Immortal of the Nine Realms

”Feel free. I have no plans to head into the Forbidden Zones in the coming years, so the Nine Realm Expedition Team won’t be conducting any explorations,” said Fang Chen. ”Since you are at the sixth transformation, joining other expedition teams as a temporary member won’t be hard. I can introduce you to a few core disciples if you’d like. You can see who plans to head out soon and follow them.”

With that, he gave Old Sheng several names. Old Sheng was overjoyed and hurried to commit them to memory.

”By the way, where is Little Sword? She isn’t with you?” asked Fang Chen casually.

He tried to sense her location, but he quickly discovered she wasn’t nearby at all. She was back at the Enlightenment God Palace.

”She said she was going to visit those core disciples because they give out very delicious treasures,” Fang Xiaohua couldn’t help but giggle. ”How can treasures be as tasty as noodles?”

Fang Xiaotian rubbed her nose. At least eating treasures bolstered Little Sword’s cultivation. What did eating noodles do? Increase your weight?

Fang Chen let out a soft sigh.

The core disciples of the Enlightenment God Palace all knew the Yuan Magnetic Five Elements Divine Sword was his spiritual treasure, so they would show her some respect. With her mingling over there, she wouldn’t be in any real danger, so he decided to leave her be for now.

Fang Zhixue and the others prepared to go consult Yu Tiange and his crew about the business of expedition teams.

Fang Zhixue waved. ”Sister Tian’ai, hurry up and follow us!”

Jiang Tianai was somewhat reluctant to leave. She shot a look at Fang Chen and said, ”I’ll be heading off with Sister Fang then.”

Fang Chen nodded with a smile. ”If you reach the Ascension Realm, do not casually consume immortal herbs. You have your own path to walk.”

Jiang Tianai’s expression steeled with determination, and she nodded solemnly. ”I understand.”

Once they had departed, avatars condensed around Fang Chen with a thought. They glanced at him before walking off in the direction Fang Zhixue and the others had gone.

Fang Chen gazed toward the secluded cultivation chambers where Fang Tianzun and Fang Xuanyang were staying. After a few moments of silence, he transformed into a streak of light and flew toward the Dongsheng Empire.

***

Dongsheng Empire, Peach Blossom Village.

This place was located in some remote area, over a hundred miles from the nearest county. Consequently, the villagers of Peach Blossom Village rarely made the trip to the city for supplies. Normally, the nobles from the county wouldn’t visit, but when the season arrived, and the peach blossoms bloomed across the mountains and fields, many aristocrats would come to enjoy the flowers.

During those times, Peach Blossom Village would be at its liveliest. A villager could make a tidy profit just by selling simple snacks.

On this day, the peach blossoms were in full bloom. The usually quiet village was growing boisterous, with elegantly dressed nobles visible everywhere.

Fang Chen walked along the village’s main road. Sounds of drinking games from roadside taverns filled his ears, as did the laughter of children playing in the streets and the cries of street vendors.

At that moment, the cry of a newborn infant drifted out from a nearby house.

”It’s a girl! Congratulations to the master of the house!”

”Congratulations, my foot! How is it another girl?! This is infuriating!!”

A middle-aged man sat squatting in a corner, brooding. From time to time, he slammed his fist against the wall in frustration. The midwife looked on awkwardly and could only muster a few more platitudes before asking for her money and making a quick exit.

”Daddy, Daddy! Do we have a little sister now?”

Seven or eight girls came running over. The eldest was in her teens, while the youngest was only four or five. Overwhelmed by irritation at the sight of them, the middle-aged man stood up and stormed off without a word.

Seeing that, the girls hurried into the room. Inside, a pale-faced woman cradled a newly washed infant in her arms. The baby didn’t cry or fuss, quietly nursing instead.

The youngest girl asked curiously, ”Mother, is this our sister?”

The eldest daughter, already quite sensible, looked at her mother’s exhausted state and seemed to want to say something, but held her tongue.

”This is your sister. Keep your voices down, don’t scare her,” whispered the woman, forcing a faint smile onto her face.

The little girls stood by quietly, watching.

A moment later, an old woman leaning on a cane marched into the room. Her expression was grim. At the sight of her, the young girls all showed looks of terror, bowing their heads and not daring to make a sound.

The girls’ mother looked at the woman and forced a smile. ”Mother.”

The old woman squinted, casting a cold, disdainful glance at the infant. ”Another girl?”

The mother gave a weak nod. ”...Yes.”

”Useless thing! How can all of them be girls? Is my Wang Family meant to have its lineage cut off?!” The old woman suddenly shrieked.

She swung her cane, aiming a blow at the woman’s chest. ”Better to send her on her way now than to waste good rice on her!”

Her face was twisted and hideous.

The mother gasped and reflexively raised her arm to block the blow. She expected sharp pain, but when the cane landed, it felt strangely light, as if it had no weight at all.

The mother was surprised, but she quickly gathered herself and said as she shielded the baby, ”Mother, the Dongsheng Empire has laws, and Peach Blossom Village is no different. If you kill someone, you’ll have to pay with your life.”

”You can’t even produce a son, and yet you have the nerve to lecture me?” The old woman’s face darkened. ”Fine. I shall immediately arrange another marriage for my son. You’ll just have to press your thumbprint on the divorce papers. Don’t say the Wang Family is forcing you. It’s your own fault you can’t drop a ’dragon egg.’ This house doesn’t have enough rooms, nor enough rice to feed all of you.”

”This is something for my husband to decide,” said the mother in a low voice.

”He’s too ashamed to say it himself, so I’m saying it for him. Do you understand now? The Wang Family has been a single-line succession for generations. We absolutely cannot let it end here. If you have any pity for us mother and son, do us a kindness and let us go. How about it?”

The old woman’s tone turned eerily calm.

The woman seemed to guess that this was indeed her husband’s intent. A dismal smile spread across her pale face, and she simply nodded, speaking no more. Seeing that, the old woman let out a cold snort and turned to leave, without sparing even a glance at her granddaughters in the room.

As she brushed past Fang Chen, it was as if he didn’t exist at all. She didn’t sense him in the slightest.

Fang Chen had watched this drama play out from beginning to end. If he hadn’t subtly interfered just now, Little Yu would have been ”sent away” the moment she was reincarnated.

***

Days passed slowly, one by one.

The peach blossom season was drawing to a close, and Peach Blossom Village gradually returned to its usual tranquility. Fang Chen arrived at a local tavern, asked the shopkeeper to warm a pot of wine, and began to drink, accompanied by a small dish of roasted broad beans.

The regulars at that tavern were usually villagers looking to relax after farm work, along with a few scholars who had spent their lives studying scriptures in hopes of passing the imperial exams. However, the latter were rare in Peach Blossom Village, only about a dozen or so.

The shopkeeper, surnamed Li, was nicknamed ”Big Mouth Li” because of his penchant for gossiping. Seeing that the tavern was relatively quiet, Big Mouth Li grabbed a handful of melon seeds and started chatting. His gaze drifted toward a newly opened tofu workshop across the street.

He chuckled. ”Wang Sanpao’s ex-wife is something else. After being kicked out with seven or eight girls, she was still able to open a tofu shop to feed all those mouths. She’s a lot more resilient than a lot of men I know.”

Someone added with a mocking laugh, ”Wang Sanpao is a fool. He blames his wife for not having a son? I heard the new one he married from the neighboring village, Butcher Liu’s daughter, is built like an ox. When she’s unhappy, she thrashes him. His eyes were bruised blue a few days ago. I asked what happened, and he said he just fell! Hahaha!”

A burst of raucous laughter erupted in the tavern.

Fang Chen smiled along and looked toward the tofu workshop across the way. The woman had her several-month-old infant strapped to her back and was working hard. The daughters who had been kicked out of the Wang Family with her were sensible. They all helped out where they could.

At that moment, the infant on the woman’s back was curiously scanning her surroundings. Suddenly, her eyes met Fang Chen’s, and she let out a series of giggling sounds.

Fang Chen smiled. Feeling unusually mischievous, he made a funny face at her. The infant froze for a second, then let out a sudden, loud wail.

Fang Chen blinked, stunned by the reaction. He quickly lowered his head and went back to his wine and broad beans.