Cultivating Immortality, Starting from Childhood Sweethearts

Beside the study hall, there was a small room where a group of children stood.

On the left side, three of them had bruised and swollen faces. Among them, a boy named Xiong Haizhi stood out—he had even lost a front tooth, making him whistle slightly whenever he spoke.

On the right side, three other children stood. Xu Ming stood straight and calm, Xu Pangda looked nervous, while Qin Qingwan held her head high, her fair chin raised proudly. Her small hand gripped Xu Ming's sleeve tightly, her expression practically declaring, "Who dares to touch my brother Ming!"

In front of the children sat Mr. Xiao and a man dressed in a mangpao robe.

Xu Ming glanced up at the man in the mangpao, observing him.

The man smiled gently, and noticing Xu Ming's gaze, he nodded at him.

If Xu Ming remembered correctly, the Law Codes of the Wu Dynasty stated that the mangpao was a ceremonial robe bestowed by the emperor. Wearing it required a jade belt.

Though similar to the emperor's dragon robe, the mangpao was not officially part of the standard official attire. Instead, it symbolized imperial favor, making it a rare and significant honor.

This man clearly held a high status, deeply trusted by the emperor of Wu.

"Brother Zihong, forgive me," Xiao Mochi said with a laugh. "It seems your visit today has coincided with some excitement."

The man called Su Zihong shook his head. "Our Wu Dynasty is built on martial strength. It's no surprise that even young ones exchange punches and kicks. On court, we officials often argue until fists fly. The more capable an official is, the more likely they are to resort to physical expression. It just means these young ones are destined to be pillars of our dynasty's future."

"Brother Zihong, you jest." Xiao Mochi smiled helplessly and shook his head before turning to the children. "Alright, little ones, tell me—why were you fighting?"

The room fell silent.

Xiao Mochi's gaze landed on Xu Ming, the student he admired most. "Xu Ming, you first."

Xu Ming cupped his hands in a respectful gesture. "Teacher, I'm not sure myself."

"You're not sure?" Xiao Mochi asked with a smile. "Weren't you the one who knocked out Haizhi's teeth?"

"Teacher, I admit I struck them," Xu Ming replied, scratching his head. "But it was because my elder brother was being attacked. How could I just stand by and do nothing? As for why it started, I truly don't know."

Xu Ming did feel somewhat wronged. He had been careful with his strength—they lost teeth likely because they were already due to fall out!

"That's right!" Qin Qingwan quickly chimed in. "Even though we're not very close to Xu Pangda, his sister is one of our best friends. When sister Xuenuo's brother was being bullied, how could we just stand by?"

"Haizhi," Xiao Mochi prompted, turning to the boy, "tell me, how did this start between you and Pangda—"

"Who? Who dared lay a hand on my son?"

"Is there no law in this land?"

Just as Xiao Mochi was about to question Xiong Haizhi further, three women barged into the room, their voices loud and indignant.

Both Xiao Mochi and Su Zihong frowned slightly at the commotion.

"Mother, wuuu… Mother, my tooth is gone!"

"Mother, I got kicked so far!"

"Mother, I thought I'd never see you again!"

Seeing their mothers arrive, Xiong Haizhi, Li San, and Wang Wu immediately rushed over, clinging to their mothers' legs.

The three women were distressed at the sight of their children's bruised faces and dusty clothes, especially Haizhi's missing tooth.

"Don't worry! Who dared hurt you? Your mother will see justice done!" said Madam Xiong, the wife of the Minister of War, as she stroked her son's face.

"It was him!"

Xiong Haizhi and the other two pointed accusingly at Xu Ming.

"It wasn't Brother Ming! It was me who hit them!"

Xu Pangda swallowed nervously, his face pale as he stood in front of Xu Ming, his legs trembling uncontrollably.

Xu Ming and Qin Qingwan looked at Xu Pangda in surprise, not expecting him to take such responsibility.

But seriously, could your legs stop shaking?

"They started it—" Qin Qingwan was about to step forward and argue, but Xu Ming grabbed her hand and stepped forward himself. "It was me who hit them," he said.

"You—" Madam Xiong's chest heaved with anger. "Whose child are you?"

"From the Xu Household, son of the Fifth Madam," Xu Ming replied calmly.

"Xu Household? Fifth Madam?" Madam Xiong thought for a moment before sneering. "A mere concubine's son! Who gave you such audacity?"

As she spoke, she stepped forward, raising her hand to strike Xu Ming.

Su Zihong frowned and was about to intervene, but Xiao Mochi stopped him with a gesture.

Just as Madam Xiong's hand was about to land on Xu Ming—and as Xu Ming prepared to dodge—a slender, fair hand shot out and caught hers in mid-air.

Madam Xiong looked up, stunned.

Before she could react, Wang Feng raised her other hand and slapped Madam Xiong across the face.

"Wang Feng! You—you dare hit me?!" Madam Xiong's face turned pale with fury.

"Of course, I dare," Wang Feng said coldly, standing protectively in front of Xu Ming. Her hands were folded gracefully in front of her, and her gaze was icy as it bore into Madam Xiong. "Such audacity, Madam Xiong, to raise your hand against a child of the Xu Household. Do you think our household is empty of protectors? I'll have my brother submit a memorial to the emperor and ask how Minister Xiong manages his household! To strike a five-year-old child—what fine teachings indeed!"

"You—"

Madam Xiong's face alternated between green and white in anger.

Though Wang Feng's father had been dismissed from office, her elder brother still held a high-ranking position as a Censorate Minister. If her husband were to be targeted by the Censorate's investigations, it would certainly be an ordeal.

"Madam Wang, let us be reasonable here. Our children have been beaten so badly. Shouldn't you at least give us an explanation?" Madam Li stepped forward, trying to defuse the situation and give Madam Xiong a way out.

Wang Feng frowned slightly and turned to look at Xu Ming and Xu Pangda behind her, silently asking for an explanation.

Xu Ming, too, glanced at Xu Pangda.

Xu Ming truly didn't know why the fight had started. Based on what he had observed over the past few days, Xu Pangda had a soft and gentle temperament, not the type to get into conflicts.

But Xu Pangda merely lowered his head, saying nothing.

Wang Feng then turned to look at Xiong Haizhi and his two companions. The three boys immediately lowered their heads, looking guilty and too scared to speak.

"How about this," Xiao Mochi finally interjected, sensing something was off. The cause of the fight was likely something the children didn't want to disclose.

"It's already midday, and none of the ladies or children have eaten. Why don't you all take your children home first? This was my oversight, and I promise to give you all a proper explanation later. Please accept my apologies," Xiao Mochi said as he stood and bowed to the ladies.

The sudden gesture startled the three women, who quickly responded, "Sir, there's no need for this. Since you've said so, we'll trust you to handle it fairly."

"Yes, we trust your judgment as well."

"This is likely just a small matter between children. We'll take our leave for now," the others echoed.

Although Xiao Mochi held no official position, the women had heard their husbands speak of his high reputation and influence. If they continued to press the issue, it might leave a bad impression.

Not to mention, there was still the man in the mangpao quietly observing. No one dared to cause too much trouble in such company.

Madam Xiong shot one last glare at Wang Feng and her group before bidding farewell to Xiao Mochi and leaving with her children.

Wang Feng let out a quiet sigh of relief. She turned and bowed to Xiao Mochi. "I apologize for troubling you with today's matter, sir."

Xiao Mochi shook his head. "Madam, you needn't say that. It's my own oversight. I will personally visit your residences to offer my apologies."

"You are too gracious, sir," Wang Feng replied with a nod. "Then I shall take my rebellious son and leave first."

Xiao Mochi smiled. "Take care, madam."

Wang Feng cast a glance at Xu Pangda, Xu Ming, and Qin Qingwan, signaling for them to follow her.

"Xu Ming, why don't you stay behind for a bit? I have some things I'd like to ask you," Xiao Mochi said just as Xu Ming was about to leave with Wang Feng.

Wang Feng turned back, bowing slightly. "Sir, Ming'er is still young. I'm not sure if he—"

Xiao Mochi chuckled and shook his head. "You're overthinking it, madam. I simply have a few questions for young friend Xu Ming. There's no other intent."

Wang Feng glanced at Xu Ming, her worry evident.

"Auntie, you can take Pangda and Qingwan back first," Xu Ming said. "I know the way home."

"Alright." Wang Feng nodded. "Your mother doesn't know about this yet. I won't tell her for now. You can explain it to her yourself when you get back."

Xu Ming nodded. "Thank you, aunt."

Qin Qingwan wanted to stay with her brother Ming, but Wang Feng ultimately pulled her away.

---

After everyone left, only Xu Ming remained with Xiao Mochi.

"Sir," Xu Ming said, bowing respectfully.

"Xu Ming," Xiao Mochi began with a smile, "I heard that before you hit Xiong Haizhi and the others, you said, 'They're from the Ministry of War? Then that makes things simple.' What exactly did you mean by that?"

"Sir," Xu Ming replied, "according to the Laws of the Wu Kingdom, every official in the Ministry of War earns their position through battlefield merit. Without military achievements, one cannot hold office in the Ministry.

"Furthermore, I've heard from Madam Qin that all children of Ministry of War officials must practice martial arts. The culture of the Ministry is one of strength and resolve. If a child cries after being beaten, it's considered their own weakness.

"I have great admiration for the Ministry's forthrightness. I assumed that even if I injured the children of the Minister and his deputies, they wouldn't hold it against me or trouble my mother. Otherwise, they would become the laughingstock of the court."

"Haha!" Su Zihong laughed heartily. "You're quite right. If they dared to make trouble over this, they'd be ridiculed by the civil officials for bullying a child. They can't afford that disgrace. But you, boy, only five years old—how are you already so astute?"

"I just think a little more than most," Xu Ming replied.

The more Xiao Mochi looked at Xu Ming, the more he liked him. There was a natural scholarly air about the boy—a quality that would undoubtedly endear him to civil officials on the court.

It was a shame, however, that such a remarkable child was born a concubine's son in the Xu Household.

---

Xu Pangda followed his mother back to their courtyard.

Wang Feng walked quickly, forcing Xu Pangda to jog every few steps to keep up.

He glanced nervously at her profile. Her expression was cold, and his heart sank. He knew he was in for trouble.

After they entered the courtyard, Wang Feng shut the gate and turned to him, her icy gaze fixed on her son. "Kneel!"

Xu Pangda dared not disobey. He put down his small bookcase and knelt before her, bowing his chubby head.

Wang Feng picked up a tree branch and struck him across the back. As she hit him, she scolded, "I sent you to study! To learn! And you go picking fights! What were you thinking? Who do you think you can beat? Fighting! Fighting! Fighting!"

Each lash of the branch landed heavily on Xu Pangda's small frame. Tears streamed down Wang Feng's face as she struck him.

"Mother, I'm sorry…"

"Mother, I'm sorry…"

"I'm so sorry, Mother…"

Xu Pangda sobbed, his tears falling in heavy drops onto the ground. But not once did he beg for mercy. Instead, he kept apologizing over and over to his mother.

After seven or eight strikes, Wang Feng wiped her tears away with a heavy hand and demanded, "Tell me! Do you realize your mistake?"

"Mother, I'm sorry… truly sorry… but Pangda did nothing wrong," Xu Pangda choked out, his voice trembling with sobs.

"Nothing wrong? You still say you did nothing wrong?"

Wang Feng raised the branch again, striking him repeatedly.

"Do you know you were wrong?"

"Pangda did nothing wrong."

"Do you know you were wrong?"

"Pangda did nothing wrong! Waaaah! Pangda did nothing wrong…"

"You—!" Wang Feng's chest heaved with fury. She threw the branch to the ground beside him. "How could you say you did nothing wrong?"

"They can insult Pangda," Xu Pangda said through tears, his voice hoarse, "but they can't insult Mother! Pangda did nothing wrong. Pangda won't admit he was wrong."

His words came out between sobs, his face streaked with tears and snot, and the welts on his back burned with pain.

Wang Feng froze in place, staring blankly at her son.

Xu Pangda, wiping his tears and nose with trembling hands, continued in broken, halting sobs:

"They said… they said Mother is useless, that even concubines are better than Mother… That Mother will surely… surely be cast out of the Xu household one day.

"They said little sister will achieve great things, but that it has nothing to do with Mother. They said Mother deserves it… deserves to be neglected.

"It's all Pangda's fault. It's all Pangda's fault for being so useless. Pangda can't cultivate.

"Pangda… Pangda can't even study well. The poems I write… everyone laughs at them.

"Pangda dozes off in class, and the things the teacher teaches, Pangda doesn't understand.

"It's all Pangda's fault for not earning a title, for letting Mother be insulted.

"Mother, I'm sorry… I'm sorry… I'm so sorry, Mother…"

Wang Feng listened to his explanation, watched her child sob uncontrollably, and felt as though all the strength had been drained from her body. She collapsed heavily onto the ground.

No wonder Pangda had refused to explain when Xiao Mochi asked in front of everyone.

So that's what happened.

Wang Feng stared at her own hands, then at the child kneeling before her. She thought about how Pangda could not inherit a title, about how she had distanced herself from him because of that.

Was it the inheritance she wanted to give Pangda… or her own vanity?

"What am I doing?!"

Wang Feng raised her hand and slapped her own face, again and again.

"What am I doing?!"

"What in the world am I doing?!"