Family Cultivation: My Ancestral Home Gets Infinite Upgrades

Chapter 116 Grudges in the Cave

Qinglu Mountain Top.

The last rays of the setting sun slowly sank below the western horizon.

Jiang Fu'an stood atop the mountain, holding Xuan'er in his arms, his gaze fixed on the winding path leading down the mountain, his brows furrowing into a shallow trench.

Why hasn't Stone gotten home yet?

During this period, Shi Tou would return to Qinglu Mountain every five days.

I usually set off from Moonlit Town in the afternoon and arrive home in the evening.

After having a hot meal and resting, they made their way back under the cover of night, and thankfully arrived back at Lingfu Pavilion the next morning.

This pattern has remained almost unchanged for months.

"Grandpa, why hasn't Father come back yet?"

Xuan'er's soft, sweet voice pulled Jiang Fu'an back to reality.

He forced a smile: "Perhaps I was too busy at the shop today and was delayed."

"Let's go back and eat first. Maybe Dad will be home soon."

He turned around, picked up Xuan'er, and walked towards the courtyard.

Although he comforted his granddaughter in this way, he was still worried.

He calmly brought up the stone's data panel.

Age: 20

[Cultivation Level: Qi Refining Level 5]

[Physical Body: Comparable to a mid-stage Tier 1 Spirit Beast]

Lifespan: (80-40) + 34

[Hidden injuries: 2 (reducing lifespan by 22 + 18 years)]

When the "Hidden Injuries" section came into view, Jiang Fu'an suddenly paused.

After several years of nourishing through "dietary therapy," the hidden injuries in Shi Tou's body have largely healed.

Just a few days ago, when he checked, the panel only showed one hidden injury, which would reduce his lifespan by twenty-two years.

In other words, not long ago, most likely today, the stone suffered a new hidden injury, and lost eighteen years of its lifespan!

The first thing that came to his mind was the "Blood Burning Curse," which Stone must have used again!

And the time is very likely to be this afternoon on my way home!

Jiang Fu'an had considered the possibility that his son might be robbed on his way home.

But with Stone's current strength, ordinary cultivators are no match for him.

Moreover, he didn't have any particularly valuable items on him, so who would target him?

Jiang Fu'an quickly realized another serious problem:

The weakened state after casting the Blood Burning Curse can make a mid-stage Qi Refining cultivator even weaker than an early-stage one.

If we encounter danger again—

Thinking of this, Jiang Fu'an immediately had the idea of ​​rushing down the mountain to help.

But today is Ning Zhiyuan's first day up the mountain.

I haven't figured out this person's background yet. If I leave now, what if he harbors ulterior motives and harms Qinglu Mountain and my family?

"Grandpa?"

Xuan'er looked up at him in confusion, tugging at his clothes with her small hand: "Why aren't you leaving?"

Jiang Fu'an started walking again: "It's okay, let's go back and eat first."

Back at the mansion, he handed Xuan'er over to Su Wanqing and then went straight to the talisman room in the backyard.

He still decided to go find the stone.

Xiangqian is now a mid-stage Qi Refining cultivator. Although he lacks practical combat experience, he should still be able to protect his entire family with the help of the "Golden Light Array".

As for the valuable items such as the spiritual bamboo and spiritual rice on Qinglu Mountain, they couldn't care less about that.

The safety of the stone is the most important thing.

Meanwhile, hundreds of miles away, in a secluded cave in a desolate mountain wilderness.

A pile of dry firewood was burning brightly, with orange-red flames leaping and occasionally crackling softly.

Beside the fire, a fair, jade-like ankle emerged from beneath a haphazardly piled-up dress.

Its owner was a beautiful woman with disheveled hair and rumpled clothes, who was lying diagonally on an animal skin spread on the ground.

Her cheeks were flushed, her chest rose and fell slightly with her rapid breathing, and fine beads of sweat glistened on her forehead.

She rested for a while before she felt some strength returning to her body.

She raised her eyelids, her eyes, which held a hint of allure, glancing at the darkness at the edge illuminated by the firelight.

There, a figure was lying sprawled out, also trying to catch his breath.

She suddenly snorted coldly: "Didn't you say before that when the Blood Burning Curse was activated, you couldn't muster any strength at all?"

"Then where did that strength come from?"

The stone in the corner was completely naked at the moment, but he was too lazy to cover himself up.

Having experienced an unexpected "healing" experience, he no longer cared about the other person's gaze.

He gazed at the jagged rocks on the cave ceiling, his tone tinged with contentment: "That was before. After you healed my wounds, my strength began to slowly return."

Having entered a state of "wise manhood," he was much more clear-headed and unwilling to dwell on the topic any longer. Instead, he asked, "Now, you should tell me, right?"

"Who exactly wants me dead? And how did you manage to arrive at this crucial moment?"

The beautiful woman raised an eyebrow, her tone tinged with reproach: "You heartless bastard, you've slept with me twice already, and you didn't even ask my name first? All you do is think about your enemy!"

Shi Tou choked for a moment, realizing he was indeed in the wrong.

"So what's your name? Are you currently a rogue cultivator, or have you joined a faction?"

'

The beautiful woman didn't answer, but a sly smile played on her lips as she continued, "Before asking me, shouldn't you have introduced yourself first? Don't you understand the importance of reciprocity?"

Stone was speechless for a moment, feeling like he was being led by the nose, yet every word she said made sense.

Recalling the enchanting scene in the cave, how the other person first healed his wounds, and then—

In any case, they are no longer enemies at the moment.

He frankly stated, "Jiang Xiangchun is a member of the Jiang family of Qinglu Mountain."

The beautiful woman's smile deepened, seemingly quite pleased with his honesty.

She stopped beating around the bush and said simply, "Bai Lan. Just call me Sister Bai."

"Before, I was a destitute rogue cultivator who made a living in the Moon Spirit Market area by killing and robbing."

"Later on—I ran into some ruthless thief who swept away all my accumulated possessions, greatly diminishing my cultivation and abilities. I could no longer continue this business of cultivating through tribulation."

As she spoke, she gave Shi Tou a sidelong glance, seemingly both angry and resentful: "I had no choice but to find a backer and join an organization called the 'Rebirth Society' to barely make a living."

"Afterlife meeting"? "

Stone felt the name sounded familiar. After a moment's thought, he suddenly remembered: "Those men who ambushed me today, weren't they the ones who shouted that they were from the 'Rebirth Society' before they died?"

Bai Lan nodded: "That's right. I'm one of them."

"Otherwise, how could I possibly be so lucky as to know they were going to ambush and kill you today?"

Stone nodded, and the question was answered.

But his brows immediately furrowed again: "Is this 'Rebirth Society' very powerful? Why do they want to kill me? I asked myself if I had offended them."

9

"I advise you not to inquire about the depth of the Rebirth Assembly now."

Bai Lan's tone became more serious: "The leader is a Foundation Establishment cultivator, and there are at least dozens of experts below him who are at the late Qi Refining stage."

"Stop thinking about revenge for now."

She noticed the fleeting glint of ferocity in Shi Tou's eyes, and immediately poured cold water on it before continuing, "They killed you on a commission. Someone offered three hundred low-grade spirit stones for your head."

"I happened to be there when they discussed this matter that day and saw the whole thing."

"A commission?!"

Stone looked astonished: "I've always been careful in my dealings in the market and have never made such a deadly enemy. Who would be willing to spend three hundred spirit stones to take my life?"

""

Bai Lan looked at his incredulous face and sneered, "What, do you think those rogue cultivators who died at your hands before all sprang from cracks in rocks?"

"Don't they have any relatives, friends, or associates?"

Shi Tou was taken aback, then remembered that he had indeed killed many attacking rogue cultivators at Qinglu Mountain.

If their relatives or friends seek revenge—

A cold glint flashed in his eyes, but he wasn't particularly afraid.

Once he recovers from his injuries, he can go and find these powerless rogue cultivators one by one.

"Do you know which 'victim's' relatives or friends were responsible?"

He pressed for details.

Bai Lan shook her head: "None of that. Most of the relatives and friends of those rogue cultivators who died at your hands were also struggling people from the bottom of society. Where would they get the money to hire someone?"

Her expression turned serious: "I've secretly investigated. The person who commissioned this is Zhao Linlan, the current manager of 'Qiankun Pavilion' in Yueling Market."

"Qiankun Pavilion?!"

Stone was truly dumbfounded this time, almost doubting that he had misheard: "How could it be them? Although our Spirit Talisman Pavilion is somewhat of a competitor with them, it's far from a life-or-death struggle!"

"Didn't expect that, did you?"

Bai Lan smiled wryly: "At first, I couldn't understand it either. After making many inquiries, I found out that it wasn't just your Spirit Talisman Pavilion."

"Many shops in Yuelingfang City have suffered from their exclusion and suppression, whether openly or covertly."

"This Qiankun Pavilion has an extremely powerful background. It is said that its branches are spread throughout the entire Qingyun Continent. It is a truly powerful and influential behemoth, far beyond our ability to provoke."

Her words were filled with a deep sense of powerlessness.

Shi Tou gasped.

It is said that the Azure Cloud Continent is vast and boundless, with countless countries, immortal sects, and cultivation families.

If Qiankun Pavilion's business can spread throughout the continent, there must be a Nascent Soul Ancestor behind it, and probably more than one!

"Actually, when I learned that Qiankun Pavilion was buying your life through the Rebirth Association, I wanted to warn you in advance so that you could escape far away."

"Unfortunately, your Spirit Talisman Pavilion has long been targeted."

"You've been staying in the market all day recently, so I haven't been able to find a chance to see you alone."

After explaining, Bai Lan earnestly advised, "Listen to me, don't go back to Moon Spirit Market. It's best not to go back to Qinglu Mountain right away either."

"I'm worried that if Zhao Linlan sees that you're still alive, she'll escalate the situation and even resort to more drastic measures."

"You should lie low for a while, and we'll talk again once things have calmed down."

Shi Tou shook his head firmly: "I must go back to Qinglu Mountain. My father, my mother, my whole family are there."

Before he could finish speaking, his expression changed, and he forced himself to stand up: "Oh no! My dad must still be waiting for me on the mountain!"

"I should have been here by now, I wonder how anxious he is!"

Seeing that he was leaving so abruptly, Bai Lan quickly stopped him, saying, "Hey! What's the rush? Your injuries haven't healed and you haven't regained your strength. It's the middle of the night, how dangerous is that?"

"Let's rest for the night and set off again at dawn tomorrow!"

Shi Tou tried to lift his arm; although it was still sore and weak, he had regained the strength to move around normally.

Without further hesitation, he grabbed the scattered clothes beside him and began to put them on: "I can't wait. I must go back immediately and tell my father about Qiankun Pavilion so that the family can take precautions."

"Every moment of delay increases the danger."

Seeing that he was determined and couldn't be persuaded, Bai Lan's anger flared up. She was both anxious and furious: "You heartless bastard! I risked exposure to come all this way to rescue you and heal your wounds, and you just leave me alone in this desolate mountain cave?"

Shi Tou paused in tying his belt, looked at her with apologetic eyes, and said, "Sister Bai, I'm sorry. I will remember your kindness and repay it in the future."

"But this matter concerns the life and death of my family, so I really can't stay."

Seeing that she couldn't stop him, Bai Lan's eyes flickered, and she suddenly reached out and pulled the loosely draped gauze robe on her body to the side, instantly exposing her snow-white skin to the air.

Her voice suddenly softened and became gentle: "But you clearly promised me you'd repay my life-saving grace three times. You've only done it twice; are you trying to renege on your promise for the last time?"

Stone's gaze swept over the dazzling expanse of creamy white skin and alluring curves, his Adam's apple bobbing involuntarily, and his breathing becoming heavier.

But in just a moment, the image of Jiang Fu'an, perhaps anxiously looking around from the top of Qinglu Mountain, overshadowed all romantic thoughts.

He forced himself to look away and quickly tied the last strap: "I'm sorry—Sister Bai, I really can only owe you this time."

"If I manage to get through the Qiankun Pavilion and survive, you can go to—"

He had intended to say, "Come find me at Qinglu Mountain," but then he remembered that his father had always been extremely wary of this female cultivator, so he changed his words: "You can find me at the Spirit Talisman Pavilion in Yueling Market."

Seeing that he was determined to leave and there was no room for negotiation, Bai Lan sighed softly and stopped trying to stop him.

He simply pointed to a few dusty bags piled up in the corner of the cave: "Never mind—you can go now. Remember to take four storage bags with you."

Stone quickly walked to the corner, and without even picking them out, bent down and randomly picked up four storage bags, stuffing them into his clothes.

He turned back to Bai Lan, who looked dejected by the fire, clasped his hands in a respectful bow, and said, "Sister Bai, I will remember your life-saving grace today."

Having said that, he didn't linger any longer, and in a flash, he darted out of the cave and disappeared into the deep night outside.

A moment later, a horse neighed not far from outside the cave.

Immediately afterwards, the sound of horses' hooves striking the pavement rang out, clattering and clattering—

From near to far, from clear to blurry, it finally blended completely into the silence of the wilderness.

The cave fell silent again, with only the crackling sound of burning firewood.

Bai Lan stared at the empty cave entrance, where only boundless darkness remained.

After a long pause, he muttered under his breath, "Heartless—filthy man."

She lowered her head, her gaze falling on her body, which gleamed like ivory in the firelight.

After a moment of silence, I reached out and gently stroked my chest and waist with both hands.

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