Home.
Yanzhuang is right before my eyes!
Stepping onto the familiar mountain road, stepping over the familiar weeds, Ming Qi suddenly felt an indescribable sense of familiarity.
His days of wandering had made him tread cautiously, treading on thin ice. Now, back home, a sense of relief instantly washed over him.
Yanzhuang, beneath the night sky in the distance, was still the same Yanzhuang he had left at the beginning of the year, its lights still twinkling like stars.
It was not late at night, and the villagers had not yet retired. Whether busy after dinner or chatting around the fire, these were the inevitable activities of the villagers at the end of the year.
Ming Qi quietly walked to the path in front of the village. He slowed his pace and walked step by step along the path towards the village.
A year away from home was not a long time, but Ming Qi feared that he was drifting further and further away on the path of cultivation. He didn't know when he would be able to return to Yanzhuang again.
At that moment, a subtle sound echoed in the grass beside the path, and Ming Qi immediately sensed it.
Having entered the Xiantian realm, his awareness and senses had become incredibly sharp. Though the sound was faint, it did not escape Ming Qi's attention.
Ming Qi's gaze shifted, landing on a clump of wormwood in the distance. He then saw a white figure scurry out.
This was followed by a high-pitched, slightly excited tiger roar.
"Dabai!"
Ming Qi recognized it immediately.
Dabai continued to diligently fulfill his duties as the guardian deity of Yanzhuang. Even in the icy and snowy conditions, he remained tirelessly guarding the village's perimeter.
Dabai also recognized Ming Qi, judging by its cheerful roar.
Dabai hopped lightly over to Ming Qi, nudging its massive head against him and growling softly.
"Yes, I'm back."
Ming Qi reached out and touched Dabai's head as usual, then approached Yanzhuang one after another.
It was a cold winter night, and all the villagers were indoors.
Ming Qi walked all the way to the front door, but no one noticed his return.
The light in the kitchen was still on, evidently his mother busy with New Year's preparations.
Gently pushing open the familiar door, Ming Qi saw his father squatting on a small stool, silently smoking his pipe. His eldest brother, Miao Sen, and his second brother, Miao Cheng, also sat silently. A small brazier stood between them, its dry wood burning brightly.
The door opened, instantly drawing the three of them to their feet, all turning to look toward the door.
"Third brother?"
Miao Cheng, the second brother, was the first to react. He abruptly stood up and rubbed his eyes vigorously. After confirming he was not mistaken, he rushed over in a state of inexplicable joy.
"Third brother!"
Miao Sen stood up next, his face also filled with surprise.
Ming Qi smiled faintly and stepped into the room.
"Dad, big brother, second brother, I'm back."
Ming Qi walked into the room, pulled a small willow stool, and sat down around the brazier.
"Sanlang, is it really you?"
Miao Dazhu couldn't believe his eyes until now. Was his son really back? He felt like he was dreaming, but wasn't the person sitting next to him right now his most promising son?
"Dad, it's me." Ming Nian nodded with a smile.
As if waking from a dream, Miao Dazhu's hand trembled as he gripped his pipe.
Yes, Ming Qi's return had truly brought a mixture of joy and surprise to the entire family.
After a moment's pause, Miao Dazhu leaped to his feet and rushed to the door, whispering towards the kitchen, "Mom, come and see who's back!"
Then Ming Qi heard quick footsteps.
"Sanlang, you've missed me so much..."
Ming Qi Niang, her hands smeared with flour, ignored everything else and quickly walked over to gently touch Ming Qi's face, as if to confirm whether the person who had appeared at home at this moment was the Sanlang of the Miao family she cared about.
"I miss you, too, and you all..."
Ming Qi's eyes moistened, and he embraced his now frail mother with his strong arms.
The family rejoiced. Ming Qi Niang quickly rushed to the kitchen to prepare some food. Soon, the small dining table was laden with what was considered the finest food in the village.
Ming Qi, now a powerful innate being, no longer relied so heavily on food, and he had rather high standards for it. But the scene before him was different. This was his home, and this was his mother's handmade meal. Although simple, it was this very food that had raised him!
The five of them sat down around the table. Ming Qi suddenly thought, and his chopsticks faltered in mid-air.
"Mom, where's Xiaolan?"
After the pleasant reunion, Ming Qi was shocked to discover someone was missing.
Miao Dazhu pondered for a moment, then said, "She was taken away by her family a few days ago."
"Family?"
Ming Qi was stunned. He didn't know much about Molan's background. He only remembered that a warrior had appeared with her, but that warrior had been seriously injured and died. How could her family suddenly appear?
"Those people were so powerful! They even defeated Dabai. No one in the village could stop them..."
Miao Sen began.
By the time he returned, Ming Qi had seen that Dabai's strength had greatly improved since he left at the beginning of the year. He was now a Level 2 demon beast, and it seemed he would soon break through.
A Level 2 demon beast could easily defeat a human cultivator of the sixth level of the acquired realm, yet it had been defeated by Molan's family. So who were Molan's family members?
"Did they say anything?"
Ming Qi asked. At this point, Miao Dazhu seemed to reflect on something. He stood up and walked into the inner room. A moment later, he produced a small, black, square box.
"They left this as a token of their gratitude for Molan's care over the years."
"Oh?"
Ming Qi took the black box and examined it carefully.
The square black box was exquisitely crafted, engraved with a profoundly mysterious pattern, its contents indistinguishable.
After examining it for a moment, Ming Qi discovered a mechanism and pressed it with his index finger.
Buzz!
The moment he pressed the mechanism, a powerful vibration spread. Ming Qi was startled, and without thinking, he immediately released his aura. Several streams of innate energy erupted, protecting his parents and brothers. A faint light flickered from his body.
The force released by the mechanism in the box was not significant. It might pose a threat to a post-natal cultivator, but for an innate cultivator, it was nothing.
After a few seconds, the force dissipated, and the black box opened.
The box opened, revealing its contents.
A black gold token and a small booklet.
The box contained only these two items. Ming Qi set the box aside and first picked up the black gold token. Inscribed on it were the bold, large characters: "Jue." Below them were two smaller characters: "Jiuyou."
Jiuyou, Jue—the answer was crystal clear.
The person who had taken Mo Lan away was from the Jiuyou Jue Mansion, one of the seven prefectures of Xilan Prefecture. This black gold token must be the Jiuyou Jue Mansion Order that one had heard of before. Holders of the Jiuyou Jue Mansion Order enjoyed certain privileges in the Jiuyou Land. It seemed that the Jue Mansion's leaving behind of this token was no false courtesy.
Putting the token aside, Ming Qi picked up the booklet.
A Comprehensive Guide to Formations.
Seeing the title, Ming Qi understood that the Jue Mansion had not only left behind a Jiuyou Jue Mansion Order, but also an introductory guide to studying formations.
The Jiuyou Juefu excels at observing qi and setting up formations, and this book is certainly worth a fortune.
After learning this, Ming Qi put away the Jiuyou Juefu Order and the Comprehensive Guide to Formations.
"It's okay. I already know who they are. I'll find time to visit Xiaolan someday."
Molan had returned to the Jiuyou Juefu, and she would surely receive better instruction. Ming Qi no longer had to worry. As for the future, if Ming Qi had the opportunity to pass through the Jiuyou land, he would simply visit.
After collecting the items left behind at the Jiuyou Juefu, Ming Qi realized that his entire family was staring at him in disbelief.
"Third brother, are you an immortal?" Miao Cheng asked.
...
Ming Qi sneered and said, "I'm far from being an immortal. I've merely cultivated some techniques to cultivate the body and nourish qi."
Besides Ming Qi, no one in the family understood the concept of cultivating immortals, so a few words were all that remained.
During the feast, Ming Qi shared a glass of wine with his father and brothers, sharing the joyful encounters he'd had outside. The family was filled with joy.
Ming Qi finally spent the last day of the year at home.
Late at night, Ming Qi sat in the small courtyard, deep in thought.
He couldn't sleep, for he already felt a vague sense of unease. Although his family hadn't said anything, he keenly sensed that something had happened.
Could it be that someone from the Bai Mansion had been there?
Then why were there no traces of cultivators outside the village?
He could see a glimmer of worry in his father, brother, and brother's eyes; his sharp eyes couldn't hide that.
Da Bai lay crouched beside him, his eyes fixed on the surroundings, as if danger could erupt from the silent wilderness at any moment.
After a long silence, Ming Qi extended his right hand, flicked his fingers, and several pills leaped out.
"Marrow cleansing, meridian cleansing, wisdom awakening and spiritual connection!"
As he spoke, Ming Qi enveloped the pills in a layer of innate energy and pushed them in front of Dabai's tiger head.
Dabai roared, opened his bloody mouth, and swallowed the pills whole.
After swallowing a few pills, Dabai immediately prostrated himself on the ground, motionless.
Ming Qi put his right fingers together, and a stream of innate energy slowly flowed out, directly assisting Dabai in refining the pills.
Ming Qi's goal was simple: he couldn't stay home forever, so Dabai was the only force capable of protecting the village. He had to help Dabai increase his strength as much as possible. Only when Dabai was strong enough could he venture out without worry.