The riverbank of the Purple River stretched before countless witnesses.
Its purple waters mirrored the brilliant azure skies above, casting a unique violet hue.
Countless vessels of varied shapes and sizes traversed the docks of Purple River Gate, rendering the city a hive of activity bustling with commerce along its waterways.
Amidst this lively scene, a certain ship was stationed apart from the other vessels and ferries.
This ship belonging to the Purple River Sect was a majestic vessel, its towering masts reaching towards the sky like the outstretched arms of giants.
The hull, crafted from sturdy timber, gleamed under the sunlight, reflecting the river’s vibrant hues on its polished surface.
Adorned with intricate Essence Equations and embellishments, the ship bore the unmistakable emblem of the Purple River Sect proudly upon its sails, a symbol of authority and power.
At the bow of the ship, a figurehead carved in the likeness of a dragon seemed to watch over the vessel, its eyes gleaming with an otherworldly intensity. The ship’s size was imposing, dwarfing nearby vessels with its sheer magnitude.
Crew members clad in traditional sect attire hurried about, their movements purposeful and efficient. The ship itself seemed alive with energy, preparing to embark on its journey toward the Purple River Sect’s domain.
This vessel was emblematic of the sect’s authority over the entire Rokur kingdom. No pirates or rogue cultivators would dare to block its path unless they were suicidal by nature.
Aksai, accompanied by Aunt Reta and her son Ruan Jagwood, stood near the ship, awaiting the captain’s call to board. Aksai lingered, bidding them his final farewells.
“Aksai, please… Please listen to me, silly child. Why not use this discipleship invitation token for yourself? Take… take young Ruan with you as your aide. I don’t have any future over there.”
Aunt Reta implored, her voice tinged with emotion as tears welled in her eyes. She couldn’t bear the thought of Aksai squandering such a golden opportunity by bestowing it upon her and her son.
“And what will you do after we enter the Purple River Sect?” Aksai smiled at Aunt Reta.
“No can do. You are going with Ruan, and that’s final. Hehe. Don’t worry about me, Aunt Reta. I have my own plans. I didn’t want to reveal my aspirations while we were on the Lakir estate. But rest assured, I’m very serious about establishing my foundation.
As for joining the sect? I don’t think I would have opted for that option even if they allowed one more person to accompany little Ruan. Let’s just say that I’ll find my chances outside,” Aksai replied confidently.
Aunt Reta glanced at Ruan, pressing her lips together. She didn’t want Aksai to sacrifice his opportunity for Ruan and her. Yet, she also desired a stable future for her own son. Her motherly instincts wrestled within her, causing a whirlwind of conflicting emotions.
“Little Ruan, go and get that cotton candy from the stall,” Aunt Reta instructed her son, handing him some mortal coins. The boy happily skipped toward the cotton candy stall, leaving his mother and Aksai alone.
“Aksai, I don’t have many years left to live,” Aunt Reta finally spoke as she watched her son approach the stall with the gaze of a passerby. “You know that better than anyone. If you use this opportunity on me, it would be a waste.”
“That’s exactly why you should stay with little Ruan,” Aksai countered, looking into Aunt Reta’s eyes with seriousness in his tone.
“Whatever time you have left, spend it with him, imparting all your skills. Shower him with the motherly love he deserves, which will last him a lifetime.
I… I didn’t have a mother growing up, but you filled that void for me by practically raising me. Now, it’s time you do the same for your own son,” Aksai said, gently wiping Aunt Reta’s tears away with his hands.
Overwhelmed with emotion, Aunt Reta couldn’t contain herself and hugged Aksai tightly. He embraced her gently, continuing to speak.
“Don’t feel guilty about taking an opportunity from me, Aunt. I don’t think it was ever meant for me. Consider it something destined for Ruan.
As I mentioned before, I have my own plans to establish my foundation. Don’t just go on assuming that I’ve abandoned my path of cultivation just because I let my little brother become an inner disciple of some sect.
I don’t mean to boast but I have bigger dreams. Dreams that can’t be realized if I confine myself to the rules of the Purple River Sect at this stage of my life.
Ruan isn’t stealing my opportunity. He and I have different destinies. So please, promise me that you won’t burden him with guilt when you board the ship,” Aksai warned warmly, caressing Aunt Reta’s back with affection.
At first, Aksai had contemplated selling the discipleship invitation token he received from Lian Lakir’s storage ring. However, as the situation in Wuyum County escalated dramatically, Aksai abandoned this initial idea.
He also recognized that he wouldn’t be able to freely travel and advance in his cultivation if he constantly had to care for Aunt Reta and her son.
Decisiveness was essential if he aimed to break into the 2nd realm. A certain mindset was required. A certain cold-heartedness. Before acting cruel to others, Aksai needed to be cruel to himself.
Therefore, Aksai chose to pass the discipleship invitation token to Ruan. all so that he could have peace of mind to himself.
By doing this, he had assured himself that he had done all that he could to pay the debt of gratitude he had received over the years from Aunt Reta’s family.
Additionally, he provided Ruan with Spirit seeds and other cultivation resources necessary for his future progress.
On Aksai’s birthday, Aunt Reta gifted him with precious cultivation resources capable of facilitating smooth breakthroughs into the low and mid stages of the Spirit Refining realm. These resources were exceedingly rare and difficult to obtain, particularly amidst the current chaos.
Having already reached the 7th stage of the 1st realm when he received this invaluable gift, it was already useless to him. At that time, he had decided that he would return the gift to Ruan at the right time.
Aksai returned the gift to Aunt Reta at this point so she could utilize it for her son. He no longer required them, being at a late-stage Spirit Refiner himself. Aunt Reta had no reason to refuse.
***
“Little brother Aksai, the ship is ready to go. You can send those two aboard it,” the guard captain’s Spirit-essence-imbued voice sounded right beside Aksai’s ears as if he was standing very close to him and speaking directly into his ears.
Aksai turned his head and looked in the ship’s direction to see the guard captain waving at him from a distance.
“It’s about time you leave,” Aksai separated from Aunt Reta and said with a smile on his face.
“The guard captain is expecting you to go aboard the ship.” By this point, Ruan had also returned to where Aksai and his mother were. The boy hadn’t yet realized that Aksai wasn’t coming with him. Forgetting about the violence he had witnessed a few days ago, his childlike innocence had made him excited for the first ride on the ship instead.
With tears welling in her eyes, Aunt Reta regarded Aksai as if this might be their final farewell. Given her condition, it seemed unlikely she would have another chance to see him before her passing. Clinging tightly to Aksai’s arm, she spoke once more, her voice trembling with emotion as she bestowed her blessings.
“I… I don’t have much to offer you. So I’ll bless you from the bottom of my heart. Aksai, my child, may one day the entire Dadangar subcontinent – no, the entire world – hear your name. May every obstacle you encounter transform into an opportunity. May… May you transcend worldly limitations and become a true immortal.”
Though touched by Aunt Reta’s words, Aksai blinked back his emotions, steadying himself against the tide of feelings.
Aunt Reta then grasped Ruan’s arm, positioning him between herself and Aksai. “Little Ruan, bow to your elder brother. Remember, he is your greatest benefactor.”
Though Ruan didn’t fully comprehend his mother’s words, he obediently followed her instruction, offering a sincere bow to Aksai despite the latter’s protest. Soon, mother and son boarded the ship, disappearing into the horizon.
As the ship embarked, setting sail from the dock and navigating the river’s depths toward the Purple River Sect, Aksai intermittently waved until the vessel dwindled into the distance, becoming a mere blur in his sight before he turned away.
“Like what my old man used to say– an Everwood should either be eternally grateful or eternally hateful of the favors and grievances he receives from others.
With this, my debt of getting a 2nd-order talisman inheritance is settled. I wish you all the luck, little Ruan.”
Aksai murmured to himself as he melded into the city’s bustling throng, vanishing into the unknown.
===
AN: Aunt Reta gifts Aksai with breakthrough-inducing cultivation resources in Chapter 5. He decides to return the gift to Ruan in the same chapter.
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