Chapter 122: Journey to Heshan Huang Clan, Reunion with an Old Acquaintance

"Daoist Wei, the year is up. Shall we depart today?" Huang Changkong paid no attention to the reactions of the Mei father and daughter. After reprimanding Mei Yuanfeng, he directly turned to Wei Tu to ask about his plans. A year ago, he had accompanied Wei Tu to Nanhang City. Now, the time had come to leave. Wei Tu didn’t say much. He glanced at his children, who had reluctant expressions, then nodded. "Farewell, in-law." Mei Yuanfeng, while still shocked by the importance the Heshan Huang Clan placed on Wei Tu, quickly composed himself and bid him farewell. "Father, may your path in immortality be everlasting." Wei Yan and Wei Xiuwen knelt and kowtowed as they said their goodbyes. They were already in their seventies, and although living in Baishi Lake Marketplace kept them safe from battle and bloodshed, allowing them to live out their natural lifespan, the reality was that once separated, they would have fewer and fewer chances to see Wei Tu in the future. This was something they had already anticipated. From now on, their meetings would be few and far between. Every time they saw each other might be the last time. "Enough of this foolish sentiment. Once you two reach Foundation Establishment, there will be plenty of time to reunite with me." Wei Tu’s face was stern as he reprimanded them. He had given the Demonic Soul Foundation Establishment Method not only to Wei Fei and Fu Zhizhou but also to Wei Yan and Wei Xiuwen. At their current age, they still had fifty years before reaching one hundred and twenty years old. In that span of time, with his capabilities, obtaining two Condensed Foundation Pills was not difficult. Back then, when he had allowed Wei Yan and Wei Xiuwen to fend for themselves after reaching Xiantian Realm, it was because he had no means to support them. But the situation had changed. Now that he was at Foundation Establishment, acquiring two Condensed Foundation Pills was an easy matter for him. For Wei Yan and Wei Xiuwen, these pills would be crucial. As their father, since he had the ability to help, he naturally wouldn’t stand by idly. With both the Condensed Foundation Pill and the Demonic Soul Foundation Establishment Method, their chances of advancing, though not as high as his own had been, would far exceed those of ordinary rogue cultivators. Leaving Nanhang City, Wei Tu and Huang Changkong traveled westward. After nearly a month of traveling, they finally arrived near the border of Zheng Kingdom, where they saw a towering, mist-shrouded mountain range piercing the clouds. "This is Yunhe Mountain, home of my Huang Clan. Our family name is tied to this place." "Beneath this mountain lies a mid-grade third-rank spiritual vein. It is the foundation of our Heshan Huang Clan’s Golden Core lineage." As the two stopped their flight, Huang Changkong sent a transmission talisman to the clan while proudly explaining the advantages of their territory to Wei Tu. As they conversed, a graceful woman holding a white jade formation disk emerged from the misty mountains. "Third Uncle, Daoist Wei." The woman greeted them with a bow. "This is my clan’s second young mistress, Huang Caiyu. Decades ago, she was married to a member of the Zheng family, but they were incompatible and later divorced. Now, she lives alone." Huang Changkong sent a voice transmission to Wei Tu, his tone filled with amusement. Over the past year, he had observed Wei Tu’s character and knew that he was a man of deep emotions. Now that Wei Tu’s wife had passed away, and Huang Caiyu happened to be single, he saw this as a perfect match, and he was more than happy to play the role of a matchmaker. "Daoist Huang, you jest." "I have no plans for remarriage at the moment." Wei Tu shook his head, politely declining Huang Changkong’s suggestion. He had no interest in forced pairings. Still, as he spoke, he unconsciously took a glance at Huang Caiyu. She appeared to be in her early thirties, her dark hair elegantly pinned up, her features delicate yet mature, exuding an air of refined beauty. She possessed a charm that was different from that of a young maiden—she was elegant and poised, carrying a subtle, almost melancholic allure. "Daoist Wei, my clan has a third-rank protective formation. Without the guidance of a formation disk, one cannot enter." Huang Caiyu infused spiritual energy into the white jade formation disk, which instantly emitted a soft, pale glow, parting the thick mist covering Yunhe Mountain, revealing a wide path. Following the guidance of the formation disk, the three of them moved along the winding mountain roads, passing several lakes and valleys before finally arriving at the Huang Clan’s ancestral grounds. Along the way, Huang Changkong, as Wei Tu’s escort, began introducing him to the general structure of the Heshan Huang Clan. As a Golden Core clan, the Huang Clan was home to two Golden Core Patriarchs and fifteen Foundation Establishment cultivators. Among these fifteen Foundation Establishment cultivators, three were guest elders, just like Wei Tu. Each of these guest elders had a special skill—one was a puppet master, one was an artifact refiner, and one was a formation master. Wei Tu was not surprised by this arrangement. Foundation Establishment clans recruiting Foundation Establishment rogue cultivators was often to ensure the family's security—an extra cultivator meant extra strength. However, Golden Core clans did not have this concern. As long as their Golden Core Patriarchs remained, even if their middle-ranking cultivators perished, the family’s foundation would not be shaken. Therefore, a Golden Core clan would only recruit Foundation Establishment cultivators who possessed specialized skills—cultivators who could bring tangible benefits to the clan. "Our Huang Clan originally had a second-rank talisman master, but unfortunately, he passed away from old age eighty years ago…" Huang Changkong sighed. "With Brother Wei’s arrival, our clan will no longer lack second-rank talismans." He chuckled. With the foundation of the Heshan Huang Clan, nurturing a second-rank talisman master wouldn’t have been difficult. However, a second-rank talisman master wasn’t a vital asset to a Golden Core clan. Rather than spending decades training one from within, it was often more cost-effective to recruit one externally. —Cultivating the next Golden Core cultivator was the true priority of the Huang Clan. Wei Tu had already demonstrated his talent in talismans back during his Qi Refinement years, having successfully drawn high-grade first-rank talismans. Such an exceptional talent only needed slight cultivation to easily reach the second rank. The Huang Clan’s estate was situated halfway up Yunhe Mountain, resembling a fortress-like city. In terms of scale, it was no smaller than Danqiu Mountain. Like Danqiu Mountain, the lower slopes had been cultivated into vast spiritual fields, where spiritual grains and low-grade medicinal herbs were grown by the Huang Clan members. The mountaintop, however, was dotted with several extravagant cave residences, each exuding an aura of grandeur and luxury. Wei Tu speculated that these mountaintop residences likely belonged to the Golden Core cultivators of the Heshan Huang Clan. The only major difference between Yunhe Mountain and Danqiu Mountain was the presence of mortals. From the moment they set foot in the Huang Clan’s domain until they reached the Clan Affairs Hall, Wei Tu saw many mortal clansmen of the Huang family walking the streets, tending to their daily businesses. There was an undeniable atmosphere of mortal life here. "Unlike sects, families do not separate immortals from mortals. These mortals are all our kin." Huang Changkong explained. At that moment, as they moved along the streets amidst the bustling crowd, Wei Tu suddenly heard someone calling out behind him. "Uncle Wei? Uncle Wei Tu?" The voice was somewhat familiar. As soon as the words "Uncle Wei Tu" were spoken, Wei Tu became certain that someone was calling for him. He stopped in his tracks and turned to look. A few steps away, an elderly man with graying hair was pulling along a sturdy, honest-looking young boy, hurrying toward him. "Huang Peng?" Wei Tu narrowed his eyes and examined the old man calling his name. After a moment of recollection, he finally remembered who he was. "I never expected… The Huang Clan of Qingmu County and the Heshan Huang Clan… actually share the same bloodline…" Wei Tu sighed inwardly. This Huang Peng was none other than the son of his cousin, Huang Yuanshan. Back when he served as a military officer in the mortal world, his second aunt, Wei Hong, had often brought her grandson, Huang Peng, to visit the Wei residence. Spring, summer, autumn, and winter—it had been a regular occurrence. Because of that, after so many years of visits, he had developed a familiarity with Huang Peng. Now that Huang Peng had appeared at Heshan Huang Clan, he didn’t need to guess—he could already tell that Huang Peng was a descendant of the Huang Clan’s main bloodline who had, for some reason, been relocated to Yunhe Mountain. "Uncle Wei! It really is you! I wasn’t mistaken! How did you end up in the Huang Clan?" Huang Peng’s voice carried undisguised astonishment. As far as he knew, the Heshan Huang Clan, being a Golden Core family, was highly exclusive to outsiders. Only those who received a formal invitation from the clan were allowed entry. And the only outsiders they ever invited were Foundation Establishment cultivators. But… Could Uncle Wei have reached Foundation Establishment? After a brief moment of thought, Huang Peng found the idea impossible. Back when the Wei and Huang families had parted ways, Wei Tu had already been over forty years old. There was no way he could have reached Foundation Establishment in just sixty years. "What’s this? Daoist Wei has ties to the mortals of my Huang Clan?" Huang Changkong was visibly surprised at the interaction. He had originally been considering arranging a marriage between Wei Tu and Huang Caiyu, using marital ties to permanently bind Wei Tu to the Heshan Huang Clan. However, to his great surprise, Wei Tu already had familial ties to their clan. "My second aunt married into the Huang family as a concubine…" Wei Tu explained. "Ah… So that’s the connection." Huang Changkong laughed heartily upon hearing this and then explained how Huang Peng had ended up in Yunhe Mountain. The reason was rather straightforward. It all traced back to the war between the Chisong Jia Clan and the Qiyue Zhao Clan many years ago. The Heshan Huang Clan had always maintained a strong alliance with the Qiyue Zhao Clan. To protect their mortal kin from reprisals, the Heshan Huang Clan had sent cultivators to relocate their scattered mortal descendants to Yunhe Mountain, where they could be safely resettled. Coincidentally, Huang Laoye, Wei Tu’s uncle by marriage, was a descendant of the Heshan Huang Clan, and thus, he too was among those who had been relocated to Yunhe Mountain. "Grandmother’s memorial tablet is at home. If Uncle Wei has time, you’re welcome to come pay respects." Huang Peng, though suppressing his excitement, spoke up after Wei Tu and Huang Changkong finished their conversation. From Huang Changkong’s words, he had realized something shocking—Wei Tu was now a Foundation Establishment cultivator. A figure who, in Yunhe Mountain, was far beyond his reach. "Of course." Wei Tu nodded. The past misunderstandings between him and his second aunt, Wei Hong, had long been resolved. Paying respects to one’s elders was only natural. "This is my address. You are welcome anytime, Uncle Wei." Huang Peng took the initiative, leaning forward and handing Wei Tu a small wooden plaque with both hands. Wei Tu accepted the plaque and responded with a simple “Alright.” "Chengfu!" "Hurry up and greet your granduncle!" At that moment, Huang Peng nudged the honest-looking youth beside him and scolded him lightly. It had been more than sixty years since their families had last met. If they didn’t take the opportunity to acknowledge their ties now, they might never get another chance. "Granduncle…" The youth, Huang Chengfu, immediately dropped to his knees and performed a three-kneel, nine-bow ritual before Wei Tu. Seeing this, Wei Tu felt a surge of emotions. More than eighty years ago, when his cousin Huang Yuanshan was ashamed of his status as a servant, he had avoided acknowledging their family ties. Even later, when Wei Tu had become a military officer, Huang Yuanshan’s attitude remained reluctant at best. But now… Huang Yuanshan’s son and grandson were going out of their way to cling to this connection, fearing that Wei Tu might reject them instead. "Fate truly works in mysterious ways…" Wei Tu sighed inwardly. After a moment, once Huang Chengfu had completed the ritual, Wei Tu let out a small sigh and acknowledged their ties once more. Even setting aside his relationship with his second aunt, Wei Hong, there was another simple fact—he was now an elder of the Heshan Huang Clan. And with that status, he couldn’t ignore this familial bond. By recognizing it, he was no longer just an outsider to the Huang Clan cultivators. Instead, he became a relative—someone tied by marriage to the Heshan Huang Clan. "After all these years, reuniting with family is a joyous occasion." Huang Changkong chuckled. Meeting an old acquaintance in a foreign land—this was one of the four great joys in life. And today, Wei Tu hadn’t just encountered an old friend—he had reunited with kin. After parting with Huang Peng and his son, Huang Changkong continued leading the way, bringing Wei Tu to the Clan Affairs Hall to handle residence registration and other formalities. "Guest Elder Hall." Half an hour later, after completing the necessary procedures, Wei Tu left the Clan Affairs Hall and headed toward the Guest Elder Hall, where the Huang Clan’s recruited Foundation Establishment cultivators resided. Like the Clan Affairs Hall, the Guest Elder Hall was located in the core region of Yunhe Mountain, where the spiritual energy was rich and abundant thanks to the presence of a mid-grade second-rank spiritual vein. "Are you Talisman Master Wei?" Just as Wei Tu arrived at the entrance, a woman in a pink dress emerged from the Guest Elder Hall and greeted him with a slight bow. "I am Huang Yuer, the steward of the Guest Elder Hall. I am responsible for managing daily affairs for Talisman Master Wei and the other esteemed elders." Huang Yuer introduced herself politely. The Guest Elder Hall was built in the style of a large courtyard complex, featuring both a front hall and inner courtyards. At the back, there were five small private residences, each designed for an individual guest elder. Glancing over, Wei Tu immediately noticed that three of the five residences had their formation barriers activated. Which meant—three guest elders already occupied those residences. "They must be the other three guest elders recruited by the Huang Clan…" He thought to himself. "Talisman Master Wei may freely choose any of the available residences." "Once you’ve settled in, if you require any furnishings or supplies, you may inform me." Huang Yuer stopped walking and gestured toward the two remaining unoccupied courtyards. "As for the other three guest elders, there will be a clan gathering in three years. At that time, they will emerge from seclusion, and you will have the opportunity to meet them." Noticing Wei Tu’s curiosity, Huang Yuer added this detail. "A gathering in three years?" Wei Tu quietly noted the date. "I’ll take this courtyard." Wei Tu pointed to the most secluded of the two remaining courtyards. Whether it was drawing talismans or cultivating, he preferred a quiet environment. "Now that Talisman Master Wei is settling in, you may also choose a new name for your courtyard." Huang Yuer reminded him. Renaming the guest elders' residences helped strengthen their sense of belonging—this was a practice the Huang Clan had maintained for centuries. "That won’t be necessary." Wei Tu shook his head, rejecting the suggestion. He pointed at the plaque above the entrance of his chosen courtyard and smiled. "This ‘Fuxin Residence’ must have belonged to the previous talisman master recruited by the Huang Clan. The name is fitting, so there’s no need to change it." The name "Fuxin Residence" (Talisman Heart Residence) served as a constant reminder. It warned him that if he ever grew complacent, he might end up just like the previous talisman master—an elder who eventually withered away in Yunhe Mountain, dying of old age. But unlike his predecessor… Wei Tu had no intention of spending his entire life within the Huang Clan, nor did he plan to grow old and die in Yunhe Mountain. Previous Chapter || Next Chapte