Chapter 194

The sun was setting, and only a remnant of the sun remained on the horizon. Song Qingming stood in the Song family backyard, blankly looking at the sky that was gradually turning dark.

"Third Uncle, she's awake! Grandmother has woken up!" Not far away, Song Yunshan walked over with a joyful face and shouted loudly at him.

Song Qingming turned around, smiled, and nodded, then followed Song Yunshan back to Song mother's room.

As soon as he entered the door, Song Qingming saw Song mother on the bed. At this moment, not only had she woken up, but she had also sat up, half-leaning against the cushions. The pale color on her face from before had changed, becoming very rosy.

"Mother, you haven't had any food or water for several days. You should eat at least a little!"

"I already said I'm not hungry. Take it away; leaving it here is just a waste!" Song mother waved her hand at the rice porridge her daughter-in-law was handing over. Although her voice was not loud, her words were still very clear.

Song Qingming stepped forward and smiled at his younger brother's wife: "After taking the spiritual pill, Mother will gather some spiritual power in her body. It doesn't matter if she doesn't eat for these few days."

Seeing Song Qingming, Song mother complained to him again: "Third child, you have such useful immortal medicine; why didn't you use some for your father back then? At least it would have let him leave us a few words before he left."

Song Qingming smiled bitterly, shook his head, and said: "Mother has wronged this child. I didn't have this kind of spiritual pill on me at that time; it was only a few years ago when I was handling affairs in the marketplace that I obtained it."

Song mother sighed, beckoned, and let Song Qingming sit at the head of the bed, closer to her.

"Third child, your mother's illness this time is truly worth it, as it even brought you back. Tell me, how long has it been since you've been home? Last time you came back, you even lied to me saying you were already married. Until now, I haven't even seen a shadow of a person."

Song Qingming said softly: "It is this child's fault. Mother, please do not be angry. Later, I will send her a message to see if she has time these few days to come and see you."

"Is what you say true?" Song mother grabbed Song Qingming's sleeve, and a bright light began to appear in her eyes.

The Second Sister and Fourth Brother on the side also looked at Song Qingming with surprised faces. Last time they heard this news, they all thought Song Qingming said it to comfort his elderly mother; they had not expected what he said to be true.

Song Qingming smiled and nodded, then, in front of everyone, took out a sound-transmission talisman and, under their surprised gazes, cast a spell to send it out.

Early the next morning, a Song family servant sweeping the floor at the door suddenly saw two beautiful young women appear outside the Song family's main gate.

This servant looked at the two of them, feeling they were somewhat unfamiliar, and was just about to step forward to ask when a figure suddenly appeared out of thin air beside him, giving him a fright.

Raising his eyes to look carefully, he realized it was the Third Master of the manor. Seeing the Third Master walking toward the door, as if he knew the two people outside, he hurriedly stepped aside.

"Qingyu, you are not cultivating properly in the marketplace; why have you run back again?"

Over these few months, after Song Qingming returned, the situation in Qinghe County had stabilized much more. Second Sister Song Qingwan and the others had also returned to Qinghe Marketplace and reopened their storefront.

Song Qingyu had also followed along and mixed into Qinghe Marketplace, staying with Huang Siyuan all day long.

"I didn't know the way, so I asked Qingyu to help bring me here." Before Song Qingyu could explain, Huang Siyuan on the side took the initiative to help her out of the predicament.

"You go back up the mountain first; do not neglect your cultivation."

"Understood. Seventh Sister-in-law, if you are bored, remember to come up the mountain to find me!"

Seeing Song Qingming's serious face, Song Qingyu did not dare to stay too long and could only mutter a few words to Huang Siyuan before turning around and returning to Funiu Mountain.

"Inside are all my family members. There aren't that many rules in the secular world; you can just be at ease." Seeing that Song Qingyu had already gone far away, Song Qingming then stepped forward and brought Huang Siyuan into the manor.

In the Song family backyard, Song mother sat in a rattan chair in the courtyard, while the Second Sister and Fourth Brother and his wife also stood on the side. Looking at Huang Siyuan, who was filled with a trace of immortal aura, everyone was filled with joy in their hearts. They took Huang Siyuan's small hand and asked softly:

"Girl! What is your name?"

"Huang Siyuan of the Huang family of Taiyuan Mountain." Huang Siyuan's parents were both cultivators, and she had grown up on Taiyuan Mountain since she was a child. She had not had much contact with mortals. Seeing Song mother and the others so enthusiastic, she was suddenly a bit flustered.

The family pulled Huang Siyuan into the courtyard and chatted endlessly. Even Song Qingming, who was standing on the side, could not get a word in and could only helplessly walk to the side, beckoning to call his eldest nephew Song Yunshan over.

"Your grandmother does not have much time left. The manor needs to make some preparations early. Your father, mother, and aunt are all getting on in years. Do not disturb them with this matter first; you can handle it slowly in secret. If you need my help, feel free to come find me."

After hearing this, Song Yunshan asked with a puzzled face: "Third Uncle, after Grandmother ate your spiritual pill, her body is now much better than before. How could she not have much time left?"

Song Qingming sighed, looked at him, and said softly: "That is not a life-saving pill; it can only help the old lady recover some vitality in a short time. The medicinal effect can only last for at most ten days or so.

You don't need to think too much about it. If there were any way, why wouldn't I try? It's just that for a person's life, birth, aging, sickness, and death are things that even ancient immortals find difficult to change. How could I have such heaven-reaching ability now?"

"This... Third Uncle, Yunshan understands. Don't worry!" After staying for a moment, Song Yunshan gently wiped away a tear, raised his head, and nodded heavily at Song Qingming.

Looking at Song Yunshan, who was already very sensible, Song Qingming stepped forward and gently patted his shoulder: "It's just a pity that your aunt's husband is no longer here; otherwise, I could have asked him to come and help you. You are more steady in doing things than your father. With you in this family in the future, I can also be more at ease."

After giving instructions to Song Yunshan, Song Qingming saw that the sky had gradually turned dark, and only then did he go into the courtyard to remind the people who were still having a lively time, sending them back to their respective places.

After sending Song mother back to her room, Song Qingming brought Huang Siyuan back to the small room where he had lived for many years.

Although this small room of Song Qingming's was not very large, it was not too crowded for the two of them. People who cultivate are casual.

After closing the door, Huang Siyuan sat upright on a wooden chair in the room, looked at Song Qingming, and asked in confusion: "Your mother's complexion doesn't look quite right. Her current appearance looks like a flash in the pan. Does the old lady not have much time left?"

Song Qingming nodded calmly and said: "Hmm, that is indeed the case. Now it is all hanging by a single pill; there should only be ten days or so left. We people who cultivate the Dao cannot escape birth, aging, sickness, and death, let alone ordinary mortals."

Huang Siyuan lowered her head and fell into silence. After a long while, she continued: "You have already reached Foundation Establishment and still have two hundred years of lifespan. For the time being, you shouldn't need to worry about this problem, right?"

"Living for two hundred more years, for ordinary cultivators like us, it does indeed look like we have already earned it. It's just that the road of cultivating the Dao is very difficult to walk steadily. I have been able to reach today only after experiencing life-and-death hardships several times. It probably isn't as easy as you think."

(End of chapter)