Chapter 8

Ever since the ancestors established the sect a long time ago, they had been famous all over the world for their Guiyuan heart technique and Zongxuan sword. The Zong Clan had ruled over Jiuzhou for three hundred years. Even if it did violate the common knowledge of "when the great Dao prevailed, the whole world was one community" in the immortal cultivation world, they still ascended the throne and proclaimed themselves as emperor. All the immortals in the world dared not to comment and could only acknowledge their inferiority. They delimited the land and accepted Emperor Zong as the rightful ruler of Jiuzhou.

It's just that there was there is Chang in Wuchang*. Extreme prosperity would not last forever and there was bound to decline. Change was inevitable. The power of the Zong Clan was steadily declining until the generation of Emperor Ninghua, Zong Ming He. There were many talented people coming forth in large numbers into the immortal cultivation world. Within these few centuries, dissatisfaction with the Zong Clan accumulated. The water seemed calm on the surface, but underneath the surface, it was turbulent.

In fact, the decline of the Zong Clan had a lot to do with the failure of producing a good ruler in the past three generations.

When it came to seeking enlightenment of the Dao and pursuing immortality, acquiring diligence and comprehension were surely important, but innate talent often determined a person's potential from birth.  In the immortal cultivation world, a person who had attained Dao in the nine degrees of kinship* could ascend to heaven. A leader who couldn’t reach such heights, even by relying on a large number of people, would find it difficult to convince the people.

Zong Ming He had nine sons and three daughters. The eldest son and the youngest son had great roots and had the potential to step onto the path of immortality. Unfortunately, the confrontation between the immortals and the clan members, the decline of his family, and the precarious situation could not be reversed by the two young children.

Daming Mansion - Wuji Palace

There was a burst of laughter in the back garden. A teenager rolled up his pants and sleeves and was leading a group of children who were playing Cuju*. It was as if the round sheepskin ball had grown on his feet, unable to escape his control. Children of different heights were buzzing around him, all trying to snatch the ball from his feet. That scene was like a big dog leading a group of puppies.

That young man had a handsome look, and his eyes were as bright as the starry sky. He had a demeanor like a blazing sun, and a smiling face that looked even better than fine jade. He really was an attractive and elegant young man.

"Big brother...Ah!" A child tripped and landed on the ground with a thud. He immediately started sobbing.

Zong Zi Heng put down the ball and pushed the crowd aside. He smiled, picked the child up from the ground, and teased while pinching his nose: "Oh my Xiao Jiu, are you going to cry just because of this?"

Zong Zi Xiao had no tears in his eyes, but he still wanted to act like he was crying. He wiped his eyes with his dirty hands: "I fell on my leg and you're still laughing at me."

"Let me see." Zong Zi Heng lifted his trouser leg and saw blood on his knees, "Big brother will bring you to apply some ointment, okay?

"Mm."

Zong Zi Heng picked up Zong Zi Xiao with one arm and several children tugged on Zong Zi Heng's clothes: "Will big brother come back and play with us?"

Zong Zi Heng rubbed their heads one by one: "The sun is too strong. You all should go and get some rest. Big brother will play with you guys next time."

Zong Zi Xiao hugged Zong Zi Heng's neck tightly and secretly revealed a smug smile.

"Big brother, it's so hot." He pressed his face onto Zong Zi Heng's neck and whispered his complaint.

"Yet you still hug me so tightly." Zong Zi Heng pulled one of his small arms off his sweaty neck and took a deep breath, "You think big brother would drop you?"

"I..."

Zong Zi Heng suddenly grabbed Zong Zi Xiao's waist, swung him three times in mid-air and then swung his head down behind him, finally pulling him out from under his armpit.

Zong Zi Xiao screamed and laughed. His face flushed with excitement.

Zong Zi Heng smiled and said: "It’s not painful anymore?"

"It didn't even hurt that much to begin with, I just didn't want to play anymore." Zong Zi Xiao said coquettishly, "I want to eat the iced white fungus soup that big brother makes."

"Only you would have so many little tricks." Zong Zi Heng carried him back to Qinghui Pavilion and tested him on some homework on the way back. Seeing that he answered smoothly and did not goof off, he praised him.

"It's so delicious. So sweet." Zong Zi Xiao sucked a big spoonful of white fungus into his mouth and licked his lips to his heart's content.

Zong Zi Heng took a wet cloth and wiped Zong Zi Xiao's dirty face. At the age of 8, as if smeared with fine powder and as delicate as polished jade*, both his face and his mother's, who was known as the world's number one beauty, were almost carved out from the same mold. Especially those fox eyes which were hooked at the outer corner of his eyes. When he looked at people, his pupils shone like bright gems, as if they wanted to speak.

"Eat slowly." After wiping his face, Zong Zi Heng wanted to clean his wound.

Zong Zi Xiao shook his lower leg: "No need, it'll be fine in a few days."

"At least rinse it clean."

After treating his wound, Zong Zi Xiao's bowl of white fungus soup was almost empty. He blinked his eyes: "Big brother, I want to tell you some good news."

"What's the good news?"

"I'm about to form a core."

Zong Zi Heng was startled: "Really?"

"Yeah." Zong Zi Xiao raised his chin proudly, "Big brother also formed a core before 10 years old. I want to be the same as big brother."

Zong Zi Heng patted Zong Zi Xiao's shoulder with gratification: "You will be even faster than big brother. Xiao Jiu, you must cultivate diligently. When you reach the Great Dao one day, everyone will no longer ridicule our Zong Clan for having no successors."

"Who will dare to ridicule us when big brother is here? " Zong Zi Xiao's eyes are filled with adoration, "Big brother is the best!"

Seeing Zong Zi Xiao's carefree and innocent look, Zong Zi Heng sighed secretly. 

"Big brother, can I have another serving? "

"You can’t. You ate too much cold food last time and got a stomachache."

"Just one more please."

"Dinner is in 2 hours. Do you want to drink fungus soup, or do you want to eat the large meatballs big brother makes?"

"Large meatballs, large meatballs! "

A sound was heard from outside. Zong Zi Heng stood up and popped his head out to take a look.

A lady was escorted in by a servant. She's an outstanding beauty with picturesque features. She was wearing a silk jaded brocade and gold dangling hairpins. She walked in a dignified and luxurious manner.

"Mother, you're back." Zong Zi Heng bowed. 

Zong Zi Xiao also stood up, "Consort Shen."

"Xiao Er is also here." Shen Shi Yao smiled, "Did you come here to play with your big brother?"

"Yeah."

"It's almost dinner time, don't eat too much cold food." Shen Shi Yao pulled Zong Zi Xiao in front of her and used a silk handkerchief to wipe his sweat, "Xiao Er, you stay at Qinghui Pavilion for dinner."

"Okay, big brother said he'll make large meatballs for me."

Shen Shi Yao chuckled: "Only you love to pester your big brother so much. Go home and invite your mother here. After dinner, we'll go to the shore of Luoshui Lake to enjoy the beautiful moon."

"Okay!" Zong Zi Xiao scampered off. 

After Zong Zi Xiao left, Shen Shi Yao looked at her handsome son and felt comforted: "Zi Heng, how's your homework today?"

"It's all done. Just now, I brought my younger brothers and sisters out to play for an hour."

"I heard the emperor gave you a mission again."

"The Pingyang area had trouble with some evil spirits. Two batches of cultivators were dispatched and there were heavy casualties. I'll leave the palace tomorrow to take a look."

"Very good. Your siblings still have not grown up yet, so only you can share the emperor’s burden. You must perform well. Don't disappoint the emperor."

Zong Zi Heng said obediently: "Don't worry, mother."

"I heard..." Shen Shi Yao's slender fingers stroked the exquisite red gold bracelet on her wrist, "Chi Zong Zi had examined your ninth brother's roots, and his talent isn’t inferior to yours?"

"Yes, Xiao Jiu has a superb aptitude." Zong Zi Heng smiled, "He told me just now that he's about to form a core."

Shen Shi Yao paused slightly. Her gaze drifted out of the window, and she said quietly: "The Zong Clan has not been able to produce such roots for three generations. Unexpectedly, there are now two of you. The emperor must be very happy."

"Father is very happy. His son and my younger siblings will restore the Zong Clan together."

Shen Shi Yao turned around and looked at Zong Zi Heng. Her eyes dimmed: "You were born under a lucky star, and you are outstanding even among the children of this generation. It's a pity that your mother's background is not good, and it will only bring burden to you."

Zong Zi Heng turned pale with fright: "Mother, why would you say that? As a son born in the Zong Clan, I don’t need to worry about clothes and food since I was young. I'm already contented and have never had such thoughts."

Shen Shi Yao took Zong Zi Heng's hand and smiled warmly: "You are so talented. If you were a legitimate son, you would be the future leader of the clan in any other immortal family. Mother just felt that you've worked so hard, yet I am letting you down.”

"Mother, please don't think this way." Zong Zi Heng said anxiously, "Legitimate son or not, it doesn't matter. I am not bothered by it."

Shen Shi Yao stared at her son for a long time before saying: "Nevermind, your ninth brother is also a son of a concubine. You're not the only one who is unfortunate."

Zong Zi Heng knew his mother was eager to be first. She was very strict with him ever since he was young and he was not allowed to lag behind others, but it was all for his own good. This was the first time he had heard her said this, which was really weird.

He didn't understand, so he decided not to think about it for now. He consoled his mother for a while and went to make large meatballs for Zong Zi Xiao.

When admiring the moon in the evening, Shen Shi Yao was the same as usual. She got along well with Zong Zi Xiao's mother, and they would visit each other often.

After admiring the moon, Zong Zi Xiao wanted to sleep with Zong Zi Heng again. The two of them were 8 years apart. Zong Zi Xiao was largely brought up by Zong Zi Heng, so he had stayed close to him since young.

The summer was sultry and there were many mosquitoes. Zong Zi Heng pasted two cold talismans onto the mosquito net and used a fan to fan at Zong Zi Xiao, so he wouldn't feel too hot and flop around like a pancake. He slowly drifted into a deep sleep.

"Big brother." Zong Zi Xiao said drowsily, "Are you going out of the palace tomorrow? When are you going to bring me along?"

"When you're older, you can come along with big brother to exorcise evil spirits together."

Zong Zi Xiao yawned: "When I form a core, what reward will big brother give me?"

Zong Zi Heng smiled helplessly: "What reward do you want?"

"Bring me out of the palace. Big brother traveled out of the palace since you were 12, but I haven’t been out of the palace before.”

"Alright, when you form a core, I will ask our father and bring you out of the palace to play."

Zong Zi Xiao turned around and slipped into Zong Zi Heng's embrace: "You better promise!"

"Hey, don't stick to me. It's so hot."

 

---- 

Translator Thoughts:

there is Chang in Wuchang* [无常即是常] --- To answer from the Buddhist perspective, impermanence [aka Wuchang] means that there are many variables in a person's life, and it is not accurate to calculate based on the current situation. "Chang" means that everything that happens in life is not for no reason, it is the past. Or a cause that was planted in the previous life or many lives.

nine degrees of kinship*[九族]--- a system of grading kin and relatives(in feudal China)

smeared with fine powder and as delicate as polished jade*[粉雕玉琢]---used to describe someone’s fair skin. Full definition: so white as if smeared by powder, and so smooth and delicate as if a jade has been polished.

Cuju* [蹴鞠] ---ancient Chinese football/soccer

 

Editor Thoughts:

Hi everyone~ I'm back! I was down for the past 2 days because I was resting after taking the covid vaccine 😪 

Leave a comment if you liked this chapter! See you in the next chapter~ 

Edited on 10 Mar. 21 (Emzie)

Edited on 27 Jun. 21 (Ari)

Edited on 25 Jul 21 (Limit)

 

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