Immortal Cultivation: Starting as a Fortune Cultivator - Chapter 9

After speaking these words, Ye Qingxuan’s heart felt significantly lighter.

However, he didn’t see the joyful surprise he had hoped for on his father’s face.

Instead, his father looked at him deeply, patted his shoulder, and said:
“You’re my son. Did you really think I wouldn’t notice when something’s on your mind? These past few days, you’ve tried to say something several times but always held back. This time you came back, were you planning to say goodbye to your mother and me?”

Hearing his father’s words, Ye Qingxuan opened his mouth to speak, but his father raised a hand to stop him.

After stopping his son, Father Ye continued:
“After your spiritual root was detected, all the neighbors were envious. Your mother was so proud, thinking her son had a bright future ahead.”
“The moment your spiritual root was confirmed, your mother and I knew that one day, you would leave us. It was inevitable.”
“Although we’ll miss you, we don’t want to become a burden to you.”
“Immortals and mortals live in separate worlds. In the end, we cannot accompany you on your entire journey.”
“Keeping you by our side might make your mother and me happy at first, but later, we would only regret holding you back.”

“Father, you and mother could never be a burden to me.”
Hearing this, Ye Qingxuan couldn’t help but interject.

His father chuckled at this and gave him a light punch on the shoulder.
“Stubborn boy, your old man is just using a figure of speech! I just want you to understand that although we’ll worry about you, what we want most is for you to have a promising future.”
“Actually, you take after me in one way. When I was young, I loved spending time in the library too.”

At this point, a trace of reminiscence flickered in Father Ye’s eyes, and he continued:
“In the library, I caught glimpses of the vast world outside. Back then, I spent my days fantasizing that I was the Chosen One, that I would awaken a spiritual root and travel across all the mountains and rivers out there.”
“Unfortunately, it was all just a dream. The library ignited my yearning for the outside world, but my lack of a spiritual root shattered my hopes. The wild dreams of my youth ultimately became just idle fantasy.”

He finished with a bitter, self-mocking laugh.

Listening to his father’s story, Ye Qingxuan could only call out:
“Father!”

Not knowing what else to say.

Father Ye shook his head and patted Ye Qingxuan’s shoulder again.
“So, don’t halt your steps for our sake. Doing so would only make us live in unease later on.”
“If you can make something great of yourself out there, your mother and I could go to our graves smiling.”
“Go! See the outside world for your old man. Take the foolish dreams I had in my youth and venture into this path of immortality together!”

“Father, honestly, staying by your and mother’s side wouldn’t really hinder my future, I—”

Ye Qingxuan almost couldn’t stop himself from revealing his unique circumstances, but his father directly waved him off.

“Alright, alright! Do you really think your old man and your mother can’t manage without you?”
“To be frank, your mother and I have already discussed it.”
“After you leave, we’re planning to have a few more children. Heh, by the time your younger siblings are born, your mother and I will be doing well if we even remember you!”

“Huh?”

Ye Qingxuan was utterly dumbfounded.

So, after all his internal struggle, his parents had already made plans?
But after a moment’s thought, it seemed this might be for the best.

His parents weren’t that old. Having a few younger siblings to keep them company in their later years would put his mind at ease.

Seeing Ye Qingxuan’s stunned expression, Father Ye smiled proudly.
“I’ve got it all planned out. We’ll have two, ideally a boy and a girl.”
“When you’ve made a name for yourself out there, remember to look after your future younger siblings.”

The corner of Ye Qingxuan’s mouth twitched involuntarily, and he hurriedly agreed:
“Okay! Okay! Sure!”

At this point, Father Ye glanced at Ye Qingxuan and added:
“Once your brother and sister grow up, they can give me some grandchildren. If we had to rely on you for that, it would never happen in this lifetime! Hmph!”

Ye Qingxuan felt a virtual sweat drop form on his head.

Hey, he hadn’t even left yet, and the old man was already planning that far ahead?

But it wasn’t over. Father Ye spoke again:
“I’ve heard that cultivators live very long lives!”
“Maybe someday, a descendant of your siblings—my grandchild or great-grandchild—might awaken a spiritual root. When they start cultivating, you have to be their backer, make sure they aren’t bullied!”

Hearing his father’s remarkably forward-thinking arrangements, Ye Qingxuan patted his own forehead and replied weakly:
“Alright! I’ll listen to you, old man. You are my father, after all.”

Hearing this, Father Ye looked pleased and couldn’t help adding:
“Heh, you’d better remember it! Back in the day, before I was tested, I had my whole path to immortality mapped out.”
“Such a pity! The plans I originally made for your grandparents… Now your mother and I will just have to walk that path ourselves!”

Ye Qingxuan gave his father a speechless look and said nothing more.

He had never met his paternal grandparents. He only knew that when his father was seventeen, they had been killed by a suddenly emerged demon beast while doing manual work outside the city.

He just never realized his father had been so… imaginative in his youth. One really had to say, like father, like son!
Watching his father’s face, full of pride and dreams for the future, Ye Qingxuan stepped forward and gave him a hug, saying softly:
“Father, thank you.”

How could he not know? His father had said all this just to ease his worries, to let him set forth with peace of mind.

Suddenly embraced by his son and hearing his thanks, Father Ye’s eyes grew slightly moist. He hugged his son back firmly and said:
“Take good care of yourself out there. Don’t worry about your mother and me.”

Early the next morning, Ye Qingxuan’s mother prepared a lavish meal, all of his favorite dishes.

Fighting back tears, Ye Qingxuan finished the huge table full of food his mother had prepared for him.

The meal lasted a very, very long time. It still wasn’t over by the time Ye Yonglun arrived.
After arriving, Ye Yonglun didn’t disturb the family. He just stood silently not far from the door, watching Ye Qingxuan’s family with a distant gaze, lost in thought.

Only after finishing the meal did Ye Qingxuan notice Ye Yonglun had arrived.

Without further delay, Ye Qingxuan gave each of his parents a firm, strong hug. Then he knelt down, kowtowed three times to them, and said solemnly:
“Father, Mother, take care of your health. Your son is leaving.”

Having said that, he rose decisively to his feet, stubbornly holding back his tears, walked out the door, and nodded to Ye Yonglun.

Seeing this, Ye Yonglun summoned his magic sword. It transformed into a stream of light, carrying both him and Ye Qingxuan away as they departed.

The mother, who had been weeping silently where she stood, could no longer contain herself. She ran out and cried loudly:
“Xuan’er, you must protect yourself! Don’t worry about us! Wuuu wu!”

Father Ye slowly stepped forward, wrapped his arms around her, and let her cry freely against his chest. He didn’t say a word.