We’ll never be apart again.

These should have been touching words, but for some reason, he just felt a sense of helplessness. ’If she really had been thinking about me and missing me all this time, would she have been unable to find me?’ Ronan had been at the Azure Sky Sect before. With her level of Cultivation, a round trip would have only taken two days. ’Even if she had her reasons, couldn’t she have at least sent a letter, even just a few words? But there was nothing.’ He had gone from hope to disappointment, and now, he was simply calm.

’Perhaps his mother did love him, but it wasn’t like she was short on children.’

Ronan Yardley glanced at her.

"Did you need me for something?"

Seeing her son speak so coldly, Jocelyn Grant wore a look of disbelief.

"Ronan, are you still angry with me?"

Ronan Yardley shook his head slightly. "I’m not angry with you."

Jocelyn Grant grabbed his hand. "Come home with me. Let me take good care of you from now on. I won’t let you wander out here alone ever again. I’ve wronged you all these years, but I’ll make it up to you."

Hearing this, Ronan Yardley froze for a moment, then looked up at her. "Mother, in all the years you’ve been away, have you had other children?"

An awkward expression crossed Jocelyn Grant’s face, but she still managed a soft "Mm." "Yes, you have a little brother and sister. I’m sure you’ll love them when you meet them."

Perhaps afraid he would get the wrong idea, Jocelyn Grant quickly added, "It’s not what you think. I had my reasons. The situation back then was very complicated, and I didn’t know how to explain it to you. I was severely injured and met your Uncle Hawthorne, and then... your brother and sister were born. Later, your Uncle Hawthorne died, too."

Jocelyn Grant said this with a sorrowful expression.

Ronan Yardley watched her.

"My condolences."

Jocelyn Grant: "..."

’Why does that sound so... grating?’

Ronan Yardley scratched his head and asked another question. "So, Mother, do you have a Taoist Companion now?"

Jocelyn Grant’s face stiffened. ’Why does this child keep asking about such adult matters?’

She nodded slightly.

"Yes, I do. He’s a Cultivator from the Primal Heaven Sect. We became Taoist Companions a while ago."

Ronan Yardley continued to ask, "Does he treat you well?"

Jocelyn Grant blushed.

’Is my son concerned about me?’ At that thought, Jocelyn Grant’s face filled with emotion. ’It seems he’s accepted me, and he’s accepted him, too.’

She nodded slightly.

"He does. Your Uncle Lockwood treats me very well. Once I bring your brother and sister back, we can all live together as a family. Your Uncle Lockwood will be your father, and he’ll treat you all as his own children."

Ronan Yardley shook his head gently and said, "I have only one father: Liam Yardley. He did terrible things and caused the deaths of many people, but it was all for my sake. It was to cure my illness; he was dragged down by me. So I can’t possibly accept another man as my father."

Hearing her son mention Liam Yardley, Jocelyn Grant’s face twisted in pain.

"Brother Young..."

"It’s all Celeste Grant’s fault. This is all because of her! If it weren’t for her, how could I have been separated from Brother Young? It’s her fault we’ve been apart for so many years. Ronan, you must remember our family’s enemy. You have to avenge your father."

Ronan Yardley: "..."

’Is this really my mother?’

’Is she trying to get me killed?’

’A normal person like me, who can’t even cultivate, is supposed to get revenge on who?’

’I’ve heard of Celeste Grant. In the Cultivation World, she’s a powerhouse at the Golden Core Stage. Not to mention, she’s the wife of that Demon who even the Seven Great Celestial Sects couldn’t defeat. Me, get revenge on her? I’d be better off just going to sleep. I can do anything in my dreams.’

He wiped a bead of sweat from his forehead.

"Mother, you really overestimate me."

"Me? Do you have any idea who she is, versus who I am?"

Jocelyn Grant’s expression froze.

’How is this different from what I imagined?’

’Shouldn’t he feel sorry for me and promise to get revenge? Even if he couldn’t do it, just hearing him say the words would have made me happy. Is it because I didn’t raise him myself? Is that why we’re not close?’

"You silly child, what’s so great about Celeste Grant? She’s only at the Golden Core Stage. So am I."

Ronan Yardley replied, "You said it yourself—the Golden Core Stage. Mother, you’re lucky to still be alive. What’s this talk about revenge? Your life is the most important thing. Do you have any idea how many Golden Core cultivators there are in The Demonic Sects? You should stop thinking about revenge. As the saying goes, ’Discretion is the better part of valor.’ You have other children. Have you thought about what would happen to them if you died? Since you have a Taoist Companion now, you should just focus on living a good life with him."

Jocelyn Grant felt like she was about to cough up a mouthful of old blood.

She really wanted to say one thing.

’You really are my son.’

But then she heard Ronan Yardley add something else.

"You have a family and other children, so now I can rest easy. A while ago, I was about to freeze to death on the side of the road, but a lame old man found me. I can’t cultivate, but I learned some hunting skills from him and a bit of the Mortal Realm’s martial arts. I can support myself, so I won’t be going back with you."

’Not going back with her.’

Jocelyn Grant grabbed his hand.

"What nonsense are you talking about? If you don’t come with me, are you disowning me as your mother? Are you still angry with me?"

Ronan Yardley shook his head. "Mother, I’m not angry with you. Everyone has the freedom to choose how they want to live. Take care of yourself from now on. I’m afraid I won’t be able to fulfill my filial duties to you."

Jocelyn Grant thought he was saying this because he couldn’t cultivate and was afraid of being a burden to her. The thought made her even more upset. "What on earth are you thinking? I’ve never considered you a burden. It’s fine that you can’t cultivate. Ronan, don’t be so pessimistic. I know of a Secret Technique that will definitely allow you to cultivate. My son won’t be an ordinary person for his entire life. Your body is healed now, and you have plenty of time. We’ll take it slow. One day, I’ll be able to find a suitable Spirit Root to transplant into you, and then you’ll be able to cultivate."

Ronan Yardley looked at this mother of his with an expression of pure refusal.

’No way.’

He then spoke. "A Spirit Root? Where would you get a Spirit Root? By killing someone and transplanting theirs into me? On what grounds? How can you all say such things with a clear conscience? Mother... you should give up on that idea. Dad mentioned this before, and I didn’t agree with it then either. It’s wrong. Other people’s children have parents, too. I can’t just take someone else’s life so that I can cultivate and live."

Before Jocelyn Grant could speak,

He continued, "My body is fine now. I just can’t cultivate, but that doesn’t really matter. Mother, the Cultivation World isn’t for me. I’ve already decided to go live in the Mortal Realm. I think this is just my fate. It’s actually quite nice being a normal person. I’m still young, and I can read widely. Maybe I can take the imperial exams and achieve some scholarly honor, do something for people who need help. As human beings, those with long lifespans have their way of living, and ordinary people have theirs. Isn’t it enough to live a life without regrets? My only regret is that my father died for my sake. There’s nothing I can do about that."

Jocelyn Grant could hardly believe what she was hearing.

"Are you insane? What are you talking about? Did someone say something to you? Who would choose to be an ordinary person when they could pursue Cultivation?"

Ronan Yardley said, "Mother, I *am* an ordinary person. That’s a fact."

At that moment, inside the barrier,

Celeste Grant was a little surprised.

"So a rotten tree can bear good fruit?"

’To think that two scumbags like Liam Yardley and Jocelyn Grant could produce such a morally upstanding child.’