
She began crying again, pulling him close. "Thank the heavens..."
Cai Feng exhaled hard. "And now?"
Feiyin looked at them both. "Now, I'm preparing. The leader of the Saint Spirit Sect... he's the true enemy. He controls the parasites. All of them."
Stunned silence.
"He's powerful, at the ninth phase in his prime. But he is heavily injured right now. That's our only chance. I want to create a runic artifact- one that can purify the parasites in all the infected. I'm refining the base design now."
"Feiyin..." Cai Feng whispered. "You're still in the Elemental Infusion Phase. That's suicide."
Feiyin shook his head. "Not anymore."
They looked at him.
"I've completed the infusion of all eight elements. Fire, water, earth, metal, wood... and now, lightning, wind, and ice."
Mei Liao's mouth opened. No words came.
"I've stepped beyond. I'm on the threshold of the Yin-Refining Phase."
Cai Feng sat back in disbelief. "You... you're serious."
"I am."
Then, Feiyin's eyes lit with quiet pride. "I also managed to build up some forces inside the sect. My companions that I mentioned before and I, we've grown stronger together. I've also used this mission as a guise and was able to form alliances with two powerful forces outside: the Greenwood Kingdom and the Red Demon Tribe. Both have cultivators at the seventh phase."
Both of his parents looked stunned.
Mei Liao whispered, "Feiyin... that's..."
"Incredible," Cai Feng finished for her, then broke into a slow, proud chuckle. "As expected of my son! You already put in so much effort to realize your plans, and we can't be more proud of you."
His tone softened, deeper. "And as your parents, we don't have the right to stop you... but also as your parents, we can't help but worry."
He stood and cracked his neck. "So, there's only one way to ease this father's heart. Show me. Show me how much stronger you've become, just like we did back in the old days."
Mei Liao gave him an exasperated look but couldn't stop the smile that spread across her face, tears still glistening in her eyes. She scooped Meimei into her arms. "Oh, you men. Come Meimei, let's go cheer on your big brother."
Cai Feng made a mock-hurt expression. "Hey! My daughter should cheer for me too."
Feiyin burst into laughter. Seeing this new, teasing side of his father filled him with something he had long missed- warmth. The kind that only family could bring.
The courtyard was quiet, sun filtering through the trees. Cai Feng stood at the center, a practice saber in hand. Feiyin stood opposite him, stretching his arms.
"No need to destroy the courtyard or make a mess. Let's just have a proper martial spar," Cai Feng said, eyes sharp. "A cultivator's blade is enough to give you insight into his drive and strength."
Feiyin grinned. "Don't be too surprised then."
Cai Feng tossed him a saber. "The same to you."
The first few clashes were light, blades tapping with precision. Metal rang, feet shifted, and smiles flickered between each exchange.
Then Cai Feng paused with a smile. "I can see you didn't stop practicing. I'm proud of the blade you've honed. Now, let me show you the next step."
Dark light flickered along his saber. Though unmoving, the air seemed to split around it.
"Saber intent," Cai Feng said, voice low. "I found it after you were taken. That helplessness forged this. With it, I can still stand against seventh phase cultivators as a sixth phase one."
Feiyin's expression didn't show the awe Cai Feng expected, only pride. "As expected of you, Dad. You're the first I've seen with a weapon intent."
His tone shifted. "So now, let me show you my resolve."
His saber turned pitch black, surrounded by razor-sharp energy. The air twisted, the ground cracked. An aura of sheer cutting force surrounded him.
Cai Feng's breath hitched. As Feiyin stepped forward and struck, he raised his own saber- but it only held for a blink before splitting clean in two. Feiyin's blade stopped a hair from his face.
Silence. Then Feiyin stepped back and sheathed his weapon with a teasing expression.
Cai Feng stood, stunned. The energy still lingered like a shadow.
Then he barked a laugh and ruffled Feiyin's hair. "You brat! Teasing your old man now?"
He placed a firm hand on his son's shoulder, eyes soft. "You've really grown."
From the side, Meimei clapped and giggled in delight. Mei Liao smirked.
"See? Even Meimei is cheering for Feiyin."
Their laughter echoed in the warm light of the morning, peace finally settling in their bones.
As they caught their breath, Mei Liao dusted her hands and said with a light tone, "I'll make breakfast. It's been far too long since I cooked for all of us."
Feiyin's eyes lit up. "Really? Then I'm definitely looking forward to it. It's been years since I had Mom's cooking."
Cai Feng chuckled and stretched. "While she cooks, let's figure out how to get the Spirit Slaying Alliance on board. They might be willing to coordinate with your allies for a joint strike-"
Mei Liao shot him a sharp look, wooden spoon already in hand. "No serious talk in the kitchen."
Cai Feng raised his hands in surrender, Feiyin grinning beside him.
"Yes ma'am," they said in unison.
***
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