On the Path to the Great Dao

"Should I stamp Sang Yu's butt too?"

Under the divine tree, a sudden thought popped into Chen Shi's mind. "Sang Yu is Huangpo Village's godmother. The villagers of Huangpo Village revere her as their godmother. Regardless of whether I enshrine her or not, she already has her natural territory."

He pondered thoughtfully.

Spirits like Sang Yu, who possessed natural territories, didn't require his intervention. The common folk would naturally revere and gather around her, forming villages or even towns.

If he used the Western King Jade Seal to forcibly intervene, it would only disrupt the natural balance between the villagers and their godmother.

"

Mastering the jade seal doesn't mean doing whatever one pleases. There are things to do and things to leave alone.

Having power and meddling in everything will only lead to mistakes."

He gained some insight into the responsibilities of the jade seal's wielder.

Old Lady Wuzhu, though leaning on her cane, walked swiftly. In no time, she returned to Huangpo Village and headed straight to Chen Shi's home. Seeing Chen Shi sitting under the tree cultivating, she laughed. "Scholar, still sitting there? Your dad's back!"

Chen Shi nearly derailed into qi deviation from her words. His heart raced with panic as he hurriedly stood up and asked, "Chen Tang's back? Where is he?"

"Just now, he was paying respects at your grandpa's grave. I whacked him a few times with my cane."

As Old Lady Wuzhu spoke, she turned her head and spotted a tall young man in scholar's robes walking toward them. She laughed.

"Speak of Chen Tang, and here he comes. No need to mind me, you father and son chat. This old lady has to go home for dinner."

Creation Little Five passed by her side, growing angrier the more he thought about it. "Damn that little old hag, she hit me several times with her stick. I ought to kill her.

But her flesh is tough, not tasty."

No sooner had the thought crossed his mind than Old Lady Wuzhu's cane smacked his butt. She scolded, "Be nicer to your son! He's had it the hardest!"

Creation Little Five took another hit and flew into a humiliated rage, puzzled inwardly. "My son? Right, Chen Tang's son.

Old Lady Five Bamboo's eyes are dim; she mistook me for my brother Chen Tang.

Fine then. Dad's dead, so I'll kill his brother's son for revenge and then go kill Chen Tang!"

He stepped forward, glancing at Li Tianqing nearby before shifting his gaze to Chen Shi.

Though Chen Shi was young, his features were maturing, bearing some resemblance to Chen Yindu.

Creation Little Five sized up Chen Shi, seeing Chen Yindu's shadow in him. He thought, "So he's Chen Shi? He's grown a lot taller than before.

I've seen Chen Shi before.

Chen Yindu would return to Huangpo Village during festivals, and Creation Little Five sometimes followed. One year, Chen Tang held up a chubby baby boy for them to see, beaming proudly. 'This is my son!'"

"Back then, Creation Little Five had already turned over a new leaf, no longer eating ordinary people and switching to cultivators. Still, Chen Shi looked delicious—like a steamed bun he wanted to pick up with chopsticks, tilt his head back, and pop into his mouth.

Dad Chen Yindu was thrilled, eyes brimming with tears. He scooped up the baby, lifting him high, rubbing his stubbly face against the child's cheeks.

That made the baby cry, so he pulled funny faces to amuse him.

'Call him Little Ten! Little Ten!'"

Chen Yindu was overbearing, telling Chen Tang,

"Ten out of ten, perfect!"

Chen Tang was furious. During dinner, he smashed plates and bowls. "Dad, I'm your real son! In your eyes, it's all about Little Five! What's this 'ten out of ten'? Can't it be Little Ten? It's my son; I name him!"

Though Creation Little Five hypocritically tried to console his brother, he was secretly delighted deep down. After all, Dad favored him over brother Chen Tang.

Even though he'd committed many wrongs by then, when Dad said "ten out of ten,"

it showed that in Dad's heart, he mattered more than Chen Tang.

For that, he once tried to reform, striving to be the good son in Dad's eyes. Though he couldn't control himself and kept gorging on people.

Later, Chen Tang and Dad compromised. They named him Chen Shi.

Nickname: Little Ten.

Just like my nickname, Little Five."

Chen Shi was also scrutinizing Creation Little Five, a complex mix of emotions surging within him.

Anger? Perhaps.

After all, Chen Tang had never come home to see him, not even to visit Grandpa or attend Grandpa's funeral.

Disappointment? Surely.

Chen Tang was his father, yet he'd never fulfilled a father's duties.

From this "Chen Tang" before him,

Chen Shi sensed no paternal love in his eyes—only the gaze of a leopard sizing up prey.

Amid Chen Shi's emotions, there was probably a longing for family too?

Chen Shi craved familial bonds. After Grandpa passed, Blackie Pot had once made him feel less alone.

But at night, lying in bed when Blackie Pot's influence faded, he realized he was utterly alone, solitary and adrift.

Chen Shi steadied the turmoil in his heart and eyed Creation Little Five, puzzled. Chen Tang looks so young?

This "Chen Tang"

appeared only in his early twenties, not like a man in his forties or fifties.

Even counting the eight years Chen Shi had been dead, he was just turning twenty.

Li Tianqing stood to the side, glancing from Chen Shi to Creation Little Five. He thought, "Father and son look quite alike.

Is he Chen Tang? So young.

Though cultivators often practice eternal youth techniques, so it's not surprising."

Chen Shi said flatly, "Chen Tang, you're here? Come to burn paper for Grandpa?

Stay and eat before you go?"

His tone was neutral.

A father who abandons his child for years suddenly returns—by village tales, it usually means he's failed outside, or racked up gambling debts and come begging for money.

Huangpo Village had a similar case. Old Lady Wuzhu's son hadn't come home for years. One year he did, and she was overjoyed, weeping several times, thinking he'd reformed. Later, she learned he'd piled up debts outside.

Then, he stole her coffin money and fled the village.

Old Lady Wuzhu wept several more times—no one knew if it was for the money or her son.

Chen Shi didn't know how to handle this, so he hoped to shoo Chen Tang away.

"Sure."

Creation Little Five headed into the house. "Let's have a simple meal first."

He thought darkly, "First, a meal of human flesh, then send Little Ten on his way! Dad, I can't burn Five Bamboo, but I'll burn your own grandson for you—filial piety fulfilled."

Chen Shi entered the courtyard. Blackie Pot had already set the table and chairs,

with rice, dishes, and bowls neatly arranged.

"Blackie Pot, Chen Tang's here. Add another set of bowls and chopsticks."

Chen Shi said.

Blackie Pot hurriedly fetched chopsticks and ladled a bowl of rice.

Watching the bustling dog, Creation Little Five frowned, sensing evil in the house.

Blackie Pot set down the bowl and met his gaze head-on, startling inwardly.

This "Chen Tang"

was utterly unaffected!

Even Granny Sha and Hu Xiaoliang were influenced in their thoughts. Could "Chen Tang"

be stronger than them?

"Sit down."

Chen Shi passed between them and said.

Creation Little Five withdrew his gaze and sat at the table.

Chen Shi sat across from him,

Li Tianqing on the left, Blackie Pot removing his apron and sitting on the right.

Creation Little Five picked up his chopsticks. Seeing Blackie Pot do the same, his gaze swept over again, his face darkening. "Dog, get down! Who let you on the table?"

Blackie Pot's heart jolted again, knowing he'd met a tough one immune to his influence. About to slink away, Chen Shi suddenly slammed the table. "I did! Blackie Pot, don't go down!"

Creation Little Five met Chen Shi's eyes. The two stared wide-eyed across the dishes.

Li Tianqing quickly set down his chopsticks, not daring to move.

After a moment, Creation Little Five chuckled lightly. "Stubborn like me— no wonder you're Little Ten.

Dog, your little master allows it, so stay. Don't bother trying to influence me; you can't."

He thought silently, "After this reunion meal, I'll send them all on to the underworld to reunite with Dad!"

Blackie Pot felt immense pressure, trembling. Across from him, Li Tianqing also sensed the stifling atmosphere.

"These father and son don't seem to get along."

He thought to himself.

Chen Shi silently shoveled two bites of rice, eyes on his plate, avoiding

"Chen Tang."

He said, "Why didn't you come when Grandpa passed?"

His voice carried anger, his tone accusatory.

Creation Little Five recalled Chen Yindu, a pang of sorrow hitting him. He said gloomily, "I was locked up, couldn't get out."

Chen Shi froze, glanced at him, then looked away. "You got in trouble?"

"Mm."

Creation Little Five sensed his concern. Thinking it over, he had indeed gotten in trouble.

"Captured?"

Chen Shi asked.

Creation Little Five thought again. "Mm."

Chen Shi's eyes reddened. "So you couldn't come home for New Year's to see me and Grandpa?"

Creation Little Five sighed softly, nodding lightly. "I'd been locked up for years, couldn't get out."

The ice in Chen Shi's heart melted a bit. He picked up a piece of fried duck egg and placed it in his bowl. "Eat some veggies."

Creation Little Five eyed the food in his bowl hostilely and snorted coldly. "You putting food in my bowl? Why? Who told you to?"

Chen Shi's brows shot up in anger, slamming his chopsticks down. "Good intentions taken for a donkey's liver! Eat if you want!"

Creation Little Five stared at the food in his bowl, recalling how Chen Yindu had once put food in his bowl right after his "birth,"

everything naive and ignorant. A strange irritability welled up, an odd, eerie emotion gnawing at him, filling him with unease.

"I'll eat."

He picked up the veggie Chen Shi had given him, tasted it—mediocre, but edible.

"Just not as tasty as Heavenly Listeners."

He thought. "If I'd known this dog could cook, I should've grabbed a Heavenly Listener, cut off its ears, and had the dog make a feast."

The three humans and one dog ate in silence! Blackie Pot and Li Tianqing finished quickly and excused themselves, retreating far away.

"Will they fight?"

Li Tianqing whispered to Blackie Pot.

Blackie Pot shook his head; it didn't know.

But this Chen Tang was too formidable—its spells couldn't penetrate his mind at all!

"Is Chen Tang really that powerful?"

It thought.

It was something even Grandpa Chen Shi had fished from the underworld. Only three years old, it had never seen Chen Tang.

Creation Little Five intended to finish the meal, then send Chen Shi to join Chen Yindu for filial piety and to cement his image as the great filial son. So he ate quickly too.

He'd just finished one bowl, licking his lips, eyes flashing murderously, plotting how to kill Chen Shi dutifully when the opposite Chen Shi set down his bowl and chopsticks, took his bowl, and turned to refill it.

"Have another bowl."

Chen Shi placed the heaping bowl before him and said softly.

Creation Little Five met his gaze and froze.

That look—like the one he'd given Chen Yindu back then to curry favor, full of anticipation, hoping for a father's love.

Creation Little Five's heart soured. He silently picked up his chopsticks and kept eating.

"I used to look at Dad like that.

Chen Shi's just a kid craving fatherly love, same as back then.

Let him live a bit longer."

He suddenly paused, thought, picked up a piece of meat, and put it in Chen Shi's bowl. "Eat this."

"Mm."

Chen Shi responded.

Creation Little Five watched him eat, seeing his younger self.

The two finished dinner, polishing off all the dishes. Chen Shi went to clear the bowls.

Creation Little Five hesitated, not striking immediately. Instead, he surveyed the courtyard. "Little Ten, after Grandpa passed, you've been living here alone? Never thought of moving out?"

Chen Shi scrubbed the bowls. "This is home. Why move?"

"Is it home?"

Creation Little Five fell silent for a long time.

"When have I ever been this indecisive?"

He thought silently. "I'm not human. I'm a creation, a god-demon made by Dad.

I don't need human emotions. I'm Dad in his perfect state!"

Chen Yindu had always harbored childlike innocence, endlessly curious about the world's phenomena.

He brimmed with energy to explore secrets, uncover truths, invent ever more wondrous spells.

But Chen Yindu rarely cared for those around him.

Until Chen Shi was born, suddenly gaining emotions he'd lacked before, and started coming home often.

Creation Little Five was different.

Long ago, Chen Yindu realized that as a human, he was plagued by emotions, unable to reach the ultimate state of perfect unity in mind and spirit.

So, when his talisman arts peaked, able to create semi-god-demons like Talisman God Tianji, he resolved to craft a perfect version of himself.

He experimented five times; the fifth succeeded, birthing Creation Little Five, named Chen Wu.

As his assistant, Creation Little Five helped with experiments, delving into secrets.

When human emotions trapped Chen Yindu, hindering decisions, Little Five always offered spot-on advice.

Thus, Creation Little Five deeply rejected human emotions.

"Can't wait any longer. Kill Chen Shi now, send him to the underworld with Dad!"

Creation Little Five stood and approached Chen Shi.

Chen Shi had finished washing the pots and bowls and was tidying the bedding.

"No need to tidy!"

Creation Little Five's voice carried malice as he said.

Chen Shi trembled, looking up at him. "You're leaving today?

Can't you stay two days?"

Creation Little Five met his gaze, full of pleading—like a child begging his father not to go.

"I..."

Creation Little Five's mind was in chaos. Compelled by some impulse, he said, "I'll stay two days then."