Chapter Fourteen: Embracing the Legacy (Part One)

Tao Ming was at a loss for words.

After a moment’s thought, Tao Banxia said, “It must be Nanxing’s bloodline taking effect. The improvement this time is quite remarkable.”

Nuo Nuo felt her own strength and exclaimed, “Amazing! I was only at the second level of the Moon Tier before, but now I’ve reached the sixth!”

Tao Ming was completely baffled.

Tao Banxia explained, “Over at Weishui, strength is divided into three main tiers: Star, Moon, and Sun. Each tier is split into twelve levels.”

She paused, then added, “I’m only at the third level of the Moon Tier. My talent is limited, so I’ve never been able to improve.”

Tao Ming nodded, her eyes falling on Ruan Ruan. Ruan Ruan was fast asleep, a thin sheen of sweat covering her.

Nuo Nuo yawned and said, “I’m going to sleep for a bit, too.”

With that, she closed her eyes.

Tao Ming carried the three of them out of the Chaos Blood Silk, tucked the two little ones into bed, covered them up, and sat quietly by their side.

Tao Banxia looked at Tao Ming and said, “I’ve already worked a little magic on your father—he’ll only remember having two granddaughters, and that you look like this.”

Tao Ming looked up at Tao Banxia. “Mom, that’s not fair to Dad.”

Tao Banxia smiled. “Silly girl, this is for his own good. After so many years, he’s been healthy and content. Isn’t it best to let things stay this way?”

Tao Ming said nothing.

Tao Banxia continued, “I want to go back to Weishui with you.”

Tao Ming quickly shook her head. “Mom, listen to me—I’m only going back for Ruan Ruan. Once her situation is sorted, I’ll come home.”

“It’s not that easy! If I’m with you, at least I can help.”

“Mom, if there’s real danger, I’ll run back here with them. You stay here and be my support base.” Tao Ming tried to persuade Tao Banxia. She didn’t want her to leave; it would be too unfair to her adoptive father.

Tao Banxia was about to say more, but Tao Ming cut her off. “Mom, Nuo Nuo’s told me a bit about Weishui. Life there seems rather impoverished, and information doesn’t flow well. I refuse to believe that with Earth’s advanced technology and abundance, after all my years of study, I couldn’t outwit them even if I can’t outfight them.”

Tao Banxia remembered back when she escaped the Qiluo Clan with her lady, how her lady could only ever leave the clan leader’s residence on rare occasions, while she herself could at least go out and buy things now and then. She also thought of the education the young ladies received, and the everyday struggles of the common folk. What Tao Ming said did make sense.

Seeing Tao Banxia lost in thought, Tao Ming pressed her advantage. “Mom, if you come with me, who would I turn to for help here if I needed it?”

Upon hearing this, Tao Banxia gave up the idea of leaving. “You’re right, Ming Ming. I’ll be your support base here. You’ve always made your own decisions, and I trust you.”

Tao Ming was about to reply when a voice called from outside, “Dinner’s ready!”

She tucked the blankets around the little ones, got up, and went out.

In the kitchen, she saw her adoptive father Li Aiguo, apron on, serving dishes. Tao Ming called, “Dad, need any help?”

Li Aiguo glanced back at her. “It’s all done. Go wash your hands, dinner’s ready.”

Tao Ming turned on the kitchen tap, washed her hands, carried two plates to the living room, and set them on the table.

While wiping the table, Tao Banxia whispered, “Everything goes on as before.”

Tao Ming nodded and headed back to the kitchen for rice.

Li Aiguo called from the kitchen doorway, “Why are the two little ones so quiet?”

“They wore themselves out playing and fell asleep,” Tao Ming replied quickly.

“They can’t skip dinner though,” Li Aiguo frowned.

Carrying bowls out, Tao Ming said, “Missing one meal is fine. Let them wake up first.”

Li Aiguo started his usual nagging, “Ming Ming, we’ve asked you to live with us, but you won’t. While your mom and I are still healthy, we could help look after the kids. Isn’t that better than you doing it all alone?”

“Dad, what about sneaking them candy behind my back?” Tao Ming changed the subject.

Li Aiguo was unrepentant. “What’s wrong with kids having a little candy?”

“Too much is bad for their teeth. If their baby teeth rot, it’ll affect their adult teeth too.”

Tao Banxia hurried to mediate. “Enough, enough, let’s eat.”

Sitting down, Tao Ming suddenly realized the old cat was missing. She asked, “Mom, Dad, where’s Meow Meow?”

Li Aiguo glanced at Tao Banxia. “Oh, cats don’t live as long as people. After so many years, your mom and I were prepared for it. Meow Meow passed two nights ago.”

A pang of sadness hit Tao Ming. The spot atop the television looked emptier than ever.

After lunch, Li Aiguo arranged to go play cards with his old friends, Tao Banxia cleaned the table, and Tao Ming washed the dishes.

When Tao Ming finished tidying up, she followed Tao Banxia back to the bedroom.

The two little ones were still sleeping. Tao Ming grew worried. “Mom, they’ve been asleep for almost an hour. Is that okay?”

“It’s fine. At most, they’ll sleep another hour before waking,” Tao Banxia reassured her, taking Tao Ming’s hand.

Tao Ming fished the two stones from her pocket and asked, “What should I do with these?”

“Your father and mother practiced different arts—your mother mastered water, your father wind. Which do you want to learn?”

Tao Ming rolled the stones in her palm. “Can’t I learn both at the same time?”

Tao Banxia thought for a moment. “There have been those who mastered both, but they were prodigies—very rare. You have no foundation yet; it’s best to start with one.”

After thinking it over, Tao Ming said, “I’ll follow my mother’s path. Since Nuo Nuo appeared in the Qiluo Clan’s sanctuary, it won’t seem strange if I know their techniques too.”

Tao Banxia was pleased. “You’ve thought it through well. You’ll need my help for the inheritance. Let’s enter the Chaos Blood Silk.”

Tao Ming hesitated. “What about Ruan Ruan and Nuo Nuo?”

“We’ll wrap them in blankets and take them in together.”

No sooner said than done. They bundled the children up, and with a thought, entered the Chaos Blood Silk.

Tao Ming held Ruan Ruan, Tao Banxia held Nuo Nuo, and together they entered the small building.

Tao Banxia looked at the empty room. “There are beds on the second floor.”

She strode to the left side of the room, felt along the wall, and with a click, a half-meter-wide crack opened in the wall, revealing a staircase.

Expertly, Tao Banxia switched on the wall lamp. Upstairs, a corridor stretched before them, with doors on either side. As she walked, she turned on the lights, then opened the door at the corridor’s end on the left, switched on the light, and entered.

As Tao Ming followed her in, she saw it was a bedroom, fully furnished. A small door on one wall probably led to a bathroom. Though no one had entered in a long time, not a speck of dust marred its clean, bright interior.

“What’s with all the secrecy?” Tao Ming asked.

Placing Nuo Nuo on the bed, Tao Banxia replied, “My lady was afraid the Chaos Blood Silk would fall into outsiders’ hands, so she set up multiple safeguards. First, the bloodline must be verified, then the key taken from me, and I have to lead the way to the second floor.”

“Mom, do you know about the Stellar Shift?” Tao Ming wondered. Tao Banxia had never mentioned it, which seemed odd.

Tao Banxia looked up. “Yes, it’s something my lady left for you. But I don’t know the details.”

She hesitated, then added, “Don’t let anyone else know about it. Carrying a great treasure can attract ill intent.”

Tao Ming grunted in assent, thinking her mother truly was loyal—after all these years, never the slightest hint of greed.

Once the little ones were settled, Tao Banxia led Tao Ming out of the building. A hundred meters away, she said, “The building is well soundproofed. Let’s do it here.”

Tao Ming took out the sealing stones. “Which one did my mother leave?”

Tao Banxia felt them, then handed one to Tao Ming. “This one carries her aura.”

She searched for a clean patch of earth and beckoned Tao Ming over, instructing her to sit cross-legged, palms up on her knees, with the sealing stone atop her head.

Then, Tao Banxia joined the tip of her left thumb and ring finger, extended the other three fingers, pressed her hand to Tao Ming’s forehead, and laid her right hand flat atop Tao Ming’s head. Channeling her power, she gently pressed down.

Tao Ming felt a surge of energy at the crown of her head and grew flustered. Tao Banxia quickly soothed her, “Don’t be nervous, it’ll be over soon.”

Tao Ming steadied herself, thinking, “I’m made of wood, I’m made of wood…”

As the energy flooded in, her whole body grew feverish. Just as it became unbearable, a rush of wind swept in, making the wild grass nearby rustle. Tao Ming felt the wind stream into her pores, coursing through her veins to every part of her body, the burning gradually subsiding.

When her body temperature returned to normal, passages of incantations appeared in her mind, and a disk-shaped object began to slowly spin in the center of her chest, with six stars glowing on it.

Before she could react, a thunderous crash erupted and she plunged down into the earth.