Chapter Twenty-One: Keeping One’s Promise

After Tang Wei left the space, she found the room empty and felt puzzled. "Is there really no one at home? That can't be! I’d better go downstairs to check."

In the old house downstairs, the family had gathered and were discussing whether to call the police. Tang Wei walked in, feigning ignorance, and said, "Oh! Everyone’s here?"

At once, all eyes turned toward her, full of inquiry and doubt, with a hint of reproach. Seeing her eldest sister about to scold her, Tang Wei quickly spoke before she could say anything, "I’m really sorry, everyone. My master suddenly summoned me for three months of training, so I had no time to explain and just went."

Tang Feng responded irritably, "You could have at least left a note! This keeps happening. None of us can get anything done; we just worry about you every day. Mom and Dad are getting old and can’t take this constant stress."

"I truly am sorry, Mom, Dad. I didn’t mean to worry you. My master has a strange temper; when he wants something done, he won’t wait a moment. This time, he directly used his power to take me away from my room. If this happens again, just treat it as normal," Tang Wei told a harmless lie, giving herself a way out in case it happened again.

Her mother replied understandingly, "It’s all right, it’s all right. People with great abilities tend to have tempers. Now that we know, if it happens again, we won’t be so startled."

"Mom, it’s not that you’re overreacting. I know you care about me and worry, and it’s my fault for not explaining things. I’ll try my best to ensure it won’t happen again. But if it does, it’ll only be because my master called me away and I couldn’t help it. Don’t worry, nothing will happen to me. My master left me treasures—on this earth, no one could harm me. Even if someone dropped an atomic bomb nearby, I’d still be safe!"

Before anyone else could react, the tense atmosphere was broken by Tang Jun, who burst out excitedly, "Sis, did your master really leave you treasures? Are they defensive artifacts? And did you spend three months at your master’s place?"

"Of course! The spiritual energy there is abundant—one day outside is thirty days inside. My cultivation advanced to the twelfth level in one go, and I’m just waiting for the chance to build my foundation. Then I’ll be able to use minor spells," Tang Wei proudly reiterated what Little Spirit had told her.

Listening to Tang Wei, Tang Jun gazed at her with envy. The others, though not as expressive as Tang Jun, still wore surprised looks. After a moment, Tang Jun asked curiously, "Sis, after building your foundation, can you fly on a sword?"

"Oh, that comes after reaching the Golden Core stage," Tang Wei replied, noticing her brother’s disappointed look. Not wanting to dampen his spirits, she promised, "Little brother, the most important thing in cultivation is perseverance. Are you losing confidence? Keep at it—if you reach the first level of Qi Refining, I’ll ask my master if you can train at his place for a while."

"Really? I’m falling farther behind you. I’m going to the back mountain to train right now. You all chat!" With that, Tang Jun hurried off.

Watching Tang Jun rush out, Tang Wei smiled, "So impatient." Then she turned to Tang Feng, "Sister, as long as you have enough money, hire someone to help at your shop and make time to cultivate. It’ll benefit you in the future. You wouldn’t want, decades from now, to have a face full of wrinkles and your chest sagging while I still look the same, would you?"

Seeing Tang Feng’s constipated expression, Tang Wei turned to her parents, "Dad, Mom, I hope our family can advance together. I don’t want to be the only one left, living alone. Even for the sake of seeing your grandchildren in the future, you should work hard at cultivation." After chatting for a while longer, everyone went home.

Over the next three months, Tang Wei cultivated harder than ever. The day after her disappearance, she entered the space and built her foundation, missing for another three days. But this time, she had informed her family beforehand and, to reassure Tang Jun, took the twins with her in front of everyone.

When she returned, she threw a giant water ball at Tang Jun, soaking him completely, leaving him frustrated and vowing to surpass her someday.

Tang Jun had now become obsessed with cultivation, spending every day either eating or training. This also influenced their parents, so every evening, the three of them could be seen sitting unmoving like statues on the back mountain. Fortunately, no one saw them, or others might suspect the family was possessed!

Tang Wei, meanwhile, busied herself with medicinal herbs, reciting their properties. Little Spirit would occasionally bring her a herb to familiarize herself with. Whenever Tang Wei discovered a new herb in the jade tablet, Little Spirit could find it in the space. According to Little Spirit, "Never mind these basic herbs—even immortal herbs, I can find. In that unopened space, there are even herbs billions of years old. I can show you some if you like!"

Three months passed, and the weather gradually warmed, with sunny days becoming more frequent. Tang’s father decided to have the valley’s wasteland cleared in a few days.

Just then, Tang Jun called from afar, "Sis, come check my cultivation. Have I reached the first level of Qi Refining? You promised to take me to your master’s place to train. Does that still count?" He finished speaking just as he ran up to Tang Wei.

Seeing his excitement, Tang Wei shook her head, slightly reproachful, "You’ve been training so long, but you’re still not steady. So impatient—cultivating like this, you could easily go astray. You need to work on your mindset." After a moment, she teased, "Are you worried I won’t keep my word? Wait a bit, I’ll take you tonight and talk to my master first." After confirming with Tang Wei, Tang Jun left, satisfied.

Tang Wei entered the space and discussed Tang Jun’s entry with Little Spirit, asking her to take on the guise of her master and guide him.

Little Spirit scoffed, "If it were really your master, how could he have so much time for a disciple’s relative? Sister, you’re too naive."

Tang Wei asked, "So what should we do?"

Little Spirit quickly came up with a plan, "I’ll just go myself. I count as your master’s attendant, so it’s not really deceiving him."

Tang Wei immediately flattered her, "Little Spirit, you’re so clever! What if I bring my parents in as well? They’ve been working hard, but their bodies are past the best age for cultivation. A better environment would help them more."

This tactic always worked on Little Spirit, who agreed readily, "Of course! They’re your parents, so I’ll treat them like my own. If they can’t keep up, you can give them pills from the alchemy room. When you learn to make pills yourself, you can boost their cultivation even if it’s not as effective as training, but it’s still progress!" Little Spirit’s suggestion made Tang Wei more determined to improve her own abilities.

That evening, Tang Wei gathered her parents in her room, telling them her master had agreed to let everyone train together. Holding hands and carrying the twins, all four flashed into the space.

Little Spirit was waiting at the cabin door. Seeing everyone arrive, she greeted them, "Sister, you’re here! Good evening, Uncle, Aunt, and Tang Jun. I am your sister’s master’s attendant. If you have any questions about cultivation, come to me. Master instructed you’re free to move within this array, but you can’t leave the space. There’s rice and vegetables in the storeroom; if you’re hungry, cook for yourselves."

At the storeroom, Tang Wei discovered something previously unknown: the boxes inside could hold vast amounts—each space inside was as large as a football field, the most remarkable feature inside the array.

After settling her family, Tang Wei went outside the array, brought in several buckets of spiritual spring water, explained its effects, answered Tang Jun’s endless questions, then handed the children to Little Spirit and went to meditate in the main hall.

These days, Tang’s parents would come out during the day and return to the space to train at night, never telling Tang’s grandmother for fear her old age might not handle it well. Instead, they diluted spiritual water for her, hoping it would improve her health.

Within just a few days, Tang’s parents reached the first level of Qi Refining, while Tang Jun attained the fourth level, thanks to his tireless, day-and-night meditation. With such diligence, perhaps one day he really might surpass Tang Wei.