Chapter 223: In This Worldly Home (Moon Ticket Bonus Chapter)

Lang Prefecture, Qingshui County, Wolian Township.

It was not yet noon. Having fished all night and only just returned late, Father Du, after greeting the guard at the gate, snuck through the door and peeked inside, looking exactly like a thief.

However, this was not because the night fishing would anger the mistress of this manor.

Not yet fifty years old, recently becoming more vigorous, and with all-night fishing having no impact on his health, the rural Master Du was afraid of a different situation this time.

"Master, good morning!"

As the soft female voice rang out, Father Du jumped, causing the fish creel on his back to swing wildly, until the woman who had opened the door reached out and steadied it just in time.

What followed was the usual routine: helping carry the creel, helping remove the straw raincoat, helping take off the bamboo hat. Everything was fine, except Master Du still wasn't used to this kind of service and scurried into the manor as if fleeing for his life, leaving behind only a pair of soft eyes with a hint of longing.

He fled even faster.

"Wife! Wife! Why don't you keep a tighter leash on her!"

He went straight into the master bedroom at the back and couldn't help but blurt it out.

The mistress of the house, Madam Jin, who was lying on the bed with a large belly, simply rolled her eyes and couldn't help but say, "You're useless even when given the chance!"

"What use? I am single-minded!"

"Pah! You're already half a hundred, and you still say such things!"

Madam Jin rolled her eyes again, but couldn't help but curve her brows, then turned to the real matter, sighing, "Look, her temperament isn't actually bad, and she's attached to your easygoing and broad-minded nature. I was thinking about little En, and felt that letting her have a few more children might help him?"

As the saying goes, a mother worries when her child travels a thousand miles. Plus, since the maid was arranged specifically to serve, she couldn't really drive her away, so she had to grit her teeth and accept it, trying to look at the bright side.

However, Master Du didn't think so at all. Hearing this, he waved his hand and downed a cup of tea in one gulp.

"Aren't you worried about little En at all?!"

Madam Jin did not misunderstand his meaning and immediately glared at him.

"What is there to worry about with that kid? He's not like me, old Du. When he was three, he managed to save me when I slipped into the water and nearly became fish food!"

Father Du spoke with conviction: "From that day on, looking at his calm eyes, I knew that rather than worrying about him, I should worry more about myself!"

"You have the nerve to say that? You can't swim but you still go fishing? Wouldn't it be better to just honestly farm the land? If you have that spare time, go catch field mice!"

Whenever this subject came up, Madam Jin would get angry!

Father Du instantly became meek and quickly ran over to soothe her.

A moment later, stroking his wife's belly, his tone was helpless: "Sigh! That brat, it would be fine if he could just stand on his own feet, but why bring such influence into the house?"

He thought of how he was a perfectly fine farmer when, one day, the County Magistrate came specifically to find him, saying he didn't need to farm anymore and should just enjoy fishing. Then, he was forced into this mansion, followed by guards and maids—everything was provided, and he became Master Du that very day.

That happened eight years ago; in other words, it was the impact brought to his family after Du En succeeded in Foundation Establishment.

"For these eight years, I've been guarding against this and that, but in the end, I still couldn't stop it. Sigh!"

Influenced by Du En in their early years, both elders understood that they were essentially positioned like livestock. Furthermore, since Du En would be taken away, it was highly likely he would end up like other "seeds" from the village—never to return, vanishing from the world. Thus, they had a countermeasure: they tried every possible way to sterilize themselves.

Unfortunately, it happened again.

"I just don't understand. I clearly gritted my teeth and had myself fixed, how could this still happen..."

"I don't know what this child will be like in the future..."

Madam Jin responded, her eyes inevitably turning red.

She had always been deeply troubled by Du En being taken away, but now that things had reached this point, she could only wait for the newborn with blessings. However, thinking that the child might also have spiritual roots and be forcibly taken away again in eighteen years made it hard for her to be at ease.

The old couple looked at each other in silence, sighing with the same sorrow.

Du En landed quietly at the gate and paused to gaze.

"Traveler Du."

The person currently acting as a guard at the gate of the Du manor was none other than one of the members who had previously followed Meng Changqing into the ruins and fought side-by-side with Du En.

Although according to the rules of both the light and dark sides, the various struggles of the immortal sects generally would not affect this place, Meng Changqing had still made new arrangements here just in case.

Therefore, after gazing for a moment, Du En shifted his attention and said to the guard who had not disturbed him, "You have been thoughtful, and also, thank you for your service, Excellency."

The situation regarding his parents' new pregnancy was actually clear at a glance.

Starting eight years ago, the local area began to tilt spiritual resources toward them to nourish their bodies and enter a pre-pregnancy state. By the time Du En joined Meng Changqing's faction, their bodies were fully restored, radiating a second spring.

Meng Changqing did not interfere much, so the still-loving couple naturally conceived.

"Haha, no trouble at all! Also, Lord Ming has already said that in Traveler Du's home, there is no need to be constrained by those outdated customs from now on. The reason I haven't explained this to the two elders yet is that I thought you would be coming soon, so I waited a while. If you hadn't come by the time the child was born, then it would have served as a birth gift."

The guard followed orders while also making his own additions.

But now that Du En had returned, there was no need for him to overstep...

"I won't go in. I'm leaving immediately. Please convey this explanation on my behalf."

Since there was nothing to worry about in this worldly home, Du En thought about leaving.

"This, that is true. After all, immortals and mortals are different."

Although cultivators were not yet immortals, the gap between them and mortals was vast, and it would only grow larger as they cultivated!

Perhaps thinking of his own family situation, the guard couldn't help but sigh with emotion.

He was a top-tier talent. Logically speaking, having started cultivation at eighteen and reaching the perfection of Foundation Establishment now, his age should be between fifty and sixty.

It was mainly because he wasn't raised like a death soldier that it took so much time. In the mortal world, a normal person living to seventy was considered long-lived, not counting accidents, so his parents should have already passed away.

"Excellency, guarding my home requires a token of gratitude. It just so happens that I have some insights into artifact refining, especially regarding the self-detonation of artifacts, which I am quite adept at."

Du En thought for a moment and took out a set of artifacts.

"..."

The guard listened to these words and looked at the set of six third-tier artifacts, ranging from high-grade to low-grade, and was momentarily speechless.

He had seen many artifact-controlling techniques from all sorts of people, but he had never seen anyone train specifically to avoid the backlash of self-detonating artifacts!

Normally, people focused on dexterous operation, because no matter how one trained, the artifact-controlling technique could not avoid the backlash of an artifact's self-detonation.

But Du En was different; he often detonated hundreds at a time, simply not taking the backlash seriously at all.

In fact, by relying on skilled evasion, a robust physique, abundant magic power, and gradually mastering artifact refining to intentionally adjust the artifact seals for easier detonation and lower backlash, he truly didn't take it seriously.

Who let him accidentally cut into this point from the start; the subsequent Hundred Control Art also completely inherited the foundation of the original Artifact Control Art, which is why he gradually went astray during his grinding practice.

Giving someone a magical artifact now is, of course, not to have the other party play at self-detonation, but to leave it for them to use as a trump card at a critical moment.

"In that case, I shall respectfully decline your modesty."

"It is only right."

Having someone look after the house here, although it is by order of the superiors, still requires some personal favors in private.

"Then, I shall take my leave."

"Safe travels on your journey, I will not see you out."

Taking one last look at his home, Du En turned and left.

Next stop, Red Parasol City.

(End of this chapter)