The wagon caravan makes its way to the station at the city, and Xue Jiang gets off, along with the other passengers, surrounded by the bustle of the city.

Xue Jiang lets out a sigh. Since he came back to the city, there was no way about it; he had to go back home.

As commoners, Xue Jiang's family had no special background; his dad supported his cultivation and the family by being a city guard, and his mother worked at a daycare and cared for young children while their parents worked. As for his siblings; he had a younger brother, but last he heard, he had become an inner disciple of the True Sword sect.

Burdened by the scolding that probably waited for him, Xue Jiang began to walk the journey home.

…

…

“Mom, dad? It’s me, Xiao Jiang; I'm back.” Xue Jiang says, walking through the unlocked door. He immediately smells the food cooking in the air.

Suddenly the shuffling of chairs is heard, and a lady walks into the room. “Oh? It’s you?” Bao Qing says, walking up to give Xue Jiang a hug. “Come, dinner’s ready. Your dad won’t stop complaining about a new gang in town. Says they’re called the Scorpion gang; have you heard of them?” She says, leading Xue Jiang to the dining table.

Xue Yang looks up from the table. “Oh, it’s you? Old Qing, get the dishes. Your son is back; hey, get the hundred-year wine as well. We should treat ourselves while we can, hah!” He says. He had a cup of rice wine, and was drinking casually, and munching on peanuts from time to time.

“Old Yang, don’t call me that, or I’ll strangle you in your sleep! I’m still a young beauty!” Bao Qing says with a snort.

Xue Jiang smiles bitterly and sits down. Why do I feel that they don’t know that I ran away? He asks himself. He was berating himself this whole while, wondering if there was a better way to handle that situation back then.

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

Bao Qing went to grab the dishes while Xue Yang continued to munch on peanuts and drink. “So, how’s the sect? Have you progressed in your cultivation?” Xue Yang asks.

Bao Qing lets out a snort. “Old Yang, you’re truly getting old. Xiao Jiang was kicked out of the True Sword sect years ago! Come, son, don’t worry about him; try your mom’s sweet and sour chicken.” She says, putting some food onto Xue Jiang’s plate.

Xue Yang raises an eyebrow. “Oh, that’s right, that was the other one. Anyways, what have you been up to?” He asks, taking another sip of rice wine.

Xue Jiang clears his throat. “Ha-humm. I’ve been tempering my Dao Heart as a fisherman, and I’ve finally made a breakthrough to the Core Formation stage.” He says, not really wanting to go into detail. He certainly couldn’t tell them that he ran away and planned to never come back!

“How’s Xiao Jian?” Xue Jiang asks, hoping to change the subject.

Xue Yang throws another peanut into his mouth. “Oh, he’s good. Old Qing, hasn’t he also become a Core Formation expert recently?” He asks, having another sip of rice wine.

Bao Qing also sits at the table. “Yes, that was a few months ago.” She says.

Xue Yang shakes his head. “Alas, your brother is much younger than you, but is already at the same stage! You should truly try harder; how can he respect you as the elder brother?” He asks, thinking it was bit of a shame.

“Oh, shut it, Old Yang. You were sixty years old when you reached Core Formation! Both of your sons are geniuses!” Bao Qing says with some pride.

“Hah!” Old Yang says with a smile, drinking the rest of his rice wine. If he was being honest, he was also somewhat proud. Why were his sons so strong? Of course it’s because a tiger father can’t bear a dog son! Xue Yang thinks with a laugh.

…

…

Xue Jiang had dinner and left. As he exits the house, he lets out a sigh. Luckily there was nothing to worry about at home, or he didn’t know what he would do.

The next thing he had to do was make a trip to the bookstore. The old man that works there was a scholar who had published all sorts of famous works. He was the person who wrote the Core Encyclopedia, so he should probably have more information regarding the Dragon Blood Cult.

As a Core Formation expert, Xue Jiang’s next step in his cultivation was to polish the Soul Source according to his core, and form a nascent soul, but to do this, he would have to polish his Soul Source according to the Dao of his core. If Xue Jiang had a better idea of cultivation, he would have planned this accordingly when he first started out, but unfortunately, he had fumbled his whole to this stage, and currently, he had no idea which Dao was related to his core.

He could only seek out Hao Yang, that old scholar, to see what he knew.

…

…

Xue Jiang enters the bookstore, the bell ringing to announce his entrance. “Hello?” He calls out.

The shuffling of books was heard in the depths of the store, before an old man came out. He sets down a pile of books and comes forward. “Hello, customer, how can I help you today?” He asks.

“Hello, I had a few questions; I’m not sure if you were free?” Xue Jiang says.

Hao Yang raises an eyebrow. “What did you want to know?” He asks. As an old scholar, there were all sorts of people who sought him out for various things. He was not opposed to helping them out, but of course, there would be a price.

Xue Jiang looks to the old man and just says it. “What do you know of the Dragon Blood Cult?” He asks.

Hao Yang looks at the young man and smiles. “Hmm, interesting.” He says.