Beast Taming: I Have an Immortal Mansion-Chapter 38: The Full Story of the Stolen Infant
On Minshan, in a remote little courtyard, a boy of about ten was meditating with his eyes closed. If Fang Qingyuan had been there, he might have even recognized him.
This was the same boy Fang Qingyuan had encountered on the humpback ray ride to Black River Square, the one who had ignored him when he tried to strike up a conversation.
Back then, Fang Qingyuan had seen the boy wandering the streets of Black River Square in a daze. Preferring to avoid trouble, he hadn’t gotten involved. He never imagined that, after all the twists and turns, he would end up embroiled in this affair anyway.
Of course, Fang Qingyuan knew nothing of this. He was still in the wilderness, running for his life.
Suddenly, the sound of the door being pushed open came from the entrance. The boy opened his eyes to see Liu Siwu walking in.
Liu Siwu walked over to the boy, stared down at him, and asked,
"Liu Yan, how are your studies coming along today?"
Liu Yan answered honestly,
"Grandfather, I’ve already circulated the *Fire Spirit Art* for one full cycle. Next, I’m supposed to study the *Introduction to Talismans*."
Liu Siwu nodded and murmured,
"Truly a good seedling. A Fifth-Layer Qi Refining Cultivator at such a tender age. You are far superior to those disappointing descendants of my Liu Family."
Liu Yan asked, confused,
"Grandfather, why would you suddenly say that? I’m a descendant of the Liu Family, too."
Seeing Liu Yan’s quick declaration, Liu Siwu’s expression became a faint, unreadable smile. He said leisurely,
"Three months ago, you snuck out and went to Black River Square, intending to board a Flying Boat to the Central Plains Region. Is that right?"
Hearing Liu Siwu’s words, a fearful look appeared on Liu Yan’s face. He defended himself in a low voice,
"I just wanted to go out and see the world. You never allow me to leave this courtyard. All these years, I haven’t made any friends and can only focus on cultivating. I just took a quick trip to Black River Square and came right back. I never had any intention of leaving the Southern Border."
Suddenly, Liu Siwu burst into laughter, a wild, almost maniacal sound.
"I should have realized it sooner. You’re naturally gifted, intelligent, and patient. Who wouldn’t love a child like you? Huo Xiaolan was your wet nurse for three years, and she could never forget you. She was always begging me to let her see you.
I told you your parents were long dead. You asked a few times, then stopped. Thinking about it now, I suppose you never believed me."
At this, Liu Siwu’s expression grew savage. He advanced on Liu Yan step by step, his killing intent radiating chillingly.
"You’ve known for a long time that you aren’t a descendant of the Liu Family, haven’t you? When did you find out?
I shouldn’t have been so soft-hearted, letting Huo Xiaolan see you time and again. Her own child died, so she started treating you as her own flesh and blood. I should have killed her back then.
But it’s not too late. I’ll kill you first, then I’ll send her down to join you."
Liu Yan’s face was a mask of terror. He stumbled backward, pleading desperately,
"Grandfather, what are you talking about? I’m Liu Yan! I’m your grandson!"
Liu Siwu was unmoved by Liu Yan’s pleas. With a flash of his hand, a Talisman appeared. It pulsed with an astonishing aura, ready to be activated at any moment.
But just then, Liu Siwu froze. He glanced down and saw a spot of blood blossom on his chest.
The stain spread rapidly, becoming a gushing torrent within a few short breaths.
His chest had been pierced through, yet Liu Siwu didn’t fall. Instead, a smile spread across his face as he looked at Liu Yan.
"The Nine Radiance Sword Talisman? You’ve already learned how to use it. Well done. This way, even after you leave the Liu Family, you’ll have the means to protect yourself."
The terrified expression had vanished from Liu Yan’s face. His expression was calm, but he felt no joy in the outcome he had brought about with his own hands.
On the contrary, his eyes filled with shock and suspicion. He couldn’t help but ask,
"Why didn’t you activate the Talisman in your hand? And when my Sword Talisman struck, I didn’t sense your Protective Spiritual Qi at all. Did you... do it on purpose?"
As he said this, Liu Yan, with his sharp intellect, understood. Liu Siwu’s entire act had been to force his hand.
A Qi Cultivation Cultivator wouldn’t die immediately even if their heart was pierced. Liu Siwu could no longer stand and collapsed to the ground. He spoke with great difficulty.
"Liu Yan, believe it or not, I never had any intention of killing you to silence you. But your wet nurse told a disciple from Beast Taming Mountain about this, so the matter must be put to an end.
With my death, the Liu Family might be spared. I am the only one who knows the truth; the others in the family are innocent. My death should also serve as some form of compensation to you. Afterward, do not hold any resentment toward them. Now, take my storage bag and leave this place."
Seeing that Liu Yan was about to ask something, Liu Siwu spoke again, quickly.
"Just listen, I don’t have much time. Ten years ago, I went to Qi Dong City in the Central Plains to purchase a Mountain Protection Array. On my return journey, we were attacked by a group of Tribulation Cultivators. In the midst of the battle between our beast ship and the Tribulation Cultivators, we passed over a village.
The aftershocks of the battle destroyed the entire village. Those Jie Cultivators had no scruples; they didn’t care whether mortals lived or died. The battle was fierce, and we suffered heavy losses. After the Jie Cultivators retreated, as we were cleaning up the aftermath, I found you—a small child, sheltered beneath your mother’s body."
As he spoke, the light in Liu Siwu’s eyes began to fade. His voice grew weaker.
"I should have handed you over to a local Cultivator Clan, but your innate talent was just too extraordinary. A Celestial Spirit Root... no one could see that and not be moved by greed. So, I, too, succumbed to temptation. I secretly brought you back to Minshan and claimed you were the child born to Huo Xiaolan.
Liu Yan, you must believe me. Though I took you, I didn’t steal you or kidnap you. I just... I couldn’t restrain my own selfish desire. I wanted the Liu Family to have a Foundation Establishment Cultivator. For all these years, without a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, our Liu Family hasn’t been able to hold its head high among the other clans..."
Liu Siwu’s breathing grew fainter, as if he would draw his last breath at any moment. Liu Yan stared at the old man on the floor, an empty feeling hollowing out his chest.
Sensing Liu Siwu was about to die, Liu Yan found himself at a loss for words. He had so many questions to ask, so many emotions to unleash, but when he opened his mouth, only a single sentence came out:
"Then... what was my original surname?"
Hearing Liu Yan’s question, Liu Siwu used the last breath of his life to say with great difficulty,
"Everyone in that village had the surname Jiang... so you should be a Jiang, too... Yan’Er... don’t blame me..."
Liu Yan—no, it should be Jiang Yan—stared blankly at the now-dead Liu Siwu. Then, he reached out and closed the old man’s eyes.
After untying Liu Siwu’s storage bag, Jiang Yan summoned a Magic Sword beneath his feet. He pointed it in a single direction and shot into the sky in an instant.
....
Meanwhile, Fang Qingyuan was still in a cave, watching over Huo Xiaolan. Lao Bai stood guard at the entrance, which gave him a great deal of courage.
’If this Huo Xiaolan doesn’t wake up soon, I’m not waiting any longer. If the witness is lost, she’s lost. My own life is what’s most important.’
’I can’t let myself get trapped in such a dangerous situation over my very first assignment. Once I’m back at Celestial Gate Mountain, I’ll report this to Lechuan and let him deal with the headache.’
As Fang Qingyuan mulled this over, time ticked by. A short while later, seeing that Huo Xiaolan was still unconscious, he finally decided he couldn’t wait any longer. He stood up abruptly and said to Lao Bai,
"We’re not waiting anymore. We’re leaving now. If she doesn’t survive the trip back, then that’s her fate."
However, just as Fang Qingyuan had made his decision, he saw Lao Bai at the mouth of the cave shaking its head, signaling that someone was approaching.
The next moment, a battle broke out.
