【You have reactivated the game guide spirit ‘Xiao Lu’】

Xiao Lu, Qin Zhou’s game system guide spirit, is part of the game system for this save file titled “Little Mountain Village.” It stubbornly survived even after the game servers went offline.

Qin Zhou speculated that the cessation of spiritual energy regeneration in the realms was related to either his quitting the game or the game’s shutdown.

Years after Qin Zhou, the village chief player, vanished, Xiao Lu and the villagers Qin Zhou had raised struggled to keep the world’s lifeline alive until Xiao Lu tracked him down again. Using Lu Yi and Galaxy, they smashed through the “Heavens” and, seizing the moment, pulled his soul here just as he was about to die in a car accident.

He didn’t need to think to know how Xiao Lu, in his role as the Heavenly Dao, had deceived Lu Yi.

That was why Qin Zhou was so furious.

“He said that if I smashed the heavens, you might return. Even if you couldn’t come back, he would bring back the information I wanted—your whereabouts, or something else. The price was that I would have to smash the heavens and spend some time in the Immortal Restraint Prison. ” Wen Jue sat atop the peak of Kunxian Mountain, gazing up at the sky.

Kunxian Mountain is the place closest to the heavens.

It was also where he had originally used his hammer to smash the sky.

Looking up, one could still see that a section of the sky was blurred. There was a hole there, which Wen Jue had since sealed with a barrier, and Qin Zhou must have returned through that very spot.

“But I was locked up in the Immortal Restraint Prison for decades, and you never came back. I grew impatient waiting, so I just assumed the Heavenly Dao had deceived me.” Wen Jue snorted coldly. “I raged and raved, but upon reflection, I had nowhere else to go, so I simply stayed locked up.”

Until… the barrier in the village of the Lower Realm was triggered by Qin Zhou.

His heart, long since still, suddenly gave a sharp thud.

Qin Zhou came over and sat down beside him.

Wen Jue clenched his fist and asked, “Are you going back?”

“I’m not going back.”

Wen Jue looked at him. “Why… weren’t you happy over there?”

“Not exactly,” Qin Zhou said after a moment’s thought. “I lack nothing, yet it feels as though I lack everything. I don’t want to go back. It’s good here. There are many villagers, and people I care about.”

Although it seemed he had been constantly busy ever since he arrived in this world, this kind of busyness was fulfilling and rewarding—it didn’t leave him feeling suffocated.

Wen Jue pursed his lips, as if comforted by his words.

“Then why did you come here in the first place?” To come here, take in so many children, and build a village.

Qin Zhou smiled. “Because my mother passed away back then. I was heartbroken and wanted a change of scenery. Later, in the village, I found a rare kind of happiness through you all.”

“Were you close with your mother?”

“Yes.”

Wen Jue opened his mouth, then closed it again, hesitating. He had never met the Qin Zhou who lived in the Realm Beyond the Heavens, but he was curious.

“I’ll tell you all about it later. We have plenty of time.” Qin Zhou took his hand, trying to pull him up. “We need to go back to the village now; the second-tier Spirit Heart Fruits are ripe.”

Wen Jue let him pull, but didn’t move. “You still haven’t explained what that Spirit Mountain Realm is all about.”

“That isn’t my world. To be precise, it’s the world I created after leaving this place,” Qin Zhou said thoughtfully. “There’s really nothing much to say about it.”

Wen Jue raised his eyes. Creation.

As a cultivator at the Tribulation Stage, he understood what creation meant. That was far more difficult than being a village chief here.

“Qin Zhou…”

“Mm.”

“Who exactly are you?” Wen Jue tried to look into his eyes, hoping to see the truth.

“An ordinary person.” Qin Zhou answered without hesitation.

Wen Jue: “……”

Qin Zhou smiled; he occasionally found himself quite humorous.

“Just an ordinary person, or a Golden Core cultivator, or your village chief.”

Those last four words made Wen Jue’s face flush. “Oh.”

Qin Zhou pulled him up from the ground; this time, Wen Jue didn’t resist.

“Back to farming. Now that I’ve harvested the second-tier Spirit Heart Fruits, I plan to plant the third-tier ones and force them to ripen early.” He’d obtained quite a bit of Spirit Marrow from Baixing, which would be perfect for hastening the ripening process.

“I’m aiming to upgrade this little mountain village directly to Level 4 this time.”

Wen Jue: “That’s a lot of work.”

“Yeah, but we’ve got plenty of manpower this time.”

“True.”

As the two prepared to leave, a sudden gust of wind blew in, bringing a chill.

Wen Jue’s words drifted on the wind into Qin Zhou’s ears.

“If you ever decide to leave again, remember to let me know.” Wen Jue lowered his gaze. “…Maybe I won’t stop you.”

That’s a lie.

If he knew Qin Zhou was leaving, the first thing he’d do would be to lock him up.

After all, he’d already sealed the hole in the sky. He’d set up a barrier; if Qin Zhou tried to run, he’d definitely know.

Qin Zhou raised an eyebrow; he didn’t buy that excuse.

Given Wen Jue’s personality, not locking him up would be the best-case scenario.

But he didn’t call him out on it.

He understood him far better than Wen Jue imagined.

“Alright, then remember this: if I suddenly disappear, it will certainly not be of my own volition,” Qin Zhou said.

“Alright.”

Qin Zhou took his hand, their palms pressed together, fingers intertwined.

Wen Jue glanced down, narrowed his eyes, and smiled.

And so, the demon-slaying affair came to a close.

After clearing the battlefield, peace and tranquility returned to the area surrounding Kunxian Mountain.

The Lu brothers also returned to their respective sects and immortal estates.

However, this was not a parting of ways; they had promised the village chief that once they returned, settled in, and entered seclusion, they would go to the Lower Realm to help with farming.

Wen Jue, on the other hand, had nowhere to go.

He had been released from prison, and his secret realm was unsuitable for use as a cultivation abode.

In the end, Qin Zhou suggested that he leave his physical body within the barrier stone and travel to the Lower Realm using only his spiritual essence.

Wen Jue had no objections.

Upon returning to the village in the lower realm, Qin Zhou discovered a letter wedged in the small wooden gate of the courtyard.

The letter was, surprisingly, from the Yaoyue Sect.

It was signed by He Wenfeng, an elder of the Yaoyue Sect.

The letter mainly concerned news about Chen San. After passing the provincial government’s assessment, Chen San had joined the Yaoyue Sect.

This was the first time he’d heard from Chen San in such a long while.

Most of what He Wenfeng wrote in the letter was praise for Chen San. Chen San’s cultivation had advanced by leaps and bounds; he was now on the verge of establishing his Foundation. Not only was his talent exceptional, but he was also making rapid progress in alchemy.

Qin Zhou agreed with these remarks; Chen San was a promising young disciple who had withstood the effects of the Bone-Washing Pill and was sincere and courteous in his demeanor.

“However…” Suddenly, the tone of the letter shifted.

—However, relying on your connections, Chen San’s temperament seems to have changed from what it once was.

Without humility and an open mind, he will likely struggle to achieve great things.

The comment was brief yet cutting, leaving Qin Zhou puzzled.

Was He Wenfeng referring to the Chen San he knew?

—Chen San injured a fellow disciple within the sect; the Yaoyue Sect could no longer keep him. Chen San has now been expelled from the sect by us. This matter has brought dishonor to you, Senior. If you wish to hold anyone accountable, hold He Wenfeng alone.

What exactly had Chen San done that was serious enough to warrant expulsion from the Yaoyue Sect?

Qin Zhou furrowed his brow, clutching the paper in his hand, his fingertips resting precisely on the words “injured a fellow disciple.”

If something truly serious had happened, Chen San shouldn’t have failed to contact him.

Qin Zhou didn’t linger; he turned and walked down the mountain.

Chen San’s parents were still in Pingcheng; even if something had happened to him, he would have had to return to Pingcheng.

It wasn’t until Qin Zhou reached the foot of the mountain that he learned Chen San had already returned to the Qin Manor.

As he stepped through the main gate of the Qin Manor, he thought to himself that once he saw Chen San, he would know exactly what had transpired.

But no sooner had he entered than someone came to greet him.

“Young Master, you’re back!”

Qin Zhou: “Mm.”

“Madam returned a few days ago as well. She’s been worrying about you terribly. I’ll go inform her right away,” the servant said cheerfully.

Qin Zhou had no objection. “Alright. By the way, where is Chen San?”

“Chen San?” The servant’s expression grew slightly peculiar. “I’m not sure, but he’s probably at the shop. If you wish to see him, I’ll go fetch him right away…”

“No need. I’ll see Mother first.”

“Then I’ll go tell them right away!”

The servant hurried off, leaving Qin Zhou standing in the courtyard, gazing at the scene.

Last New Year’s, he had been busy with farm work, and after the holiday, he hadn’t actually gone to visit his parents.

Qin Zhou’s parents were getting on in years; if possible, he would refine another batch of Bone-Washing Pills during this visit.

He was still only a Golden Core cultivator and wasn’t confident he could help his parents endure the excruciating pain of the Bone-Washing Pill, but Wen Jue’s words should be reliable.

Once Wen Jue came down, he would ask for his help so that his parents could undergo the Bone-Washing Pill as well. Even if they didn’t step onto the path of immortality, it would still extend their lifespan.

That was all he could do for his predecessor.

Just as he finished thinking this, Lady Qin, having learned of his return, hurried over.

“My son! You’re back!”

Qin Zhou quickly supported Lady Qin. “Mother, take it easy.”

Lady Qin was still wearing an apron, yet her bearing remained as elegant as ever. Though her hair was adorned with elaborate ornaments, a hint of weariness and exhaustion seemed to linger between her brows.

Was there something troubling her? Or was the elixir business not going well?

“I was just making pastries myself. I’d planned to have someone bring them up to the mountain for you, but I didn’t expect you to return first.” Lady Qin smiled, and the weariness around her eyes eased slightly.

Lady Qin looked around but saw no one behind Qin Zhou. “Did you come back alone?”

Qin Zhou nodded. “Who else did you think would be here, Mother?”

“I heard your father say there’s another person in your room…” Lady Qin cleared her throat. Unfortunately, she had never met him, but from what his father had mentioned, he was a nobleman of the Immortal Realm.

Qin Zhou offered a faint smile. “I’ll bring him back next time.”

“Alright.” Lady Qin smiled, her eyebrows arching. “Would you like to try some of the pastries I made?”

Qin Zhou didn’t refuse.

The way Lady Qin looked at him always reminded him of his late mother.

Mother and son walked toward the flower pavilion, chatting and laughing.

Lady Qin’s voice was cheerful as she chatted nonstop with Qin Zhou—

“Our business in the provincial capital is finally taking off. But I can’t manage it all on my own. Since Chen San has returned, I’ve had him help out at the shop. From the looks of it, he intends to stay and assist the Qin household from now on. I can tell this boy is one who knows how to repay a kindness.”

Qin Zhou paused. “…Mm-hmm.”

He had clearly given Chen San a choice: to stay and help at home or to embark on the path of cultivation. At the time, Chen San had chosen the latter. Could it be that this trial at the Yaoyue Sect had made him regret his decision?

Qin Zhou did not jump to conclusions. He prided himself on being fairly accurate in judging people. Having raised so many villagers, he had never misjudged a single one.

To truly understand what was going on, he would likely have to speak with Chen San himself.

“Come, sit down. I’ll go get you a taste right away.”

Qin Zhou nodded.

Soon, Mrs. Qin came out carrying some pastries.

Beautiful osmanthus cakes and mung bean cakes were placed before Qin Zhou on two small plates; even before he tasted them, their fragrance filled the air.

Qin Zhou picked up a piece and put it in his mouth.

A sweet, refreshing flavor lingered on his tongue.

“Do you like it?” Mrs. Qin asked, beaming with joy.

“Mm-hmm.” Qin Zhou nodded.

“Try the mung bean one too. They’re all your favorites.”

【Village Chief, the original host didn’t like mung beans.】

It was Xiao Lu’s voice.

Qin Zhou glanced at Mrs. Qin; she was still smiling.

Qin Zhou picked up another piece and, under Mrs. Qin’s watchful gaze, popped the mung bean cake into his mouth.

“How is this one?” Mrs. Qin asked.

Qin Zhou: “It’s very good too.”

Mrs. Qin let out a sigh of relief. “It was worth all the time I spent making these. I’ll pack some for you to take back to the mountain.” With that, she wasted no time, rising and heading straight for the kitchen.

But as she stood up, the forced smile between her brows didn’t escape Qin Zhou’s notice.

Qin Zhou put down the pastries and sat in the courtyard, watching her slightly unsteady figure recede into the distance, a shadow deepening in his eyes.

“Xiao Lu, how did you know the original host’s preferences?” Qin Zhou raised his hand and picked up another mung bean cake to eat.

It was quite a coincidence.

Compared to osmanthus cakes, he preferred mung bean cakes.

His mother used to make them for him when he was a child.

Mung bean cakes were the ones she made most often.

【Village Chief, I am the Heavenly Dao】

Qin Zhou said coldly, “So what? Does his death have anything to do with you?”

【No】

【Every mortal has their own fate. Some, with unwavering will, can defy heaven and rewrite their destiny—like Chen San. Others are mediocre and unremarkable; death is merely the end of this life, like the original host.】

“How did the original host die?”

【He was pretty unlucky—he died from a single fall.】 Xiao Lu explained.

“……”

【But I saved him】

On the day it retrieved Qin Zhou’s soul, it had merely intended to find any dead body and stuff Qin Zhou’s soul into it.

Instead, it encountered the original host, Qin Zhou, who was on the brink of death.

Same name, same surname; though born in different lives, they met their end in the same one. This rare “fate” stirred Xiao Lu’s heart. So it struck a deal with the original host.

【I’ll save his life and grant the Qin family ample fortune. In return, he must lend me his body for ten years.】

【So, Village Chief, remember to return the body to the original owner after ten years.】

“Where’s the original owner?”

A small orb of light drifted down from the sky.

Clearly, the original owner’s soul had been nurtured exceptionally well by the Heavenly Dao.

“Senior, I’m here!” the small orb of light cried out excitedly. Evidently, he had been following the Heavenly Dao the whole time, observing every detail of Qin Zhou’s life.

“Thank you, Senior, for saving my Qin family’s business and treating my parents so well!”

Qin Zhou pinched the bridge of his nose.

Although Xiao Lu acted rashly and absurdly, it had to be said that no one had died because of him, which satisfied Qin Zhou.

“Hmm. In a few years, I’ll return this body to you.”

Qin Zhou thought to himself that he would eventually need to find a Reformation Pill to save the villagers anyway.

He could just fashion a body for himself then.

“If you’re able to move, go see your mother. Don’t let her grieve.”

The little ball of light flickered several times. “Senior, I—can I do that?”

“Mm.”

Qin Zhou stood up. In the end, he didn’t wait for Mrs. Qin to finish packing; he left first.

It was evident from the mung bean cakes.

He liked mung bean cakes, but Young Master Qin didn’t.

Just as he didn’t resemble her son.

Though Mrs. Qin was kind, she was still not his mother.

Qin Zhou raised his gaze.

The mist in his eyes quietly dissipated.

He did need to remember, however, that before reshaping his physical form, he must not become intimate with Wen Jue again.

Before stepping out of the Qin residence, Qin Zhou didn’t forget to leave a parting remark.

“When Chen San returns, have him come to the village to see me.”

Madam Qin wouldn’t start probing his identity for no reason.

Someone must be instigating this behind the scenes.

Let him see just what the other party intends to do.