Nie Li had once believed himself to be a rather useless man.
Born into a family of artifact refiners, he had lived a life of abundance since childhood. When he was twelve, a girl of similar age joined the sect. She had been selected from the mortal realm, but unlike Nie Li, who possessed dual spiritual roots, she had four.
A child with such aptitude would generally not be accepted by the major sects of the cultivation world. It was for this very reason that she had come to the now-declining Yunqing Pavilion.
No one had told the young Nie Li that for a cultivator with four spiritual roots, reaching the Foundation Establishment stage within a two-hundred-year lifespan was considered a stroke of incredible luck. Beyond that, unless one received the devoted assistance of a grandmaster, the chances of successfully forming a Nascent Soul were practically zero.
If the peak of the cultivation world was reserved for that small handful of cultivators who could look down upon all others, then those with four or five spiritual roots seemed destined to be nothing more than mere weeds along the grand path of the Dao.
Nie Li often wondered if he would have stayed away from her had he known how things would end from the start.
But every time he recalled his wife’s radiant smile, he rejected that thought.
"So what if I only live a hundred years? It’s better than being sold off by my parents in the mortal realm. Besides, meeting you here is the greatest fortune of my life! Every single day I spend with you is a bonus."
The girl, who had grown into a graceful young woman, smiled as she hooked her finger around Nie Li’s. Nie Li’s face flushed, and he whispered bashfully, "I... I should be the one saying that..."
He felt he was truly weak, needing the girl he loved to comfort him.
"You’re right. Even one more day is a bonus."
...He had clearly said those words back then.
Yet, hundreds of years later, even though they had earned an unexpected several centuries together and had such a lovely son, Nie Li could not muster even a shred of a cultivator’s detachment. He wept uncontrollably before the woman who had grown frail as her time ran thin, yet still maintained a brave expression.
"For you, and for Shiyun, I’ll try one more time. Think about it—Master once said my chances of Foundation Establishment were slim, and forming a Golden Core would be harder than scaling the heavens, but didn't I succeed in the end?"
It was just that each time had been harder than the last. Every breakthrough had been a desperate struggle, achieved only as her lifespan was on the verge of total exhaustion.
"So, this time will surely go smoothly as well," Nie Li’s wife said, reaching out to wipe the tears from his face. She teased him with a smile, "Our son is watching. You’re a father now; you have to keep up appearances in front of him, or he’ll look down on you later."
"He won't, as long as you teach him well," Nie Li said. He saw the helpless smile on her face and understood that he was acting like a stubborn child. He felt that if she would only give her word now, she would surely keep her promise to raise their child with him.
"Fine. I’ll definitely teach him to be an excellent young man. Not at all like you!"
His wife reached out and flicked Nie Li’s forehead, laughing. Her demeanor was still just like that of the shy teenage girl from centuries ago.
Nie Li rubbed his reddened forehead.
She had been clever since childhood, her head full of mischievous ideas. She would drag the inflexible Nie Li away from his lessons to play in the mountains, telling him interesting stories about the rural mortal world. It wasn't until he grew up that Nie Li realized life for women in the mortal countryside was far harsher than he had imagined—not only was there often no food, but they had to do manual labor day and night to provide dowries for their brothers. His wife, however, had always chosen only the lighthearted stories to tell.
That past made her more diligent and hardworking than women born into the cultivation world, and she was also exceptionally skilled at reading people. Nie Li felt that, by comparison, he—having grown up in a prestigious family—was like a silly monkey, constantly being led in circles by his wife’s unexpected little lies and pranks.
After giving birth to Nie Shiyun, she had become much more composed, so much so that Nie Li had almost forgotten that side of her.
It wasn't until two years later, when his wife passed away in meditation at her secluded dwelling, that the truth hit him. Feeling as though his soul had left his body, Nie Li walked with unsteady steps to gather her belongings. There, he found the letter she had written long ago, and he realized with a start that his Dao companion had tricked him once again.
*“Husband, by the time you see this letter, I will likely be gone.”*
*“I am usually stubborn and never complain about hardship or exhaustion. Allow me to grumble a bit here. Cultivating with four spiritual roots has been truly too difficult. I have made every effort I could, and I know you have tried everything as well. Do not feel regret. To have reached the Golden Core stage already filled me with immense joy, and an even greater surprise was being able to give birth to Shiyun before my passing.”*
*“We were childhood sweethearts and were together for so many years without a child; I thought something was wrong with one of us. It turns out it was just a false alarm—the timing simply wasn't right yet.”*
*“There is an old saying in the mortal realm: ‘A son who takes after his mother builds walls of gold.’ I’ve always felt Shiyun would surely take after me. In the future, you can look forward to riding our son’s coattails to greatness. But I can’t guarantee how he’ll turn out, so I’ll have to trouble you to tell me in a dream once he’s grown up...”*
*“I have to leave Shiyun before he can even speak; I am not a fit mother. They say a mother and son’s hearts are linked. As I write this, I know there is no hope for a breakthrough, so I want to at least leave something for him. This blood jade is the mortal-grade pendant I’ve carried since childhood, refined with my own heart’s blood. I deliberately made it a mundane item so that neither he nor outsiders would view it as a magical treasure. It has no practical use; it is merely filled with a mother’s blessings. I hope it can protect him and keep him safe throughout his life.”*
*“As for you, Husband, I won’t leave you anything. You’re a sentimental man and would surely preserve it carefully. If you have the chance to remarry in the future, it wouldn't be good if your new wife saw it.”*
*“I’m joking. After all, I’ve already left Shiyun to you. Please take care of him and yourself.”*
*“I really wanted to stay with you both...”*
The letter ended abruptly. Nie Li gripped the paper tightly. The last few lines were crooked and shaky; one could tell just from the handwriting how much pain the writer had been in. His wife had been on the verge of death, with little spiritual power remaining, yet she had insisted on gouging out her heart’s blood to refine this protective talisman.
At the very bottom of the letter were wrinkled, circular water stains where the paper had been dampened and then dried. In Nie Li’s memory, his wife was a resilient woman who rarely shed tears in her life.
At some point, the letter before his eyes blurred. Nie Li wiped his face, only to find that he was already covered in tears.
From across the room, where the restrictions had already faded, came the sound of Nie Shiyun’s crying.
He had always been a very well-behaved child, content to play with his own fingers even when his parents weren't around. Hearing his son’s cries, Nie Li felt that their hearts truly were linked. Perhaps Nie Shiyun had realized something at that moment, which was why he was wailing so loudly.
Nie Li took the letter and tucked it into his robes. This letter would not be seen by another soul as long as he lived. Then, he picked up the red blood jade and rubbed it with his fingers for a moment. The pendant felt warm, as if his wife’s blood were still flowing within. Nie Li knew it was an illusion, but he was willing to believe it.
In truth, passing away in meditation within one's sect was considered a peaceful end for a cultivator. In this world, countless people died in accidents, most of which were man-made disasters, leaving the dying with nothing but endless regret and pain.
At least his wife had time to leave something behind. Nie Li composed his emotions, put on a calm expression, and left the room. If even he looked grief-stricken, how could an infant like Nie Shiyun stop crying?
Hanging the jade on Nie Shiyun’s swaddling clothes, Nie Li stroked his cheek. His movements weren't as gentle as his wife’s and should have made the baby uncomfortable. Yet, Nie Shiyun slowly stopped crying and fell into a peaceful sleep, as if comforted.
Time flew by, and twenty-some years passed in the blink of an eye.
"Shiyun... is he still refusing to come out?"
"Reporting to the Deputy Sect Leader, it has been ten days..."
Nie Li sighed deeply.
"Ah, but two days ago, your disciple Qi Xuan'er said, 'Senior Brother is willing to drink the spiritual medicine liquid.' You were in the forging room at the time, so she didn't want to disturb you to report it."
Nie Li was overjoyed, but then he felt a bit deflated. Nie Shiyun had done this from time to time in the past—he would be willing to try the medicine again, only to fall into an even deeper depression when he found it was completely ineffective. Over time, Nie Li wondered if it would be better to just let him stop taking the medicine altogether.
But Nie Li couldn't think of any other way. He also felt the medicine wouldn't work, but at this point, he could only treat a dead horse as if it were alive.
Whenever this happened, Nie Li would miss his late wife. He had always wanted to raise Nie Shiyun into a distinguished and excellent cultivator, hoping her soul could find peace. But now it seemed he was not a fit father; he had no way to solve the conflict between Nie Shiyun’s spiritual roots, and he hadn't even raised him into a mature adult.
Nie Li occasionally regretted being too eager for success and stuffing Nie Shiyun with too many spiritual herbs, and occasionally regretted being too indulgent and protective, making him unable to handle the slightest provocation. But every time he saw Nie Shiyun’s aggrieved expression, Nie Li’s heart would soften.
He hoped Nie Shiyun would miss his late mother as much as he did, but the spoiled Nie Shiyun had long since forgotten much about her. The jade pendant he had been told to keep as a protective talisman had long ago been tossed aside with other accessories, only worn on a whim once in a while. He didn't even remember it was something his mother had left for him.
*...Forget it, forget it. He has no mother to love him; as his father, I should be more tolerant.*
Nie Li knew his habit of doting might have been wrong from the start, but it was too late. Perhaps he was just that useless... he couldn't protect his wife, and afterward, he had developed inner demons that prevented him from continuing his cultivation. Now his son was a failure and would likely follow his wife’s path all too soon. All of this left Nie Li in utter despair.
He paced back and forth in front of Nie Shiyun’s door. Nie Li knew it had been a few days since the medicine was taken; usually, these were the days when his son’s mood was at its worst. Every time he took the medicine, he had to endure unnecessary hope, followed by crushing disappointment.
Ultimately, his desire to see his son won out, and Nie Li anxiously entered Nie Shiyun’s residence.
To his surprise, although Nie Shiyun looked a bit downcast, he didn't lose his temper.
At the time, Nie Li was greatly relieved and immediately spoke some words of encouragement. He knew Nie Shiyun wasn't really listening, but at least his attitude had improved, and that was enough.
He truly realized something was wrong on a later day.
By then, Nie Shiyun had already settled it with Nie Li that he would enter the Misty Rift to seek his fortune. Nie Li hadn't wanted to agree under any circumstances, but when he heard Nie Shiyun say he had "received a revelation in a dream," Nie Li’s entire body jolted.
He always believed his late wife was watching over their child. Before she died, she had written in her letter that when Shiyun grew up, he should tell her in a dream... Nie Li had always believed in this.
Not long after that, he saw Nie Shiyun returning from the foot of the mountain. Since deciding to go to the Misty Rift, Nie Shiyun was always running around outside, seemingly making preparations. As his father, he was very curious; after all, as long as Nie Shiyun asked, he was willing to buy him anything he could afford.
That day, Nie Shiyun seemed to be in a good mood. Nie Li was about to ask him what had happened when he noticed that, for the first time in a long while, Nie Shiyun was wearing that "blood jade" on his waist.
Nie Li looked at it for a while before he recognized it as the jade his wife had left behind. The reason was simple: the pendant, which had once been blood-red throughout, had now turned emerald green. Clearly, that drop of heart’s blood had vanished.
Nie Li opened his mouth, wanting to ask Nie Shiyun what he had done. But no sound came out.
Nie Shiyun looked at Nie Li with confusion. Nie Li smiled and shook his head, ultimately never asking the question.
Nie Shiyun had been extravagant since childhood, and Nie Li had bought him many beautiful accessories. Never mind when or why the jade had turned green; Nie Li would bet his life that his son didn't even remember this was a protective talisman from his mother.
After Nie Shiyun excused himself, Nie Li pondered the recent situation while walking back to his dwelling with light steps.
Initially, he just wanted to recall what Nie Shiyun had been up to lately and whether he had encountered some crisis that required his mother’s heart’s blood to shield him. But thinking it over, Nie Shiyun hadn't even left the vicinity of Yunqing Pavilion recently. It didn't make sense.
As he thought more about it, Nie Li began to feel that the most unusual thing was Nie Shiyun himself.
One had to understand that while Nie Shiyun had been a clever and obedient child when he was small, he had become arrogant and overbearing by the age of ten. Recently, however, it was as if he had changed back... not only did he stop wallowing in self-despair, but he had even let go of Duan Mingyu, whom he had previously been obsessed with. One had to know that Nie Shiyun had always gotten everything he wanted just by making a scene for his father; he had never failed to get what he wanted since he was a child. This time, he had actually conceded so readily that he had lost to another man...?
It was a good thing for his son to come to his senses, but Nie Li felt a faint fear in his heart. Was Nie Shiyun really still his son?
In the cultivation world, the matter of a powerful master seizing a body through possession was not unheard of. Nie Li’s first reaction was that his son’s body had been taken over.
But his son’s aptitude was poor; with bad luck, he might not even have hope for Foundation Establishment. Wouldn't an old monster be losing out in such a deal? Nie Li felt that wasn't quite right.
He remained extremely cautious, and over the next few days, using the excuse of giving Nie Shiyun magical treasures and talismans before he entered the secret realm, he probed him indirectly.
As it turned out, there was nothing wrong with Nie Shiyun; he remembered everything he should. Even with the trap questions Nie Li carefully set—deliberately mentioning things that had never happened—Nie Shiyun didn't fall for them. He only frowned in confusion and said, "Did that happen? Why don't I remember?"
Nie Li’s doubts remained unresolved, but he felt this wasn't possession. Possession in the cultivation world could only take the physical body, not the memories. If there really was some great master inside his son’s body, how could he know the various details of his childhood at Yunqing Pavilion so clearly?
And for some reason, he had a feeling that Nie Shiyun... was exactly the kind of child he and his late wife had hoped for. When he was still in the womb, they had discussed how their child would surely combine their strengths: having a talent for artifact refining, being willing to work hard but also knowing how to adapt, knowing how to respect teachers and show filial piety without being blindly loyal, and occasionally being a bit clever, just like his wife... and he would certainly be faithful in matters of the heart.
Setting aside that last point for now, the previous points were all perfectly met.
Nie Li was startled by his own thoughts and quickly gave himself a mental slap.
Even if he was arrogantly unreasonable, he was still his own son. He was truly disgraceful—how could he be so happy to accept this just because his son had improved? If the current Nie Shiyun really was a possessor, then...
Nie Li swallowed hard. He had never encountered such a wicked, high-level technique; in his impression, even a Deity Transformation cultivator might not understand such things. If that were the case, he feared that if he tried to expose the truth, he would be silenced and killed. What should he do!
Unable to conclude it was possession, Nie Li couldn't tell anyone about this and could only keep it bottled up inside. Every time he spoke with Nie Shiyun, he was filled with misery, feeling both that this wasn't his son and that it seemed it *was* his son...
He usually looked gloomy anyway, so at the time, Nie Shiyun only thought Nie Li was worried about him entering the secret realm and didn't think much of it.
Time passed until it was time for the secret realm to open. Nie Li watched Nie Shiyun wave goodbye, his heart a chaotic mess of emotions. He couldn't help but feel reluctant to let him go, thinking that he would use the time while Nie Shiyun was away to investigate thoroughly.
Not long after that, Nie Li had a bizarre dream.
It was a nightmare that could not be spoken of. In the dream, the last treasure his beloved late wife had left him, their son Nie Shiyun, had not become as outstanding and talented as he was now. But like the current Nie Shiyun, he had stubbornly gone to the Misty Rift.
On this day—the very day Nie Li was having the dream—Nie Shiyun’s soul lamp in the sect extinguished without warning.
Nie Li saw himself frantically muttering, "There must be something wrong with the soul lamp," as he broke free from the desperate attempts of the sect members to stop him. He ran stubbornly to the place where the secret realm closed, and though he knew it was hopeless, he stood there waiting for two years.
On the day the secret realm reopened, everyone’s attention was focused on those few most anticipated geniuses of the cultivation world, gasping at their growth within the rift. No one cared about an elder from a small sect who sat kneeling on the ground, lost and despondent, staring blankly as the exit of the secret realm was sealed tight.
Later... it seemed he also died because of something. Not just him, but the entire Yunqing Pavilion fell victim to a scheme. But Nie Li didn't understand what mistake they had made or whom they had offended. In his daze, he only saw Yunqing Pavilion consumed by a sea of fire.
He floated in the air, seemingly unable to leave because of his resentment and obsession. Then, he saw the Nie Shiyun who should have died in the secret realm—his soul met his and the souls of the other disciples, shedding tears of remorse.
In a trance, he saw a familiar woman appear beside Nie Shiyun, pulling him up.
"My lady..."
"My lady, are you going to take Shiyun away? Then why won't you take me with you..."
Nie Li opened his mouth, only to find that his soul had no way to leave Yunqing Pavilion.
The woman looked at his face and shook her head. "Have you forgotten? The 'you' here has already left with me. The 'you' over there is still very much alive; your time has not yet come. Everything is predestined. I have looked at your face; you are destined for a long life—more than several thousand years."
Nie Li remembered the first time he met his wife at Yunqing Pavilion. The young girl had pretended to be a fortune teller she had met at her village entrance, lying to him that she could read faces. She had talked nonsense, tricking him—a young master who had never left his home—into believing her completely.
"Are you lying to me again?" Nie Li asked with a sob.
"Listen to me... Husband. That Shiyun is also our child. He wasn't supposed to be in this world... such an opportunity won't come a second time. I beg of you, take care of him, and take care of yourself..."
The voice became ethereal and faint. Nie Li’s heart tightened.
"What does that mean? Is that why the heart’s blood disappeared? Wait, wait..."
Nie Li reached out, but only touched a void like a cloud, which dissipated as soon as he grasped it. Nothing remained in his palm.
Besides those figures, the ruined Yunqing Pavilion also vanished, and everything returned to darkness.
When he woke up, Nie Li’s hand was still suspended in mid-air, clutching at nothing. He looked at the familiar ceiling beams and slowly withdrew his palm, finding that he had long since become tearful in his sleep.
He sat up slowly and sat in the darkness for a while.
That dream had been far too real, and his wife had actually spoken to him in it. One had to know that in the twenty-some years since she passed, he had often dreamed of her, but she always stood far away, never speaking or turning her head. Whenever he approached her, she would vanish like a wisp of smoke.
Nie Li suddenly remembered something. As if jolted awake, he rushed to the place where the soul lamps were kept. The moment he pushed open the door, his heart pounded so hard it felt like it would burst through his throat. It wasn't until he saw that Nie Shiyun’s soul lamp was perfectly fine that he felt as if his life had been saved, clutching his chest and letting out a sigh of relief.
"That Shiyun is also our child."
Nie Li thought about his wife’s words in the dream, unable to snap out of it for a long time.
Perhaps he had truly gone mad this time? Or perhaps... because he was afraid to face the possibility that his son had been possessed, he had woven a lie for himself...
Nie Li walked to Nie Shiyun’s soul lamp and stared at it for a while.
None of that mattered anymore. He believed in fate. His late wife had shown him such a realistic story in a dream, and it just so happened that he had recently discovered the heart’s blood in the jade had vanished. Although Nie Shiyun had changed somewhat, he clearly possessed his past memories, and his personality had coincidentally become so similar to his wife’s.
Nie Li accepted it. Nie Shiyun was his son, no matter what he had become, no matter what other world he came from. He was Nie Li’s son.
"As long as he can return home safely from this secret realm, I, Nie Li, will never investigate this matter in my life. I only pray for his safety, only pray that the events of the dream do not repeat themselves..."
Nie Li murmured in his heart.
He had prayed to the heavens before his wife passed away, and the result had naturally been disappointing. Cultivators struggle against people and against the heavens; perhaps the thing they should least do is give up on finding their own way and turn to some so-called heaven to pray.
He truly was a useless person. Nie Li simply didn't know what else to do at this moment. But he knew that at the very least, if he lost Nie Shiyun again, he should afterward strive to ensure that the entire Yunqing Pavilion did not follow the same disastrous path...
Nie Li spent the longest three years of his life.
Until the night before the secret realm opened, he still went to check Nie Shiyun’s soul lamp in the middle of the night, as if staring at it would prevent anything from happening to it.
On the day the Misty Rift ended, Nie Li went to the vicinity of the exit. That dream had been too brief; he could no longer remember with what heart he had stood there for two years in the dream. Before he could think it through, he spotted his son in the crowd at a single glance.
"Shiyun... is over there!"
Disregarding his dignity as a Nascent Soul senior, Nie Li shouted out in public.
Thank the heavens, thank his wife... Nie Shiyun was still here. He was still alive!
Nie Li’s voice choked up. Did this mean Nie Shiyun would be safe for the rest of his life? Had he not failed his wife’s final effort and protected their child?
"It’s good that you’re back... it’s good that you’re back."
Seeing Nie Li so overcome with emotion, Nie Shiyun only thought his old father was moved because he had solved the problem of his conflicting spiritual roots. Amidst his own touched feelings, he smiled at him, wanting to put his father’s mind at ease.
Back at the sect, Nie Li held Nie Shiyun’s hand, feeling as though he had regained something lost. He didn't even hear clearly what Nie Shiyun was saying, only knowing to nod repeatedly.
"A few years ago, I dreamed of your mother. You were very small when she left; you surely don't remember her anymore." Nie Li sat in his chair and sighed softly.
"Indeed... what did Mother say in the dream?" Nie Shiyun asked, following Nie Li’s lead.
Nie Li had already sworn to himself that as long as Nie Shiyun was safe, he would never investigate this matter, which naturally included Nie Shiyun himself.
There was also a bit of selfishness in Nie Li’s heart. If that dream was real and what his wife said was also true, perhaps the current Nie Shiyun had once lived a peaceful life in another happy world, only to be brought by them to this world where he had lost his mother and had to face difficulties in cultivation. If he knew, would he hate them, this pair of "parents"?
*In that world, are my wife and I doing well? Are we good to Shiyun?* Nie Li really wanted to know, but he was also very afraid to know, so he decided never to speak of it for the rest of his life.
"Your mother... she made fun of me for getting old and said no one would want me anymore. While she always gets to be so young," Nie Li said with a chuckle.
"Mother probably didn't want you to remarry and was deliberately teasing you. But I can tell, Father has no such intentions. Mother worried too much," Nie Shiyun joked.
"...Haha, your personality really is carved from the same mold as hers," Nie Li paused, saying with a look of nostalgia.
Nie Shiyun blinked and gave a dry laugh. He thought: *But I’m not the original "Nie Shiyun." If you say that, where does your biological son’s dignity go!*
*I wonder who my personality is actually like,* Nie Shiyun thought. He had lost his parents early on Earth. They say the people who raise a child influence their personality—could his personality be like the lady at the orphanage? That lady’s temper was sometimes good and sometimes bad; Nie Shiyun had been a bit afraid of her when he was little. He felt that logic wasn't entirely accurate.
Perhaps there really was such a thing—that bloodlines one had never met could influence a person’s character.
If he could return to Earth one day, perhaps he should try to find photos of his parents from when they were alive. He heard they died in an accident, so sudden that not even their belongings were left behind...
In a few seconds, all sorts of random things flashed through Nie Shiyun’s mind, but there was no use thinking too much; he likely wouldn't be going back anyway, right?
"You’ve just come out of the secret realm; you must be tired. Father won't disturb you further. Go and rest quickly." After sitting for a while, Nie Li took the initiative to stand and leave.
Walking along the quiet stone path at night, Nie Li looked up at the night sky.
He had told Nie Shiyun one lie.
Since the day he had that bizarre nightmare, he had never dreamed of his wife again.
Everyone says that what you think about during the day, you dream about at night. He had been more desperate to dream of his late wife again than at any other moment in the past twenty-some years, wanting to ask her what her words that day really meant.
But she never appeared again. Even the way she used to stand far away, not even turning her head, had vanished without a trace.
Nie Li suddenly understood. Perhaps those previous times weren't dreams at all; that was her herself. Perhaps after death, she could only speak to him one last time, which was why she had been so slow to respond to his calls for decades, saving it for the most critical moment.
It was just like something she would do.
After finishing that task, she had truly settled her final concern and departed. No matter how much he missed her, she no longer existed.
If he said it out loud, perhaps even his own brothers would think him ridiculous.
But Nie Li knew deep down that it was the truth.
Looking back, seeing the lights that hadn't yet been extinguished after his departure, Nie Li smiled, feeling a certain heavy burden that had been dragging him down become a bit lighter.
*In this life, Father will surely take good care of you...*
***
