Chapter 83: Chapter 83: Meeting the Daughter-in-law

After returning to Cyan Rain Mountain, Li Hengsheng pondered over and over again and decided that he needed to test this matter regarding Li Changqing.

The letter previously written to Li Changqing was torn up by Li Hengsheng, who then wrote a new one.

In the letter, Li Hengsheng recounted the recent events, and added a line at the end.

Dad, you said you miss Mom, I miss her too.

I still remember my fourth birthday when you made fried shrimp for me, and Mom peeled shrimp for me by the side. Life felt leisurely and warm, and I was really happy that day.

I often dream about this scene.

Dad, do you remember that day?

I want to eat the fried shrimp you make.

Next time I return, make it for me, okay?

“Uncle Xu, please help me send this letter home.” Li Hengsheng handed the letter to Xu Kui.

Li Hengsheng’s gaze gradually grew solemn; he wanted to see how Li Changqing would reply.

If this person really is his father, he will surely notice the glaring flaws in the letter.

One is that he cannot eat shrimp.

The other is that he has never seen his mother since childhood.

Let alone his mother peeling shrimp for him.

And if this person isn’t his father, then he surely won’t catch this flaw.

The sentence he wrote in his last letter was certainly a test too.

Li Hengsheng’s thoughts were in disarray.

Changting Town.

These days, the whole situation in Changting Town has become very ambiguous.

Every day, people from various families come to deliver gifts to the Yan family, and the gifts are very valuable. Even Bai Jingfei and Zhao Yiqiu have come to visit the Yan family.

The implication in their words is one of flattery.

Clearly, they’re frightened.

But the Yan family seemed indifferent, only the elders of the Yan family received them, yet they dared not complain.

Even powerful figures like Ma Sandao had perished at the Yan family, so killing them would be like child’s play, wouldn’t it?

“Chief Offering, everyone has visited these past few days, not only those who gathered before but also the families of Changting Town and some nobles have come bearing gifts, it seems they are genuinely scared.”

Yan Botao stood there reporting to Li Changqing.

Li Changqing held Ah Fei in his arms and nodded: “It’s about time, then we should start getting prepared.”

“Yes, I’ll start taking action now.” Yan Botao felt a surge of joy in his heart.

A flash of excitement appeared in his eyes; the day has finally come.

Just as he was about to turn and leave, Li Changqing spoke: “Let’s not rush.”

“Chief Offering, is there anything else to instruct?”

Yan Botao turned around and asked in surprise.

Not seizing this opportunity to implement the plan, waiting is not good, is it?

“I heard from the Yan family that the martial arts you cultivate is called the ’Long Eagle Skill,’” Li Changqing said.

“Yes.” Yan Botao nodded: “My martial arts insights come from a painting in our Yan family called ’Tiger and Eagle Map,’ drawn by a high-level painter. Our Yan family acquired it for a large sum many years ago.”

“Hmm.” Li Changqing said slowly: “You’ve been at the Postnatal Peak for a long time, it’s time to advance to the Innate, otherwise how will you hold down the Yan family in the future, as the future Yan family won’t be the same as it is now.”

“Innate?” Yan Botao’s eyes lit up.

In the entire history of the Yan family, only one Innate has emerged.

Yan Botao found it extremely difficult to advance from the Postnatal Peak to the Innate Realm; he had never held out much hope, but Li Changqing’s words gave him hope.

Li Changqing took out a wood carving and placed it on the table.

The wood carving depicted a great roc.

Its massive wings blocked out the sun, and the sea waves beneath it seemed so diminutive under those wings.

Just a glance at this wood carving made Yan Botao feel an uncontainable sense of grandeur in his chest.

The Long Eagle Skill instantly stirred.

Yan Botao could hardly control his hand from reaching out to grab the wood carving.

In Yan Botao’s eyes, that great roc grew larger and larger, and he felt as if he stood on the vast ocean, looking up to see the roc soaring nine miles through the sky.

Its wings swept across the stars, and the boundless aura made one want to kneel and bow in worship.

When Yan Botao came back to his senses, he found himself drenched in sweat, the wood carving already in his hand.

“This…”

Yan Botao hadn’t expected to lose control and take the wood carving, hastily apologizing to Li Changqing.

“No harm, it was meant for you.” Li Changqing waved his hand.

“The Yan family wishes to go further, and your current strength is insufficient.”

“Only when you break through to the Innate Realm can the Yan family develop.”

Li Changqing had recently made some long-term plans for the Yan family.

Though the Yan family was just a small-town family in a place like Changting Town, such small families were easier to control. Bigger forces were less suitable for Li Changqing’s growth.

The stronger the power, the greater the ambition, and Li Changqing feared being quietly eliminated.

“Thank you, Chief Offering, for the treasure. With it, I will certainly step into the Innate quickly.” The excitement in Yan Botao’s eyes was unmistakable as he couldn’t wait to rush back and comprehend the treasure.

He had long reached the Postnatal Peak but had been a step away for many years, considering the high-level painter’s work might offer a chance at Innate, but his aptitude was just shy of reaching that level.

Unless he obtained a work by the Painting Saint, he stood no chance.

But for the small Yan family, obtaining a Painting Saint’s work would be a fool’s dream.

“Hmm, return now.” Li Changqing waved his hand.

“Yes!”

Yan Botao left quickly.

Soon after, Yan Botao entered seclusion, telling others not to disturb him.

At this point, nothing was more critical than Yan Botao’s breakthrough to the Innate Realm.

Three days later.

At dusk, Li Changqing received a letter from the Mountain Ancient Land.

Faced with his son’s letter, Li Changqing eagerly opened it to read.

The letter was filled with recent happenings, passing the first level of the Nine-Layered Battle Pavilion, practicing spear arts, and preparing to challenge the Ten Thousand Beasts Collection.

These details made Li Changqing’s lips curl into a smile.

His son truly had made him proud.

First on the Mortal Realm ranking.

To Li Changqing, it felt like his child was telling him he’d gotten first in his grade. Only parents would understand this kind of joy.

Besides, Li Changqing had never experienced such joy in his previous life.

After every parent-teacher meeting, he was the one who stayed behind to be reprimanded.

He was frequently called to school to be criticized.

First in grade?

Heh, it’s not that Li Changqing looked down on his son, but even if you placed the answers on his desk for him to copy, he wouldn’t manage first place.

Li Changqing read until the end, reaching the passage written by Li Hengsheng.

“Fried shrimp?”

Li Changqing laughed to himself, “I’m very good at that dish.”

“But in the end, it didn’t say whether Li Changqing’s wife was dead or if they had separated.” Li Changqing couldn’t find the answer he wanted in the letter.

“According to the letter, when Li Hengsheng was four, his wife was still around.” Li Changqing pondered for a long time but made no headway.

Even so, he took out paper to write back to Li Changqing.

The reply mostly praised his son’s excellence, congratulating him on taking the first step to becoming a strong warrior.

He assured his son not to worry about him, to focus on cultivation in the sect, and not to rush back, as everything was well with his father.

At the end of the letter, Li Changqing wrote, “When you return, Dad will make your favorite fried shrimp for you.”

After finishing the letter, Li Changqing placed it in a drawer, planning to send it with the help of the Yan family people the next morning.

The sky gradually darkened.

Li Changqing went to bed.

Although with Li Changqing’s current Divine Soul strength, not sleeping wouldn’t matter, he had long been accustomed to sleeping. Besides, there was nothing to do if he didn’t sleep.

Everything in this world was fine, except there were no phones to play with or short videos to watch.

So he went to bed early.

Soon, Li Changqing’s breathing became even, and he fell asleep.

At midnight.

Li Changqing faintly heard someone calling him.

“Senior, senior…”

The voice was very soft.

But Li Changqing indeed heard it.

Soon after, Li Changqing’s consciousness sank into his Divine Soul, where the Divine Soul Lake remained calm. At this moment, Li Changqing noticed a young girl standing on the opposite side of his Divine Soul Lake.

That girl was dressed in a white dress, barefoot, watching him.

The girl, appearing fifteen or sixteen years old, was pure and lovely. Yet despite this, something was still amiss.

“Who are you? How did you enter my Divine Soul’s realm?” Li Changqing said vigilantly.

Having someone invade his Divine Soul was no small matter!

“Is Senior Li Changqing?” The girl’s voice was ethereal, and at this moment, even her form seemed to tear, as if it might collapse at any moment.

Only then did Li Changqing realize that the girl before him was merely a wisp of a Divine Soul.

But this wisp was evidently at its limit, liable to disintegrate at any moment.

“Yes, how do you know me?” Li Changqing thought carefully, certain he didn’t recognize the girl before him.

“That’s great.” The girl’s face lit up with joy, then she breathed a sigh of relief, respectfully saying, “Junior Lu Qiaoqiao, a junior sister of Senior Brother Li Hengsheng.”

“Lu Qiaoqiao?”

Li Changqing immediately recalled hearing from Xu Muhai about the child taken away by the Ghost Race.

Was she his son’s… secret crush?

Li Changqing’s curiosity was piqued as he sized up the girl before him.

Hmm, she met the standards.

Polite and courteous.

Didn’t look like a troublemaker.

The voice was pleasant.

Li Changqing nodded, fairly satisfied.

But then it struck him, wasn’t Lu Qiaoqiao supposed to have been taken away?

How did she suddenly appear in his Divine Soul?

Could it be a dream?

Seeing the confusion on Li Changqing’s face, Lu Qiaoqiao calmly explained, “Senior must be puzzled how, taken by the Ghost Race, I appear here?”

“A little puzzled,” Li Changqing admitted truthfully.

“I’m indeed in the Long Night Ancient Kingdom in the Cloud Wasteland,” Lu Qiaoqiao explained, “I inadvertently acquired a Painting Treasure, through which I can seek the vicinity of the Mountain Ancient Land.”

“In the ancient kingdom, I obtained this Painting Treasure, infused it with my Divine Soul, and using the Qishan Order as a medium, I sensed the presence of those who had come in contact with it.”

“There should have been four people who touched the Qishan Order: one has died, one is me, another is Li Hengsheng, and the last should be you, Senior.”

“So I came looking for you, Senior.”

Lu Qiaoqiao truthfully recounted the situation to Li Changqing.

“Then why not directly seek my son?” Li Changqing asked in surprise.

“Well…” Lu Qiaoqiao smiled wryly, “Of course, I wish to find Senior Brother Li, but the distance from the Cloud Wasteland is too vast. The Painting Treasure, though magical, exhausted my soul to its limit just reaching here. Senior Brother’s soul is too weak for contact; luckily, your soul, Senior, is strong enough for me to appear.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep