Morning sunlight spilled gently through the window, painting the room in soft gold.
He slowly opened his eyes, feeling an unusual clarity in his mind and warmth coursing through his meridians. His body felt light, brimming with vitality and spiritual energy. A faint smile tugged at his lips.
He stood, circulated his qi once, and felt no stagnation—everything flowed smoothly. His muscles were relaxed, and his spirit was energized.
He flexed his fingers, making a gentle fist.
He took a slow breath.
The tasks ahead of him no longer felt heavy. Instead, he felt a small, comforting sense of happiness.
He stepped out of his room and quietly walked toward his parents' room. The wooden floorboards creaked softly beneath his footsteps. After a knock, he gently slid the wooden door open, he saw them already awake, sitting comfortably and conversing softly.
His parents looked far better compared to yesterday—his father, Lin Changsheng, looked strong, and his mother, Yue Lingxin, had rosy colour in her cheeks.
He examined their bandaged wounds. The bruises were gone. The scars were faint, nearly invisible.
They were almost healed completely, there was no need for further bandaging.
So he checked their pulse what surprised him wasn't their physical recovery—it was the spiritual energy lingering faintly around them.
His mother's spiritual presence was was steady and flowing—stronger than yesterday.
She had broken through to Qi Refining Layer 5.
Not a miracle… but a natural progression that came from her body healing and help of high grade qi refining pills.
His mother noticed his smile. "Fenger, what is it?"
"Nothing," he said softly. "You look better today. And your spiritual energy feels… smoother than before."
Yue Lingxin gave a gentle smile. "For years, my cultivation was stuck at 4th layer. I could never push past that barrier. But somehow, after I used those pills… I felt a surge of spiritual energy inside me and the barrier was broken."
Lin Yuanfeng turned to his father.
His father has always been at Qi Refining Layer 9
There was no breakthrough, but his complexion was definitely better. He checked his father's pulse finds out his meridians had been damaged—almost crippled. It was a miracle he was even alive, let alone still cultivating.
He remembered what his father once told him—about an injury in his youth that damaged his meridians, limiting his cultivation at Qi Refining Layer 9. Yet even without spiritual strength, his father had defended their family for years relying solely on physical strength.
The only reason his parents survived the beast attacks last time was because of his fathers raw physical strength—and the timely help from the Zhang family.
But every time he asked about his father's past, his father would always change the topic.
Just like now.
Seeing his son's expression
Lin Changsheng gave a calm smile. "Your mother is improving. That's good enough."
'His meridian injury… was it really just an accident? There is something he never told us.'
Something flickered in Yuanfeng's eyes—but he didn't ask further.
Some truths reveal themselves when the time is right.
Then he spoke gently, "The carriage to the Inner City will be here at eleven. We should start preparing tell me if you need anything."
Both parents nodded.
He hesitated for a moment, then spoke, "I… want to give our land deed to Grandpa Zhang's family. Are you okay with that?"
His parents exchanged a look, then his father nodded. "We owe them more than land. Do what you feel is right.".
His mother added quietly, "Had they not intervened in time, those beasts would have taken our lives. Such a kindness cannot go unpaid"
Lin Yuanfeng nodded firmly and left their room.
------
He stepped outside, walking through the familiar fields—past the small garden, past the dried well, and toward a modest wooden house beside their farmlands.
He knocked gently the door.
The door opened to revealing Wen Lingxing, Old man Zhang Qingshan's daughter-in-law. She was kind and bright-faced.
"Hello! Aunt Wen".
"Yuanfeng? Come in," she said gently.
Inside the main room,
Inside, the Zhang family sat in their modest hall around a wooden table:
Zhang Qingshan, steady and wise.
Liu Shulan, gentle, always smiling despite hardships.
Zhang Zhihao, the dependable eldest son.
Wen Lingxing, his wife, carrying warmth like spring wind.
Zhang Wenbo, calm, composed, sharp eyes.
Zhang Wenling, clinging to her mother's sleeve, silently staring at him.
Yuanfeng bowed deeply. "Grandpa Zhang, Grandma Liu, Uncle Zhang, Aunt Wen. Thank you. For saving my parents. Thank you. For taking care of us all these years."
Old Zhang waved his hand, but his voice had turned coarse.
"You silly boy. We never helped you for thanks."
Liu Shulan exhaled softly. "Feng'er. Although we are neighbours, you are also our family. You don't need to thank us."
Zhang Zhihao smiled warmly. "Your father saved my life too, long ago. This isn't our kindness. It's fate."
Lin Yuanfeng placed the land deed on the table.
"We are leaving for the Inner City today. I want to leave this farmland to your family. It belongs here. To people who protected us when no one else would."
Wen Lingxing covered her mouth in shock.
Grandma Liu's eyes reddened slightly.
"You could have sold it… but you chose to give it us."
Old Zhang didn't try to reject the offer—he simply nodded, deeply moved.
"I accept," he said quietly, "not as property—but as a remembrance of your family's grace."
"You are only leaving this place, Yuanfeng. But don't think you are leaving your home."
He nodded, eyes slightly red.
He turned to leave.
But Wenling suddenly ran forward, hugging his leg.
Her voice trembled, barely a whisper,
"You're… really leaving?"
He nodded gently. "Just for now. But I'll return."
She pressed her lips together, trying to appear strong, but her voice trembled. "You always said… fields don't change. People do."
He paused. "And when they change… it doesn't always mean they're gone. Sometimes they just grow."
Zhang Wenbo, who had been silent, stepped forward and extended his hand. No words—just a firm, quiet gesture.
He accepted it.
There was nothing more to say—yet everything was understood
Lin Yuanfeng gently bowed and left.
As he walked back through the narrow dirt path lined with small crops, every corner whispered memories.
His first steps near the well.
Running barefoot through the fields.
Pulling weeds with his mother in muddy boots.
Watching his father carry heavy logs alone.
Laughing as he chased chickens in the fields.
Fishing in the stream with his friend Zhang Wenbo.
Little Wenling carrying a wooden basket, always running two steps behind him.
He reached his house.
He sat at his favourite resting place— under the shade of the peach tree he had planted at the age of five—and leaned gently against its trunk.
Closing his eyes, he relaxed and sat there in peaceful silence.
His mind wandering through the fragments of his past, each memory etched like an old scar on his heart.
'I'm leaving this place.But I'm not leaving what it gave me'
Time passed.
The distant rumble of hooves rolling over the fields snapped him out of his silent contemplation.
The carriage had arrived.
He stood up and called out to his parents. They came out together, slowly, carrying light baggage, which he put in this storage pouch
At the same time, the Zhang family approached to see them off.
Their parents exchanged words with the adults—warm, emotional, quietly grateful.
Meanwhile, Yuanfeng stood before Wenbo and Wenling.
Wenbo tried to remain calm, but his voice was low. "Become stronger."
Yuanfeng didn't speak; he simply raised his fist—a silent promise.
Wenbo nodded.
Little Wenling… didn't say anything at first. She just stood there, looking at his face, tightly holding a small wooden bird he had given her before.
Finally, her red-rimmed eyes trembled.
"Brother Yuanfeng… will you come back?" she whispered.
Lin Yuanfeng crouched down, gently wiping her tears.
"I will. The Inner City isn't that far."
She sniffled, hugging the wooden bird tighter.
"Mother said… that people who leave for the Inner City never come back…"
He paused.
Then smiled softly. "Then I'll be the first one to come back."
Wenling nodded through tears.
Her voice was small, shaking.
"You have to come back… I'll wait."
He gently patted her head.
"Then you must grow strong too. One day, when I return, I want to see you cultivating, alright?"
She nodded determinedly, though tears still streamed down her face.
----
Before leaving, Lin Yuanfeng pulled Wenbo a few steps aside. From his storage pouch, he took out a normal mortal pouch containing two Bottles of Qi Nourishing Pills and 30 low spirit stones .
Wenbo frowned slightly. "I can't take this. These things are expensive… you'll need them in the city."
Yuanfeng shook his head. "I didn't bring this to help you cultivate faster," he said calmly. "I brought it so that when trouble comes, you won't be helpless."
Wenbo fell silent.
"If it bothers you," Yuanfeng added with a faint smile, "think of it as me returning the vegetables and fish you've sneaked to my house all these years."
Wenbo's eyes wavered for a moment. He slowly extended his hand—not grabbing, but accepting.
"…Then I'll use them well."
"Good, inside the bottles are some qi nourishing pills" Yuanfeng said. "I expect you to be stronger when I return."
Wenling watched them from a short distance, quietly wiping her eyes—but this time, she smiled.
------
With one last look at them all—
He helped his parents into the carriage.
Nodded to the driver.
The wheels began to move.
He didn't look back at first.
But when he finally did—
He saw familiar faces waving. The fields swaying. The childhood he was leaving behind.
The path ahead was unfamiliar. Different. Uncertain.
But his heart… was calm.
He whispered,
"Inner City…"
"I'm coming."