The robe fell from her hands as she rushed forward. Before I could react, I found myself wrapped in a tight hug that slled of jasmine tea and ho.
"My boy," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "You're really here."
I hugged her back carefully, trying to match the pressure she was using. Too tight would seem desperate and would easily crush her mortal body, too loose would seem cold and distant. Everything had to be perfect, had to match what her real son would have done...
"Lixue?" a male voice called from the back room. "Is everything alright? I heard the bell..."
"Hong!" she called back, still not letting go of . "Co quickly! Look who's here!"
And then he was there too - tall and lean, with the sa sharp features softened by laugh lines, his fingers perpetually stained with the dyes he used for the finer robes.
Looking at him was like seeing a reflection of what the original Ke Yin might have beco, had his path led to needlework instead of cultivation.
"Father," I greeted him, the word feeling strange and right at the sa ti.
He stood there for a mont, just looking at . Then, without a word, he stepped forward and joined the hug.
We stayed like that for what felt like a long ti but was probably only a few seconds. Finally, Mother stepped back, wiping at her eyes.
"Look at you!" she exclaid. "So handso, and those robes... you really made it!"
She wasn't exaggerating about the changes.
Cultivation refined the body as much as the spirit, gradually enhancing one's appearance with each breakthrough. Even at Qi Condensation Stage 6, my skin had taken on that subtle luminosity common to cultivators, while my features had sharpened and refined themselves.
It was one of those things that had always seed a bit too convenient in the novels – why were all the powerful cultivators described as devastatingly beautiful?
But now I understood.
The sa energy that strengthened our bodies also perfected them, smoothing out flaws and emphasizing attractive features. No wonder so many young cultivators seed to have stepped straight out of poetry.
"The sect has been good to ," I said, which was true enough in its way.
"You must be hungry," she decided. "I was just about to make lunch. Hong, close the shop – our son is ho!"
"Mother, I can't stay long," I tried to protest. "There's a beast wave coming, and I need to help set up defenses..."
"All the more reason to eat well now," she insisted. "You can't fight on an empty stomach. Besides," her voice softened, "how can a mother not feed her son?"
How could I say no to that?
"Sit, sit!" Mother was already bustling around the kitchen area. "I was just about to make lunch anyway. Hong, could you get the good tea set? The one with the crane patterns?"
"Mother, you don't have to—" I started to protest, but she cut off with a look that I sohow knew ant 'don't you dare argue with about this.'
"My son returns ho after months away, having beco a proper cultivator, and you think I'm not going to make a proper al?" She shook her head, already starting to chop vegetables. "What kind of mother would I be?"
I caught Father hiding a smile as he retrieved the tea set she'd ntioned. It was their best one – a wedding gift from her parents, only used for special occasions.
"Here," Father handed a cup of tea, the familiar aroma of his special blend filling the air. "Still rember how to hold it properly?"
It was a joke – probably referencing so childhood clumsiness – but my body moved automatically, fingers positioning themselves with the grace that ca from years of practice I hadn't actually experienced. The muscle mory was perfect, even if the mories themselves were vague.
"So things you don't forget," I said, taking a sip.
The taste was consisted of complex notes of oolong and jasmine with just a hint of sothing earthier underneath. Father had always experinted with his tea blends, treating them with the sa careful attention he gave to his tailoring.
"Speaking of not forgetting," Mother called from the kitchen, "have you been eating properly at the sect? You look thin."
I almost laughed. This body was in the best physical condition it had ever been in, thanks to cultivation's enhancent effects. But I supposed to a mother's eyes, her child would always look like they needed feeding.
"The sect provides good als," I assured her. "Though nothing compares to your cooking."
"Flattery will not get you out of eating a proper lunch," she replied, but I could hear the pleased note in her voice. "Now tell us about the sect. What have you been learning? Have you made friends? Are the elders treating you well?"
As she talked, her hands never stopped moving – chopping vegetables, seasoning at, adjusting the fire under the wok. It was a dance the original had seen countless tis, but watching it now, I noticed details the original Ke Yin probably hadn't. The way she unconsciously infused tiny amounts of qi into the ingredients, for instance. Not enough to count as cultivation, but just that trace amount that ca from living near spiritual lands.
"It's... interesting," I said carefully, trying to figure out how to explain sect life without ntioning any of the more dramatic parts. "I've been focusing on formation studies mainly. It turns out I have a talent for it."
"Formations?" Father looked up from where he was setting the table. "Like the protective arrays on the granary?"
"Similar, yes. Though mine are more specialized. I can create barriers, early warning systems, that sort of thing." I decided not to ntion the combat applications. No need to worry them unnecessarily.
"Always knew you had clever hands," Father nodded approvingly. "Rember how quickly you picked up basic stitching? Formations aren't so different from sewing, when you think about it. Both require precision, patience, understanding how different parts work together..."
He wasn't wrong, actually. The way he'd taught the original Ke Yin to visualize sewing patterns wasn't that different from how formation masters mapped out energy flows. I filed that comparison away for future reference – it might be useful for teaching others.
"Hong, stop trying to turn everything into a tailoring lesson," Mother chided, but her tone was fond. "Let the boy tell us about his life! Have you made friends? Found a nice girl perhaps?"
I almost choked on my tea. "Mother!"
"What? A mother can't be interested in her son's happiness?" She started transferring dishes to the table – when had she prepared so much food? "Though I suppose cultivation cos first at your age. Your father was the sa way when we first t, always so focused on perfecting his craft..."
"Lixue," Father's ears had turned slightly red. "I'm sure Yin doesn't want to hear about that."
"Oh? And why not? It's a cute story! I never told you this but your father spent three months working up the courage to speak to . And when he finally did, he pretended he needed help choosing herbs for a headache redy..."
"I did have a headache," Father muttered. "From spending three months trying to work up courage."
The banter felt... natural. Comfortable. I found myself relaxing despite my earlier tension, drawn into their easy dynamic.
"The food slls amazing," I said, partly to save Father from further embarrassnt and partly because it was true. Mother had outdone herself – there were at least six dishes on the table, each one looking better than the last.
"Just simple ho cooking," she said modestly, though her pleased smile said otherwise. "Nothing fancy like what you must get at the sect."
That was debatable. The sect's food was technically "better" in terms of spiritual energy content, but it was also standardized for optimal cultivation benefits. This... this was food made with love, each dish chosen specifically because they were things that the original had enjoyed.
There was the twice-cooked pork with just a hint of spice, exactly how I apparently liked it. The winter lon soup that had been a childhood favorite. Even the vegetables were prepared the way I preferred – the string beans cut at precisely the right angle, the mushrooms sliced to the perfect thickness.
"Thank you," I said softly, and ant it. "This is... this is perfect."
"Eat, eat!" Mother urged, already filling my bowl with rice. "You're too thin. How can you fight spirit beasts if you don't keep up your strength?"
I noticed she'd given all the best pieces – the most tender cuts of at, the crispiest bits of vegetables. It was such a mother thing to do that it made my chest ache with an emotion I couldn't quite na.
"So," Father said as we began eating, "formations? Tell us more about that. The sect must have amazing resources for studying such things."
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I latched onto the safe topic gratefully. "They do, but I'm also part of the Formation Guild now. The guild has archives going back centuries, and I've been learning under Formation Master Chen Yong."
As I spoke, I found myself falling into the familiar rhythms of a family al. It helped that their questions were genuine, showing real interest in understanding what I was learning rather than just politely listening.
"I…I recently beca a Level 2 Formation Practitioner."
The words ca out tinged with pride, even though I knew they had no idea what the ranking ant. Sothing about telling them made want to stand taller, like a child showing off a good mark on a test.
"Level 2 Formation Practitioner!" Mother bead, reaching across the table to pat my hand. "Our son, already achieving such things!"
The pride in their eyes was almost overwhelming. Father was trying to maintain his usual calm deanor, but I could see the way his chest puffed up slightly. Mother wasn't even attempting to hide her joy, practically glowing with pride.
"That's my boy," Father said softly, and sothing in his tone made my chest tighten. "Always knew you were ant for great things."
"So these formations," Mother added more soup to my bowl before I could protest, "they'll help keep you safe during this beast wave business?"
"Absolutely," I assured her. "That's actually why I was chosen for this mission – my formation skills are particularly useful for defensive operations."
"Good, good," she nodded, but I could see the concern in her eyes. "Just... be careful, alright? Those beasts, they're not like the normal forest creatures."
"I know, Mother. We have a good team, and a solid plan. Everything will be fine."
"Of course it will," Father agreed, though I noticed him exchanging a worried glance with Mother. "Our son is a proper cultivator now. He can handle himself."
There was still pride in his voice, but also sothing else. A hint of... distance? Not emotional distance, but the kind that cos from knowing your child has stepped into a world you can't follow.
"I'm sorry I haven't written," I said suddenly, feeling the need to address the elephant in the room. "The sect... it's been intense. Very competitive. But that's no excuse. I should have found ti."
"Oh, sweetheart," Mother's eyes softened. "We understand. It's a whole new world for you. Of course you needed ti to adjust."
"Still," I insisted, "I'll do better. When I go back, I'll write regularly. I promise."
And the strange thing was, I ant it. Not just as sothing to say to make them feel better, but as a genuine commitnt. These people – who had loved and raised their son, who had celebrated his achievents and supported his dreams – deserved better than silence.
"Well," Father smiled, "that's sothing to look forward to then. Though perhaps you could visit occasionally too? When you're not busy with important sect business, of course."
"Of course," I agreed, surprising myself again with how much I ant it. "I'd like that."
Mother bead, adding more food to my bowl despite it still being half full. "Good! And maybe next ti you visit, you'll be able to et your new sibling."
I blinked, the words taking a mont to register. "My... what?"
"Oh!" Mother's hands flew to her mouth. "I wasn't going to say anything yet, but... well..." She looked at Father, who nodded encouragingly. "I'm with child. Just over a month along."
I sat there, stunned, as the implications sank in. A sibling. Not only had the original Ke Yin been an only child, but I had too...
Almost without conscious thought, I extended my spiritual sense ever so slightly. Sure enough, there it was – the tiniest spark of life, barely visible to my cultivation-enhanced perception. A new soul, just beginning to form.
"That's..." I searched for words, found myself smiling genuine. "That's wonderful! Congratulations!"
"We weren't sure how to tell you," Father admitted. "With you being away at the sect, starting your new life..."
"Are you kidding? This is amazing!" And it was. The idea of being a big brother – even in this complicated, borrowed way – filled with an unexpected warmth. "Do you know if it's a boy or girl yet?"
Despite it only being a month, I knew there were techniques to predict a child's gender years before conception – complex divination thods using star charts and blood essence that could tell you not just the gender, but potential talents and even approximate cultivation aptitude.
But those techniques belonged to the realm of immortal sects and powerful clans, far removed from this peaceful village life.
Though it wouldn't surprise if old Lady Zhu down the street claid she had so secret thod passed down from her grandmother – every village seed to have at least one elderly woman with mysterious "traditional knowledge."
"Too early to tell," Mother laughed. "Though your father is convinced it's a girl."
"A father knows these things," he said with mock solemnity, then broke into a grin. "Though I was also convinced you would be a girl, so perhaps I'm not the most reliable source."
The conversation flowed easily after that, moving from the baby to village gossip to more stories about my ti at the sect (carefully edited for parental consumption). Before I knew it, an hour had passed in what felt like minutes.
"I should go," I said reluctantly. "The team will be waiting, and we need to set up defenses before the beast wave arrives."
Mother's face fell slightly, but she nodded. "Of course, of course. Duty calls." She started wrapping up leftover food in leaves. "At least take so of this with you. Spirit beasts or no spirit beasts, you need to eat."
"Mother, I have a storage ring full of supplies. I don't nee—"
"Storage ring or no storage ring, you're taking food with you." Her tone brooked no argunt. "And you're coming back to say goodbye properly before you return to the sect. No disappearing without a word!"
"Yes, Mother," I agreed, accepting the wrapped packages with as much dignity as one can muster while being fussed over by a parent.
"And be careful out there," Father added, pulling into another hug. "We're very proud of you, son. But we'd rather have you safe than heroic."
I hugged him back, then found myself wrapped in another embrace from Mother. "I'll be careful," I promised. "And I'll co back. Both from this mission and to visit properly once things are settled at the sect."
As I stepped out of the shop, food packages safely stored away and promises to return still ringing in my ears, I felt... different. Lighter sohow, as if so tension I hadn't even been aware of had finally released.
"Your heart rate has stabilized significantly," Azure noted. "And your qi flows are more harmonious than they've been since you started cultivating."
"Is that your way of saying family ti was good for ?"
"I believe the technical term is 'emotional cultivation breakthrough,'" he replied dryly. "Though I suppose 'family ti' works as well."
I smiled, looking back at the shop one last ti. I had a beast wave to stop, defenses to set up, and a mysteriously acting teammate to keep an eye on. But sohow, none of those challenges seed quite as daunting as they had an hour ago.
Perhaps that was the real power of family – not the emotional support or the practical help, but the way they could make even the most complicated situations feel manageable. And standing here, I realized sothing important: there was no point in constantly thinking of myself as an impostor.
If the family had noticed anything unusual about their son, they didn't ntion it, whether it be because they were in denial or I did a good job at hiding it, I wasn't sure.
But it didn't matter anymore, for all intents and purposes, I was Ke Yin now.
The original might be gone, but his legacy lived on through . His parents' happiness, his unborn sibling's safety, his village's protection – these were now my responsibilities, my privileges, my life.
Not because I had stolen them, but because fate, karma, or whatever cosmic force governed reincarnation had entrusted them to . Sotis acceptance wasn't about resolving all your doubts, but about choosing to move forward despite them.
"Master," Azure interrupted my philosophical musings, "I feel compelled to point out that you're still standing in the middle of the street, and several villagers are giving you concerned looks again."
"Right," I shook my head, turning toward where I could sense my teammates gathering. "Ti to go save the village. Can't be a proper big brother if I let spirit beasts eat everyone, can I?"
"...I'm not entirely sure that's how being a big brother works."
"Well, we'll figure it out as we go. Just like everything else."
After all, that's what family does, right? Figures things out together, one step at a ti.
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