Chapter 108: Parting Ways

By the hot spring, the two appeared to be casually catching fish with nets, ostensibly to test their flavor. In truth, they had conferred with Little Ling and were busily transplanting them in large numbers into the space. Naturally, they had thought it through thoroughly; to avoid suspicion, they placed a wooden bucket nearby with a few fish inside as a mere token. How many fish they had caught remained a secret known only to themselves—and to Little Ling, of course—but no one else suspected a thing. Watching their nimble movements, one might have thought they were merely playing around.

The representatives of the four great families and the four major sects had little interest in them at the moment. They busied themselves with tidying the ancestral remains, preparing to move them to their family tombs, a way of honoring their heritage. With everything arranged, their minds were filled with thoughts of the treasures left by their ancestors, leaving no room to pay attention to the others. By the time they had fully absorbed their newfound surprises and emerged, Tang Wei and Zi Xuan had already brewed a large pot of fish soup, eagerly awaiting the guests’ tasting.

Though the fish were strikingly beautiful alive, once cooked they resembled ordinary fish, with milky white broth and flesh. The soup’s aroma was richer than typical fish soup, undoubtedly, but as for the taste—only Xiao Xue had sampled it first. Don’t misunderstand! Tang Wei hadn’t used Xiao Xue as a mere test subject; rather, Zi Xuan’s animal companions were especially sensitive to food. They could tell at a glance whether something was edible, which made Xiao Xue the first “animal” to taste the broth and confirm its safety.

The enticing aroma made the group’s mouths water, but since the fish soup was prepared by their seniors, none dared to presumptuously ask for a taste. The elders, already at the stage of grain-restriction cultivation, were less demanding about food, though the scent still tempted them, their hunger was bearable. The others were less fortunate—their stomachs loudly protesting in reflexive grumbles, forcing them to linger awkwardly with reddened faces, enduring the torment silently.

Tang Wei, unwilling to tease them further—after all, they were well into their years and she wasn’t sure how much humor they could take—decided to end the matter gracefully. Smiling warmly, she invited, “Everyone, please come and have some soup! It’s hard to live on dry rations every day! We caught these fish just now out of boredom in the hot spring. Feel free to enjoy it! Xiao Xue has already tried it, so it should be safe.” As she spoke with enthusiasm, she worried they might hesitate to try unfamiliar fish, so she hastened to reassure them that the soup had been tested. Truly, a perfect image of a virtuous wife and caring mother—eminently suitable for marriage.

Despite Tang Wei’s invitation, the guests were dignified and would not humble themselves to be the first to sample the fish soup; that would be too much of a blow to their pride. Almost in unison, they declined, saying, “Please, seniors, enjoy the meal yourselves. Don’t bother about us—we’ll make do with dry rations.” Had they considered catching a few fish themselves? Likely, their time was spent training rather than in the kitchen. With meals served thrice daily, who bothered to learn cooking? As the ancients said, “A gentleman keeps away from the kitchen.” They certainly had no rush to learn culinary skills. Whether they could even start a fire was another matter.

Tang Wei could now understand Zi Xuan’s exasperated head shake—she herself was tempted to do the same. Did they not know the saying, “Pride leads to suffering”?

Zi Xuan, rolling his eyes at Tang Wei, chuckled and said, “Don’t be upset. Since the soup’s already made in such quantity, the two of us can’t finish it alone. And since you’re all here, it’s perfect—we get some help and avoid wasting this fine fish broth.” Such a thing in the world? Food that must be begged for three times before anyone eats? She was truly enlightened.

Fortunately, Patriarch Xuanyuan was more easygoing and stepped forward to express thanks. “Thank you very much, seniors. The aroma alone has made my mouth water! Now I finally get to taste it.” Once the first person broke the ice, others followed suit, setting aside pride and sitting down after a few polite exchanges.

Tang Wei wisely avoided prolonging the topic, fearing someone might wish to disappear into the earth. She quickly retrieved disposable bowls and chopsticks from the space, serving each guest a bowl. Surprisingly, the fish soup carried a faint trace of spiritual energy, enhancing its fresh and savory taste. With no more coaxing required, everyone began eagerly ladling the steaming broth into their bowls. Such exquisite flavor, undoubtedly heightened by the spiritual essence infused within, deserved no less.

As they savored the hot fish soup, each person carried the treasures left by their ancestors stored safely in their pouches. Gentle smiles gradually blossomed on their faces, as they felt how wonderful life could be—no longer needing to vie for fame or fortune, no longer calculating each other’s moves. Simply sitting together peacefully, sharing fish soup, was itself a form of happiness.

Perhaps sensing each other’s genuine smiles, the families that had long argued now met with calm, sincere gazes. In their eyes, there was no longer calculation, no deceit, no greed—only heartfelt honesty. Whether this transformation was the magic of the crystal fish or an inherent awakening, none could say. Perhaps it was a divine chance to cleanse their souls.

Tang Wei seized the moment, hoping to unite everyone. After all, Earth’s strength was clear—if they did not work together to uncover the cause of the spiritual energy anomaly, they would remain trapped forever in this realm. Otherwise, like their ancestors, they would be forced to abandon their descendants and embark on solitary journeys.

“Your ancestors united to dwell in this small world, striving to break through to the Golden Core stage, hoping to escape their plight sooner. We cultivators focus foremost on our cultivation, constantly battling ourselves, the environment, and the heavens, yearning to reach perfection and ascend to the immortal realm. Yet you place fame and fortune above all else, scrambling and fighting over petty gains, harming fellow cultivators. Being the first family or sect—what does that matter? Do you think attaining such status grants enlightenment without effort? If this continues, in hundreds or thousands of years, there will be no more cultivation families or sects. You will have become mere elites of society, commanders in the political arena.” Tang Wei spoke without hesitation, though she secretly wondered if others would mock her for her own lax cultivation habits.

Had these words come from Zi Xuan, they might have seemed more natural. Unexpectedly, Tang Wei displayed such profound insight, truly earning respect—a rare moment of brilliance. Of course, it would be more convincing if she practiced what she preached.

Zi Xuan gazed at her with disbelief, as if meeting her for the first time, causing Tang Wei’s cheeks to flush and heart to race. She hurriedly ended the discussion and withdrew.

The leaders and elders of the families, unfamiliar with Tang Wei, took her words as sincere counsel. They began reflecting on their past deeds with regret and guilt, feeling they had failed their ancestors’ earnest hopes. Someone broke the ice by admitting fault and pledging to cultivate seriously, enforcing discipline among their disciples. One by one, others followed. What began as an unintentional gathering turned into a sort of self-examination meeting. Whether their words were heartfelt or borne of circumstance, only they knew—and the heavens.

Regardless, it was a promising start. After the hot spring gathering, everyone tacitly agreed to preserve the place. On departure, they activated the four great arrays, leaving the spiritual stones and sword formations untouched. Tang Wei had feared they might never see such a pristine spot again, and that the crystal fish would become extinct. Unexpectedly, they had united in protecting it—an uncommon consensus.

How had their ancestors’ remains stayed here so long? They had left such treasures—at least provide a safe resting place!

Tang Wei, however, took credit for the change, thinking to herself, “So my words did have some effect! Look how much better they are already. Definitely thanks to me!” She smiled smugly, and Zi Xuan, though aware of her thoughts, chose not to expose her.

With the positive atmosphere established, the journey down the mountain was accompanied by laughter, a stark contrast to the cold remarks on the ascent. With companions to share smiles, the trip was far less dull. Soon, the group safely reached the foot of the mountain.

Since the matter was resolved, there was no need to return to the Xuanyuan residence. They decided to part ways here, each returning to their respective domains. As for the Xuanyuan household’s other retainers, a single communication talisman sufficed—no worries there. After exchanging a few words, they went their separate ways.

The Shi family had no reason to stay. Tang Wei did not keep them; after all, Shi Zaitian had obtained the ancestral treasures and needed to return home to prepare for the family’s future. Tang Wei could not interfere too much—though she could assist, the Shi family had its own legacy. Naturally, Shi Zaitian preferred restoring the family’s former glory rather than becoming an accessory to Tang Wei.

In the end, only Zi Xuan and Tang Wei accompanied two Xuanyuan members back to their estate. Though the affair was concluded, Tang Wei and Zi Xuan did not return to the Tang family immediately; she still owed fifty pills and could not flee. Moreover, her little scamp was still causing trouble elsewhere and needed to be brought home promptly.

Unexpectedly, these small delays would lead to even greater troubles for the two of them—but that is a tale for another time.