Outside Cyan Cloud Village, on the main road.
A crimson streak of light whizzed past. The powerful gust it created bent the wild grass low and startled several villagers, who were carrying goods on shoulder poles to the market, into scrambling out of the way.
"My goodness! Which Immortal Master was that?"
An old farmer straightened his conical hat and watched the figure disappear in a cloud of dust, his eyes full of awe and envy. "That speed... I’m afraid it’s many times faster than the prized stallion the county magistrate rides!"
"Of course. Those are the methods of an Immortal Master. We’re lucky to even catch a glimpse in this lifetime." Another man clicked his tongue in amazement.
Under the reach of the Great Zhou Law Net, Cultivators, while extraordinary, did not seclude themselves from the world. Common folk were not unfamiliar with their existence, but their interactions were limited to watching from a distance with reverence.
Little did they know that the streak of light that so amazed them was none other than Chu Bai, the very same boy who once ran through the village’s fields.
The Chu Family’s small courtyard. The wicker gate was ajar.
When a figure in a green robe appeared at the entrance, Mrs. Li, who was sorting vegetables in the yard, was so startled she dropped the leaves in her hands. Then came a cry of joyous surprise:
"My eldest?!"
"Dad, Mom, I’m home."
Chu Bai retracted his Spiritual Pressure and strode into the courtyard, a pure, relaxed smile on his face—one he rarely wore when he was away.
Hearing the commotion, Chu Xianglin rushed out from inside the house. Upon seeing his eldest son, his weathered face blossomed into a wide smile.
Reunited as a family, they had endless things to talk about.
Chu Bai didn’t speak of his life-or-death battles, nor did he mention the honor of being the top candidate among the Immortal Officials. He only shared amusing anecdotes from the Daoist School and described the bustling splendor of the Prefecture City for his parents.
When they heard Chu Bai had already graduated early and was about to assume a post at the county’s Evil Suppression Department, his parents were overjoyed.
They didn’t understand the Daoist School’s curriculum, nor did they grasp the prestige of graduating early. But to common folk like them, the phrase "eating the emperor’s grain" signified the greatest possible success.
"Wonderful! Just wonderful!"
Chu Xianglin was so excited he didn’t know what to do with his hands. "Our Chu Family has toiled in the fields for generations, our faces in the dirt and our backs to the sky," he said, his voice thick with emotion. "I never imagined that in this lifetime, we would produce someone who works for the government!"
He looked his son up and down, growing more pleased by the second. "Once you’re in the Government Office, you’ll be an imposing constable!" he said, his voice full of hopeful anticipation. "With an Iron Ruler at your waist and a black robe on your back, who on the street would dare be disrespectful?"
In Chu Xianglin’s mind, a constable at the Government Office was as high as it gets—someone an ordinary person could never afford to cross.
Chu Bai smiled and nodded, not bothering to correct his father’s misconception.
’A constable? That’s the lowest-ranking bailiff in the Evil Suppression Department.’
’And I’ll be starting as a ranked Patrol Banner Inspector, with a limitless future ahead of me.’
’But explaining the ranks and titles to them would be too much of a hassle. It’s better to just go along with what they think and let them be happy.’
"Yes, Dad. If anything comes up at home in the future, it’ll be easier for me to help out," Chu Bai said gently.
Afterward, he teased his younger brother and sister, who were leaning on the table and curiously sizing him up. He took out a few delicate trinkets and pastries he’d brought back from the Prefecture City, making the two little ones cheer with delight and circle their big brother endlessly.
The small farmhouse courtyard filled with joyous laughter.
The setting sun’s last rays fell upon the fence of the Chu family’s courtyard, coating the simple farmhouse in a layer of warmth.
Chu Bai rested for a moment inside, his thoughts drifting to the winding Sanmu River not far away.
’Last time, I happened to find the Purifying Spirit Flow by that river. It was a great boon to my cultivation. My Water Element Foundation is a little weak right now. If I get the chance, I really should go back and investigate.’
He pondered this for a moment. However, when he recalled Zhang Cheng mentioning on the Flying Shuttle that a "River Demon was causing trouble," Chu Bai suppressed the urge to head there at once.
’No need to rush. I’ll wait until I’ve received my post and settled in. It won’t be too late to investigate then, especially with intelligence support from the Evil Suppression Department.’
Just as he was thinking this, a rather tentative knock came from the courtyard gate.
Chu Bai rose and opened the door. An old man with a white beard and hair stood at the entrance, flanked by two able-bodied young men carrying large cuts of cured meat and several jugs of fine wine.
The visitor was the Clan Chief of Chu Family Village.
"Oh, my! Is it really the Chu family’s eldest, returned home?"
Seeing that it was indeed Chu Bai who had opened the door, the Clan Chief’s wrinkled face immediately broke into a deferential smile, and he even bent his back slightly without realizing it. "Today, I heard from the folk working in the fields that they saw the figure of an Immortal Master—how impressive! This old man thought it might be you, so I rushed over to pay a visit."
He spoke politely, but inwardly his heart was pounding with uncertainty.
He had been skeptical when the villagers mentioned seeing a flash of red light that vanished in an instant. After all, Chu Bai had gone to the nigh-unreachable Dayuan Prefecture Daoist School. It had only been a year. How could he possibly be back already?
"You’re too kind, Clan Chief."
Chu Bai stepped aside, putting on no airs, and returned the greeting with cupped fists. "Please, come in. My parents told me how much the clan has looked after our family this past year. I’m grateful for everything, from the house repairs to the daily help. Thank you."
Over the past year, although the Chu Family had drained their savings to support his studies, their lives had become much more comfortable than before. His parents had healthy, rosy complexions, and the household was free of troubles. Chu Bai knew as soon as he asked that this was largely due to the Clan Chief’s deliberate care.
This was only human nature. As the saying goes, "When one person achieves enlightenment, even their chickens and dogs ascend to heaven." Having received such a favor, Chu Bai would naturally show the Clan Chief ample respect.

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