Journey to the West: Treasure Vase of the Great Dao

By this moment, how could he not understand that he had kicked an iron plate? Such strength would require even the Family Head to show some respect.

Just then, the gate creaked open, revealing a head of graying hair on a slightly aged face. It was the Cui Mansion's Steward Cui Che, who had come out due to the noise outside to see what was happening.

As soon as he opened the door, he was stunned by the scene in front of him, where he saw his meticulously trained house servants lying on the ground, wailing, in front of just two youths, barely adults.

"What in the world happened here? Wang Hu, explain yourself clearly!" Cui Che stared at the gatekeeper Wang Hu with a very stern tone.

This commotion was no small matter, as it concerned the Cui family's reputation. Cui Che had to get a clear understanding, and Wang Hu was the only one present who could answer his questions.

"Steward Cui, some people made trouble at the gate, and Steward Geng took action to drive them away but ended up being injured by them." Wang Hu answered with a trembling voice.

At this point, he naturally could not admit it was his own mistake. The only option was to push all the blame onto these two Mysterious Figures. Although they were powerful, there were capable people within the Cui Mansion, some said to be former Martial Arts World masters whose names once shook the world. With their intervention, capturing these two youths would be like picking something up off the ground.

Cui Che frowned and turned his gaze to Chen Xiang and his companion. Chen Xiang stood with a noble air, like a crane among chickens at the gate. Although dressed in rags, at first glance, he was clearly a man apart from the ordinary. However, when Cui Che's gaze moved to the person behind Chen Xiang, his eyes suddenly widened in disbelief, and he rubbed them as if he couldn't trust his own sight.

"Eldest Young Master, is it really you? You've finally come back." Cui Che cried out.

Instantly, he ran to Cui Heming's side, examining him up and down, repeatedly murmuring, "You've finally come back, you've had us all so worried."

"Uncle Cui, are you going to just let me stand here? I'm starving!" Seeing the elder's genuinely joyful expression, Cui Heming said with a smile.

This reaction only made Cui Che sadder. The family's Eldest Young Master used to be so sunny and radiant, but now he appeared so serious. It was obvious how much suffering he must have endured on his journey.

Wiping the tears from the corner of his eyes, he said, "Yes, yes, yes, Eldest Young Master, please come in quickly. I'll go inform the Master right away."

Having said this, he ran excitedly back through the gate, continuously shouting, "The Eldest Young Master is back, the Eldest Young Master is back!"

One stone causes a thousand ripples. Cui Heming was not only the legitimate son of the Cui family but also their sole heir. His life and death had been a constant concern for everyone in the Cui Mansion. Now that word of his return had spread, the entire mansion was in an uproar.

In less than a moment, a man and woman dressed in luxurious attire rushed out from the mansion. The woman embraced Cui Heming and lamented, "My poor child, you've finally come back. Don't you ever run off again; your father and I have been worried sick."

The man beside her also quietly shed tears. Having been blessed with a son in his later years, he doted on him endlessly. Fortunately, his son was naturally cheerful and kindhearted, his only idiosyncrasy being a fondness for legends of the supernatural, often running off to teahouses to listen to stories. Somehow catching wind of a tale, he had stealthily left home to cultivate, disappearing without a trace.

Despite spending a fortune in search, all attempts had sunk like stones in the vast sea, leaving without any response. Now, having resigned himself to despair, abandoning all hope of finding his son, he was caught off guard by joy from the heavens: his son had returned. The rebuke that had been on the tip of his tongue was now impossible to utter, and he could only gaze teary-eyed at his returned child.

After her tears, the woman scrutinized her child closely, growing sadder the more she looked. Her child, who had been raised in luxury, once had a fair and rosy complexion but was now tanned and sallow. His figure had also thinned significantly, and the traces of hardship were evident on his face.

He couldn't help but feel even more sorrowful as he said, "My poor child, how much suffering have you endured."

Cui Heming smiled and responded, "Mother, don't cry. I have been unfilial and caused you and father worry. From now on, I will be obedient and stay by your side."

The man immediately revealed a relieved smile. In the past, his son would never have expressed such considerate words. Looking at his mature and steady child, he couldn't help but also shed tears, knowing the great hardships his son must have endured from the profound changes he saw.

However, being the head of the family, accustomed to all manner of situations, he quickly composed himself and comforted his wife, saying, "Do not cry. It's a great joy that our child has returned. Why don't you hurry and let him come inside instead of standing at the door? What kind of way is that to greet him?"

"Yes, yes, your father is right. Let's go back home." The woman grasped Cui Heming's hand and was about to lead him inside.

"Father, mother, this is my friend Chenxiang. My safe return is largely thanks to him." However, Cui Heming pulled Chenxiang over, smiling as he introduced his friend to his parents. Compared to those fair-weather friends of his in Quanzhou, Chenxiang was the true friend in his heart, one with whom he could entrust his life.

Upon hearing this, the couple suddenly realized that there was another child beside their son, appearing to be of a similar age. Yet, he exuded a special aura that commanded both respect and awe.

"Ah, we are so sorry for not noticing you in our excitement, Chenxiang, isn't it? Please come in quickly. Since you're Heming's friend, don't be shy. Feel free to consider this place your own home."

With Chenxiang's entrance, the commotion seemed to come to an end, but Wang Hu, the gatekeeper, found himself slumped on the ground. Once Cui Heming's identity had been verified, he knew his good days were over. Cui Heming was the sole heir of the Cui Mansion, the next head of the Cui family. After offending him, Wang Hu knew he wasn't going to be treated kindly.

However, at that moment, he didn't dare entertain the thought of fleeing. All of Quanzhou belonged to the Cui family, and with his own parents, wife, and children within the Cui Mansion, where else could he possibly escape to? Therefore, he could only sit, resigned to whatever fate awaited him.

Fortunately, Cui Heming had matured through his life-and-death experiences and did not overly trouble him. He settled for administering a few beatings and dismissed him from his duties, valuing life all the more after his transformation ordeal.

After hearing their son recount his experiences, the parents were filled with retrospective terror. They realized how close they had been to losing their son. Had Chenxiang not appeared out of nowhere, their son would have died inexplicably on that mountain.

When they learned about the eerie Taoist, the method of turning to a pig, and the ghastly scenes of cannibalism, even the well-experienced head of the Cui family was left speechless. He felt that his son's few years of adventure surpassed his own lifetime of experiences.

Chenxiang, who had saved Cui Heming, naturally became an honored guest of the Cui Mansion. Life-saving grace was deemed the greatest kindness. Therefore, Chenxiang's treatment at the Cui family was lavish, with a plethora of exquisite food and novel items he had never seen before, all offered to him as if they cost nothing. Unfortunately, Chenxiang had no interest in these things. His sole interest was the legendary Huaguo Mountain.

Cui Heming was well aware of Chenxiang's urgency and began to dispatch people to gather information about Huaguo Mountain as soon as he settled down.

"Don't worry, Chenxiang. Quanzhou is a port city; countless ships travel across the Azure Wave Ocean. I have already instructed people to inquire on every ship that docks here. As soon as there is any news about Huaguo Mountain, we will inform you. Just stay comfortably in my house, and ask for anything you need. If anyone dares to slight you, let me know and I'll stand up for you," Cui Heming reassured an anxious Chenxiang.

Indeed, since no news about Huaguo Mountain had come to light in these days, he understood Chenxiang's impatience. But such matters were always a matter of chance, and to attain the desired result in a short time was as difficult as scaling the heavens.

"Don't worry. I've waited for so long already; I don't mind waiting a few more days. I just hope for a good outcome this time."