Chapter 444

"Senior, please rise and speak!"

This bow left He He Pingsheng stunned.

"Sigh…" The Patriarch of Tianfu Mountain sighed, then shook his head. "Brother, you've come at the worst possible time!"

"Now, within Qi State, everyone is on high alert—if the imperial family learns we've been closely associating with you, annihilation could come in the blink of an eye!"

The Patriarch of Tianfu Mountain was a Great Nascent Soul, with a wide circle of acquaintances—he knew every Nascent Soul in the True Cultivation Alliance.

Naturally, he received more news than most.

He had long known about He He Pingsheng's rampage through the imperial palace six months ago, and the slaying of five imperial princes.

Now, seeing He He Pingsheng within his own sect, the Patriarch's fear was unimaginable.

"Don't worry!" He He Pingsheng said. "No one else knows I've come here!"

"Besides you, only your few Jin Dan disciples know—so long as they don't leak it, there's no problem!"

"Hmm!" With that, the Patriarch of Tianfu Mountain grew somewhat reassured, then bowed and sat down. "Nothing brings a man to the Three Treasures without purpose. Brother, what brings you here? Speak plainly."

"Fine!" He He Pingsheng said. "Actually, there's nothing urgent—I just want to ask about Qiao Qiao Huizhu. She came to the True Cultivation Alliance about a year ago, but I've waited and waited, and never saw her return. So I've come to ask: did she stay here at Tianfu Mountain for a while?"

"Qiao Qiao Huizhu?"

"No!" the Patriarch of Tianfu Mountain said. "I never saw her come!"

"Truly not?" He He Pingsheng asked.

The Patriarch of Tianfu Mountain said: "At any rate, I didn't notice her. Wait a moment—I'll call others to ask again!"

"No need!" He He Pingsheng waved his hand.

He had already asked.

And Qiao Qiao Huizhu was a Nascent Soul cultivator—if she had come to the sect, the Patriarch couldn't possibly have missed her.

That meant… Qiao Qiao Huizhu had never come here at all.

How could that be?

He He Pingsheng couldn't make sense of it.

He had parted from Qiao Qiao Huizhu at the border of Dingxiang County; her destination was the True Cultivation Alliance. If she never arrived, then she must have met with misfortune along the way.

It was only a day or two's journey—what kind of misfortune could occur?

More importantly, Qiao Qiao Huizhu's cultivation and combat strength had both reached the peak of the Nascent Soul realm—who could possibly subdue her?

And her life tablet was still intact!

It was utterly inexplicable.

Had he not trusted his wife absolutely, He He Pingsheng might have suspected she had fled.

As for these people of Tianfu Mountain, he believed they spoke the truth—there was no reason for them to deceive him.

"Alright… I understand!" He He Pingsheng nodded, turning to leave.

"Brother, wait!" The Nascent Soul Patriarch grabbed He He Pingsheng's sleeve. "Wait, wait—I have one favor to ask!"

He He Pingsheng said: "Speak."

The Patriarch of Tianfu Mountain said: "Please, don't tell anyone you came to Tianfu Mountain. I beg you—if you do, our sect may truly be wiped out!"

He He Pingsheng smiled. "Rest assured—I won't say a word."

With those words, He He Pingsheng vanished in a flash, instantly teleporting away from Tianfu Mountain.

Then he mounted his sword and flew toward Grand Void Gate.

Since he'd come this far, he might as well visit his hometown.

His parents' graves still stood.

And Hao Wang Shixiong also needed to be memorialized.

And if possible, he might as well kill the entire group from the Beast Taming Immortal Sect.

In the time it took to burn a stick of incense, He He Pingsheng descended as a streak of light, landing on the small town outside Grand Void Gate.

This town was where He He Pingsheng was born.

A great river flowed through it, splitting the town into two parts: the southern half was the common residential area; the northern half held a grand hall—the Outer Gate Administration Hall.

Familiar place. Familiar scent. Familiar aura.

He He Pingsheng couldn't help but close his eyes, relaxing completely, his body merging with this land and sky.

Coming here, he felt warmth all over his body.

A comforting feeling.

After a while, he opened his eyes, and his spiritual sense slowly spread across the entire town.

To his delight, his home still stood.

Before he entered Grand Void Gate, he had lived here; after joining the sect, he had lived here for several more years. No one besides himself knew his family home was here.

His neighbors were all ordinary mortals—life and death had passed, and a hundred years had changed everything.

Who would remember the owner of this house?

He He Pingsheng arrived at the gate.

The gate was rusted all over.

Made of high-grade steel, the iron gate had not collapsed even after a hundred years.

But the lock was completely rusted beyond use.

Click!

He He Pingsheng reached out and tore off the broken lock, then pushed the gate open with a creak.

The courtyard was overgrown and desolate.

Tall wild grass covered everything, damp and teeming with insects flying among the blades.

He He Pingsheng waved his hand, and a streak of spiritual energy shot out.

Instantly, all the wild grass in the courtyard was cut down; with a flick of his sleeve, he stored it inside the Great Freedom Pearl, tossing it carelessly inside.

The three doors were rotted through.

Revealing dark, hollow openings.

He He Pingsheng did not enter the house—only stood in the courtyard for half a stick of incense.

This courtyard held his childhood, the dozen years he lived with his parents, his happiest memories.

Yet now, all was changed.

He He Pingsheng quietly stepped out of the small courtyard.

The street bustled with people, crowded and lively.

A few idle neighbors watched him from afar, each filled with curiosity.

A child ran up and asked: "Who are you?"

He He Pingsheng bowed to the surrounding neighbors. "I've been cultivating for a hundred years and have not returned. I didn't expect all of you to have changed—this is my courtyard, my home!"

At this, the ordinary mortals around him dropped to their knees one after another, bowing their heads to He He Pingsheng.

An immortal—that was no ordinary thing.

He He Pingsheng thought for a moment. "Could you all help me clean up this courtyard? I'll reward you accordingly."

Several pieces of gold and silver were tossed out, hovering in midair.

He had possessed these long ago—he hadn't used them in many years.

An old man with white hair stepped forward and bowed to He He Pingsheng. "I know this family—the surname is He!"

He He Pingsheng smiled. "Correct—it's my family."

"Old man…"

After speaking, He He Pingsheng suddenly felt something was off.

He himself was over one hundred and ten years old—this old man couldn't possibly be over a hundred.

"Cough… Brother…" He pulled the old man's sleeve. "I'm a few years older than you—calling you 'brother,' don't take offense."

"No offense, no offense…" the old man shook his head. "Since I was a child, I've known this family were cultivators, but I've never met any of you. Don't worry—I'll clean this house for you!"

"I'll make sure the immortal is satisfied!"

He He Pingsheng nodded. "Don't touch the house—just clear out the clutter and install a few new doors."

"No need to repair anything else—leave it as it is."