Though Li Guanqi was no alchemist, his cultivation realm was formidable.
Clearing meridians and curing ailments for a mortal was more than within his capabilities.
Pulling the woman back from the brink of death filled him with a profound sense of accomplishment.
Yet he also reflected that her luck was rather good, as her illness had not yet reached a truly fatal, incurable stage.
His own mother had not been so fortunate.
Back when he left with his grandfather, Su Xuan, he had asked why the old man had not stepped in to save her.
His grandfather had only said, "Such was her fate; beyond all power to save."
Looking back now, there truly had been nothing to be done for his mother back then...
Even the pavilion master of the Tianji Pavilion had to stand straight and salute upon hearing Grandfather's jade slip.
One could well imagine just how terrifyingly powerful that eccentric, unreliable old man of his really was.
Chen Xiaotian awoke with a start. Seeing his mother's rosy complexion, he didn't spare so much as a glance for the food on the table.
Scrambling up, he threw himself into her arms and cried with tear-filled eyes, "Mother! Mother, are you well? Are you really alright now?"
Seeing his mother nod through tears, the young boy turned toward Li Guanqi and began kowtowing repeatedly—thump, thump, thump!
Even as his forehead grew swollen and red, he did not stop.
Neither Li Guanqi nor the woman held him back; Li Guanqi was more than worthy of his gratitude.
Only then did Chen Xiaotian realize that the tumor on his neck was gone. His body felt filled with strength, devoid of that crushing heaviness from before.
Li Guanqi raised a hand to cut off the boy's impending flood of thanks and said, "I've been holding these chopsticks for ages. If you keep talking, the food is going to get cold. Am I not even allowed to enjoy a hot meal?"
The woman hurriedly smiled and said, "Eat, eat, eat, let's eat first! Immortal, please, have more meat."
Li Guanqi offered his bowl with both hands and said softly, "Auntie Xu, just call me Guanqi."
With that, Li Guanqi finally dispelled his disguise, returning to his true appearance.
Looking at Li Guanqi's pure white eyes, the woman froze for a moment, a flicker of heartache crossing her gaze.
From his earlier actions, she had already deduced that perhaps this immortal, who claimed to be so powerful, had also suffered greatly in his childhood—especially given how he had carried himself in the kitchen.
Not knowing where she found the courage, Xu Jinglan, overcome with motherly affection, gently drew Li Guanqi into her embrace.
Her eyes reddened in an instant.
Tilting her head up, her rough hands gently patted his back, and as if guided by some unseen force, she whispered, "It's enough that you grew up safe and sound."
Strong as Li Guanqi was, those simple words nearly broke him, bringing him to the verge of weeping aloud.
His eyes moist, Li Guanqi gently patted her back, closed his eyes, and said softly, "Don't worry. I grew up well."
The three of them sat around the table for a long while before their emotions finally settled. In the end, they shared a meal that would remain deeply etched in each of their memories for the rest of their lives.
After clearing the table, Xu Jinglan held the soundly sleeping Chen Xiaotian in her arms, a complex look in her eyes.
The changes today had come so fast that she had barely processed the overwhelming joy.
She asked softly, "Guanqi, can you take him with you?"
Li Guanqi shook his head and replied gently, "I cannot."
Hearing this, the woman smiled faintly and said nothing more.
Li Guanqi went on of his own accord, "Don't think that parents must sacrifice everything for their child. In truth, sometimes... letting him see all the hardships of the mortal world isn't necessarily a bad thing."
He turned to look at the sleeping boy, who was smiling in his sleep with drool at the corner of his mouth.
Reaching out, he released a wisp of primal energy to soothe and align his meridians.
"With Auntie Xu's health now, living to a hundred will be no problem at all. By then, Xiaotian will only be in his sixties. Stepping onto the path of cultivation then... won't be late in the slightest."
Having heard this, the woman nodded with a warm smile.
Li Guanqi stayed there for three more days. Over those three days, the entire village learned that he was a physician—and one with extraordinary medical skills; otherwise, how could he have cured both mother and son of the Xu household?
Before long, young and old alike from all over the village flocked to the Xu home, begging Li Guanqi to treat their ailments.
Yet Li Guanqi only treated those households that had once offered relief to Auntie Xu in her times of need.
Though this stirred resentment among many, none dared to voice their anger.
As for young Chen Xiaotian, once his health was restored, he found work in the town delivering letters through the streets and alleys.
Auntie Xu took up needlework at home; it was hard to imagine that such exquisite embroidery could come from such rough hands.
On the morning of the fourth day, white-flour steamed buns were served in this household for the first time in memory.
And these buns had been earned by Chen Xiaotian himself, through his own two legs and a sweet tongue.
Looking at Li Guanqi with a gentle smile, the woman asked softly, "You're leaving?"
Li Guanqi smiled and nodded without denying it. "Yes, it's time to leave."
"When traveling out in the world, be careful in how you speak and act, and always keep your wits about you."
Li Guanqi nodded with a smile, listening to the woman's motherly fussing just like a junior would.
Chen Xiaotian had not spoken all morning, seeming rather quiet and subdued.
Creak...
Li Guanqi pushed open the door and waved with a smile.
At that moment, the young boy finally gathered the courage to look up at him and shouted at the top of his lungs, "Big Brother Li, will we ever meet again in the future?"
Li Guanqi furrowed his brows and pondered for a long moment. Suddenly, the corners of his lips curled into a smile.
"Barring any accidents, a century from now at the Great Xia Sword Sect, you and I should be able to meet."
The commotion naturally drew the attention of many villagers.
With his hands clasped behind his back, lightning surged around Li Guanqi as he stepped onto empty air, ascending slowly stride by stride.
This sight astonished the villagers, who dropped to their knees one after another, crying out that an immortal had manifested.
Ten zhang above the ground, Li Guanqi turned and bowed, speaking softly.
"Auntie Xu, take care of your health, and may you live a hundred years."
Immediately afterward, his body took flight like a roc spreading its wings, soaring straight into the clouds!
As this scene reflected in Chen Xiaotian's eyes, he finally understood why Li Guanqi had spoken those words to him.
Even so, he pulled his gaze back and looked at his mother, who had lowered her head. Their eyes met, and both smiled faintly.
Chen Xiaotian slipped his hand into his mother's, holding her hand as they walked back toward their home.
Meanwhile, all around them, the villagers kneeling on the ground looked at the mother and son with gazes that shifted again and again.
Inside their bedding lay some broken silver Li Guanqi had left behind.
It was not much, merely a dozen-odd taels, yet it was more than enough for mother and son to make it through their hardest times.
From that day on, one could always spot a little messenger boy with a wooden sword tucked into his waist, hurrying through the streets and alleys of the town.
The primal energy surging around Li Guanqi at this moment was incomparably tranquil. Clearly, his cultivation realm remained at late Soul Formation, yet he understood:
On his path toward Void Refinement, a massive mountain had already been cleared away!
At this moment, Li Guanqi still did not know just how terrifying the true identity of He Yuning—who had shared drinks with him a few days ago—really was.
Li Guanqi pondered for a moment. Considering that this place was already right on the doorstep of Zhongzhou, he decided to simply go take a tour around Zhongzhou in the Taiqing Domain.
Chapter 472