Chapter 560 - 60: Taking Refuge

Song Xianyun fell silent. Indeed, this decision was not for them to make; they only needed to support Song Changsheng unconditionally.

"Changsheng has only been in seclusion for a year, and who knows when he’ll emerge. In the meantime, about the boy’s cultivation..."

"Send him to Ruyun Hall. I’ll personally teach him for a time. After all, I am the boy’s great-grandfather."

"That works. I’ll have Yunxue bring the boy up the mountain later." Song Xianyun nodded slightly. Within the clan, only Song Xianming was truly qualified.

"Qingqing is out of seclusion. Go and see her. And have the boy brought up as soon as possible. We mustn’t delay his cultivation."

"Understood," Song Xianyun replied, and the two went their separate ways.

Early the next morning, in Song Changsheng’s small courtyard.

Xia Yunxue hauled the still-dreaming Song Qingyun out of bed, then took out a new set of clothes she had tailored and began to dress him.

His eyes heavy with sleep, the boy whimpered a few times, letting Xia Yunxue handle him like a marionette.

Once he was dressed, Xia Yunxue brought over a warm towel and wiped the little boy’s dazed face. "Be good," she said softly. "You can sleep again in a little while."

Song Qingyun yawned and rubbed his tired eyes, mumbling in his young voice, "Grandma, why are we up so early? I’m sleepy."

At his words, Xia Yunxue sighed. She placed her hands on the little boy’s thin shoulders and said earnestly, "Yun’Er, listen closely. Starting today, you will go to your great-grandfather’s side to cultivate. You must not be rude in his presence, and you certainly can’t be mischievous or stubborn. Do you understand?"

Upon hearing the word "cultivate," the previously sleepy-eyed Song Qingyun suddenly perked up. "Grandma," he asked excitedly, "I can finally cultivate?"

Xia Yunxue nodded. "Yes, you can. Now, hurry and wash up. We’ll go up the mountain after breakfast."

"This is great! I can cultivate! I can finally cultivate!"

With his grandmother’s confirmation, the little boy jumped up in excitement, his big, bright eyes shining.

He had grown up on Vast Mist Peak, but Song Changsheng and Xia Yunxue rarely had time to look after him. Fortunately, Jin Xuan was always by his side, often telling him stories about cultivation.

Tales of moving mountains, filling seas, and cleaving rivers with a single sword strike.

These stories left an indelible impression on the young Song Qingyun’s mind.

He often sat beneath the red maple tree on Luoyue Cliff, lost in daydreams, fantasizing about performing Sword Flight. Then, he would be able to go see the outside world.

On the day of the Immortal Ascension Conference, he had been more nervous than anyone. He knew the moment to decide his fate had come; if he didn’t have a Spirit Root, he could forget about ever cultivating.

The result had been a good one. Not only did he possess a Spirit Root, but he also had a special constitution.

The young Song Qingyun didn’t know what a "special constitution" was, nor did he have any idea what an arduous path lay before him. All he knew was that he had a Spirit Root, which meant he could cultivate.

A month went by, however, and no clan Elder summoned him to the Dharma Transmission Hall. In contrast, the other children who had undergone Spirit Testing on the same day had all formally begun their cultivation.

This difference in treatment had left the little boy feeling down, even a little wronged.

But now, all those grievances vanished into thin air. He had only one thought on his mind: Eat, then cultivate!

Song Qingyun washed up as fast as he could. He downed a Sea Bowl of meat congee in just two or three gulps, then hastily wiped his mouth and announced obediently, "Grandma, I’m done eating."

"Oh, you child. You just can’t wait a single moment, can you?" Xia Yunxue shook her head, reaching out to smooth the wrinkles on his clothes. Then she took his little hand, and they started walking toward Ruyun Hall.

"Your daughter-in-law, Xia Yunxue, and her grandson, Song Qingyun, have come to pay our respects, Father." Outside Ruyun Hall, Xia Yunxue led Song Qingyun in a respectful bow.

"Come in."

A vast, resonant voice drifted out, and the hall’s doors opened on their own, making the little boy’s eyes shine with wonder.

"When you see your great-grandfather, you must not be rude," Xia Yunxue whispered as a final warning.

The pair entered the hall to find Song Xianming dressed in a gray robe, sitting cross-legged on a bright yellow meditation cushion. He looked at them with a kindly expression.

Xia Yunxue gave Song Qingyun a gentle nudge, and the boy understood instantly. He walked forward a few steps, knelt, and performed several deep kowtows before Song Xianming, calling out, "Great-grandfather."

Song Qingyun was already as lovable as a porcelain doll, and seeing him behave so well, Song Xianming grew more and more delighted. He beamed, saying, "Good child, please, rise."

"The boy is mischievous by nature, so I must trouble you to take great care of him." Relieved by the scene, Xia Yunxue said to Song Xianming with a cupped-fist salute.

"He’s a child. It’s normal for them to be energetic. Why, back in the day, Luyan was no different..." Song Xianming froze mid-sentence. He sighed sadly, then gave a self-deprecating smile. "Look at me. Why am I bringing that up?

You just focus on your duties at the Hundred Arts Hall and the winery. You can rest assured leaving the boy with me. He’ll train in ten-day periods, and I’ll let him return home three times a month, so you needn’t worry."

At the mention of Song Luyan, Xia Yunxue’s expression also dimmed. She nodded silently, gave a cupped-fist salute, and withdrew from the hall, leaving the great-grandfather and great-grandson alone together.

Song Xianming winked at the little boy and gestured for him to pull up a small stool and sit in front of him. Then, his expression turned serious. "Yun’Er," he said, "listen well. What I am about to impart to you is the clan’s secret Heart Method, the *Qi Guiding Technique*. You must commit every single word of it to memory and, under no circumstances, ever reveal it to an outsider. Do you understand?"

"I understand," Song Qingyun replied, bowing respectfully.