Chapter 542: Elder Tong

“Aunt Zhou, Aunt Liuu, I hope you are both well.”

“Greetings, Patriarch.”

The two aunts performed a graceful curtsy.

Aunt Zhou had returned to the Zhu Mansion two years ago, living in a small courtyard with her son, Zhu Nan.

Although her monthly salary of twenty taels of silver wasn’t much, it was more than enough for her, as she rarely went out.

She even had enough

to send some back to her family.

With such a comfortable life, they appeared full of vigor. Several years had passed, but the two aunts’ faces showed no signs of aging.

If anything, they looked even younger.

“Sit.”

Zhu Ju gestured and sat down in the Patriarch’s seat.

“Big Brother!”

“Brother!”

“…”

His younger brothers and sisters came forward to greet him.

At fifteen or sixteen, Zhu Ying had blossomed, possessing a gentle and graceful demeanor. Zhu Zhenzhen, dressed in a blue outfit with red threads, was beautiful and charming, with a rare, heroic spirit in her eyes for a young woman. Zhu Nan, the middle sibling, had endured far more hardships than the two girls and was more composed.

Even Zhu Wangke, who had just turned eight, already acted like a little adult, having lost much of his childishness.

“Mm.”

Glancing over them, Zhu Ju showed a faint smile.

“Sit.”

“Everyone, sit.”

‘People aren’t made of wood and stone; how can they be unfeeling?’

He lived with this family day in and day out, calling each other brother and sister. It was now impossible to treat them as strangers.

‘Family.’

He hadn’t had this feeling in a long time. Being among them, his mind naturally relaxed, which was also beneficial for his Cultivation.

“Big Brother.”

Before the food and wine were served, Zhu Ying took out a booklet.

“These are the songs I’ve composed over the past year. Two of them even received praise from my music teacher.”

“Oh!”

Zhu Ju said with a smile,

“I never thought our Zhu Family would produce a talented young lady. But don’t neglect your main studies.”

“Yes.” Zhu Ying lowered her head.

“My Martial Arts have reached the peak of the Ninth Grade. I should have a chance to break through to the Eighth Grade within three years.”

These so-called studies.

Were, of course, Martial Arts.

In this extraordinary world where the strong were respected and Martial Arts masters could live for hundreds or even thousands of years, only Martial Arts was fundamental.

“Not bad.” Zhu Ju nodded, smiling at his younger siblings.

“What about the rest of you?”

“I’ve also reached the peak of the Ninth Grade,” Zhu Nan said, pressing his lips together.

“I can run the Primordial Yang Qi Technique for nine Circulations in one go, and I can use Pure Yang Qi for my Cultivation.”

“I’ve reached Grade Entering!” Zhu Wangke announced in a clear, crisp voice, raising his small hand high with a proud look on his face.

“Not bad.” Zhu Ju ruffled his hair and looked toward Zhu Zhenzhen.

“And you, third sister?”

“Big Brother.” Zhu Zhenzhen lifted her chin slightly, her voice tinged with pride.

“I’m also at the peak of the Ninth Grade, and I’ve also been practicing Magic. I’ve successfully cultivated a Water Manipulation Method.”

Hm?

Zhu Ju’s expression darkened, and he asked with a frown,

“Who taught you Magic?”

“…” Zhu Zhenzhen’s expression froze. Her joy vanished, replaced by a rising sense of panic.

“It was Elder Tong.”

“Patriarch.”

Aunt Liuu spoke cautiously.

“Is there a problem?”

As the head of the family, Zhu Ju’s authority was immense, sometimes so oppressive it felt suffocating.

This was the lingering might of the Divine Thought from someone who was once a Third Grade Cultivator and had already nurtured a Primordial Spirit.

Even his ‘family,’ who saw him every day, would feel uneasy in this situation.

“I’ve said it before. In Martial Arts Cultivation, one must be pure and focused. Until you reach a certain Realm, practicing Magic concurrently is useless. In fact, it will ruin your path.”

Zhu Ju spoke slowly,

“That Elder Tong…”

“Did he ever ask for your opinion?”

“No,” Zhu Zhenzhen mumbled, her lips pursed.

“I saw Elder Tong perform Magic and thought it was mysterious and interesting, so I begged him to teach me.”

“Yes.” Aunt Zhou nodded.

“You can’t blame Elder Tong for this. Others wanted to learn Magic but couldn’t, not even Xiaonan.”

“That’s true.”

“That’s right.”

“…”

Several of them nodded in agreement.

A flicker of surprise crossed Zhu Ju’s eyes. He could see that when they mentioned Elder Tong, every single one of them showed expressions of admiration and reverence, even resisting his oppressive aura to speak well of the man.

‘Strange!’

“Big Brother.”

Zhu Zhenzhen spoke in a low voice.

“Elder Tong only taught me Magic for two days. If you don’t like it, I’ll just stop cultivating it.”

“Mm.”

Zhu Ju nodded.

“Sit down. Let’s eat first.”

“As for Elder Tong… I will go speak with him. Zhenzhen, you have the potential to reach Sixth-Grade Martial Arts before you’re thirty. Now is not the time to be distracted by cultivating Magic. Focusing on Martial Arts is the proper path.”

“Yes,” Zhu Zhenzhen replied crisply.

“I understand.”

“Alright.” A smile returned to Zhu Ju’s face as he picked up his chopsticks and gestured.

“Let’s eat!”

“Don’t let the food get cold.”

*

*

*

The Zhu Mansion had been expanded twice, long ago having bought the courtyards of the neighbors on both sides.

Elder Tong.

Lived in a small courtyard in the southeast corner.

A simple wicker fence served as the courtyard wall. A figure holding a longsword and wearing a bamboo hat stood before the gate.

This person’s name was Mok Ying, and he was Elder Tong’s guard.

“Brother Mok.”

Nursing Director Zhang spoke.

“The Patriarch has returned and has come specifically to see Elder Tong.”

“My master is not feeling well and is not seeing visitors at the moment.” Mok Ying’s voice was indifferent as he looked at Zhu Ju, who stood a short distance away.

“I hope Young Master Zhu will forgive us.”

“Mok Ying!”

Just then.

A hoarse voice came from within the courtyard:

“Since the Patriarch has returned, how can I possibly not see him? Quickly, step aside and help me up.”

“Yes!”

Mok Ying’s voice became solemn, and he hurried into the house.

“That won’t be necessary.”

Zhu Ju suddenly spoke.

“Since Elder Tong is unwell, I will come to visit another day. I am grateful for your care of the Zhu Mansion this past year. If there is anything you need, please do not hesitate to ask. I will do my best to help.”

“Thank you,” Elder Tong’s voice was faint.

“Let me see the Patriarch out…”

“No need.”

Zhu Ju turned around.

“Nursing Director Zhang, let’s go!”

“Huh?” Nursing Director Zhang was taken aback, only coming to his senses after a moment.

“Yes.”

As they walked to the front courtyard, Nursing Director Zhang couldn’t help but complain in a low voice.

“That Elder Tong, really… Even if he’s not in good health, he’s still a guest in someone else’s home. He knew the Patriarch was back, but he didn’t come to pay his respects. He didn’t even open the door when the Patriarch came to see him personally.”

“But…”

“Young Master, Elder Tong’s condition really is getting worse. He said he wouldn’t live another year, and I don’t think he was lying.”

“Mm.” Zhu Ju’s face was expressionless.

“Have you investigated this Elder Tong’s background?”

“Well…” Nursing Director Zhang’s expression stiffened.

“Elder Tong isn’t a local. Our network is limited, so we couldn’t find anything on short notice.”

“But Master Ming should know. She took Elder Tong as her master.”

“Master Ming?” Zhu Ju stopped in his tracks.

“Ming Nianwei?”

“Yes.”

…

“Master.”

Inside the simple room, Mok Ying knelt on one knee.

“The Patriarch of the Zhu Mansion was disrespectful to you. Do you need me to teach him a lesson?”

“Heh…” An old man with a sallow complexion and a face full of spots waved his hand weakly.

“It’s normal for someone his age to be young and impetuous. It’s only natural he’d be a little displeased with an old man like me.”

“It’s best to let sleeping dogs lie. I still need to make use of this place, so don’t stir up trouble.”

“Yes.”

Mok Ying lowered his head.

“It will still take some time to gather the materials you require, Master. I am worried that something unexpected might happen.”

“It won’t, it won’t,” the old man said, narrowing his eyes.

“I have experience. I prepared those things in advance. There won’t be any mistakes.”

“Ming Nianwei…”

“…is very suitable!”