The Dynasty of Cultivating Immortality

C4 – Don’t Embarrass the Ni Family

If given the opportunity, his father would have started teaching him the art of cultivation many years ago. The talent test was merely a pathway to fame and recognition, a chance to be remembered by the elite, but it was never the only means to enhance one’s abilities.

Take the true noble families, for instance; they likely viewed the so-called talent test with indifference. Their participation was often out of respect for the Imperial Court rather than genuine interest.

Now, Ni Huibo found himself without options.

No one to teach him cultivation.

No one to allow him to take the talent test and receive guidance from the Imperial Court.

His only choice was to lead an ordinary life.

Such is the nature of fate. Ni Situo had learned at a young age that his second uncle was a prodigy, the most gifted individual the Ni family had seen in a century, surpassing even his own father.

But to what end?

Now, the son of a genius was aimlessly lingering in the Ni family. Second Uncle, can you see this from heaven? And if so, what are your thoughts?

Peering through the door crack at the young man enjoying his idyllic life in the courtyard, Ni Situo departed with ease. His smile grew wider as he walked, eventually breaking into laughter.

​Ni Huibo, who had been eating, glanced toward the door, wondering if someone had overexerted themselves in their training to the point of madness. He shook his head and resumed his meal.​

……

Time flew by, and before he knew it, more than ten days had passed. Ni Ruiyuan had visited once, bringing people to help Ni Huibo fix up his house, ensuring he wouldn’t have to endure the biting cold winds come winter.

Aside from that, his life remained as uneventful as ever, bland as a glass of plain water.

However, one afternoon, the Ni household buzzed with activity. Ni Huibo overheard the servants talking; a theft had occurred at the City Hall in Mightcairn. A valuable treasure had been stolen, and the authorities had yet to apprehend the culprit. But they had discovered traces of the thief just outside the Ni family’s courtyard walls.

At this moment, the group at the Ni family’s home were bailiffs dispatched by the authorities, many of whom were colleagues of Ni Situo.

As a deacon of the Immortal Cultivation Hall in Mightcairn and a member of the Ni family, Ni Situo was deeply invested in the situation. To demonstrate the Ni family’s innocence, he instructed them to open their doors wide and cooperate with the government’s investigation.

The gate to Ni Huibo’s courtyard was forcibly pushed open by several servants who entered with little regard for decorum. They relayed Ni Situo’s instructions for him to remain in the courtyard and not to venture elsewhere.

For the past sixteen years, Ni Huibo had seldom left his small courtyard, rarely even having the chance to open the doors as he did now. Initially, his uncle forbade him from going out, but later, it was Ni Huibo himself who chose to stay secluded.

A person so detached from the outside world rarely encountered strangers, let alone a crowd of them. Thus, when Ni Huibo saw a group of uniformed individuals approaching his courtyard, he instinctively stepped out to the threshold and watched them approach.

……

The City Hall staff conducted their work with swift decisiveness, thoroughly searching the entire Ni family estate without uncovering any sign of the thief.

“How could the Ni family be involved with a thief? Surely the culprit saw this expansive compound and snuck in to hide. Now that you’ve come to search, he’s likely been frightened off,” Ni Situo suggested as he led the group.

Walking alongside him was a young man of similar age, dressed in the same attire as Ni Situo.

Upon hearing Ni Situo’s remark, the young man chuckled and gestured towards the back row of courtyards in the Ni estate. “There’s no hurry, let’s check over there first.”

Ni Situo’s face soured at the suggestion.

This man was Ji Fanwei, the deacon responsible for investigating the theft. Within the Immortal Cultivation Hall, Ni Situo often found himself at odds with Ji Fanwei, and their relationship had deteriorated. Recently, rumors had circulated that Ji Fanwei had caught the eye of the deputy governor’s daughter, which might lead to a promotion. As a result, Ji Fanwei had begun to disregard Ni Situo.

A thief’s tracks were spotted near the Ni family’s property, and Ji Fanwei was sure to seize the chance to clamp down on them.

Ni Situo trailed behind him, heading straight for the open courtyard.

A young man stood by the courtyard gate, one hand resting on the door as he peered out. His gaze settled on them from a distance, brimming with envy, longing, desire, and admiration among other emotions.

Upon spotting Ni Situo, he averted his eyes, nodded slightly, and greeted him with a respectful bow, addressing him as “Brother.”

Why was he standing at the gate? Didn’t he feel ashamed?

Ni Situo remained silent, his expression souring instantly. It worsened when he caught Ji Fanwei eyeing the young man with a smirk. His face turned an even deeper shade of green.

“I never expected to encounter the Ni family’s legendary second young master here. What a fortunate surprise,” Ji Fanwei said with a light chuckle, pausing deliberately and turning to Ni Situo. “But Brother Ni, that’s not very kind of you. He greeted you with such respect, and yet you didn’t respond. Are you afraid that others will find out you have such a brother?”

Ni Huibo’s reputation had been known to many in Mightcairn for over a decade. Gradually, everyone came to know of the Ni family’s second young master, whose intellect was lacking. Ni Xianjian had confined him to the back of the house since childhood, and he hadn’t set foot outside the Ni family’s domain for many years.

Rumors suggested the second young master was reticent by nature. Though he was the biological son of Ni Xianjian, he didn’t quite measure up to Ni Situo’s excellence.

Many speculated that this so-called second young master wasn’t actually Ni Xianjian’s biological child. It was widely believed he might be the progeny of a dazzling genius from Mightcairn from over a decade ago. This theory seemed to explain the stark differences in the paths of two similarly aged children.

Yet such rumors remained unconfirmed, with the Ni family members tight-lipped on the matter. Over time, public curiosity waned.

In response to Ji Fanwei’s remarks, Ni Situo gave a cold smile. “Whether or not I acknowledge him is none of your concern. You’re merely here on City Hall’s orders to conduct an investigation. Stick to your own business. The affairs of the Ni family are certainly not for outsiders to fret over!”

Ji Fanwei was not upset. He simply smiled, nodded, and remained silent. As he walked past Ni Huibo, he gave a quick once-over to the young man in plain clothes who was too timid to speak up. Shaking his head, he continued on his way inside.

Lingering at the back, Ni Situo turned to Ni Huibo and remarked, “The Ni family publicly acknowledges you as my own younger brother. Though I’m not privy to their reasons, the Ni family has extended you considerable respect, and in turn, you should uphold the family’s dignity. I expect not to witness a repeat of what just transpired.” With that, Ni Situo entered the building.

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