Chapter 38: Returning Home, Terrible News

After leaving Snowpeak Mountain, Zhang Kai did not return to Wudang with the old fortune-teller. His mind was brimming with ideas, and there were many things he needed to do, none of which were convenient in Wudang. Thus, Zhang Kai decided to return to his hometown.

The old fortune-teller made a tentative attempt to persuade him otherwise, but seeing Zhang Kai’s resolve, he did not press further. Though Zhang Kai claimed to have taken a wild path, his refusal after learning of the divine curse showed he had confidence; it could be inferred that his so-called wild origin was not entirely true.

Zhang Kai was oblivious and unconcerned about the old fortune-teller’s probing and thoughts. As a player with a cheat, he simply strode forward. The disparity in strength was obvious; no matter what others thought, it was futile, for he could handle anything. If pushed too far, he would send them to Mars to eat dirt.

That night, Zhang Kai boarded the night bus and left. By the following afternoon, he arrived in a small county town called Kaiyang. Surrounded by mountains, it was a remote town, lagging far behind the big cities in economic development. Yet, such places had their own charm: the pace of life was slow, housing prices were not outrageous, and there was little industrial pollution. Many areas still retained their pristine hills and clear waters, making it an ideal place for retirement.

Originally, Zhang Kai’s family lived in a village, but his parents were enterprising, making a decent living from trading wild mountain goods. Over more than a decade, they accumulated some wealth and settled in the county town.

His family was safe and well. His grandparents had passed away early, but his maternal grandparents were still alive, and his parents were in good health. He had a younger brother and sister. The brother, thirteen, was in junior high and outperformed Zhang Kai academically, earning their parents’ high hopes. His sister, only eight, was in elementary school; fond of games and play, but with a sweet tongue, she was adored by her grandparents and left their parents helpless.

This was an ordinary family. Without his golden finger, Zhang Kai’s life would have been predictable to its end. Returning this time, he had no intention of disrupting his family’s life, preferring his parents and kin to continue as before. If one day he could cultivate immortality and gain enough confidence, perhaps he could elevate his family, but until then, keeping things unchanged was the best approach.

He had barely returned, not even tasted a sip of water, when he heard a shocking news: Second Grandfather had passed away.

In his grandfather’s generation, there were six siblings, with Zhang Kai’s grandfather ranked third. Such was the custom in those days—the poorer, the more children born. Over time, the elders passed away one after another, leaving only Second Grandfather and Fifth Aunt still alive.

Earlier in the year, Second Grandfather was still robust, able to work in the fields. Yet, in just a few months, he was gone, leaving Zhang Kai stunned. There was no joy of family reunion. Upon inquiry, Zhang Kai learned that Second Grandfather had gone up the mountain to gather herbs, was attacked by a wild boar, tumbled down the slope, struck his head, and died instantly.

Kaiyang County was mountainous, and in recent years, wild animals, especially wild boars, had been protected and multiplied, becoming a menace to crops annually. Zhang Kai had never imagined his own Second Grandfather would fall victim to a wild boar.

“I was planning to call you tomorrow, but since you’re back, come with me to the village tomorrow and help arrange the funeral,” Zhang Kai’s father, Zhang Mingren, said gravely.

“What about First and Second Cousin-Uncle? Are they coming back?” Zhang Kai asked.

Second Grandfather had two sons, cousins to Zhang Kai’s father, and their children were usually addressed as brothers and sisters, though the family relations were rather tangled. The two cousin-uncles had one gone south, the other north, and hadn’t been seen for years; their children, Zhang Kai had never met.

Zhang Kai was aware of some old family feuds, but as a younger generation, he neither had the right nor the interest to inquire. Now, with Second Grandfather gone, he wanted to know their attitude.

He already had a premonition from his father’s intention to arrange the funeral, but still wanted to ask.

Zhang Mingren was silent.

Zhang Kai frowned, “They won’t come back even in this situation? Do they hate Second Grandfather so much? Is this something a son should do? They’re no better than animals.”

“Mind your tongue! Who taught you to insult your elders like this? You’re asking for a beating,” Zhang Mingren snapped, glaring at Zhang Kai.

Zhang Kai, raised under his father’s strict discipline, had always respected him, but as he grew older, that respect remained, the fear faded.

Before Zhang Kai could reply, his mother Wang Hui interjected, “Why are you angry at the child? Is he wrong? Those two cousins are worthless; all these years, not only did they never visit Second Uncle, but even during Qingming, they never once came to sweep Second Aunt’s tomb. I tell you, for that alone, whatever he says about them isn’t too much.”

Zhang Mingren shot Wang Hui a glare for undermining him. After a moment of silence, he said, “I’ve contacted them. Whether they return is their business, but whatever happens, Second Uncle is my own uncle. When I was young, I drank Second Aunt’s milk. These years, Second Uncle helped us a lot. Blood is thicker than water. Even if his sons don’t arrange it, I’ll give Second Uncle a proper funeral.”

“I agree, do whatever you think is right,” Wang Hui responded.

Zhang Kai said, “Alright, I’ll go back with you tomorrow.”

“By the way, why are you back? Is your work not going well?” Wang Hui looked at Zhang Kai, ever the caring mother.

Zhang Kai replied, “Not exactly. I just wanted to come home and see you. You don’t know how good home is until you’re out in the world. I missed you.”

Wang Hui rolled her eyes; what mother didn’t know her own child? The sweeter his words, the more suspicious she was. But it didn’t matter. Young people need to stumble a few times to grow up. As long as he stayed upright and law-abiding, she was content.

“This matter, you two handle it. I’ll take care of the house. Since the day after tomorrow is Sunday, I’ll bring Huahua and Xiaoyue to the village to pay respects,” Wang Hui said.

The night passed uneventfully.

The next day, Zhang Mingren drove Zhang Kai straight to the village.

The village was called Zhangjia Village, populated almost entirely by Zhangs, so it was fair to say all ancestors were one family. The village was close-knit. Its location deep in the mountains meant the people were half hunters, half farmers, half fishermen, all not wealthy.

Upon arrival, Zhang Kai was left to himself. Funeral arrangements were handled by the elders; as a younger member, he only needed to follow instructions, nothing to worry about.

There were few young people in the village, the old were old, the young were young, and those of working age had all gone out to work, so no one bothered Zhang Kai.

He found a quiet spot, cast a spell, and opened his spiritual eye, seeking Second Grandfather’s soul.

Some of his internal energy had transformed into true qi, and after learning Maoshan’s arts and talismanic ways, opening his eye to see spirits was a minor trick.

Yet, after scanning the area, Zhang Kai was puzzled.

He saw nothing.

How could that be?

Even without spiritual revival, a soul should linger at least for the seven-day vigil. Now that spiritual energy had revived, not just a few weeks or months, but at least something should remain. It had only been one night—where was Second Grandfather’s soul?

He searched around Second Grandfather’s old house but found nothing.

He even secretly took out the Investiture of the Gods list, hoping to bestow divinity upon Second Grandfather, but the list remained inert.

Now Zhang Kai frowned.

Could something have happened to Second Grandfather’s soul?

Deep in thought, Zhang Kai looked toward the back mountain.

The mountain was called Bandit Mountain, named for the brigands who once roamed its slopes.

Yet Bandit Mountain, it seemed, was also the source of many strange tales from times past.