Starting with the creation of the Immortal Clan through the compilation of the family genealogy.

Chapter 31 A New Beginning: Cloud and Mud Village
Late the next night.

Meng Xihong summoned the constables who had previously protected the mansion with him and gave them all a generous reward.

As for the families of the yamen runners who unfortunately died in battle, Meng Xihong personally visited them overnight and offered them generous compensation several times the usual amount.

He knew these men had died protecting his Meng family, and his heart was heavy with sorrow. At each household he visited, he would bow deeply in gratitude, instructing them that if they ever encountered difficulties, they could seek out the secret method of contact he had left behind. This kindness and sense of responsibility brought some comfort and appreciation to the bereaved families, who were immersed in grief.

Afterwards, Meng Xihong summoned Ji Beichuan and Zhang Xianghua alone. The candlelight flickered, illuminating his serene face.

He laid out his plans to move his entire family and earnestly asked the two of them if they would like to come along.

Although the Lin family matter has temporarily subsided, Meng Xihong knows full well that Lin Lang will not let it go so easily. If he were to disappear without a trace, his two right-hand men, Ji and Zhang, would certainly be implicated.

Upon hearing that their eldest son was going to move the whole family away from Wufeng County, Ji Beichuan and Zhang Xianghua both felt a pang of unease, fearing that they would be left behind.

But when Meng Xihong's question, "Will you come with me?" clearly reached their ears, their hearts, which had plummeted to the bottom, instantly revived.

Zhang Xianghua chuckled and readily agreed, as if he were afraid that Meng Xihong would change his mind.

Ji Beichuan nodded emphatically, his eyes filled with unwavering devotion.

Seeing the unwavering resolve of his two trusted confidants whom he had so diligently cultivated, Meng Xihong felt a surge of warmth in his heart, but he maintained his usual serious demeanor.

He ordered in a deep voice, "Go home immediately, pack your things, take your family, and leave tonight!"

As Ji Beichuan and Zhang Xianghua hurriedly left, the backyard of the Meng residence was already bustling with activity.

Bai directed her servants to load large and small bags of luggage onto several horse-drawn carriages.

Before leaving, Meng Xihong paid out his dues and dismissed all the servants in his household.

The night is as dark as ink, and everything is silent.

Xiao Yanning and Yan Wei had already drifted off to sleep from the bumpy ride, each held in the arms of Meng Xihong and Madam Bai. The eldest son, Yan Qing, clung tightly to his father's clothes, his small figure filled with longing. Meng Xihong took one last, deep look at the "Meng Residence," a place that held countless memories, before personally closing the heavy gates.

The wheels rolled over the bluestone road with a dull thud, carrying the family quietly into the boundless night.

Qingzhou, Yunni Township.

Three dusty horse-drawn carriages stopped one after another at the village entrance.

"Father, we've arrived."

Ning'er's little head peeked out of the car window, looking around curiously. At the entrance of the village stood a weathered wooden sign with three words clearly engraved on it—Yunni Township.

“Yunni Township.” The second son, Yan Wei, tilted his little face up and read it out word by word. Possessing the talent of “literary spirit and integrity”, coupled with Meng Xihong’s careful guidance along the way, although he was only four years old, he could already recognize many words. This intelligence far exceeded that of ordinary people.

Meng Xihong lifted the carriage curtain, his gaze fixed intently on the simple wooden sign.

Yunni Township!
This was the place that Xiao Jingzhan specifically recommended when Meng Xihong moved his family to Qingzhou.

The journey from Wufeng County to Qingzhou was long and arduous. They traveled at breakneck speed, changing horses several times. After entering Qingzhou, the mountain roads became increasingly rugged and bumpy. Even Meng Xihong was quite exhausted, and the children suffered even more. To completely conceal their whereabouts, he carefully erased all traces along the way.

Now, we have finally arrived. This will be the starting point for the Meng family's dormancy and rebirth.

The Meng family will rise again!
At that time, he will definitely take the Meng family members to Yunzhou to meet with the Lin family and Qingyun Sect.

Nestled deep in the mountains, Yunni Township is home to only twenty or thirty households. The arrival of Meng Xihong and his group broke the tranquility of the mountain village. Led by the old village chief Zheng Nan, the villagers put down their work and gathered at the village entrance to welcome them. Old Village Chief Zheng, with a simple smile on his face, warmly greeted Meng Xihong. After a brief exchange of pleasantries, he handed over three keys.

"The three best tile-roofed houses in the village were once enclosed by a distinguished guest, forming a small, detached courtyard." The old village chief weighed the key in his hand.
He explained, “It’s quite a coincidence. That guest stayed here for a while with an injured girl, leaving behind a lot of money before he left. But he’s been gone for a long time and hasn’t come back.” He handed the key to Meng Xihong and said with a smile, “This house is currently empty, and since you all came together, this secluded courtyard is just right for you. So please rest easy!” After saying that, he called the villagers to disperse, leaving them to settle down on their own.

Meng Xihong's heart stirred slightly. He noted down the information and handed two of the keys to Ji Beichuan and Zhang Xianghua respectively.

He then went into the tile-roofed house assigned to him. It was naturally far inferior to the Meng residence in Wufeng County, but it was enough to provide shelter from the wind and rain. He would consider expanding it once he had completely established himself.

After days of travel, even Meng Xihong felt a bit tired. He asked Bai to take the children home to tidy up a bit, while he followed the old village chief from house to house, getting familiar with this small area.

It is worth mentioning that a majestic mountain is located right next to the eastern end of the village.

The old village chief pointed to the vast mountain shadows, his tone tinged with reminiscence: "When I was a child, I heard from the older generation that there was a sect of immortal cultivators in these mountains that recruited many children from the village. Unfortunately, later... alas, it slowly declined, and now no one cares about it anymore."

He paused, his expression turning serious. "Because there are often ethereal lights and thick fog coming out of this mountain, we call it 'Old Immortal Mountain.' We usually only go around the foot of the mountain when we gather herbs and pick mushrooms. You must never go too deep into it! A few days ago, several strong men from the village went in, and we haven't heard from them since. I'm afraid... they're probably in grave danger."

Meng Xihong's heart stirred, and he silently made a note of it, planning to go into the mountains to find out what was going on after a while.

The night was dark.

The family huddled together on the shared bed, the children already fast asleep, their breathing even and steady. Mrs. Bai gently tucked the blankets around the children, gazing at the simple yet peaceful scene before her, momentarily lost in thought.

Bai Shi never asked for much; she simply wanted her children to be around her, for peace and happiness, for her husband to support her through thick and thin, for her children to grow up, for her grandchildren to fill the house, and for her to finally hold her husband's hand and pass away with a smile.

But ever since Meng Xihong embarked on the path of martial arts, she has known that the peaceful life she longed for may be getting further and further away from her.

But she never complained, even when people tried to harm her and the children, she always stood firmly behind Meng Xihong. In her heart, her husband was always more important than anything else.

At this moment, she nestled in Meng Xihong's strong arms and fell into a deep sleep. This was the deepest and most peaceful night's sleep she had had in months.

Meng Xihong gazed at the sleeping faces of his wife and children, a barely perceptible, satisfied smile crossing his face.

The next morning.

In the soft morning light, Meng Xihong was already in the courtyard. His fists and feet moved with the force of the wind, each move steady and powerful.

Unlike usual, there was a small figure beside him.

Five-and-a-half-year-old Yan Qing had a serious, childlike face, looking every bit the little adult.

With the added advantage of his innate talent for martial arts, coupled with Meng Xihong's unreserved and generous teaching, his progress in martial arts was nothing short of miraculous.

"In the path of martial arts, the foundation is the most important!" Meng Xihong's voice was deep and clear, echoing in the morning air.

"Only by honing one's foundation to the extreme can one gain an early advantage in battle."

"The worst thing you can do is to be lazy and complacent. A small mistake in peacetime can lead to a huge error in wartime!"

"."

"To remain invincible against an enemy, one must have a stable lower body."

"To ensure a stable lower body, the horse stance is paramount... Today, let's start by practicing stances for half an hour." His gaze was sharp as he looked at his son's tense little frame.

(End of this chapter)