Chapter 20

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Chapter 20: Ruthless Years

Time passed quickly, and Lin Jiang reached the age of sixty. At long last, he had attained the fifth level of Qi Refining.

One day, Lin Jiang received urgent news from the gate of Spiritual Peach Mountain Villa. His eldest brother, Lin Shan, was in critical condition. Without wasting any time, Lin Jiang took flight on his sword and swiftly made his way to the Lin family’s gate.

At Lin Shan’s house, a crowd of Lin family members had gathered. His children were all present in the yard. In that moment, Lin Jiang remembered Lin Baohua from Spiritual Peach Mountain Villa and wondered if he should bring him along.

However, Lin Jiang ultimately decided against it. Lin Shan hadn’t seen Lin Baohua in many years. It was possible that, in his heart, Lin Shan had already let go of this son.

“The master is here!”

Someone shouted, and Lin Jiang looked up to see Lin Batian approaching quickly.

Amidst the crowd, Lin Batian made his way to Lin Shan. Now ninety-one years old, Lin Shan was no longer able to leave his bed. He had lost most of his hair, and his teeth were nearly all gone.

“Father, Shan’er can no longer stay with you.”

Lin Shan saw Lin Batian, and tears filled his eyes. Despite being too frail to want to see anyone, Lin Batian still appeared youthful and in the prime of life.

“Is there anything you wish to say? Father is here, listening.”

Lin Batian gently placed a hand on Lin Shan’s shoulder, and pure spiritual power surged into his body. In an instant, Lin Shan felt a burst of vitality, and a flush of color returned to his pale face.

Lin Batian was overwhelmed with sorrow. Lin Shan was his firstborn, and he vividly recalled the joy he felt when Lin Shan was born. His affection for his children had been strongest with him, but as more children arrived, that feeling was never quite the same.

“Dad, Shan’er is leaving. I won’t be able to see the Lin family again.”

“You will see them. I will ensure you are laid to rest at the highest point of the mountain gate. From there, you will witness the Lin family’s future growth. We will become the most powerful family in Yun State.”

“I believe you, Dad. I have faith in you.”

“I will make it happen.”

Lin Batian spoke with deep emotion, though he felt conflicted. He couldn’t find the right words to fully express his feelings. The best he could do was allow Lin Shan’s children to come in.

Lin Shan’s wife had passed away several years ago, and his children had grown older. They were now in their fifties or sixties, with some even becoming grandparents.

Lin Batian continued to channel his spiritual power, giving Lin Shan the time he needed to speak with his children. Afterward, his siblings came to see him.

“Third sibling, tenth sibling, eighteenth sibling, how I envy you all.”

Lin Shan looked at his three younger brothers and sisters. In the Lin family’s second generation, there were now four people in the Foundation Building Period. Lin He, the second child, had always been in Anhua City and could not leave. Only the third, tenth, and eighteenth siblings were with him now.

They were all in the Foundation Building Period, even if they were already in their seventies or eighties, they still maintained their youth. They looked like they were only in their twenties or thirties. Their youthful appearance made Lin Shan very envious.

“Birth, old age, illness, and death are common for humans. If you can’t achieve immortality, you will never be truly free.”

Lin Die quietly said, and Lin Batian nodded beside her. Cultivators always prioritized immortality. Family, sects, territories, and resources, everything was in service of immortality.

“Big brother…”

Lin Ying choked up a bit, not knowing what to say. The age gap between her and Lin Shan was quite large, a difference of thirty-four years. But Lin Shan was a good big brother who took care of his younger siblings.

Lin Jiang stood by silently, not saying anything. In his heart, there was only infinite sighs. The system showed that he still had over thirteen thousand years of lifespan left, and it was increasing at a rate of more than three hundred years per year. Lifespan was the cheapest thing for him since he had too much of it.

But for others, lifespan was an incredibly precious thing. They strived to cultivate, to kill and snatch treasures, all to live longer.

Two hours later, Lin Shan’s heartbeat stopped forever. The sound of crying echoed in Lin Shan’s house, and Lin Jiang quietly left the premises.

Lin Shan’s funeral was held on a grand scale, with Lin Batian personally overseeing the arrangements. The news spread far and wide, and many friends of the Lin family sent their condolences.

On the day of the funeral, Lin Batian not only took off his fancy clothes, but also wore rough mourning clothes. He said he would mourn for Lin Shan for three years. This puzzled not only the people from the Lin family, but also others who didn’t understand the tradition.

Lin Batian explained that this was a custom from his hometown. When the eldest son of a family passed away while the parents were still alive, they must mourn for him for three years. During this time, both Lin Batian and his wife must wear mourning clothes to show their respect for Lin Shan.

“Dad’s love for our eldest brother is truly enviable.”

The younger generations of the Lin family couldn’t help but feel envious. Lin Batian’s love for Lin Shan was genuine, and the younger they were, the less attention they received. It seemed like they had grown numb to it.

“Where is Dad’s hometown?”

Lin Jiang asked, but everyone shook their heads. They had never heard Lin Batian talk about his origins, only knowing that he was not from Yun State. Lin Batian had settled in this place many years ago with Steward Wu and a few trusted companions.

“It seems like Dad also has a story to tell.”

Lin Jiang sighed and shook his head, deciding not to ask further. Everyone had their own story, and if Lin Batian didn’t want to share, they didn’t want to pry.

After Lin Shan died, Zhuang Rong suddenly strongly requested to return to the Lin family’s mountain gate to live. She gave the reason that Spiritual Peach Mountain Villa was too quiet and she felt lonely there. On this side of the mountain gate, she still had a few sisters who were also getting old and wanted to stay with them.

Lin Jiang fulfilled her request, and he also moved back and lived in the same courtyard as Zhuang Rong. Zhuang Rong used to have many servants, but now they have mostly been dismissed, leaving only one old servant who had been with her for decades. Lin Jiang stayed in the servants’ room.

Lin Batian had a wife and fifteen concubines. The youngest one was already forty years old. He hadn’t taken any new concubines for many years, so he probably didn’t have the intention to anymore.

Lin Batian’s legal wife, Mrs. Zheng, was already over a hundred years old, but she was at the Foundation Building Period realm and could still live for decades. She actually looked like she was only in her thirties or forties.

Zhuang Rong was the fourth wife, but she and the second and third wives were all around the same age, about eighty years old. They had all become old women, and the competition for favoritism in the harem was long gone. Back when they were young, they fought fiercely against each other, but now they were closer than real sisters.

Lin Jiang entrusted Spiritual Peach Mountain Villa to Lin Baohua and his son. He returned to the mountain gate to take care of Zhuang Rong in her old age. Now he was also taking care of the other concubines together. Well, if one was taken care of, a group could also be taken care of.

The lives of the elderly were very lonely. They didn’t need to take care of their children’s children and didn’t need to struggle for their livelihoods anymore. They had long given up on cultivation.

In order to pass the time, Lin Jiang brought out playing cards and mahjong to teach them how to play games like “Eighty Points,” “Landlord,” and mahjong. He also hired some storytellers from the market in the Lin family to tell stories for them.

When it came to food, Lin Jiang was very dedicated. No matter where within a thousand miles, if there was something special, Lin Jiang would have someone bring it back or even learn it himself, and then he would personally cook it for Zhuang Rong and the others.

Lin Jiang also tried his best to recreate the cuisine from Earth. As long as he could find the ingredients, he would make it for them to eat.

This attitude made Lin Batian’s other wives extremely envious. The previous animosity quickly dissipated, and they all came together to live their later years. Even Lin Batian’s main wife was like this. She was already over a hundred years old, but her cultivation had always remained at the initial stage of Foundation Building. She had given up on cultivation and now, besides managing the Lin family’s women, had nothing else to do. So she often came over to chat and play cards with her sisters.

Lin Jiang’s actions had also received praise from others. The Lin family’s second generation had all come to thank Lin Jiang, like the fifth one, Lin Hai, and the seventh one, Lin Feng. They even wanted to join Lin Jiang in their retirement, but Lin Jiang firmly refused.

Are you kidding? Those few are aunts, from the previous generation. He only served them sincerely. You guys are just from the same generation, what’s the big deal? You still want him to support you in your old age?

Lin Batian was more direct. He specially approved one hundred spirit stones each month for Lin Jiang, reimbursing all the expenses Lin Jiang spent on the aunts for their retirement. If it was not enough, he could go to the finance department to request more, and Lin Jiang could keep the rest for himself.

Time was merciless. In Lin Jiang’s fifth year back at the mountain gate, he bid farewell to his second aunt.

In the seventh year, he bid farewell to his fifth and third aunts.

In the tenth year, Aunty Seven and Aunty Six also left.

In the twelfth year, ninety-two-year-old Zhuang Rong entered the final chapter of her life, and Lin Jiang called for Lin Ying, who was in seclusion.

“Mom, dad is here.”

Lin Batian also received news. Over the years, his wives passed away one after another, and his feelings were very complicated. These women all had a beautiful past with him and had given birth to children for him.

“I don’t want to see him.”

Zhuang Rong shook her head. In the last few years of her life, Zhuang Rong never wanted to see Lin Batian, and she even felt some hatred towards him.

Zhuang Rong’s belief was that Lin Batian harmed her, wasting her youth in his harem and squandering her best years.

“Jiang’er, if your mom doesn’t want to see me, then forget it. You accompany her on her final journey.”

Lin Batian, standing outside the door, halted his steps and whispered to Lin Jiang. He couldn’t even bring himself to feel angry and genuinely felt that he owed these women.

“Mom, dad won’t come in.”

“Here are mom’s belongings.”

“She owns three stores, a mansion, and a significant amount of money. The stores and mansion will be given to Lin Ying, while the money will go to you, Jiang Er.”

“Jiang Er doesn’t have much time left, so it’s important for you to take care of yourself and not miss out. Do you understand?”

“Mom, I don’t want those things. All I want is for you to stay alive.”

Lin Ying hugged Zhuang Rong tightly and started crying. She didn’t care for the possessions; her only wish was to keep her mother.

“I understand, mom. The stores and mansion are meant for my sister. I don’t have children, so there’s no need for me to fight with her.”

Lin Jiang nodded. Material possessions didn’t concern him in the slightest. After Zhuang Rong passed, he wouldn’t remain long in the Lin family either. His departure was inevitable.

“Good child. Mom didn’t raise you in vain. These last few decades have been the happiest years of my life.”

Zhuang Rong sighed with relief. The other sisters had left their belongings behind when they passed, which caused tension among the younger generations, and it saddened her. Thankfully, her own children weren’t like that.

Over the years, Zhuang Rong had spent her retirement peacefully, surrounded by her sisters. It truly had been the happiest time of her life.

Zhuang Rong kept talking, but after an hour, she stopped breathing.

“I don’t have a mother anymore.”

Lin Ying cried loudly, and Lin Jiang silently shed a tear, for he no longer had a mother.