The Nine Cauldrons
chapter-6

Teng Qingshan’s return as an Emptiness Realm expert was indeed a timely blessing to the Gui Yuan Sect. While Zhuge Yuanhong was deliberating over the proper method to maximize the resources Teng Qingshan had brought over, the latter had already arrived in Longgang, where the disciples of Gui Yuan Sect often took walks.

In Longgang, there were many pathways and flowerbeds, forming an exquisite scenery of nature. The families, including the elderly as well as young men and women, who dwelled in Gui Yuan Sect would often go for a stroll in Longgang.

“Father, Mother.” Teng Qingshan gazed into the distance.

Yuan Lan, who was wearing a simple scarlet red cotton robe, was currently pushing a special custom made wheelchair. Teng Yongfan was sitting in the wheelchair as he looked around at the surroundings with a smile. He seemed less energetic than before, and wrinkles could be seen at the corners of his eyes. With just a glance, Teng Qingshan could even see the grey hairs on his father’s head.

His father looked much older than he had appeared four years ago!

“Ah Lan, how about we head to the clan base after lunch?” Teng Yongfan said with a chuckle.

“The clan is several miles away from here. Why would you want to travel that far for no particular reason? Just rest well,” Yuan Luan advised.

Teng Yongfan scowled and said, “No. Teacher is already elderly. Moreover, his hands were injured because of those Qing Hu Island bastards who came to Yi City, our hometown. Teacher can’t teach those three brats the art of forging weapons. If I am not there, those three little brats will just laze around. I may not be able to stand up, but I can still teach those three young brats a lesson with ease.”

“Yes, yes, yes.” Yuan Luan started laughing.

As Teng Qingshan watched his parents from afar, a smile crept up onto his face.

If his mother and father were able to live a good life, then that was good enough.

“Ah, run slower,” a melodiously sweet voice transmitted over.

Teng Qingshan turned around, and he saw a beautiful young married woman and a young girl playing with two staggering toddlers.

Looking at that young married woman, Teng Qingshan showed an amiable smile. “Qingyu… In the blink of an eye, four years have gone past. Now, Qingyu has become much more mature.”

The young married lady was Teng Qingshan’s sister, Teng Qingyu.

“Little Shan, Ting Ting, come here. Come over to Mother,” Qingyu stooped down and called out to the two kids.

Walking on the grassland, the two kids wobbled over to Qingyu, crying out like babies, “Mother, Mother…”

“Qingyu has two kids?” Teng Qingshan was surprised and elated at the same time. “When I left the Land of the Nine Prefectures, Qingyu and Zhuge Yun had just gotten married. I didn’t expect them to have two children by now. ‘Little Shan and Ting Ting’ seem to be a boy and a girl. However, these two kids really look alike. They’re probably twins.”

As a mother, Qingyu was now looking at her children lovingly. The maid at the side was also caring for these two kids.

“Eh? Little Shan, Ting Ting, look! Grandfather and Grandmother are there! Shall we go see Grandfather and Grandmother?” Qingyu said as she stared into the distance.

Although the one of the kids had a soft and weak voice, the kid still called out anyway, “Grandfather, Grandmother!”

“They are too far. Grandfather and Grandmother can’t hear you. Let’s go over.” Qingyu carried one child in her arms, while the maid carried the other. The two women then headed toward Teng Yongfan and Yuan Lan.

Teng Qingshan stood in between his sister and his parents.

“Eh?” As Qingyu walked over while carrying the child in her arms, she immediately saw a friendly-looking young man. Normally, Qingyu would never talk to strangers. However, when she saw the young man, she somehow felt a sense of familiarity.

“Qingyu is coming.” Teng Qingshan couldn’t help but hold his breath. He couldn’t stop his heart from palpitating.

Teng Qingshan had never felt this nervous before, not even when he faced thousands of soldiers and horses nor when he fought the Tianfeng Martial Immortal. However, when he saw his sister looking in his direction, his heart thumped really hard.

“Hello, I don’t seem to have met you before, ” Qingyu said as she looked at Teng Qingshan with a smile.

“It is my first time coming here to the Gui Yuan Sect,” Teng Qingshan responded.

Simultaneously, he observed his sister attentively. The time of several years had taken away his sister’s childish looks, and she now emanated a gentle aura instead.

“Somehow, I feel that I have met you somewhere before. However, I just can’t remember wherel.” Qingyu held her child and said with a smile, “It’s really strange.”

There was one thing Qingyu did not disclose… which was that the strangest thing was how this stranger gave her a sense of familiarity

“Maybe you saw someone who resembled me.” Teng Qingshan smiled as he looked at the child in Qingyu’s arms. “Is this your child?”

“Yes, my son,” Qingyu said proudly with a grin.

The child stared at the stranger before him with his round black eyes wide open. Then the child smile radiantly and laughed, “Haha…” While he laughed, he stretched out his chubby little hands.

“Little Shan seems to like you very much,” Qingyu said with a surprised smile.

“I like this little fellow too.” Teng Qingshan smiled and gently held his nephew’s little hand.

The child’s eyes twinkled as he chuckled and laughed out loud, appearing to be very happy. Yet, Qingyu still didn’t know that the person before their eyes was her brother, the uncle of this child.

“Qingyu!” A gentle and familiar voice called out.

Teng Qingshan turned and saw his mother, Yuan Lan, pushing the wheelchair over.

“Little Shan, Ting Ting!” Teng Yongfan, sitting in the wheelchair, called out as soon as he saw his grandchildren. He was very happy to see them.

“Father, Mother.” Qingyu walked over while carrying the child in her arms. Then she passed the little boy over to her parents. The maid, who was at the side, also handed the little girl over to Teng Yongfan.

Yuan Lan and Teng Yongfan looked extremely happy as they carried their grandchildren.

“Father and Mother are living peacefully and comfortably.” Teng Qingshan felt a lot more at ease.

At this moment, Yuan Lan directed her gaze to Teng Qingshan. When she saw Teng Qingshan, she froze for a second. Mothers and sons had connected hearts. So, even though Teng Qingshan had a completely different appearance as well as a changed aura, Yuan Lan still felt that the person before her was familiar.

“Qingyu, this is?” Yuan Lan was obviously slightly nervous.

Qingyu smiled and said, “I just met him. I still don’t know his name.”

“My surname is Li. It’s my first time coming here to the Gui Yuan Sect. I have come to visit the clan chief, Zhuge,” Teng Qingshan said as he suppressed his emotions.

“Oh.” Yuan Lan nodded benevolently. As she looked at him, her eyes showed a hints of concern and kindness.

Teng Yongfan also looked at Teng Qingshan keenly.

At this moment, they heard conversational sounds coming from the side.

“Commander Zangfeng is now an innate expert. I heard that the sect will soon appoint Commander Zangfeng as the Elder Guardian. It’s really impressive. He actually became an innate expert at such a young age. Commander Zangfeng is the strongest among the younger generations of the sect.”

“Yes. Although Commander Zhuge’s sword art is impressive, Commander Zhuge still hasn’t reached the Innate Realm.”

“Look at you two! Commander Zhuge and Commander Zangfeng are nothing. When Commander Teng was still present, he defeated Commander Zangfeng with one move. He became an innate expert at the age of seventeen. It’s rumored that several Golden Dan Innate Expert couldn’t even do anything to Commander Teng at Wu City in Yuzhou.”

“Commander Teng? Who doesn’t know that Teng Qingshan betrayed and left our Gui Yuan Sect. What Commander Teng? Hilarious.”

“Lower your voice.”

The discussing voices quickly grew quiet, and the three disciples cast glances at Yuan Lan, Qingyu, and the others. Then they hastened their steps, no longer daring to make any more comments.

Hearing the discussion, the facial expressions of Teng Yongfan, Yuan Lan, and Qingyu, who were originally in a good mood, changed slightly.

“Those three bastards actually dared to speak of my brother this way.” Qingyu glared at the three disciples with animosity.

“Alright. Let’s just let it go,” Teng Yongfan sighed.

Currently, in the Gui Yuan Sect, there were people who admired Teng Qingshan and thought he’d done the right thing. However, there were also people who viewed his past actions as acts of foolishness and believed he was the one who had caused the deaths of many Black Armored Soldiers! However, no one dared to discuss about Teng Qingshan in the presence of Teng Qingshan’s parents.

“I wonder when Qingshan would return,” Yuan Lan said with a sigh.

“It’s alright. Don’t worry. Both of us can still live for a dozen more years until our child returns.” Teng Yongfan said, chuckling.

Seeing this, Teng Qingshan’s heart ached.

“Are you guys talking about Teng Qingshan?” Teng Qingshan said.

Teng Yongfan, Yuan Lan, and Qingyu all looked over.

“I believe that Teng Qingshan will return.” Teng Qingshan looked at his parents and said with a grin, “Maybe he’s hiding somewhere in the Land of the Nine Prefectures. Maybe he returns occasionally to see the two of you secretly, it’s just that you don’t realise it.”

“See us secretly?”

Stunned by the words, Teng Yongfan and Yuan Lan looked around hastily.

“I have an errand to run, so I will be leaving first.” Teng Qingshan could stay with them no longer, worried that he might not be able to conceal his emotions. He then turned and left at once.

At this moment, Teng Yongfan, Yuan Lan, and Qingyu still didn’t know that they had met their own flesh and blood… that the person before their eyes was Teng Qingshan, the very person they were missing and was worrying about!

“Father, Mother, Qingyu, I will soon appear before you openly.” Teng Qingshan took a deep breath and returned to the study room where his teacher was.

In the study room, a streak of light appeared and soon transformed into a human figure.

“Qingshan.” When Zhuge Yuanhong saw Teng Qingshan, he immediately stood up and asked, “Did you see your parents?”

“Yes, I did.” Teng Qingshan nodded.

“You didn’t tell them your identity, did you?” Zhuge Yuanhong asked again hastily.

“No.” Teng Qingshan shook his head.

Zhuge Yuanhong nodded and lamented, “I know this doesn’t feel good. However, you must endure for now because your parents, Qingyu, and the others may let the cat out of the bag at anytime. It’s really dangerous. I thought about what you told me earlier, and I’ve come up with a rough plan for you.”

“Teacher, what should I do?” Teng Qingshan’s eyes lit up.

Zhuge Yuanhong’s eyes beamed as he said confidently, “Now that you have returned, the Gui Yuan Sect has two Emptiness Realm Experts, many Spiritual Treasures, and even Fiery Gilt Steel. We are now in an advantageous position, with the advantage being that the Qing Hu Island isn’t aware that you have attained the Emptiness Realm. Neither do they know that you have returned! We have to keep this advantage. If we go against them head on, we may be able to fight against them, but we won’t gain much from doing that.”

“Therefore, there are three things you need to do!”

Zhuge Yuanhong said with a very determined voice, “Firstly, Qingshan, use your ability to establish a gang of bandits in the southern areas of Yangzhou, and train them well. When the time comes, equip them with the Elixir of the North Sea and the Fiery Gilt Steel Armor. They will be a terrifyingly elite army. When the Gui Yuan Sect battles with the Qing Hu Island, the Gui Yuan Sect can attack from the north, and you can lead this army and attack the rear of the Qing Hu Island’s troops fiercely from the south.

“Secondly, you possess the Grass of Immortality… There are many powerful experts in the 《Heavenly Ranking》 who are around 180 to 190 years old. They are one step away from the Emptiness Realm, however, they are limited by their lifespans. As they approach the end of their lifespan, the pressure gets too great and they are unable to reach the Emptiness Realm. With your Grass of Immortality, you may be able to help nurture one or two Emptiness Realm Experts.

“Thirdly, you must go against the Qing Hu Island in another appearance.”

“This third thing?” Teng Qingshan was startled. He didn’t understand what his teacher meant.