Building a Martial Dao Celestial Family by Laying Low

As he watched Widow Wang leave, the relaxed look on Liu Dazhu’s face instantly vanished.

He rubbed the small of his back and cursed under his breath, "That damn woman, she’s a bottomless pit... If I weren’t so robust, she would have drained me dry by now!"

He habitually assumed his Pile Skill stance in the room, preparing to cultivate for a while and ready himself for the coming battle.

However, something was off today.

An inexplicable, creeping chill kept shooting up from his tailbone straight to the back of his head, leaving him deeply unsettled.

"Damn it."

He muttered to himself, ’Could it be that woman drained too much out of me? Have I been targeted by some unclean spirit?’

While he was lost in his paranoid thoughts, the courtyard gate was pushed open with a CREAK, and Widow Wang rushed back in.

"Dazhu, Dazhu!"

Panting, she lowered her voice and said, "That old man you had me keeping an eye on, the one at the Chen Family Villa... he’s out in the open area outside the estate, flying around! My heavens, it’s just like one of the immortals from the operas."

"What? Flying around?"

Hearing this, Liu Dazhu’s expression changed abruptly.

He could no longer be bothered with his Pile Skill and shoved Widow Wang aside.

Using the cover of night, Liu Dazhu silently crept near the Chen Family Villa.

Hiding behind a large tree, he focused his gaze. Under the moonlight, Liu Zongying was practicing in an open clearing, a wooden staff in hand.

His Body Technique was ghostly as he leaped dozens of feet into the air. The wind howled from his staff, and his Qi Strength billowed. A single downward strike pulverized a large boulder, sending tremors through the surrounding vegetation and gouging deep pits in the earth.

"A Grandmaster?!"

"He... he’s recovered?"

Liu Dazhu stared, dumbfounded, and gasped in shock.

Although his own cultivation was only at Qi Realm Perfection, he had seen a family Grandmaster in action before.

The might and surging Qi Strength Liu Zongying was displaying were far beyond the reach of any ordinary Spirit Realm cultivator.

The news was too horrifying.

Liu Dazhu couldn’t believe his eyes.

His most important purpose for being here was to monitor Liu Zongying.

It was a mission from the Liu Family, one that offered a handsome reward without him needing to risk his life or wander the lands.

He only needed to keep a close eye on a half-crippled man.

He was quite content with this cushy assignment and had hoped the man would stay crippled forever.

’But now, it seems his cultivation has been fully restored?’

’This won’t do! I must report this to the Patriarch immediately!’

Liu Dazhu’s heart pounded wildly, and he no longer hesitated.

He immediately returned to Widow Wang’s house, fished two ten-tael silver ingots from his bag, and tossed them into her hands. "Take these. I have to leave at once on urgent business. Keep your mouth shut."

Before Widow Wang could react, Liu Dazhu quickly packed his essential belongings and shouldered his bag.

His figure flashed and melted into the night.

Just after he left, three figures materialized in the small courtyard of Widow Wang’s home.

It was Chen Li, Shu Qi, and Bai San.

Bai San looked in the direction Liu Dazhu had disappeared, then secretly glanced at the calm-faced Chen Li beside him, his eyes filled with unconcealable fear and awe.

’My Lord’s cultivation and methods are growing more and more terrifying.’

’Just now, they had been standing quietly outside the house, and he hadn’t even noticed Chen Li make a single move.’

’Inside, Liu Dazhu and Widow Wang had acted as if possessed. Their behavior became utterly bizarre—shouting, screaming, growing paranoid—before they finally fled in a rush.’

’The scene was as bizarre as a ghost possession.’

’If he hadn’t witnessed Chen Li’s A Dream of Millet Porridge Skill years ago, he would have truly believed the two inside had been possessed by some unclean spirit.’

’However, as he recalled, those affected by Chen Li’s A Dream of Millet Porridge Skill were not supposed to remember what had transpired.’

’So why did Liu Dazhu seem as if he hadn’t woken from the dream at all?’

"My Lord, shall we follow?"

Bai San suppressed the chill in his heart and asked for instructions in a low voice.

Chen Li nodded slightly.

The three figures flickered and silently tailed him.

...

「Nightfall.」

A figure hurried to the gate of the Qingshui Liu Family’s residence.

It was Liu Dazhu, who had traveled day and night to return.

The gatekeeper recognized him and led him inside.

The old butler of the Liu Family saw his travel-worn appearance and frowned. "Dazhu? Weren’t you supposed to be watching at Mirror Mountain? Why have you suddenly returned?"

Liu Dazhu didn’t bother with etiquette. He stepped forward and lowered his voice, "Uncle An, something big has happened. I must see the Patriarch immediately. It’s about that... that person."

The old butler’s expression tightened. Knowing the matter was serious, he didn’t ask any more questions and said in a grave voice, "Follow me. The Patriarch should be in the study."

In the study, the candlelight flickered.

Liu Gongquan was staring blankly at a ledger. Hearing the knock, he looked up, somewhat displeased.

Seeing Uncle An lead in Liu Dazhu, who was supposed to be on surveillance in Lingxi, he was taken aback. "Dazhu? Why are you back? Did something go wrong?"

A trace of unease rose faintly in his heart.

Liu Dazhu hastily reported, "Patriarch, that Liu Zongying... his cultivation has probably been restored."

"What?"

Liu Gongquan shot up from his Grandmaster’s Chair, knocking over the teacup at his side without even noticing. "Speak clearly! What exactly happened? How could he recover? How is it possible for him to recover!"

Liu Dazhu hurriedly recounted the scene of Liu Zongying’s practice, stating with certainty, "Patriarch, that was a display of power far beyond any ordinary Spirit Realm. My own cultivation is low, but I am certain of what I saw. I’m afraid he has recovered his Grandmaster cultivation."

Liu Gongquan felt a chill shoot from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head. ’If we let him make a full recovery, our family... our family will be in grave danger!’

He turned sharply to the old butler. "Uncle An, take a few Honored Guests with you immediately. Travel to Lingxi overnight. You must confirm if this is true. You must see it with your own eyes."

"Foolish!"

Just as Uncle An accepted the order and was about to leave, a cold female voice sounded from outside the study.

The door was pushed open, and a beautiful woman dressed in a crimson-purple brocade dress strode in.

The newcomer was none other than Liu Gongquan’s wife, Luo Yuzhen of the Celestial Sword Sect.

Seeing his wife, Liu Gongquan’s imposing manner immediately deflated. He scrambled to his feet. "Madam, what brings you here? But... shouldn’t we send someone to investigate?"

Luo Yuzhen glanced at him, her gaze sweeping over Liu Dazhu and the old butler before finally landing on Liu Gongquan’s face. "Investigate? If you send people now, you’ll just be startling the snake in the grass. He’ll be alerted and might even go into hiding. What will you do then?"

Questioned by his wife, Liu Gongquan was left speechless. He stammered, "Then... then in your opinion, Madam, what should be done?"

Luo Yuzhen didn’t answer him. Instead, she turned to face Liu Dazhu, her eyes suddenly becoming incredibly sharp.

She took a step forward, her aura locking onto him. "Liu Dazhu, raise your head. Look into my eyes and tell me everything you saw again, from the very beginning. If you utter a single false word or leave anything out, don’t blame me for being merciless with our family’s laws."

As she spoke, she activated a Celestial Sword Secret Skill, Sword Heart Clarity.

In that instant, Liu Dazhu felt his mind go completely blank, as if he could no longer remember anything at all except for the matter concerning Liu Zongying.

He repeated the details of what he had seen from beginning to end.

Luo Yuzhen stared intently at Liu Dazhu.

After a moment, murderous intent surged in her eyes. Her sharp Sword Intent was so intense it felt as if it would burst from her body.

’That old bastard is hard to kill! To think he actually found a way to recover!’

She snorted coldly.

After confirming that Liu Dazhu wasn’t lying, she whirled around and said to Liu Gongquan, "What are you standing there gaping for? Immediately recall all nearby Spirit Realm Honored Guests. Be quick."

Intimidated by his wife’s killing intent, Liu Gongquan subconsciously replied, "Yes, yes! I’ll see to it at once."

But then he thought of something else and hesitated, "Madam, if Liu Zongying has truly recovered, he is a Grandmaster, after all. Should we... should we contact Second Brother? If we could join forces, it would be safer."

"Join forces?"

Luo Yuzhen sneered, her face filled with disdain and arrogance. "By the time you and your brothers are done debating, it’ll be far too late.

The fact that Liu Dazhu was able to return safely to report shows that Liu Zongying’s Divine Sense is damaged, and he is far from his peak condition. Hmph! A half-crippled Grandmaster... I alone am more than enough. Why would I need help from others?"

Seeing that his wife had made up her mind, Liu Gongquan didn’t dare argue further. He quickly bowed. "You are absolutely right, Madam. It was I who was not thinking things through. I will go and gather our forces now."

Within a day, all twenty-five of the Liu Family’s Spirit Realm Honored Guests had been assembled.

Luo Yuzhen left thirteen of them behind to assist her eldest son, Liu Yuanqi, in guarding the home.

Then, she was the first to mount her horse, kicking up dust as she galloped straight for Mirror Mountain.

Liu Gongquan hurried to follow, with the group of Spirit Realm Honored Guests close behind.

Qingshui County was a good three hundred li from Mirror Mountain.

Even on a fast horse, the journey would take a day and a half.

The Liu Family’s party traveled for a full day. By the time the sky began to darken, both men and horses were showing signs of fatigue.

Only then did Liu Gongquan pull on his reins, slowing his pace and raising a hand to signal the group to halt.

Everyone in the group possessed Spirit Realm Cultivation, so they could endure the forced march.

But their mounts could not take it any longer; their snorts were flecked with white foam.

"Dazhu!"

Liu Gongquan shouted with a frown.

Liu Dazhu, who was at the rear of the group, spurred his horse forward. "Patriarch."

"Where are we? How much further?"

Liu Gongquan took out his waterskin and took a swig.

Liu Dazhu squinted, scanning his surroundings before replying, "Reporting to the Patriarch, at this speed, we’ll need about three or four more hours.

I remember an abandoned temple about ten li from here. I’ve stayed there before on my travels. Though it’s in ruins, it offers shelter from the elements. We could rest there for the night and let the men and horses recover some of their strength."

Hearing this, Liu Gongquan looked at his stern-faced wife, Luo Yuzhen, beside him.

Luo Yuzhen nodded slightly and uttered a single word: "Fine."

"Good! We’ll rest at the ruined temple ahead tonight."

Liu Gongquan gave the order, and the party set off again, heading in the direction Liu Dazhu indicated.

About half an hour later, the group turned off the main road onto a small path.

Soon, a dilapidated temple appeared amidst overgrown weeds and crumbling walls.

The broken name plaque was long gone, and only the mottled, crooked doorframe remained standing.

The Liu Family members dismounted, tied their horses outside the temple, and filed in one after another.

The inside of the temple was covered in cobwebs. The deity statue had collapsed, leaving only the bottom half of its clay body. The air was thick with the smell of dust and decay.

In the center of the temple hall’s open space, however, there was unexpectedly a small campfire.

A middle-aged man in roughspun clothes, with an ordinary face, looking to be about forty years old, was silently tending to an iron pot set over the fire.

Steam was curling from the pot, but the water had not yet begun to boil.