After a slightly longer-than-usual bath because of his Spiritual Guide, Shen Liqian put on only his briefs and poured the dirty water from the bathtub.
He then hand-washed his clothes.
Since his father was the Clan Chief and a hunter, Shen Liqian's mother always refused any help with household duties.
Shen Liqian was the future hunter as well, so she didn't want him to spend time on those duties and instead wanted him to focus on cultivation and training.
But he always refused and helped her, doing his own share first.
Shen Lexi came to accept that stubborn part of her son.
"Your parents have seen everything," Zhiyin said.
Shen Liqian wasn't surprised by her words.
He felt as if he had drowned in Qi, so it only made sense for his parents to notice.
They were on high alert now because of Shen Junce's betrayal.
Shen Liqian still couldn't believe his uncle had betrayed them.
In a family that had always supported one another, it was a bitter truth to swallow.
But Shen Liqian buried those feelings and turned to Zhiyin.
He didn't mind that his parents had noticed.
"That will only make explaining things easier.
"What about you?
"Have they seen you?"
Zhiyin shook her head.
"No."
Shen Liqian tilted his head.
I would love to introduce her, but she must be hiding for a reason.
My Father was betrayed by his own brother.
This cultivation world is not as safe as Earth.
"That's your choice.
"I respect it.
"But before we continue, I must speak with my parents."
Zhiyin mewled.
"I wouldn't stop you.
"It's your moment.
"Enjoy it with your parents."
He would love to bring her and show her to his parents.
Leaving her alone didn't sit well with Shen Liqian.
Zhiyin seemed to have sensed his feelings as she looked into his eyes.
"They can't see me, so I'll follow you."
Shen Liqian brightened on the spot and picked her up, tucking her under his arm.
Zhiyin: (=_=)
He scooped up his sword with the other hand and walked with his two companions straight to the dining hall, his stomach pinching hard at the smell he imagined from the pots.
As a cultivator, Shen Liqian could survive a few days on Qi alone.
After that, his body would be malnourished until he passed out from lack of nutrition.
The Shen Clan survived for years thanks to their cultivation method and deliberate sharing with other hard-working members.
But deaths were piling up, and now Shen Lijian had lost his Dantian.
Things were truly heading in a terrible direction.
Not for Shen Liqian, though.
"Qian'er!" Shen Lexi shouted.
Seeing his mother beaming warmed him and made him forget his hunger.
She ran over to him and embraced him tightly.
He relaxed into her warmth despite the sword in his hand.
Zhiyin mewled, still tucked under his arm.
"Today's a feast to celebrate your enlightenment!
"We will have a double portion of soup with meat!"
"Really?" Shen Liqian asked.
His mouth watered at the word 'meat,' and he swallowed hard.
He hadn't eaten meat in such a long time.
It was particularly tasty in this world, as it was rich in nutrients and Qi.
As the Clan Chief's family, Shen Lexi and Shen Liqian had some meat stored, but that was their savings against famine.
A few pieces of meat wouldn't hurt to celebrate such a joyous occasion.
Shen Liqian was the future of the Clan, after all.
"Lijian is waiting for you at the Training Hall.
"Once you two return, I will feed you two until you're full!"
Shen Liqian smiled.
"I can't wait!"
"I know.
"So be a good boy and go see your father!"
With a bright smile, Shen Lexi forced her son out of the dining hall and then went over to the kitchen.
Shen Liqian headed straight to the Training Hall.
It was like a dojo with a huge sliding door that opened onto the forest and one of the mountain spires.
The cold deepened as Shen Liqian approached.
When he slid the door open and stepped inside, he saw his father in the lotus position, cultivating with the white forest and a distant mountain's peak framed by the open doorway.
The cold wind swirled around him, as if drawn by his intent as he cultivated Qi diligently.
Qi seemed as sharp as ever, but now Shen Liqian felt his father was unconsciously shaping the Qi around him into miniature blades before absorbing it.
Perhaps that was why he seemed like a sword planted in the earth.
Despite the low temperature, Shen Lijian didn't have any red patches on his skin.
His breathing was calm and focused.
My Father is a real talent.
I want to catch up to him faster!
It was then that Shen Lijian opened his eyes.
The remnants of his sharp focus lingered in his eyes before he beamed at his son, picked up his sheathed sword, and rose to his feet.
"I never doubted your future, Qian'er.
"But there were things I couldn't teach you because of your cultivation base.
"Now that you have reached enlightenment and received a fateful weapon, I will personally test your talent and see its extent."
He was speaking more like a Clan Chief than a father, though calling Shen Liqian 'Qian'er' showed he was still in father mode.
Shen Liqian knelt and dropped Zhiyin gently onto the floor.
He then stood up and struck his right fist against his left palm.
"I will become the Shen Clan Chief and conquer Crown-forged Eight Mountains, Father!"
Shen Lijian clenched the hilt of his sword harder.
Pride flickered in his eyes.
He'd been waiting for this moment for eighteen years!
Shen Liqian smiled and unsheathed his sword, holding it one-handed.
The father and son stared into each other's eyes before the wooden floor screeched under his foot as he launched at his father.
I've sparred Father many times, so I know he will overpower me easily!
He has a broken Dantian now, so he can't fight for long.
It means I must seize the flow of the battle as long as possible, then properly deflect his attacks.
A single mistake and I'm done!
Forcing his father to guard himself, Shen Liqian raised his sword in a diagonal slash and executed it perfectly.
His blade met his father's in a loud clang.
He slid his blade along his father's sword, then thrust.
Before he could make his second attack, the sleeve of his robe tore, and an unknown technique cut his skin open.
He widened his eyes in shock and retreated.
Shen Liqian looked at two wounds across his arm.
They're widening, so this is our Sword Claw Cultivation Method's Main Technique—Sword Claw.
The slash is akin to a monster clawing through the flesh.
Depending on the cultivator's Qi and comprehension, the wound can widen so much that the bone will be exposed, or the arm can simply split apart!
But Father slashed only once at me… so there was a second technique!
Shen Lijian smiled coolly.
"That traitorous bastard can also perform this technique."
Shen Liqian's eyes sharpened.