Immortal Cultivation: Starting as a Fortune Cultivator - Chapter 41

Walking down the familiar street, Ye Qingxuan stood hesitantly before his own front gate.

He didn’t use any spiritual power or his divine sense to probe. Instead, like an ordinary mortal without any cultivation, he gazed anxiously at the door that was so close yet felt so far away.

After taking a deep breath, Ye Qingxuan finally mustered the courage to knock on the door.

Thump! Thump! Thump!

The sound of knocking brought a familiar voice from inside:
“Who is it?”

Then, the door slowly opened. Mother Ye was completely stunned the moment she saw Ye Qingxuan. Staring at this face that was both strange and yet carried a familiar essence, she uttered in disbelief:
“You… you… are you Xuan’er?”

Looking at his mother’s face, which had gradually aged, and her hair, which was slowly turning white, Ye Qingxuan could no longer control himself. Fighting back the tears welling in his eyes, he stepped forward and embraced his mother, his voice trembling:
“Mother, I’m back!”

Hearing his words, Mother Ye looked up, cradling Ye Qingxuan’s face in her hands and studying it again and again. Suddenly, tears of joy streamed down her face:
“It’s Xuan’er! My Xuan’er is back! My Xuan’er has come home!”

She then hurriedly called out toward the interior of the house:
“Old man! Xuan’er is back! Xuan’er is back! Come out quickly!”

Immediately after, a clattering sound came from inside, followed by hurried footsteps. A figure emerged from a room, stopping short upon seeing Ye Qingxuan, a look of dazed disbelief on his face.

Seeing this figure, Ye Qingxuan smiled through his tears:
“Father, I’m back!”

Hearing his son’s voice, Father Ye finally snapped back to reality. Trying to appear composed, he said:
“Good! Good! It’s good that you’re back!”

But his hands, clasped behind his back, couldn’t stop trembling!
Noticing this, a hint of amusement flashed in Ye Qingxuan’s eyes. His father was still the same as before!

He stepped forward and gave his father a hug. Then, at Mother Ye’s urging, the three of them entered the house together.

Inside, Ye Qingxuan listened as his mother talked and asked questions.

She spoke of all the things that had happened in the family over the past twenty-plus years and inquired about Ye Qingxuan’s own experiences during that time.

Occasionally, Father Ye would interject to add a point or two, earning himself an exasperated look from Mother Ye.

Ye Qingxuan simply watched this scene warmly, not interrupting.

As time passed, his parents’ emotions gradually settled. Once calmer, Father Ye seemed to remember something. He looked at Ye Qingxuan with a hint of pride and said:
“Ah, right. You have a younger brother and sister now. Your brother is named Ye Qing’ao, he’s twenty this year. Your sister is Ye Qingying, she’s sixteen!”

Mother Ye, seeing Father Ye’s smug expression, couldn’t help but give him a light swat.

Hearing this, Ye Qingxuan exclaimed with delight:
“Really? Where are they now?”

At his question, Father Ye said with mild annoyance:
“Qing’ao went to the library. As for Qingying, that girl is out fooling around all day. She won’t be back until evening.”

Just talking about Ye Qingying gave Father Ye a headache. A young lady, acting like the leader of the neighborhood kids all the time? Doesn’t she realize how old she is?
“If only that girl could be as steady as you were, I’d be content!”

Fortunately, Qing’ao was quite sensible. He usually just went to the library to read, which was somewhat similar to his eldest brother.

Mother Ye, hearing Father Ye’s sigh, couldn’t resist shooting him a look and exposing him:
“And whose fault is it that Qingying turned out like this? Spoiled by her father, that’s who!”

Seeing Mother Ye’s look, Father Ye gave an awkward smile and didn’t reply.

Ye Qingxuan chuckled inwardly. The next moment, he seemed to remember something and asked:
“Father, Mother, now that we have a younger brother and sister, should we move to a bigger house?”

Ye Qingxuan’s home was a small courtyard. The rooms weren’t tiny, but now that his younger siblings were grown, moving to a larger place seemed necessary.

Hearing his suggestion, Mother Ye suddenly fell silent. Finally, Father Ye slowly explained:
“After you left, the family arranged a large estate for us. But your mother worried that if we moved, you wouldn’t be able to find us when you returned, so we never did.”

Ye Qingxuan was taken aback. His nose tingled with emotion. Forcing a smile, he said:
“Father, Mother, your son is home now. Let’s move to the new house tomorrow.”

This time, Mother Ye hesitated for a moment. Thinking of Ye Qing’ao and Ye Qingying, she finally nodded in agreement.

As evening approached, Father Ye and Mother Ye were busy in the kitchen. Ye Qingxuan sat alone in the small courtyard.

Just then, the courtyard gate suddenly swung open. A young man walked in, whose features bore a faint resemblance to Ye Qingxuan’s.

Seeing Ye Qingxuan sitting in their courtyard, the young man asked hesitantly:
“Who are you?”

Looking at the young man before him, Ye Qingxuan already understood. He smiled and said:
“Qing’ao? I am your eldest brother, Ye Qingxuan.”
“You’re my big brother? Brother! You’ve finally returned! Hahaha!”

Ye Qing’ao had known since childhood that he had an older brother who had gone away to cultivate immortality. He himself had always yearned for the path of cultivation, but unfortunately, he lacked spiritual roots. He could only learn about the world of immortal cultivation through the library.

He never expected that his brother, who had embarked on the immortal path, would suddenly return today. Ye Qing’ao was thrilled and immediately pestered Ye Qingxuan to tell him about the outside world of cultivation.

Ye Qingxuan looked at this younger brother who felt no strangeness toward him, a flicker of warmth in his eyes. He began to tell him about the world of immortal cultivation.

However, most of what he shared came from his own readings in the Xuantian Sect’s library. After all, he hadn’t ventured out into the world himself yet and hadn’t personally experienced the wider cultivation realm.

Of course, he wouldn’t tell Ye Qing’ao that.

While he was speaking, a loud, clear voice suddenly came from outside the courtyard:
“Dad! Mom! Is dinner ready? I’m hungry!”

It was followed by the sound of cheerful, quick footsteps.

Hearing this voice, Ye Qing’ao immediately covered his face with a look of resignation.

Ye Qingxuan, however, was curious. This must be his younger sister, Ye Qingying? Her personality didn’t seem to match her elegant name at all!

Soon, Ye Qingying bounded into the courtyard.

Seeing Ye Qingxuan and Ye Qing’ao in the yard, she tilted her little head, her delicate face full of confusion. She raised a finger and pointed at Ye Qingxuan:
“Brother, who is he?”

Seeing Ye Qingying point at Ye Qingxuan, Ye Qing’ao’s face darkened. He scolded:
“Little sister, that’s rude! This is our eldest brother!”
“Eldest brother?”

Ye Qingying bit her finger thoughtfully, as if trying to recall something. Suddenly, her eyes lit up. She stretched out a hand toward Ye Qingxuan.

Ye Qingxuan was puzzled:
“What?”
“Presents, of course!”

Ye Qingying couldn’t help but roll her eyes at him. Her big brother seemed a bit slow, not very clever.

Ye Qingxuan suddenly understood. This time when he returned, apart from some medicinal pills prepared for his parents, he hadn’t really prepared any other gifts.

After a moment’s thought, Ye Qingxuan looked at Ye Qingying and asked:
“How about some medicinal pills? Would you like those?”

He had brought back quite a few pills suitable for ordinary mortals this time.
“Pills?”

Hearing this, Ye Qingying’s eyes sparkled. She eagerly asked:
“Do you have the kind that makes people… have stomach troubles?”
“Huh?”

Ye Qingxuan was momentarily lost. Stomach troubles? He couldn’t quite follow his little sister’s train of thought. He shook his head, amused and exasperated:
“No, I don’t.”
“Oh… really? Well, never mind then!”

Hearing there were no such pills, Ye Qingying shook her head, somewhat disappointed.

Watching from the side, Ye Qing’ao was almost frantic. If you don’t want other pills, you could give them to me!

Seeing her disappointment, Ye Qingxuan had a thought. He took out a greenish pill:
“How about this kind of pill? Do you want it?”
“What kind of pill is this?”

Ye Qingying looked curiously at the pill in Ye Qingxuan’s hand.

Without a word, Ye Qingxuan pinched it between his fingers. The pill shattered, transforming into specks of starlight that merged with the surrounding spiritual energy. It began to attract more spiritual energy, forming even more dazzling, colorful lights.

This was a Qi-Attracting Pill he had refined many years ago. He never sold them because their price was too low.

Seeing this, Ye Qingying instantly squealed with excitement:
“Wow! Big brother, I want this kind of pill!”

Stars seemed to dance in Ye Qingying’s eyes. She was already fantasizing about playing the mystic shaman in front of her little friends.
“Hehehe…”

Seeing Ye Qingying start giggling for no apparent reason, Ye Qingxuan stepped forward and lightly tapped her on the head:
“What are you thinking about?”

Startled by the tap, Ye Qingying came back to herself. She covered her head with both hands, pouting, and refused to answer Ye Qingxuan.

Seeing this, Ye Qingxuan raised an eyebrow. He took out another green Qi-Attracting Pill and began tossing it up and down in his hand.

As the pill moved up and down, Ye Qingying’s little eyes couldn’t help but follow it, staring fixedly at the pill in Ye Qingxuan’s hand.

Noticing her reaction, Ye Qingxuan stopped teasing her. He took out all the Qi-Attracting Pills, put them in a small cloth pouch, and handed it to Ye Qingying.

Ye Qingying eagerly grabbed the pouch and immediately dashed toward her room. Before disappearing, she didn’t forget to thank him:
“Thanks, big brother! Hehehe!”

Before her voice even faded, her small figure had vanished.

Then, Ye Qingxuan took out a few more bottles of pills and handed them to the envious Ye Qing’ao, saying:
“These are Body-Strengthening Pills. They can gradually enhance your physique. Take one pill a day.”

Ye Qing’ao joyfully accepted the Body-Strengthening Pills, exclaiming happily:
“Thank you, big brother!”

Having a younger brother and sister filled Ye Qingxuan’s heart with great joy. The only regret was that neither his brother nor his sister possessed spiritual roots!