In the world of cultivation, one grinds for proficiency and longevity.

Liu Feifei has been living in the Zhou family for over three years, focusing solely on drawing talismans, which has put her under considerable mental and physical stress. Returning to her hometown, she searched in vain for her childhood sweetheart and asked his father for help.

Liu's father stammered, unable to give a coherent explanation for a long time.

Back then, he dared to force his daughter to become the old man's concubine because Liu Feifei was all alone.

Now that he knows that she has a powerful Foundation Establishment family behind her, how could he, a lowly rogue cultivator, dare to offend her?

Liu Feifei didn't hold back either; she beat up his father and then found out her lover's new home address.

When she arrived at the home of her beloved, she was stunned—

The other party has been married for over a year and is currently enjoying romantic moments with his wife under the flowers and moon!

"Xu Bailiang, you heartless bastard, what happened to your vows of eternal love... Do you know how I've survived these past three years?!"

"Feifei, how did you find me? I had no choice..."

"You vixen, you seduced my lover! I'll beat you to death..."

"Feifei, you mustn't hurt Xiumei..."

"You heartless bastard, you're no good either!"

Ultimately, filled with resentment, Liu Feifei decided to kill the two of them.

Fortunately, the cultivators behind him intervened and stopped him.

But the young couple's new home was doomed.

The fireball talisman is incredibly powerful; it can even burn in water. If used to burn down a house, it makes it impossible to put out the fire!

"If you hadn't forced me, why would I have had to run away..."

On the way, Liu Feifei, increasingly angry, rode back to her home, gave her elderly father a good beating, and then rode away triumphantly.

That night, she rushed back to the Zhou family home and reportedly cried for a long time.

Three days later, she told the Zhou family elders that she would stop drawing talismans and that she wanted to get married.

However, she wouldn't marry just anyone; she specifically requested to marry Zhou Guang, who had won first place in the last competition.

I wouldn't mind being his concubine!

Zhou Guang initially refused because he thought Liu Feifei's appearance was not outstanding, but later, after learning that Liu Feifei had a talent for drawing talismans, he nodded in agreement and made her his third concubine.

These all happened after Chen Changqing left.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Thirty years ago, the Zhatian Gang was considered one of the top gangs in Chenzhou Prefecture, with three thousand members and over a hundred innate masters at its peak.

By the time Chen Changqing's father took over, the gang had declined.

However, there are also nearly a thousand people who can be considered the dominant force in Yunmeng County.

Chen Changqing wanted to return discreetly so that no one would notice.

But when he used his divine sense to realize that the current leader of the gang was not his father, Chen Yuanshan, he immediately crashed into the hall where dozens of people were gathered like a cannonball!

Immediately, everyone was on high alert, including several innate masters!

"Who goes there, daring to trespass on the territory of the Exploding Sky Gang!"

The gang leader, Chen Tieshan, stood up, and his appearance bore a striking resemblance to Chen Changqing.

"Big brother, it's you."

Chen Changqing breathed a sigh of relief, withdrew his imposing aura, and transmitted his voice to his elder brother.

He hadn't used any spiritual power just now. However, releasing his innate energy now would increase its power by more than three times!

It terrifies everyone!

"An old friend has come looking for me; let's discuss this another day."

Seeing that Chen Changqing did not reveal his true face, Chen Tieshan calmly dismissed the gang members.

"Brother, how are Father and the others?"

Inside the secret room, Chen Changqing removed his human skin mask.

"Changqing, it really is you! I've missed you so much, brother."

Chen Tieshan wanted to approach Chen Changqing and punch him to show his concern.

But sensing the faint, yet palpable, pressure emanating from the other party, they dared not take a single step forward.

"Brother, you're too kind."

Chen Changqing took the initiative to approach and gently punched his brother in the chest.

The latter is the same, but requires much more effort.

"Father is still the same as ever, coughing, his hidden illness resurfacing. He passed the throne to me not long after you left. Changqing, you have no objections, do you?"

At this point, Chen Tieshan, the leader of the gang, looked at Chen Changqing with slight trepidation.

"How could that be, brother? I'm overjoyed for you... Actually, I came back this time to say goodbye to you all."

"What! Changqing...you..."

Chen Changqing interrupted him, "Brother, let's not talk about that now. How are Mother and my sister?"

"Mother is doing well, but she often talks about you. My younger sister got married last year; her husband is a handsome scholar."

Chen Tieshan grabbed Chen Changqing's hand and said, "Come with me to see Mom and Dad."

However, Chen Changqing remained unmoved, his face showing little joy at the reunion with his family after three years of separation.

"No. 'It's hard to meet and hard to part,' I'll just watch from afar."

"You bastard!"

Just as Chen Tieshan was feeling somewhat embarrassed and awkward, the door was kicked open, and an elderly man of about fifty or sixty years old entered.

The old man was slightly hunched over, with gray hair, but his eyes were reserved yet sharp, and he still exuded the powerful aura of someone who had long held a high position.

Her face bore a resemblance to the two people inside the house.

"Changqing greets Father!" Chen Changqing greeted him immediately.

Chen Tieshan was slightly surprised. "Father, what brings you here?"

"The Grand Elder told me that a young master of the Innate Realm had come to the gang and intimidated everyone. I really couldn't imagine when such a person appeared in the martial arts world, so I came to take a look because I was worried."

Chen Yuanshan responded to Chen Tieshan, but since entering the room, his eyes had never left Chen Changqing. "I didn't expect it to be this... this bastard..."

Chen Yuanshan originally wanted to call Chen Changqing by his childhood nickname "Qingbao," but dissatisfied with what the latter had just said, he changed his address.

"Father, my brother must have had a tough time in the cultivation world. He even brought us a gift when he came back this time."

Chen Tieshan grabbed Chen Changqing's shoulder and gave him a sharp look: "Don't you think so, Changqing?"

The implication was as if to tell Chen Changqing, "Brother, it's alright if you come back empty-handed; your older brother will prepare a gift for you to please Mom and Dad later."

Chen Changqing thought this might be his last time with his family and didn't want to make things unpleasant. "Dad, it's not that I don't want to see you, but..."

"Changqing, I understand and sympathize with your desire for enlightenment, but it doesn't matter if you don't see me. Your mother often calls out your childhood name in her dreams, afraid that you are not doing well over there... That's why I'm angry."

Then he added, "I know the world of cultivation is ever-changing, but what's most important to a person? It's living well in the present!"

Whether you come back next time or when, I don't care! This time you're back, you should spend some quality time with your mother!

"Father is right, it was I who was wrong," Chen Changqing replied after a moment of silence.

Immediately, as if by magic, he took out a pile of gifts from his storage bag: five hundred taels of gold, several innate secret manuals... as well as rare and precious items such as Qi-nourishing pills, longevity pills, and youth-preserving pills.

His well-informed older brother and father were completely astonished.

"Brother, with these secret manuals, your cultivation will surely advance even further."

"Father, these pills can strengthen the body and prolong life."

"And these youth-preserving pills can keep you looking young for five or ten years. Brother, give one to your sister-in-law and sister, and the rest to Mother."

Just then, Chen Changqing's mother, Chen, came in, and the family was all very happy together.

"My Qingbao looks younger and more handsome than before after not seeing him for several years."

After a short while, Madam Chen took Chen Changqing's hand and examined it closely. Then, she changed the subject: "Qingbao, you haven't found a girlfriend yet, have you? Let me tell you, Qingxue is a wonderful girl..."

"Is she... alright?"

Chen Changqing had just opened his mouth when he seemed to regret it.

"Sigh," Chen sighed, "It's not very good. You should go and take a look."

……