Chương 350: Mortal Pride, Immortal Path

The next morning, a sharp knock on my door yanked me from a deep, dreamless sleep. I bolted upright, instantly alert, my hand instinctively channeling qi. Old habits died hard, even in the relative safety of the sect.

"Who is it?" I called, my voice still rough with sleep as I swung my legs over the side of the bed.

"Ke Yin!" a familiar voice responded, one I hadn't expected to hear yet.

"It's Liu Chang. There are some people here who've traveled a long way to see you." My heart skipped a beat. Could it be? I'd estimated at least another day before they'd arrive. I hastily pulled on my outer disciple robes, ran fingers through my disheveled hair, and took a quick moment to splash water on my face from the basin.

"Coming!" I called, moving quickly to the door. I pulled it open to find not just Liu Chang's towering figure, but exactly who I'd hoped, my parents standing beside him, with Su Yue smiling quietly from behind them.

"Son!" My mother's face lit up, her eyes instantly filling with happy tears. She looked tired from the journey but radiant with joy, her simple traveling clothes dusty from the road. Her pregnancy was more visible now, a small but definite curve to her abdomen. My father stood beside her, one protective arm around her shoulders, his face breaking into a smile that erased decades from his appearance.

"Yin," he said simply, his voice thick with emotion. For a moment, I froze, overwhelmed by a surge of complex feelings.

"Mother! Father!" I finally exclaimed, stepping forward to embrace them both. My mother felt so small in my arms, fragile compared to the cultivators I usually interacted with. My father's frame was sturdy but entirely mortal, lacking the subtle reinforcement that even the lowest level of cultivation provided.

"You made it," I said, pulling back to look at them properly.

"I wasn't expecting you until tomorrow at the earliest." Liu Chang chuckled.

"Your parents are more resilient travelers than expected. We made excellent time once we cleared the Dark Thorn Wolves from the northern road." My father nodded proudly.

"Your mother set a pace that had even these cultivators impressed."

"Nothing would slow me down when it came to seeing my son," Mother said, her eyes still drinking in the sight of me as if confirming I was real. Her gaze sharpened suddenly.

"You look different. Stronger somehow." I smiled, touched by her perceptiveness. Even without cultivation, she could sense the changes in me.

"I've had a breakthrough in my cultivation recently."

"Breakthrough is an understatement," Su Yue commented wryly, her spiritual sense picking up my new aura.

"Your son has advanced to the Ninth Stage of Qi Condensation, just in time for the tournament." My parents' eyes widened, though I knew they didn't fully understand the significance. To them, cultivation stages were abstract concepts, markers on a path they couldn't walk themselves.

"Is that... good?" my father asked hesitantly.

"Very good," Liu Chang confirmed with a nod.

"It means your son is among the most talented disciples of his age group in the entire sect." Pride bloomed on their faces, and I felt a warmth spread through my chest that had nothing to do with qi circulation. Their genuine happiness for my success, despite not fully understanding it, touched something deep within me.

"Thank you both," I said, turning to Liu Chang and Su Yue.

"For bringing them safely. I can't express how grateful I am." Su Yue waved away my thanks.

"It was our pleasure. Your parents were excellent company on the journey."

"And excellent cooks," Liu Chang added with a grin.

"Your mother's steamed buns might be the best I've had in all five continents." Mother blushed at the praise, fidgeting with the simple jade pendant I'd given her on my last visit.

"I just added a few herbs to the dough. Nothing special."

"You must be exhausted from the journey," I said, suddenly realizing they were still standing in the hallway.

"Please, come in. Rest a while before we get you settled in the visitor quarters." Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.

"Actually," Su Yue interjected, "we took the liberty of securing them temporary accommodations in the Outer Disciple Guest Pavilion on our way in. Your parents' belongings have already been taken there." I raised an eyebrow, impressed by their foresight.

"You've thought of everything." Liu Chang shrugged modestly.

"We know how busy you'll be with the tournament preparations. Consider it our contribution."

"We should let you have some time with your family," Su Yue added, already backing away.

"Thank you both, again. I owe you."

"Friends don't keep score," Liu Chang replied simply. With a respectful bow to my parents, he and Su Yue departed, leaving me alone with my family for the first time since our emotional farewell in Floating Reed Village.

"Come in," I said, gesturing them inside my modest quarters.

"It's not much, but it's home for now." My parents stepped into my small living space, their eyes taking in every detail: the meditation mat in the corner, the simple desk covered in formation scrolls, the spiritual plants growing in pots by the window.

"This is very nice, son," Father said, though I could tell he was being polite. By cultivator standards, an outer disciple's quarters were minimal, but for parents who'd raised me in a village, seeing me live in such spartan conditions probably concerned them.

"It's more than sufficient," I assured them.

"Cultivators need few physical comforts. What matters are the spiritual resources of the sect." I poured them tea from my small set, using a minor application of fire control that wouldn't even qualify as a technique to heat the water. The casual display of cultivation made my mother's eyes widen with delight.

"I still can't believe our son can do such magical things," she whispered to my father, who nodded with equal wonder.

"It's not magic, Mother. Just manipulation of the natural energies that flow through everything," I explained, settling across from them.

"How was the journey? And how are you feeling?" I added, glancing meaningfully at her belly. She placed a protective hand over the small bump.

"The baby and I are doing well. Healer Liu gave me special herbs for the journey, and your Liu Chang friend insisted I ride in the carriage for most of the way."

"Good." I nodded, relieved.

"And Three Rivers Village? Have you seen it yet?" Father's expression brightened.

"We passed through briefly. It's lovely, bigger than our village but not overwhelmingly so. The location my cousin chose for the tailor shop is excellent, right on the main street."

"And the people seem friendly," Mother added.

"A woman named Madam Ken introduced herself when she heard we were moving there. She runs the local tea house and has already invited me to join the village's cooking circle once we're settled." I smiled, pleased to hear they were already making connections.

"That sounds perfect."

"But enough about us," Father said, leaning forward.

"This tournament Liu Chang mentioned, is it dangerous? He said you'd be fighting other disciples." Azure's voice sounded in my mind, tinged with amusement.

"How does one explain blood sport to worried parents?" I suppressed a smile at Azure's comment.

"The tournament is regulated, Father. It's a way for disciples to demonstrate their abilities, not truly harm each other." This wasn't entirely accurate, injuries and even deaths occasionally occurred in sect tournaments, but there was no need to worry them further.

"And you're competing tomorrow?" Mother asked, concern evident in her voice.

"Yes, though the first rounds are team-based. I'll be working with my friends Wei Lin and Lin Mei." Seeing her continued worry, I added, "You don't need to attend if it would distress you."

"Nonsense," Father said firmly.

"We've traveled all this way, in part to see you demonstrate your achievements. We'll be there, supporting you." Mother nodded in agreement, though I could still see her apprehension.

"Will we... understand what's happening?"

"There will be elders providing commentary for visitors," I assured her.

"And I'll introduce you to my friends before then. They can help explain things during the matches." Their faces relaxed somewhat at this. The mention of my friends seemed to particularly interest my mother.

"Friends? Like Liu Chang and Su Yue?"

"Yes, and others. I've made several good connections since joining the sect." I found myself eager to show them this part of my life, to let them see that I wasn't alone here.

"Could we meet them?" Mother asked hopefully.

"I'd love to know who my son spends his time with." I glanced outside at the position of the sun.

"Actually, why don't I give you a tour of the sect and introduce you to my friends along the way?" Their enthusiastic agreement settled the matter. After finishing our tea, I led them from my quarters toward the main areas of the sect, carefully planning our route to intersect with where my friends would likely be at this hour.

As we walked, I pointed out the various buildings and explained their functions: the Main Hall where disciples received assignments, the Training Grounds where daily practices were held, the Medicine Pavilion where healing herbs were dispensed.

"It's so vast," Mother marveled, looking up at the towering structures with their curved azure roofs and intricate dragon motifs.

"How do you find your way around?"

"You get used to it," I replied with a smile.

"Though I still discover new areas after months here." We passed other disciples as we walked, many of whom gave curious glances at my parents. Mortal visitors weren't uncommon during tournaments, but they typically arrived in larger groups and were obviously noble or merchant class from their attire. My parents, with their simple village clothes, stood out.

"Everyone's staring," Mother whispered, self-consciously smoothing her travel-worn dress.

"They're just curious," I assured her.

"Most disciples come from prominent families. It's less common to see cultivators from village backgrounds reach higher levels."

"You mean they look down on us?" Father asked, his voice taking on an edge I rarely heard.

"Some might," I admitted.

"But true cultivators know that one's origin doesn't determine one's potential. The fact that I've advanced so quickly despite my background actually makes me more interesting to the elders." This seemed to satisfy him somewhat, though I noticed him standing a bit straighter as we continued our walk.