Steam Era: The Lord of 'Puluo'

However, the Lu Family was not as conservative as the Ma Family. They did not oppose other Taoist Sects, but as the daughter of a distinguished family, becoming a Literature Cultivator was clearly a more reasonable choice.

A Fifth Layer Literature Cultivator presented over a dozen questions, and Lu Chunying answered them fluently, thanks to the teachings of Xiao Yeci. Though Xiao Yeci was only at the First Layer, the foundation she had laid for Lu Chunying was very solid.

Lu Dongliang nodded, offering Lu Chunying a few words of praise.

"Not bad, quite good."

Hearing this somewhat reluctant praise, Lu Chunying carefully gauged Lu Dongliang's thoughts.

Actually, she had not started pondering at this moment. Ever since she entered the gates of the Lu family home, she had always been gauging him.

Lu Dongliang was a high-level Traveling Cultivator, but his exact cultivation level was unknown.

But none of his children had chosen to become Traveling Cultivators.

Did Lu Dongliang not want them to?

Of course not.

The characteristic of a Traveling Cultivator is having no fixed abode. Lu Dongliang had traveled far and wide for many years, managing the family business, and for him, cultivation had never been a burden.

But it was not necessary for his children to live so arduously.

Xiao Yeci had once told Lu Chunying a story about a wealthy young lady and her beloved eloping three times.

All three attempts failed because the wealthy young lady could not endure the hardships of the journey.

For a person on a journey, enduring hunger and sleeping outdoors is a challenge that is not easy to overcome.

Xiao Yeci warned Lu Chunying that if a wealthy young master claimed he was tired of constraints, wanting freedom and a life of travel, she should never take it seriously. He simply wanted to go out for amusement, not to truly join her in a tough life of roaming.

Traveling Cultivation and tourism are entirely different matters.

Lu Chunying looked at Lu Dongliang's expression and cautiously asked, "Dad, I want to see my mother."

She had not seen Xiao Yeci for a long time.

"Let's talk about it later." Lu Dongliang's face fell as he dismissively responded.

Lu Chunying asked softly, "Dad, do you think that she's not really my mother?"

Lu Dongliang frowned and countered, "Do you think she's your mother?"

According to Lu Dongliang's speculation, Lu Chunying would say she had accepted this woman as her mother, recount their past of mutual dependence, and plead with Lu Dongliang to take Xiao Yeci in.

He despised those worthless sentiments of the past.

But Lu Chunying simply answered matter-of-factly, "I don't think she is."

Lu Dongliang squinted and asked, "How did you figure that out?"

"She's young enough to be my older sister, not my mother. That much is obvious."

Lu Dongliang laughed, "Then why do you still want to see her?"

"I just want to make things clear with her: I'm home now, I've acknowledged my family, and the past should be put behind us. She isn't my mother, and she isn't my family. As for her true background, that's irrelevant. She needs to give up certain ideas. But I also can't have her going around spreading rumors, making outsiders accuse me of being heartless. Give her some money and send her on her way; that should settle it."

Lu Dongliang was very pleased with this answer.

It was essentially in line with what Lu Dongliang had in mind, with the only difference being that he did not plan to send Xiao Yeci away. He wanted her to vanish completely.

But these two outcomes were not contradictory.

If someone else were sitting there, they might think Lu Chunying was too heartless.

But Lu Dongliang didn't think so; to him, this was how his daughter should be.

He nodded slightly and said, "Alright, in a couple of days, you can go see her.

"But first, let's discuss your initiation. That Literature Cultivator from earlier—I plan to make him your master. What do you think?"

Lu Chunying blinked her sparkling eyes and said, "Dad, do you want to hear the truth from me?"

"Is that even a question?" Lu Dongliang's eyes widened, "Would you lie to me?"

"Dad, to tell the truth, I don't want to be a Literature Cultivator."

"Why not?" Lu Dongliang was taken aback.

"Xiao Yeci is a Literature Cultivator. Having followed her for so many years, I always felt she was someone without prospects."

Lu Dongliang laughed, "Then what kind of person do you think has prospects?"

"Reading ten thousand books is not as good as traveling ten thousand miles. Only by journeying far and wide and truly seeing the world does one gain genuine insight. Dad, I want to learn Traveling Cultivation from you."

"You want to pursue Traveling Cultivation?" Lu Dongliang was both shocked and pleased but also worried that this girl of his couldn't endure the hardships. "Have you thought it through? Being a Traveling Cultivator is tough; you can't rest for even a day."

"Dad, I'm only this young. If I'm always seeking a peaceful corner to hide in, how long can I keep hiding?"

Lu Dongliang grew increasingly joyful. "Ying Ying," he said, "since you've made up your mind, when do you plan to begin your initiation?"

Lu Chunying contemplated for a moment and then said, "How about today?"

Lu Dongliang exclaimed, "Today? Why the rush?"

"If I hadn't been worried that Dad would disagree, I would have wanted to start the initiation a few days ago. I just can't wait any longer."

Lu Dongliang laughed.

How come this child's temperament is so much like mine?

Even this impatience is so much like mine.

This can't be called impatience. Being urgent when it's time to be, and patient when necessary—this is knowing the proper measure in handling things.

"Ying Ying, then we have an agreement. I will call the Pharmacist over in a bit to make some preparations for you. Initiation can be somewhat painful, so I'll have him prepare the anesthetic for you first."

Lu Chunying shook her head and said, "No need for anesthetics. Doesn't it just hurt for a moment? Dad, did you use anesthetics when you started your initiation?"

Lu Dongliang shook his head, "Your grandfather didn't allow me to learn Traveling Cultivation. I had to get initiated through a Peddler, and there were no anesthetics. He just slapped the initiation Medicinal Powder onto my stomach, and I gritted my teeth and endured it."

"If Dad didn't use it, neither will I!"

Lu Dongliang shook his head, "That's not okay. I suffered because I had no choice; I can't let you endure such hardship."

...

That very night, Lu Chunying successfully initiated into Traveling Cultivation. Lu Dongliang then arranged for Xiao Yeci to see Lu Chunying.

Seeing Lu Chunying, Xiao Yeci was very excited and asked with concern, "Nannan, you've suffered! The initiation is very painful, isn't it? Does it still hurt? Have you eaten anything...?"

Lu Chunying looked at Xiao Yeci with a cold expression, impatiently saying, "I called you here to tell you that our time together is up. From now on, we'll live our separate lives. I appreciate your care over the years. Now please leave quickly."

Xiao Yeci stared at Lu Chunying in surprise, unable to speak for a long while.

Lu Chunying pulled out a box containing one hundred Ocean Dollars and handed it to Xiao Yeci. "This is a token of my appreciation," she said. "My father will give you another sum of money later. From now on, let's no longer meet."

Xiao Yeci's eyes reddened as she called out, "Nannan..."

"Just take the money. At least you'll have some travel expenses," Lu Chunying turned away, not wanting to see her anymore.

Xiao Yeci, holding the box, left Lu Chunying's bedroom.

She didn't know how she'd managed to walk back.

Once she was inside her own room, she stared at the box full of Ocean Dollars for a long time.

She really wanted to throw the box away and then sneak out of this estate.

She had to constantly watch others' expressions—when eating, when going out, even just to use the latrine. Everything depended on their moods.

All this she could endure, but she couldn't bear Lu Chunying's attitude.

She felt she had completely lost her dignity.

As a First Layer Literature Cultivator, she could easily find work and live more respectably than she was now.

But ultimately, she opened the box.

Because she truly didn't even have money for travel expenses.

The box contained one hundred Ocean Dollars, which wasn't a small amount, enough for Xiao Yeci to use for a while.

It seemed like there was something underneath the Ocean Dollars.

It was a piece of paper.

Xiao Yeci unfolded it and read: "Mom, I've initiated. Rest for a day. Tomorrow night, we'll find a chance to escape!"

...

In her bedroom, Lu Chunying clenched the bedsheet tightly.

Choosing Traveling Cultivation was all about being able to run faster.

Mom, you absolutely have to open the box and see this.

PS: Undercurrents are surging, a major event is about to happen, dear readers, please vote for Shala.