"Rocky not hurt," the stone giant rumbled as he stopped a respectful distance away. "Rocky friend."

"This is Rocky," I explained to my wide-eyed parents. "He's a stone guardian and Liu Chen's soul-bonded companion. Despite his appearance, he's quite gentle."

"Parents... of Brother Ke?" Rocky asked, his grinding voice somehow conveying curiosity.

Mother, to her immense credit, recovered first. She stepped forward from behind my father and offered a small, nervous bow. "Yes. I'm Lixue, and this is Hong. We're pleased to meet any friend of our son's."

Rocky made a rumbling sound that I recognized as his version of pleasure. "Brother Ke good friend. Help Rocky and Liu Chen."

Liu Chen beamed up at his massive companion. "Rocky, show them your compression technique! The one Elder Song taught you."

Rocky nodded his great stone head and visibly concentrated. Slowly, remarkably, his massive form began to shrink. The stone that composed his body compressed inward until, after about a minute of this transformation, he stood only eight feet tall instead of his usual fifteen.

"That's incredible," Father breathed, his fear giving way to fascination.

"Rocky... practicing," the guardian explained, his voice less booming at this reduced size. "One day... small as human."

"He's been working very hard on it," Liu Chen added proudly. "Elder Song says his progress is exceptional."

My parents gradually relaxed as they observed the interaction between Liu Chen and Rocky. What had initially seemed terrifying was transformed into something remarkable and even endearing as they witnessed the obvious bond between boy and guardian.

"Would you like to touch his hand?" Liu Chen asked my parents. "His stone is special, it's warm, not cold like regular rock."

My father, ever curious despite his initial fear, stepped forward first. Rocky obligingly extended one massive hand, palm up, allowing my father to place his much smaller human hand against the stone surface.

"It is warm," Father confirmed, wonder in his voice. "And it feels... alive somehow."

Mother, not to be outdone, joined him. "How extraordinary," she murmured, touching Rocky's stone fingers. "It's like sun-warmed stone, but there's something else... a vibration?"

"That's his qi," Liu Chen explained proudly. "Rocky is at the ninth stage of Qi Condensation, even stronger than Brother Ke and most other disciples!"

My aura was carefully restrained so I wasn’t surprised that Liu Chen hadn’t picked up on my breakthrough, and I decided not to correct him.

"And you control this... being?" Father asked Liu Chen.

The boy shook his head firmly. "We're partners, not master and servant. Our souls are bonded. What affects one affects the other."

My parents were adapting, accepting, trying to understand this world so different from their own. Their initial fear had given way to curiosity and openness.

"Rocky want... protect friends," the stone guardian rumbled. "Keep safe."

"That's very admirable," Mother replied, treating him exactly as she would any other person, not as a curiosity or monster. "Everyone needs good protectors in their life."

Looking at the sun's position, I realized the afternoon was advancing. "We should probably continue our tour if we want to see everything before dinner."

Liu Chen nodded in understanding. "Will you be watching the tournament tomorrow?" he asked my parents.

"We wouldn't miss it," Father assured him.

"I'll save seats for you in the Core disciple viewing section," Liu Chen offered immediately. "The view is much better, and the seats are actually comfortable."

"That's very kind," Mother replied, clearly touched by the gesture.

After saying our goodbyes, with promises to meet again the following day, we continued our tour of the sect. I showed my parents the training fields, meditation gardens, and finally the breathtaking vista from Azure Peak's eastern cliff.

***

As evening approached, we sat in the small but comfortable guest pavilion, sharing a final cup of tea before I needed to leave for some final meditation in preparation for the excitement tomorrow.

"It's been quite a day," Father observed, looking exhausted but satisfied. "Your friends are... not what we expected."

"In good ways, I hope?" I asked.

Mother smiled. "Very good ways. They clearly respect you, Yin. That Wei Lin boy is a bit full of himself, but even he speaks highly of your abilities. And little Liu Chen looks at you like you hung the moon in the sky."

"I've been fortunate in my connections here,” I returned the smile.

"And that stone guardian!" Father shook his head in lingering amazement. "If someone had told me such things existed, I would never have believed it."

"There are many wonders in the cultivation world," I told them. "Some beautiful, some terrifying. Rocky is one of the gentler ones."

A comfortable silence fell as we finished our tea. Through the window, I could see the sunset painting Azure Peak in shades of gold and crimson, a spectacular sight that still impressed me after months of living here.

A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

Mother's expression softened as she rested a hand on her growing belly. "You know, we've been talking about your little brother or sister."

"Oh?"

“After what we learned about Ke Jun during the beast wave incident..." Father began, leaning forward.

"We've wondered whether this child might have cultivation talent too,” Mother finished.

"It's certainly possible," I said carefully, recalling what I knew about factors related to cultivation potential. "Spiritual sensitivity can remain dormant for generations before manifesting strongly again. When the baby is old enough, I could test for signs of aptitude."

"Would you want that?" Father asked, his expression serious. "For your sibling to walk this path too, knowing what you now know of the cultivation world?"

The question caught me off guard. Would I want another family member to enter this world of beauty and brutality? Especially knowing how most meet a terrible end?

"I think," I said slowly, "that I would want them to have the choice. To know the option exists, but never feel pressured toward it." I met my father's gaze directly. "Having Ke Jun's blood running through our veins doesn't dictate our path. The cultivation road isn't for everyone, even those with powerful ancestry."

Mother smiled, seeming pleased with my answer. "Do you remember what you told us when you were just seven? Old Wang asked what you wanted to be when you grew up."

I shook my head, genuinely curious. This was a memory that belonged to the original Ke Yin, not me.

"You said you wanted to be like the mountain, strong enough that people could lean on you when they needed shelter from storms." Father's eyes crinkled with the memory. "Wang laughed, but now I can’t help but think that perhaps the blood of our ancestor was speaking through you even then."

This was a piece of the original Ke Yin I'd never known, a glimpse of the soul whose life I now lived. And somehow, despite everything, I'd remained true to that childhood aspiration without even knowing it existed.

"I had forgotten that," I said softly. "Funny how some things are carried in our blood, finding their way to reality through unexpected paths."

Mother reached across to take my hand. "I think some part of you sensed this heritage was your birthright."

"Birthright," I echoed, smiling softly, the word carrying far more weight than they could possibly understand. "Perhaps you're right."

I wondered what my parents would think if they knew the full truth. That my connection to Ke Jun was now more than a simple blood connection. That the man, whose ambition and cruelty they had come to understand during the beast wave, now resided literally within their son.

Probably horrified.

"They don't need to carry that burden, Master,” Azure's voice whispered in my mind. “Some truths serve no purpose beyond causing pain."

He was right, of course.

I had no plans of ever revealing that I possessed a fragment of a Civilisation Realm cultivator to anyone, let alone my parents. It would instantly make me a target if that knowledge were to be discovered. Better everyone believe Ke Jun was gone entirely, a closed chapter in our family's history rather than an ongoing complication.

Still, I felt I should say something to reassure them, not the whole truth, but not a complete lie either. Especially since I could see the shadow of concern in Mother's eyes as her hand rested protectively on her belly. They were worried, not just about me, but about the child yet to come.

"You know," I said carefully, "since the confrontation during the beast wave, I've thought a lot about Ke Jun and our connection to him."

"We've worried about that," Father admitted. "Knowing our bloodline comes from someone who... wasn't a good man. With the baby coming..." His voice trailed off, but the implication was clear.

"That's exactly why I wanted to say this," I replied, meeting their concerned gazes. "Heritage is complex. Ke Jun's power and knowledge is part of our lineage, but his choices don't define us or any child of our family. His ambition and cruelty were the result of his decisions, not his blood."

Mother's grip on my hand tightened. "You're certain? We've heard stories of ancestral influences, temperaments passed down through generations."

"I'm certain," I stated firmly. "Whatever potential our blood carries, we choose how to use it. My little brother or sister will have their own path, influenced by your guidance far more than any ancient ancestor's echo."

The tension visibly eased from Mother's shoulders. "That's a relief. I've had nightmares about... well, it doesn't matter now."

"It matters," I said gently. "But you needn't worry. Our family won't be defined by Ke Jun's legacy. The power in our bloodline is a tool, nothing more, no different than Father's talent with needle and thread. It's how we use it that matters."

Father nodded, clearly reassured. "You always did have good sense, even as a boy."

"In some ways," I continued, "Ke Jun's legacy lives on through me, but transformed into something better, something directed toward protection rather than domination. And any talent our new family member inherits will be guided by the same principles."

If only they knew how literally true my statements were, and how complicated.

"Son," Father began, his voice taking on a more emotional tone. "We want you to know how proud we are. Not just of your cultivation achievements, though those are impressive. But of the person you've become, the friends you've made, the respect you've earned."

"When you left to join the sect," Mother added, "our greatest fear wasn't that you would fail, but that you would change, become someone we no longer recognized. Someone cold and distant, like the cultivators we'd sometimes see passing through the village."

"But you haven't," Father continued. "You've grown stronger while keeping your heart. That means more to us than any cultivation breakthrough."

"Thank you," I said simply, knowing any more words would betray the emotion I was feeling.

Mother smiled, her hand moving from her belly to my cheek. "And you’re going to be such a wonderful older brother."

"I hope so," I said softly. "I'd like that very much."

Despite all my focus on cultivation, world walking, and advancing my power, the thought of having a younger sibling had been quietly taking root in my heart. I genuinely looked forward to watching this child grow, to teaching them things both mundane and magical, to being the steady presence I'd never had as an only child.

Whether they walked the cultivation path or lived a mortal life, I wanted to be there, the mountain they could shelter against when storms came. It would be nice to have someone small and real who might one day look up to me, not as Ke Yin the cultivator, but simply as their big brother.

"I should go soon” I said, checking the position of the sun through the window. “I need to do some final preparation before the tournament begins.”

"Of course," Father nodded. "Don’t worry about us, focus on the tournament."

"Liu Chen said he'd arrange for someone to escort you to the viewing area tomorrow morning," I told them, standing. "The first stage begins midday.”

"We'll be there," Mother promised, rising to embrace me. "Early enough to wish you luck before you start."

"Rest well," I hugged her back. "Tournament days can be long for spectators too."

After one final embrace, I departed for the meeting, my mind already shifting to thoughts of the competition ahead. Tomorrow would be the culmination of months of preparation, a chance to demonstrate my capabilities before the entire sect.

But as I walked through the twilight-painted corridors of Azure Peak, I found my thoughts returning to my parents' faces, to the pride in their eyes when they looked at me. I realized I wanted to succeed in the tournament not just for myself, for advancement and resources, but for them, to justify their journey, their belief in me, their sacrifice in sending their only son to this dangerous world of cultivation.

"Interesting," Azure commented. "How parental approval can motivate even those who have transcended worlds."

"Is it weakness?" I asked silently, genuinely curious. "To care so much about making them proud?"

"Not weakness," Azure replied thoughtfully. "Connection. And perhaps a certain kind of strength that has nothing to do with cultivation."

With those words echoing in my mind, I straightened my robes and continued towards my quarters.

Tomorrow would bring challenges, competition, perhaps even danger.

But for tonight, I carried with me the warmth of family, the knowledge that whatever happened in the tournament, I was more than just another cultivator striving for immortality. I was a son to parents who loved me, and soon, I would become a brother to someone who would look up to me.