“Sister, brother-in-law, you finally came back!”
Ren Fei and Ning Chengfeng, who had been waiting for their return, almost jumped with excitement.
Ning Cheng and Ren Muqing, one tall and imposing with a rugged demeanor, the other petite and gentle with a pair of sparkling, expressive eyes.
They were Ning Chengfeng and Ning Zhishui’s parents.
They had just returned from the cultivation hall, a place accessible with flower crystal stones. The hall contained a gathering spiritual array that doubled the effectiveness of cultivation.
Although entry required only flower crystal stones, the limited number of rooms could not accommodate all the cultivators of Huying City. Without connections or influence, securing a room was nearly impossible.
Fortunately, Ning Cheng was acquainted with the hall’s manager and managed to get in through a back channel.
Even so, they were allowed to use it for only half a month. That was already the maximum, and there were fixed times every day. When time was up, they had to leave.
“What happened? Did something occur at home?” Ren Muqing asked curiously.
She looked gentle but spoke and acted with some forcefulness, while Ning Cheng was calm and steady.
“It is something you will find outrageous once you hear it,” Ren Fei said.
Ren Muqing glanced around. “Where is Zhishui?”
“Cough, mother, it involves her,” Ning Chengfeng stepped forward.
After their description, Ning Cheng and Ren Muqing fell silent.
“Are you saying Zhishui returned after failing to ascend as a great power? She is still her, but she is no longer her?”
“Can you hear her thoughts? And after checking, it is true?”
Both spoke in succession.
Ren Fei and Ning Chengfeng nodded solemnly.
“Absolutely ridiculous,” Ning Cheng laughed. “Did you plan this together to tease us?”
Ren Fei and Ning Chengfeng exchanged a glance and sighed.
“Surely you do not believe it.”
They spoke in unison.
Then, they spent much time explaining, focusing on the Niu Xiaoqiang incident.
Ren Muqing laughed heartily. “Xiaoqiang has always been mischievous. He often caused trouble and got punished. It is not strange that he did this. Besides, the yard he lives in is right next to Zhishui’s. Perhaps they climbed over the wall sometimes to chat, so Zhishui knew in advance.”
It was not the first time Niu Xiaoqiang climbed the wall to see Ning Zhishui. He might have mentioned it in advance.
Of course, his climbing was not for conversation but pure mischief.
Throwing stones, splashing dirty water, or screaming loudly in the morning to disturb others’ sleep.
Every time, Ning Zhishui would get irritated, shouting to hit him.
“This is impossible…” Ning Chengfeng said helplessly.
“Forget it. No matter how much we say, it won’t matter. You will know if you experience it yourselves… if you can hear it too,” Ren Fei sighed.
“Huh?” Ning Cheng suddenly had a thought and looked toward the east yard. “Zhishui has broken through.”
He smiled and walked in that direction.
Others followed joyfully.
“She finally broke through.”
“This little girl does not cultivate seriously. If she were diligent, she should have broken through months ago.”
“Forget it. She only has five spiritual roots. We cannot demand too much. As long as she tries her best, it is enough.”
“The problem is she is not even trying her best.”
They arrived at the east yard, sensing that the spiritual energy was denser than usual.
“Zhishui, was it smooth?” Ning Cheng called out.
Ning Zhishui opened her eyes, light flowing and fading across them.
Bone Refining Stage, achieved.
The speed and smoothness of the breakthrough exceeded her expectations, likely due to her youth, which increased cultivation efficiency.
When she opened the door and saw the people in the yard, Ning Zhishui felt a momentary daze.
The sky was already dark, but the corridor had night glow beads, stones that glowed at night. They were inexpensive and widely used.
With the beads, Ning Zhishui could clearly see the four people in front of her.
Two of them she had met before. She focused on the other two, who appeared youthful but were nearly sixty in reality.
“Father, mother…”
Her voice trembled.
These were her long-lost family.
The cultivation path had always been lonely. This time, she was no longer alone.
Ning Cheng and Ren Muqing’s smiles stiffened.
Ren Fei and Ning Chengfeng, who had been watching closely, raised an eyebrow.
This confirmed it. They could really hear Zhishui’s “words.”
Now they would know she was telling the truth.
Although surprised, Ning Cheng and Ren Muqing had no time to linger in astonishment.
Ning Zhishui ran to them and hugged their necks.
Over three hundred years old, yet still a baby.
No matter the age, in front of parents, one remained a child.
For Ning Zhishui, in her second life, cultivation and even her life came second. Family was the priority.
“What is happening? Don’t cry, don’t cry…”
Ren Muqing was stunned but instinctively hugged her daughter, patting her back gently.
Feeling her daughter tremble slightly and sob softly, she too felt her nose sting.
Ning Cheng let his daughter hold him silently.
Once Ning Zhishui calmed and released them, he asked, “You broke through? Was the process smooth?”
“Yes, how dare she break through alone? She should have waited for us to return. Then if something went wrong, we could guide her,” Ren Muqing scolded.
A silent thought ran through Ning Zhishui’s mind.
Third Stage, not likely to go wrong.
Even if it did, it would be hard for them to guide her.
Ning Cheng and Ren Muqing’s eyebrows twitched.
Being so close, they clearly felt the voice was not spoken aloud.
They truly could hear their daughter’s inner thoughts.
They did not know how to feel at that moment.
Was her body sick or something else?
“I am fine, father, mother. Seeing you again is wonderful,” Ning Zhishui said, smiling.
After over three hundred years, the reunion felt truly wonderful.
In her previous life, her parents and family all died. Alone, she had cursed the heavens.
Why did other families live happily while hers became solitary? Has the Ning family done wrong?
The world only knew the Ning family committed crimes and deserved demise. Yet in truth, they were victims. Initially good, they had been forced to fight back by evildoers.