Night without Borders

Chapter 349: Forcing a Thousand-Year-Old Family to Bow Down
In the depths of winter, snowflakes fall.

Under the cover of night, the Cui residence was bathed in the warmth of spring, with its swaying silver bamboo groves and rippling blue lake. Yet, the Cui family members still felt a chill to the bone, and the entire household was tense and heavy-hearted.

The appearance of a sixth-realm patriarch, who is standing up for a former "abandoned child" and personally visiting this small blessed land, is enough to make anyone tremble with fear.

Inside the main hall, the high-ranking members of the Cui family were on tenterhooks. What was this person up to, who immediately named the clan's ancestor?
They were extremely uneasy, their hearts were pounding. Was Lu Zizai going to "sever" the main root of the Cui family and uproot a thousand-year-old family?
“Cui Geng is putting on airs,” Lu Zizai said, after waiting for a long time without seeing the Cui family patriarch appear.

The senior members of the Cui family looked grave, secretly wondering if he really intended to "slay his ancestor."

Cui Changqing spoke up: "Ancestor Lu, please try the 'Enlightenment' spiritual tea from Feilai Peak first. Please wait patiently, as we have already sent someone to the Ancestor's meditation room to invite someone."

He is a core member of the Cui family, ranking second among his peers. He is over a hundred years old, but still does not look old. He has long, green hair that is loose and flowing. He has mastered the "Scripture of Living in the World" to an extremely profound level.

This reception hall is not exactly magnificent or ornate; on the contrary, it is rather old and has a sense of history, like the tea table, which is carved from gray rock.

However, this is where the Cui family entertains their most distinguished guests.

Inside the main hall, everything from the tea table to the stone chairs were old objects dug out from the ruins of the cave that had fallen to the ground. Despite the passage of time, they still retain a faint Daoist charm.

Throughout the main hall, the various objects do not appear luxurious, but they all have a significant history and embody a return to simplicity.

Qin Ming sat quietly behind a stone table, looking at the black teacup in front of him. Inside, there were silver stars, like a deep night sky, and faint shadows of real dragons swam in the fragrant light green tea soup, appearing and disappearing, lifelike and very mysterious.

These are still artifacts unearthed from the ruins of the cave.

Even though Qin Ming was once considered a direct descendant of the Cui family, he had only heard of the "Chewu" spiritual tea from Feilai Peak and the tea set in front of him.

He was treated with far more hospitality than expected.

Mother Cui began, "My child, you have suffered these past three years. To be honest, I can't bear it either. I have some difficulties that I would like to discuss with you."

Time had left few traces on her face; her skin was fair, and she looked to be only in her early thirties. Dressed in a palace gown, she was elegant and noble, with her hair styled in a high bun and adorned with a flowing golden feather as a hairpin. Her face carried an expression of sincerity.

Qin Ming did not respond. His senses were incredibly sharp at the moment, and he could not actually feel any warmth on her beautiful and kind face.

Even when she smiled, there was no warmth in it.

Seeing that he was silent and ignored his wife, Cui's father looked over and was as serious and rigid as ever, with the dignity of a patriarch.

He is the visible power holder of the Cui family in the secular world, and he exudes a strong aura in every gesture.

Qin Ming turned his head and looked at him with a calm expression. His eyes were clear as spring water, showing no trace of the filial piety he once had. Instead, he was composed, confident, and calm.

“Cui Geng!” Lu Zizai uttered those two words again.

In fact, he knew that Cui Geng had left long ago, probably the day before he approached this area.

After breaking through his cultivation barrier, the Grandmaster's senses became extraordinary. Just now, with a slight sweep of his spiritual light, he captured the "lingering echo" left by Cui Geng in the meditation room.

Lu Zizai's desire to see Cui Geng was merely a way to put pressure on the Cui family.

Especially at this moment, after he uttered those two words, many people felt as if they had been struck by a sledgehammer. For example, Cui's father turned pale and gripped the armrest of the stone chair tightly, no longer looking at Qin Ming.

“Our ancestor is not in the quiet room. He has most likely gone to the ancestral land or is already traveling far away,” a young man from the direct line of the Cui family reported upon his return.

With the Cui family's patriarch absent, the clan's higher-ups breathed a sigh of relief. Such a formidable force was best kept hidden, never brought to the forefront, to maintain the respect of their opponents.

For example, if Lu Zizai dares to wipe out the Cui family's forces in this small blessed land, then the Cui family patriarch can retaliate in kind and kill the disciples and followers of the Six Imperial Ancestral Court in the future.

Lu Zizai said, "When Cui Geng was young, people said he had the talent of an ancient sage. However, after advancing to the Grandmaster realm, he struggled to break through the barrier despite the passage of time. A year before dealing with the Hunting Civilization, he had a feeling that he was breaking through the barrier in his old age. His ability to avoid danger and seek good fortune is truly extraordinary."

He suspects that the other party foresaw a specific historical cycle in advance and understood many years ago that they would fight a bloody battle with the nomadic civilization and the demon civilization.

The high-ranking members of the Cui family were all expressionless. If anyone else had dared to speak like that, they would have already turned hostile. How many people would dare to ridicule or slander the ancestors of the Cui family?
Cui Changqing said, "This time, our Cui family lost many members on the Western Frontier battlefield. Our ancestor Chongtian Pass has indeed been preparing for this for a year. Moreover, all the patriarchs have given their approval, making him one of the high-end combat forces guarding the rear."

“Cui Geng is a blessed man.” Lu Zizai didn’t say anything more.

He looked at Cui's father and said, "Tell me about the final whereabouts of Qin Ming's grandfather."

The senior members of the Cui family present all had solemn expressions. Lu Zizai was actually taking such personal action for Qin Ming's sake, which showed that the two were very close.

Mr. Cui was tall and imposing, with profound Taoist cultivation. He usually controlled the secular affairs of the Cui family, but now, facing a master-level expert, he was unable to maintain his dignity.

He calmly and honestly told us that although he had met the old man, he ultimately did not know where the old man had actually settled, and only mentioned a few place names.

These cities and ancient towns are consistent with what Uncle Cui said.

“He went far away with the traveling merchants,” Mr. Cui added.

Lu Zizai said, "I want to see a part of your consciousness and spiritual light. Don't worry, I won't pry into your secrets or harm your spiritual origins."

“This…” Some people’s expressions changed.

Some members of the Cui family looked grim, but under immense pressure, they ultimately agreed without batting an eye.

Mr. Cui was relieved. Although he had met Qin Ming's grandfather, as the head of the Cui family, he did not follow up on the whole matter.

Finally, two elderly people stepped forward and opened up their spiritual realm.

After reading it, Lu Zizai nodded to Qin Ming. The Cui family hadn't resorted to underhanded tactics to silence him, and there were no bloody scenes.

Qin Ming breathed a sigh of relief.

“Child…” Cui’s mother spoke again.

Lu Zizai looked at her coldly and said, "From now on, the relationship between you and your husband and Qin Ming is severed. Don't try to morally blackmail him with the feelings that never existed in the past. He was cold and indifferent to the beginning, and there was no affection between you. Stop pretending to be affectionate and showing your motherly side here."

Cui's mother said, "For the past three years, I have really missed him. Even though he is not my biological child, we have been together for ten years. How could I not have any feelings for him?"

“There are some things I don’t want to say a second time. You… step down.” Lu Zizai looked at her calmly.

Then, Cui's mother was lifted into the air, flew backward, rushed out of the window, crossed five courtyards, and finally fell to the ground.

Many members of the Cui family harbored anger, but they could not express it and could only suppress it.

Lu Zizai stared at Cui's father, scrutinizing him, and said, "And you, stop putting on that stern father face. From now on, Qin Ming has nothing to do with you!" Cui's father looked grim, but in the end, he could only grit his teeth and nod.

Then, Lu Zizai spoke again, saying, "Where is Qin Ming's silk scroll? Bring it here!"

For a moment, the hall fell silent, because the book was in the possession of the Cui family patriarch, who had been studying it for many years and was still reading it.

"You mean, Cui Geng took it away?" Lu Zizai's face darkened.

He now appears as a handsome young man of about eighteen, but he is terrifying. As the faint light of dawn spreads, the entire mansion is illuminated, as if the sun is about to rise and ignite this small blessed land.

An elderly man from the Cui family, who was in his early twenties, quickly spoke up, saying, "It is indeed true; our ancestor was studying it."

Lu Zizai said in a deep voice, "Then let's first bring the 'Scripture of Preserving Life' and give it to Qin Ming to read."

This is a world-renowned secret manual with several versions, but the Cui family's version is the best. After mastering it to the highest level, one can extend their lifespan by half a lifetime!

“Okay!” Cui Changqing nodded.

Lu Zizai added, "What I want is the secret chapter, not the one that the Cui family can give away as gifts."

"No!" an elder of the Cui family objected, quite agitated.

Lu Zizai said in a deep voice, "Are you objecting?"

“The Cui family ancestors said that the secret chapters of the ‘Living in the World’ should not be made public…” The old man was unwilling to compromise.

In fact, very few people outside know that the Sutra of the Living World has a secret chapter.

Lu Zizai's face turned cold as he said, "You have been studying the Qin family's silk calligraphy for over a decade, and now that Qin Ming wants to see the Cui family's 'Scripture of Preserving Life,' you can't? Do you really think I've been in a good mood ever since I came here?"

With a soft "poof," the old man was torn to pieces in the main hall, and then burned to ashes in the blinding sunlight, his body and soul vanishing in an instant.

The Cui family's senior members were shocked, and cold sweat broke out on their foreheads. The person in front of them was a patriarch-level figure, whose authority was indeed not to be offended.

Then, the old man, who was over two hundred years old, immediately nodded and ordered someone to fetch the secret scriptures.

Qin Ming didn't stand on ceremony. He took the yellowed ancient book and read it in front of everyone. This famous secret manual in Yezhou no longer held any secrets for him.

He then handed it to Lu Zizai, who flipped through it briefly before tossing it to the elder of the Cui family.

"The silk scroll is the only thing my grandfather left me, and I must get it back," Qin Ming said in the main hall.

The others remained silent, but Cui's father looked at him coldly, as serious and rigid as ever.

With a loud bang, he was sent flying backward, crashing through the palace door and falling dozens of meters away.

Lu Zizai said, "I told you, you two have nothing to do with each other anymore. Don't squander the last bit of 'warmth' you have left. Keep some dignity."

He and Qin Ming then left directly.

"Tell Cui Geng to return the silk scroll as soon as possible." These were Lu Zizai's last words before he left.

No matter how the Cui family tried to conceal it, the news still leaked that day. Although it didn't spread widely, the latest information was placed on the desks of various organizations.

Various rumors gradually began to circulate.

Lu Zizai accompanied Qin Ming, braving the wind and snow, and went straight to the Cui family's ancestral land, intending to block Cui Geng.

However, they came up empty-handed again; the Cui family patriarch was not there.

In this blessed land lived a group of very old men from the Cui family. Even they were terrified by Master Lu's aura.

Qin Ming said, "Senior Brother Lu, he's deliberately avoiding us now, so we definitely won't be able to find him. Let's leave this matter here."

He wasn't in a hurry to retrieve the silk calligraphy, because he already had the subsequent chapters, and they were even a refined version.

The main reason is that, ultimately, he himself needs to settle the score with the Cui family.

A family with a thousand-year history is indeed a behemoth.

Their influence is extensive and has spread to various fields.

For example, the mansion presided over by Cui's father belongs to secular forces. In addition, they also have ancestral lands, hidden lineages, forces in other realms, and the influence of esoteric Buddhism, etc.

It's fair to say that it's very difficult to eradicate them completely in one go.

In particular, Cui Geng's complete hiding after becoming the patriarch has a certain deterrent effect. If he were to retaliate without regard for his reputation, it would be quite troublesome.

Finally, Lu Zizai nodded and said, "Well, I think there are still some people in the Cui family who are not reconciled. They may still be looking forward to Cui Chonghe's rise, believing that he will reach the pinnacle of the ancestral master much faster than you, or even hoping that he will become an earth immortal or a heaven immortal. You should resolve your grudges with the Cui family yourself in the future. Participating in it personally will make you feel more fulfilled and satisfied."

At this time, the news was spreading, and people in the larger organizations already knew what had happened to the Cui family.

"Hiss! Lu Zizai accompanied Qin Ming to the Cui residence, actually forcing this thousand-year-old family to bow their heads!"

"Someone actually died in the main hall of the Cui family. An elder of the Cui family exploded, his body and soul were burned to ashes by the Six Imperial Force."

Many people were shocked and deeply moved.

Cui Chonghe, residing in a secluded paradise, was so enraged upon hearing the details of his family's situation that he slapped a sheer cliff, shattering it and losing his usual ethereal demeanor.

Afterwards, he went to see his master, Sun Taichu.

In the distance, deep within the dark night fog, a group of humans were traveling at breakneck speed. The old man, as if he knew the way well, led the way at the front, heading into Night State.

"The Fog Gate is a bit unreliable. After we stepped out, we've strayed so far from our destination," someone complained.

"It'll be soon, it's not that far away."

"Leaving home young and returning old..." someone murmured to themselves, as if filled with endless emotions.

(End of this chapter)