Ever since that day, she noticed a change in her husband's demeanor. He had a spring in his steps, was more cheerful, and seemed to dote on her like a queen or a heavenly mother.
She felt worried. At least, the first few days were worrisome.
Don't get her wrong, she didn't harbor any malicious thoughts or doubts about their relationship or that her husband might be acting out of guilt.
Guilt—if not for something he already did then it might be for something he was about to do.
However, as days passed and she noticed how her husband was particularly enthusiastic when it came to their son's cultivation, she understood.
Her husband was happy with Little Chen, and this enthusiasm spilled over her by proxy.
She was very happy. She was truly happy.
She was just a mortal who couldn't cultivate.
It was a miracle for her son to be born with a spiritual root, but it also meant that she could leave a legacy behind—a continuation of her existence—to accompany her husband for when she wasn't there anymore.
With both of them feeling rejuvenated as though returning to their days as newlyweds, the night life got more exciting.
Before she knew it, she brought her husband a pair of chubby boys: Wang Fu and Wang Yan.
As fate would have it, both her newborns had spiritual roots and an affinity with spiritual energy.
Her husband was truly, truly happy.
She watched it all through locks of white hair.
She sat on the rocking chair and watched her children grow day by day, her husband growing younger month after month.
She watched through blurry, envious yet happy eyes. Even as the men of the house, young and old, tried to act as though things were okay.
As though everything seemed okay.
But it wasn't okay.
She was dying.
Even sitting on the chair was an intense activity for her old bones now, let alone moving about. But they kept the smiles, the laughter, and optimistic atmosphere.
She hoped this would last, but the day arrived when she closed her blurry eyes, never to open again.
The smiles, laughter, and joyful atmosphere dissipated as though a mist of mirage and fiction.
One or two cried and the others were silent.
Father and sons looking like brothers while their closest of kin rested in peace.
Thus the chasm between mortal and immortal. Thus the fleeting mortal life.
…
Mingyuan and his three sons burned incense and prayed for blessings in front of her tomb.
Today, their youngest—Wang Yan—had turned sixteen-years-old.
It was time to leave the mortal life behind and move on.
Today, Mingyuan dressed in all black while his sons adorned a contrasting white. Their robes were specifically designed, each carrying the character of their respective given names on their back.
Mingyuan told his sons of his aspirations to build an immortal lineage, and they supported him wholeheartedly.
They would find a city under the sphere of influence of cultivators and settle down.
…
Wind kicked up and the sound of dust and pebbles scattering about lured the father and sons from the courtyard.
There in the vast space, a gigantic avian fluttered down, wings slapping about till the creature rested on the ground.
Off its back descended a burly man in bronze armor, hearty laughter spreading out in waves.
"Good brother!" he exclaimed. "I knew that you wouldn't retire for good! Heavens! I was so happy when I received your sound transmission! Wang Mingyuan!"
Mingyuan smiled faintly and approached the burly man, his arms open for a good greeting and a hug. "Brother Han, I'm glad to see you too."
The two shared a quick hug before separating. Brother Han looked over Mingyuan's shoulder and raised his eyebrows.
"Yours?" he asked the obvious. "Heavens, you look like brothers! They're a splitting image of you in your younger years!"
"Wang Chen," Mingyuan gestured toward the oldest son, already in his mid twenties.
Then, he introduced the second son and the youngest respectively. "This one is the second child, Wang Fu, and that's the youngest, Wang Yan."
The siblings stepped out and cupped their fists in greeting, as taught by their father.
Brother Han scrutinized them closely before gasping in shock. "Foundation Establishment, and the other two are at perfected Qi Refinement! Wait, all three of them can cultivate?! Didn't you marry a mortal wife?! Did you save the nine heavens in your past life or something?!"
"Something like that!" Mingyuan smiled proudly, short of laughing loud. "This is the situation, I decided to establish a clan and strive for an immortal lineage! I called you over to help us get to the nearest Cultivation Dynasty, Fengzhou Dynasty!"
"Ah, good choice!" Brother Han nodded.
"The Emperor is still in his prime and his sons are very young. There won't be any imperial strife for a long time, saving your future clan the political storms of picking sides. At least until you can secure yourself a foundation in one of the Provincial Capitals or better yet, the Imperial City!"
Mingyuan nodded. Of course he knew the situation in Fengzhou, otherwise he wouldn't have chosen that country.
Although he was supposedly retired, some intangible assets such as friendships and connections could withstand the test of time.
At the very least, these connections could last a few decades if not a century and more.
"That being said, don't you have anything to pack up?" Brother Han asked.
Mingyuan raised his hand to display the silver enchanted ring on his index finger. He smiled without a word.
"Haha! You little bastard! First time I saw a retired cultivator with a storage ring, you're a little too extravagant!" Brother Han laughed without any ill will.
In the long years that passed, Mingyuan totally abused his system's multiplication of value feature to obtain many things.
Elixirs, pills, equipments, secret arts, combat techniques, movement techniques, and cultivation techniques.
He even gifted the title deed of the house to Wang Yan, saying that he hoped for his youngest son to always keep this place in his heart.
As a reward, he obtained a large family compound in the Provincial Capital inside one of Fengzhou's nineteen states.
That large city was their next destination for now.
He also taught each of his three sons one auxiliary profession, respectively alchemy, talismans, and blacksmithing.
As for his cultivation? He perfected Foundation Establishment, Golden Core, Nascent Soul, and now reached the perfected Infant Transformation.
His nascent soul had already transformed into an infantile version of himself, settling within his golden core inside the dantian while being nurtured.
The next major realm was the Tribulation Transcendence, where he would go for a minor tribulation each minor advancement and a major tribulation after perfecting his realm.
In no way would he undergo tribulations in the mortal world lest he bring disaster to the common people. Hence the urgency to relocate.
"Well, I can't enter the big city looking like a refugee now, can I? How can I fish for one or two daughters-in-law that way?" Mingyuan shrugged before mounting the flying beast.
"Come on up, let's not waste more time by just talking. We can talk on the way."
Wang Chen, Wang Fu, and Wang Yan exchanged glances.
Brother Han chuckled and waved them over as he said, "Go up, this big boy can carry us and a few more. Don't be shy."
Receiving permission, they cupped their fists respectively and jumped up, taking their seats at the back.
Brother Han jumped up too, and with a mental command from him, the flying beast screeched loudly and rose to the air.
Mingyuan looked back at the small courtyard and the many townsfolk peeking from their windows and sighed.
To them, this day will circulate as a legend about immortals.
To him, this place would be remembered as just a memory in his pursuit of longevity.