Chapter 1089
Paying Homage to Mother
"100,000 packets of [exorcism powder] sold out in one night?"
Listening to the steward's report, Song Youfu raised his eyebrows slightly, somewhat incredulous.
Although the [Exorcism Powder] only costs one low-grade spirit stone, it brought in 100,000 in one night. Even with the current size of the Song family, the total income for the whole day would be about that amount.
Moreover, this is almost equivalent to net profit, because most of these [Exorcism Powder] are refined by Wanxiang Palace, and the two companies distribute them proportionally for sale in different areas. Apart from Song Changsheng's fifth-tier [Mermaid Tear], it is almost a business with no cost.
"The teleportation channel was closed in time, and the islands are very scattered. The East China Sea was not greatly affected by the demonic disaster, but this demonic disaster caused a great uproar, and no one dared to joke with their own life."
With the backing of Wanxiang Palace and such a low price, it's worth it to buy peace of mind for just one spirit stone. Although it was said to be sold out overnight, it actually sold out as soon as the news was released. The supply couldn't meet the demand.
"Yesterday alone, the Alliance sold at least one million packets of [Exorcism Powder] across various regions, and with the help of the Wanlong Chamber of Commerce's channels, the sales will only increase in the next couple of days," the steward reported calmly.
Song Youfu stroked his smooth chin, his eyes gleaming with shrewdness, and muttered to himself, "A million a day, war really is the fastest way to make money."
Upon hearing this, the steward was both amused and exasperated: "What kind of war profit is this? If the Myriad Manifestations Palace hadn't borne the costs, the profit from the [Exorcism Powder] would be ridiculously low."
"Indeed, Uncle and the other True Lords are too benevolent. Such a life-saving treasure could sell for a hundred spirit stones a pack and still be in high demand. That would be real exorbitant profits." Song Youfu smacked his lips, a sense of regret welling up within him.
He could naturally see the intention behind Song Changsheng and the others' actions, but he felt that the price was too low. In his opinion, selling it for ten spirit stones would be the most appropriate. Some money should be earned when it's due.
"Perhaps the clan leader has other considerations."
"Forget it, revenue generation is not something I should care about. Now that Thousand Blade City and the Vast Ocean Chamber of Commerce have been destroyed, the Hundred Refinement Sect's foundation in the East Sea has also been uprooted by the sea race."
Those who were originally attached to these forces have lost their backers, which is a good opportunity for us to recruit talent. We can contact anyone with a skill. You can't catch a wolf without risking your cub. We have to be willing to spend money now." Song Youfu said, tapping his fingertips lightly on the armrest of his chair.
Talent is the pillar of development, and this is especially true for cultivators who have mastered all the arts of cultivation.
The Song clan has only been established for a short time. Even after annexing the Jinxiu Banner and other branches of the Song clan, they still lack talent compared to the territory and industries they control.
At this point, absorbing cultivators from other clans becomes the optimal solution.
Now that the sea race has suffered a major defeat and the demonic calamity is gradually subsiding, if we don't act now, these talents will be absorbed by other forces. We must strike first.
"Is now the right time?" the steward asked hesitantly.
"If you don't fight now, no one will wait for you. Do as I say, and if the clan leader blames you, I'll take the blame." Song Youfu stood up, stretched lazily, and leisurely left the Outer Affairs Hall.
He strolled leisurely to the garrison headquarters, pushed open the door, and saw Song Youlin, who was writing furiously at his desk.
"There's still no news about Protector Lingxiao and Protector Donghua?"
"No," Song Youlin replied without looking up.
"We haven't been able to contact Yin Chou either. Could it be that the Blood Soul Demon Sect is planning to run away?" Song Youfu frowned.
Now that the sea race has suffered a major defeat, the only enemy left in the waters surrounding the East Sea Alliance is the Blood Soul Demon Sect. If they can take this opportunity to eliminate it, then their expansion will be unimpeded.
Judging by the time, it has been more than a month since Ling Xiao and Dong Hua followed the Blood Soul Demon Sect fleet. Logically speaking, there should have been results by now. Why is there still no news?
"There's no use being anxious now, let's just wait for news."
"What are you busy with?" Song Youfu walked up behind Song Youlin and found him tallying the casualties and spoils of the battle.
Looking at that string of numbers, his eyes couldn't help but dim. Victory is often built on blood and corpses. The list is not just a number, but also a collection of precious human lives.
The Twin Islands suffered relatively minor losses, while the Tenglong Islands suffered far greater casualties.
"Ugh."
All the words I wanted to say ultimately amounted to a long sigh…
It's not just the Twin Islands that are conducting post-war statistics; as the demonic calamity gradually subsides and the smoke of war dissipates, all regions are forced to confront this enormous scar.
Song Qingxing, Chi Li, and others, who had been acting as a fire brigade fighting on all sides, were finally able to return to Cangmang Peak.
Two hundred years have passed, and so much has happened. The entire Lingzhou has undergone earth-shattering changes, and there is absolutely no resemblance between Cangmang Peak and Song Qingyun's memories.
But when he actually set foot on that land, his mood inexplicably calmed down.
Following the white jade steps leading straight to the sea of clouds at the foot of the mountain, he climbed step by step, as if he wanted to measure the height of Cangmang Peak anew with his own two feet.
The fledgling eagle, having left the nest, has finally returned to its homeland.
Putting aside Song Qingyun's special identity, his current cultivation level alone is enough to warrant serious attention from the entire Song family.
Upon hearing that he had returned to the clan, Song Qingxi led a group of elders to wait for him on the mountain early in the morning.
Looking at the group of elders who came to greet him, Song Qingyun felt a little sore, as if something was about to jump out of his chest.
Two hundred years have passed in a flash, and the familiar atmosphere on Cangmang Peak is no longer there; many of the elders in the council are unfamiliar faces.
Looking at Song Qingyun's full head of white hair, Song Qingxi couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness. Fortunately, she had prepared herself mentally and quickly composed herself, showing a bright smile as she said, "Welcome home."
"Sister, I'm back."
Song Qingyun's eyes reddened, and she knelt down in front of everyone with a thud.
The eldest brother is like a father, and the eldest sister is like a mother.
He slept peacefully in Song Qingxi's arms from the time he was still an infant, and they spent the most time together in the following decades, making up for the maternal love he lacked.
With tears welling in Song Qingxi's eyes, she helped him up with her own hands and said in a lighthearted tone, "You really need to go out more. Your cultivation has surpassed mine and caught up with your brother."
"It's good to be back. Everyone is waiting for you." Song Luzhou's tone was full of relief. As the oldest member of the Song family besides Song Xianming, he had experienced the lowest point of the Song family and also witnessed its rise and the creation of new glories time and time again.
Too many young lives have fallen on the road ahead, including his direct descendants. Although Song Qingyun does not have the blood of the Song family flowing in his veins, he has watched him grow up since childhood. Now that he is over three hundred years old, he understands the feeling of losing and then regaining his lost child better than anyone else.
Song Changsheng's regret can finally be made up for one thing.
"Fifth Grandfather".
Song Qingyun bowed respectfully.
A simple sentence, yet it was filled with the warmth that belongs only to family, a feeling he hadn't experienced in two hundred years, an unprecedented sense of peace.
Although he had already broken through to the Golden Core stage, he still maintained the humility of his youth, greeting everyone one by one. Finally, he stopped in front of Zhuang Yuechan, but for a moment, he didn't know how to speak. They were nominally mother and son, and both knew of each other's existence, but they had never actually met.
When Song Qingyun was a child, Zhuang Yuechan visited Cangmang Peak once, which was also the only time. However, at that time, he was sleepy, which was his instinct. When they met, he was fast asleep.
Later, Zhuang Yuechan fell into a deep sleep because of Yu Shu Zhenjun, and not long after, he also left the cultivation world of Daqi, so naturally they had no chance to meet.
Moreover, Zhuang Yuechan and Song Changsheng were not yet married before he left. At that time, he always referred to Song Changsheng as "Aunt Chan," but now that title seems somewhat inappropriate.
Using "mother" as a title doesn't seem quite appropriate either.
It is true that he is Song Changsheng's adopted son, but he has never paid respects to Zhuang Yuechan, who has no children of her own. So it would be rather abrupt for him to speak to her directly.
Zhuang Yuechan was naturally able to sense his embarrassment. She stepped forward, smiled at everyone, and said, "Two hundred years ago, many of the elders present were still quite young, some of them not even born yet. They may not know much about some of the past events."
Today, I would like to formally introduce to you the man beside me, whose clan name is Qingyun, and who is the eldest son of my family.
Having spent two hundred years training abroad, I only hastily returned to my clan upon hearing of the demon race's invasion. If I have neglected them in any way, I ask for the leniency of my elders and seniors.
Upon hearing this, the elder, who was not entirely clear about Song Qingyun's identity, couldn't help but recall a rumor that had been circulating for many years, and thus gained a basic understanding of the situation.
Song Qingyun's identity was somewhat awkward. He was not yet married when Song Changsheng adopted him, and the clan was very accepting of him, so the problems were not yet obvious.
Now things are different; the Song family has welcomed a true matriarch.
Therefore, Zhuang Yuechan's attitude is extremely important.
Her words were tantamount to acknowledging Song Qingyun's status and position as his adopted son, and the situation instantly became clear.
As the elder in charge of general affairs, Song Luzhou took the initiative to lead the way and bow, saying, "Young Master."
"We pay our respects to the young master."
This was something Song Qingyun hadn't expected at all. He quickly stepped aside to avoid the crowd's bow, then reached out to lift Song Luzhou's bowing arm and said with a wry smile, "Fifth Grandfather, you're really making this junior feel ashamed."
Moreover... I am not my father's biological child.
Song Luzhou smiled kindly and said, "Child, do you think bloodline is more important, or is recognition more important?"
Before he could answer, she continued, "There is no difference between the two. Since the clan leader and the matriarch both approve of you, what does it matter whether you are related by blood or not?"
Everyone knows you're a good kid, and you must have suffered a lot these past years living alone away from home.
Now that you're back with your family, you can relax a bit.
Song Qingyun's eyes reddened. He turned around and knelt down in front of Zhuang Yuechan. In front of all the elders, he respectfully kowtowed and said, "Your unfilial son Qingyun greets his mother."
Zhuang Yuechan readily agreed, then reached out to help him up, and said with a light smile, "Your father has been traveling around these past few days and doesn't know about your return to the clan yet. We can give him a surprise when the time comes."
Although your father has rarely mentioned you over the years, your importance in his heart has never changed.
However, two hundred years without any news is bound to make one a little angry; you should be prepared for that.
"I understand." Song Qingyun felt a pang of guilt whenever he thought of Song Changsheng.
Song Qingxi dismissed the elders without making a sound, and only after they left did she speak: "Great-grandfather and grandmother have been very worried about you all these years, but they have been in seclusion, so they have not been able to come to see you. They would be very happy to know that you have returned."
Your uncle has kept your room for you. Go back and take a look. You must be tired from following your brother on his campaigns these past few days. Go and get some rest.
Upon hearing this, a warm feeling welled up in Song Qingyun's eyes, but he did not agree immediately. Instead, he asked a question with trepidation.
"Sister, how is Qingli doing these days?" (See Chapter 170 of Volume 5 for details)
Upon hearing this, everyone present fell silent, and even Song Qingxing subconsciously avoided looking at him.
Song Qingyun suddenly felt as if his heart had been squeezed by an invisible hand, and it almost stopped beating.
After a long silence, Song Qingxi slowly said, "I'll take you to see her."
……
Looking at the cold tombstone in front of him, Song Qingyun's mind went blank.
Although he had expected this outcome, he still couldn't accept it.
Standing before the tombstone for a long time, a gentle breeze stirred the white banner, and my chaotic thoughts gradually became clear.
"When...did she leave?" Song Qingyun squatted down in front of the tombstone, wiping away the dust as he asked, his voice unusually hoarse.
"In the third year after you disappeared, her old illness flared up, and the life force in her body was almost completely consumed."
Her uncle tried everything but couldn't cure her, and he passed away in July. Song Qingxi's voice was distant; she didn't go into too much detail, worried about upsetting him.
Song Qingyun's hand trembled slightly, and he said with difficulty, "Then... wouldn't she have suffered a lot in her passing?"
He had seen Song Qingli when she was ill more than once. Each time she would vomit a lot of blood and her skin would be pale for years.
Even though he knew nothing about medicine, he knew how painful Song Qingli's final journey would be.
He kept thinking, if he had discovered it in time, if he hadn't gone missing, would the outcome have been different?
"She left something for you in her courtyard. Go and see it when you have time."
Song Qingxi did not answer his question, but left a key in front of the tombstone and then turned and left the cemetery.
She knew that what Song Qingyun needed right now was a quiet environment where she could vent her emotions.
"what--"
No sooner had she left the cemetery than she heard a low, suppressed roar that sent shivers down her spine.
She knew that Song Qingyun had always felt guilty about what happened back then and treated Song Qingli like a younger sister.
However, with constant and meticulous care between a man and a woman, one of them will inevitably become dissatisfied with the current relationship.
This ending might be the best for both of them right now...
...(End of this chapter)