Aspiring to the Immortal Path

Chapter 347: To Take a Concubine

Though the visit had been sudden, the servants of the estate were very experienced and had managed to swiftly arrange everything.

Third Steward Zhu Qing personally welcomed them at the gate. After passing through two more gates, they entered the reception pavilion, where Zheng Shufeng was waiting with Wei Tianchong, Shi Meng, and the other high-ranking members of the estate. As for Wei Danbai, he wanted to seem more impressive, so he was seated with the venerable master and venerable lady at the main table in the back of the pavilion.

This maintained his dignity as the current master of the Wei Estate while also displaying his respect toward Tang Jie. It had all been carefully thought out.

Upon seeing Zheng Shufeng, Tang Jie came forward and bowed. “Tang Jie pays respects to the lady.”

He then bowed toward Wei Danbai’s group. “I pay my respects to the venerable master, the venerable lady, and the master.”

“Oh my, hurry and rise. Why so polite?” Zheng Shufeng quickly stepped forward and helped Tang Jie up. “You are no longer a servant, and you are also a master who cultivates Immortality. We mortals cannot accept this from you. We don’t deserve it.”

Tang Jie smiled. “My lady flatters me. Tang Jie has been able to get this far because the Wei Clan gave me an opportunity. No matter what, I would never dare to forget this, so I could not possibly dare to show disrespect toward the master and the lady.”

“It’s all in the past. Starting from now, we are family.” Zheng Shufeng smiled as she pulled Tang Jie toward the dining table. As for Wei Tianchong, she just left him there. She seemed more affectionate with Tang Jie than her own son.

Of course, Tang Jie knew that Zheng Shufeng did this on purpose in order to get into Tang Jie’s good graces. But he still couldn’t help but be a little moved.

She took Tang Jie to the main table, and the Wei Estate’s feast began. Servants flowed in with various gourmet dishes, and Zheng Shufeng began to busy herself with pampering Tang Jie, and even the inflexible Wei Danbai grabbed a few chopsticks of food for Tang Jie.

Tang Jie noticed that Wei Tianzhi and Wu Xing were not present, so he inquired as to where they were. Zheng Shufeng smiled and said, “They’ve gone to do business at Watcher River. They’ll probably be back in a few days.”

“I don’t see Sisters Yanzhi and Shi Yue, either.” Tang Jie noticed that Zheng Shufeng had changed out her personal maids.

Zheng Shufeng chuckled. “Isn’t that a rather silly comment? Girls eventually have to be married off, and keeping them at my side will only hinder them. Now that you mention it, I rather liked Yanzhi and Shi Yue, but I can’t hurt other families simply for my own sake. Come, eat. Try this fresh turtle and stewed eggplant. These are top-class products that were sent over from Xiacun a few days ago, and what little was available is all here…”

Tang Jie took a soft bite, and it truly was delectable.

Yes, he had been gone from the estate for eight years.

In the eyes of cultivators, eight years went by in the blink of an eye, but for mortals, eight years was a long time, so long that many things would have changed upon his return.

That Old Man Niu who had first welcomed him into the estate had passed away a few years ago. As for Wen Qing, he had gone out and become a minor steward and was married.

Wei Tianzhi had gone and gotten himself a wife not long after coming back: a daughter of Canglong Prefecture’s Zhou Clan. The Zhou Clan was one of the five big clans of Canglong Prefecture, their status a perfect match for the Wei Clan. With these two clans bonded in marriage, the Wei Clan’s power grew even more.

In comparison, Yanzhi and Shi Yue were very normal people. Unless Tang Jie said something so that Zheng Shufeng would keep them around, their families would marry them off when the time came.

Tang Jie asked about how the two of them were doing, and it seemed like Zheng Shufeng had been keeping tabs on them, as she had a keen understanding of their situation. According to her, Yanzhi had been rather lucky. While she hadn’t married some wealthy clan, it was considered middle-class. Most importantly, her husband treated her very well.

Shi Yue’s luck had been worse. Her husband was a gambling addict who had gambled away all their property. Zheng Shufeng sighed when she spoke of this, “When a husband was being chosen for her, that family had been rather thriving, and it didn’t seem like it would let her down. Who could have imagined… Ha!”

Tang Jie pondered these words before saying, “My lady, could you tell me where Shi Yue is living? When I have the time, I will go and take a look.”

Shi Yue was someone who had treated him well in the past. As he was now a person of some power and wealth, he had to go and help her out.

Zheng Shufeng could see what he was thinking, so she gave him the address. “It’s good that you want to help her, but remember to know your limits. Don’t go involving yourself too much. In some matters, it’s not proper for outsiders to meddle too much in someone else’s business. Over the years, I’ve given her some silver, but that gambling addict of a husband always managed to spend it all. It’s not that I don’t want to help her, but that I can’t.”

Tang Jie chuckled. “I understand. I am sure there is no one in the Wei Clan who does not accept my lady’s way of doing things.”

Zheng Shufeng rolled her eyes, and then she covered her mouth and smiled. “The problem is that there are always people who think a woman’s place is in the home, that women lack the experience and courage needed to do great things.”

Oh? Tang Jie was startled by these words.

Who dared to say this about the lady?

Following Zheng Shufeng’s gaze, he saw Wei Danbai turning pale. Tang Jie instantly understood that there was some marital strife going on. When he thought about it, he realized that Wei Danbai was the only person in the Wei Clan who would dare to say such things about his wife. The venerable master and venerable lady currently did not interfere with Zheng Shufeng.

Wei Danbai said nothing in response to Zheng Shufeng’s words, but the venerable lady sighed, “This again! The two of you are husband and wife, but you spend every day arguing. Even after Chong’er has come back for a rare visit, you still quarrel. Ah, forget it. In any case, this house is yours to manage, so we won’t ask any questions. Old man, let’s go back.”

The venerable master did not like to talk. With the support of their maids, the old couple departed.

Wei Danbai grunted, “Look at yourself! What’s the point in doing all this during a welcome banquet?”

Zheng Shufeng raised an eyebrow. “You’re even trying to control what I can say?”

Wei Danbai was left speechless with anger. After taking a few more bites, he left, and the mood of the welcome banquet turned sullen.

Zheng Shufeng didn’t seem to care, continuing to serve Tang Jie and diligently attend to him. Even Tang Jie couldn’t help but feel admiration for Zheng Shufeng’s patience. In this situation, he couldn’t remain silent, so he asked, “What is it that troubles the master and lady so?”

Zheng Shufeng casually replied, “It’s nothing, only the matter of Chong’er’s marriage.”

Steward Qin whispered something to him.

It turned out that even if Wei Tianchong hadn’t come back this time, the Wei Clan had been planning on having someone go and call him back. The reason was that Wei Danbai planned to find a woman for him.

Of course, Wei Tianchong was a cultivator, so he was bound to find a Dao Companion to serve as his main wife in the future. Thus, he could only take a concubine right now. The primary reason for this was so that he would leave behind a descendant. After all, the Immortal parth was dangerous, and there was no telling what might happen in the future. It was best for Wei Tianchong to leave behind a child while he was still in his ascending phase so that it could be raised up.

For a great clan, it was always better to have more sons. So long as a single son among many was talented, the entire clan had hope. For the Wei Clan patriarch to have only two sons was quite rare.

This was precisely why they needed Wei Tianchong to quickly take a concubine and father many sons that could be raised into more cultivators, thus solidifying the foundations of the clan.

In short, Wei Tianchong was being treated as a stud horse.

This had originally been a simple matter of finding someone to pair with Wei Tianchong so he could get his business done. But the Gu Clan of Canglong Prefecture somehow managed to hear of it.

The Gu Clan was one of the five great clans of Canglong Prefecture, their status even slightly higher than the Wei Clan. It was only after Wei Tianchong became True Inheritor that the Wei Clan’s prestige had managed to catch up within the last two years. After hearing the news, the Gu Clan immediately sent someone with a marriage proposal. The Gu Clan proposed for Wei Tianchong to take one of their daughters as a concubine and offered a rich dowry.

Wei Danbai had been rather tempted by the offer. In his view, this would give the Wei Clan another natural ally, and for great clans, the more allies, the better.

But this matter received Zheng Shufeng’s fierce opposition.

She felt that the Gu Clan’s reputation in Canglong Prefecture was just too awful.

Of the five great clans of Canglong Prefecture, the Jin Clan were sea traders, the Zhang Clan were officials, and the Wei Clan and Zhou Clan owned businesses. Only the Gu Clan relied on sucking the blood of others for its wealth. Though it was said that no local power managed to reach its level without sucking some blood, there were levels to it. A gangster clan like the Gu Clan, which ran casinos and pawn shops, made high-interest loans, and charged protection fees, was simply shameless and had probably driven numerous people to their death. Zheng Shufeng would never respect such a clan.

It wasn’t just her. Even the Jins, Zhangs, and Zhous did not respect the Gus.

A clan like this wanted to give their daughter to Wei Tianchong as a concubine? How could Zheng Shufeng possibly accept it?

It wasn’t that Wei Danbai didn’t know these things, but the Gu Clan’s conditions were so good that he couldn’t help but consider the offer. The two escort companies and the pawn shop they had offered alone were enough to tempt him. These were business fields the Gu Clan had kept a firm grip on, letting no one else touch them, but it was now offering the Wei Clan this opportunity.

Other people had to spend money to get a concubine, but his son could make money from taking a concubine and could even open up a new line of revenue. What could be better than that?

Husband and wife had argued over this for many days, and Wei Tianchong and Tang Jie had returned just in time to throw themselves into the vortex. This matter had been brought up now in the hopes that they would give their opinion.

Wei Tianchong’s opinion was the most important, and Tang Jie’s opinion could directly influence Wei Tianchong.

Now that he understood what was going on, Wei Tianchong jumped and said, “I’m not marrying her!”

Zheng Shufeng was extremely happy to hear this.

“I’m not marrying anyone!”

Zheng Shufeng’s face fell.

Steward Qin quickly came up and cautioned, “Youngest Master, don’t decide things based on emotion. As a member of the Wei Clan, you have a duty of leaving behind a descendant for the Wei Clan.”

“Isn’t there still Big Brother? Why do I need to do it?”

Zheng Shufeng replied, “That is different. Your elder brother’s aptitude is limited, and the Immortal path is not his destiny. You have currently shed your mortal body, so the children you father will only have a better aptitude. If the Wei Clan wishes to turn into a cultivator clan, it will need to depend on you.”

The Rosecloud Domain’s thousands of years of history had long ago proved that the children of cultivators had a better chance at a higher aptitude than mortal children.

A mortal clan that wanted to become a cultivator clan would need many workable talents.

Zheng Shufeng was undoubtedly treating Wei Tianchong as the cornerstone of the Wei Clan’s future, so she needed him to have many children.

But Wei Tianchong was still at the age where he enjoyed viewing the flowers but not plucking the fruit. He had no interest in becoming an outstanding stud horse.

Zheng Shufeng saw that he was determined, so she didn’t force him, only indifferently saying, “The clan expended quite a lot of silver for your cultivation. We ask for nothing else, only that you leave behind your bloodline to the Wei Clan, but I didn’t think that you wouldn’t agree to even this. Ah, it’s really as they say. Since ancient times, Immortals have always been the most callous. Once someone becomes an Immortal, they often cut off all emotions and desires, ceasing to care about their mortal families. Just like that flower on the tree, believing itself to be a noble existence and thus no longer caring about the mud of the mortal world or remembering the people who allowed it to be so high up.”

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Wei Tianchong’s face turned red. “Mom, what do you mean by this? I… I…”

That was all that he was able to say.

Zheng Shufeng rose. “There is no rush on this matter. Take your time to carefully think about it.”

With Zheng Shufeng gone, the other members of the Wei Clan began to disperse, and it was soon only Wei Tianchong’s group left in the courtyard.

Wei Tianchong was still in a gobsmacked daze, unable to understand how a visit home had turned into this. In the end, Tang Jie came and gave him a pat. “The meal’s over, so why are you still standing around?”

“Where… where do I go?” Wei Tianchong muddleheadedly asked.

“Let’s just take a walk around. After all, we’ve been away for many years. You don’t plan to go around and take a look? A lot of things have changed in the Wei Estate, you know,” Tang Jie profoundly said.

“Yes, a lot of things have changed,” Wei Tianchong sighed.

Thus, the three of them began to stroll around the estate.

The Wei Estate was very large, and there were pavilions and verandas wherever one looked. Occasionally, as members of the estate passed by them, they would bow to the group, and sometimes, they would speak among themselves in whispered tones.

“That’s the youngest master of the Wei Clan! I’ve heard he’s already shed his mortality and become an esteemed master! You really can’t tell.”

“Right, right! Those two next to him were apparently his servant students, but they’ve become esteemed masters too.”

“Doesn’t that mean that they’ve essentially ascended to become nobles?”

“Naturally. I’ve heard that the master and the lady are seeking out wives for them, but they still need to find someone to their liking.”

“Then you had better work hard. If that Young Master Tang takes a liking to you, you can just mention it to the lady, and the lady will definitely take you as her adopted daughter.”

“There you go with that smooth tongue of yours, you naughty girl. How could he possibly like me?”

But these words exposed her real thoughts, and all of them started laughing.

Wei Tianchong was very sullen. “It seems like it’s not just me. You two are also involved, but my parents won’t go against your will and force it on you… Hey, this isn’t right! I’m the young master, so why is it that I don’t get a choice while you can pick who you like?”

Shi Meng chuckled. “Who made the master and the lady your parents? Parents are supposed to arrange marriages for their son. There’s no place for you to make a decision here.”

Wei Tianchong’s face alternated between green and red. “In other words, I have to agree to my parents’ decision?”

“Not at all,” Tang Jie casually replied.

The two of them looked at Tang Jie, and Wei Tianchong urgently said, “Tang Jie, you aren’t saying that I should publicly defy my parents, are you? That simply won’t do!”

Tang Jie did not answer.

Standing beneath a mulberry tree, Tang Jie looked into the distance. There, lit up by lanterns, was the garden where he used to work.

As he looked there, he asked, “Young Master, have you ever thought about why you cultivate Immortality?”

“‘Why I cultivate Immortality’?” Wei Tianchong was startled.

Yes, why did he cultivate Immortality?

This was a question he had never really thought about before.

Long ago, he had once envied Immortals for their numerous powers and their ability to fly through the air and travel through the earth.

Once he started cultivating Immortality, this envy faded and receded, and at some point, even Wei Tianchong forgot why he wanted to cultivate Immortality.

Tang Jie said, “When it all comes down to it, the pursuits of cultivators boil down to only a few things. Whether it’s becoming famous throughout the world and enjoying the reverence of the common people, living as long as the world and gaining eternal life, or living a free life and roaming the world to one’s heart’s content, in the end, cultivators really cultivate Immortality for one thing… to follow one’s heart’s desire.”

“‘To follow one’s heart’s desire’,” Wei Tianchong and Shi Meng muttered in unison.

Yes!

Becoming famous or living an eternal life? Weren’t they all basically the same thing?

If one sought eternal life, did that mean that one did not seek freedom?

Tang Jie sought freedom, but did that mean that he wouldn’t like to live forever?

The essence of cultivating Immortality was ultimately to cultivate so that one could follow one’s heart’s desire!

If one became an Immortal but was still subject to the restraints and laws of the mortal world, what was the point?

Only by transcending mortal conventions could one become an Immortal!

Wei Tianchong finally understood what Tang Jie was getting at.

Cultivators had to do as their heart desired. How could they be bound by mortal rules!?

Zheng Shufeng had never cultivated Immortality before, so no matter how smart she was, she would never be able to understand this change in mentality. Most importantly, Zheng Shufeng was a woman, and more than that, a mother!

The latter decided her position toward Wei Tianchong. This was why she displayed respect for Tang Jie’s status but did not treat her son like a cultivator. For while Zheng Shufeng was clear-minded when it came to everything else, she had yet to wake from her mentality as a mother.

And Wei Tianchong had also not mentally shed his mortality. In his mind, Mortal Shedding was just a term, and so he failed to realize the power of his words.

To put it simply: the son had grown up and could already control the fate of others, but neither parents nor child had adapted to this change.

Tang Jie’s reminder had finally woken Wei Tianchong up.

His eyes suddenly flashed with a sharp light.

He nodded. “I know what I have to do.”

———————————————

The Wei Estate’s main hall.

Wei Danbai and Zheng Shufeng sat across from each other, neither of them saying a word.

They had just had an argument, and both of them were currently too angry to speak.

The two maids down below trembled in fear, not daring to say a word.

At this moment, a gust blew outside the hall, causing the lanterns to flicker.

It was a suspicious gust of wind, and as Wei Danbai and Zheng Shufeng were wondering what was going on, they heard a giant boom from outside.

The two of them saw that a large man made of stone had dropped from the sky.

The stone man’s large figure was currently down on one knee, and the gray paving stones had cracked under the impact.

It slowly stood up, turned its back to the hall, and then it kneeled. There was a sinister howl of wind, and then countless savage little monsters jumped up, jibbering and jabbering. Their appearance caused Wei Danbai and Zheng Shufeng to back away in fear.

But those little monsters moved to the sides of the path, forming two rows as if they were welcoming someone.

Something drifted out of the distance, like a tornado with a head and a face. This bizarre form had two arms made of wind that held aloft a rainbow cloud.

Standing atop this cloud was none other than Wei Tianchong. He was wearing a wide-sleeved robe and had a somber expression completely at odds with his unruly expression from before.

“Chong’er!” Wei Danbai and Zheng Shufeng shouted in unison.

Wei Tianchong waved his left hand, and the stone person walked forward and squatted down.

Wei Tianchong stepped off the cloud, using the stone man as a staircase to reach the ground. But his feet did not touch the floor, instead hovering three inches above it as he floated into the hall.

His parents were dumbfounded. Not even the esteemed masters hired by the household had ever used such methods or appeared like this.

It was only then that they realized that their son was no ordinary person, but someone who had come out of Basking Moon Academy. He was an existence many times stronger than those Mortal Shedding masters hired by the clan.

Wei Tianchong floated straight up to the principal seat in the hall, sitting down where his father had been seated before. He brought his hands together and saluted his parents, upon which he said, “Your son has considered Mother’s words from before and finds this matter to be improper.”

He didn’t use this grandiose arrival to reject his parents, but to flaunt his power and reset the impression he gave off. He then said, “To leave behind descendants to carry on the lineage of the Wei Clan is not wrong. However, as my elder brother still lives, the Wei Clan does not need to worry about not having descendants. Moreover, even if I must leave descendants, it must be someone that I have an affinity with. It cannot be hastily done through a word from my parents. As a cultivator, I have transcended mortal affairs and placed my heart on the Great Dao. The most important thing about my actions is that they cannot go against my Origin Heart. If a trifling affair like this leads me down the wrong path in cultivation, then my parents would have committed a grave sin.”

His parents were aghast.

Zheng Shufeng wanted to explain, but Wei Tianchong raised a hand and stopped her. He waved his hand, and two chairs automatically flew under his parents, upon which he said, “Sit!”

His parents immediately sat down.

Wei Tianchong went on, “I know that my parents are thinking of the long-term foundation of the clan, and the idea is not going too far. Thus, I have decided to use this visit home to take a good look at Canglong Prefecture. If there is a girl that I find likable, I will inform the two of you and make a marriage proposal. When the time comes, I will take good care of her, and if there is a child, that would naturally be wonderful. But if I do not find a woman to my liking, my parents, there is no need to worry. As I have already reached Mortal Shedding and entered through the Immortal Gate, my lifespan has increased such that it would not be strange if I lived for two or three hundred years. There will naturally be an opportunity to leave behind descendants.”

Wei Tianchong slapped his Mustard Seed Bag, and a bottle flew out.

Wei Tianchong pointed at the bottle, and two pills flew out of it and to his parents. The two of them took the pills as Wei Tianchong said, “Tianchong is deeply grateful for all that you have done to raise me. But on the Great Dao, there are many things that are not up to me, so I must ask for your forgiveness if I disobey you. These pills are Lifespan Extending Pills, which I have brought so that my parents may benefit from an extended lifespan and that I might live up to my filial duties. Please accept this humble gift. I have two other pills for my grandparents, which I will personally deliver.”

Wei Tianchong waved his hand, and the pill bottle flew back into his hand.

Wei Danbai still wanted to speak up, but Wei Tianchong was already rising to leave. “As for that Gu Clan, I know that you must have received some gifts from them. I will personally pay them a visit to explain the situation and withdraw from this engagement. Alright, let’s leave it here for now. If you have anything else to say, we can discuss it later.”

He floated out of the hall.

His parents were still in shock, blurting, “Farewell, Honored Immortal!”

It was only after these words left their mouth that they realized they were talking to their own son.