Chapter Sixty-Six: Returned

Zichen Yu pulled up his trousers as he walked back. Seeing Chao Xiong conversing with Dao Sansheng, he approached to greet them. “Young Master Dao, now that your friend is here, may I be excused?”

His airy greeting left Chao Xiong dumbfounded, his astonishment plainly written on his face. Wasn’t this Young Master Zichen Yu, the very one from the wanted notice? If he reported him to the Zi family, the reward would be enormous. What luck! The person he had just been thinking of had appeared before him, making it harder not to get rich.

Chao Xiong discreetly whispered his intention to Dao Sansheng, who immediately burst out laughing. “Chao Xiong, let’s not worry about the reward this time. I only hope that when Young Master Zi returns, he’ll remember what I’ve said. And if I ever need your assistance, you must help me.”

“I wouldn’t dare refuse. Everything you’ve said, I’ll do,” Chao Xiong replied, bowing and taking his leave.

The three-headed spirit hound pulled the carriage away, with Zichen Yu and Steward Liu seated inside. Dao Sansheng turned to Chao Xiong, “I’m going to consolidate my cultivation. Find something to occupy yourself; I’ll be off.”

With Dao Sansheng gone, Li Zihong also departed, leaving Chao Xiong standing there, confused and at a loss.

Back in his room, Dao Sansheng finally found tranquility. He sat in meditation, preparing to enter a state of cultivation. “Master, I’ll return to the gourd now. Call me if you need anything. Casting that spell has left me exhausted—I’ll need two days of deep sleep,” said the spirit, vanishing at once.

In meditation, Dao Sansheng sensed that some of his meridians were slightly fractured. As expected, the full-force palm strike from a Foundation Establishment master was not something an ordinary person could withstand; he had truly injured his core this time.

The spiritual energy in the room slowly gathered around him, his body emitting a gentle white glow as the meridians began to repair themselves. But the damage to his foundation would not heal quickly; it could only be nursed over time, unless he obtained some rare treasure or a renowned elixir.

Meanwhile, Zixian City was in chaos. A carriage drawn by three-headed spirit hounds rushed from Qiuchi City toward Zixian City, now crossing the bridge between the two. The scenery along the creek was as beautiful as ever, but no one paused to admire it; everyone was busy searching within the city.

At the checkpoint outside Zixian City, the spirit beast carriage halted. Four disciples of Zixian Palace and more than a dozen city guards stood at the gate. The disciples, clad in the outer sect’s attire, immediately approached for inspection.

“Passengers, please step out. We are disciples of Zixian Palace. All passing vehicles must be checked—these are special times, with demon spies about. We ask for your understanding,” the leading disciple announced, waving his hand and giving no time for a reply. The guards swarmed forward, brandishing magical implements and surrounding the carriage.

Steward Liu was about to speak when Zichen Yu, inside the carriage, could no longer contain his anger. It had been a day of misfortune: first that humiliation at the hands of that brat, and now being surrounded by his own people. The more he thought about it, the angrier he became.

“Who’s in charge here? If I, Zichen Yu, can’t enter Zixian City, then who can?” he bellowed, climbing out of the back of the carriage.

The disciples immediately recognized the familiar face—wasn’t this the very young master from the wanted notice? A face not easily forgotten by cultivators. Yet, contrary to the notice, Zichen Yu was unharmed and clearly not captured by demons.

“Reporting to Young Master, I am the officer in charge here,” said a man in the yellow robes of a Zixian Palace outer disciple, stepping forward.

“So it’s you!” Zichen Yu strode up and slapped him across the face, finally venting his anger. The man clutched his cheek, not daring to protest.

Seeing this, the others quickly removed the stones blocking the checkpoint, signaling for Zichen Yu to pass.

He climbed back onto the spirit beast carriage with Steward Liu, heading straight for the city’s southern district.

After they left, a few disciples gathered, fuming at the scene. Just as one was about to speak, the leader stopped them. “Quickly report this—while there’s still time, let’s claim the reward. This little injury of mine is nothing, just a flesh wound.”

One of the disciples immediately took out a sound transmission talisman to inform the elder and the head of the Zi family.

The carriage sped through the city streets, paying little heed to pedestrians, nearly running some down. But Steward Liu wasn’t concerned; he was focused on returning and reporting the events to the master.

“Steward Liu, let’s discuss what to say to my father when we get back,” Zichen Yu spoke from within the carriage, prompting the steward to slow down.

“Young master, just report directly to the patriarch. I believe the family can resolve this little trick. The strongest experts in the continent are all at Zixian Palace now; there’s nothing they can’t accomplish.”

Steward Liu’s words were clearly the result of deep thought along the way.

“Nonsense! If they can’t resolve it, we’ll both be dead. You saw that boy’s methods yourself. So you’ll report as I say to my father: say we encountered demon spies and that he planted a seed in our consciousness. Don’t mention that he can control us. If the family can help us remove it, we’ll follow their lead. If not, we’ll never reveal the truth.”

Steward Liu pondered for the time it takes half a stick of incense to burn, then agreed. The carriage was nearing the gates of the Zi estate.

In the Zi estate’s main hall, three middle-aged men sat in silence, receiving sound transmission talismans from the air, listening to their subordinates’ reports, too preoccupied even for tea.

Suddenly, the second brother burst into hearty laughter, waving a talisman in his hand. “Eldest brother, third brother, there’s news of our nephew! I just received word—he’s crossed the bridge from Qiuchi City to the southern part of Zixian City and will be home soon! Ha ha ha…”

Zi Fancheng, elated, rushed over to take the talisman, listening to it again and again, a constant smile on his face. He hurried toward the inner courtyard, eager to tell his wife the good news and ease her worries.

The spirit beast carriage stopped at the front gate. As Zichen Yu and Steward Liu stepped down, a crowd surged forward. A matron embraced Zichen Yu, unwilling to let go, while the others gathered around.

“All right, all right, let’s let Zichen Yu rest. We’ll hear what happened in the parlor. He must break his soul tablet,” Zi Fancheng said, gently pulling the matron aside.

Surrounded by family, they entered the main hall. Once everyone was seated, Zi Fancheng stood at the center, with Steward Liu beside him.

“Steward Liu, tell us what happened on your journey with Zichen Yu,” Zi Fancheng said, drawing the gaze of everyone in the hall.

“Father, allow me to speak. Steward Liu is injured internally—he won’t recover for a year or more and needs rest. Let me recount our story to you, uncles, and father,” Zichen Yu volunteered.

No sooner had he spoken than the matron stood up, moved. “Zichen Yu is right—you have suffered so much.”

“It’s all your spoiling!” Zi Fancheng snapped at his wife, his anger flaring. Zichen Yu had been coddled since childhood, which led to his notorious reputation in Zixian City and, ultimately, to the day’s misfortune.