7: The taste

Arrow-like eagerness to return home.

These four words, Chen Xu had lived for over fifty years, and only today did he truly understand their meaning.

Recalling a year ago, he was expelled from the Sect, his heart ashen, and he traveled south, his future uncertain.

But now, carrying a hundred Spirit Stones and a precious purple essence grass, he walked home with light steps, his heart filled with burning anticipation.

He missed Bu Yifan's gentle smile, and his eldest son Chen Ping's adorable way of clinging to his leg.

He missed the soft, babbling voices of his two daughters.

That small courtyard, covered in vines, was his home, his Dao field.

The carriage was too slow after all. Once outside the Qingyun Mountain range, Chen Xu no longer concealed his cultivation. He activated his Spiritual Qi, employed his movement technique, and sped towards Ninghai Town.

His Qi Refinement Stage level ten cultivation made him as light as a swallow, with wind beneath his feet. The three-hundred-li journey took only half a day.

By the time the familiar outline of Ninghai Town appeared in his sight, it was already dusk.

Chen Xu did not take the main street but instead went around to the south of the town, arriving at his own small courtyard gate with familiar ease.

The courtyard gate was ajar, and warm orange lamplight from the kitchen peeked out, mixed with the aroma of food.

He pushed open the creaking courtyard gate and immediately saw the familiar figure in the yard.

Bu Yifan was kneeling by the vegetable patch, carefully watering some green vegetables.

She was softly humming an unknown tune.

Hearing the gate open, she turned her head, saw Chen Xu standing at the entrance, and was completely stunned.

The next moment, she dropped the water ladle in her hand, stood up in surprise, and quickly ran over.

"You're back!"

Without any extra words, she just tightly gripped Chen Xu's arm, looked up, her eyes first filled with surprise, and then quickly clouded with a layer of mist.

These past few days, though she didn't say it, her heart was constantly worried.

"I'm back."

Chen Xu clasped her slightly cold hand, saw the worry in her eyes, and his heart warmed. He said softly, "I'm fine, everything went smoothly."

He led Bu Yifan to sit on the stone bench in the courtyard, placing the heavy bag of Spirit Stones and the cloth-wrapped purple essence grass on the stone table.

"This is the reward for this mission, a hundred Low-Grade Spirit Stones."

Bu Yifan looked at the bag full of faintly glowing Spirit Stones, covered her mouth, her eyes full of shock.

A hundred Low-Grade Spirit Stones—this was an unimaginable fortune for them both when they were in the Sect.

"This is purple essence grass, a Medium Grade Tier 1 Spirit Medicine. Its medicinal properties are gentle, perfect for regulating the body."

Chen Xu handed the small purple plant to her, explaining, "From now on, I'll use it with the Spiritual Rain Art to make porridge for you and the children. It can strengthen your bodies and benefit Nianfan and Zhiwei's Spiritual Roots."

Bu Yifan looked at the Spiritual Plant, then at Chen Xu's travel-worn but radiant face, and her eyes reddened again.

This man, no matter when or where, always thought of this family.

"Dad!"

A loud shout came from inside the house. Three-year-old Chen Ping peeked his small head from behind the door. Seeing Chen Xu, he immediately scurried out on his short legs and hugged Chen Xu's thigh.

"Dad is back!"

Chen Xu laughed, bent down, picked up his son, and kissed his chubby cheek.

Bu Yifan also smiled, wiping away the tears from the corners of her eyes, and stood up, saying, "Come inside quickly, dinner is just ready. I'll go get the girls from their cradle."

The family gathered around the small dining table. On the table were three simple dishes and a soup, but they were filled with the taste of home.

Chen Xu served his son dishes while occasionally glancing at his two sleeping daughters in the cradle.

His heart was filled with an unprecedented sense of contentment.

This was the Mortal World he would protect with his life.

The following days returned to peace, yet with new changes.

Chen Xu no longer went to the docks or the pharmacy. A hundred Low-Grade Spirit Stones were enough for their family to live comfortably for a long time.

He devoted all his energy to his family and his own Cultivation.

Every day, he would activate the "Spiritual Rain Art," using the spiritual rain to water the vegetable patch in the courtyard and the purple essence grass.

Under the nourishment of Spiritual Qi, ordinary green vegetables became exceptionally vibrant, containing a faint trace of Spiritual Qi.

And the purple essence grass grew even more pleasingly, its leaves becoming increasingly purple, moist, and lustrous.

Every few days, he would pluck a leaf from the purple essence grass, gently brew it into medicinal porridge, and feed it spoon by spoon to Bu Yifan and the children.

The effects were significant.

Bu Yifan's body visibly improved. The Qi and blood she lost from giving birth to three children gradually returned, her complexion was rosy, and her energy was even better than when she was in the Sect.

Although the eldest son, Chen Ping, had no Spiritual Root, under the nourishment of spiritual food, his body became extremely robust. At just over three years old, his strength was greater than that of five or six-year-old children in the town.

As for Chen Nianfan and Chen Zhiwei, who possessed Spiritual Roots, their changes were even greater.

Chen Xu could clearly feel that their faint Spiritual Roots, under this daily nourishment, were slowly but steadily growing stronger.

This made him even more resolute in his Dao.

That evening, after the children had gone to sleep, Bu Yifan leaned in Chen Xu's arms. In the candlelight, she gently stroked Chen Xu's cheek,

Lost in thought.

"What's wrong?"

Chen Xu noticed her unusual behavior.

"Chen Xu, you seem... to be getting younger."

Bu Yifan's voice was a little low, with a hint of subtle, complex emotion.

Chen Xu was startled.

He hadn't paid much attention himself, but Bu Yifan, being with him day and night, naturally saw it most clearly.

The lifespan rewarded by the System had revitalized his body, which should have been declining.

Coupled with his Qi Refinement Stage level ten cultivation, he looked no older than his early thirties, full of vigor.

As for Bu Yifan, although her complexion was very good under his care, she was, after all, a Mortal woman who had given birth to three children. Some fine lines had already quietly crept up around her eyes.

Time had left gentle but irreversible marks on her.

"Silly girl, what are you thinking about?"

Chen Xu held her tighter, pressing a kiss to her forehead: "In my heart, you'll always be that girl in the medicinal garden who blushed and dared not look up the first time she saw me."

Bu Yifan was amused by him, and that hint of unease in her heart vanished.

She buried her face in Chen Xu's chest, feeling his strong heartbeat, and softly said, "Chen Xu... let's have another child."

Chen Xu's body stiffened slightly. He lowered his head.

Looking at his wife's shy yet incredibly serious eyes.

He knew this was her way of expressing love and security.

He nodded heavily: "Okay."

...Time flew by, and another nine months passed.

It was early winter in Ninghai Town, and the weather was a bit cold.

But in Chen Xu's small courtyard, there was a warm joy.

Bu Yifan was pregnant again, and it was already time for her to give birth.

That afternoon, Chen Xu was splitting firewood in the courtyard, preparing to store more for winter.

Suddenly, a somewhat timid voice sounded at the courtyard gate.

"Excuse me... Is Chen Xu, Fellow Daoist Chen, home?"

Chen Xu put down his axe and looked back in confusion.

He saw two women standing at the courtyard gate, both wearing Qingyun Sect Disciple attire.

One had a cold face and an ethereal demeanor; it was Chen Qingqing.

The other was petite and delicate, looking a bit reserved; it was Sun Xiaoyue.

How did they find their way here?

Chen Xu was a little surprised, but he still went forward and opened the courtyard gate: "Fairy Chen, Fellow Daoist Sun, what a rare visit, please come in quickly."

"Brother Chen!"

Sun Xiaoyue seemed very happy to see Chen Xu.

Chen Qingqing also nodded slightly to Chen Xu.

Her gaze, however, subtly surveyed the small courtyard.

The courtyard was not large, but it was meticulously tidy.

The green vegetables in the patch were lush, a stack of chopped firewood lay in the corner, and the stone table and benches were clean, full of the essence of life.

This was completely different from what she had imagined for the residence of a Qi Refinement Stage level ten master.

"How did you..."

Chen Xu led them towards the house.

"We took a mission passing through this area, so we asked Senior Brother Wang Chong for your whereabouts and specifically came to visit."

Chen Qingqing explained, her tone still light, but with a few more touches of courtesy than last time.

Chen Xu pushed open the door, and a wave of warmth enveloped them.

"Yifan, we have guests."

As he spoke, a figure with a huge belly slowly emerged from behind the curtain in the inner room.

It was Bu Yifan.

She saw the two female Cultivators at the door, paused for a moment, then smiled gently: "Please sit, two Fairies. I'll pour you some tea."

Chen Qingqing and Sun Xiaoyue, however, were completely stunned by Bu Yifan's heavily swollen abdomen.

Especially Sun Xiaoyue, her eyes widened, and she subconsciously looked at Chen Xu, then at Bu Yifan, her mouth opened, and a thoughtless remark just tumbled out.

"Brother Chen, your... your wife is pregnant again? This... this is too many children to have..."

As soon as the words left her mouth, she realized she had spoken wrongly.

Her small face instantly flushed crimson, wishing she could find a hole to crawl into.

The atmosphere in the room immediately became a bit awkward.

Chen Qingqing also gave her a helpless glance.

Chen Xu, however, didn't mind, just smiled, and was about to speak.

But Bu Yifan had already walked over, carrying the tea.

She placed the teacups on the table and smiled gently at the embarrassed Sun Xiaoyue: "Fairy Sun, please don't mind. My husband and I both like a lively home. More children mean more blessings."

Her demeanor was graceful, her smile gentle, and with one sentence, she dispelled the awkwardness seamlessly.

Sun Xiaoyue looked at her gratefully and apologized softly: "I'm sorry, sister-in-law, I didn't mean it like that..."

"It's alright."

Bu Yifan smiled and shook her head.

Chen Qingqing watched this scene, and her understanding of Chen Xu's choice deepened.

With a wife like this, what more could a husband ask for?

Perhaps, the warmth of this Mortal World truly touched the heart more than the coldness of the mountains.

The group sat down and exchanged a few pleasantries. Chen Qingqing then stated her purpose.

"Fellow Daoist Chen, besides visiting, we actually have something to ask of you this time."

"Fairy Chen, please speak."

Chen Qingqing's expression became serious: "Recently, a Demonic Cultivator has appeared within the Great Feng Dynasty. This person's methods are extremely cruel, specifically targeting Mortal children with Spiritual Roots!"

"They use their essence blood and souls to Cultivate evil techniques. Several villages and towns have already fallen victim."

"The Sect is furious and has issued the highest Rank pursuit order. Our small teams have joined forces and tracked the Demonic Cultivator's whereabouts to the nearby Black Wind Mountain Range."

She paused, looking at Chen Xu, her eyes sincere: "That Demonic Cultivator's cultivation is profound, estimated to be at least Early Stage Foundation Establishment, and their Cultivation Technique is bizarre, making them extremely difficult to deal with."

"Although we have many people, we lack a Senior who can hold the fort and has rich experience. In the last battle against the Iron-Tongued Demon, Fellow Daoist Chen's composure and adaptability deeply impressed us."

"Therefore, we would like to... earnestly request Fellow Daoist Chen to lend a hand and together slay this fiend."

Slaying a Foundation Establishment Stage Demonic Cultivator!

As soon as these words were spoken, the atmosphere in the room instantly became heavy.

Bu Yifan's hand, holding the teacup, trembled imperceptibly.

Sun Xiaoyue also looked at Chen Xu with anticipation: "Yes, Brother Chen, that Demonic Cultivator is too hateful, only harming children! You are so powerful, if you are willing to help, we will definitely succeed!"

"After it's done, the Sect's rewards are also extremely generous, at least three thousand Spirit Stones, and even the Materials for a foundation establishment pill!"

Three thousand Spirit Stones, foundation establishment pill Materials!

Any one of these was enough to drive Qi Refinement Stage Cultivators mad.

Chen Xu listened quietly, his face expressionless.

He didn't look at the tempting rewards but subconsciously glanced at Bu Yifan's heavily swollen belly.

Then he thought of his two daughters in the cradle, who also possessed Spiritual Roots.

Specifically targeting children with Spiritual Roots... A flash of killing intent crossed his heart.

But immediately, this killing intent was suppressed by reason.

A Foundation Establishment Stage Demonic Cultivator, what kind of concept was that?

That was an existence on another level.

Although he was now at Qi Refinement Stage level ten with a solid Foundation, he was still in Qi Refining after all.

Against a true Foundation Establishment Cultivator, his chances of winning were minuscule.

To go would be to face certain death.

He couldn't afford to die now.

He looked up, meeting Chen Qingqing and Sun Xiaoyue's expectant gazes.

Slowly, he shook his head.

"Apologies, two Fellow Daoists."

"I cannot accept this mission."

His voice was very calm, without the slightest hesitation.

"Why, Brother Chen?"

Sun Xiaoyue grew anxious, "The reward is so high, and it's for the good of the people..."

Chen Qingqing raised her hand to stop her. She looked at Chen Xu, seemingly having anticipated this outcome, and just softly asked, "Can you tell us why?"

Chen Xu stood up, walked to Bu Yifan's side, and gently placed his hand on her shoulder!

He didn't look at Chen Qingqing but at his wife's eyes, slowly saying, "Before, in the Sect, I Cultivated to contend with heaven for life, seeking immortality."

"Now, I Cultivate so that my wife can be at peace, and my children can grow up."

He turned his head, his gaze calmly meeting the two former companions: "My life is no longer just my own. I will not take any risk that might prevent me from returning home."

"So, I apologize."

His words were firm and resolute.

Sun Xiaoyue opened her mouth, unable to utter any more words of persuasion.

Chen Qingqing looked deeply at him, then at the woman beside him, whose eyes were filled with reliance and love.

Finally, it turned into a soft sigh.

She stood up and solemnly bowed to Chen Xu and Bu Yifan: "It was my presumption. Fellow Daoist Chen, I understand your Dao."

After speaking, she said no more, pulled the still somewhat disappointed Sun Xiaoyue, and turned to leave.

After seeing the guests off, Chen Xu closed the courtyard gate.

Inside the house, Bu Yifan, holding her waist, softly asked, "Chen Xu, do you feel... regretful?"

Chen Xu smiled. He walked over and gently embraced her and the child in her belly from behind.

He rested his chin on her shoulder.

"Regretful about what? Regretful about those three thousand Spirit Stones, or the foundation establishment pill Materials?"

He shook his head, his voice filled with unprecedented contentment and resolve.

"Yifan, they don't understand."

"My Great Dao of Immortality, my Foundation Establishment Immortal Fate, are all in this home."

"You all are my greatest Treasure Trove."