The man in the photograph actually looked extremely similar to the Wujitianshun he had seen in his previous “dream.”
Shui Miao was instantly shocked.
A bold thought surfaced in his mind: what he had seen in the “dream” before was half real, and half false. For example, the immortal realm and the underworld were probably not real. Jiutian Xuannü, such a mighty deity, wouldn’t possibly come to help an insignificant mortal like himself. His so-called extraordinary physical constitution might also have been an illusion. All of this might have been an elaborate mental training carefully arranged by his father for him!
If that were truly the case…
Thinking further, Shui Miao gradually calmed down and suddenly understood his father’s sincere intentions. At the very least, he had learned many valuable life lessons and improved his character, hadn’t he?
Reuniting with his mother was a very joyful event.
Shui Miao put aside his chaotic thoughts and began chatting with his mother and Auntie Yang.
However, after some conversation, he was surprised to find that many things were actually quite different from what he had experienced in his “dream.”
For example, Chen Meiling had always been very filial—perhaps even more so than a biological daughter.
Additionally, his father’s sworn brother, Director Zhang, hadn’t taken over any of his father’s assets. Those assets were still under his mother’s name, merely managed temporarily by Chen Meiling.
And those so-called old business rivals and feuds with his father turned out to be completely fabricated.
In fact, not only did they not have any enmity, but they were actually close friends willing to die for each other!
So many unexpected revelations left Shui Miao completely surprised.
From his mother, he also learned that his father had originally been an elite in the business world, but had suddenly become obsessed with the path of cultivation halfway through life. His father’s death had actually resulted from a mishap in his spiritual practice—his qi had surged into his brain, causing him to bleed from all seven orifices and die.
It was a complete upheaval!
All this information overturned Shui Miao’s previous beliefs.
However, these revelations further confirmed the suspicions he had just formed.
In other words, his father might indeed have become a ghost immortal, and everything he had experienced before was a carefully designed trial meant to help him understand the truths of life.
But then, what was the meaning behind Lin Qing’er and the others in his “dream”?
And what did those dual cultivation experiences signify?
Shui Miao decided that he must go back and meet Lin Qing’er again.
Yang Fen made a phone call and woke up Yang Min, informing many people that Shui Miao had returned.
Before long, Chen Meiling returned home.
To Shui Miao’s surprise, Chen Meiling had also brought along several of her close female friends: Lin Qing’er, Lin Zhiling, Da Shuang and Xiao Shuang, and Zhang Hanya!
They were all here!
“Shui Miao, you’re my little brother?”
As soon as Chen Meiling entered the house, she carefully examined Shui Miao. Suddenly noticing that Shui Miao’s gaze was impolitely fixed on the beautiful girls behind her, Chen quickly came up with a cover, “Haha, my brother must just be a bit overwhelmed seeing so many beauties…”
“No, it’s not that. I know them.”
Shui Miao interrupted his sister and turned to Lin Qing’er, “You are Lin Qing’er, right?”
“Eh! How… How do you know me?” Lin Qing’er was taken aback.
Shui Miao smiled slightly, “Through a dream from my father—I know all of you. You must be Lin Zhiling, Da Shuang and Xiao Shuang, and Zhang Hanya!”
He accurately named them all in one breath.
Everyone was stunned.
It was simply unbelievable.
Chen Meiling suddenly became excited, “Could it be that my father really became an immortal? I also dreamed of you being my little brother. Last night, I even dreamed that my father told me he was going to the immortal realm and asked me to take good care of my little brother. When I woke up this morning, I was so confused—where did I get a little brother from? And now, you’ve actually appeared!”
“Woah, that’s so magical!”
“…”
The group of beautiful women chattered excitedly, all visibly thrilled.
Shui Miao’s heart stirred, and he quickly asked, “Sis, you really dreamed that Father said he was going to the immortal realm?”
“Yes!” Chen Meiling nodded, “I clearly remember dreaming about it.”
“…”
Suddenly, Shui Miao turned around and began searching frantically throughout the house.
In a small room, Shui Miao opened the door and saw his father’s memorial altar.
Under normal circumstances, a memorial altar is set up for forty-nine days after someone’s death, after which it is usually removed.
Yet, Shui Miao’s father had clearly been dead for twenty years, yet the altar was still there—an unusual sight.
At that moment, Auntie Yang Fen walked over, gently closed the door, and whispered softly to Shui Miao, “Master, he has always been here. I’ve always known. That’s why I’ve kept offering sacrifices every day. Thanks to Master’s blessings, you have returned. Hurry and kowtow to Master and send him on his way.”
“What do you mean?”
Shui Miao didn’t quite understand Auntie Yang Fen’s words.
Furrowing her brows, Yang Fen said thoughtfully, “Master, when I was young, I learned a little ghost-rearing from my grandmother. After Master’s death, I’ve been following my grandmother’s teachings to nurture his spirit. Over the years, his spiritual power has grown stronger and stronger. Last night, he appeared in my dream and said that his final wish has been fulfilled and that he plans to explore the immortal realm. Now, he is just waiting for you to kowtow and send him off.”
“…”
Everything was exactly as he had suspected.
Shui Miao stared in shock at his father’s photograph, his eyes unblinking. Gradually, his vision blurred, as if he could see his father smiling at him.
“Dad, I understand your sincere intentions now. I will definitely overcome my impatience and arrogance and become a better person, living up to your expectations!” Shui Miao knelt down, tears streaming like a fountain.
In that instant, Shui Miao understood everything.
All these years, his father had never truly left him. He had been watching over his character development, and to help him achieve enlightenment, his father had even sacrificed his own spiritual energy, entering his dreams to guide him through an incredible journey. Such a heartfelt effort and deep love were beyond repayment.
Suddenly, Shui Miao felt as though he understood everything—everything in life.
This was fatherly love!
It had guided him to find his life’s direction, freeing him forever from confusion and sorrow.
Shui Miao continued to kowtow repeatedly…
“Master, Master has left. Look quickly at the incense…”
Auntie Yang Fen tugged at Shui Miao.
He looked up and saw the smoke rising from the incense burner. Suddenly, it stopped dispersing and gradually formed into a human-like figure, with a nose and eyes resembling his father’s body. Then, a sudden breeze blew, and the smoke rose with the wind, drifting out the window and soaring straight into the heavens…
“Crash!”
The wine glass on the altar suddenly cracked.
Shui Miao was stunned, not quite reacting yet, when Yang Fen said, “Master has ascended to heaven. He’s telling us that the altar should be removed now. If we don’t take it down soon, wandering spirits might be attracted here, which would bring trouble.”
As she spoke, Yang Fen smiled while tears streamed down her face, beginning to dismantle the altar.
Shui Miao quickly rushed to the window, sticking his head out to gaze at the sky. The sky was a deep blue, as if revealing infinite mystery…
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