A thousand enlightenments in one night, starting from being a menial apprentice.

After leaving the valley where Lü Yinlin lived in seclusion, Duan Rong returned to the Lü family residence.

The last time he stayed at the Lü family residence was more than a year ago, during the time he was cultivating the Great Vajra Mandala at the mountain statue of the sect.

For over a year afterward, he didn't set foot in the Lü family mansion at all. Several months ago, when he was trying to comprehend the first step of condensing his Nascent Soul, he did consider going back, and even saw Shen'er and Qian'er playing in the courtyard, but he still turned around and left. He truly passed by his own home without entering.

Having finally achieved the Nascent Soul Realm, the obsession with cultivation in his heart seemed to have faded considerably. Recalling the arduous cultivation of the past six or seven years, it seemed that only cultivation existed in his mind. Qingzhu, Xiaoyu, Shen'er, and Qian'er seemed to have been forgotten by him. Although he had returned once or twice during this period, he was absent-minded. His mind was always preoccupied with cultivation and had not been on them at all.

Over the years, he has truly neglected them, especially Shen'er and Qian'er, as they grew up; he spent far too little time with them.

Duan Rong returned to the Lü family residence in the afternoon. The family was overjoyed, and Li Baoyue prepared a feast to welcome Duan Rong back. Xiao Yu and Zhu Xiaoqi also went to help.

Duan Rong then played chess with Shen'er and Qian'er in the courtyard.

Shen'er and Qian'er learned chess from Lü Zhongtang. Lü Zhongtang was originally a man of leisure, and with Shen'er and Qian'er as companions, he could be said to have often enjoyed the happiness of family in his later years, which brought him great joy. He played with these two boys almost every day.

When Duan Rong said he wanted to play chess with them, both little ones insisted on going first. After a brief argument, Shen'er finally gave in to Qian'er.

Duan Rong silently observed the two little ones. After not seeing them for several years, their personalities had become noticeably different: Shen'er was steady and composed, while Qian'er was quick-witted.

Duan Rong played two games with each of them to test their strategies.

Qian'er is a bit impatient when playing chess; although he is skillful, he often moves impulsively. Shen'er, on the other hand, can concentrate and think things through before making a move.

Both were still young, and it was impossible to tell who was better on the chessboard, but their attitudes were already very different.

After Duan Rong played two games with them, he let them play by themselves while he went to the pavilion to drink tea with Lü Zhongtang.

As soon as they sat down in the pavilion, Lü Zhongtang laughed and said, "How about it? Aren't these two lads fun? Especially Qian'er, he's got so many mischievous ideas, it's hilarious."

Duan Rong smiled, took a sip of tea, and said quietly, "Shen'er is more composed."

Lü Zhongtang laughed and said, "Shen'er is good, but he's too honest. He's half a year older than Qian'er, and when they're together, he listens to Qian'er on many things."

"Is that so?" Duan Rong smiled. Although he hadn't seen it with his own eyes, he had basically guessed what Lü Zhongtang was saying. Shen'er was steady and modest, and he must have been very tolerant and loving towards his clever younger brother.

Lu Zhongtang's eyes suddenly lit up, and he said, "Zhu He came to see me half a month ago."

Duan Rong raised an eyebrow and said, "My master has been here?"

“Hmm.” Lu Zhongtang said, “After I retired, I basically had no contact with anyone. So, I was quite surprised when he came over half a month ago.”

"He must have come for something, right?" Duan Rong asked, taking a sip of tea.

Lü Zhongtang said, "They didn't say what they wanted to do. They just said they wanted to come and see me and catch up."

"Is that so?" Duan Rong's eyes flickered slightly. Zhu He, now the sect leader, still has this kind of skill.

Lu Zhongtang glanced at Duan Rong and said, "However, after he chatted for a few minutes, he kept steering the conversation toward you."

Duan Rong said, "Trying to drag me into this?"

"Yes." Lü Zhongtang said, "I asked you if you've been back in the past year or so? And you mentioned the strange celestial phenomenon that stretched for hundreds of miles in the Changliu Mountains three months ago, and asked me what my opinion was?"

Upon hearing this, Duan Rong chuckled to himself, thinking to himself: "That old rascal Zhu He probably guessed something, so he came to Lü Zhongtang to sound him out."

After Duan Rong and Lü Zhongtang chatted for a while, Li Baoyue came over to call them to take their seats.

At the banquet, everyone drank and chatted happily, and each person drank quite a bit of alcohol.

After the banquet, everyone dispersed, and Duan Rong stayed overnight in Lü Qingzhu's room.

Shen'er stopped sleeping with her mother two years ago and has her own room in this courtyard. Qian'er often runs over from Xiao Yu's courtyard to share a room with him.

At this moment, the night was still and quiet.

In Lü Qingzhu's room, only a dim lamp was lit.

The two sat on the edge of the bed, with Lü Qingzhu resting her eyes on Duan Rong's shoulder, the lamplight illuminating her beautiful face.

Duan Rong gazed at her quietly, his heart filled with tenderness. Their hands were clasped together, and they could feel each other's breath.

Lu Qingzhu's heart was calm and gentle. She could sense that Duan Rong was different this time. It wasn't his cultivation level, but his heart. Even when they were together before, Duan Rong would sit next to her, but his heart was not with her.

But tonight was different. Duan Rong's heart was with her, and this moment was very precious to her. She closed her eyes and leaned on Duan Rong's shoulder, silently feeling the tranquility of this tender affection.

Duan Rong did not disturb Qingzhu for a long time, quietly holding her hand. He had checked Qingzhu's realm and found that she had reached the fourth level of the Qi Cyclone Realm in the past few years. He estimated that she was not far from the Great Perfection of the Qi Cyclone Realm.

Once Qingzhu reaches the Great Perfection of the Qi Cyclone Realm, she will go to Chu Wushang to try to condense the Cave of Clarity. The most important step in this process is to overcome all inner demons.

Duan Rong was not worried about this hurdle.

Because Qingzhu is a very pure-hearted person, it would probably be easier for her to overcome her inner demons than for me. Moreover, her purity is accompanied by an indomitable tenacity, just like a lone plum blossom on a cliff.

Duan Rong gently stroked the soft leaves of the green bamboo, believing that one day the bamboo would also condense a nascent soul. In that case, they could become an eternal couple, living forever together.

Lü Qingzhu gently opened her eyes. She was still leaning on Duan Rong's shoulder, smiling at him, and said, "Why aren't you saying anything?"

Duan Rong smiled, smoothed Lü Qingzhu's hair, and said, "I was afraid of disturbing your peace of mind."

Lu Qingzhu stared blankly at Duan Rong. There was a hint of consideration in her words. She sat up and said, "Your state of mind is a little different this time you came back."

"Is that so?" Duan Rong smiled and said, "Before, I was so focused on my cultivation that I was like a horse pulling a cart uphill, with no time to think about anything else. Even after I came back, I was absent-minded and somewhat neglected your feelings." As Duan Rong spoke, he squeezed Lü Qingzhu's hand.

Lü Qingzhu laughed and said, "When did you become a horse?"

Duan Rong laughed and said, "That's just a metaphor. From now on, I'll stay at home more often, but Qingzhu, you also need to cultivate diligently so that we can be a long-lasting couple."

Lü Qingzhu nodded, her gaze filled with tenderness.

Duan Rong took her hand and said, "Qingzhu, there's something else I need to tell you."

Lü Qingzhu said softly, "Yes, go ahead."

Duan Rong lowered his head slightly, then looked up again and said to Lü Qingzhu, "Qingzhu, I have already reached the Nascent Soul Realm."

Lu Qingzhu's eyes widened slightly in surprise, but she quickly understood and smiled, "Husband, then you will be the patriarch from now on."

Duan Rong said, "The Ancestor told me to keep this a secret for now. But I thought there was no need to hide it from you."

Lü Qingzhu stared blankly at Duan Rong and said, "Husband, rest assured, I will only keep this to myself and will not say anything."

"I know." Duan Rong gently touched Qingzhu's face, and Qingzhu's lips lightly touched his palm.

Lu Qingzhu suddenly looked at Duan Rong and smiled, "Husband, may I see your nascent soul? I saw the ancestor's true nascent soul once, but the ancestor was very fierce, so I didn't dare to look too much. I've just been very curious." Duan Rong smiled and said, "No one else can. If you want to see, I'll call him out."

"Hmm. Husband, I want to see." Lü Qingzhu was clearly intrigued. "But wouldn't that be a bit sacrilegious? That's your nascent soul, my true form."

Duan Rong smiled, and with a thought, his original nascent soul appeared above his head.

A light instantly shone in Lü Qingzhu's eyes.

The nascent soul itself was like an infant, naked all over, covered in glass, and shimmering with a faint golden light. In the dim room, it seemed as if a celestial being or Buddha had descended, illuminating the entire room with brilliance.

The nascent soul looked at Lü Qingzhu with displeasure.

Lu Qingzhu's eyes were filled with even more curiosity. She circled around the nascent soul, looking back and forth, because the nascent soul looked nine-tenths like Duan Rong.

Lü Qingzhu said, "It's so similar! Husband, you looked just like this when you were little, didn't you?"

Duan Rong touched his nose and said, "I don't remember what I looked like when I was this young. But it should be roughly the same."

Lü Qingzhu's eyes flickered, and she suddenly asked, "Husband, can it talk?"

Although Lü Qingzhu had seen Lü Yinlin's true form and nascent soul, she had never seen the nascent soul speak. This question had been lingering in her mind for a long time, and now she finally asked Duan Rong this question that had been weighing on her mind for many years.

Before Duan Rong could speak, the nascent soul body retorted angrily, "I'm not mute, why can't I speak?"

The voice was very similar to Duan Rong's, only the tone was slightly immature.

Lu Qingzhu was both surprised and delighted, and said, "Oh, you really know how to talk. Your voice is just like my husband's."

Duan Rong watched Lü Qingzhu's joyful curiosity, just like a child, and smiled without saying a word, his eyes filled with doting affection.

After watching for a while, Lü Qingzhu suddenly moved even closer, looking between the legs of the Nascent Soul's true form. The Nascent Soul noticed Lü Qingzhu's gaze and immediately flew into a rage, saying, "You lecherous scoundrel..."

The nascent soul cursed, but he also knew the relationship between Lü Qingzhu and Duan Rong. Judging from Lü Qingzhu's attitude, she practically treated him like another son. Unable to bear the humiliation, the nascent soul returned directly to Duan Rong's dantian and refused to come out no matter how Duan Rong called it.

Lü Qingzhu asked, "Why did he go back by himself?"

Duan Rong laughed and asked, "Where were you looking just now?"

Lu Qingzhu blushed slightly and said, "I'm just curious. Does he have a penis?"

The nascent soul, located within Duan Rong's dantian, felt even more suffocated upon hearing Lü Qingzhu's words.

Duan Rong said, "He's not Shen'er."

Upon hearing Duan Rong's words, Lü Qingzhu's face turned even redder. In truth, she had simply been curious at the time, and being someone who couldn't hide her feelings, especially in front of Duan Rong, she had looked directly at him out of curiosity. Looking back now, she realized that it was somewhat inappropriate.

Duan Rong reached out and flicked Lü Qingzhu's nose, saying, "You're like a child seeing snow for the first time."

Upon hearing this, Lü Qingzhu raised her head, her eyes still brimming with curiosity, and asked, "So, does he actually have one?"

Duan Rong couldn't help but laugh and replied, "The Hidden Manifestation of the Horse's Yin is one of the thirty-two auspicious signs of the Nascent Soul stage. Do you think it exists?"

(Note: Yin refers to an organ that is hidden and not outwardly visible, hence the term Yin Zang. It resembles the genitals of a horse, hence the term Ma Yin Zang.)
Upon hearing this, Lü Qingzhu understood and stopped asking questions.

The two chatted for a while longer, then turned off the lights and fell asleep in each other's arms on the bed.

The next day, after waking up and having breakfast, Duan Rong returned to Xiao Yu's courtyard.

He summoned Shen'er and Qian'er and began to study and teach them calligraphy.

Shen'er and Qian'er are still young and their bones are flexible. Practicing martial arts could easily injure their muscles and bones, so we'll have to wait a few more years. In the past few years, they have already learned quite a bit of calligraphy and poetry.

In this respect, just like with chess, it was Lü Zhongtang who taught them.

Lu Zhongtang was of the Lu family lineage and had a family tradition of learning from a young age. He had put in a lot of effort in poetry, calligraphy and literature, so he was more than capable of teaching Shen'er and Qian'er.

Although Lü Zhongtang was a descendant of a prestigious family, he could not compare to Duan Rong, who, by devouring the spirits of artifacts, had already established himself as a master in the arts of poetry, calligraphy, and painting.

His perspective on teaching Shen'er and Qian'er is naturally different.

Duan Rong first had them each write a piece of calligraphy, and after a glance, he already knew the general idea of ​​it.

Shen'er is clearly much better than Qian'er in calligraphy, especially in terms of solid fundamentals. There's nothing special about it; he's just willing to put in the effort.

Although Qian'er tried her best to write the calligraphy beautifully, she hadn't worked hard enough before, and her writing was awkward in many ways.

Duan Rong first called Qian'er over, picked up a brush and wrote the character "永" on the calligraphy template, then told Qian'er, "Don't underestimate this character '永'. This is the Eight Principles of the Character '永'. If you can master this character, you can write all the other characters as well."

Qian'er held the calligraphy scroll with shining eyes and said, "Father, I will practice hard."

Duan Rong said, "Yes, go ahead."

Qian'er took the words and left happily.

Shen'er looked on with envy, then turned her head and whispered, "Father, I want to practice too."

Duan Rong patted Shen'er's head and said, "Shen'er, your basic skills are already quite good. You don't need to practice the Eight Principles of Yong anymore. Father will teach you personally."

Shen'er looked up, her eyes filled with delight. "Father is going to teach me personally?"

Duan Rong has rarely been home in recent years. Even when he does come back, he only plays with the two brothers once at most. Shen'er and Qian'er have gotten used to this.

Being able to write a piece of calligraphy for them to copy was already a great joy for them. Shen'er dared not imagine that Duan Rong would personally teach him.

Duan Rong looked at Shen'er's joyful expression, but felt a pang of sadness. A harmonious scene between father and son was one of the most beautiful things in the world, but over the years, he seemed to have owed Shen'er and Qian'er far too much. However, it wasn't too late to make amends now.

Duan Rong then began to personally teach Shen'er. Shen'er was originally an extremely serious and down-to-earth person, and now that Duan Rong was teaching him, he was even more dedicated.

Duan Rong had already thoroughly understood the art of calligraphy, and his explanations were both profound and easy to understand. He also personally demonstrated and corrected Shen'er's skills.

Qian'er practiced calligraphy alone for a while, but when she didn't see Shen'er coming over, she went to find Shen'er again. There she saw Duan Rong teaching Shen'er to write, and she was immediately envious, so she quietly came over.

When Duan Rong saw him arrive, he told him, "Qian'er, you must practice your calligraphy to the level of your elder brother. Your father will also teach you step by step. First, practice the Eight Principles of Yong well."

"Hmm." Qian'er responded, then sighed and looked at Shen'er's handwriting with envy. Duan Rong noticed Qian'er's expression and said, "Qian'er, come here, let Daddy go through the Eight Principles of Yong with you again."

So Duan Rong took Qian'er and taught her the Eight Principles of Yong, stroke by stroke, until she had written them all down.

Xiao Yu brought over the tea and happened to witness this scene, a warm feeling welling up in her heart… (End of Chapter)