Chương 206: Gifts

I blinked awake to early morning sunlight filtering through the window. For a moment, I just lay there, listening to the familiar sounds of the village coming to life, roosters crowing, distant voices calling greetings, the rhythmic clacking of Father's loom from the workshop below. My body felt refreshed despite my late night. After the festival had wound down, while my parents slept, I'd spent hours in deep meditation, trying to unravel the mystery of the blood statue in my inner world.

"Good morning, Master," Azure's voice echoed in my mind.

"I trust you slept well despite our midnight explorations?"

"As well as can be expected when you're poking at potentially dangerous blood essence artifacts until the early hours." I swung my legs over the side of the bed, reflecting on our frustrating lack of progress. The blood statue remained as enigmatic as ever, clearly powerful, definitely connected to Ke Jun's blood essence that had merged with my body, but stubbornly inactive despite all my attempts to channel energy into it.

We'd tried everything we could think of, but nothing had provoked even the slightest response. We weren't even sure what awakened it last time.

"Any new insights about our mysterious statue friend?" I asked Azure as I began dressing in my sect robes, now fully dry and neatly folded by Mother.

"Nothing conclusive," Azure admitted.

"But I've been reviewing the energetic resonance patterns we observed. There are similarities to certain activation sequences used in blood arts from the Northern Continent."

"Northern blood arts?" I paused, my robe half-fastened.

"That's unusual for the Eastern Continent." That was interesting. Most cultivators, even powerful ones, tended to remain within their continental territories unless specifically seeking something. Travel between continents was both difficult and politically complex, with each major power maintaining tight control over their borders. If Ke Jun had connections to the Northern Continent...

"We can look into blood arts discretely when we get back to the sect," I decided, completing my dressing. The words felt strange in my mouth. Whilst most types of demonic cultivation were merely frowned upon, blood arts were universally regarded as the most forbidden branch of demonic cultivation, a path so tainted that even mentioning academic interest could raise suspicions.

Many cultivation authorities claimed blood techniques fundamentally violated Heaven's Law, corrupting the natural order by forcibly extracting and controlling the essence of living beings. I had no intention of becoming a blood arts cultivator, the path was too dangerous, both in terms of cultivation deviation and the lethal response it would provoke from righteous sects if discovered. But gaining some knowledge about blood techniques might be the only way to understand and control the statue in my inner world.

It seemed like the most logical next step, regardless of the taboo surrounding it.

"The sect library's restricted section would have such texts," Azure suggested cautiously.

"Though accessing them would require either special permission or... alternative methods."

"We'll cross that bridge when we come to it," I replied, thinking about Elder Chen Yong and his more relaxed stance on demonic cultivation.

"For now, it's time to join my family for our final breakfast together before we get on the road." The smell of cooking food wafted up from below, and my stomach rumbled in agreement.

"There he is," Father smiled as I entered the main room. He sat at the table, sipping tea while Mother tended to the cooking fire.

"We were beginning to think you'd sleep through breakfast."

"And miss Mother's cooking? Never," I replied, sliding onto the bench across from him. Mother turned, wooden spoon in hand, her expression warm.

"Good morning, Yin. Did you sleep well after all that excitement?"

"Like a rock," I confirmed, which wasn't entirely true. Between my attempts to control the blood statue and the fear that it would summon a portal and drag me through, my sleep had been fitful at best. But there was no need to worry her.

"The celebration was something, wasn't it?" Father said, refilling his tea cup.

"I don't think the village has had such a festival since the provincial governor visited fifteen years ago."

"And even then, he didn't make trees grow from his hands," Mother added with a proud smile, setting a steaming bowl of rice porridge before me.

"Half the village children slept with those little trees by their bedsides last night." I felt a flush of warmth at the thought.

"It was a simple technique, really."

"Simple for you, perhaps," Father chuckled.

"For the rest of us, it might as well be magic from the storybooks." The breakfast was simple but delicious: rice porridge with preserved eggs, pickled vegetables, and steamed buns filled with sweet bean paste. As we ate, the conversation flowed naturally around village gossip, the success of the festival, and reminiscences about my childhood. Or rather, the original Ke Yin's childhood.

"You're quiet this morning," Mother observed.

"Are you thinking about your journey back?"

"Among other things," I admitted.

"I've been preparing some parting gifts for you both." Father raised an eyebrow.

"Gifts? You've already given us the greatest gift by returning home safe and sound."

"Nevertheless," I said, reaching into my storage ring.

"I have a few things that might help while I'm away." I produced a small pouch and set it on the table. The clink of spirit stones was unmistakable as they shifted inside the silk container.

"First, this," I said, passing the pouch to them.

"Three hundred spirit stones." Father's eyes widened. Even Mother looked shocked, her hand freezing halfway to her teacup.

"Yin," Father began, his voice hushed.

"That's... that's an enormous sum. We couldn't possibly—""It's not as much as it seems," I said, though that wasn't entirely true. For a regular outer disciple, it was indeed a significant portion of their resources. But as a Level 2 Formation practitioner, it would be very easy to earn it back, without even leaving the sect.

"And it's not just for you to keep. It serves a purpose." I stood from the table.

"Come outside. I want to show you something." Curious, they followed me out the front door. Once outside, I pointed to the ground around our home.

"Do you see anything different about the yard?" They looked around, puzzled expressions on their faces.

"It looks... tidier?" Mother ventured. I smiled and knelt down, brushing away a thin layer of dirt near the corner of the house to reveal a faintly glowing line etched into the soil.

"Yesterday, while in between helping with festival preparations, I drew a formation around our home. It's called the Symphony Shield."

"A formation?" Father knelt beside me, examining the revealed line with fascination.

"Like the ones cultivators use for protection?"

"Exactly," I nodded.

"It runs in a full circle around the house and yard. When activated, it will create a protective barrier that can repel most common threats such as wild animals, bandits, and even some lower-level spirit beasts that might wander too close to the village." Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original. I traced the formation line with my finger, channeling a small amount of qi into it.

In response, the entire formation briefly flickered into visibility, a complex network of interconnected lines and symbols forming a perfect circle around our property.

"Incredible," Mother breathed, her eyes wide.

"The formation runs on qi," I explained, standing up and dusting off my knees.

"The spirit stones I gave you can be used to power it. I've already filled the formation's core with enough energy to last several weeks of passive protection, but if you ever need to activate its full defensive capabilities, you'll need to add more." I led them to a small stone post I'd installed near the back door. It was unremarkable to look at, but etched with activation runes.

"If danger approaches, place a spirit stone here and channel your intent into it. You don't need cultivation abilities, the formation is designed to respond to even a mortal's focus. The barrier will activate immediately and remain in place until the threat passes." Father ran his hand over the post, marveling at the craftsmanship.

"And you did all this... yesterday?"

"I started during the preparations and finished before I went to sleep," I admitted.

"It's not my most elegant work, but it's sturdy and reliable."

"Our son," Mother said, tears welling in her eyes, "protecting us even when he's far away."

"That's not all," I continued, leading them back inside. Once we were seated at the table again, I produced a small wooden box from my storage ring and set it before them.

"These are Blood Replenishing Pills," I explained, opening the box to reveal six small, red pills nestled in individual compartments.

"Three for each of you. They're primarily designed for cultivators who've lost blood in battle, but they have beneficial effects for mortals as well." I picked up one of the pills to demonstrate.

"Taking one of these will strengthen your physical constitution, improve your blood quality, and slow the aging process slightly. For Mother, it will also support the baby's development and make the birth easier when the time comes." Mother's hand instinctively went to her stomach.

"Is it... safe for the baby?"

"Completely," I assured her.

"In fact, it's specifically beneficial. The pill will help ensure the child receives all the nutrients they need, resulting in stronger bones and organs."

"And you're certain these won't have any... strange effects on us?" Father asked, examining one of the pills with cautious interest.

"We're not cultivators, after all."

"These are basic enough that they're completely safe for mortals," I said.

"They're actually sometimes prescribed for the elderly relatives of sect disciples. Think of them as very potent medicine rather than cultivation resources." I didn't mention that I'd carefully selected these from my personal supply, choosing the gentlest formulation available. Most cultivation pills would indeed be dangerous for mortals, potentially rupturing their inactive meridians, but Blood Replenishing Pills were among the few exceptions.

"I recommend taking one now, and saving the others for when you feel particularly tired or unwell, or in Mother's case, as the pregnancy progresses," I advised.

"I'll bring better, more specialized pills when I visit next." Mother took one of the pills with reverent care.

"How do we take it?"

"Simply swallow it with tea," I instructed.

"You might feel a warming sensation throughout your body as it takes effect. That's normal." They each took a pill with their tea, expressions changing to surprise as the medicine's effects began to spread through their systems.

"It's... pleasant," Father commented, sounding surprised.

"Like sunshine flowing through my veins." Mother nodded in agreement, her eyes brightening.

"I feel more awake already. And the baby..." she placed a hand on her stomach, smiling.

"The little one seems happy too. More... active."

"The pills will strengthen you both for months to come," I said.

"And there's one more thing about the spirit stones I should mention. If you ever need regular currency, silver or gold, you can take them to any major city. Any reputable merchant house will exchange them, though I'd recommend going through the Ming Trading Company if possible. They offer the fairest rates for sect-associated families."

"Sect-associated?" Father repeated.

"Yes," I nodded.

"As the family of an Azure Peak disciple, you're entitled to certain considerations. It's not much at my current rank, but it does include fair exchange rates and a basic level of protection if you identify yourselves properly." I produced a small jade token and handed it to Father.

"This identifies you as my family. If you ever need assistance while traveling, especially near Azure Peak territories, show this to any sect patrol." Father turned the token over in his hands, examining the simple but elegant carving of Azure Peak's mountain sigil.

"You've thought of everything, haven't you?"

"I try," I smiled, though inwardly I knew these preparations were barely adequate. In an ideal world, I'd have placed much stronger protections around them, perhaps even moved them directly into my inner world where they'd be truly safe. But such measures were beyond my current abilities.

"One last thing about the spirit stones," I added.

"The pouch contains far more than you'll need for the formation. Use them for yourselves as well. Whether it's for the move we discussed, for preparing for the baby, or simply to make your lives more comfortable. I want you to have them."

"Yin," Mother said, her voice thick with emotion.

"This is too much."

"It's not enough," I countered gently.

"But it's what I can offer for now. As I advance in the sect, I'll be able to provide better resources, better protections."

"We don't need luxury," Father said, placing his hand over mine.

"Knowing you're safe and thriving is wealth enough for us."

"Speaking of thriving," I said, shifting the conversation to ease the emotional weight.

"Have you given more thought about when you'd like to move?"

"We could be settled in a few months, before winter hits," Father mused, already planning.

"I'll need to apprentice Li Jing properly before we leave, the boy has potential as a tailor, and the village shouldn't be left without one."

"And I'll need to teach Tang Yu my recipes," Mother added.

"Especially my medicinal teas. The poor girl still doesn't know how to brew a proper cold remedy." As they began discussing the practicalities of the move, I felt a deep sense of satisfaction. This was one problem solved, one vulnerability addressed. Having them closer to Azure Peak would make it easier to visit and protect them, while the enhanced spiritual environment near Three Rivers would give them longer, healthier lives even without cultivation abilities.

The morning passed in this way: sharing the meal, discussing future plans, and enjoying the simple pleasure of family conversation. But eventually, the time came when I could delay no longer. The Azure Peak team would be assembling soon for our departure.

"I should prepare to leave," I said reluctantly, as the morning sun climbed higher in the sky. Mother's eyes welled with tears, though she quickly blinked them away.

"So soon?"

"The team leaders decided we should depart by midday," I explained.

"We have a long journey ahead."

"Of course," Father nodded, though disappointment was clear in his expression.

"Your duties call. We understand." As Mother left to pack some food for the journey, Father drew me aside to the workshop.

"I have something for you as well," he said, reaching beneath his cutting table. He withdrew a carefully wrapped bundle of midnight-blue fabric.

"I finished it late last night." Unwrapping it revealed a sleeveless inner robe made of tightly woven silk, with subtle protective sigils embroidered along the collar and cuffs. It wasn't a cultivation treasure by any means, but the craftsmanship was exquisite.

"It's reinforced at all the crucial points," Father explained with a big smile.

"The thread count is three times normal, and I used the special weaving technique passed down through our family. It's not spirit cloth, but it's the finest I can make with mortal materials." I ran my fingers over the fabric, feeling the tight weave and perfect stitching.

"It has a peculiar resonance," Azure noted.

"The pattern of the weave creates natural energy channels. Your father may have inadvertently recreated a simplified version of ancient cultivation wear designs." That was fascinating. Perhaps there was more to our family's tailoring traditions than met the eye. Could some of Ke Jun's knowledge have been preserved, transmuted into seemingly mundane craft techniques that survived the generations?

"It's perfect," I told Father, genuinely touched. I removed my outer robe and slipped the new inner garment on beneath my sect uniform. The fit was impeccable but not surprising, as Father had been taking my measurements since childhood.

"Keep it close to your skin," Father instructed.

"The fabric adapts to your body heat, becoming more supple and responsive over time." Again, that sounded remarkably like cultivation garment principles. I wondered if Father even realized the significance of what he was describing. When we returned to the main room, Mother had finished her preparations. The food bundle was wrapped in oiled cloth to keep it fresh, and she'd added a small packet of her special tea blend which was another comfort from home.

"It's almost time," I said, noting the sun's position through the window. For a moment, we simply stood there, the reality of parting hanging heavy in the air. Then Mother stepped forward and pulled me into a fierce embrace.

"Be safe," she whispered, her voice catching.

"Practice your techniques diligently, eat properly, and don't forget to take a sweater when you travel to colder regions." I couldn't help but smile at her very motherly concerns, as if I were going off to school rather than returning to a cultivation sect.

"I will, Mother."

"And write to us," she continued, pulling back to cup my face in her hands.

"I know message talismans are expensive, but surely the sect allows some correspondence."

"I'll send word regularly," I promised.

"Especially once you're ready to move." Father stepped forward next, embracing me with surprising strength.

"We're proud of you, son. Not just for your cultivation achievements, but for the man you've become." Even knowing I wasn't truly their son, their love felt real and precious.

"I'll continue to make you proud," I said, meaning it more than they could know.

"The village will miss its hero," Father said as we stepped outside.

"I'm no hero," I demurred.

"Just a cultivator doing his duty."

"Tell that to the children who slept with your flower trees beside their beds," Mother smiled, though her eyes remained damp.

"Or to Elder Wu, who's already composing a song about 'The Immortal of Floating Reed Village.'" I groaned.

"Please tell me you're joking."

"I wish I were," she laughed.

"He was practicing verses at the well this morning." The thought of becoming part of village folklore was both amusing and slightly mortifying. In my previous life, I'd been a nobody, just another face in the crowd. Now I was apparently being immortalized in folk songs. The cultivation world truly was strange.