Chapter 8: The Root of Disaster

That is why she and Shen Kai had not married after all this time.

On the very first day they met, she declared that in this lifetime, she would never marry or have children with anyone. If Shen Kai still wished to be with her, to share his life, she would treat him well. But if one day he no longer loved her or desired to marry and start a family, she would let him go.

So, when Shen Kai left for more than half a year, she did not seek him out—perhaps he had found a new love, or perhaps he had grown weary of her, or maybe he wanted to marry. Whatever the reason, she had no right to blame him, for she could not provide the happiness that a man on Earth deserved: to build a family and have children.

As long as she knew he was still alive somewhere on Earth, living well, that was enough. She possessed a soul token made with Shen Kai’s blood; if anything happened to him, the token would shatter. Since it remained intact, he must be living peacefully somewhere on Earth.

Setting aside the turmoil in her mind, Mu Tong’s eyes grew cold as she looked at Yun Feng. “Who told you I want to live that long? As long as every day is lived with brilliance and meaning, even if only for a few decades, that is happiness enough.”

Yun Feng pleaded softly, “Wife, you can only live eight hundred years now. I will live at least five thousand. If I don’t give you these things, how can you stay with me longer?”

Mu Tong grew impatient. “How many times have I told you, I am not your wife! Never your wife! Even if I could live five thousand or ten thousand years, I still wouldn’t be your wife! From now on, don’t feed me those ridiculous things again, or I will never come to Hidden Immortal Town.”

“Alright, alright. Not feeding you is fine. Is it because my mother said you could only be my concubine that you don’t want to be my wife?” Yun Feng hurriedly explained, “Don’t worry, I will only marry you. I want no other goddesses or fairies. If you don’t believe me, I can swear it now.”

“I, Yun Feng, will only marry Mu—”

“Feng’er! What are you doing? Why are you still not home after so long?” Yun Feng’s oath was abruptly interrupted by a voice from the doorway.

“Mother, we just finished exchanging food, we’re heading back soon.” Yun Feng stuck out his tongue, but before he could move, his ear was firmly grabbed by Auntie Pang. “It took you so long to exchange food. Were you off playing somewhere just now? You’re so old, yet still so naughty. Don’t you know mother is waiting for the delicacies?”

After scolding Yun Feng, Auntie Pang turned with a smile toward Mu Tong. “Little Tongtong, did Feng’er tease you? That little rascal loves to cause mischief. If he said anything to upset you, just ignore it—he’s just full of hot air.”

“Mother, I didn’t tease my little wife at all. Everything I said was—ouch, ouch! Mother, I’m grown up now. Can you stop treating me like a child?” Yun Feng grimaced. Though he had the power of a Nascent Soul, in front of his noble divine general mother, he was nothing and had no strength to resist.

“I’ve decided—I must cultivate diligently from now on!” Yun Feng resolved silently, determined to surpass his mother soon, so that she wouldn’t treat him as easily as a mere chick.

“Alright, alright. You said it yourself—starting tomorrow, you’ll go into seclusion!” Auntie Pang’s round face blossomed into a radiant smile upon hearing Yun Feng’s earnest vow. This little brat just didn’t cultivate properly; otherwise, his power wouldn’t still be at Nascent Soul level.

“We’re leaving now. When there’s time, come back and exchange delicacies with us again.” Auntie Pang said goodbye to Mu Tong with a smile, tugging Yun Feng’s ear as they left the door and headed home. As they walked, she lectured him, “This time, you better stay in seclusion and don’t come out until you reach Refining Void level!”

Once around the corner, Auntie Pang released his ear. Yun Feng quickly dashed home, thinking: Mother is terrifying, especially when she nags and throws tantrums!

Seeing Yun Feng disappear, Auntie Pang did not pursue. She peered back at Mu Tong’s tightly closed door, her face shadowed with gloom. That brat! She had thought Mu Tong was good, and would allow Feng’er to take her in. But to think Mu Tong had tricked Feng’er into swearing to marry only her—this was outrageous!

In Auntie Pang’s eyes, someone as poorly gifted as Mu Tong had no right to touch her son. At best, she could be a concubine—helping with the household’s cooking, and if lucky, bearing a son and a daughter. Feng’er’s future main wife would certainly be a divine maiden of equal standing, not a mere Foundation Establishment cultivator like Mu Tong.

As for whether Feng’er would marry more wives, that would be his decision. Auntie Pang could not tolerate her husband having multiple wives, but if her son wanted many wives, she was more than happy.

After all, the more wives, the greater the chance of offspring. How could her genius son lack heirs? The more children, the happier she would be!

That was why, when she heard Yun Feng beginning to swear his oath, she decisively interrupted him. Swearing a divine oath was not a joke—once sworn, it must be upheld for life, or the inner demon would kill the oath-breaker!

Fortunately, she stopped Yun Feng in time, or the consequences would have been dire. The thought of her son being bound to a worthless wife for life terrified Auntie Pang.

In the Immortal and Divine Realms, monogamy was rare; most practiced polygamy or polyandry. Few couples like Auntie Pang and her husband remained monogamous, making them envied by many goddesses and fairies.

Whether as the sole husband or sole wife, that party was always the strongest. Those with multiple spouses usually lacked the strength of their only partner. Indeed, in the Immortal, Divine, and Cultivation Realms alike, strength dictated all. With sufficient power, no one dared cause trouble over marriages or anything else.

Her son, blessed with exceptional talent and destined for greatness, could never settle for just one wife—especially one deemed a failure. Thinking of how close that had almost become, Auntie Pang could not help but seethe with anger. Girl! Don’t blame me for acting against you. You were too arrogant to scheme against my son!

What Auntie Pang did not know was that the divine oath was not Mu Tong’s idea; it was Yun Feng’s own voluntary decision. Even if she knew, she would blame Mu Tong anyway. After all, Yun Feng was her son. How could she allow Mu Tong, who might obstruct his future, to have any chance to ‘harm’ him again?

Girl, don’t blame me!