The Journey of Immortal Cultivation
Chapter 172 - 116 Birthday Gift_2

Startled, Wen Liangyu quickly took several large steps to open the door and exclaimed in surprise, "Father, why have you come in person? Please come in!" The person outside the door had a pale and beardless face, handsome and dashing, with a smile at the corner of his mouth—it was none other than Yan City Lord Wenger!

"Do I need a proper reason to visit my son’s courtyard?"

At this, Wen Liangyu immediately touched his nose awkwardly and said, "Father exaggerates. It’s just that you’re usually so busy... "

Wenger laughed and scolded, "Clever ghost, you just know how to flatter me. Sigh, I really don’t visit often enough, but even if you spoke the truth, I wouldn’t take it to heart." He entered the hall, took a seat, and after scrutinizing his son for a while, he said, "Your expression has become livelier recently, no longer so stiff. Did you find some fine medicine somewhere?"

"Indeed!" Wen Liangyu smiled and said, "A few days ago at the mutual market, I bought a High-level Disguise Pill. This face is modeled after a servant from an outer estate called Liu, and it works much better than the regular Disguise Medicine."

City Lord Wen said curiously, "Oh? Has there truly been an expert capable of refining High-level Disguise Pills here in Yan City?"

"Not at all! Around the time of the tea party, the number of Cultivators visiting Yan City has increased substantially. This Elixir was sold to me by a Loose Cultivator; there’s enough to last until the year after next. Your son no longer has to stay cooped up in this yard every day." Staying in the Prefecture for too long, the chance to go out is indeed a very liberating matter.

City Lord Wen’s gaze glimmered with pleasure, "That’s excellent! But next time you encounter such talent, you must introduce them to your father. It’s been so long, and beside me, there is only Master Fan, whose cultivation is deep, but who is not so proficient in Alchemy, and frankly, I’m tired of looking at his aging face!"

Wen Liangyu couldn’t help but laugh, "Uncle Fan is devoted to his Dao, yet willingly protects Yan City. If he knows Father is speaking ill of him behind his back, he’s sure to be furious."

Wenger laughed heartily twice but suddenly started to cough. The cough was so violent and incessant that it seemed as if he would cough out his lungs. Wen Liangyu reacted without surprise, gently patting his father’s back as encouragement.

By the time City Lord Wen finally caught his breath, the silk handkerchief covering his mouth and nose was already stained with fresh blood! But Wen Liangyu, who saw this again and again, was startled every time, unable to help but choke up and say, "Father, the Clearing Void Sect has bestowed another Heavenly Healing Pill..."

Wenger nonchalantly waved his hand: "What use are Immortal Pills for an illness that has reached a critical stage? This body is almost done for, and probably Heaven will claim me one of these days. Yu’er, don’t be too sad, birth, aging, illness, and death are all part of human nature." His words left Wen Liangyu with red-rimmed eyes, almost ready to shed tears.

Even as Wenger coughed violently, his complexion didn’t change, still retaining its rosy hue.

He chuckled and then sighed, "My son, you are a gifted prodigy; you were never meant to be confined within the narrow walls of the City Lord Mansion. People say that Yan City has been blessed by Heaven, which is why it prospers so richly. Little do they know, it is all your doing. Without your ingenious schemes and strategic layouts, Yan City would be nothing more than a Mountain City. How could it be so well managed and prosper like it’s reaping gold daily?"

"Yu’er, I feel very ashamed. All these great achievements are clearly yours, yet I am the one who has reaped them all. People of Yan City say City Lord Wen is a man of great talents and vision, ha, great talents and vision indeed; they don’t know that I withdrew from politics seven or eight years ago. The real mastermind behind the scenes is the unnoticed Second Young Master Wen of the Wen Family!" As he spoke, he couldn’t help but feel a bit of guilt.

If outsiders heard this, they would be astounded. This blazing prosperity of Yan City was all born from the elaborate planning of Second Young Master Wen, the unseen and unnoticeable Little Half-demon, whose hands turned a weak city into strength and opulence. Such talent was far beyond what an ordinary strategist could accomplish.

Yet, Wen Liangyu seriously said, "Father, why say these things? Everything I have today is due to your grace. Even if your son is intelligent, without your strong support, how could he have turned the situation of Yan City around? Hence, everything your son has earned rightfully belongs to you."

His face was altered by Disguise Medicine, but the sparkling sincerity in his eyes plainly showed that these words came from his heart.

Wenger must have been moved too, his eyes glittering brightly, yet he was unable to speak for a long time. After a while, he said, "Silly boy, silly boy! If your brother had one-tenth of your filial piety, one-tenth of your abilities, I wouldn’t be so worried every time I see him."

Wen Liangyu didn’t want to dwell on that subject and quickly smiled, "However, Father must have something in mind for coming today. Your son is eager to hear the details."

City Lord Wen gently placed a brocade box he was holding onto the table: "You can’t hide anything from me. Today is your birthday, how could I forget? You usually come to my study, but today I insisted on coming to you. Here’s a gift, take it."

Second Young Master Wen was startled, "A gift? Father is actually giving me a gift, I dare not accept!"

"Good, you said it yourself!" Wenger stroked his mustache, smiling confidently, "This is something left by your mother, are you truly not going to accept it?"

The mention of something left by his mother, even with his face covered by Disguise Medicine, could not hide Wen Liangyu’s utterly surprised expression, giving Wenger a significant sense of satisfaction. He cherished the rare sight of his son, who usually carried an air of calm and collected assurance, looking so astounded.

"This is really something left by mother?" Wen Liangyu emphasized, unable to resist reaching out to stroke the brocade box. He then saw his father glaring with irritation, "Am I possibly lying to you! Open it yourself."

He did as told, opening the box to find a plain wooden hairpin lying quietly inside. The hairpin seemed unremarkable, but its end was carved into the figure of a fox, with fluffy tail, squinted eyes licking its paw—though crudely carved with just a few strokes, it was lively and full of charm. He picked it up carefully, "Was this carved by mother?" His voice was somewhat dry. (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, welcome to Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation tickets, Monthly Tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.)