Cultivation Nerd-Chapter 226: The Talks

Fatigue seeped into my bones as I trudged home. Each step felt heavier than the last, and for the first time since entering this world, I felt like an ordinary man.

A handful of sleepless nights and relentless days of Qi-fueled flight had taken their toll. Drained nearly all of my Qi reserves. When my house finally came into view, my eyes were half-closed, the world around me blurring at the edges. I barely registered the familiar shape of Speedy by the pond, too exhausted even to manage a simple greeting.

Even the cold seemed to pierce my superhuman resilience during those last hours of flight. The twins had fared worse; they hadn’t even managed to make it to the clan head’s hall for the report meeting.

Just as I raised my hand to knock, the door opened, and Wu Yan appeared, wearing her usual porcelain mask.

“Hey there,” I greeted her, feeling a faint warmth melt some of the tiredness as I ruffled her hair. “I hope someone’s been keeping up with her training.”

She nodded enthusiastically, and then my mother peeked out from the kitchen, apron on, her hands dusted in flour up to her elbows. She smiled and hurried over to me.

“My baby boy,” she said, wrapping her flour-covered arms around me.

“He hasn’t been a baby for a while,” my father’s voice came from the kitchen as he approached. “But I’m still glad you’re back safe.”

“I wouldn’t have it any other way,” I replied, hugging my mother back, running a reassuring hand along her back as she shed a few quiet tears.

I might’ve called her dramatic, but I understood how powerless she must have felt. Besides, I wasn’t about to start teasing her now. Now that I had people caring for me, I was also worried about returning home now matter what it took. I was confident that someone like Song Song would move on if I died, but my parents would be crushed. I was their only child.

My father gave me a hug as well, though it was brief, almost like he did it just to keep my mother happy. She had always nudged him to show me more affection. I didn’t hold it against him; I knew how Grandpa usually treated his descendants, barely acknowledging them unless they were me. At least he hadn’t been abusive, but I doubted my father had formed the natural bond that fathers and sons usually share.

I knew he was doing his best.

“I’m going to take a shower,” I said. “Sleeping in the snow for days isn’t as easy as it sounds.”

“I’ll draw some hot water,” my mother offered.

We didn’t have a boiler, but we had a heating system connected to the stove that could warm water for a bath.

Before long, I headed to the second floor and lowered myself into the large wooden tub filled with scalding hot water.

It was hotter than usual, but with my cultivator’s resilience and a healthy dose of laziness, I didn’t bother adjusting it. I just let myself sink in, closing my eyes and staring at the ceiling, relaxing as I hadn’t in ages, letting the heat wash away the weariness.

"This is so boring," I muttered aloud. I'd had moments of fatigue on my journey, but they were always on my own terms. Here, the mission felt like a hard day's labor for nothing. Getting tired on my own whims was one thing; doing it for someone else was entirely different.

Next winter, I should try to break through to Foundation Establishment. That way, I'd be strong enough to travel freely during the cold months.

I pictured it: riding atop Speedy's shell, with a few heating arrays to ward off the chill. That was a much better winter than spending it holed up behind some walls of one city or another.

'Are you okay?' A soft, girlish voice asked telepathically. It was Wu Yan.

"Of course," I replied, knowing she must be just outside the bathroom door. Her telepathic range was small and easily obstructed. Also, I could sense her. We should test later if her telepathy had improved as her cultivation rose. "Though I am a bit low on Qi."

‘I'm glad,’ she said, and I heard her footsteps retreating down the hall.

Wu Yan, despite everything she'd been through, she was a sweet and gentle kid.

After the bath, I put on a red uniform-like garment, draping a dark robe lined with fur over my shoulders for warmth. Our house was wooden, so it stayed relatively cozy even during extreme weather.

An old saying from my grandfather in my previous life came to mind, something about why you don't build a stone house in Texas; it'd turn into an oven. I couldn't recall the exact phrase, but I was sure my grandfathers from both lives would've gotten along. In mindset only, since my current grandfather would never waste time talking to a normal person.

I walked downstairs just as dinner was ready, the sun having just set. I sat at the table while my mother set out the plates. The air was filled with the mouthwatering scent of cinnamon, honey, and roasted meat.

Leaning back in my chair, I relaxed as we talked about ordinary things, avoiding any mention of the mission. I hadn't had enough time to unwind with everything that had happened, but that was typical for winter here, filled with danger and constant battles. Monstrous beasts were gaining ground over humans, especially in recent years, often destroying cities.

As I sat with my family, I couldn't help but wonder how many others wouldn't be with theirs tonight. Had anyone survived the Thunder Wolf's ambush?

You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

With my arrays, we might've had a chance against the Thunder Wolf. But that would've required trusting others not to stab me in the back right after.

It felt nice saving people, and I considered this conflict between the clans as useless blabber. But I wasn't about to risk myself for others who'd likely repay my kindness with treachery.

After dinner, I went straight to bed and blacked out as soon as my head hit the pillow, finally making up for all those missed hours of sleep.

I didn't even dream, and morning had already arrived when I opened my eyes.

I rose, feeling recharged like I could chew on rocks and spit out diamonds.

Feeling well-rested, I stretched and mentally noted the tasks for the day. First and foremost, I'd check on Wu Yan's progress while I'd been away.

But before I could get started, I sensed a presence in the dining room.

Foll𝑜w current novels on fɾēewebnσveℓ.com.

With a sigh, I headed downstairs and found my grandfather sipping tea and talking with my father about some merchant. The conversation halted as soon as they saw me; my grandfather smiled, seeming to forget all about the merchant or whatever they'd been discussing.

"Liu Feng, how have you been?" he asked, not bothering to ask about the details of my mission's success, which he already knew.

"Pretty good," I replied, "though I'd like to enjoy my break a little longer."

The silence that followed told me he was here to rope me into something, and it was likely something that would put my life on the line again.

But this time, I wasn't about to play along so easily.

With a sigh of his own, he gestured to the chair beside him. "Come, sit down, have a cup of tea."

I sat, and my mother brought over a fresh cup for me before slipping back into the kitchen, casting a barely noticeable glare in my grandfather's direction.

I took a sip of the jasmine tea, leaned forward on the table, and looked him squarely in the eyes. "So, what's this all about?"

"You've been chosen for a new mission. We're planning a coordinated attack on the monstrous beasts, a joint effort with all the clans," he said.

"I just got back," I muttered, exasperated.

"I'm not saying it's happening right away. These things take time to prepare," he replied, as though this were some grand opportunity. "This is all for the betterment of the clan's future. If it goes well, you might not need to fight again for decades."

Unfortunately for him, I'd heard enough empty promises to recognize one when I saw it.

But arguing his points would be like shouting at a brick wall, so I chose a different approach.

"Who else in my generation is going?" I asked, casting my senses to check on Wu Yan and finding her feeding Speedy outside. At least it seemed my grandfather wasn't here to try anything dubious with her.

"We've selected the best of your generation. It'll be just you and Liu Bo," he said. "We need to make it appear as though the Liu Clan is sacrificing equally in this scouting expedition."

The "best of our generation", an empty title if I'd ever heard one, the sort used to send youth to their early graves.

Honor didn't concern me. I calculated risk and reward. Actually, wait... what reward? They hadn't given me any for previous missions.

It wasn't that my clan was stingy. This was not some fancy war; we weren't here for glory or rewards but to ensure our clan's survival against another beast wave. But even I had my limits.

I'd do certain things for my family, but I wasn't here to be used.

Sensing my hesitation, my grandfather added, "Your expertise in arrays would be invaluable."

I gave a small nod. There was no point in anger or protest since it would get me nowhere.

Instead, I approached it logically: I had a skill they needed, one they couldn't easily replace. This was business, and business required negotiation.

"I will go if the Clan Head is willing to give me every technique, inheritance, recipe, and everything else hidden the clan has to give me. It wouldn't even cost you any resort; just give me some copies of the things," I said. "If the clan doesn't have that, I'll settle for a trip to the treasury to pick out a few things I like. And if that's still too much, then a couple dozen thousand spirit stones will do."

It was a bold offer, but that's what negotiations were for.

"This is for the clan's wellbeing," my grandfather frowned. His expression was different this time. He looked genuinely disappointed.

Not quite the response I expected, but I wasn't going to risk my life for free. If my past life taught me anything, it was that someone could love you and still take advantage of you without even realizing it.

"If the Clan Head is so insistent on my presence, he should also bring his daughter and keep her by my side on the battlefield," I added.

Judging by the so-called "cooperation" on previous missions, I knew there was a high chance of conflict between clans. They might call it a mission, but in reality, it was more like heading to the frontlines.

Sending someone else's child to war was always easier than sending your own.

In the end, cultivation was an individual sport. Teammates didn't exist. And as for what people would think if I refused, who cared?

My grandfather sighed, but eventually, he nodded. "I will personally guarantee that you'll receive what's due to you, including the Clan Founder's inheritances."

I gave him a surprised smile. I knew the old man wasn't against me, but love and use could often go hand in hand. The only jeopardy to this promise would be if he died in the war.

"When do I have to deploy?" I asked.

"Most likely in two weeks," he replied. "Someone will come with the final details once everything is arranged."

After he left, my father finally exhaled, releasing the sigh he'd been holding in his grandfather's presence.

"The clan is taking advantage of you, sending you out on missions this often," he muttered.

I shrugged. That was just how it went in times of war. I'd seen enough in my past life to know how the military could exploit people. I wasn't about to fall into the tribal mentality of "us against them." That mindset only led to regret when it was too late.

I sighed, my thoughts drifting to Song Song and how easy things felt with her.

She overpaid me like crazy, but I never felt used. What was hers was mine, and what was mine was hers. If I asked for something, she'd go out of her way to get it, as long as it was within reason.

I hadn't realized how comfortable I felt around her until now.

Just then, Wu Yan entered the kitchen, and I turned to her.

"We've got two weeks to train this time," I said.

I was hoping to break through myself in these two weeks, though not everyone could do it at will like Wu Yan could.