Chapter 13: Chicken Soup Late at Night
A thick, pre-warmed blanket was wrapped around her trembling body from behind.
Liu Sheng looked back and saw that her mother, Ling Youlian, had climbed onto the roof to find her.
Ling Youlian had a gentle smile on her face, and in her hand, she held a hand warmer wrapped in a floral cloth.
She gently placed the hand warmer into Liu Sheng’s hand, then sat beside her daughter, pulling her tightly into her embrace, wrapped in the blanket.
“The wind is strong at night; hurry back to sleep. You’re already so cold,” Ling Youlian gently chided, her tone full of concern.
Liu Sheng, holding the hand warmer, leaned against her mother’s shoulder. Her entire body gradually warmed up, and the unease in her heart slowly dissipated.
“Mom, I want to achieve Shenzang… but…” Liu Sheng wanted to tell her mother about her recent experience, but the words inexplicably stopped at her lips.
This was an unspeakable power!
Had she not succeeded in achieving Shenzang?
But if she hadn't succeeded, how could this power of rules have been triggered?
Ling Youlian didn't know what her daughter was thinking. She just gently embraced her and said, “I know you want to go higher and further, but achieving Shenzang cannot be forced.”
When Liu Sheng was admitted to Hanshan Academy, the entire Little Green Garden was thrilled. Parents came in an endless stream to seek advice from Liu Ruhai and Ling Youlian. However, upon hearing that her spiritual Aptitude was only eight points during the bone root test at the Academy, everyone started to mock her, thinking, “What’s the point of getting into a big Academy outside if you can’t become a high and mighty cultivator? You’ll still end up with a life of toil.”
Ling Youlian knew that Liu Sheng was quiet, but she was very strong-willed inside, always holding back a surge of energy. She was afraid her daughter would be hurt by this, so she kept comforting her, saying, “What if you can’t cultivate? Find a stable job, earn a little money to support yourself. Living a peaceful and ordinary life like that is also a blessing.”
It was common knowledge that spiritual Aptitude below twenty points basically meant no chance of Shenzang cultivation. As a mother, she simply didn’t want to see her daughter get hurt by holding onto hope.
Over time, Liu Sheng seemed to have listened. Although she would still try to achieve Shenzang from time to time, she was no longer as persistent. At least when the weather was as cold as it was now, she would definitely stay indoors and wait until it warmed up.
Later, Liu Sheng, driven by a surge of determination, got into the Li County Weaving Institute. At least her basic needs were met, and she was a public official, respected by others. Immediately, those cold-shouldering villagers became warm again and started bringing their children to her doorstep for advice.
But for Ling Youlian, these titles and the warmth were secondary. She only hoped her daughter could support herself, stay healthy, and live happily.
Ling Youlian didn’t know what Liu Sheng had encountered outside, but she saw her daughter showing renewed interest in cultivation.
“Mom, have you ever thought about where you would be and what you would be doing if you could continue cultivating?” Liu Sheng suddenly asked in a muffled voice.
Ling Youlian was slightly startled; this question was clearly unexpected.
Ling Youlian back then was not as brilliant as Liu Sheng, who could rely on her own efforts to get out of the Little Green Garden and study at Hanshan Academy, one of the ten great Academies. But her Aptitude was not bad; she got into Changxing Academy, the only Academy in the Changxing Mountains area, and her spiritual Aptitude barely passed twenty, just enough for cultivation. However, her talent was truly ordinary, and when she graduated, she had only cultivated to the third stage of the Initial Realm. In addition, after leaving the Academy, she had to live with Liu Ruhai and find a suitable livelihood. Ling Youlian had already transferred to the Tiangong Department while at the Academy, focusing on Artifact Refining.
As for Liu Ruhai, his Aptitude was even more ordinary, his spiritual Aptitude barely approaching twenty points, and he had never even broken through the Initial Realm. Although he also got into Changxing Academy, it was merely by luck. Ultimately, he had no interest in the various Dao of cultivation, only wanting to be a chef and open a restaurant.
To save money with Liu Ruhai and open their restaurant, Ling Youlian became the only Artifact Refiner in the Little Green Garden. Later, they had a child, and cultivation was further set aside. After all these years, she remained at the third stage of the Initial Realm with no progress. Instead, the couple’s small catering business grew bigger and bigger, from a small tavern with three to five tables to a two-story restaurant today.
Liu Sheng knew all this, which was why she asked the question.
A complex light flickered in Ling Youlian’s eyes, as if she was recalling something. Then she sighed softly and said, “When I was young, of course, I also thought about becoming an excellent cultivator, wielding a sword to roam the world, sweeping away all the strangeness, and exploring unknown places. Of course, I also fantasized that one day I might step into the legendary Shenzang Realm and become the person closest to the Supreme God in the world.”
“To be more practical, if I hadn’t met your father, I might have gone to the capital to find my uncle and asked him to find me a good job. Perhaps I would have settled down in Chang’an, where the cultivation atmosphere is strong, and I might have gone further and further on the path of cultivation.”
“However, life is not exactly as you imagine; it is full of detours, and you don’t know which path is the right one, but you always have to make a choice.”
She paused, then continued, “If I continued to cultivate, I might be in some corner, facing unknown dangers alone, pursuing so-called high Realms. Would such a life truly be better than now?”
Ling Youlian’s gaze became gentle and firm. She gently stroked Liu Sheng’s hair and continued, “But now, I have you, and your father, and our small home. Although it’s ordinary, it’s also very happy. And my Artifact Refining skills are not bad; the people of Little Green Garden all need me. This kind of life, for me, is already enough.”
“Everyone’s path is different. Finding what suits you is the best. I have regrets, but also no regrets.”
Listening, Liu Sheng felt a stir in her heart. What her path truly was, she hadn’t figured out yet.
But at least for her now, the primary thing was to perform high dimension analysis once again; she had to solve the matter of “Yi Yu.”
“Yi Yu” was not like her, who had a caring father who could cook well, and a mother who could earn her own money and was understanding.
Especially “Yi Yu”’s mother, a typical suffocatingly strong parent. One could say that “Yi Yu”’s later personality became so weak, swallowing all her bitterness, largely related to her communication style with her mother since childhood.
With a thought, she seemed to grasp something.
“What are you two talking about up there? It’s cold; hurry down! I’ve made chicken soup; drink a bowl to warm up before sleeping.”
Suddenly, Liu Ruhai’s strong voice echoed from the courtyard below the eaves.
Mother and daughter exchanged a smile.
Then Ling Youlian embraced Liu Sheng and, using a light-body technique, jumped off the roof.
Liu Sheng looked at the ladder she had leaned against to climb onto the roof, feeling a bit indignant. Why couldn’t she cultivate?
At least then she could get on and off this roof whenever she wanted.
Liu Ruhai had already served two bowls of chicken soup on the table, steaming hot and emitting an enticing aroma.
Sitting down, Liu Sheng took the bowl of chicken soup Liu Ruhai handed her and carefully took a sip. Her mouth was filled with the sweet fragrance of chicken meat, slowly simmered, and her body immediately warmed up.
In that moment, she felt all her fatigue and fear were dispelled by this bowl of soup.
...
The next day, when Liu Sheng left the Little Green Garden, she carried a large, tightly wrapped pot of stewed chicken soup.
She also had biscuits, dried meat, and pickles made by her father.
Her mother also stuffed her with many Artifact Refining Materials, as well as some Artifact Refining books and handy Artifact Refining tools.
Even Li Xiaoer, who had been angered and ran off yesterday by Liu Sheng, mysteriously handed her a box of things. This child indeed got angry quickly and got over it quickly; he was already sweetly calling her “Liu Sheng Jie” with every other word. Liu Sheng later opened it on the flying vehicle and saw that it was various pastries Li Xiaoer had learned to make from Liu Ruhai. They looked a bit ugly, but they tasted quite good.
She came with many bags and left with many bags.
But the burden on her heart was much lighter.
She probably knew what to do now.
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