Zhai Bairong felt a wave of sympathy as he listened to Nie Shiyun’s recount. However, in the cultivation world, killing others to seize their treasures was hardly a rare occurrence. According to Shen Yan, his parents had been rogue cultivators whose cultivation levels were only at the Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment stages at the time. It was only natural for others to treat them as easy targets. Shen Yan was one of the few who had actually managed to exact his revenge; far more cultivators simply vanished silently into the vast torrent of history.
"By the way, what was Meiqiu on about earlier? Something about being in a hurry?" Nie Shiyun suddenly recalled.
Zhai Bairong cleared his throat awkwardly, answering vaguely, "I don't know. His thoughts have always been a bit erratic."
Since Zhai Bairong put it that way, Nie Shiyun didn't press further, assuming Meiqiu had just been spouting nonsense again.
He hadn't had the chance to ask in detail before, but now that they were finally free, he was able to get a clear picture of Nie Li's condition. Perhaps because he hadn't cultivated for so long, Nie Li was finding it a bit difficult to adjust all at once and was still resting in his quarters. Upon learning that Zhai Bairong had finished his alchemy session, the two went together to visit him.
Nie Li had been in seclusion since the day Zhai Bairong arrived. He hadn't expected that several months later, Zhai Bairong would still be at Yunqing Pavilion.
Nie Li thought to himself that the Yingyue Sect must be incredibly trusting to allow one of their disciples to stay at another sect for so long without objection. From another perspective, it also meant they held Yunqing Pavilion in quite high regard.
Zhai Bairong mentioned that he had been imposing on Yunqing Pavilion for a long time and presented some medicinal pills. While the previous gift could be considered a greeting present, he was offering more pills after only a few months, making Nie Li feel a bit embarrassed. He insisted Zhai Bairong was being far too polite and tried to decline for quite a while.
"You are a junior; theoretically, I should be the one giving you things," Nie Li finally accepted with a sigh of resignation. "Our sect is small and humble; there probably isn't much here that would catch your eye. If you don't mind, we could refine a few magic treasures for you."
Zhai Bairong opened his mouth to politely decline, but Nie Shiyun took the lead. "Father, you’ve just come out of seclusion; you should rest for a few days. There’s no need to worry about this. In fact, the cauldron Bairong uses and his personal swords were all refined by me. He doesn't really need anything else for the time being."
Nie Li glanced at Nie Shiyun. So that was it—his son had already fully equipped the man.
"Speaking of which, I’m quite satisfied with that set of swords. I haven't shown them to Father before. Could you bring them out for Father to critique?" Nie Shiyun asked Zhai Bairong, suggesting that perhaps Nie Li could offer some guidance to further perfect any flaws in the set.
Zhai Bairong readily agreed, summoning all five swords of the Star-Moon Spirit Wood set and arranging them neatly on the table.
Nie Li had already guessed that anything Nie Shiyun refined for "his own people" would be extraordinary. Although Nie Shiyun had opened shops multiple times, it had never been under his father's nose. Nie Li hadn't had many opportunities to see the items his son refined, and this single look left him so stunned he could hardly look away.
"Wonderful. The way these integrate... truly wonderful," Nie Li murmured to himself, his eyes shining with approval.
Back when Nie Shiyun was an assistant at Yunqing Pavilion, he should have never come into contact with sword sets. After all, sets required masterful technique and heavenly materials that shared a natural connection. Sometimes finding even one such material was difficult; where would one find so many? Most cultivators, intending to replace their gear as their cultivation rose, rarely invested their entire fortune into custom magic treasures before the late Golden Core or even the Nascent Soul stage.
Nie Li asked if Nie Shiyun had refined this set in the Cold Sky Secret Realm, but when he received the answer that they were made back in Fanhuo City, his mouth hung open in shock. He repeatedly praised Nie Shiyun, saying it wouldn't be long before his son completely surpassed him.
"If you can already refine magic treasures like these, there really isn't much help I can offer." Moreover, Nie Shiyun had possessed such ability years ago and had kept it hidden; his current level was surely even higher. Nie Li sighed; his son was too capable, which made things difficult for him as a father.
"The structure and design of this sword set are already exceptional. Even after you reach the Nascent Soul stage, or even higher one day, you can continue to use them. However, Shiyun was only in the Golden Core stage back then, so the quality of the spirit wood he could find was likely limited," Nie Li added, examining each blade closely. "Yunqing Pavilion deals with these materials often. In the future, if I find suitable replacement materials, I will keep an eye out for you. When the time comes, we can swap the components for higher-grade materials without changing the other parts, thereby improving the quality of the treasure without altering its effects."
"Then I shall trouble Senior," Zhai Bairong said. He felt the sword set was already very comfortable to use, but hearing Nie Li’s promise naturally filled him with joy, and he thanked him respectfully.
Nie Li felt that since he had accepted Zhai Bairong’s pills twice now, a promise for the future wasn't enough to settle the debt immediately. He fell silent for a moment, looked at Nie Shiyun and Zhai Bairong, and then retrieved a bracelet carved with peonies from his storage space.
"The pattern is feminine, so you probably won't be able to wear it. But take it anyway, as a memento."
"This is..." Nie Shiyun froze, murmuring.
Nie Li explained, "You were too young then; you probably don't remember. This was left behind by your mother. It’s not an incredibly precious item, but she loved it dearly. Giving it to your Dao companion now... she would have been pleased."
"I... I cannot accept this. How could I take something so important?" Zhai Bairong hadn't expected Nie Li to produce such an item. He declined in a slight panic, turning his head to look at Nie Shiyun.
Nie Shiyun’s memories were a bit blurred. He did have some of the original host's memories after coming to this world, but the mother had passed away quite early—when this body was about five or six years old. Thus, Nie Shiyun could only vaguely recall being in his mother's arms and the sensation of being touched by the warm jade bracelet on her wrist. One day the woman had vanished; perhaps that was when she went into seclusion for one last effort, only to never appear again.
"Is it alright?" Nie Shiyun asked, looking at Nie Li.
He had never seen Nie Li bring this item out, nor had he seen a single trace of the departed in Nie Li’s quarters. He only saw Nie Li smile gently and nod. "Take it. Even if it’s just to keep."
Nie Shiyun accepted it on Zhai Bairong’s behalf. He felt that by giving this item away, Nie Li had finally, completely let go of something.
After Nie Shiyun took it and handed it over to Zhai Bairong, the latter finally accepted it.
He hadn't expected that upon their second meeting, Nie Shiyun’s father would give him such an important item. When Zhai Bairong was with Duan Mingyu, he had never worried about the approval of elders. After being with Nie Shiyun, he remembered that the man was an only son and that his high-profile behavior in his youth was said to be the result of his father’s doting. Naturally, he had harbored some concerns.
"Thank you, Senior. I will treasure it," Zhai Bairong vowed solemnly, carefully wrapping the item and placing it into his storage space.
Nie Li nodded and added, "I heard that you came to the cultivation world from the mortal realm as a child and have already severed your mortal ties. By my count, you and Shiyun have been together for seven years. If you don't mind, you may call me 'Father' in private, just as Shiyun does."
Nie Shiyun was pleasantly surprised. He knew that although Nie Li didn't have a high opinion of people from the great sects, he trusted Nie Shiyun’s judgment. Zhai Bairong’s two gifts of hand-refined pills had also demonstrated his sincerity. Nie Li had only known of their relationship for a few months, yet he had already made such a statement.
Excluding that illusory existence in the secret realm, Zhai Bairong hadn't uttered that title for decades since he was brought to the cultivation world by the Yingyue Sect at the age of eight.
"—Father." Others might not have noticed, but Zhai Bairong’s voice was subtly lower than usual. Nie Shiyun knew he was overly nervous and that there was a hint of unfamiliarity mixed in, but he could also read the joy in his heart.
Nie Li nodded with complex emotions, a gratified smile appearing on his face.
Including the matter of finding a Dao companion, his child Nie Shiyun had given him too many surprises. After the initial shock, Nie Li had calmed down and thought about it fairly. From a father's perspective, Zhai Bairong was indeed a rare match for Shiyun in the cultivation world. His talent was top-tier, he was skilled in alchemy, and he was observant of others' feelings.
When Nie Shiyun was pursuing Duan Mingyu before, Nie Li hadn't voiced his opposition. But in his heart, as a parent, he ultimately hoped his child would choose a partner who could support him, rather than someone who only took like a delicate flower. Seeing this outcome now, though a bit sudden, Nie Li had nothing more to ask for.
"Since you’re staying, stay for a while longer. Honestly, several disciples in the sect came to visit me today, all saying you two have been cooped up in the back mountain for months without coming out. If you have time later, come by every now and then to have a cup of tea or share some wine with me," Nie Li instructed half-jokingly before they left.
Zhai Bairong subconsciously thought of their "private business" that had been overheard before. He immediately agreed in a rush, as if trying to cover something up. "We will definitely visit often."
Nie Shiyun followed suit, nodding a beat late. Seeing Zhai Bairong respond so urgently, he felt a bit stifled, thinking to himself: *Why is he even more filial toward Nie Li than I am?*
After the two left, they returned to the cave dwelling on the back mountain. Zhai Bairong sat on the edge of the bed, still a bit dazed, as if he hadn't expected Nie Li to be so easy to talk to. The kindness made him feel as though it wasn't quite real. Nie Shiyun spoke with him for a while longer, and only in their familiar environment did Zhai Bairong gradually process everything.
***
