Reunion

"Li... Little Xian!"

Time flies; it had been six years since they last parted.

Meeting again, the mountain brat once full of childish innocence was now a spirited youth, looking like an immortal and a refined gentleman.

However, for the couple before him—the father with white temples and the mother with an aged face—they momentarily didn't dare to recognize him.

Xu Xian’s eyes were soft as a breeze as he gave a strained smile. "Dad, Mom, it's me, Little Xian. I'm back."

The two of them stepped forward slowly. As Xu Xian approached, the woman looked up at the youth, reaching out to touch his face. She wept with joy, whispering softly,

"It really is Little Xian. You've grown up so much; your mother almost didn't recognize you."

His father looked him up and down, gently patting Xu Xian’s arm. "It's good that you're back. It's good that you're back. You look like a real man now."

After all, it had been six years. Even with one's closest kin, a sense of distance easily forms.

The woman pulled Xu Xian to sit in the courtyard, clutching his hand and pestering him with questions.

Have you been doing well?

Did you suffer much?

Were you bullied out there?

How many days are you staying?

How is your cultivation going?

Xu Xian responded to each one with a soft, gentle voice.

His younger brother ate candy while listening to the commotion. His father poured water, grinning from ear to ear.

However, this scene of maternal love and filial piety did not last long.

It was interrupted by the villagers. Hurried footsteps echoed as one person after another squeezed into the Xu family yard.

Auntie Wang from the east of the village.

The old lady from the west.

The men from the north.

The elders from the south.

Old and young, big and small—before long, the small courtyard was packed so tightly that not a drop of water could leak through. The noise was boisterous, a clamor that reached the heavens.

"Little Xian is back! Quick, let me have a look!"

"Tsk tsk, cultivation really is different. He's so handsome, even more refined than a girl. He's ready to start a family and a career!"

"Six years ago, an immortal came and said you went to cultivate. We didn't believe it then, but looking at you now, it's clearly true!"

"Brother Xian, why do you look so pale and fair?"

"Immortal Xian, can you fly now?"

"Little Xian, are the girls who cultivate immortals super pretty?"

"I heard you brought back two wives, is that true?"

Despite the six-year absence, the villagers' enthusiasm remained terrifyingly intense. Even if Xu Xian had ten mouths, he couldn't answer them all, so he just kept smiling.

On a large tree slightly further away, Wen Qingxue and the other three were either sitting on branches, crouching on the treetops, or standing on the limbs, taking in the entire scene in the courtyard.

There was envy!

There was also sadness!

And lingering attachment!!

Hao Ren and Wen Qingxue were not only high in cultivation but also advanced in age.

Like Xu Xian, they came from mountain villages in the mortal world. At hundreds of years old, their blood relatives had long since passed away.

Once upon a time, they too had returned to their villages like Xu Xian.

Back then, they had been surrounded by people just like this, basking in glory.

Unfortunately.

The difference between immortals and mortals is like clouds and mud; one is in the heavens, the other on the ground. In the end, old friends gradually wither away like falling leaves in the wind.

Eventually, only they themselves were left.

Through the passage of time, they slowly forgot their villages and those relatives, forcing themselves not to remember.

The Wendao Sword Sect became their final home.

The people of the Wendao Sword Sect became their last family.

They knew very well.

Xu Xian would be the same. He would experience everything they had; it was unavoidable. Amidst their envy, a sense of melancholy and sadness uncontrollably grew in their chests.

As for Lin Qianqian and Zhang Yang, seeing this scene naturally reminded them of their own families, and they too felt like going home.

Watching the bustle below and hearing the noise in his ears, Hao Ren teased, "It seems our Little Grand-Uncle has quite the reputation in his village!"

Zhang Yang chimed in, "Yeah, when Brother Xian told me his family had a lot of influence, I didn't believe him. Now I do."

Lin Qianqian said with a giggle, "Maybe this is just personal charisma."

Wen Qingxue also interjected unexpectedly, "I heard he is the successor to the village chief."

"Who told you that?"

Wen Qingxue said calmly, "I heard it from Xu Xian."

The expressions of the other three were priceless!

Amidst the crowd in the courtyard, a specific call stood out, immediately catching Xu Xian's attention.

"A-Xian!"

Xu Xian looked up and saw a familiar face. He stood up, pushed through the crowd, and said excitedly,

"Elder Sister!"

It was a family of three. Standing in the middle was a woman with long hair, holding the hand of a two-year-old child. The child had short hair, making it hard to tell the gender at a glance, with chubby cheeks and a thumb in their mouth.

As for the last person...

A man.

Not worth mentioning.

Xu Xian's sister, Xu Yue.

She was six years older than Xu Xian. When they were young and their parents went out hunting or gathering, she was the one who raised him.

With tears in her eyes, Xu Yue looked at the youth before her and said with a smile, "My A-Xian has grown up to be so refined."

"Of course, I am your brother after all."

Xu Yue pushed the child forward and said gently, "Quick, call him Uncle!"

The child let go of their finger and stammered, "Un... un... uncle..."

Xu Xian knelt down and pulled out a piece of candy. "So good. Here, Uncle has some candy for you."

The little one's eyes lit up. Breaking free from her mother’s hand, she ran to Xu Xian to take the candy and eat it.

Xu Xian doted on her instantly, picking the little one up and asking, "What's your name?"

The man nearby saw his chance and spoke up with a grin, "Her name is Chu Yi. She's my daughter, hehe!"

Xu Xian glanced at the man and said crossly, "Did I ask you?"

The man looked embarrassed and scratched his head with a laugh, while the surrounding villagers burst into boisterous laughter.

This man was the leader of the local kids back in the day, a few years older than Xu Xian. Before Xu Xian left to cultivate, he had many scuffles with this person.

Even though he could never beat Xu Xian.

Who would have thought he would become Xu Xian's brother-in-law?

Xu Yue tried to smooth things over. "Alright, A-Xian, Ah Xia is your brother-in-law after all. Don't be like that."

Xu Xian pouted and asked, "He didn't bully you, did he?"

Xu Yue smiled and shook her head.

The man waved his hands frantically in denial.

Xu Xian muttered, unable to wrap his head around it. "He used to bully you the most when we were kids. Why did you marry him?"

The man became even more embarrassed. He had bullied Xu Yue, true, but it was only because he liked her.

Xu Yue said, "Ah Xia is very good to me now!"

Xu Xian's parents also said a few good words, and the villagers chimed in with their agreement.

Seeing this, the man hurried to state his position. "That's right, Brother-in-law, don't you worry. I will never let them suffer even a bit of grievance."

Xu Xian sniffed and said dubiously, "It better be so."

He turned back to play with the child in his arms.

"Xia Chu Yi... Hmm, your dad isn't very educated, but this name isn't bad."

The man laughed. "I didn't come up with it. How could I come up with a name like that? It was the immortal from your place who gave it to her."

Xu Xian was surprised. "The immortal?"

Just as he was about to ask more, an aged voice came from outside the courtyard.

"I heard Little Xian is back!"

The surroundings immediately grew quiet.

"It's the Village Chief."

"The Old Village Chief is here."

"Make way, don't block the path."

The crowd parted to both sides. An old man with a head of white hair, leaning on a bamboo staff and supported by a young girl, walked into the courtyard with great effort.

Seeing this, Xu Xian handed the child back to Xu Yue and took the initiative to go forward, saying in his usual cheeky manner,

"Oh, old man, you came too!"