Invincible Starts From Dao Fruit-Chapter 144 - 115 Pei Ze [Thanks ’Old Yellow Flower’ for the 10,000 reward!]

Chapter 144: Chapter 115 Pei Ze [Thanks ’Old Yellow Flower’ for the 10,000 reward!]

Chen Jichuan spoke, his face revealing a look of shame.

This explanation, though fabricated with considerable effort, was false, but his expression was genuine.

He truly felt immense guilt toward Pei Ze.

Xu Tianfang could see that Chen Jichuan was sincere and shook his head, saying, "Filial piety is, of course, essential. But even if you couldn’t return for a long time, you should have at least sent a message back."

"Disciple did have someone deliver letters back, but I don’t know why Master and Senior Brother Pei didn’t receive them."

Chen Jichuan said with frustration.

The distance between Shamen Island and White Jade Island spanned tens of thousands of miles, fraught with danger. Encounters with storms midway, resulting in lost letters, were entirely plausible.

No evidence remained to confirm this.

Xu Tianfang, too, couldn’t definitively assert that Chen Jichuan hadn’t sent letters back.

Putting it another way.

Chen Jichuan endured untold hardships, crossed the seas to reach Jade Spring Island, joined Jade Spring Mountain, and had a bright future ahead of him. There was absolutely no reason for him to suddenly retreat inland and hide away.

Ordinary people wouldn’t suspect his explanation.

"Perhaps it was lost in a storm,"

Xu Tianfang agreed, taking a sip of tea and saying, "Regardless, it’s good you returned. You’ve traveled far; go rest first, and when you’re free, visit Pei Ze."

Upon hearing this, Chen Jichuan immediately said, "I wonder if the ancestral master is within the mountain. Since I’m back, I ought to pay my respects in person."

This was an important matter.

Not just for arranging future assistance, but for Pei Ze’s injuries.

He must meet Wuk Yuan, the Immortal Master.

"That is the proper thing to do."

Xu Tianfang nodded at his words and then said, "The ancestral master is in seclusion. Rest for now, and I’ll inform him and let you know after."

"I’ll trouble you, Uncle Master."

Though anxious inside, Chen Jichuan couldn’t argue with such dignified words and could only comply.

He rose and left the cave.

He truly didn’t want to stay there longer.

Not because of Xu Tianfang.

But because of himself.

One lie requires a thousand others to cover it.

Before returning, he had meticulously prepared countless explanations to handle inquiries and accusations, thinking himself capable of handling it all without burden on his mind.

Yet upon seeing Pei Ze today and learning the details,

his heart was stirred.

Whenever he uttered those lies, a faint sense of guilt arose, accompanied by uncontrollable feelings of disgust and revulsion.

He needed quiet reflection.

...

Jade Spring Island.

South Mountain South.

Chen Jichuan arrived at Yus Chengbo’s grave.

The grave remained tidy, with no weeds growing.

Apparently, it was well-maintained by others.

Chen Jichuan knelt, bowing three times before the grave, but his mind lingered on Pei Ze.

The sight of Pei Ze on White Jade Island, shrouded in a sense of decline, was strikingly reminiscent of Yus Chengbo’s condition back then.

Back then, Chen Jichuan had warned himself not to become like Yus Chengbo.

Yet he had never imagined.

Pei Ze would, because of him, become like this now.

Yus Chengbo had at least managed to cultivate to the Innate stage, whereas Pei Ze remained stuck at the Postnatal stage.

Minds burdened by worry become weary and hearts plagued by sorrow weaken.

Over the years, Pei Ze had suffered deep mental wounds, no longer merely an issue with his Dantian. Even switching to the Daoist path would yield little success; he might even fall into demonic instability and develop severe mental afflictions.

As for external skills.

"He’s nearly fifty now, his Qi-Blood is waning, his body deteriorating. Starting from scratch with external skills wouldn’t yield significant results."

Chen Jichuan pondered thoughtfully.

After much consideration.

The Daoist path and external skills were both unfeasible; neither would bring substantial progress.

Only the path of Inner Strength remained.

But rebuilding Inner Strength required addressing the issue with his Dantian.

"Immortal Ganoderma Fruit."

"Core Formation Pill."

"If Wuk Yuan Immortal Master has them, that would be ideal—I could trade ’Water Classics’ or ’Sword Map’ for them."

"But if even Wuk Yuan Immortal Master doesn’t have them—"

Chen Jichuan furrowed his brow.

For a while, no alternative solution came to him.

Forty years ago, Wuk Yuan Immortal Master was already at the remarkable Level 14. According to Zhang Zhihe’s records, he would be at the Fourth Layer of Qi Refinement. Forty years later, even if his progress had stagnated, he remained the strongest cultivator Chen Jichuan had ever encountered in his life.

If even he couldn’t help—

Chen Jichuan shook his head, unwilling to dwell on it further: "I’ll figure it out after meeting Wuk Yuan Immortal Master."

But before meeting Wuk Yuan Immortal Master.

The knot in Pei Ze’s heart must be unraveled, lest his condition worsens further.

...

No time to rest.

Chen Jichuan hurriedly returned to White Jade Island overnight. By the time he arrived, dawn had broken.

He went to Jade Spring Pill Pavilion, beneath the maple tree, but didn’t see Pei Ze.

It seemed the day’s work hadn’t started yet.

After some thought.

Chen Jichuan entered the pavilion, purchased some pills, and inquired about Pei Ze’s residence, then headed there himself.

...

Pei Ze lived on a small island outside Jade Spring Island. As housing prices on the island were steep, he bought a property off-island to house his parents.

Daily, he rowed to White Jade Island for work.

At dawn.

The sky had just brightened.

Pei Ze sat cross-legged in his courtyard, circulating his Inner Strength. One complete circulation resulted in a slight increase in Inner Strength. But when it entered his Dantian, it leaked away thread by thread.

With each circulation.

Inner Strength fluctuated, overall increasing very slowly.

But this was only during cultivation.

A Postnatal Cultivator’s meridians and mental stamina are limited, making it impossible to practice continuously for twelve hours a day. Once paused, the hard-earned increase in Inner Strength would dissipate again.

By day’s end.

Just maintaining Inner Strength without losing progress was an uphill battle.

Further growth?

Completely out of the question!

This way of cultivation, the constant advance and retreat, was infuriating.

Pei Ze was no exception.

Today, he was particularly agitated.

In his mind.

The image of a young man’s face intermittently appeared.

Sometimes it was at Jade Spring Mountain.

Sometimes at Jade Spring Pill Pavilion.

Sometimes from thirty years ago.

Sometimes from just yesterday.

Time and space shifted, but the appearance remained unchanged, perpetually youthful.

"Proficient in youth-retaining techniques."

"My junior brother must have reached the Innate stage."

Pei Ze’s heart surged with mixed emotions—

Joy.

Relief.

Bitterness.

Discontent.

Regret.

Countless thoughts churned within him, further aggravating his mood.

Seeing his long-lost junior brother return safely, having achieved Innate cultivation, he was truly happy.

He didn’t wish for his junior brother to die.

To see Chen Jichuan again in his lifetime fulfilled one of his wishes.

But human emotions are complex.

Negative feelings were inevitable—

"If he was alive, why didn’t he come back? Why didn’t he send word?"

"Why does he thrive, while I’ve become a cripple?"

Regret and resentment intertwined, festering within.

Yet Pei Ze suppressed it time and again—

"It’s not his fault."

"It’s my own recklessness. I can’t blame him."

"My junior brother treated me well; he surely wouldn’t have wanted this."

His mind was chaotic.

Conflict after conflict.

Pei Ze’s spirit was tormented incessantly, rendering him more and more agitated.

Inner Strength dissipated.

He stubbornly resisted: "Gather! Gather! Gather!"

Though his energy was scattered, he continued forcing himself, unwilling to stop, his face flushing red, brows tightly knitted, showing signs of mania.

Suddenly.

Pei Ze’s eyes opened wide, bloodshot, and he spat out a mouthful of black blood with a cry.

Inner Strength went berserk within his meridians, destroying them while surging toward his Dantian, dissipating at an even faster rate.

"Demonic instability!"

With one mouthful of vital blood expelled, Pei Ze’s body went cold, his vision darkened, and he lost consciousness.

...

In a daze.

Pain coursed through his entire body.

"Where am I—"

Pei Ze frowned, trying to recall. After a long while, he finally remembered: "I succumbed to demonic instability!"

He remembered waking early to practice, agitation clouding his thoughts, leading to Inner Strength running amok and rendering him unconscious.

"My injuries—"

Pei Ze felt his entire body ache.

Clearly.

The instability had left him severely wounded.

This realization caused his heart to sink.

As he stared emptily at the ceiling.

Time passed unnoticed, until his eyes focused again, and he let out a bitter laugh: "At least I’m alive."

He was already a cripple.

Now, with his condition exacerbated, further decline seemed inconsequential.

Having survived meant he could still care for his parents, and that was enough.

"This will definitely worry my father and mother."

Pei Ze composed himself and struggled to sit upright.

His gaze swept around the room when he suddenly noticed something missing. Fixating on a bare spot on the wall, he realized one of his magic artifacts was gone.

"Did mother throw it away?"

Pei Ze felt a stab of worry and immediately attempted to get up.

But as his feet touched the ground, he suddenly froze, his expression shifting, and ultimately shook his head: "If it was thrown away, so be it. There’s no need to keep it; it only adds to my worries."

With this thought.

He slowed his movement, carefully rising to his feet and exiting the room.

The house was unusually quiet today.

Father wasn’t indoors, and mother wasn’t in the courtyard.

Pei Ze furrowed his brows uneasily. He searched the entire property inside and out but found no sign of them. Anxious, he quickly left the house to search the island.

Not far from the house.

He heard the sounds of laughter and looked up. There he saw his father seated in a wheelchair, with his mother and a young man pushing him from behind. The rising sun in the distance illuminated the three figures, casting brilliance upon the young man’s face.

Pei Ze recognized him—

"Junior Brother."

...

"Father."

"Mother."

Pei Ze hesitated for a moment before walking forward.

His parents’ faces held rare smiles.

Especially his mother, who couldn’t stop grinning, turning her gaze toward him as soon as she heard his voice, surprisingly examining him from head to toe.

"Mother, your eyes—"

Pei Ze’s expression shifted from shock to joy upon seeing her. His mother had long been blinded by grief, with thick cataract membranes obscuring her vision completely.

Yet now.

Her eyes shone bright with happiness, the once-thick membranes entirely gone.

"It’s all thanks to your dear friend, Brother Little Meng."

Mrs. Pei’s joy filled her voice and face, though her expression turned tender and concerned as she looked at her son, weary and aged. She grabbed Pei Ze’s hand and led him toward Chen Jichuan, saying, "Little Meng just blew gently on my eyes, and now I can see again."

"Little Meng?"

Pei Ze glanced at Chen Jichuan, his eyes filled with questioning intent.

Chen Jichuan smiled and said, "Pei Brother doesn’t remember me? My name is ’Meng Chuan.’ Years ago, it was thanks to Pei Brother’s gift of a pill that I could embark on the path of cultivation. This time, while passing through White Jade City, I decided to come check on Pei Brother. Seeing that Aunt had an eye ailment, I dared to intervene. I hope Pei Brother doesn’t mind."

Pei Ze listened and immediately understood.

He looked at Chen Jichuan with a gaze full of complexities.

Chen Jichuan had concealed his identity, clearly aware of some rumors—knowledge of the shipwreck’s impact on his family’s suffering.

Due to this incident, his father had become paralyzed out of anger, and his mother had gone blind in sorrow. Given their sentiments toward Chen Jichuan, their reactions would have been predictable. If his true identity were revealed, he might’ve failed to treat their ailments and instead aggravated their conditions further.

The change of identity.

This act demonstrated genuine goodwill.

Pei Ze found himself at a loss for words.

"No complaints, no complaints."

"You helped cure my blindness; we’re grateful enough as it is—how could we find fault?"

Mrs. Pei, unaware of the deeper significance behind Chen Jichuan’s actions, waved her hands hurriedly upon hearing this.

"That’s good to hear."

Chen Jichuan smiled warmly at her reaction.

Mrs. Pei’s eye condition had been resistant to conventional medicine, but using his Daoist skill, specifically the ’Blowing to Remedy Blindness Technique’ from the ’49 Healing Secrets,’ he discharged the cataract membranes in a single breath.

With her vision restored after a decade of blindness, Mrs. Pei’s spirits were bright, and she treasured her newfound sight deeply. As a result, recurrence of eye disease from underlying psychological concerns was almost negligible.

Additionally, Chen Jichuan’s assurance of curing Mr. Pei’s paralysis brought her joy that was beyond measure.

She expressed her gratitude profusely, leaving Chen Jichuan somewhat embarrassed.

"Thank you, Brother Meng."

Pei Ze finally returned to reality, clasping his hands in thanks to Chen Jichuan. He then turned to his parents and said, "Brother Meng and I haven’t seen each other in many years; we need time to catch up. Go ahead and return home first."

"No need."

"You two catch up; let your mother push me along for now."

Mr. Pei was also in a rare good mood, recognizing their encounter with a benefactor.

While indifferent to his own illness, he hoped this ’Meng Chuan’ could heal his son Pei Ze’s injuries fully and, therefore, tried not to interrupt their conversation.

"Exactly."

"I’ll handle it. Now that my eyes are better, I want to enjoy the sights outside."

Mrs. Pei demonstrated her enthusiasm.

She gently pushed Pei Ze aside and turned to Chen Jichuan, saying, "You two chat, you two chat."

And with that, she hurriedly wheeled Mr. Pei away.

"Parents are truly selfless."

Chen Jichuan watched the sixty-something woman energetically pushing the wheelchair, careful not to obstruct their plans, and sighed inwardly.

Pei Ze looked at his parents disappearing into the distance and felt a wave of melancholy.

The long-separated senior and junior brothers stood silently, watching the elderly couple fade into the horizon, neither saying a word.

...

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