Chapter 37: Green Gleam

Chapter 37: Qingmang

There is an immortal on Qingmang Mountain.

This is a legend known to everyone living near Qingmang Mountain. However, no one has ever actually seen one. Nevertheless, this legend has lent the mountain an air of mystery, drawing tourists from all directions and bringing bustle to the once-impoverished town of Qingmang.

Xue An stepped off the tourist bus with his two daughters; everything before him felt both familiar and strange. When he had left all those years ago, this place was still a desolate, remote town, but now it had become far more prosperous. Restaurants and bars stood in rows, and crowds of people surged through the streets. Directly ahead, in the distance, stood the towering Qingmang Mountain, its peak shrouded in mist that never seemed to dissipate.

Xue An squinted, observing it for a moment. When he was just a child, he had ventured into Qingmang Mountain and found nothing out of the ordinary. But now, with the perspective of an Immortal Venerable, he could clearly see that the mountain possessed excellent geomancy, with a faint, swirling dragon energy—it was clearly no ordinary place.

However, this dragon energy... it seemed rather muddled and impure.

Thinking this to himself, Xue An turned to Xue Xiang and Xue Nian. "Are you hungry?"

The two little girls shouted in unison, "Yes!"

This scene drew smiles from the passersby. Xue An nodded. "Come on, Daddy will take you to get something to eat first!"

Ever since he became a "stay-at-home dad," Xue An's daily life had revolved around pots, pans, and chores. In truth, with his level of cultivation, he could have long ago ceased the need for food. But money can't buy happiness, and Xue An enjoyed the feeling of feasting together with his two daughters.

Walking down the street, looking at the hotels and restaurants rising from the ground, Xue An felt a slight sense of desolation. He used to play on this street often, and his old family home was located right at the corner. He wondered what his old home looked like after all these years. The house must have collapsed by now, right?

As he turned the corner, Xue An froze. In the spot where his home had once stood, a luxurious hotel had been built. Xue An’s expression darkened.

"Daddy, why did you stop?" Xue Xiang asked, looking up at the grand, opulent hotel.

"Daddy, are we eating here? Will it be very expensive?" Though only four, Xue Xiang already showed signs of being a little miser. She was meticulous about every penny spent on food and groceries, which often left Xue An feeling both touched and amused.

Xue An was, of course, not angry simply because a plot of land had been occupied. But to him, that old house held special significance—it was a symbol of his childhood memories.

Just then, a timid voice reached him.

"Are you... Brother An?"

Xue An turned to see a young girl standing by the roadside. She wore simple, clean clothes, and a shy blush colored her cheeks.

"You are..."

"Brother An, is it really you?" The girl suddenly grew excited, stepping forward. "It’s me, Lan'er!"

"Lan'er? Are you... Xue Lan?" Xue An asked, surprised.

Xue Lan was the daughter of one of his distant uncles. When they were children, she had often clung to Xue An like a little shadow, following him wherever he went.

"It’s me! Brother An, you’ve finally returned! Everyone said you were dead!" As she spoke, tears began to stream down her face.

"I’m perfectly fine, aren't I? It’s been years; you’ve grown up so much!" Xue An said with a smile.

"And these two are..." Xue Lan asked, noticing Xue Xiang and Xue Nian.

"Hello, Auntie!" the two little girls said in unison, their voices sweet.

Xue Lan was amused by the two porcelain-like, adorable children. "My goodness, what cute little girls."

"These are my daughters," Xue An said.

Xue Lan trembled slightly, then forced a smile. "Brother An, you’re already married!"

Xue An nodded and pointed to the grand hotel behind him. "What is going on here?"

Xue Lan’s expression changed, and she pulled Xue An away. "I can’t explain it in a few words. Come home with me first. My father will be so happy to see you!"

Xue Lan’s home was on the outskirts of Qingmang Town. Here, the area still retained the appearance of a rural mountain village, with low, dilapidated houses and muddy, difficult roads. Xue An had visited often in the past, so he was familiar with the area, and Xue Lan’s home hadn't changed much over the years.

Once inside, Xue Lan called out excitedly, "Dad, look who’s back!"

A dark-skinned rural man walked out of the house. Upon seeing Xue An, he froze.

"Xue... An?"

Just then, a woman pushed open the door and grumbled, "Who is it, making all that noise?" When she saw it was Xue An, her expression shifted drastically. "It’s you?"

Xue Lan was still excited. "Mom, Brother An isn't dead! He’s back!"

"Quick, get out! We don't know any Xue An, get him out of here!" said Xue Lan’s mother, Li Hongyan.

Xue Lan was stunned. "Mom, what’s wrong?"

"You foolish girl, are you not listening to me? Make him leave!" Li Hongyan said, her face twisted.

Xue Lan’s father, Xue Guo—Xue An’s distant uncle—sighed. "Xue An, you shouldn't have come back at all! Leave quickly, before anyone else finds out you're here! Go!"

Xue Lan wanted to say something, but Xue An stopped her. He looked at the couple calmly and said, "I won't implicate you by returning, but I want to know: what happened to my home?"

This question made the couple turn even paler.

Li Hongyan said with venomous resentment, "Pah! You jinx, it’s bad luck just seeing you, and you say you won't implicate us? Get out! If you delay any longer, don't blame me for being rude!"

Xue An frowned. Though they were relatives, if they insisted on courting disaster, he would not blame himself.

At that moment, Xue Lan grabbed Xue An’s hand, tears in her eyes. "Brother An, let me help you leave here first!"

Thinking of Xue Lan, Xue An’s heart softened. He smiled at the couple. "I hope you won't regret this later."

With that, Xue An followed Xue Lan away.

Only then did Li Hongyan let out a long breath, saying with disdain, "Just an orphan without even a home left. Regret? Pah!"

Xue Guo wanted to speak but stopped; in this household, he had no say.

Once they were outside, Xue Lan said sadly, "Brother An, I..."

Xue An shook his head and said calmly, "No need to say anything, Lan'er. Just tell me, what happened to my house?"

Xue Lan gritted her teeth. "It’s all because of Xie Hu! Three years after you left, development started here. Because your house was in a good location, Xie Hu maliciously seized it and built that hotel."

Xie Hu.

The name unlocked memories Xue An had long kept sealed away.