Year 1073 of the Zhang Dynasty - Outlands of the Unheeding Taowu City - Hong Farm

(Hong POV)

I am Hong, a humble farmer, and I am the father of a boy.

“Dad, it is time to wake up“ Yunfeng

He talks to me from outside my room.

“I am awake“ Hong

Yunfeng is about to turn nine tomorrow and he already wakes up before me. His mother would be proud.

“The breakfast is going to be ready soon“ Yunfeng

I get off the bed and I wear my working clothes.

...

We sat near the table for breakfast.

“We are running low on rice“ Yunfeng

He insisted on being in charge of breakfast, so I let him.

“No problem, I will go to the commercial section tomorrow“ Hong

“...There is no need to buy me anything, I'd rather you buy more food“ Yunfeng

Stingy like someone I know.

“Don't say that, birthdays are important. Work and calculations are not everything in life“ Hong

“...“ Yunfeng

He does not seem convinced.

“If you don't ask for anything, I'll buy the most expensive product for sale“ Hong

“Don't!“ Yunfeng

Huhu.

“Then... bring me a straw hat“ Hong

“That is too cheap, but if that is what you want...“ Yunfeng

I do not think I can convince him more.

“Then I will buy three“ Yunfeng

“Dad!“ Yunfeng

“HAhaha!“ Hong

......

...

In front of the house...

“Take care, dad“ Yunfeng

My son came to see me off as I go out to the commercial section.

“Take care of the chickens while I'm away“ Hong

“I will“ Yunfeng

...

I walk to the entrance of the farm, to her grave.

“It has been three years already...“ Hong

From that day you died of a disease.

“...“ Hong

No matter what people say, I know it wasn't because of bad luck.

That disease appeared the day after you cut yourself with that old knife...

If only I could have persuaded you to buy a new one, maybe you...

*Grip*

No, I didn't come here for this.

“Today our son turns nine years old“ Hong

I smile at the sky that she loved.

“He is a healthy and strong boy, and I am going to do everything I can to maintain him like that“ Hong

I smile, hoping she's up there, somewhere.

“So sleep easy my love“

I better go now.

“I'm going out, Ning'er“

I get on my horse and leave my farm.

-------------------------

(Xiao Yi POV)

The peerless I reached a despicable village in the corner of my city.

“City lord, this is the place“ Cultivator

Said one of the two cultivator following me while bowing his head.

“Some people are born with a silver spoon, and some are cheap-born commoners. It is the time for these beggars to be of use to the Unheeding Taowu City“ Xiao Yi

They should have enough clean Dantians to create ten or twenty Jade Yin pills.

“The Glorious I don't need waste. My son, go and take what is yours“ Xiao Yi

He jumps in front of me and leans down.

“Yes, Father“ Xiao Ze

My eyes order the guards...

“Make sure nobody escapes“ Xiao Yi

“Yes, city lord“ cultivators

The two cultivators move to the sides of the village and my descendant enters from the front.

“What a waste of time“ Xiao Yi

If it weren't because of the tradition, I would be meditating right now.

“It better be at least a good show“ Xiao Yi

I see my son reaching the first vessel of raw materials.

(Hong POV)

I see a child, in good quality clothes that can only be owned by a cultivator, walking towards the entrance of the village.

This is bad, I better get off my horse.

“Welcome to the Outlands“ Hong

Talking down to a cultivator would be a death sentence.

“How can I help you?“ Hong

He looks at me with a smirking face.

“Dying“ Xiao Ze

I see a bronze light and...

“Ghaaahh!“ Hong

I feel a hand searching for something inside me, without any concern for the blood coming out.

“Looks like an empty one“ Xiao Ze

The monster kid takes his hand out and kicks me to the side.

“Kyyyyyaaaaaaaaa!“ Woman

My face is looking at the sky.

“...“ Hong

My body feels cold...

It is my end?...

Ning'er...

Yunfeng...

I...cant...

...

....

“Hong!“ ???

?

“I w*ll no* let you di* again“ ???

...

Slowly my consciousness returns.

“*******, *lease Tak* him to f*i“ ???

I hear people talking, but I am too weak to understand them...

Two humanoid figures come from the sky and one takes me off the ground.

“...“ Hong

Ning'er, did your friends come to save me?

“Leav* it t* me“ ???