C11 Return Home to Visit

The world was awash with an abundance of spiritual energy, the very wellspring of life itself. Those blessed with this energy could thrive in good health, while its absence meant certain death. To achieve immortality, one must practice Qi cultivation, drawing the spiritual energy into their being and refining it within their body. This process was twofold: first, absorbing the spiritual energy from the heavens and earth, primarily at dawn on clear mornings, sitting cross-legged with eyes closed, tapping the teeth together, the tongue pressed to the roof of the mouth, swallowing saliva in a controlled, forceful manner. The second phase involved circulating the absorbed energy throughout the body, creating an internal cycle and storing it within.

Han Binn meticulously followed these steps, swallowing the air silently, in a pattern of three swallows followed by two, five swallows followed by one, and seven swallows followed by one. With each swallow, the spiritual energy was stored and circulated within his body, purging any excess impurities through the pores and preserving the pure spiritual energy internally. This peculiar method of cultivation nearly left Han Binn gasping for air, struggling to find the right rhythm for a long time.

As he glanced at the sky, he realized the optimal time for morning cultivation had passed. Han Binn rose to his feet and, with his medicine basket in hand, stepped out of his room.

Cultivation at dawn was ideal, as the spiritual energy was most potent and easiest to condense. While cultivation was possible at other times, the efficacy paled in comparison to just a tenth of the morning's potential. Outer disciples, with their limited time, could hardly afford to dedicate their entire day to cultivation. That was a privilege reserved for official disciples, who prioritized their practice, with all other tasks managed by the outer disciples. Should they require anything, they could simply approach the steward of the outer disciples.

Exiting his room, Han Binn observed the other disciples who had just finished their meal. He instinctively touched his stomach, only to be surprised by the absence of hunger. Could it be that Qi cultivation also alleviated hunger? Indeed, Han Binn's assumption was correct. Qi cultivation could stave off hunger, but only once one had reached the Foundation Stage or higher, where the body's spiritual energy could circulate autonomously, enabling one to forgo food. This practice, known as "cutting off food," meant sustaining oneself without physical nourishment for months, or even years, relying solely on spiritual energy for sustenance.

Han Binn was having a stroke of good fortune. That day, he unearthed several stalks of Spirit Gathering Grass. After handing one over to Sun Yuangang, he stashed the rest away. This meant he wouldn't have to trek up the mountain daily in search of herbs; instead, he could dedicate ample time to his cultivation. Han Binn's current challenge wasn't about absorbing spiritual energy, but rather mastering the rhythm of his breathing. The method—inhale thrice, exhale twice; inhale five times, exhale once; inhale seven times, exhale once—sounded simple, yet it took Han Binn a grueling month to get a tentative handle on it. Throughout that month, Han Binn was the epitome of diligence, leaving his room before the crack of dawn and venturing deep into the mountains to practice his breathing exercises. Despite his efforts, he felt no numbness in his body, a sign that the technique was working.

The instructions from Tang Xiaofeng were crystal clear: the entry of spiritual energy into the body should induce a tingling sensation in the bones and meridians, akin to the feeling of ants crawling over the skin. The absence of such sensations in Han Binn indicated a stark reality—his body contained not a trace of spiritual energy. Those with innate talent could break through to the first level of the Qi Cultivating Stage within days, and achieve a significant milestone within a month. Yet, after a month of fruitless attempts, Han Binn felt nothing.

In a fit of frustration, Han Binn kicked his medicine basket aside and spat out bitterly, "It's always about innate talent." He now fully grasped the elder's previous remarks; poor aptitude indeed made it impossible to harness spiritual energy. But Han Binn wasn't one to surrender to despair. No matter how arduous the journey, he was determined to persevere.

Time flew, and before he knew it, Han Binn had been at the Heaven Light Sect for over three months, with the New Year just a half-month away. He couldn't help but wonder about his parents' well-being. Xie Hu had informed him that all disciples, whether from the outer circle or the core, were granted leave to visit their families during their first three years at the sect—thrice in the first year, twice in the second, and once in the third. This policy aimed to sever ties with the secular world and encourage full immersion in the path of cultivation. However, in practice, the rule was more lenient for the outer circle disciples. Some had been at the sect for years and still managed to visit home without any objections from the elders. As long as they didn't engage in actions detrimental to the sect, their comings and goings went largely unscrutinized.

Han Binn was ready to head home and decided to bid farewell to Xie Hu before making his way to the inner courtyard.

Unlike the outer courtyard, the inner courtyard had few buildings, with most dwellings being cave abodes. Any disciple who reached the first level of the Qi Cultivating Stage was entitled to their own private cave abode, and their days were spent primarily in cultivation, with little else to occupy their time. Although Han Binn had made it to the inner courtyard, as an outer circle disciple, he lacked the credentials to fully enter. He could only go as far as the base of the mountain within the inner courtyard.

At the mountain's base lay a large courtyard, its gate bearing the inscription "Talisman Room". Approaching the gate, Han Binn was halted by a green-robed in-name disciple who asked sternly, "What's your business here?"

In-name disciples fell into two categories. The first had no formal status and could only practice their cultivation in solitude, much like Sun Yuangang. The second type had a recognized status, being disciples of an elder, which allowed them not only to practice Immortal Arts but also to assist their elders, earning additional rewards. The disciple before Han Binn was one such in-name disciple of the Talisman Room, tasked primarily with aiding the elders in talisman creation.

Talismans, magic tools, and Pills were indispensable for disciples below the Foundation Stage. Many in the sect, having only moderate talent and little desire to pursue further cultivation, devoted themselves to these crafts. While their cultivation levels might not be high, generally at the early stages of Foundation, their standing within the sect was comparable to those at the peak of the Foundation Stage. The sect relied on them, as did the Qi Cultivating Stage disciples who needed their crafted items to enhance their own cultivation and power.

Han Binn bowed respectfully and said, "Senior Brother, please inform the elder that I wish to return home for a family visit."

The disciple nodded, asking Han Binn to wait a moment before disappearing into the courtyard.

Shortly after, the disciple reemerged and told Han Binn, "You may enter."

Passing through the gate, Han Binn found himself in an expansive courtyard teeming with medicinal herbs, including the Spirit Gathering Grass he collected daily and other herbs depicted in his reference books. Although many of the herbs were unfamiliar to him, the potent spiritual energy they exuded was unmistakable.

Over the past month, Han Binn hadn't managed to cultivate any spiritual energy, yet his ability to sense it had become significantly more acute.

In the center of the courtyard lay a narrow path. Han Binn followed it to a room and stopped, bowing respectfully. "Disciple Han Binn pays his respects to Elder Li."

Shortly after, Elder Li emerged from the room, his tone carrying a note of surprise. "Are you a full-fledged disciple?"

Caught off guard, Han Binn replied, "No, Elder Li, I am but an outer disciple."

A heavy silence settled in the room before Elder Li finally spoke. "What brings you here?"

"I wish to visit my family and request an immortal talisman," Han Binn answered.

With a creak, the room's door swung open, and a talisman whisked through the air to Han Binn on a fresh breeze, then the door shut once more.

Talisman in hand, Han Binn departed.

Inside the talisman chamber, Elder Sun's face was etched with confusion. "When I saw him, I could have sworn there was spiritual energy within him. Where has it gone?" He let out a wry chuckle and shook his head. "Perhaps I'm overthinking it. It's not possible for him to have cultivated spiritual energy. Even a disciple with a three-star Spiritual Root would need years to make such progress, let alone a newcomer to the outer court."

The talisman Han Binn received was known as the Wind Control Talisman, and using it was remarkably straightforward. Once affixed to his person, it granted him a Wind Control Technique rivaling that of a Qi Cultivating Stage disciple, allowing him to leap and bound with the agility of a qinggong master, his speed so swift that traveling day and night was no challenge. However, the talisman had its limits—it could only be used thrice, and the total duration could not exceed three days.

Stepping out of the outer courtyard, Han Binn pressed the talisman onto his arm and instantly felt a surge of immense power emanate from within it, coursing into his body. In that moment, he experienced a sense of power like never before. Eagerly, he took off running, covering more than thirty feet in a single bound. Despite anticipating the talisman's effect, the reality of it still took his breath away.

The Immortal Talisman was truly formidable. Imagine how much more powerful he'd be if he mastered the Immortal Arts. Han Binn's yearning for the path of cultivation deepened as he recalled the dream he had a month ago.

Six hours later, Han Binn reached Green Stone Village. The sight of the familiar foliage stirred a quiet sigh within him.

A gust of wind whisked him along, and in no time, he was at his family's doorstep.

Removing the talisman, he tucked it into his pocket and pushed open the courtyard gate. It was empty; his parents were likely out tending to the fields. His room was just as he left it—immaculate and untouched. Overcome with emotion, Han Binn's eyes brimmed with tears, and he bolted outside.

At the threshold, he spotted two figures—his returning parents.

The trio stood frozen, locked in a prolonged gaze. Finally, Han Binn strode towards them, his voice breaking as he exclaimed, "Father, Mother…" These words had been trapped in his heart for three months, and at long last, he could voice them. Tears are not shed lightly by a man, but as he spoke, Han Binn's tears cascaded down his cheeks.

Tears also graced his mother's face as she asked with fervor, "Binn, is that really you?"

Though Han Tianhe's heart was ablaze with emotion, his face betrayed none of it. He demanded sternly, "Tell me, where have you been these past three months?"

Han Binn had never witnessed such fury from his father. Aware that his abrupt departure had caused great worry, he knelt swiftly and confessed, "Father, I have erred."

As his son acknowledged his wrongdoing, Han Tianhe's resolve crumbled, and through his tears, he spoke, "Binn, my anger isn't about you leaving home—it's that you left without a word. These three months, not a night passed without your mother crying herself to sleep. If not for your own sake, at least consider your mother's feelings." His voice trailed off into sobs, and the depth of his paternal love was laid bare for all to see in his tears.

Wang Xiujuan helped Han Binn to his feet and turned to her husband, "Old man, enough. Han Binn is back, isn't he? You didn't even get the full story before you started scolding him."

Han Tianhe nodded and addressed Han Binn, "Let's go to the room and talk. What exactly have you been up to these last three months?"

For three long months, Han Tianhe and Wang Xiujuan had tirelessly searched for their son, even enlisting the help of Han Binn's older brother. Han Tianlong, who had vanished himself, couldn't search openly for fear of drawing attention. He conducted a secret investigation, eventually discovering that Han Binn had visited the State Sect and knelt there for three days and nights. What happened after that remained a mystery. Han Tianlong was tempted to tell his younger brother that the State Sect had taken Han Binn, but he dismissed the idea, fearing it could be a false accusation. After much deliberation, he chose to conceal the truth, telling his brother that Han Binn had returned on his own and advising them to stop their search due to Han Binn's illness.

Han Tianhe, unable to accept that his son might be dead, resolved to keep searching. He sold everything of value in their home and took out loans at exorbitant interest rates. But the search was like looking for a needle in a haystack. After more than two months, they had to abandon their quest and return to their farm to work off their debts. Yet, each night, as they sat by candlelight, tears would inevitably stream down their faces.

As they entered the room, before they could even take their seats, a voice called out from outside, "Han Tianhe, you're finally back. When do you plan to repay the money you owe me?"