Chapter 912: Qingyi, Listen to My Explanation!

Azure Cloud Sect.

Atop Rainbow Cloud Peak.

A young man with a face like polished jade, rosy lips and pearly teeth, tall and slender with a cool, crisp aura sparred with a child of five or six using flying swords.

Though the age gap between them was vast.

In the cultivation world, appearances never truly revealed one’s real age.

Especially this child—his sword arts were exquisite, his control over the flying sword natural and flawless, far surpassing the young man’s skill.

Nearby, Chu Qingyi watched quietly, dressed in a blue and white palace gown with her dark hair pinned high.

She’d rushed to the front lines and been gone for fourteen years.

The boy who’d once been a child, Lu Shouzheng, had grown into a handsome young man just like his father.

Faced with her grown son, Chu Qingyi felt a bit lost.

She regretted missing the most important years of his growth, her heart heavy with guilt.

But what shocked her most upon returning was that her master had a child.

Yunxiao.

Before coming back, her master Yun Wanshang had explained the child’s situation to her.

During her travels, she’d unexpectedly met a Nascent Soul cultivator known as the Kirin Sword Lord and ended up pregnant.

Even after more than a month back, watching this adorable, doll-like yet incredibly talented junior brother left Chu Qingyi in a daze.

Thankfully, she could tell Yunxiao was just pretending to be mature—otherwise, she’d suspect a Nascent Soul cultivator had possessed and reincarnated in him.

How else could a five or six-year-old have Foundation Establishment cultivation and such astonishing sword Dao talent?

After a long while, the pair—one big, one small—stopped their practice.

“So, Brother Shouzheng, isn’t it better this way, just like I suggested?”

Lu Yunxiao asked, dressed in a golden robe with jade belts, acting far older than his years—like a little adult.

When Yun Wanshang had headed to the front lines, he’d lived with Lu Shouzheng, spending every day together.

Watching Lu Shouzheng cultivate and practice sword arts daily sparked his interest, so he asked to join in.

Lu Shouzheng had been warned not to agree, but seeing the boy bored, he taught him some basic sword techniques.

Who knew this would open the door to a whole new world?

Lu Yunxiao displayed unparalleled talent in sword Dao.

He not only learned techniques at a glance but mastered them to perfection in no time.

Even while watching Lu Shouzheng practice, Lu Yunxiao would instinctively point out flaws based on his sword intuition.

Under these circumstances, Lu Shouzheng had to take this ‘little martial uncle’ seriously and treat him as a peer.

So over the past two years, it was Lu Yunxiao guiding Lu Shouzheng in sword Dao instead.

Lu Yunxiao even believed many of Lu Shouzheng’s issues stemmed not from himself, but from the sword art he practiced.

He wasn’t suited for it, or his understanding was too shallow.

If not for his mother’s warning not to tell anyone about his companion sword embryo, Lu Yunxiao might have shared it for study.

After all, just sleeping with the sword embryo seemed to naturally grant him vast sword Dao knowledge and insights.

So usually, through sparring, Lu Yunxiao passed on the true sword principles and intents he gleaned from the Great Luo Sword Embryo to Lu Shouzheng.

“Shouzheng, Yunxiao, you’ve been practicing for so long—you must be tired. Come rest a bit.”

Seeing them stop, Chu Qingyi called out softly, setting out spirit fruits and pastries on the table.

Though Yunxiao was her master’s child and technically her junior brother by seniority.

His age and appearance reminded her of Lu Shouzheng when she’d left, stirring her maternal instincts—she treated him like her own child.

“Thank you, Mother.”

Just as Chu Qingyi struggled with her grown son.

Lu Shouzheng felt awkward around his mother after so many years apart, lacking the closeness and ease of his childhood.

But he vividly remembered her tender care, her instructions and reluctance when she left.

As he grew, those memories only deepened and idealized in his mind.

He knew her long absence was due to the Liang-Yue War—she had to fight on the front lines and couldn’t return.

It pained him. He hated being too young and weak to join her there.

“Thank you, Aunt Chu.” Influenced by Yun Wanshang’s teachings and time with Lu Shouzheng, Lu Yunxiao wasn’t like most playful kids—he bowed politely with a serious expression.

By seniority, Lu Yunxiao should call Chu Qingyi ‘Senior Sister’.

But seeing him call her son ‘brother’ like true siblings, Chu Qingyi didn’t insist on formalities.

Lu Changsheng arrived at Azure Cloud Sect.

Spotting Chu Qingyi, her son Lu Shouzheng, and Lu Yunxiao snacking after practice in the back mountain of Rainbow Cloud Peak, he felt a headache coming on.

Yun Wanshang and Xiao Xiyue were still in Liang Kingdom and hadn’t returned.

Meeting Chu Qingyi and Lu Shouzheng now meant he couldn’t avoid his son Lu Yunxiao.

Though his methods could blur his image in Lu Yunxiao’s eyes.

How could he hide from his own son and not acknowledge him?

What would his son think when he grew up and learned the truth?

But acknowledging him outright might shock Chu Qingyi too much.

From his observations, Chu Qingyi likely didn’t know Lu Yunxiao was his and Yun Wanshang’s child.

And Chu Qingyi was different from Xiao Xiyue.

Raised by Yun Wanshang since childhood as her disciple, their bond was deep—like master and mother.

So when Yun Wanshang traveled, as the head disciple of Rainbow Cloud Peak, Chu Qingyi rushed to the front lines for Azure Cloud Sect and the Caiyun lineage, even leaving her own son behind without visits.

Now, to learn her master and husband had a child together.

Lu Changsheng already felt guilty toward Chu Qingyi and Lu Shouzheng—he didn’t want to upset them further.

“Sigh.” Lu Changsheng sighed inwardly, knowing he couldn’t hide this forever.

He’d have to prepare Chu Qingyi mentally first, then come clean.

As for Yun Wanshang.

If they all kept it secret, like with Xiao Xiyue, maintaining a tacit understanding, it would preserve Yun Wanshang’s face.

“Good thing I came prepared.”

Lu Changsheng flipped his palm, revealing a fourth-rank Incarnation Talisman.

He’d given the Three Treasure Incarnation Pearl to his son Lu Quanzhen earlier, and since a substitute puppet wasn’t ready yet, he’d crafted two incarnation talismans for emergencies.

As the talisman activated, this one infused with his blood slowly transformed into the likeness of Changsheng True Lord.

“Not bad.”

Lu Changsheng nodded slightly at the incarnation.

It could only unleash one Nascent Soul-level spell and couldn’t fully replicate his peerless looks and aura.

But overall, it was convincing enough to fool most Core Formation cultivators.

Then, with a thought, Lu Changsheng’s true body shifted into a heroic man in a five-colored qilin robe, a qilin mark on his forehead.

It was the Kirin Sword Lord persona he’d prepared years ago.

This alias was Yun Wanshang’s way of self-deception, so he’d never used it.

But since Yun Wanshang likely mentioned the father as Kirin Sword Lord when introducing Lu Yunxiao, Lu Changsheng decided to use this guise.

Soon after, Lu Changsheng and his incarnation arrived at Rainbow Cloud Peak.

As for the mana fluctuations from activating the talisman and splitting into two—no one in Azure Cloud Sect noticed.

With his current cultivation and divine sense, unless a Nascent Soul True Lord or a great true lord fully activated the sect’s grand array, nothing would be detected.

Moments later, Chu Qingyi, watching her son and Lu Yunxiao, suddenly looked up.

“Yunxiao.”

“Qingyi, Shouzheng.”

Lu Changsheng multitasked, calling out to the three ahead.

“Huh?” Lu Yunxiao glanced at the two arrivals, his memories faint but present.

“Fellow Daoist Lu.” Chu Qingyi looked at the talisman incarnation, then at Lu Changsheng in the five-colored qilin robe, puzzled. Who was this? Why call out to Yunxiao?

Could this be the Kirin Sword Lord her master mentioned? Yunxiao’s father?

But why would he come to Azure Cloud Sect with Fellow Daoist Lu?

Chu Qingyi paused, not overthinking it.

After all, she wasn’t naive.

Having known Lu Changsheng so long, she was familiar with his various identities and methods.

From the attitudes of her master and junior sister on the Liang Kingdom front lines.

And learning about Yunxiao, then seeing him upon return—she’d had her suspicions.

But Yun Wanshang was sacred in her heart; if her master didn’t say it, she wouldn’t speculate wildly.

“Greetings, Father.”

Though his mother had returned from the front, Lu Shouzheng’s feelings toward Lu Changsheng remained unchanged—still no warmth.

Learning bits about the Liang-Yue War from Azure Cloud Sect and his mother only worsened his view.

His mother had faced dangers on the battlefield for years, yet his father hadn’t been there to support her.

Instead, he’d gone to the Liang-Yue Battlefield with Lu Miaoge.

Even though he had fond memories of Lu Miaoge’s care, and his mother said his father was busy with matters.

It didn’t change his impression of Lu Changsheng as a father.

“Mm.” Lu Changsheng was used to this son’s attitude and prepared for it.

After all, with centuries and hundreds of children, not all were affectionate toward him.

Most held respect, admiration, awe, fear, or even estrangement and reverence.

“This is Kirin Sword Lord, here to visit Yunxiao.”

Lu Changsheng introduced to Chu Qingyi, naturally playing both roles.

Yet Chu Qingyi’s sword heart was clear, and she knew Lu Changsheng well.

Though she couldn’t see through the disguise of Lu Changsheng and the incarnation talisman, she sensed something and realized the Kirin Sword Lord was likely Lu Changsheng himself.

“Greetings, Sword Lord.” Chu Qingyi pursed her lips, her mind a tangled mess, unable to deceive herself any longer.

Yunxiao was her master and Fellow Daoist Lu’s child.

Did her master know Kirin Sword Lord was Lu Changsheng?

At that moment, Chu Qingyi’s heart churned in chaos.

With his late-stage Nascent Soul spirit-soul, Lu Changsheng’s spiritual sense was sharp—he instantly picked up on Chu Qingyi’s turmoil and sighed inwardly.

He knew such tricks could fool outsiders but not those close to him.

“Qingyi, Sword Lord and I came to discuss something with you. Could we speak privately?”

Seeing Chu Qingyi had guessed, Lu Changsheng dropped the pretense and chose to confess.

“Mm.” With her son and Lu Yunxiao nearby, Chu Qingyi steadied her emotions and nodded lightly.

She told Lu Shouzheng and Lu Yunxiao to chat, then entered a side hall with Lu Changsheng and the Kirin Sword Lord.

“Qingyi.”

Lu Changsheng dropped the Kirin Sword Lord disguise, took Chu Qingyi’s hand, and sighed with genuine guilt.

Chu Qingyi’s body stiffened instantly, her mind a whirlwind of confusion.

She’d always been conflicted about her feelings for Lu Changsheng.

It took his and Xiao Xiyue’s initiative for her to gradually accept the relationship.

But how could her master be involved with Fellow Daoist Lu too?

Even with her gentle, understanding nature in matters of love, she couldn’t help feeling annoyed.

She figured her master and Lu Changsheng’s affair must have been his doing.

He’d deliberately used the Kirin Sword Lord identity to deceive her master.

After all, without his persistent pursuit back then, she might have cut off their emotional ties.

“Qingyi, listen to my explanation.”

Lu Changsheng sat with Chu Qingyi, holding her hand, and began recounting his emotional journey with Yun Wanshang.

From being afflicted with aphrodisiac poison, enduring seven days and nights.

To their time together in the Sealing Demon Realm, then successfully sealing the demons and gaining the Heavenly Dao Nascent Soul opportunity.

“Love arises unknowingly, deep and unwavering. Master and I—it was truly fate’s trick.”

“Master’s personality is somewhat like yours. After leaving the Sealing Demon Realm, she struggled with these feelings. But then the Heavenly Dao Nascent Soul chance appeared—if she attempted the tribulation, her life would be at risk. I had to reveal my heart and convince her persistently.”

“Facing a breakthrough to Nascent Soul, a matter of life and death, Master accepted the feelings. But afterward, thinking of you and Xiyue, she made a pact with me: I couldn’t use the Lu Changsheng identity, only Kirin Sword Lord.”

“But seeing you like this, Qingyi, it pains me—I don’t want to deceive you.”

Lu Changsheng held Chu Qingyi’s hands, speaking with sincere emotion.

With Chu Qingyi, Ancestor Lu had indeed used some subtle tactics to stir her feelings.

But with Yun Wanshang, he felt it was mutual attraction.

He even saw himself as the passive one.

Chu Qingyi stared blankly, her face full of confusion, her mind still a muddled mess.

After all, Lu Changsheng and her master’s romantic history was utterly bizarre.

A century ago, when Lu Changsheng was still a Qi Refining cultivator, he’d already entangled with her master.

If anything, her junior sister was the latecomer.

“You can verify this with Master, Qingyi. I, Lu Changsheng, swear every word is true!”

Lu Changsheng declared with deep affection.

The version he told Chu Qingyi even painted Yun Wanshang in a better light.

Like how she used him for cultivation—he’d been straightforward with Xiao Xiyue about it.

But knowing Yun Wanshang’s lofty image in Chu Qingyi’s eyes, Lu Changsheng covered for her.

He explained the psychic energy was key to her Nascent Soul chance, hence her actions.

Though Chu Qingyi didn’t want to believe it, many details added up.

Like her master’s long seclusion to break through to late Core Formation, her unexpected Nascent Soul breakthrough, and her earlier attitude toward her.

Emotionally, though, Chu Qingyi struggled to accept it.

She’d taken time to come to terms with her junior sister Xiao Xiyue—how could she handle this with her master, who was like a mother?

How would she face her master now?

“Fellow Daoist Lu, I need some time alone.”

Chu Qingyi said softly, wanting to calm her thoughts.

“Qingyi, I’ve missed you so much. Let me stay with you.” Lu Changsheng embraced the dazed beauty, his voice tender and loving.

With Lu Changsheng beside her, how could Chu Qingyi find peace?

“Qingyi, it’s time we set our wedding date. Once Master returns, we’ll hold the ceremony.”

Moments later, Lu Changsheng spoke, eager to give Chu Qingyi a proper status—and Lu Shouzheng too.

Their marriage had been decided long ago.

But the Liang-Yue War and various matters had delayed it until now.