Super Combat Soldier
Chapter 232 - 231: [As Splendid as in the Past]

Chapter 232: Chapter 231: [As Splendid as in the Past]

Madam Luo Yan was angry, truly incensed. From the moment she stepped into the Luo family home, she had been met with strange glances from everyone. Even with Zhang Yun’s ridicule and mockery at the doorway of her mother-in-law’s residence, Luo Yan hadn’t lost her temper, but Ye Tianchen was relieved to finally see his mother stand up in anger. He was actually glad because he had long realized that these people from the Luo family were no good, always wary of his mother. Once the grandmother passed away, he feared that leaving the Luo family wouldn’t be so easy. To deal with such evil people, one could not afford to be too weak; one had to be resolute.

Of course, the reason Luo Yan was so angry, the reason she returned to the Luo family after twenty years, was simply to see her near death mother-in-law and fulfill her final wishes. She didn’t desire to fight over anything or seize anything. However, someone in the Luo family couldn’t stay quiet, targeting her even as the old woman lay sick and gasping for life. They were stirring up quarrels, unsettling the elderly lady’s final moments, which was something no one could tolerate.

"You... you’re just someone the Luo family cast out. What right do you have to raise your voice here..." Luo Qinghong said to Luo Yan, her face flushed with shame but her skin thick enough to continue speaking.

"Everyone present is your elder. When is it your turn to speak? Even if your father were here, he wouldn’t dare to make a scene. It seems the Luo family rules haven’t been used in a long while. It would be worth it to take them out just to warn you!"

Luo Yan was like a changed person, completely devoid of any sign of weakness, overwhelmingly assertive, like a woman seasoned by countless battles. Whether it was her gaze or momentum, she was more than enough to overwhelm Luo Qinghong. Many uncles present were taken aback; Luo Yan, who had been submissive for twenty years while attending to her husband and child, was thought by many to have lost her sharpness. Yet, now they realized that when this woman took matters seriously, she was not to be trifled with.

"You... you..." Luo Qinghong was left speechless, as none of the uncles present dared to back her up. Luo Yan was right both in emotion and reason, especially with the old lady about to leave this world. Did they really have no regard for family ties at all?

"Get out!" Luo Yan bellowed, startling Luo Qinghong so much that she involuntarily stepped back, nearly stumbling and falling to the ground.

Luo Qinghong, red-faced with anger, walked out of the room. None of the uncles present dared to say a word anymore, because Luo Yan was in the right. Even if some of them didn’t want to be reasonable, they also didn’t dare to cause trouble when the old lady was near death. The reason was simple: Luo Yansong, Luo Yan’s father and the one steering the Luo family, might have formally disowned Luo Yan with three strikes on their palms, but he was a filial man. If he knew someone was causing trouble while his mother was critically ill, he would definitely deal with them according to family rules.

Family rules in the old Chinese era existed within certain large families, and even now, large families adhere to strict rules as a symbol and for easier management. To command a large, powerful, and extensive family network requires managing a myriad of relationships, especially amongst relatives. This can be exceedingly difficult, necessitating family rules to maintain order. Breaking the family rules means being dealt with accordingly, preventing people from taking risks and compromising the progress and harmony of the family using sentimental reasons as a gamble.

After reprimanding Luo Qinghong and sending her out of the room, Luo Yan felt no relief in her heart. Twenty years ago, the ones who opposed her the most were her own brother and sister. At that time, Luo Yan was outstanding, young, and beautiful. Many prestigious families and influential forces sought her for marriage. She was intelligent and beautiful, already assisting her father in managing family affairs efficiently and achieving success. This made her brother and sister feel even more threatened and jealous, ultimately leading to Luo Yan being ejected from the Luo family. After a twenty-year absence, she had thought that her brother and sister would gradually put aside their envy but found it to be worse than ever.

Through the attitudes of her niece Luo Qinghong and her sister’s son Zhang Yun, it was clear that her brother and sister had passed down their grudges and jealousy to the next generation. Otherwise, Zhang Yun and Luo Qinghong would not have come forward to drive out an elder from the Luo family. They were standing up for their own parents.

Unfortunately, this was what saddened Luo Yan the most—the fact that despite coming from the same roots, there was such haste to conflict. They were supposed to be family, siblings. Why should it be this way? Was it all for the sake of fame and profit?

"After you’ve visited the old lady, just go. We, the Luo family, won’t keep you," interjected an uncle at that moment.

"I know. I don’t want to return to the Luo family either. This place has long lost any sense of kinship. All that remains are underhanded struggles for fame and profit!" Luo Yan replied, casting a cold glance at that uncle.

Having spoken her piece, Luo Yan didn’t look to the other uncles. She walked back to the bedside, sat on the edge of the bed, and tightly held her mother-in-law’s hand, engaging in conversation with the old woman who was about to depart from this world. Although the elderly lady’s complexion had eased somewhat, it was clear to all that this was her last flicker of light, the final ember of her life fire. Once extinguished, she would be gone forever. Therefore, Luo Yan treasured these moments, having not seen her for twenty years. She wanted to have a heartfelt talk, so her grandmother could leave the world without regrets.

"Yaner, after grandma has passed, you shouldn’t stay here either. Go back and live your own happy life," the old woman said.

Despite her age, Madam Luo was not shortsighted or muddled. She had once fought alongside Luo Yan’s grandfather to build and run the family business, so her intelligence and capability were undeniable. She had full knowledge of the Luo family’s affairs, including who was filial and who wasn’t, and who was vying for the position of the family head. However, with age, she had become more accepting and preferred to let the younger generation sort out their own issues.

"Grandma, what are you talking about? You can live for another hundred years; it’s just a minor discomfort!" Luo Yan smiled and comforted her grandmother.

"Hehe, Yaner, you’re still so kind. It’s been so many years since I’ve seen you, you haven’t changed, and Grandma is very happy. But Grandma knows her own body. Once I’m gone, you don’t need to come to my funeral. I don’t want to see you and your father arguing after my death. Your dad is old too, his health isn’t good, let him have his way a bit..." Madam Luo sighed. Even at the brink of leaving this world, she was still thinking about her descendants, her granddaughter, and her son.

"Grandma, rest assured, I won’t argue with Father. He will always be my dad!" Luo Yan bit her lip, holding back her tears as she spoke.

"That’s good, that’s very good... cough, cough..." Madam Luo coughed twice, barely able to hold on. Even with the superpower essence Ye Tianchen had been transferring, it could only sustain her for so long; everyone must face birth, aging, sickness, and death eventually.

"Grandma..." Luo Yan was very nervous, tears already swirling in her eyes—the elderly woman was on the verge of not holding on much longer.

"Tianchen, come here..." Madam Luo struggled to open her eyes, weakly calling out to Ye Tianchen.

At this moment, Ye Tianchen was also moved. Such a kind and compassionate old lady was about to leave this world, which made him recall Zhang Yide’s words further: Earth was no longer suitable for cultivation, and absolutely no one could achieve Eternal Life. To seek the Immortality Skill, one had to go to other planets where the natural Tao wasn’t suppressed. Without the ability to live forever, the sorrowful farewell that comes with birth, aging, illness, and death was inevitable. If there really were a way to achieve immortality, truly able to extend life through cultivation, then anyone, even those living in the real world, especially those who have lost loved ones, would desperately pursue cultivation. The feeling of helplessly watching a loved one pass away can truly cause a soul-piercing pain.

"Grandmother, I’m here!" Ye Tianchen said with a smile as he took the old lady’s hand.

At this time, Ye Tianchen still wanted to try, to infuse a little more superpower essence, but he realized it was beyond his power. If he forced more superpower essence into her now, it would only cause Madam Luo’s blood vessels to burst, leading to a painful death, so even Tianchen was powerless.

"This string of Buddha Beads was given to me by an attained monk many years ago, to keep people safe. The first time I met you, I didn’t have anything to give, so I’ll give this to you," Madam Luo said as she took off the Buddha Beads she wore around her neck and handed them to Ye Tianchen.

"Grandmother..." Ye Tianchen was somewhat stunned because he could feel that these Buddha Beads were out of the ordinary—they weren’t just the usual trinkets to deceive people into thinking they could ward off evil or avoid calamity.

"Take it. Grandmother is about to leave this world, and keeping it is of no use!" Madam Luo said with a kind smile.

Ye Tianchen paused for a moment, then accepted the Buddha Beads. To make the old lady happy, he wore them around his own neck. As he did so, he sensed a mighty presence sealed within the beads, something hidden, but he didn’t know what it was.

"Thank you, Grandmother!" Ye Tianchen said with a smile.

"Cough, cough... cough, cough... cough, cough..." Madam Luo started coughing loudly. Her life was approaching its end, and she was barely holding on, leaning against the pillow, but she still persisted, unable to help but say, "Old Wang, how come Old Wang hasn’t come back yet...?"

Everyone couldn’t help but look towards the door; they now understood what Uncle Wang had gone to fetch. Madam Luo had been persisting without passing on, waiting for Old Wang to return with something.

"He’s back. Old Wang is back!" someone said.

They saw Uncle Wang hobbling into the room quickly, drenched in sweat, carrying a very delicate jade box in his right hand. Nobody knew what was inside, and everyone curiously looked on... (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote and support it on Qidian.com. Your support is my greatest motivation.)