Chapter 465: Fallen Leaves Return to Their Roots

Wang Qingqi rushed forward, about to examine Wang Mingjiang's injuries, but Wang Mingjiang grabbed his right hand. With a weak, breathless voice, he said, “Qingqi, I’ve been poisoned with a potent mixture. It’s been too long; I’m beyond saving. I’ve held on this long just to tell you: Caiyun is my wife, and you must treat her well. Changxin and the others are my children, and you must nurture them properly.”

Wang Qingqi tried to say something, but Wang Mingjiang stopped him. “I know my condition; I’m fading fast. Please let me finish.”

He pulled a yellow storage bag from his embrace and handed it to Wang Qingqi. He continued, “Give what’s inside to Changsheng; he should find it useful. I didn’t kill anyone for this; I traded my life for it. Changxin, you must unite, follow the family rules, and listen to your Ninth Brother and your mother, understand?”

“Husband, don’t speak anymore,” Mo Caiyun said, tears welling in her beautiful eyes. She looked at Wang Qingkai and asked, “Where is your clan’s Core Formation cultivator? Why isn’t he here?”

Wang Qingkai looked troubled as he explained, “Ninth Uncle is in seclusion, and unless it’s extremely important, we cannot disturb his cultivation.”

He had rushed over with Wang Qingqi immediately after receiving the report, not realizing Wang Mingjiang’s injuries were so severe.

“At a time like this, when my husband is dying, he still won’t come?” Mo Caiyun roared, her face streaked with tears.

“Caiyun, don’t say it. Even if Changsheng came, I’m beyond saving. I know my condition. Don’t blame Qingkai, I…” Wang Mingjiang couldn’t finish his sentence as he coughed violently, spitting out a mouthful of black blood.

Mo Caiyun’s face changed drastically, and she collapsed by the bed. “Husband, husband, what’s wrong…?”

Wang Mingjiang’s face turned crimson. He clutched Wang Qingqi’s arm tightly and spoke haltingly, “I want to go home, Qingqi. Can I be buried in the family graveyard?”

Wang Qingqi, red-eyed, nodded, tears flowing uncontrollably.

“Twenty-first Uncle, you’ll be fine. I’ll go inform Ninth Uncle right now,” Wang Qingkai said, wiping his tears and turning to leave.

Upon hearing this, Wang Mingjiang’s face showed a flicker of relief before he breathed his last.

“Patriarch, no need to go. Twenty-first Uncle is gone,” Wang Changtai called out, stopping Wang Qingkai, his voice filled with grief.

With Wang Mingjiang’s passing, Mo Caiyun wept inconsolably. Wang Changxin and Wang Changxin also started crying, and even Wang Changqing, whom Wang Changxin held, joined in the wailing.

Wang Qingkai sent Wang Changtai back to inform the other clan members that Wang Mingjiang had died. He decided not to notify Wang Changsheng. Over the years, many clan members had passed away, but Wang Qingkai had never informed Wang Changsheng. Wang Changsheng was the pillar of the family, and Wang Qingkai would only disturb his cultivation if the family’s survival was at stake.

A short while later, Wang Qingzhi, Wang Qingyun, Wang Changhuan, and Wang Qingyuan successively entered Wang Mingjiang’s room. They were all deeply grieved to learn of Wang Mingjiang’s death, as few members of the ‘Ming’ generation remained.

“There, there, Aunt. Please don’t be too sad. We will give Twenty-first Uncle a proper burial and treat you and Uncle Changxin well,” Wang Qingyun said, forcing a smile to comfort her.

Mo Caiyun wiped away her tears, her face filled with wistfulness. With Wang Mingjiang gone, she was left an orphaned mother with her children. Truthfully, she didn’t want to stay with the Wang family, but traveling with three children was inconvenient, and abandoning them was unthinkable. When she returned to Wei with Wang Mingjiang, she had planned to settle with the Wang family, but sadly, Wang Mingjiang hadn’t survived. Her three children were now her greatest concern and her emotional support.

“Yes, Aunt, please rest assured. Even though Twenty-first Uncle is no longer with us, we are here. We are all family to you and Changxin,” Wang Qingkai said sincerely, echoing the sentiment.

Wang Mingheng nodded and said, “Sister-in-law, you and Changxin can safely stay at Qinglian Villa. Though Brother Mingjiang is gone, we are still here. From now on, we are your family.” Wang Mingheng was Wang Yaolong’s youngest son and Wang Mingren’s brother.

Mo Caiyun sighed slowly, “My husband always yearned to return home during his lifetime. He wanted to bring Changxin and the others back to acknowledge their ancestors. This was his dying wish, and I naturally will not go against it.”

“Aunt, I am Wang Qingkai, the Patriarch. Please come home with us first and tell us what happened. We want to know how Twenty-first Uncle was injured,” Wang Qingkai requested.

Mo Caiyun agreed and, taking Wang Changxin and his siblings, followed Wang Qingkai and the others home. Wang Mingheng stayed behind with several clansmen to manage Wang Mingjiang’s funeral arrangements.

A short while later, Wang Qingkai’s group was in the assembly hall, and Mo Caiyun recounted the events.

Wang Qingkai nodded thoughtfully. “So, it was those villains’ fault. If we get the chance, we will avenge Twenty-first Uncle. Qingzhi, please take Aunt and the others to rest and arrange comfortable lodging for them.”

Wang Qingzhi acknowledged and then left with Mo Caiyun and the three children.

“Twenty-first Uncle gave me this storage bag before he died,” Wang Qingqi said, taking out a yellow storage bag and handing it to Wang Qingyuan.

Wang Qingyuan took the bag and shook its contents out. After a swirl of yellow light, a large pile of items appeared on the ground. In front of everyone, Wang Qingyuan took out a ledger and meticulously recorded each item: magical artifacts, talismans, demonic beast materials, and elixirs.

There was a projection disk containing Wang Mingjiang’s detailed account of how he met Mo Caiyun. He repeatedly emphasized that Wang Changxin and the two other children were his flesh and blood and that the Wang family should treat them well. With the images on the projection disk and Wang Mingjiang’s dying words, Wang Qingkai naturally had no doubts about the three children’s identities.

Wang Qingyuan picked up a yellow gourd, shaking it gently. A dull thud, like sand, sounded from within. He opened the lid, pouring out a large quantity of fine yellow sand. Each grain shimmered with a yellow spiritual glow, emitting pure earth-attribute spiritual energy. Wang Qingyuan picked up a single grain; faint, dense runes were visible, revealing it to be a magical treasure.

“Twenty-first Uncle actually brought back an earth-attribute magical treasure! I wonder if Ninth Uncle can use it,” Wang Qingkai exclaimed excitedly. He only knew that Wang Changsheng practiced water-attribute cultivation methods, but he was unsure about Wang Changsheng’s spiritual root attribute.

“Patriarch, how many merit points is a magical treasure worth?” Wang Qingyuan asked. He was undecided; a magical treasure was worth at least 500,000 spirit stones, and as a Qi Refining cultivator, he couldn’t make such a decision. A magical treasure was definitely worth enough merit points for three Foundation Establishment Pills, possibly more.

Wang Qingkai nodded. “Let’s decide on this magical treasure after Ninth Uncle comes out of seclusion. Twenty-first Uncle brought a magical treasure back for the family, so we must improve Aunt and their living conditions. We cannot neglect them, or Twenty-first Uncle will not rest in peace.”

“Of course,” Wang Qingkai continued, “Fifth Sister, please stay with Aunt during this time, introduce her to the family’s situation, check Uncle Changxin and Aunt Changxin’s spiritual roots, and take them to the Scripture Pavilion to choose cultivation methods.”

“Understood, Patriarch. I will help Aunt settle in and let them experience the family’s warmth. If Uncle Changxin and Aunt Changxin are interested in talismans, I can teach them how to make them.”

A month later, Wang Mingjiang was given a grand funeral, and Wang Qingjing also rushed back to attend. Witnessed by all the Wang family members, Wang Changxin, Wang Changxin, and Wang Changqing offered sacrifices to their ancestors. Their names were entered into the family register, officially making them part of the family.

The three siblings were quite young. Wang Changxin and Wang Changxin first entered the Lecture Hall to study cultivation knowledge. Awkwardly, Wang Mingjiang’s original dao companion was still alive, and his eldest son, Wang Changyang, was already married. The sudden appearance of a concubine and three younger siblings was unsettling for Wang Changyang and his mother. However, since Mo Caiyun was a Foundation Establishment cultivator, Wang Changyang and his mother dared not show her any disrespect.

Wang Qingkai did not disclose that Wang Mingjiang had brought back a magical treasure, nor did he reveal the merit points Wang Mingjiang had accumulated. If the orphaned mother and children knew Wang Mingjiang had left behind a large sum of merit points, it would surely cause an uproar.