My Rules Are the Rules, The Legacy of Wei Wu
After everyone present had signed the confidentiality spirit contracts, Huang Yuanjing went over everything once more with utmost seriousness.
"One more thing," Huang Yuanjing added. "There are still quite a few mortals in your families who know of Qin Changqing's existence. Once you return, you must gather them all and erase their memories of him completely."
His expression was gravely solemn. "Qin Changqing is far too important to us. We can't afford any mishaps!"
Everyone nodded in deep agreement.
Lin Xiuwen cupped his hands and said, "Senior, I propose that from now on, the attendants and guards around Qin Changqing be jointly provided by our three families—reliable personnel to supervise one another."
His words drew surprised glances from the crowd, especially from the Qin family members, whose faces darkened.
Our Qin family's precious son-in-law not only has to be shared with the other two houses, but now monitored too? Any little schemes we might pull off in the future will be exposed for sure.
Huang Yuanjing stroked his beard thoughtfully. "Not a bad idea. Let's do it that way."
With the meeting concluded, the Lin family departed first, but Huang Yuanjing didn't rush off.
The next day, he paid another visit to the residence where Qin Changqing lived.
"Changqing, why don't you come stay with the Huang family? You'd get even better protection, and this old man would provide you with far more cultivation resources each month than the Qins do."
Huang Yuanjing beamed at Qin Changqing.
The Qin family's faces changed dramatically at this. This greedy old fox—poaching right in front of us!
"Senior, that won't do!" Qin Zhengyang hurriedly interjected. "What would it look like if our Qin family's son-in-law went to the Huangs? Besides, a stranger suddenly appearing in the Huang family would raise suspicions. Changqing's bound to interact with people from all the houses—back and forth like that, exposure is inevitable!"
Qin Changqing politely declined.: "Senior, I'm quite comfortable here in the Qin residence. Most of my children are here too—I don't want to go anywhere else."
His wives and concubines were mostly from the Qin family, and after all these years, real bonds had formed. The Qins might be using him, but they treated him well enough in tangible ways.
At least they wouldn't harm him.
Things could be different in the Huang family. Without wives, concubines, or children to tie him down, who knew if some schemer might plot against him—or treat him like breeding stock?
Huang Yuanjing pondered, then nodded. "The Qin patriarch has a point. Very well, stay with the Qins then. But your safety is paramount. I'll come back personally to set up a formation here."
Having a Golden Core real person personally lay down a protective formation was an exceptional privilege.
Once Huang Yuanjing was seen off, Qin Changqing let out a quiet sigh of relief.
"Daddy, who was that grandpa just now? Everyone seemed really scared of him!"
A five- or six-year-old boy came running out from inside, full of curiosity.
This was one of Qin Changqing's children—Qin Qiyun, though he wasn't sure of the exact birth order anymore.
Qin Changqing had lost track of how many kids he had altogether. Just in this residence, there were over thirty, not counting those still unborn.
The ones with superior spiritual roots or better had mostly been taken by the families for special training.
Those left here were mainly from his earlier mortal wives. They'd spent the most time with him and shared the deepest bonds.
"Of course we're scared of him—he's a Golden Core grand cultivator! He could decide life or death with a flick of his wrist!" Qin Changqing ruffled Qin Qiyun's hair fondly, chuckling.
"Golden Core is that awesome?" Qin Qiming said longingly. "I wanna become a Golden Core grand cultivator too! Then I can protect Daddy, and you won't have to be scared anymore!"
Qin Changqing burst out laughing and scooped the little guy up, beaming with pride. "Then Daddy'll be counting on you to protect me!"
A swarm of children poured out from the inner hall, crowding around Qin Changqing with excited chatter: "We'll all protect Daddy!"
"Good, good—you can all protect Daddy together!"
Gazing at them, Qin Changqing sighed inwardly. Their aptitudes were solid, but nothing compared to his later children. Since he couldn't give them better talents, he'd make it up in other ways.
"C'mon, Daddy made some new toys. Let's go play!"
At his call, the kids' eyes lit up. They cheered and trailed after him like a flock of ducklings.
A month later, all the mortals who knew of Qin Changqing had been quietly removed from the residence, their memories wiped.
In the Qin family's secret chamber, the three patriarchs gathered—along with Qin Changqing.
"Changqing, we asked you here to discuss some matters. This is the agreement we've hammered out among the three houses."
Qin Zhengyang placed a jade slip before Qin Changqing.
Qin Changqing scanned it with his spiritual sense, and his face darkened. Damn, these three are treating me like a perpetual motion machine—scheduling me damn near every day!
"Patriarchs, you're going too far. You can't just make a horse run without feeding it first. This schedule won't work—conceiving spiritual root seedlings isn't that simple. I need time to absorb spiritual energy, or it'll all be for nothing if it fails!"
Qin Changqing was already cursing them out in his head.
The three patriarchs frowned, but Qin Changqing's words left them a bit sheepish. They had been too hasty, not giving him room to breathe.
He had a point—if superior spiritual root kids popped out on demand, it'd be downright heaven-defying.
"So what schedule do you think is reasonable?" Qin Zhengyang probed.
"Four times a month, max!" Qin Changqing declared.
"Four's too few!" Huang Mingyi, the Huang patriarch, grumbled. "At least ten!"
The Huangs had started latest, so naturally they wanted more chances.
Ten my ass! Who’s calling the shots here—you or me?
Don’t you know I control the launch codes?
Qin Changqing stood firm. "Huang patriarch, I've said it already—too short a window, and I can't absorb enough qi. If you want quality, it takes time. If you're not picky about aptitude, forget I said anything. But don't blame me if the kids' spiritual roots fall short."
Huang Mingyi's eyes bulged. A mere first-layer Qi Condensation son-in-law daring to talk back like this?
But he didn't dare lash out. Qin Changqing was the three houses' treasure now. Harm a hair on his head, and their own Golden Core ancestor would slap him into the stratosphere—then turn to ask if Qin Changqing was satisfied.
Plus, he had to hand over his own daughter to the kid.
Grit your teeth and bear it!
"Quality over quantity—let's go with Changqing's suggestion," Lin Xiuwen said awkwardly.
"Four it is!" Qin Zhengyang jumped in. "Brother Huang, Changqing's right. We're after spiritual root quality—you can't force it."
Huang Mingyi mulled it over and conceded the logic, but he pressed on: "Fine, four times—but the Huangs get two slots!"
Qin Zhengyang and Lin Xiuwen grumbled inwardly but swallowed it. Who asked them to have the bigger fist?
And so, the three houses' alliance was sealed.
True to form as a Golden Core clan, the Huangs had three or four upper-grade spiritual root women to spare. That very month, they sent two over.
"Greetings, Fellow Daoist Changqing."
One was sultry and alluring, the other sweetly enchanting—each with her own charms. Both gazed at Qin Changqing with burning intensity. Their families had already told them this man could father heavenly spiritual root children for them. Their hearts raced; they could hardly wait to begin.
Damn, they're all top-notch—full of mature allure... But why do they keep sending me these acquaintances?
Forcing the Wei Wu legacy on me?
Qin Changqing didn't see himself that way, but damn if the path didn't keep calling him!
Still, he had to admit—it was a smoother ride.
Once you've tasted the marrow, you know the flavor!
Qin Changqing fretted over Mengde's road, fearing he might never turn back!