What happened

Young Master Yang was indeed formidable. Facing three Qin Rans, and even under attack from both inside and out, he held out for over thirty years.

Even at the end, when the situation was already decided and he was on the verge of defeat and death, he still found the one path to survival—a desperate, last-ditch chance that might allow him to turn the tables.

...He had located Li Feiyu's true body!

In truth, he had long suspected Li Feiyu of being a traitor. After repeated probing, he discovered that Li Feiyu was merely a doppelgänger. Using a secret technique to trace the doppelgänger back to its source, he found Qin Ran's true form.

He had located Qin Ran's true body long ago, but he dared not act rashly. After all, if even the traitor Li Feiyu—a mere doppelgänger—possessed strength surpassing the Divine Transformation realm, how powerful must the true body be?

At least Divine Transformation, surely!

But now, he had no other escape. Leading a dozen members of the enforcement squad through a hidden passage, he resolved to head to Danyang in North Chu to confront Li Feiyu's true form.

He wanted to see for himself just what kind of man had brought him to ruin.

Yet, just as despair seemed absolute, hope emerged anew.

As he approached Danyang, he discovered that the legendary true body was nothing more than a mere Golden Core cultivator.

"Hahahaha..." He couldn't help but throw his head back in maddened laughter. "Heaven has not forsaken me after all!"

Kill the true body, and the doppelgänger perishes!

As long as he slew Li Feiyu's true form, he could survive. Then he could flee the Land of Immortal Legacy and bide his time for revenge!

The Great Dao encompasses fifty, yet the heavens only account for forty-nine—always leaving a sliver of hope.

Never in his wildest dreams had Young Master Yang imagined that his salvation would lie here!

"Kill them all!" He swept his hand forward. "Slaughter Danyang City!"

When Young Master Yang descended upon Danyang, in a quiet, secluded courtyard within the city, Qin Lu was practicing his swordplay.

He held a wooden sword, lazily going through the motions of a technique called "Taiji Sword."

This sword art had been taught to him by his father, who claimed it was a peerless technique capable of reaching the Great Dao.

But Qin Lu had never seen his father wield a sword, nor had he ever heard of him being skilled in swordsmanship.

So he had long concluded that this sluggish, unimpressive swordplay was nothing more than his father’s wild fabrication.

He suspected his father had invented it to save face in front of his mother.

Well, yes—his mother knew swordsmanship.

Though not really.

Probably just some flashy moves she’d picked up in her youth, dreaming of wandering the martial world as a chivalrous heroine. Pretty to look at, but useless in a real fight.

Occasionally, she would practice in the courtyard, more for stretching her limbs than anything else. She’d even tell him stories about how, in her prime, a single "Celestial Strike from Beyond" had sent enemy forces fleeing in terror—tales that sounded more like fiction than reality.

His mother knew swordsmanship, but it held no real combat power.

When he was a child, the world had been in turmoil. North Chu and Xuanqin were pushing for independence, plunging the land into chaos. Bandits and opportunists ran rampant.

It should have been the perfect time for heroes to rise—yet his mother had huddled indoors with him in her arms, too afraid to step outside. When looters or soldiers barged in, they’d meekly hand over whatever they could to avoid trouble.

His father, too, had boasted of being some grand figure—"Laughing as I shattered a thousand armies, strategizing to determine the cosmos’ cause and effect"—yet when faced with actual danger, he’d trembled like a leaf, bowing and scraping before even the lowliest thug.

Thankfully, his grandfather, uncle, and cousin were truly formidable. Even in the midst of war and chaos, their family had survived unscathed, shielded by their influence.

His cousin, Li An, was especially renowned—the Sword Elder of the Dao Sword Sect, Xuanqin’s foremost martial order.

Whenever Qin Lu mentioned him, he couldn’t help but puff up with pride.

Moreover, Li An had provided him with countless cultivation resources, setting him firmly on the path of cultivation.

That said, there was one thing about his father that Qin Lu couldn’t help but admire.

Despite being utterly unremarkable—neither handsome nor capable—he had somehow managed to win over his mother.

His mother was stunning: fair-skinned, long-legged, and from a prestigious family. Her father, Li Zhan, her brother, Li Shiwen, and her nephew, Li An—just mentioning their names was enough to make people tremble. Yet this extraordinary woman had married his good-for-nothing father.

He still couldn’t wrap his head around it.

As he lazily practiced his sword, he glanced toward the eaves, where his parents were being disgustingly affectionate.

His father lounged in a bamboo chair, utterly at ease, while his mother knelt beside him, patiently feeding him grapes.

It must have been one of those stories about a wealthy young lady falling for a poor, talentless scholar—the kind storytellers in taverns loved to spin.

Except his father couldn’t even write poetry.

The more he thought about it, the worse his father seemed. The man idled all day, contributing nothing, yet their household never lacked for food or finery.

Probably all handouts from his uncle’s family.

How could his father be a kept man?

He refused to accept it.

If anyone was a kept man, it should be someone like him…

As the child of two cultivators, and blessed with Li Shiyin’s exceptional genes, Qin Lu’s physique was naturally outstanding—tall and strikingly handsome.

At sixteen, he was already as tall as Qin Ran. But unlike the Li family’s traditional rugged, masculine style, he had inherited his father’s refined, scholarly elegance. Compared to Li An, he was far more popular with young girls.

(Though Li An was definitely more popular with older women.)

Lost in his thoughts as he practiced, Qin Lu suddenly froze.

A strange aura had brushed against his senses—powerful, hostile, unmistakably the presence of cultivators!

Though only at the Foundation Establishment stage, his perception was extraordinarily sharp. He could tell instantly.

Snapping to attention, he traced the aura’s source—only to see dark clouds blotting out the sky in the distance as over a dozen powerful cultivators raced toward them.

"Golden Core…?" He paused, then corrected himself. "No—stronger! Nascent Soul!"

"Dad!" He spun around, shouting in panic. "Nascent Soul cultivators! Enemies!!"

But when he turned, he found his parents already on their feet, staring in the direction of the approaching threat.

Had they sensed it too?

His father frowned, looking puzzled. "Is that Young Master Yang? Why would he come here? Wasn’t the ‘Fate’ organization’s base surrounded?"

Young Master Yang? Who was that? And what was this "Fate" organization? A base?

His mother chimed in, "The Young Master Yang from ‘Fate’?"

How did his parents seem to know so much about these intruders?

His father nodded. "I wonder what those three are up to."

What three?

"Could they be doing this on purpose?" his mother mused. "Just to mess with you?"

His father shook his head. "Unlikely… Probably just an oversight. I’m hardly infallible."

Yeah… Qin Lu had thoughts about his father’s supposed infallibility.

Completely lost, he shouted again, "What are you two talking about?! Run! Nascent Soul cultivators are coming!"

To his shock, his father glared at him and snapped, "Stop panicking! Where’s your dignity?!"

What dignity?! Nascent Soul cultivators were about to kill them! Had his father lost his mind?

He hurriedly pointed toward the outskirts of the city and added, "That's a Nascent Soul cultivator. They… can wipe out an entire city with a wave of their hand. Do you even know how terrifying a Nascent Soul cultivator is?!"

"Ah…" His mother suddenly sighed and shook her head. "I told you we shouldn’t have raised him like this!"

"Li An was already chasing Nascent Soul cultivators by the time he was sixteen. Look at this kid—scared out of his wits, no real experience. What’s a Nascent Soul cultivator, anyway?" …Though his cousin was indeed impressive, still—what was a Nascent Soul cultivator? Qin Lu stared at his mother, wondering if she’d lost her mind.

"A healthy upbringing is the most important thing. Some people spend their whole lives healing from their childhood," his father chimed in. "Cultivation and experience can be nurtured over time. Weren’t you still playing in the mud at sixteen?"

…Truth be told, his parents had always treated him well.

"Hmph!" His mother glared at his father, as if he’d struck a nerve.

"Cultivators, huh…"

Outside the courtyard, on the streets of Danyang, ordinary citizens had already spotted the murderous cultivators and were desperately fleeing in the opposite direction.

"Help—!"

"Run for your lives!"

"Qin Lu, you should run too!"

A childhood friend dashed past the courtyard wall, noticing them still gaping at the horizon, and shouted a warning.

Qin Lu glanced at the panicked crowd, then at the approaching enemies in the distance, before turning back to his parents. Gritting his teeth, he gripped his wooden sword and stepped in front of them, standing firm on the porch steps. "Fine, if we’re not leaving, then I’ll protect you."

His father might be a pretty-faced scholar, and his mother might be unreliable at times, but they loved him deeply—they’d given him everything. In this moment of crisis, he would shield them.

After all, he was a cultivator too.

Of course, their boundless love also included…

Thud!

His father’s massive foot.

A kick sent him sprawling face-first into the dirt, his rear throbbing from the impact.

"You think I need your protection?" his father snapped. "A measly Nascent Soul cultivator has you shaking in your boots? Look at you—acting like the world’s ending. Pathetic. Useless…"

Clambering up, Qin Lu rubbed his sore backside and shot his father a wounded look.

Whack!

In an instant, his mother smacked the back of his father’s head. "And whose fault is it that he turned out like this?!"

Wait—Qin Lu was baffled. What did that mean? Was he really so disappointing?

Ahem. His father cleared his throat awkwardly, his expression suddenly serious as he turned to his mother with a bizarre question: "Should Chasing the Wind go, or will you?"

Chasing the Wind? That lazy old cat sunbathing on the wall? What could it possibly do?

Sure, it was a spirit beast gifted by his cousin and could talk, but it looked about as threatening as a pillow.

"I’ll handle it…" His mother rolled up her sleeves and stepped forward. "Perfect timing—I need a little pressure to break through to the Nascent Soul stage."

Break… through to the Nascent Soul stage? Qin Lu didn’t follow.

"Fine." His father nodded, then called out, "Chasing the Wind—!"

The city was in chaos, but the massive white cat remained curled up on the wall, napping. Stirred awake, it stretched lazily, licking its paw with visible annoyance.

"Shiyin’s advancing. Keep an eye on her," Qin Ran instructed.

"Sigh… Fine," the cat grumbled.

Qin Lu stood under the eaves, utterly lost as he glanced between Chasing the Wind and his mother. What in the world is happening?!

"Son, watch closely!" His mother’s voice snapped him back to attention. He looked up—and saw her flying.

His mother was flying.

Wait—

Mom, aren’t you supposed to be a mortal?!

"This," she declared with effortless grace, "is how you wield a sword."

A speck of starlight ignited in her palm, swelling rapidly until it unfurled into a river of gleaming silver.

Holding an entire galaxy aloft, she soared toward the city’s edge.

"Th-this…" Qin Lu’s jaw dropped. "Mom… Mom’s actually a sword immortal?!"

"Idiot boy!"

The white cat’s mocking voice drew his gaze upward just as it leaped into the air. In a blink, it swelled into a monstrous beast—eight zhang tall at the shoulder—looming over the courtyard like a living nightmare.

The colossal tiger hovered midair, its shadow swallowing the entire yard. It tilted its head down, its voice a thunderous rumble. "Come on, kid. Big bro’s taking you to a fight."

Qin Lu couldn’t even close his mouth. He pointed shakily at the sky. "Ch-Chasing the Wind… you’re…"

Our house cat is a demon beast?!

"Go keep an eye on Shiyin," his father ordered.

The titanic creature’s head—now the size of a house—turned, its dark-gold eyes locking onto Qin Lu. Seeing no intention to join, it curled its lip. "Tch. Li An was more fun."

Qin Lu froze under that gaze, too petrified to move.

A gale erupted as the beast shot toward the battlefield.

Stunned, Qin Lu could only watch it vanish into the distance, his mind in shambles.

His father stepped beside him, draping an arm over his shoulders as they both stared at the distant clash.

Li Shiyin wasn’t one for trash talk—she’d already engaged.

"You’re sixteen now," his father murmured suddenly.

Qin Lu’s eyes were glued to the spectacle outside the city: his mother’s sword unleashed a storm of razor-sharp qi, forcing a dozen cultivators into retreat—even the Nascent Soul expert could barely defend himself.

He opened his mouth, struggling to process both the battle and his father’s words. "Dad… just who are you two?"

"Just a couple of ordinary cultivators," his father replied. "I used to be the former head of Dan Peak in the Dao Sword Sect. Your mom’s the Sword Immortal of Dan Peak. We got tired of the jianghu’s nonsense, so we retired to Danyang. Wanted to travel beyond the Land of Immortal Legacy, but our cultivation wasn’t high enough. Got bored, so we had a kid to pass the time."

The sheer absurdity of that explanation left Qin Lu speechless.

His parents were from the Dao Sword Sect—the number one orthodox sect in the world? And they’d held high-ranking positions?

Retired to Danyang?

Had a kid to pass the time?!

That’s why he existed?

It took him a full minute to croak out, "So… if you’re both cultivators, why didn’t you teach me?"

His father gave him a strange look, tinged with something like pity.

…He had always said Qin Lu took after his mother in intelligence.

"And who do you think has been teaching you?" his father countered.

"Wasn’t it… Cousin Li An?"

"Li An was taught by your mother too," his father said.

"Oh…" Realization dawned. "No wonder he’s so scared of her."

He remembered how his cousin would turn into a trembling mouse whenever his mother was around during holidays. He’d assumed it was childhood trauma—but no, it was probably lifelong terror.

Before they could say more, his father suddenly patted his shoulder. "Head inside. I’ve got a guest to greet."

"What?" Qin Lu followed his gaze—a man had slipped past his mother’s sword aura and was flying straight toward their home.

If he had to guess, this was the infamous "Young Master Yang" his parents had mentioned earlier.

He was about to follow his father's advice and return to his room when his mother summoned a lightning tribulation. While fending off enemies, she simultaneously weathered the heavenly lightning, her every move exuding dominance and an awe-inspiring flair.

He hesitated, muttering, "But Mom is..."

"There will be plenty of time later."

Yet for some reason, his father insisted on pushing him back into the room.

Young Master Yang...

Inside, Qin Lu peeked through a crack in the window, eavesdropping on the scene outside.

The young man landed gracefully in the courtyard, a smirk playing on his lips as he glanced around. "I never imagined you’d live in a place like this," he remarked. Dressed in luxurious robes and radiating arrogance, he was clearly no ordinary figure. Yet his words suggested that Qin Lu’s father was even more extraordinary than he appeared.

His father dragged over two chairs and gestured casually. "Sit."

Hmm, Dad’s composure is impeccable—not the slightest hint of inferiority.

He settled into his own chair first, leaning back and crossing his legs, as relaxed as he was at home. "Is this place really so bad? I think it’s decent enough."

Though the location wasn’t prime, it was still within Danyang City—Qin Lu thought it was quite respectable.

"It doesn’t match the image I had of you..." Young Master Yang replied, pulling a chair over and sprawling into it without ceremony.

He leaned forward, scrutinizing Qin Lu’s father with an unsettling intensity, like a lecher ogling a beauty. Disgusting.

...Dad, however, remained unshaken.

Young Master Yang let out a deranged chuckle. "A man who once stirred storms in the Land of Immortal Legacy, now living like a recluse in the countryside—I never saw that coming."

Was Dad really that formidable? Qin Lu found it hard to believe. He’d always assumed his father was just a pretty face.

"What if I told you none of that was me? Would you believe it?" His father replied with a mild smile, the same gentle expression he wore while helping Qin Lu with homework.

Huh?

Qin Lu froze, sensing that Young Master Yang was about to walk into a trap.

"Do you think I would?" Young Master Yang scoffed.

His father turned his gaze toward the city outskirts, where the battle outside seemed to have reached its climax—lightning rained from the sky, and sword energy glittered like stars.

Qin Lu stole a glance and shuddered. Mom is terrifyingly strong.

Could she really be a sword immortal? He struggled to accept it. He’d always preferred to think of her as an unreliable rich girl.

"You’re truly impressive..." His father mused, still watching the distant fight. "It took three of me to handle one of you. In a one-on-one, I’d have no chance."

Qin Lu didn’t understand a word of that.

"Victors write history. A loss is a loss," Young Master Yang said.

...So Dad won. But what exactly had he won? Qin Lu had no idea.

After a pause, Young Master Yang spoke again, his voice thick with resentment. "I never expected you to have laid your plans so early. Nor did I imagine you were originally from the Land of Immortal Legacy. How could I have guessed that a native of this land would have a doppelgänger thriving in the Heavenly Sea Domain?

"I knew Li Feiyu was up to no good and prepared for the worst. But I didn’t realize Li Feiyu was a local—much less that there were three more like him."

Li Feiyu... Was that Dad’s real name? Qin Lu wondered.

You didn’t expect this, didn’t expect that—no wonder you lost, he silently judged.

"There was no grand scheme," his father replied. "Just a series of coincidences."

Young Master Yang stared at him with that same unsettling fixation before finally asking, "How does a mere Golden Core cultivator end up with a Nascent Soul wife, a Divine Transformation mount, and a Divine Transformation clone?"

Qin Lu understood every word of that... Well, Dad’s the weakest link.

"Just luck," his father said, his tone as infuriating as ever.

"Your ultimate goal is to forge an Immortal Dynasty, isn’t it?" Young Master Yang changed the subject. "Cultivation through imperial rule."

What the hell is an Immortal Dynasty? Qin Lu frowned.

His father watched his mother fighting outside the city and replied, "That’s... their goal. It has nothing to do with me.

"I told you from the start—this isn’t my business. Look at me. I’m just a retired hermit. The world? An Immortal Dynasty? I know nothing about them, and I don’t care. If you hadn’t come today, I wouldn’t even have known things had escalated this far."

"Hah..."

Young Master Yang let out a cold laugh and stood. His manic expression made it clear he hadn’t bought a word.

He turned toward the outskirts, where the battle was nearing its end.

From inside, Qin Lu couldn’t see clearly, but he knew his mother was a force to be reckoned with.

Perhaps in despair, Young Master Yang sighed. "Don’t humiliate me further."

"You might not believe this, but all I ever wanted was a simple life—my wife, my child, a warm home," Qin Lu heard his father say. "At most, I’d like to see a bit more of the world..."

"Do you really think you’ve won?" Young Master Yang suddenly spun around, cutting him off.

Qin Lu stiffened, a bad feeling creeping in. His father and Young Master Yang locked eyes, the tension between them sparking.

Finally, Young Master Yang spoke again. "You went to great lengths to sever the Land of Immortal Legacy’s ties to the outside world, preventing me from sending word of your schemes. But...

"Have you considered that I could spread the truth right here? Let everyone in this land know who you are—the mastermind behind it all. Let them learn that your true self is just a Golden Core cultivator.

"What do you think will happen then?"

For the first time, Qin Lu saw his father’s expression darken, his usual calm smile vanishing.

"You think I’ve been rambling all this time for fun?"

Young Master Yang shook his head.

"The moment I saw your Divine Transformation mount, I knew my last hope was gone.

"So by then, I’d already sent the message out. Right now, people you’d rather not meet are probably on their way."

Qin Lu’s father paled visibly—if Qin Lu remembered correctly, he’d never seen him so shaken.

A terrible premonition gripped him. He felt like he was about to lose something irreplaceable.

Panicked, he shoved the door open—

"Chasing the Wind!"

His father’s shout rang out.

A massive claw descended, reducing Young Master Yang to dust.

His father shot into the air, streaking toward the city outskirts.

"Dad!" Qin Lu cried out desperately.

"Take care of yourself!" His father glanced back, flicking his hand. A sword flew toward Qin Lu, embedding itself in the ground before him.

Qin Lu didn’t care about the sword. He rushed into the courtyard, staring at the distant battle where his mother’s blade cleaved through the heavens, a storm of sword-light annihilating a dozen foes in one strike.

She sheathed her sword, swayed slightly, then landed atop Chasing the Wind.

She turned, searching—for him, he knew—but before their eyes could meet, Chasing the Wind blurred into a white streak, vanishing into the distance.

Qin Lu stood in the yard, numb, staring at the spot where his parents had disappeared.

Everything had happened too fast. He couldn’t process it.

What even happened today?

How had things spiraled so completely in such a short time?

His father, his mother—they were legends of the cultivation world. Even the family cat was a monstrously powerful demon.

Then, they vanished in an instant, leaving him alone.

The vast expanse of heaven and earth stretched endlessly before Qin Lu’s eyes, filling him with bewilderment.

"Are we really leaving our son behind?" Li Shiyin asked Qin Ran.

"How can he grow without weathering storms?" Qin Ran sighed. "We’ve given him a perfect childhood, nurturing his budding potential. Now that he’s come of age, he must forge his own path.

"I left him here deliberately… He is our child, and excellence is his birthright. The Land of Immortal Legacy is the stage I’ve prepared for him."

"But isn’t it too sudden?" Li Shiyin’s heart ached.

"Such is life, isn’t it?" Qin Ran replied. "Have faith in him—we’ve laid such a solid foundation. And trust me, I’ll always be watching over him."

"Mm." Li Shiyin held Qin Ran tighter, finding some solace in his words.

Chasing the Wind soared onward, soon leaving the Land of Immortal Legacy far behind.