Chapter 51
In the courtyard, a hoe transformed into a long spear glowing with silver light, floating steadily in the air. Gu Wenzhu held Xia Yi close as they stepped onto it.
Qilin also jumped up, wanting to follow.
Xia Yi hesitated for a moment, worried that its sudden appearance might scare people. He stroked Qilin’s head and said, “Son, next time I’ll take you to meet Grandpa and Grandma, alright? This time, stay home and watch the house.”
Though reluctant, Qilin obediently returned to the doorway, lying down dejectedly on the stone slabs.
Seeing this made Xia Yi feel a pang of guilt; not only was he not a good husband, but he wasn’t a good father either.
After asking for directions from the gatekeeper, the hoe lifted into the sky, soaring through the clouds toward the east.
They flew over floating islands and towering mountains, and soon they left the boundaries of Qishan. Below them, scattered villages and farmland began to appear.
Farmers working in the fields glanced up at the sight of the flying hoe, but they were not surprised, as if it were a common occurrence.
Some leaned on their hoes, shielding their eyes from the sun to get a better look, while others simply glanced up briefly before resuming their work, as if what had flown overhead were two birds rather than two people on a hoe.
Occasionally, someone would call out politely, “Immortal, have you eaten? Off to slay demons?”
This was the path out of the Qishan Sect, so it must have been a well-traveled route, with people flying in and out every day.
At first, Xia Yi was worried they might startle people, so he asked Gu Wenzhu to fly above the clouds. But after seeing how nonchalant the locals were, he realized he was the one being overly cautious and had them lower their altitude.
After all, the wind was strong up high, the air was thin, and sometimes clouds would obscure their view.
At one point, someone even waved them down, asking for help. As they descended, the person held out a jar with small holes drilled around it. “Could I trouble you, Immortal? My field is large, could you help me scatter the fertilizer as you fly?”
Clearly, this was a seasoned pro, often flagging down cultivators flying by for assistance. The jar with holes seemed to be his go-to tool for this.
So, they ended up holding the jar and flying around the field once, like a crop duster.
After asking around for directions, they quickly flew out of the mountain range and reached a vast plain.
It seemed they were getting close to Huangzhong Prefecture.
Soon, they saw a sizable city appear below, and the hoe gently descended outside its gates.
Following the flow of people, they passed through the gate guards’ inspection and walked into the bustling streets of Huangzhong Prefecture.
The streets were crowded with people, shoulder to shoulder, making the place lively and vibrant.
True to its reputation as a world of cultivators, Xia Yi noticed many people carrying dusters or swords on their backs, walking to and fro on the busy streets.
On the street, people were selling various magical pills and elixirs. They simply laid a blue cloth on the ground, placed some bottles and jars on it, and started shouting to attract customers.
“Late-night special! A customer’s grandmother had been dead for three days. After stuffing one of my miracle pills into her mouth, she climbed out of the coffin and ran five laps around the yard. Wang Er’s resurrection pill, ensuring the elderly live long and healthy lives.”
“Great news, great news! The sect has collapsed, and the sect master ran off with his junior sister. The remaining brothers are selling all the sect’s magical pills to raise money for their journey home. All pills are now sold at a discount, just covering the cost of the ingredients!”
As the two continued asking for directions, they soon turned onto the street where the magistrate’s residence was located.
A young servant sitting idly at the gate was the first to spot Xia Yi. He froze for a moment, rubbed his eyes, and then, overjoyed, shouted, “Young master is back!” He immediately turned and dashed inside to deliver the news.
Before they had even reached the gate, they could hear the servant shouting throughout the courtyard, “Master! Madam! The young master is back! The young master is back!”
Xia Yi couldn’t help but feel a surge of excitement in his heart, knowing he was about to see his parents. His heartbeat quickened, and he instinctively grabbed Gu Wenzhu’s arm.
As he did, he noticed that Gu Wenzhu’s muscles were tense and his back was held straight. Looking up at his face, Xia Yi saw a serious expression and tightly pressed lips, clearly showing that he too was nervous.
Of course, it made sense. This was Gu Wenzhu’s first time meeting his in-laws, so it was natural for him to feel nervous.
Being the considerate husband that he was, Xia Yi quickly suppressed his own anxiety and put on a calm expression.
He patted Gu Wenzhu’s hand reassuringly and said with a light tone, “Don’t worry, you’re so wonderful. They’ll definitely like you.”
Gu Wenzhu gave a quiet “mm” in response, taking a deep breath in secret.
As soon as they stepped through the courtyard gate, they saw Xia Yi’s parents hurrying out from the main hall.
Xia’s father was walking while scolding the young servant, “If this is a false alarm, I’ll throw you out!”
Before the words had even left his mouth, Xia’s mother suddenly stopped in her tracks, looked toward the gate, and joyfully called out, “Yi’er!”
Seeing his mother’s face and hearing her familiar voice, Xia Yi’s heart was first filled with joy, then pierced with sharp pain.
“Is this Mom? No, this is Mother.”
With red eyes, he took a few steps forward, tightly embracing his mother, and with a trembling voice, he called out, “Mother.”
Xia’s mother’s eyes reddened as well. She gently patted Xia Yi’s back and said with a playful scolding tone, “You’re all grown up now, still acting spoiled. How long has it even been since you last saw me, to be like this?”
“He’s been wronged while away and misses home and his mother,” Xia’s father tried to maintain a stern face to show parental authority, but he couldn’t stop a smile from breaking through.
“Father,” Xia Yi turned to embrace his father as well, resting his head on his shoulder and choking up, “I just missed home and missed you and Mother.”
Xia’s father, caught off guard and flustered, was overwhelmed with joy yet a bit embarrassed. He ended up awkwardly coughing twice, “You silly child, alright, alright. A grown man crying like this, what will others think? We even have a guest here.”
Though he said this, his tone was full of unhidden affection.
Xia Yi stayed in his father’s embrace for a moment longer, as if transported through time.
He remembered his younger self, walking ahead with an impatient look, while his father trailed behind, carrying his schoolbag.
Every time his father tried to walk alongside him, he would quicken his pace to widen the gap.
Later, as he lay alone on the sofa, staring at the black-and-white photograph of his parents, he would often think, if he ever had the chance to walk with his father again, he would never let go of his father’s hand, and he would give him the tightest hug.
It wasn’t until Xia’s mother began laughing softly that Xia Yi finally let go of his father and stood up straight.
“This immortal must be Yi’er’s fellow disciple from Qishan?” Xia’s father turned toward Gu Wenzhu with a warm smile.
Gu Wenzhu, in his Qishan sect robes, stood tall and dignified, with a graceful presence that made it clear he was no ordinary person.
Xia’s father’s respect for him grew, and he prepared to bow as a formal greeting.
“No need for that,” Gu Wenzhu quickly stepped forward and gently supported Xia’s father’s hands to stop him.
Xia Yi suddenly remembered that he had yet to introduce them, and with slight embarrassment, he softly said, “Father, Mother, let me introduce you. This is my wife, also your daughter-in-law, Gu Wenzhu.”
“What?” Xia’s parents were taken aback, thinking they had misheard. They exchanged confused glances and asked in unison.
“I didn’t get the chance to tell you before. I got married at Qishan. This is my wife, Gu Wenzhu,” Xia Yi raised his voice slightly, “I’ve come home not only to see you both but also to introduce him to you.”
His words were clear, and Xia’s parents heard them loud and clear.
Yet, even though they understood the words, the meaning behind them was baffling. Married? Wife? With this man?
At that moment, Gu Wenzhu stepped forward, bowed deeply, and said loudly, “Your son-in-law, Gu Wenzhu, greets Father and Mother.”
“But, but he’s a man!” Xia’s mother blurted out in shock.
Seeing the sudden change in his parents’ expressions, Xia Yi felt a sinking feeling in his heart.
He had spent so much time in the farming world, where same-sex relationships were accepted by everyone. Coming back to the cultivation world, he naturally brought Gu Wenzhu home, completely forgetting that things were different here.
Xia’s mother remained in a daze, looking back and forth between Gu Wenzhu and Xia Yi, struggling to process the situation.
Could it be that this was a woman who just looked like a man? But no, that didn’t seem right at all, especially since there was still a faint shadow of a shaved beard on his face.
Xia’s father, having been a government official for many years, had heard tales of certain romantic affairs among his colleagues. He knew that it was becoming common for wealthy officials and nobles to secretly keep male companions.
But those were playthings, kept in private for amusement. Afterward, they still married women and carried on with their lives as expected.
But for Xia Yi to bring a man home and openly declare him as his spouse—that was completely unheard of.
“You were chosen by the master of the Qishan Sect to become his disciple. We initially didn’t agree, but you insisted on going, no matter what. Fine, go then. A grown child can’t be controlled by his mother, and I didn’t want to hold you back from your future. But now, after only studying there for such a short time, you’ve come back with a man and said you’ve already married?” Tears streamed down Xia Yi’s mother’s face as she tearfully scolded him.
At that moment, Xia Yi was at a loss for words.
He couldn’t exactly say I might not actually be your real son, I could be a fake. Your real son may have disappeared the moment I came to this world.
Or, I just missed my parents too much and wanted to treat you both as my own.
He also couldn’t say, I came from a farming world, and over there, Brother Zhu and I are legally married. Our marriage is recognized by the law and supported by society.
Seeing his father’s face turning pale, his breath coming in gasps, and his chest heaving, with his eyes scanning the courtyard, Xia Yi’s heart skipped a beat. Something was definitely wrong.
That familiar posture—he was clearly looking for a stick or broom, just like in his original world when the teacher called home to report bad behavior.
In a panic, Xia Yi ducked behind Gu Wenzhu, gripping his clothes tightly, shouting, “Brother Zhu, help! My dad’s going to beat me!”
Gu Wenzhu, both heartbroken and anxious, quickly turned to Xia Yi’s father and said, “Father, it’s our fault. We were thoughtless and married without informing you. But there were reasons for it. Please, Father, forgive us this once.”
“Forgive? You want forgiveness? Fine, but first, you’ll have to get rid of this male vixen. And also, who the heck is your father?”
Xia Yi’s father was trembling, unable to say anything, his lips quivering. Gu Wenzhu knelt low and sincerely said, “Father, please calm down, don’t let this affect your health. Even though we married without permission, I promise I will take care of Xiao Yi for life. You can trust me with him.”
“Both of you need to stay healthy. In a few years, you’ll be able to hold your first grandson, from me and Xiao Yi.”
“Dear!” Xia Yi’s mother suddenly cried out. Xia Yi’s father staggered backward and fainted on the spot.
