Who is spreading rumors that my filial piety towards them has changed?

Chu Mingkong briefly explained his original plan, then changed the subject:

"Alright then, I'll take Sister-in-law Huang to Penghu Immortal Island now, and then I'll send you back to Immortal Treasure Pavilion."

Jin Yu, who was standing to the side, pouted when she heard that someone else could stay a little longer. She looked at Chu Mingkong with a resentful expression, hoping that he would be more considerate and take the initiative to suggest that she be taken along as well.

"Jinyu, I didn't go there just to have fun~" Chu Mingkong looked at the girl with helplessness and apology.

"Okay, then hurry up. Don't take two or three days and then another two or three days, and then come back only after the Yin time has disappeared. I'm looking forward to going back to see the cat as soon as possible."

"Good~"

Chu Mingkong hugged each of the women one by one before watching Jin Yu and the others leave Guanhai City.

The only people left on the East Sea side are Sister-in-law Huang, who just disembarked, followed by Fengying, her sister, and her master's wife. The Wenqing Pavilion is already preparing to leave, while Zuo Qiuchi is taking care of the girls at the Xianzhen Pavilion.

"Does this count as causing you trouble, Mingkong?" Zhong Feihuang asked apologetically, knowing that she had made this request at an inopportune time.

It wouldn't matter if things were peaceful in Donghai. She had been married off for over ten years, which is a long time, but not long for a cultivator family. She didn't need to worry too much about the situation of her family members. But with such a strange situation in Donghai, she couldn't feel at ease. She had to check on her family members.

Even if you can't always confirm their safety, just seeing them safe and sound gives you peace of mind.

"It's hardly a problem. I had this plan when I came here. By the way, Sister-in-law Huang, why are you speaking so softly since you came back?" Chu Mingkong deliberately provoked her, trying to stir up her emotions.

"I'm afraid of being recognized if I'm too loud..." Zhong Feihuang smiled bitterly.

What you fear most when you go back to your hometown is that everyone there is settled down, with a bright future ahead, while you are doing worse and worse. When your relatives ask you how you've been lately, you have nothing to say and can only smile silently.

Of course, this is not to say that there is anything wrong with staying by Chu Mingkong's side. Chu Mingkong's reputation is extraordinary now... Apart from the recent "Red Bull" incident which was a bit strange, it should be considered a prestigious reputation. There are quite a few people who want to curry favor with him, and many immortal islands in the East Sea want to arrange marriages with him.

However, Zhong Feihuang's identity was not something she could openly reveal. It didn't matter in Qingxin Prefecture, but it would matter when she returned to her hometown.

"So what if she recognizes you? Did Sister-in-law Huang ever fear being ridiculed before? Back in the capital, she always shut people up, didn't she? She used to have the Cui family's reputation to back her up, and now she has me backing her up, it's all the same."

Zhong Feihuang didn't say anything more. She did have a slight impulse to rebuke Chu Mingkong for talking nonsense, but perhaps she was affected by the oppressive environment and couldn't muster the energy. Looking around, she saw a dark cloud covering the sky.

Looking up, everyone was worried that if they flew higher, they would bump their heads.

Chu Mingkong took Zhong Feihuang back to the camp for the time being, asked when his master's wife and the others had left, and then went to the intelligence market to look for any clues.

It had only been half a day since he last inquired about a clue, and the information broker exclaimed in surprise upon seeing him:

"Oh! What brings you here again, sir? Are you in such a hurry? What's your relationship with the woman you're looking for? Did your little Daoist partner run away in a huff?"

"No, it was a girl I saw by chance. She looks a lot like my child's mother, so I thought it would be helpful to get to know her!"

"You only have a few dishes here, and all you care about is your clothes. You haven't even given me a clear picture of your face. Is this the mother of my child?"

Chu Mingkong offered no explanation. If this man couldn't even understand this, how could he expect the information broker to realize that Maomao was his daughter, whom he had fathered through a fraudulent scheme? How anxious Maomao must be at home, having not seen her plump and soft-bottomed mother for so long?

As long as these intelligence brokers get paid, they'll be content with doing their jobs honestly.

After routinely checking intelligence movements, Chu Mingkong took Zhong Feihuang directly to Penghu Immortal Island to visit the Zhong family.

This immortal island drifted aimlessly in the East China Sea, but fortunately, during the auction, there were many cultivators coming and going, so you could just ask one or two for directions and find out where Penghu Island was now.

Upon arriving at the Zhong family residence, one immediately senses the solemn atmosphere within the mansion.

"Chief, I only agreed to the commission to throw that ancient Buddha's corpse into the sea because I saw someone willing to pay such a large sum of money. I never expected that thing..."

Chapter 116 Zhong Da will become the clan chief

Penghu Island, as one of the fairy islands in the East China Sea, should normally be shrouded in mist, with birds singing and flowers blooming, spring-like weather all year round, and a peaceful and serene place, just like a fairyland on earth.

However, due to the recent poor "weather" conditions in the East China Sea, the once ethereal misty scene now carries a somewhat eerie atmosphere.

It's like visiting graves during the Qingming Festival, or perhaps visiting desolate graves in the wilderness with ghost stories and legends.

After entering Penghu Immortal Island, they soon arrived at all of Zhong's territory. After briefly confirming the information about the place with Zhong Feihuang, Chu Mingkong had a general understanding of it.

This immortal island is basically no different from the sacred land of a sect. If you really want to talk about it, the only difference is the abundance of spiritual energy.

The people on the immortal island are bound together, forming a united front against the outside world, while internally they are divided into factions by different aristocratic families, similar to the elder peaks of a sect, but all of them are labeled with the word "family," making things like marriage alliances inevitable.

These cultivators have called themselves a secluded force for so long, but they seem no different from ordinary secular families.

Those with ability can live in a family with a long lineage, while those without ability can go to a sect and rely on the blessings of heaven. Those with good talent can climb the ranks quickly, while those without talent are left to fate.

Chu Mingkong did not expect that as soon as he entered the Zhong family's territory, he would hear those reprimanding words.

"Ancient Buddha corpse... I seem to remember hearing that those who got tainted paid someone to help them get it into the sea. It turns out they got it done by the Zhong family. What a coincidence." Chu Mingkong knew that his gloating attitude was not good, but he didn't expect to run into something related to it.

Zhong Feihuang was thinking of having the gatekeeper announce her return as a member of the clan who had married out, but now she heard the younger generation being reprimanded inside, and she didn't know if she had come at the right time.

"What's going on here? That ancient Buddha corpse is that Buddhist monk statue you were discussing earlier, right? How come my family members have run into it...?"

When the gatekeeper saw two strangers loitering around, he naturally went up to inquire. Upon learning that the woman was a member of the Zhong family, he quickly went inside to report.

Before long, an old man in charge came out. Although he looked a bit clumsy, he had a certain air of otherworldly wisdom. It can only be said that the stewards of cultivator families all have an extraordinary temperament.

His cultivation level is at the mid-stage of the fourth rank; not enough to fight, but enough to watch.

Beneath the deep-set eye sockets, the old butler's bright, clear eyes looked at Zhong Feihuang, as if recalling something, and quickly found the corresponding memory:

"Is it Miss Feihuang, the daughter of the wandering young master from the second branch of the family?" The old man wasn't quite sure. So many years had passed, and her appearance, clothing, and temperament had all changed. He could only judge from her eyes and brows.

"Yes, there's a big event happening in the East China Sea, so I came back to visit my family." Zhong Feihuang said calmly, but her calmness was more a facade of nervousness.

Not knowing what emotions to use, I decided to just respond to the question indifferently.

The steward greeted them and lingered for a while. Seeing that Chu Mingkong and the other man had nothing to say or do, he smiled politely at them and said that he would go back first to report and have a maid come to lead the way to meet the clan leader.

"Is Sister-in-law Huang feeling more apprehensive as she gets closer to home?" Chu Mingkong asked as he walked, wondering to himself about the steward's reaction.

Were they waiting for us to hand over the gifts? Probably...

"I don't think it counts. What's there to be afraid of? It's just that my parents didn't come home, and I didn't have any of the people I was really close to or could talk to."

It felt like I should be excited and happy, but I didn't feel anything special. Maybe I've just lost interest.

Chu Mingkong recalled the time he accompanied Aunt Gu back to her parents' home, which had seemed quite lively. However, it had become rather deserted when they arrived at this cultivator family.

This is probably due to the different groups. Since they are cultivators, they certainly have time for casual conversation, but not much. Some are in seclusion, while others are out hunting monsters. With such different schedules, even meeting at home feels like "meeting an old friend in a foreign land."

With fewer encounters, relationships naturally fade. This is probably the common situation in cultivator families, and they basically rely on blood ties and kinship to maintain those relationships.

This kind of relationship is neither good nor bad; it's simply unavoidable. When cultivators go into seclusion for months at a time, they certainly can't maintain the same level of familiarity and intimacy as ordinary families.

When a married daughter returned home to visit relatives, the Zhong family's reaction was rather indifferent, without much surprise or an outpouring of welcoming smiles.

Chu Mingkong, on the contrary, felt as if... a stranger had come to visit, and the host had come out with a polite smile to greet him and chat for a few minutes.

The patriarch of the Zhong family is named Zhong Dajiang. He has a cultivation level of just over the seventh rank and looks like a strong man who is just approaching thirty. He looks energetic, but the fatigue in his eyes shows his hard work and concern for the family.

However, he was not Zhong Feihuang's grandfather, but her great-grandfather.

Zhong Dajiang, hmm, Chu Mingkong really likes this name.

Winning the lottery sounds incredibly auspicious!

Chief Zhong still remembered Zhong Feihuang. Although his reaction was somewhat indifferent, during their conversation, he could clearly recall Zhong Feihuang's childhood "achievements" and some of the funny things she did when she was young. Zhong Feihuang herself only had a vague impression of these things and didn't remember them clearly, but the chief could recall them all.

Chu Mingkong, listening from the side, was surprised. The relationship seemed distant, yet not entirely distant.

"It's been so long, yet Great-Grandpa still remembers it so clearly..."

For a strong woman like Zhong Feihuang, having so many embarrassing childhood stories suddenly exposed was truly embarrassing. And since the other party was an elder, it was inappropriate to refute. Embarrassed, she could only remain speechless, just like Ke Qing when she was teased.

"Of course I remember it clearly. Many clansmen came back to visit relatives for this centennial auction of the Immortal Treasure Pavilion. I remember a thing or two about each of the younger clansmen."

You may not be able to understand it now, but when your cultivation reaches the limit of your talent and you truly 'know your destiny,' paying attention to the growth of the younger generation in the clan becomes one of my greatest joys.

There are many things I can't keep up with, but I can remember the moments when the younger generation came to congratulate me on their breakthroughs. Seeing that made me feel the family's prosperity, and I was overjoyed!

Zhong Feihuang nodded thoughtfully: "Great-grandfather, have my father and mother ever come back in all these years?"

Zhong Da couldn't help but make a few sarcastic remarks, sighing irritably:

"After the young couple saw you off to your wedding, they went off to travel around. They would only send a letter back every three to five years, but they never came back. It's really outrageous. It's as if they've been looking forward to this time alone together for a long time!"

Fortunately, the clan chief did not inquire about Zhong Feihuang's husband's family, which saved Zhong Feihuang from a lot of embarrassment.

Although Zhong Feihuang was deeply moved that the clan chief remembered so many things about her, what truly made her grateful was that he hadn't asked about her husband's family's current situation.

However, with Chu Mingkong standing right next to him, Zhong Da couldn't completely ignore this person, especially since he couldn't detect any trace of his cultivation aura. Yet, he vaguely sensed that this young man was no ordinary person, which made him even more curious.

"I am..." Chu Mingkong hesitated a bit when introducing himself. He was too famous in Donghai, which was not appropriate. He should keep a low profile: "Senior, you can just call me Xiao Chu. Sister-in-law Huang is my elder. I heard that her family is in Donghai. Since I was planning to come here, I brought her back with me."

Zhong Da nodded to the old man without asking further questions. It was impolite to inquire about the cultivation level of cultivators if one was not familiar with them, and even the status of an elder did not matter.

Moreover, with the auction taking place this month, many people have returned home to visit their families, so it's not unusual.

However, upon seeing the thousand-year-old medicinal plant presented by Chu Mingkong, the Zhong clan chief's expression showed a rare change of surprise.

Don't think that just because a cultivator lives a little longer, a hundred-year-old herb is not worth mentioning.

How many herbs can a cultivator witness reaching a hundred years old in their lifetime? In some ancient herb gardens, the price of each herb is calculated based on its specific year, number of days, and time of day. For a junior member of the family, bringing back a four- or five-hundred-year-old herb as a tribute to the elders of the clan is already considered a great gift.

They just gave away a thousand-year-old tree?!

"This is a gift for Elder Zhong. Here are two more portions of herbs for Sister-in-law Huang's parents. Please accept them on my behalf and pass them on when you return!"

After exchanging the usual pleasantries, Chu Mingkong asked about the things he was curious about.

"When I came over just now, I vaguely heard the old man say something about 'ancient Buddha corpse'?"

Zhong Da was astonished by the age of this spiritual herb and wanted to ask Chu Mingkong about his background, but he changed the subject, leaving the old patriarch puzzled.

"That's right. Two fools in the clan, greedy for those tens of thousands of spirit stones, took on such an unlucky job!"

There are no such things as easy money in the world. They really don't know why those Buddhist monk statues are called "ancient Buddha corpses".

Those were all statues made by soaking the corpses of Buddhist monks in water until they swelled up like leavened buns, then covering them with specially refined clay!

Upon hearing these words, Chu Mingkong's mind conjured up a host of disgusting terms, such as "giant penis"... (PS: This refers to the image that appears during the decomposition of a corpse; it's graphic, so don't search for it online.)

However, what comes to mind more often are the statues in Buddhist temples, with their swollen faces, bulging eyes, and faces that are either red or purple. These are more or less like... the appearance of a corpse after it has decomposed and swelled up due to the exhaust fumes.

I did hear similar arguments and discussions in my past life, mentioning the possibility of such speculation.

Could it be that those Buddha statues in the past were really imitations of corpses, or even directly derived from corpses?

"Please wait a moment, gentlemen. I just reprimanded those juniors. I let them off the hook for now because Fei Huang is back. I'll send someone to fetch those two right now. Please wait a moment."

Chu Mingkong nodded to indicate that he had no objection, since there was no rush.